It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re closing in on the start of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been in the news. Toronto hired Brad Treliving as the team’s new general manager. It’s a high-level and high-pressure job with a rabid fan base. Treliving will have to get right to work and has some big decisions to make. One of those is the Auston Matthews extension that he can sign after July 1.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Update on Auston Matthews Extension Talks
Rumour: Sportsnet’s Luke Fox said that Treliving reached out to representatives of Matthews about an extension. Treliving already has a good relationship with Matthews’ agent Judd Moldaver. Former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas also had a strong working relationship with Moldaver.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs’ hiring of new GM Brad Treliving makes sense: https://t.co/7oZYLhTp4K pic.twitter.com/rYgJk6kNe6
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) May 31, 2023
Re-signing Matthews should be the top priority for Treliving this off-season. The former top pick in the 2016 NHL Draft can hit free agency at the end of next season if an agreement isn’t reached. Treliving likely doesn’t want a scenario that happened with Johnny Gaudreau when he left the Flames for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Will Auston Matthews Extension Get Done?
There’s a load of complications getting in the way of a Matthews deal. William Nylander (2024) and Mitch Marner (2025) also have their respective deals come up soon. There’s also the matter of trying to re-sign restricted free agent goalie Ilya Samsonov. Toronto has a total of 10 unrestricted free agents that all probably want raises. Treliving can’t re-sign every and will have tough decisions to make.
The former Flames executive also has to decide if he wants to move on from head coach Sheldon Keefe. Would Treliving bring in a new bench boss to replace a coach in the last year of his deal? It’s going to be a busy summer, but the Auston Matthews extension needs to be the first thing Treliving takes care of.
Main photo by: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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