Auston Matthews Net Worth: Maple Leafs Star Is Second Highest Paid NHL Player

Auston Matthews is one of the highest paid NHL players this season. Can he live up to his massive multi-year deal?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are dead set in ending their title drought, which now stands at 52 year, the longest drought ever in the history of professional hockey. In the hopes of ending their misfortunes, they secured the signature of three of today’s biggest stars in hockey and it came with a heavy price tag.

The Maple Leafs signed John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and they combined for the highest salaries in the league last year. The three stars almost put their team over the salary cap but it just goes to show the team’s commitment moving forward.

Last year, Matthews signed a five-year deal worth $11.6 million annually. He is set to become a free agent and Toronto wasted no time giving an extension. With this, Matthews becomes the second highest-paid hockey player behind Connor McDavid’s $14 million per year salary. However, Matthews seems like he has a better deal because he can enter the free agency market in just 26 years old, an age many consider to be the peak playing year of a hockey player.

Matthews makes $2.3 million from collaborations with brands, most notably with Apple when he was featured in an ad with Marner in 2019. His popularity with fans enabled him to become a top jersey seller in 2018.

His total earnings for the 2019-2020 NHL season is expected to hit $18.2 million from both his salary, bonuses and endorsements.

The 2016 top draft pick is playing his best this season after scoring 42 goals in 60 games played so far for the Maple Leafs. Per NHL.com, the four-year veteran also averages career highs in Face-Off Percentage, Power Play Points and Points Total this season.

Can the Maple Leafs finally add a Stanley Cup trophy to their hardware? Fans and diehards certainly hope so. The goal remains the same for Matthews: win the elusive title. "In the end, you're measured by championships,” he added in an interview.

If the trio of superstars can achieve something that has not been done before in more than 52 years, it is safe to say the multi-million investment in them is a risk worth taking. With the salary cap expected to increase in the coming years, more and more players will be given massive deals by their teams to make the roster more competitive.