Speculation: 2 years away. Do you think Matthews accepts a slight raise OR takes us to the cleaners next contract?

[hfman]

Toronto is still the biggest NHL stage and I think he's embracing the fact that the Leafs (and by extension - him) are the NHL's most hated villains.

Most hated villains? Don't know about that, more like most laughed at clowns

let's face it we've been the laughing stock of the league for years now, not sure it's so much hating us as it is laughing at us

 

[Jozay]

Probably 14 mill aav for 5 years.

 

[kb]

Most hated villains? Don't know about that, more like most laughed at clowns

let's face it we've been the laughing stock of the league for years now, not sure it's so much hating us as it is laughing at us

Naw, there is real hate. Everything Leafs is complained about.

 

[NMacrules]

After seeing what MacKinnon got, there's no question Matthews deserved more for individual stats, but he's still never gotten past the first round. He's also got top dollar on his first contract.

Slight raise is somewhere around 12-13.5. I would be happy with $13m. I'd be thrilled with $12m (assuming the rational is MacKinnon has won his team a cup therefore he has proven his worth in the playoffs). Matthews still hasn't shown he can get us out of the first round (he's more than capable but it hasn't come to fruition yet) so does he leave money on the table to help Dubas build a better all around team?

Or does he take us to the cleaners and him and his agent demand the max $16.3m. I would say $14m+ would extend us into this continued cap restraint we're seeing now, where we are complaining about having no other stars other than our big 5, and continue keep looking for bargain bin value contracts and hoping for a gem.


A little early to talk about but with MacKinnon being the highest paid player into he league just now, it doesn't hurt to speculate what it could be and how it will effect us after.

The cap is going to start to go up and Matthews (the greedy puke) will just take it. Whatever it is, it better be for 8 years.

 

[NMacrules]

They put Gretzky in LA in the late 80s and Crosby in Pittsburgh for the exact same reason they'd put Matthews in Arizona.

It can absolutely happen

Not true. Pittsburgh won a lottery.

 

[Apex Predator]

He’ll take top dollars and then it will be Duba/whoever is in charge to figure out the cap. It’s suppose to raise 10 million in a few years so I don’t know if that means Matthews will be asking for 17-18 million a season.

 

[Metroid]

They put Gretzky in LA in the late 80s and Crosby in Pittsburgh for the exact same reason they'd put Matthews in Arizona.

It can absolutely happen

With your reasoning it make more sense to have had the Ducks win the lottery and put Crosby there.

 

[ACC1224]

With your reasoning it make more sense to have had the Ducks win the lottery and put Crosby there.

The Pens were going to fold or relocated before being gifted Crosby.

 

[Metroid]

The Pens were going to fold or relocated before being gifted Crosby.

But here (hfs board) it's always about helping the sun belt teams.

Either way, ya I remember the Pittsburgh folding thing.

 

[Tairy Greene]

13.6 x 8 if I had to guess.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Matthews will sign for league max in LA, Vegas, Zona, or maybe Anaheim or San Jose.

This will be his last season here. Enjoy.

 

[aight]

Matthews will sign for league max in LA, Vegas, Zona, or maybe Anaheim or San Jose.

This will be his last season here. Enjoy.

You think they’ll trade him before his final year of the current contract if he isn’t extended a year before ufa?

 

[57 Years No Cup]

You think they’ll trade him before his final year of the current contract if he isn’t extended a year before ufa?

Yes.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Matthews will sign for league max in LA, Vegas, Zona, or maybe Anaheim or San Jose.

This will be his last season here. Enjoy.

He has next season as well before he re-signs. I will enjoy watching him and the Leafs.

 

[kb]

Yes.

*Checks user name*

Yup, this post is from a non-fan stirring up shit. But all OK, right?

 

[Funk21]

I hope all of the big three understand they got a Sweetheart deal the last time but due to the pandemic screwed the entire team. Furthermore no other team paid the upfront bonus structure that the TML which made their contracts even better. MR took a discount to be with the TML and this group, it’s time the rest did too. I hope AM, Marner and Nylander all look hard in the mirror and think what could be if we had a little more wiggle room.

AM 13.34
MM 11.91
Nylander 8.8

If the Cap is around 90+ million in 3 years time it will tight again but not what we have been experiencing these past three years.

 

[Menzinger]

Matthews will sign for league max in LA, Vegas, Zona, or maybe Anaheim or San Jose.

This will be his last season here. Enjoy.

Even if Matthews were to leave I doubt Arizona (which won't have an NHL caliber arena) or any of those non LA California teams will hold much draw for him.

The guy wants to be a star. Those other teams are media black holes in terms of the hockey world. It's where guys go to play out a quite career with zero pressure for a paycheque (no offense to Sharks/Ducks fans)

 

[Face Of Bear]

He's going to sign for 20% for 3 years

 

[Anthrax442]

He should ask for whatever he is worth.

 

[Legion34]

13.4 makes sense on an 88 cap

 

[I am Canadian]

14.34 x 8

 

[danny90]

Yes.

In this scenario would the leafs be out of the playoffs? I don't see why a team would trade its best player if they are contending especially if its the last year of said player and they are in absolute must win now mode.

Even if Matthews were to leave I doubt Arizona (which won't have an NHL caliber arena) or any of those non LA California teams will hold much draw for him.

The guy wants to be a star. Those other teams are media black holes in terms of the hockey world. It's where guys go to play out a quite career with zero pressure for a paycheque (no offense to Sharks/Ducks fans)

If Arizona suddenly found money and had a new arena built i could see the draw.

 

[Gabriel426]

I think he will sign with the Leafs at 13-14mil/yr. Then two years later, they will use the JT money to sign McDavid.

 

[kevsh]

You think they’ll trade him before his final year of the current contract if he isn’t extended a year before ufa?

I think that regardless of what happens this year, whether Dubas is the GM next Summer or someone else is, MLSE will make it the organizational priority to get him re-signed. Whatever it takes. Big moves on the roster, new coach, whatever.

Worst scenario is next Summer he says he wants to see how the '23-24 season goes before committing. Second worst is he says he wants to test the market as a UFA. In either case I don't see MLSE approving trading him next Summer, even if he's 100% committed to walking. They will justify holding on to him so they can take one more crack at the Cup while their franchise player is still a Leaf. That's why those two scenarios are the worst: They're almost certainly going to lose him and get nothing in return.

If I had to bet right now on what I think most likely happens I'd put my money on him re-signing next Summer for the full 8. I truly believe he wants to be here and nothing he's said or done has given me any reason to doubt that. He's got a real shot to set all kinds of franchise records for one of the original 6 teams, get his number retired and walk away from the sport a legend in the "mecca of hockey". Just maybe get a Cup ring to boot.

Anyone thinking he's choosing Arizona in particular (shaky franchise, small market, long history of being very bad, for starters) over Toronto is not thinking clearly.

 

[therealkoho]

As counter productive as it is, the players creed of "its all about me" so get every last penny you can is as foolish as players complaining about escrow even though they've created the very situation that demand it.

I hope that both Matty and MM stay their whole respective productive careers here in the big smoke, with the caveat that they deal fairly with the team that has already made them two of the most wealthy NHL players in history.

I'm not saying that either one of them take minimum deals or anything totally without reason. Just asking that they leave enough on the table so that the Leafs can build a roster that can remain a contender into the foreseeable future.

4 players taking up half the available cap space is untenable. So the two big boys would get 12% each in 6 year increments as long as they are the defacto team leaders, no other player should get any more than 7.5% (limited to 5 players), in up to 5 year increments. Of course it would need tweaking, but it would cover off 4 players of the top 6 and 2 d and a goaltender it would be one way to give the Maple Leafs a shot at winning by retaining more firepower than they currently have now.