That has been understandable. Matthews is a franchise player, a former 60-goal scorer, and one of the best centers of his generation. However, the former Hart Trophy winner also carries a $13.25 million annual cap hit through 2027-28.
But the arrival of Gavin McKenna could eventually change the equation.
The Maple Leafs selected McKenna first overall in 2026, and the expectations surrounding him are enormous. He isn’t going to replace Matthews overnight, but if he becomes the superstar many expect, Toronto’s timeline could look very different a few years from now.
That’s the interesting part of the .
That window won’t last forever.
If McKenna becomes the player everyone expects him to become, his second contract is going to be enormous. And by then, the Maple Leafs could be looking at a very different salary-cap landscape.
That’s why Toronto shouldn’t automatically assume it needs to give Matthews another massive contract when his current deal expires.
Would it really make sense to hand Matthews another $13 million-plus contract if doing so makes it significantly harder to surround McKenna with the talent necessary to win?
That’s the question the Maple Leafs eventually have to answer.
Toronto could instead preserve some financial flexibility and build a deeper roster around McKenna and Nylander.
That might actually be the better path.
What to read next:
Matthews Could Stay If He’s Willing to Take Less
Of course, there is another option: Keep Matthews.There’s no reason the Maple Leafs have to choose between their current superstar and their potential future superstar. If Matthews is willing to leave some money on the table, Toronto could potentially keep both players while maintaining enough flexibility to build around them.
That would be the ideal scenario.
Matthews could remain the face of the franchise while gradually handing some of that responsibility to McKenna. The younger star could grow into his role without being asked to immediately replace one of the most important players in Maple Leafs history.
And perhaps Matthews would actually be willing to do that.
He has already made an enormous amount of money. At some point, winning has to matter more than maximizing every last dollar. If Matthews wants another massive contract, however, the Maple Leafs may have to make a difficult decision.
That’s because McKenna changes everything.
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