Auston Matthews Maple Leafs Contract: Highest-Paid NHL Player Earned $45M In 6 Seasons

Auston Matthews is a professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and was the second-highest-paid player last year. Despite massive pay cuts in the NHL, the athlete earned a lucrative salary and became the highest-paid NHL player in 2021.

While Matthews was supposed to make $15.9 million in base salary and bonuses, his compensation was reduced to $13 million net of escrow after deferrals were subtracted. His total earnings were pushed to $16 million after getting $3 million from endorsements off the ice.

The Maple Leafs center’s most recent salary pushed his total career earnings to $45 million in six seasons with the NHL. Matthews’ current contract is an extension that runs for five years and is worth $58 million, giving him an average annual salary of $11.6 million, as per Spotrac.

Brands and marketers are increasingly drawn to Matthews for his potential, as he was previously on track to break the record for the most number of goals in a single season for the Maple Leafs in the 2019-2020 season, as per Complex. However, it was cut short after authorities paused the season in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Matthews is making up for his loss of salary with endorsement deals with Verizon and CCM Hockey that were signed last year. The two companies add to the athlete’s already sizable partner list, which includes Nike, Scotiabank and Dream Water.

Last week, the NHL opened its 56-game season with limited fans and utilizing only three arenas. Games with barely any fans caused devastating damage to the league’s finances. Unlike other major U.S. sports leagues, the NHL lacks blockbuster TV contracts. The majority of the revenue is earned from tickets, concessions, sponsorships and parking.

Players will also be affected by the financial struggles after agreeing to defer 10% of their total compensation. Their salaries will be paid back over three years in equal installments which will start in 2024. Athletes will also lose 20% of their salaries due to NHL’s escrow system because of the league’s financial plunge, as per Forbes.