Following Auston Matthews’ announcement that he has signed a four-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs, it is clear that the team has a five-year window to compete for the Stanley Cup. Matthews, considered one of the best players in the league, has proven himself as a top scorer, leading the league in goals since his rookie season. With Matthews locked in, the Maple Leafs must seize the opportunity to end their long Stanley Cup drought.
General manager Brad Treliving will have the chance to be aggressive and creative in building the team over the next five years. While the core players like John Tavares, Mitchell Marner, and William Nylander are under contract, there are still some big decisions to be made regarding the rest of the roster. As of now, the team has approximately $54 million committed to 12 players for the 2024-25 season, with some notable players set to become unrestricted free agents.
To keep Nylander, who had a 40-goal season, the Maple Leafs will likely need to allocate a significant portion of their salary cap towards a long-term extension for him. Additionally, there are other key players set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2024. The future beyond Matthews seems uncertain, but the current core has not produced enough playoff wins to satisfy the expectations in Toronto.
To improve their chances, the Maple Leafs may need to explore all options, including potentially moving on from one of the “Core Four.” Trading Captain John Tavares, who will be 33 after the 2023-24 season, could free up cap space and provide draft capital for further roster moves. Marner’s contract situation also presents a challenge, as signing him to an extension could eat into the team’s salary cap space.
Furthermore, the team will need to address their defense, as only three defensemen are currently under contract beyond 2023-24. Acquiring a top-pairing defenseman will require a significant investment, either via free agency or a trade. The upcoming NHL free agent class could provide some options, including Steven Stamkos, who has ties to Toronto and could potentially consider a discount to join the Maple Leafs.
Auston Matthews’ extension brings certainty to the team, but the pressure is on for Treliving to use all available resources to deliver a Stanley Cup to Toronto within the next five years.
