Auston Matthews-Brad Treliving meeting cautiously optimistic start for new Maple Leafs deal
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It had to be considered a good week on the Auston Matthews front for the Maple Leafs.
While there might not be a new deal to announce in the next few days, indeed even by the July 1 date that has caused so much consternation in Leafs Nation, there was no mushroom cloud spotted over Scottsdale after Brad Treliving met with Matthews and agent Judd Moldaver, the first time the new general manager has entered the contract talks.
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Neither side has revealed anything public about what was discussed in the one-day gathering, though enough can be surmised to indicate Matthews is still committed to his post-season wish to sign in Toronto.
How miffed Matthews was that his great management ally Kyle Dubas was fired or how much that was mitigated by Treliving’s hire of Matthews’ Coyote playing idol, Shane Doan, is unclear.
But rather than arrive in the desert armed with a spreadsheet of numbers for Moldaver, it’s more likely Treliving wanted Matthews to put a face to the name and hear what his vision of the team might be, early as it is.
There is the fate of fellow Core Four members William Nylander (also approaching the last year of his deal), Mitch Marner, who has a no-move clause along the lines of Matthews on July 1 and what will happen with coach Sheldon Keefe.
All indications from the Leafs are that every effort will be made to keep those three stars and captain John Tavares beyond 2024 unless there’s a trade offer that can’t be refused. Keefe is also in line to return as he and Treliving sorted through assistant coaching candidates this week, though an extension for Keefe is not settled.
If Matthews re-signs, it can be anywhere from three to eight seasons and likely put him in the NHL’s highest pay bracket, the $14-million to $15-million range. But hard numbers are still to be exchanged in the coming days, assuming the optimism generated by the past week continues.
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Treliving already knows Moldaver from previous negotiations with high-profile NHL clients and there is no history of fireworks between them.
There isn’t much movement, meanwhile, in a new deal to keep defenceman Luke Schenn a Leaf.
Donnie and Dhali, a West Coast TV sports program that has closely followed Schenn’s contractual path to and from the Vancouver Canucks, reported that term and a trade clause have hung up what were expected to be straightforward talks to bump his salary and sign a multi-year deal.
The 33-year-old Schenn came back to his Toronto draft team at playoff time in a vital role for someone making less than $1 million. But he also has ties to Western Canada should a return to the Leafs not work out.
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