Boston. After the Leafs choke in the 1st round and Bergy retires there ahould be some cap space.
Ginger-Beefcake
Moscow
secret_rye
He’s coming to Buffalo after they’ve owned the leafs even in the longest drought in history. That would make Buffalo so nasty
TowBroJoe
For one if you’re gonna post about him spell his name right it’s Auston. 2. He stays in Toronto because no team would ever let a 25 year old top 5 player in the league leave.
Hiph0p0p0tamusttv
Tampa Bay have Stamkos off the books that year, they also have nice weather and state tax for him.
Neely67
Hair Club for men have a a hockey team?
LeBenhard
« My boy »
« Austin »
Hmm.
CDL112281
Oh boy. You’re gonna get a bunch of leafs fans irate that you’d even suggest he leaves
That said:
LAK – Kopitar is off the books at $10m, although I see him sticking around for a less
SJS – they’re a bit of a mess, but guys love playing there, and Matthews would have heard that from Marleau and Thornton
Arizona- they’re also a mess, but I guarantee they will offer the most of any team. And I’m talking around 20% of the cap, the max % offer. Not sure many teams can match ~$15,16,17m per year
Toronto – of course they’re in the mix. Obviously
Dallas – they’ll buy out the final year of Benn to help make room.
If he makes it to ufa, it’s gonna be a free-for-all. There will be teams offering bonkers amounts, if they can fit it.
ComprehensiveAlps652
Hair club for men..
tjplager32
There’s no way he doesn’t stay in Toronto. Dubas has proven he’s willing to give fat contracts to his star guys, leafs have successful seasons despite their playoff short comings but how long is that really going to last? He’s not drained mentally playing on a bad team that’s losing night in and night out, and at some point they’re going to break through in the playoffs, possibly this year. Only downside is the immense pressure of captaining a Toronto team that hasn’t seen playoffs success in a long time but I think he can handle it.
If I’m wrong, Blues sign him after Tarasenko and O’Reilly walk 😎 (jk)
almostthere69420
Certainly not Toronto let’s be honest. He wants to eat a steak without a 100 people gawking at him. Saying don’t worry bud second round next year
joreau
Not Pittsburgh
mahalodan
Anaheim
Peace_and_Love40
Carolina Hurricanes
Procrumpets22
Leafs will sign him to whatever he wants, unless he’s dead set to leave, which he hasn’t indicated
FlashinginthePan
Austin is down with the Yzerplan, Detroit will be happy to have him.
Nah Dubas is gonna back up the truck for him in all seriousness.
korkkis
Arizona with whipping $18 million
BuffytheBison
The John Tavares signing really shook up the league in terms of a high profile franchise player in his prime choosing not to stay with the team that drafted him so he could go home. I think if the Leafs don’t reach at least the conference finals in these next two years, Matthews (who’s seen up close how JT’s adjusted to being back home) is probably on the way out. He’s not going to waste more of his prime years only going one or two rounds in the playoffs. Players of his generation are also way more cognizant of their personal brand and legacies and look at other sports where it has worked against guys (like Carmelo Anthony and Damian Lillard) who don’t join teams who win lol
Edit: We also had Johnny Hockey leave as well and Matthew Tkachuk
Mandy-Rarsh
Toronto or Los Angeles. Dark Horse, Arizona
Wild-Masterpiece-630
Rogaine
AgrippaAVG
Toronto will have a total of 3 players signed when the first year of any potential Matthews extension starts. The GM has ensured no team will be able to outbid the Leafs – plus they can offer the extra year.
Ultimately it’s up to him but he would have to leave money on the table to go elsewhere.
JRAS-3010
Junior B baby
CoolAg1927
I know this will never happen, but as a Flyers fan he would really help them.
beerleaguer69
Zurich Switzerland
ShanDoyle8710
Whichever team in a tax free state has the most cap space.
DonkGoblin
Literally wherever Beiber tells him to go. They gonna be having sleepovers in LA.
WallflowerOnTheBrink
Ah yes, the inevitable where is *insert pending free agent from Leafs* signing….
Getting earlier and earlier I might add.
Based on history I would wager a large sum on Toronto. The big names just don’t leave very often, not by free agency anyway.
GoStlBlues67
Going to be a foot model. Do they make vests for feet?
bigtymerjdawg
He’s from Arizona. They could be a real dark horse if he wants to go back home.
Quirky_Ad_8732
A California team for sure.
Striking_Economy5049
He’s going to shock everyone and sign in Edmonton. That way the Oilers can score ten a game. No need for defence or goaltending.
38 Comments
Toronto for 8 x literally whatever it takes
Toronto end of convo
Stays in Toronto where else would he go
LA
He is signing with Edmonton.
Tempe
Boston. After the Leafs choke in the 1st round and Bergy retires there ahould be some cap space.
Moscow
He’s coming to Buffalo after they’ve owned the leafs even in the longest drought in history. That would make Buffalo so nasty
For one if you’re gonna post about him spell his name right it’s Auston. 2. He stays in Toronto because no team would ever let a 25 year old top 5 player in the league leave.
Tampa Bay have Stamkos off the books that year, they also have nice weather and state tax for him.
Hair Club for men have a a hockey team?
« My boy »
« Austin »
Hmm.
Oh boy. You’re gonna get a bunch of leafs fans irate that you’d even suggest he leaves
That said:
LAK – Kopitar is off the books at $10m, although I see him sticking around for a less
SJS – they’re a bit of a mess, but guys love playing there, and Matthews would have heard that from Marleau and Thornton
Arizona- they’re also a mess, but I guarantee they will offer the most of any team. And I’m talking around 20% of the cap, the max % offer. Not sure many teams can match ~$15,16,17m per year
Toronto – of course they’re in the mix. Obviously
Dallas – they’ll buy out the final year of Benn to help make room.
If he makes it to ufa, it’s gonna be a free-for-all. There will be teams offering bonkers amounts, if they can fit it.
Hair club for men..
There’s no way he doesn’t stay in Toronto. Dubas has proven he’s willing to give fat contracts to his star guys, leafs have successful seasons despite their playoff short comings but how long is that really going to last? He’s not drained mentally playing on a bad team that’s losing night in and night out, and at some point they’re going to break through in the playoffs, possibly this year. Only downside is the immense pressure of captaining a Toronto team that hasn’t seen playoffs success in a long time but I think he can handle it.
If I’m wrong, Blues sign him after Tarasenko and O’Reilly walk 😎 (jk)
Certainly not Toronto let’s be honest. He wants to eat a steak without a 100 people gawking at him. Saying don’t worry bud second round next year
Not Pittsburgh
Anaheim
Carolina Hurricanes
Leafs will sign him to whatever he wants, unless he’s dead set to leave, which he hasn’t indicated
Austin is down with the Yzerplan, Detroit will be happy to have him.
Nah Dubas is gonna back up the truck for him in all seriousness.
Arizona with whipping $18 million
The John Tavares signing really shook up the league in terms of a high profile franchise player in his prime choosing not to stay with the team that drafted him so he could go home. I think if the Leafs don’t reach at least the conference finals in these next two years, Matthews (who’s seen up close how JT’s adjusted to being back home) is probably on the way out. He’s not going to waste more of his prime years only going one or two rounds in the playoffs. Players of his generation are also way more cognizant of their personal brand and legacies and look at other sports where it has worked against guys (like Carmelo Anthony and Damian Lillard) who don’t join teams who win lol
Edit: We also had Johnny Hockey leave as well and Matthew Tkachuk
Toronto or Los Angeles. Dark Horse, Arizona
Rogaine
Toronto will have a total of 3 players signed when the first year of any potential Matthews extension starts. The GM has ensured no team will be able to outbid the Leafs – plus they can offer the extra year.
Ultimately it’s up to him but he would have to leave money on the table to go elsewhere.
Junior B baby
I know this will never happen, but as a Flyers fan he would really help them.
Zurich Switzerland
Whichever team in a tax free state has the most cap space.
Literally wherever Beiber tells him to go. They gonna be having sleepovers in LA.
Ah yes, the inevitable where is *insert pending free agent from Leafs* signing….
Getting earlier and earlier I might add.
Based on history I would wager a large sum on Toronto. The big names just don’t leave very often, not by free agency anyway.
Going to be a foot model. Do they make vests for feet?
He’s from Arizona. They could be a real dark horse if he wants to go back home.
A California team for sure.
He’s going to shock everyone and sign in Edmonton. That way the Oilers can score ten a game. No need for defence or goaltending.
Colorado.