Experts Project Auston Matthews' Next Contract and You Won't Believe the Number

Prior precedent would also suggest something relatively close to $12.5 million — like the deal MacKinnon just signed, right next to McDavid's — but Matthews shouldn't be held to that outdated figure either. Players should be paid based on their worth relative to the salary cap which is about to boom, not to an artificial ceiling based on a contract signed six years ago.

Over the next five years, Matthews is projected to be worth between 17-to-19 percent of the salary cap. The same as Crosby and Ovechkin back in the day.

In 2023-24 terms, that's $14.2 million to $15.9 million per year.
In 2024-25 terms, when Matthews' new contract would kick in, that's $14.9 million to $16.6 million per year.
In 2025-26 terms, that's $15.6 million to $17.5 million per year.