The future looks uncertain for Toronto, as they grapple with a tightening salary cap and two stars still needing extensions. Nylander's contract situation seems particularly precarious, and Auston Matthews is still unsigned. There's been a new development on that subject. <div align='center' style='padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;'><img src='https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/301125.webp' width='100%' border='0' alt='image' loading='lazy' defer /></div> <h2>Matthews Deal: Is It Already Done?</h2> Although it hasn't been announced yet, there's speculation that Matthews' contract has already been decided. Jay Rosehill and Nick Algebra shared their insights on the Matthews/Nylander situation on Leafs Morning Take. <q>My theory is that Matthews' contract is already finalized. It reminds me of Nathan McKinnon from last year; even though they didn't announce it on July 1, everyone knew he'd re-sign, especially after winning the Stanley Cup with Denver. The announcement came around training camp. Similarly, I believe Matthews will sign his extension when this year's training camp starts. Regarding Nylander, given his history and the known stance of his father, he's shown he's willing to negotiate until the last minute.</q> The two continued to discuss the potential implications of Matthews' rumored extension for Nylander. <q>In the meantime, as Rosie mentioned, there's not much to report on the Nylander front, and the same goes for Auston Matthews. When do you expect news on this? Perhaps in September? Honestly, I don't know. With these two guys, it boils down to the team's position. They have players they need to sign; some are overpaid, while others deserve more. There's a salary cap to consider. How will they make it work? I genuinely don't know what they're planning. I have a gut feeling we might lose Nylander, and sadly, he's one of the players I'd prefer to retain. The reason he deserves a higher salary is that many people want to keep him.</q> <h2>How Much Is Nylander Worth?</h2> <div align='center' style='padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;'><img src='https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/301124.webp' width='100%' border='0' alt='image' loading='lazy' defer /></div> It's no secret that Nylander's camp is aiming for a contract around $9.5-10 million AAV. Meanwhile, Toronto hopes to lock him down for $9 million or less. While Nylander might be worth his asking price, the Leafs' budget is stretched thin, and there may not be enough left to satisfy his demands. If Nylander'S camp remains inflexible, Toronto may have to consider trading him to get some value in return before he departs as a free agent. <div class='youtube_container'><iframe class='youtube_video' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TdQQtKCoYFg' width='100%' loading='lazy' frameborder='0' title='' allow='autoplay; fullscreen' allowfullscreen></iframe></div> As seen on Hockey Patrol - <a href='https://www.hockeypatrol.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/Reporter-reveals-the-worst-for-William-Nylander-and-the-Maple-Leafs' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Reporter reveals the worst for Nylander and the Maple Leafs</a>