Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4 Best Contracts for 2025-26

The salary structure of the Toronto Maple Leafs is significantly less top-heavy than it was in previous seasons. Auston Matthews and William Nylander still carry hefty average annual values (AAV) of $13.25 million and $11.5 million, respectively, but they are the only players earning over $10 million per campaign.

The team hopes that a more balanced bottom six will lead to better results in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the organization still has some salary space to work with before the puck drops for the start of the 2025-26 season. A good portion of that room comes from solid value contracts for a few key contributors. 

Matthew Knies – 6 years, $46.5 million ($7.75 million AAV)

A contract extension for Matthew Knies was a top priority for the Maple Leafs this offseason after the 22-year-old winger completed his entry-level deal in style. He amassed 29 goals, 58 points, 152 shots on target and 182 hits across 78 games during the 2024-25 regular season. He also provided five tallies and two assists in 13 playoff outings. 

Knies agreed to his six-year extension on June 29, locking up an integral piece for the team before the start of free agency. It’s a reasonable price tag for the budding power forward that will continue to look even better as the salary cap increases through the years of the pact. His speed, strength, and ability to capitalize on his opportunities have made him a fixture on the top line and first power-play unit. The 6-foot-3, 227-pounder still has plenty of room to grow his game as he looks to build on last season’s success. 

Anthony Stolarz – 2 years, $5 million (2.5 million AAV) 

After signing a two-year agreement with the Maple Leafs in July 2024, Anthony Stolarz appeared to be a good bet to outshine his contract. He wanted a chance to prove he could be a starting goaltender after serving as a backup, and the 31-year-old proved to be an elite option between the pipes during his first season in Toronto. He posted a 21-8-3 record with four shutouts, a 2.14 goals-against average, and a .926 save percentage across a career-high 34 appearances. 

The only problem with his current deal, which will likely provide the Maple Leafs with plenty of bang for the buck in 2025-26, is that he has only one more season remaining on it. If Stolarz shines again, he should land a long-term contract. However, it could be regarded as a steal for the team and the player if they can find common ground in negotiations. Stolarz could find a home in Toronto, while the Maple Leafs should work to secure a fundamental piece of the puzzle for the foreseeable future.

John Tavares – 4 years, $17.56 million ($4.39 million AAV) 

John Tavares made it clear that he wanted to stay with the Maple Leafs after completing his seven-year, $77 million contract. The 34-year-old centre has amassed 222 goals and 493 points across 515 regular-season outings with Toronto, including 38 tallies and 74 points in 75 contests last campaign. He also ranked seventh in the league with 762 faceoff wins while posting an impressive 58.3 percent success rate.