Auston Matthews Current NHL Salary and Contract Terms
Auston Matthews earns a base salary of $11.634 million per season under his current contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The deal is a five-year, $58.17 million extension signed on July 28, 2022, with an annual average value of $11.634 million. The contract runs through the 2027–28 NHL season, with a cap hit of $11.634 million each year. Matthews is the highest-paid player on the Maple Leafs roster and one of the top earners in the NHL. His salary is fully guaranteed and structured as a standard player contract with no signing bonus front-loading.
The contract was negotiated by his agent, Pat Brisson of CAA Sports, and approved by the NHL and the Maple Leafs front office. Matthews remains under contract with Toronto through the 2027–28 season, with a no-movement clause included in the final years. The deal is structured to provide salary cap flexibility for the team while securing Matthews long-term. His annual salary is paid out evenly across the contract term. This contract places Matthews among the top five highest-paid players in the NHL by base salary.
Total Earnings: Salary, Bonuses, and Endorsement Income
Beyond his NHL salary, Matthews earns additional income from performance bonuses and endorsement deals. His contract includes standard NHL bonus structures for playoff performance and individual achievements. Matthews has endorsement partnerships with companies such as Adidas, BioSteel, and Gatorade. These deals are reported to add several hundred thousand dollars to his annual income. His total estimated annual earnings from salary and endorsements are in the range of $13 million to $15 million.
Matthews is one of the most marketable athletes in hockey due to his on-ice performance and global appeal. His endorsement portfolio includes deals with major sportswear and nutrition brands. The Adidas partnership includes signature footwear and apparel lines. BioSteel, a sports nutrition company, lists Matthews as a key brand ambassador. These partnerships are managed through his representation at CAA Sports. Matthews endorsement income is estimated to be in the low millions annually.
Comparison to Other NHL Players and Career Earnings
Matthews salary is among the highest in the NHL, comparable to players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. McDavid earns $12.5 million annually, while Matthews earns $11.634 million. Matthews is the highest-paid American-born player in NHL history by total contract value. His career earnings from NHL contracts are projected to exceed $80 million by the time his current deal expires. He is also the first Maple Leafs player to sign a $50 million-plus extension since Mats Zuccarello.
Matthews career earnings also include his rookie contract, which paid $925,000 per year from 2016 to 2019. He signed his bridge deal in 2019 for $7.35 million over two years. His current extension represents a significant increase from his earlier contracts. Matthews is ranked among the top 10 highest-paid NHL players by annual salary. His earnings reflect his status as a generational talent and franchise cornerstone for the Maple Leafs.