Leafs Nation remembers on August 23rd 2023, Auston Matthews signed a four-year $53 million extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This extension which kicks in this season will now make him the highest paid player in the NHL. It's a milestone that all the superstar players are trying to achieve as it has become an arms race to see who reaches the top of the salary mark.
Last season was outstanding for Matthews as his stats line was off the charts. He had reached a mind blowing 69 goals which has not been seen for generations of Leafs fans. Last season he played 81 games, scoring 69 goals 38 assists for 107 points and was a +31.
He has become the scoring machine that people anticipated, and he also has emerged as a leader as he led the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the All-Star game, and then was appointed the 26th captain in franchise history last week as John Tavares passed the torch.
Being the highest paid player certainly brings certain expectations as the Maple Leafs continue to solve their biggest mystery: Why they cannot break through the first round on a consistent basis.
Many fans thought there would be a shake up in the Core 4 as Leafs management had promised this summer but that shake up did not come in the form of a trade as many had hoped or anticiapted.
All fans can do is wait and watch to see if there will be a change by the team and with Matthews now as their leader, it remains to be seen on whether he can make a major difference or if it's more of the same in Leafs Nation.
