Matthews wants to remain with Maple Leafs beyond next season

TORONTO --Auston Matthews wants to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond next season.

The 25-year-old center will enter the final season of a five-year, $58.17 million contract ($11.634 average annual value) before he can become an unrestricted free agent. He is eligible to sign another deal July 1 and would like to do so before the start of 2023-24. The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews had his fourth consecutive season with at least 40 goals.

The Maple Leafs were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Friday.

"My intention is to be here," Matthews said Monday. "I think I've reciprocated that before how much I enjoy playing here, what it means to me, the organization, my teammates and how much I just enjoy being here.

"It's important and it will all kind of work itself out in due time and just kind of go from there, but as far as everything else goes, like I've said before, I really do enjoy playing here and it's a true honor. The work we are putting in to obviously continue to strive for that end result is extremely motivating."

Matthews said he was working through an injury that affected his ability to shoot but did not specify the nature. He had 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 11 playoff games, helping Toronto win its first postseason series since 2004 with a six-game victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the best-of-7 first round. But he was held to two assists and did not have a point in the final three games of the second round.

"It was something I was dealing with a little bit throughout the season and a little bit throughout the playoffs," Matthews said. "In the end, it's my job to kind of push through that and do what I can to help the team win.

"You get the bumps and bruises and stuff and deal with certain stuff like everybody is. It's just kind of the nature of the game and the nature of playoffs, especially."

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas' contract will expire in the offseason, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the organization. Dubas said he will either return or take time off and will not accept a job with another team in 2023-24.

"I think he's a great GM," Matthews said. "I think he's built a really good culture here. You talk to guys who come from other teams and organizations and what he's been able to build here is great. I have a really good relationship with him."

If Dubas does not return, Matthews did not say whether that would influence his decision to sign another contract with Toronto.

"It's all kind of hypothetical and what-if," Matthews said. "I'm not really going to comment too far on that. I have a good relationship with Kyle, and that's really all I have to say."

Forward William Nylander, who tied Matthews for the Maple Leafs lead in goals (40), is entering the final season of a six-year contract ($6.9 million AAV) and can sign July 1. Like Matthews, Nylander expressed a desire to remain with Toronto long term.

"I have a full year (before free agency), and obviously I want to stay here," Nylander said. "It would be nice if we could sort (a contract) out, but the season just ended and I'm not really too focused about that."

Forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, each acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 17, will be unrestricted free agents July 1. Acciari said he would "love to return, but O'Reilly, who had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 13 regular-season games and nine points (three goals, six assists) in 11 playoff games, was not as definitive about his future.

"Yeah, absolutely (I'd consider offers)," O'Reilly said. "I think it's something, you know, I'm still reflecting on the loss and coming forward here, I have a lot to think about with what I plan to do. But this organization is incredible."

Forward Michael Bunting, who had 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists) in 82 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven playoff games in his second season with the Maple Leafs, will be an unrestricted free agent. Goalie Ilya Samsonov, who was 27-10-5 with a 2.33 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 regular-season games and 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .898 save percentage in the playoffs in his first season with Toronto, can become a restricted free agent. Each said they would welcome staying with Toronto.

Defenseman Luke Schenn, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 28, will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. Schenn, who was selected No. 5 by the Maple Leafs in the 2008 NHL Draft and played in Toronto for four seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers after the 2011-12 season, had one goal in 15 regular-season games and one assist in 11 playoff games.

John Tavares, who was fourth on the Maple Leafs with 80 points (36 goals, 44 assists) in 80 regular-season games and had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 11 playoff games, will enter the sixth season of a seven-year, $77 million contract ($11 million AAV). The Toronto captain has a no-movement clause and said his desire is to remain for the duration of the contract.

"I love it here," Tavares said. "I made a commitment here for seven years to be a Leaf, and I want to be here. That's how I feel and love being captain and take that responsibility very seriously and feel really fortunate and still think there's a tremendous opportunity here for our team in the near future and the long run."