News Article: Auston Matthews - August 1st., Contract Crickets

[Sypher04]

The last article that I saw that broke down endorsements showed Tavares making over $2M a year in endorsements in Toronto, whereas guys like Kucherov, Panarin, Stamkos, etc were making <$500K in their markets (despite all being bigger stars).

In San Jose or NYI, he'd be making <$500K in endorsements. That alone makes up the difference, not to mention he'll be able to keep raking in Toronto endorsement money for years after retirement.

Everyone talks about the benefits of taxes, but no one factors in the endorsement money available here. I forget who, but on a podcast someone said in other markets, the top star player might get a free car as an endorsement, here even the 4th liners can get that.

There’s a good reason for that though. Nobody disputes the endorsement money is better here and some players will factor that, but endorsement money is not NHL pay. The player signing that endorsement deal does so committing to new responsibilities; it’s another job, related, but separate from their NHL job

 

[Dekes For Days]

There’s a good reason for that though. Nobody disputes the endorsement money is better here and some players will factor that, but endorsement money is not NHL pay. The player signing that endorsement has responsibilities; it’s another job.

Yep. Imagine your employer telling you that they're going to pay you less than your peers because you do some side jobs for some extra money. It's always been a silly argument. It can help draw people to the city, but it won't affect NHL contracts.

 

[Sypher04]

Maybe? But we've heard from many different people that echo the same sentiment. There doesn't really seem to be urgency from their camp to extend or really verbally agree to a contract for July 1st.

It's pretty clear Matthews will very likely to re-sign based on everything. The bigger problem is the contract and how it looks like.

I would personally chalk that up to the media loving to speculate and largely being an echo chamber.

Again, I think it’s a logical assumption to say Matthews would not have the same urgency the team does, but if we’re asking the question of whether the media actually knows anything, I firmly believe they don’t

 

[SprDaVE]

I would personally chalk that up to the media loving to speculate and largely being an echo chamber.

Again, I think it’s a logical assumption to say Matthews would not have the same urgency the team does, but if we’re asking the question of whether the media actually knows anything, I firmly believe they don’t

I think they have a lot better assumptions and insider information to based those opinions on. Just because we don't like those opinions or reports, we chalk them as not knowing anything. If Seravalli had said they had talks and a contract was agreed upon, we'd probably not be saying he doesn't know anything.

If Matthews was all but signed or there was just a few things to iron out, there would be reports about it. Dahlin is reportedly all but locked up and the extension will be announced July 1st for example.

Matthews and Treliving apparently met yesterday, so perhaps there's been a shift on his contract. Maybe it's the same stalemate. Nobody really knows.

 

[Sypher04]

I think they have a lot better assumptions and insider information to based those opinions on. Just because we don't like those opinions or reports, we chalk them as not knowing anything.

If Matthews was all but signed or there was just a few things to iron out, there would be reports about it. Dahlin is reportedly all but locked up and the extension will be announced July 1st for example.

Matthews and Treliving apparently met yesterday, so perhaps there's been a shift on his contract. Maybe it's the same stalemate. Nobody really knows.

I think an effectively finalized deal has more people involved thus the odds of it leaking somewhere increases. I don’t right now see any reason to think more than a handful of people on each side of the Matthews/Toronto camps actually know where talks/intentions/asks currently are at

The bolded is my entire point.

 

[robertmac43]

Anyone else worried this is going to end up being another short deal, thinking it will be 3 or 4 years tbh.

 

[PromisedLand]

June 15 Treliving.... half a month gone already

 

[darrylsittler27]

I won't. I am not a fan of Eichel. Yes, he's done his part, but that Vegas team is absolutely stacked and built the right way. And, make no mistake, Marchessault, Stone, and Pietrangelo are the engines that drive that bus. Eichel just needs to fit in and contribute, not carry the team.

I'd still take Matthews with all his playoff warts and Bieber tees over Eichel, easily. That said, Matthews has been a huge disappointment in the playoffs, and if that's simply brushed under the rug during negotiations, the Leafs are out to lunch.

My point is dollar value. We made this mistake before. What Mathews gets, Marner thinks he is worth. Not this time. One of them is gone and I give Mathews (4 times $12 Million), if he balked, Id make some phone calls and trade Marner. They are not as good as say Sittler and McDonald duo, and that means move on. We need that money cause cap kills us. No more stupid Dubad gymnastics.

 

[ToneDog]

My point is dollar value. We made this mistake before. What Mathews gets, Marner thinks he is worth. Not this time. One of them is gone and I give Mathews (4 times $12 Million), if he balked, Id make some phone calls and trade Marner. They are not as good as say Sittler and McDonald duo, and that means move on. We need that money cause cap kills us. No more stupid Dubad gymnastics.

Tavares will be off the books in two years so we will have some cap breathing room when Mitch is up.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

There’s a good reason for that though. Nobody disputes the endorsement money is better here and some players will factor that, but endorsement money is not NHL pay. The player signing that endorsement deal does so committing to new responsibilities; it’s another job, related, but separate from their NHL job

If it is just another job...why do players want to go to big markets to make big $$ at this job? You cannot say that endorsement money doesn't make a difference...especially when of the most lucrative markets for that are in TO. It should negate the extra tax they pay and also allow them to take a little less should they be so inclined.

I know I will NEVER buy anything that Magic Mitch is hawking just because he acted like a brat and wanted so much. Had he taken less...he would most likely be so beloved he would be making a ton more in endorsement $$.

 

[613Leafer]

There’s a good reason for that though. Nobody disputes the endorsement money is better here and some players will factor that, but endorsement money is not NHL pay. The player signing that endorsement deal does so committing to new responsibilities; it’s another job, related, but separate from their NHL job

It's not NHL pay, but it's still a massive benefit to playing here vs elsewhere, and if they take a bigger contract elsewhere that doesn't exceed the value of that endorsement $$ + NHL salary here, then the player is losing $$ relative to playing here. That's the bottom line.

Also - another "job". It's really not much work. It's a benefit to working in this market, and the $$ relative to effort required is very very good.

 

[ACC1224]

If it is just another job...why do players want to go to big markets to make big $$ at this job? You cannot say that endorsement money doesn't make a difference...especially when of the most lucrative markets for that are in TO. It should negate the extra tax they pay and also allow them to take a little less should they be so inclined.

I know I will NEVER buy anything that Magic Mitch is hawking just because he acted like a brat and wanted so much. Had he taken less...he would most likely be so beloved he would be making a ton more in endorsement $$.

That's a thing? I've never heard a player say that.

Most wouldn't find working a second job to bump up their pay that attractive.
They'd rather more pay for one job.

 

[mapleleafs34]

12 mil per year plus some Boston Pizza shares

 

[keonsbitterness]

Anyone else worried this is going to end up being another short deal, thinking it will be 3 or 4 years tbh.

Leafs would be insane agreeing to that.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

That's a thing? I've never heard a player say that.

Most wouldn't find working a second job to bump up their pay that attractive.
They'd rather more pay for one job.

If your a star....they tend to do big endorsement deals...just because a player doesn't say it doesn't mean he doesn't want it. Why is AM doing the bett99 ads? Why is MM doing Skip the dishes ads? It's not like we are forcing them to do it. They want to do it. It's not like we are talking about Acciari supplementing his low salary by doing a Used Car Lot commercial.

 

[authentic]

June 15 Treliving.... half a month gone already

Hey just give him some time to get to know everybody first would ya?

 

[ACC1224]

If your a star....they tend to do big endorsement deals...just because a player doesn't say it doesn't mean he doesn't want it. Why is AM doing the bett99 ads? Why is MM doing Skip the dishes ads? It's not like we are forcing them to do it. They want to do it. It's not like we are talking about Acciari supplementing his low salary by doing a Used Car Lot commercial.

They aren't doing it to bring their salaries in line with their peers in other cities which was the whole point of the discussion.

 

[DarkKnight]

When Matthews agent brings up the MacKinnon salary… f*** THESE GUYS.

 

[myleafs]

no NHL team has ever won a Cup with 1 player ...this isnt the NBA where a LeBron can win a series on his own, and even he needed high end complimentary pieces on offense AND defense to win.

we only have a good offence; our defense has been rubbish for well over a decade, and is only serviceable at best.
i'm no spiring chicken, and I cannot remember the last time the Leafs had an intimidating defender, forget an intimidating defense.
The last one we ever drafted that fit that build was Gary Nylund, and injuries did him in.

Thats why Schenn and McCabe were a breath of fresh air....not high end pieces but they had some of those qualities that we havent seen much of in a ling time.

 

[myleafs]

Seravalli mentioned the plan was for Treliving to meet with Matthews yesterday in Arizona. So perhaps some traction was made there.

He also said there's urgency from the Leafs to lock up Matthews as soon as July 1st hits but that there is less urgency from Matthews to do so, so there will be a clash a bit depending which way it goes.

Of course there is less urgency...this news is already showing where Matthews head is at. If he really wanted to commit to the leafs he could and he would but he isnt. Hey matt we will pay you tens of millions more dollars to commit to the leafs...."matt...yea I really like it here and my intention is to stay but you know we will see how it plays out":.....he is totally going to bend the leafs over.

 

[Gilmour1996]

No matter how this ends, it's not going to end well.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Of course there is less urgency...this news is already showing where Matthews head is at. If he really wanted to commit to the leafs he could and he would but he isnt. Hey matt we will pay you tens of millions more dollars to commit to the leafs...."matt...yea I really like it here and my intention is to stay but you know we will see how it plays out":.....he is totally going to bend the leafs over.

He is a dumbass. Let’s squeeze the Leafs for every penny so that they have less money to build a contender around me. All he cares is his bank account, nothing else. Ship his ass out! I don’t care, you’re not going to win with him making 14 m on the cap anyway. So what good does a “bona fide top line C” do for us?

 

[Albz]

Sign him 4 years at 14m. If we don't win with him in 4 years, we aren't handicapped with him, and if we win in 4 years, he can go free or resign. No need to sign him to a long contract

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Dude didn't take a discount on his original deal so we expected he'd live up to it. He's never lived up to it in the post-season and now wants more.....

Yes some team can afford to overpay superstars but you can't afford to overpay three separate forwards at this point this team's balance is completely off. If he wants $14M+ to me he can be traded and the rebuild can begin sooner cos this ain't gonna work with three forwards at like $36M+.

 

[ACC1224]

When Matthews agent brings up the MacKinnon salary… f*** THESE GUYS.

What does that have to do with Mackinnons salary?