The Toronto Maple Leafs have their work cut out for them this summer. Not only are they staring down extensions for Auston Matthews and William Nylander, but there are also several pending UFAs and pending RFAs who will need new deals. When you also consider the uncertain future of Kyle Dubas and the possible need for a new GM, we could very realistically be looking at a very different Leafs team in 2023-24.
One of the biggest items on the list for the Buds this summer is the Matthews deal. There are multiple trains of thought as to where this one could go. Matthews could ink an 8-year deal with the highest AAV in NHL history. Elliotte Friedman believes that Matthews wishes to only extend 5 years so that he can cash in on one more large deal as he enters his 30's. There's also a possibility that, if Dubas leaves, Matthews may not re-up in Toronto. If that occurs, he may be traded or he may simply walk away next summer.
If Matthews does, in fact, leave Toronto, the latest odds have been revealed as to where he might end up. Somewhat surprisingly, the odds on favourite is not Vegas, Los Angeles, New York or even Arizona. Instead, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan, the team with the best odds of landing Matthews is the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Hawks are coming fresh off of a draft lottery win, which has them locked in as the team who will pick first in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. With the likelihood of the Blackhawks drafting young phenom Connor Bedard very high, it could make Chicago an appealing destination for Matthews.
Koshan did reveal, however, that the odds are still overwhelmingly in favour of Matthews remaining in Toronto, so the hope is that a deal can be reached in a few weeks time and that we can avoid all of this talk of the 2016 1st overall pick leaving the Leafs for, presumably, at least another 5 seasons.
