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Insider discusses Matthews' future and the deadline the Leafs have set to get him extended

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Ryan Smitheram
May 14, 2023 (12:09)

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It didn't take long, following another elimination from the playoffs, for the Leafs to shift gears from closing the door on last season and looking ahead to the future. Auston Matthews has one year left on his current deal before he becomes a UFA, but he has a no-movement clause that kicks in on July 1st. During the intermission of the Seattle and Dallas game last night, Elliotte Friedman touched on the Matthews situation in Toronto and what type of a timeline they have to work with to either take the temperature on his willingness to sign a new deal in Toronto or explore the possibility of moving him before his NMC kicks in.

"The number one question [on what the Leafs do with their pending UFAs] is Matthews. His contract's up in a year, he's got a no move clause that kicks in. You've gotta know by the draft if you have a reasonable chance of signing him. At least if Dubas stays, at least [Matthews] knows what he's in for. He knows the manager, he knows the plan. If Dubas leaves, you're gunna have to sell Matthews on the next person and their plan and I think that is one of the things [MLSE] is wading their way through." - Friedman on Matthews

The Leafs need to understand Matthews' intentions and then need to decide, if he is willing to re-sign, if they want someone who has a strong relationship with him and his agent to negotiate a new contract or if they want someone with no relationship to negotiate with Matthews. Personally, if it was me, I would want the guy that has built a relationship with him negotiating the deal. As Friedman said, Matthews knows Kyle Dubas and the plan and has been comfortable with it. Is it worth the risk to bring in someone that Matthews doesn't know and that could have a plan that Matthews doesn't see himself fitting into? Not if you want him to be a lifetime Leaf.

The other factor here is the players. Following their elimination, several players were very vocal about loving the chemistry in the locker room. The fact that so many guys were vocal about not wanting wholesale changes, it does go to show how tight these guys are in the locker room. If they want Auston to stay, perhaps the conversations among them are that Auston has every intention on staying. The big question is what will happen if these sweeping changes do occur. Some major decisions ahead.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Insider reveals what the Leafs are thinking about trying to re-sign 3 key pending UFAs

Insider reports that the Leafs have had important discussions about Kyle Dubas' future in Toronto

Matthew Tkachuk acknowledges the skill in Toronto, but reveals why the Panthers emerged victorious

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14 MAI \| 329 ANSWERS Insider discusses Matthews' future and the deadline the Leafs have set to get him extended Will the Leafs be able to extend Auston Matthews?
Yes	189	57.4 %
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