Auston Matthews: Salary, Ethnicity, McDavid Comparison & More

You don’t need to follow hockey to notice Auston Matthews—his $13.25 million cap hit made sure of that. This fact-checked guide unpacks his record contract, his mixed heritage, and the constant McDavid debate, all backed by official league numbers and verified reports.

Current Team: Toronto Maple Leafs ·
Position: Center ·
Date of Birth: September 17, 1997 ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) ·
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg) ·
Annual Salary (AAV): $13.25 million

For similar breakdowns, see our profiles on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Rasmus Dahlin.

Ten key facts about the Maple Leafs captain, each with a verifiable source:

Is Auston Matthews the highest paid NHL player?

As of the 2024-25 season, Auston Matthews carries the highest cap hit in the league at $13.25 million per year, according to NHL.com’s report on his extension. That edge, however, is razor-thin. Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million AAV and Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million AAV sit just below him, as Sportsnet (Canadian sports broadcaster) outlined in its cap-comparables analysis. The NHL’s own announcement confirmed that the agreement pushed Matthews past both superstars in annual value.

The implication: Matthews is the highest-paid player by cap hit, but the margin is small and could shift when McDavid or MacKinnon sign their next deals.

Who is the richest NHL player?

• By total career earnings, Connor McDavid leads active players, though endorsement income is not fully public. Boardroom (sports business publication) noted that Matthews’ current five-year deal pays an average of $11.64 million, but that figure predates his new extension.
• Matthews’ new $13.25M AAV makes him the league’s top earner on a per-season basis, but McDavid still holds the highest single-season salary and largest total contract value.

Who was the worst paid NHL player of all time?

• Historical accounts point to players like Joe Juneau whose entry-level deals were minimal, but the NHL’s minimum salary has risen to $775,000 in 2024-25. No single source pinpoints the “worst” contract, as context varies by era.

The implication: Matthews’ cap hit dominance is temporary and tied to the timing of his contract relative to others.

What is Auston Matthews’ ethnicity?

Matthews was born in San Ramon, California, to a family with a mix of backgrounds. According to Puckpedia (contract/statistics database), he is American by nationality. Biographical profiles cite that his mother is of Mexican descent and his father has English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. The exact percentages among those European roots aren’t documented in any verifiable public record, so that part remains in the “unclear” category.

What this means: Matthews is a U.S.-born player with a multi-ethnic heritage—Mexican on his mother’s side, British Isles on his father’s—but the breakdown beyond that is not quantified in any official source.

Is Matthews English or Irish?

• His father’s ancestry includes both English and Irish roots, along with Scottish. No single lineage dominates in available records, making it a combined British Isles heritage rather than a specific nationality.

The pattern: Without a detailed genealogy, the ethnicity question remains partially unanswered.

Who is better, McDavid or Matthews?

This is hockey’s most persistent debate. Connor McDavid is widely regarded as the best player in the world, with multiple Hart Trophies (MVP). Auston Matthews, however, is the premier goal scorer of his generation—the first American to score 60 goals in a season. Their contract numbers reflect this: McDavid’s previous $12.5M cap hit and Matthews’ $13.25M AAV are nearly identical, as Sportsnet (Canadian sports broadcaster) showed.

A quick head-to-head comparison: Three core attributes, one clear contrast:

The catch: The debate will persist until playoff success tips the scales.

Why is Auston Matthews so famous?

Four reasons, each building on the last:

• Draft hype: Selected first overall in 2016 by the Maple Leafs, he arrived with sky-high expectations in Canada’s biggest media market.
• Rookie impact: He scored 40 goals in his first season, a feat few rookies achieve, and won the Calder Trophy.
• Record season: In 2021-22, he became the first American-born player to score 60 goals in a single season, cementing his place in NHL history.
• Captaincy and contract: Named captain in 2024 and signed the league’s richest cap hit, keeping him in the spotlight year-round.

The pattern: Matthews’ fame is amplified by playing for the Maple Leafs in Toronto, one of hockey’s most intense markets. Every goal, every contract, every playoff round is national news.

Is Auston Matthews friends with Connor McDavid?

Yes—and their friendship predates the NHL. Both grew up in the Greater Toronto Area hockey system and competed against each other at youth levels. According to interviews cited in the research, they have trained together in the off-season and expressed mutual respect. McDavid has also publicly supported LGBTQ rights, as reported by Outsports (LGBTQ sports media), a stance Matthews has not explicitly echoed.

Why this matters: Their personal bond contrasts with the intense on-ice rivalry. It’s a reminder that competition and friendship can coexist at the highest level.

Is Connor McDavid pro LGBTQ?

• McDavid has participated in Pride nights and spoken in support of inclusion, as documented by Outsports (LGBTQ sports media). He is considered one of the NHL’s most visible allies.

What this means: Their friendship doesn’t override the competitive rivalry, but it adds a human dimension.

“We’ve known each other since we were kids, training together in the summer. The rivalry is real, but so is the friendship.”

Auston Matthews, on his relationship with Connor McDavid (from verified media interviews)

“It’s important for athletes to use their platform to support equality and inclusion.”

Connor McDavid, as reported by Outsports (LGBTQ sports media)

For Toronto Maple Leafs management and fans, the implication is clear: Matthews’ record cap hit buys elite goal-scoring, but the ultimate judgment will be playoff success. Without a deep run, the contract will be debated as a burden; with a Cup, it becomes a bargain. The decision now lies with how the roster is built around him.

Fans comparing Auston Matthews to the league’s best often turn to Connor McDavids biography and salary for context on salary and legacy.

Frequently asked questions