Maple Leafs star Matthews agrees to five-year extension

Toronto Maple Leafs All-Star center Auston Matthews agreed to terms on a five-year, $58.17 million contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The $11.634 million average is the second highest behind Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid ($12.5 million). Toronto's John Tavares, who signed with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in the offseason, dropped to third at $11 million.

The 21-year-old Matthews currently is earning a base salary of $832,500 in the final season of a three-year, $11.325 million deal. Matthews could have become a restricted free agent after the season but said he was intent on reaching a deal to stay in Toronto.

"I don't think there's anything like playing in this city," Matthews said during a press conference. "Walking around, getting recognized, I mean, that's not something I really ever imagined when I was kid growing up in Arizona. So to play in a market like this, that's not something I take for granted." Matthews said contract lengths from three to eight years were discussed before both sides settled on five.

"Everything came together," Matthews said. "I guess you could always wait, but I had no problem signing during the season. I'm very proud to be a Maple Leaf today and for the foreseeable future." Matthews has scored 97 goals in just 182 games over his first 2 1/2 NHL seasons. He has 23 goals and 23 assists (46 points) in 38 games this season and made the All-Star team for the third straight season.

"We make the investment in Auston because he's shown tremendous potential," Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said in the press conference. "He's a center and he scores at an elite, elite rate that few have matched in their first three years in hockey. "So we know what he's capable of, and he's still only a very young man."

Matthews scored 40 goals in 2016-17 when he won Rookie of the Year honors. He followed up with 34 goals last season. Tavares likes what he has seen from Matthews in their first season as teammates.

"He's got a presence in our locker room and around the team and even probably around many guys in the league who were around him at the All-Star game," Tavares told reporters. "He has tremendous potential. Guys love being around him." Matthews, who was raised in Scottsdale, Ariz., was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft.

--Field Level Media