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

[Stamkos4life]

Did Dubas say those things?

No.

It was Shanahan. Those were his words. So he gets quoted.

Dubas is gone.

Who hired Dubas and kept him around so long anyway? Why blame Dubas when Shanahan was the one the one that presided over it all? There is plenty of blame to go around for this failed hockey team, and as POHO, Shanahan deserves the most.

Can't fire the owners.
Can't fire the players.
And the GM is already gone.

That leaves Shanahan. He's the POHO, and it was his Shanaplan. The buck stops there, with him.

Shanny is also at fault, but dubas was the main culprit.

I've never seen a gm get a pass and the blame put on the president. That's not how it works.

The gm makes the trades and is responsible for signing players and staff. Not the president.

But I do believe that shanny should be gone. The guy gave dubas the team at the worst time. To top it off, he even wanted to give dubas another contract! Hes been here for like 9 years with 1 series win. Not sure how hes survived this long.

 

[Mess]

They can’t work a deal out until July 1st

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and until his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

 

[andora]

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

View attachment 719014

View attachment 719012

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

View attachment 719013

Sigh
Yuck

 

[Gilmour1996]

The gm makes the trades and is responsible for signing players and staff. Not the president.

Unless the President is a meddler and can't help himself with his micromanaging, even without any NHL GM experience.

 

[Stamkos4life]

Unless the President is a meddler and can't help himself with his micromanaging, even without any NHL GM experience.

We didnt hear anything for 5 years about shanny "meddling" with dubas' decisions.

Mysteriously, as soon as Kyle is fired, the media starts talking about how shanny didnt let Kyle do the things he wanted.

The exact same media Kyle has a reputation of leaking info to.

Yeah I dont buy that at all.

 

[ToneDog]

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and until his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

View attachment 719014

View attachment 719012

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

View attachment 719013

If my math is correct 13.75mx8 with huge bonuses. Maybe Tre will be voted best NHL GM to deal with next by player agents.

 

[Funk21]

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and until his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

View attachment 719014

View attachment 719012

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

View attachment 719013

Again he doesn’t deserve this type of money. How many players put up 100 plus points this year and was a TML…..the answer is none. Not Matthews, not Marner, not JT.

Why are we even discussing these terms for players who don’t lead the league in scoring yet we are willing to pay them far and above what other teams are paying their stars. I believe AM was 25th in league scoring this year. If he wants to be a TML take a stand or trade him. Simple as that. Sure it may suck but at some point we need players who buy into the jersey and culture around not just getting the biggest pay check.

 

[ToneDog]

Again he doesn’t deserve this type of money. How many players put up 100 plus points this year and was a TML…..the answer is none. Not Matthews, not Marner, not JT.

Why are we even discussing these terms for players who don’t lead the league in scoring yet we are willing to pay them far and above what other teams are paying their stars. I believe AM was 25th in league scoring this year. If he wants to be a TML take a stand or trade him. Simple as that. Sure it may suck but at some point we need players who buy into the jersey and culture around not just getting the biggest pay check.

Do you think we'd be without a SC for 56 years if the clowns running the cash box knew what they were doing?

 

[Stamkos4life]

Again he doesn’t deserve this type of money. How many players put up 100 plus points this year and was a TML…..the answer is none. Not Matthews, not Marner, not JT.

Why are we even discussing these terms for players who don’t lead the league in scoring yet we are willing to pay them far and above what other teams are paying their stars. I believe AM was 25th in league scoring this year. If he wants to be a TML take a stand or trade him. Simple as that. Sure it may suck but at some point we need players who buy into the jersey and culture around not just getting the biggest pay check.If matthews is made the highest paid player coming off a season where he was 25th in scoring, we know what his goals are.

I wonder if a player has ever been made the highest paid for coming 25th in scoring.

But then again, auston was made the 3rd highest paid with just 70 points and a Calder.

The funny thing is that he and McDavid are both represented by the same agency yet one has left money on the table with max term and the other went short term and max money. So I dont think it's the agents.

 

[Funk21]

I wonder if a player has ever been made the highest paid for coming 25th in scoring.

But then again, auston was made the 3rd highest paid with just 70 points and a Calder.

The funny thing is that he and McDavid are both represented by the same agency yet one has left money on the table with max term and the other went short term and max money. So I dont think it's the agents.

I would rather throw the kitchen sink at McDavid if he tests FA than be handcuffed by AM and his meh production (for elites) in league scoring, no heart, no emotion, lack of playoff success is a recipe for yet more futility.

Honestly we are the afraid boyfriend or girlfriend afraid to lose the jerk partner because it’s better to be in a toxic relationship than be alone or look what else is out there. So annoying our management continues to think this way.

 

[Mess]

If my math is correct 13.75mx8 with huge bonuses. Maybe Tre will be voted best NHL GM to deal with next by player agents.

Matthews NMC gives him full control of the situation, so unfortunately Leafs hands are tied to a point. Matthews original deal should have been for 8 years at his $11.6 mil.

However originally Matthews was talking about a short-term 3-5 year deal and top $$$ (highest paid) now it appears Treliving has made progress (if Elliotte Friedman is correct) that Toronto if trying to get a long term commitment out of Matthews and apparently he is warming up to that idea based on these resent reports.

Well 8 years X $13.75 is better than 3-4 years at $13.75 mil and attempting to correct a previous mistakes where the first 3 years of this deal should really still be at $11.6 mil lost from last contract missing those year. So the former GM is going to cost the Leafs and team Cap an additional +$2 mil extra/ year (+$6 mil Cap total) (3 years @ $11.6 vs $13.75 mil) to secure Matthews for the next 3 upcoming years of his new deal.

The fact that Bettman is announcing a projected +$4-4.5 mil Cap ceiling increase beginning in 2024-25 & 2025-26 when Auston deal expires after all these flat cap years is fueling the AAV increase.

So $83,500,00 (next year & Auston's last year) -----> $87,500,000 (+$4 mil in 2024-25) ----> 92,000,000 ( +4.5 mil in 2025-26).

No doubt Matthews and agent Jake Moldover are hearing that Cap ceiling increase at +$8.5 mil total in the 1st couple years of Auston next deal and basing his rate ($13.75 mil) and believing that Auston +$2 mil raise from current can be absorbed in those annual Cap Ceiling increases as do, Leafs management who seem more concerned about full term then AAV at present.

 

[PromisedLand]

"If Matthews re-signs, it can be anywhere from three to eight seasons and likely put him in the NHL’s highest pay bracket, the $14-million to $15-million range. But hard numbers are still to be exchanged in the coming days, assuming the optimism generated by the past week continues."

Auston Matthews-Brad Treliving meeting cautiously optimistic start for new Maple Leafs deal

Auston Matthews, agent Judd Moldaver and new Leaf GM Brad Treliving have initiated contract talks to get the Leaf star signed long term.

torontosun.com

Screw that man. Trade Matthews if he wants that kind of money. There just isn't enough evidence that Matthews can raise his game in the playoffs (7 seasons now). He is also injury prone. Thats too much cap invested in a may be asset IMO

If Matthews isn't willing to sign for Mack money for 8 years he should not be a maple leaf. period!

Ideally Matthews signs for 8 years around the Mack's AAV and we dump Marner before July 1st to round out the roster. If not, then dump Matthews; and re-tool.

Can't bend over backwards to the greed of the players if we want to win the cup. they are free to seek that kind of money from other teams for all i care

 

[BallardEra]

Screw that man. Trade Matthews if he wants that kind of money. There just isn't enough evidence that Matthews can raise his game in the playoffs (7 seasons now). He is also injury prone. Thats too much cap invested in a may be asset IMO

If Matthews isn't willing to sign for Mack money for 8 years he should not be a maple leaf. period!

Ideally Matthews signs for 8 years around the Mack's AAV and we dump Marner before July 1st to round out the roster. If not, then dump Matthews; and re-tool.

Can't bend over backwards to the greed of the players if we want to win the cup. they are free to seek that kind of money from other teams for all i care

Shanahan is bringing back the band and their conductor.

 

[PromisedLand]

Messi is going to be the 5th highest earning athlete in North America at 54m per year.
He is also part owner of the team.
The deal will include an agreement with Apple for rights.

Messi has earned nearly $1billion, so it's hardly fair to compare that to NHL players.

Lastly, Messi is nowhere close to being at the top of the game.
He was a major disappointment when he left Barcelona, and never had any modicum of club success in France (the only place he played outside of Barca).

The biggest claim to success outside of Barcelona is the Copa America where he rode shotgun to DiMaria and the World Cup where he scored 6 goals in 7 games.

It helps when your team is awarded 5 penalties in those same 7 games though......

He did score a beaut and had an amazing assist, but all in all, DiMaria was still the driving force of the team.


All that to say Messi turned down s significant sum of money, sure, but he will still be extremely well taken care of.

Messi is a global phenomenon and market for soccer is huge. Messi is also a generational player, players like him are extremely rare.

Matthews is not a global phenomenon, ice-hockey as it is called outside North America isn't played or viewed by many people. 8 billion people on the planet, soccer and Messi are known by almost 7 billion people I'd say, thats not the case for McDavid, Matthews and hell even Gretzky isn't that big globally.

heck NHL is 4th among major north american sports after NFL, MLB, NBA. people like Matthews need to stfu especially his agents if they want the world. Hockey isn't soccer. and Matthews by no means is Messi. Messi once in a lifetime kind of player, Matthews isn't.

Shanahan is bringing back the band and their conductor.

I had wanted Shanny fired since he hired the rookie. I am just so sock of Shanahan and his stupidity

 

[JKG33]

I would rather throw the kitchen sink at McDavid if he tests FA than be handcuffed by AM and his meh production (for elites) in league scoring, no heart, no emotion, lack of playoff success is a recipe for yet more futility.

Honestly we are the afraid boyfriend or girlfriend afraid to lose the jerk partner because it’s better to be in a toxic relationship than be alone or look what else is out there. So annoying our management continues to think this way.

This is the best analogy I've ever seen regarding this team, well done.

I'd much rather go back to the dark ages of having a hard working team instead of being "gaslit" (is that the madeup word people use when they're too chicken shit to leave a shitty relationship?) into thinking "this is the year these talented but lazy pricks finally figure it out"

 

[PromisedLand]

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and until his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

View attachment 719014

View attachment 719012

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

View attachment 719013

what the hell? on what basis is Matthews seeking a 13.75 AAV (basically 14 AAV)? Mack just signed for 12.6 AAV.

Will this f***ing team ever learn not to bendover backwards? I am gonna be so mad if this is true. Matthews is not worth 13.75 AAV ffs.

 

[JKG33]

what the hell? on what basis is Matthews seeking a 13.75 AAV (basically 14 AAV)? Mack just signed for 12.6 AAV.

Will this f***ing team ever learn not to bendover backwards? I am gonna be so mad if this is true. Matthews is not worth 13.75 AAV ffs.

He can and he will.

Matthews is about to spend nearly his entire career as one of if not the highest paid player in the league.

Good for him, but I'd hate to be the sucker signing him to those contracts. Sure fire way to not win a cup.

But just think of all the 2nd place division finishes and rocket richard trophies!

 

[Mess]

Again he doesn’t deserve this type of money. How many players put up 100 plus points this year and was a TML…..the answer is none. Not Matthews, not Marner, not JT.

Why are we even discussing these terms for players who don’t lead the league in scoring yet we are willing to pay them far and above what other teams are paying their stars. I believe AM was 25th in league scoring this year. If he wants to be a TML take a stand or trade him. Simple as that. Sure it may suck but at some point we need players who buy into the jersey and culture around not just getting the biggest pay check.

I agree that Matthews hasn't earned it on merit, particularly on playoff performance and return. So I'm not thrilled with the idea either, but willing to make AM the only exception where Leafs are caught between and rock and hard place and their hand is forced by previous mistakes.

However lets be fair to Auston also in that he has 2 X Rocket Richard and Hart trophy and is considered one of the best goal scorers in the NHL in this time. Elite #1 franchise centers get a lot of money and goal scoring ability also fuels contract demands. He is a great player and any team would be lucky to have him. He can become a building block piece that a good GM can build a Cup winning team around him. IMO

As far as earning this contract a pair of metaphors work well here, in that "horse left the barn" with the incompetence of the last GM, and you can't put the "toothpaste back in the tube" now, and he has been given all the leverage via a NMC to demand a high rate. Can't turn back time and correct past mistakes so the options are either accept the bad hand given and make the best of the situation to keep him or move on in trade or UFA at end of next year.

Overpaying him might be the best option on the table for the Leafs all things considered.

PS. You can be 100% certain if Toronto doesn't give him this contract, other teams will be lining up to give it to him. Matthews also knows that as well.

 

[ToneDog]

He can and he will.

Matthews is about to spend nearly his entire career as one of if not the highest paid player in the league.

Good for him, but I'd hate to be the sucker signing him to those contracts. Sure fire way to not win a cup.

But just think of all the 2nd place division finishes and rocket richard trophies!

Hopefully he realizes that if he fails, he will be remembered as one of the highest paid underachievers in league history. My advice, take a discount and win the fans' goodwill. You will need it when times get tough. Just ask Mitch shambles in my head Marner.

 

[JKG33]

Hopefully he realizes that if he fails, he will be remembered as one of the highest paid underachievers in league history. My advice, take a discount and win the fans' goodwill. You will need it when times get tough. Just ask Mitch shambles in my head Marner.

Tbh I don't think he cares. As long as the cheques can be cashed, and he can keep hanging out with Bieber.

This is a guy who opted out of juniors/college so he could get paid in Switzerland. Outside of the covid years no other prospects have done that. In hindsight that was a far bigger red flag than we realized.

 

[myleafs]

Did Dubas say those things?

No.

It was Shanahan. Those were his words. So he gets quoted.

Dubas is gone.

Who hired Dubas and kept him around so long anyway? Why blame Dubas when Shanahan was the one the one that presided over it all? There is plenty of blame to go around for this failed hockey team, and as POHO, Shanahan deserves the most.

Can't fire the owners.
Can't fire the players.
And the GM is already gone.

That leaves Shanahan. He's the POHO, and it was his Shanaplan. The buck stops there, with him.

You never answered the question...I get it ...you hate Shanny and blame him for everything. You have already declared the leafs are screwed and Treliving is a puppet ... apparently Dubas wasnt the gm here the last 5 yrs...he was just a cut out who did nothing and made no decisions whatsoever. Curious....did you think the tdl moves were good this year? And who do you give credit to? Or is everything leaf related doom and gloom and everyone is incompetent at all times?

As far as Shanny sticking with Dubas too long. 5 yrs is about what gms get to show they can get things done. Personally I could see the issues the leafs had growing with each year but at the same time I kind of understand why they ran it back and believed they were close. After this latest playoffs my hope is they move in a different direction. Time will tell.

Im not even saying Im a Shanny fan. If they run it back and fail again with the new pieces surrounding the core I will be on the fire Shanny bandwagon. It just seems as though you have an agenda...every thread is about Shanny pullling all the strings all the time and what a loser he is and what a loser Tre is and what a loser Tanenbam is etc.

4 days left for a deal to be worked out before Treliving MUST start trade talks for AM. July 1, we lose all power.
We cannot lose him for nothing next summer and we cannot over pay. Better a 3 or 5 yrs than 8. If his trend is downward as shown last year we don't want him for 8 yrs.

That would be terrible asset management but Im coming to the place where I dont care. Let him run out his last year and leave. If he were to do that then good riddance, we are better off without him and can use that 13-15 milly for players who want to be here. F**k him.

 

[Nineteen67]

True, you can't make it official with the NHL until July 1st because of the CBA and until his last year officially begins ...

However I don't think that stops negotiations and even coming to terms on a deal (in principle) prior to July 1st.

Here is some of the latest chatter.

View attachment 719014

View attachment 719012

They're even speculating on the $$ and term and breakdown,

View attachment 719013

That last projection would basically take themselves out of playoff contention and would allow Matthews to continue his showcase career.

ETA - 13.75 AAV isn’t that bad. In 3-5 yrs that’ll be palatable and leaves room to find someone to carry the team in the playoffs.

 

[myleafs]

I agree that Matthews hasn't earned it on merit, particularly on playoff performance and return. So I'm not thrilled with the idea either, but willing to make AM the only exception where Leafs are caught between and rock and hard place and their hand is forced by previous mistakes.

However lets be fair to Auston also in that he has 2 X Rocket Richard and Hart trophy and is considered one of the best goal scorers in the NHL in this time. Elite #1 franchise centers get a lot of money and goal scoring ability also fuels contract demands. He is a great player and any team would be lucky to have him. He can become a building block piece that a good GM can build a Cup winning team around him. IMO

As far as earning this contract a pair of metaphors work well here, in that "horse left the barn" with the incompetence of the last GM, and you can't put the "toothpaste back in the tube" now, and he has been given all the leverage via a NMC to demand a high rate. Can't turn back time and correct past mistakes so the options are either accept the bad hand given and make the best of the situation to keep him or move on in trade or UFA at end of next year.

Overpaying him might be the best option on the table for the Leafs all things considered.

PS. You can be 100% certain if Toronto doesn't give him this contract, other teams will be lining up to give it to him. Matthews also knows that as well.

Which teams have that kind of capspace and which teams would matthews go to...Sure Columbus can pay him but would he go there?

Hopefully he realizes that if he fails, he will be remembered as one of the highest paid underachievers in league history. My advice, take a discount and win the fans' goodwill. You will need it when times get tough. Just ask Mitch shambles in my head Marner.

I unfortunately see this playing out like that...He will not live up to the stupid contract he is gonna sign and he will hear about it non stop. It could get very ugly. But I could take untold amount of verbal abuse for that kind of cash.

 

[Nineteen67]

We've virtually have lost all power. If he says he won't sign with any team and wants to become a UFA, what team will give you close to market value for him ?? Tre could be in a worse position with Matty than he was with Tkachuk. All thanks to Shanny and Dummy.

If he’s hell bent on becoming a UFA and won’t agree to a trade, putting him in the press box wouldn’t be out of the question if I was running the show. When he did play it’d 4th line minutes.

Not much positive leverage so you have to get out in front of it in the media and make it about AM and his agent.

 

[ToneDog]

Which teams have that kind of capspace and which teams would matthews go to...Sure Columbus can pay him but would he go there?


I unfortunately see this playing out like that...He will not live up to the stupid contract he is gonna sign and he will hear about it non stop. It could get very ugly. But I could take untold amount of verbal abuse for that kind of cash.

He can play with the American version of Mitch Marner, Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus and screw their cap structure,