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

[SprDaVE]

 

[leafsfan5]

It's crazy to me how a guy like Mackinnon who just won his cup and was underpaid for years was happy with a 12.6 x 8. He needed to push the needle past McDavid but didn't go for a crazy amount like 13+ when he had all the reasons to

Now we're likely sitting here about to open the chequebook on ~13 for a MEDIUM term deal with AM34

 

[HockeyVirus]

I wonder how Kyper would possibly know this. Why would Matthews side leak such specific information? This reminds me of Dreger and his Marner reporting. Although some of it might ring true in the end, I am thinking he is drawing it out of his ass.

He doesn't he is fanning the flames it is what he is paid to do.

 

[Aashir]

This is the only guy who gets excuses made for him

Having a rough stretch? Wrist injury
No show in the playoffs? Wrist injury
Got paid significantly more than comparables? But…but he score goals


We don’t talk about other superstars like this. Mackinnon and pastrnak weren’t talked about getting 13-14. Why the hell should he, when he’s been overpaid on the current contract on the entirety of it

This next contract is idiotic. He shouldn’t get anything more than 13x8. If it’s shorter term than less AAV, why are we trying to revolutionize resigning a player. We did it with RFAs and paying them off potential and it ruined us. If a player takes less years, he should not get as much AAV. On a 3-4 year deal i wouldn’t pay him a dollar over 12.

 

[Atomos2]

I guess we'll see.


Yup - Dubas banked on the Cap going up.

Hopefully Treliving isn't that stupid.

 

[TheDoldrums]

This guy says nothing, all the time. Nothing here that isn't just restated info that Friedman/CJ have already provided.

 

[thewave]

No stress no worries man. Nothing to see here man, no fire, no blaze bros. It's all good David says so man. Relax. They better have a freaking deal worked out for these guys july 1st

 

[MCR74]

This is the only guy who gets excuses made for him

Having a rough stretch? Wrist injury
No show in the playoffs? Wrist injury
Got paid significantly more than comparables? But…but he score goals


We don’t talk about other superstars like this. Mackinnon and pastrnak weren’t talked about getting 13-14. Why the hell should he, when he’s been overpaid on the current contract on the entirety of it

This next contract is idiotic. He shouldn’t get anything more than 13x8. If it’s shorter term than less AAV, why are we trying to revolutionize resigning a player. We did it with RFAs and paying them off potential and it ruined us. If a player takes less years, he should not get as much AAV. On a 3-4 year deal i wouldn’t pay him a dollar over 12.

Agreed.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I offer him 13.5 x 8. You are the highest paid player in the league by a significant gap, you get security, you get 130+ million career earnings and the potential for another contract still, but you also give the team a chance to win with that number.

If we are into 14-15M, trade him. That simple.

It's not even the money that is the problem as much as it is him not realizing he is just making the team weaker by asking for 14-15M. That's the part that irks me...if he asks for something stupid like that after having low priced guys like Bunting playing on his wing for the last couple of years...I don't know what to say.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

I guess we'll see.


Yup - Dubas banked on the Cap going up.

"Dubasites" keep using the excuse about the cap being stagnant...but that wasn't as big an issue as paying 3 guys over $10M. We also had bargain bin players that we got for a lot less than we would have if the cap kept going up. It's the PERCENTAGE of the cap that we allocated to 4 similar players...all on offence that did us in. Do you think you are getting Kampf for 1.5M if the cap was going up steadily? or Bunting for 900k? Not a chance...so even if the cap went up..Dubas would have still faced a similar if not exact problem.

 

[Trapper]

Oy...

MSN

How did all the Leaf players end up being so selfish? Isn't there one who's willing to set an example?

Perhaps they learned from a GM who staged his own power play and last minute changes to contracts. One who is currently trying to build his own hierarchy now in Pittsburgh.
Learning from guys like Marleau and Thornton who took short term paydays and never won anything. Or a Tavares who made a fanbase believe he was committed with one foot out the door.
It’s not about team here, it’s about what you can get.

 

[pcruz]

Ovi had a 65 goal, 112 pt season. Its pretty comparable to Matthews paces last year

Was he also top 10 in Selke voting while winning the Hart, Pearson, Rocket?
Leading the league in various defensive metrics....


He was a damn good bit more physical, that's for sure.

It's crazy to me how a guy like Mackinnon who just won his cup and was underpaid for years was happy with a 12.6 x 8. He needed to push the needle past McDavid but didn't go for a crazy amount like 13+ when he had all the reasons to

Now we're likely sitting here about to open the chequebook on ~13 for a MEDIUM term deal with AM34

It's crazy that a player who hasn't ever been close to winning an individual award only became the highest paid player in the league at a time the cap has been flat (albeit artificially) for the last 3 years?

It's not that crazy.

 

[Trapper]

If Matthews wants anything over 13 million you need to decide if you want to keep him.

And if you do, you should be trading Marner the next day and locking up Nylander to under 10 million.

There are your two higher paid forwards (now divert funds to D) and once Tavares is finished, you can fill out more.

 

[Niagara Bill]

And for some reason David Pagotta has credibility....

If Matthews wants anything over 13 million you need to decide if you want to keep him.

And if you do, you should be trading Marner the next day and locking up Nylander to under 10 million.

There are your two higher paid forwards (now divert funds to D) and once Tavares is finished, you can fill out more.

Money is important, the no trade clause is MOST important

 

[Gallagbi]

Was he also top 10 in Selke voting while winning the Hart, Pearson, Rocket?
Leading the league in various defensive metrics....


He was a damn good bit more physical, that's for sure.

Not a Selke Candidate, notably more physical and top 10 in hits, while nabbing Hart, Rocket and Lindsay (at that time). Pretty decent

 

[geo25]

And???

There is no guarantee the NHL will get a better deal with Canadian TV. There is no guarantee the cap will go up. If it doesn't, 8x$14M+ will kill this team.


That's fair but do you really think Marner (and his dad) will agree? It will get ugly fast.

Good..it'll kickstart trade talks (hopefully)...

 

[leafsfan5]

Was he also top 10 in Selke voting while winning the Hart, Pearson, Rocket?
Leading the league in various defensive metrics....


He was a damn good bit more physical, that's for sure.


It's crazy that a player who hasn't ever been close to winning an individual award only became the highest paid player in the league at a time the cap has been flat (albeit artificially) for the last 3 years?

It's not that crazy.

Mackinnon finished runner up for MVP twice and has been a finalist 3 times....saying he was never close is just wrong, especially when one of those years the winner was particularly scrutinized (Hall MVP). He's consistently been a top 5 player in hockey since 17-18

He also signed last year, his camp likely knew at that time the cap would rise significantly during the 8 years he is signed but they still went through with it. There was no take a short term deal and cash out once again

 

[myleafs]

Ovechkin never put up a season as good as Matthews did last year. Ovi's physical game is traded off for Matthews defensive game.

ovie had four 50+ goals 100+ pt seasons in his first 5 yrs....sooo....

 

[therealkoho]

So that leaves us with what exactly?

A dependent and a fader. Matthews stops scoring when it gets rough and Marner becomes pedestrian. So what is the solution? Trade the goal scoring C so that the winger can get a more hard nosed group around him?

May as well blow it all up then if I am reading this situation right, and I think I am. Trade them both maybe keep Nylander for his McDavid like speed,

I know there's a lot of negatives around here about Doug MacLean, but he was very clear that Matthews isn't the kind of guy who can lead a team, and also sees him as at the top of his pay scale. He knows hes a great guy to have on your team, as he can really put the puck into the net, but he just isn't a playoff performer and has never been one. So you shouldn't be paying him as the focus player.

I've said this right from the start pretty much, at least after the glow of the 4 goal game had worn off. It was an incredible feat for a rookie, but there seemed to be a kind of lack of intensity to his play.

It may seem dumb, but how many hat tricks have slipped away from him. If he gets two goals early and the Leafs have a lead, he kind of goes into low idle, almost like "great I've done my job, now I can coast"

If Matthews doesn't want to sign for 7 or 8 at a price point that's reasonable for what he has normally and statistically delivered, so considering on cap forecasts I'd say 12 to 12.5 for 6 years and 13 for a 7 to 8 year deal.

There has to be money left for a solid supporting cast

 

[TOGuy14]

With the right guys around him, he's a much different player.

Did you watch his memorial cup run with the Knights. He led his team, I mean truly led them, he scored something like 3 points a game throughout the playoffs. He was surrounded with the right players, players that didn't give up on pucks, took hits to make plays

When Matthews slumps they always put Mitch on his wing to get him going again, it always works and that's fine in the regular season.

In the playoffs though when Matthews does the disappearing act because of the tough going, sure Mitchs' points are going to disappear too.

I didn't see any of that 200 foot Matthews against Florida. What are you supposed to do when the main cog on your line isn't functioning, isn't participating. What happens is you end up being outmanned two or three to one in the Ozone. There aren't many guys that have ever played in the NHL that can beat those odds.

When you get paid like a top 10 player in the league you should drive your line no matter who you play with.

Marner is within sniffing distance of McDavid money and McDavid literally turns whatever pylons he lines up with into beasts and carries the team on his back.

If Marner is the type of player that "needs certain types to succeed" then he is an 8-9M winger max

 

[TOGuy14]

Was he also top 10 in Selke voting while winning the Hart, Pearson, Rocket?
Leading the league in various defensive metrics....


He was a damn good bit more physical, that's for sure.


It's crazy that a player who hasn't ever been close to winning an individual award only became the highest paid player in the league at a time the cap has been flat (albeit artificially) for the last 3 years?

It's not that crazy.

WAT?

Bro has been runner up on the Hart a few times

He carried his team to a cup at 26

He put up 111 points in 71 games this year

MacK is undoubtedly a top 5 player in the league, are you ok?

 

[Stephen]

I know there's a lot of negatives around here about Doug MacLean, but he was very clear that Matthews isn't the kind of guy who can lead a team, and also sees him as at the top of his pay scale. He knows hes a great guy to have on your team, as he can really put the puck into the net, but he just isn't a playoff performer and has never been one. So you shouldn't be paying him as the focus player.

I've said this right from the start pretty much, at least after the glow of the 4 goal game had worn off. It was an incredible feat for a rookie, but there seemed to be a kind of lack of intensity to his play.

It may seem dumb, but how many hat tricks have slipped away from him. If he gets two goals early and the Leafs have a lead, he kind of goes into low idle, almost like "great I've done my job, now I can coast"

If Matthews doesn't want to sign for 7 or 8 at a price point that's reasonable for what he has normally and statistically delivered, so considering on cap forecasts I'd say 12 to 12.5 for 6 years and 13 for a 7 to 8 year deal.

There has to be money left for a solid supporting cast

My reading of Matthews is he's a chameleon-like player who can be coaxed to play a more aggressive power style or a more defensive style at various times but the commitment level wanes depending on situation, opponent, etc. Unlike his pre-draft hype, I don't think he actually is an elite drive train player because he also has that annoyingly ineffective mid pace, lazy skating, perimeter gear.

That isn't to say you can't win with him. He's a unique, elite talent but I think more care needs to be put into selecting guys who can coax him to play a more dialed in brand. With Marner as his wing man they tend to default to a Harlem Globetrotter mentality, and it's not that effective in the playoffs.

 

[notbias]

WAT?

Bro has been runner up on the Hart a few times

He carried his team to a cup at 26

He put up 111 points in 71 games this year

MacK is undoubtedly a top 5 player in the league, are you ok?

MacKinnon was not the best player on his team when they won.

MacKinnon is really good, top 5 for sure.

He took 12.6 to be the highest paid and he also said he was taking a discount, how much of a discount did he take? I'm going with $0.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Whether he stays or goes the main thing that needs to be fixed is that Matthews is the only consistently reliable guy with the puck on his stick. No failed clearing attempts, no pizzas to an opposing forward, no panic pucks over the glass, just consistently wins battles and makes coherent if unspectacular plays to move the puck somewhere that benefits us. I can count the amount of times I had no idea what he was doing with the puck on one hand. The ones that stick out like the toe pick against MTL or Marner’s suicide pass against Florida can’t even be chalked up to panic or low IQ.

 

[ORRFForever]

Perhaps they learned from a GM who staged his own power play and last minute changes to contracts. One who is currently trying to build his own hierarchy now in Pittsburgh.
Learning from guys like Marleau and Thornton who took short term paydays and never won anything. Or a Tavares who made a fanbase believe he was committed with one foot out the door.
It’s not about team here, it’s about what you can get.

Unfortunately, that's true. I'm just amazed that Matthrews and Marner are as greedy as they are. Even if one set an example, it might make a difference.

If I'm Matthews, I LIKE TO THINK I'd say, "We haven't done anything so I'm going to take a little less as an example to the team and so we'll have money remaining for depth". But, who knows, maybe I'd try and get every dollar, too.