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

[Boxscore]

Tkachuk signed July 22nd.
Stutzle signed September 7th
Mackinnon signed September 20th.
Hughes signed November 30th.
Pastrnak signed March 2nd.

It is currently the morning of July 5th.
You just destroyed your own argument.

Really? Were those teams the Toronto Maple Leafs with other superstar players that need to be signed, including William Nylander? Were those teams under the microscope for annually crapping the bed in the playoffs and in need of an internal salary reset?

None of those players or their contracts were a burden for their teams. MacKinnon and his teammates all took less over the years, just like the Bolts players did. Those other superstars signing their deals were formalities, not hassles, headaches, or overpayments, like our players have been.

The Leafs are in a different situation as expectations are sky high, this core has failed, the team is starved for leadership, and key players are on the verge of expiring contracts where they can walk for nothing in the not-too-distant-future. The club cannot afford to take a nonchalant, ho-hum approach with these guys. These contracts (especially Matthews) are paramount and need to be done fairly quick and correctly. This team has proven they cannot win anything substantial with an overpriced core of finesse players. They need to man up and take less to stay here and that starts with number 34.

The only way $13.5M per for Matthews can be considered a discount, is if he signs for 8 years as well.

That's no discount for Matthews and his 0.88 PPG in the playoffs. MacKinnon just signed for 12.6 x 8 last offseason after winning a Cup. And the cap has barely moved and we're in a down economy. How in the world is Matthews worth 13.5 when MacKinnon just committed to 12.6?

 

[authentic]

So it is rumoured that Matthews is willing to take a discount on his next contract. Funny thing is, it’s apparently going to be on a 3 or 4 year deal at about $13.5M.

I’m trying to understand how that is considered a discount! Nathan Mackinnon just signed an 8 year extension with the Avs at $12.6M per.

The only way $13.5M per for Matthews can be considered a discount, is if he signs for 8 years as well.

If he only signs for 3 or 4 years, then a discount is more like the same as he’s making right now! Am I wrong?

Well, this is more or less what I expected him to sign for anyway. I thought it would be around 14 million. I never once thought he was taking 13 or less so it is what it is, players like him do not grow on trees. Plus wouldn't we rather have him signed for a shorter deal rather than commit that much money long term when his health may not be so great going forward? I have no real problem with 13.5 at 3 or 4 years.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Really? Were those teams the Toronto Maple Leafs with other superstar players that need to be signed, including William Nylander? Were those teams under the microscope for annually crapping the bed in the playoffs and in need of an internal salary reset?

You started this out by suggesting that we needed to be more like these other teams and our players needed to be more like these other players. Now that you've seen that every single one of these examples that you yourself brought up did the exact opposite of what you want our players to do, you completely 180ed to suggesting that our team and players need to do things completely different than everybody else because [insert arbitrary reason].
There is nothing wrong with these negotiations taking more than 5 days.

MacKinnon and his teammates all took less over the years, just like the Bolts players did. Those other superstars signing their deals were formalities, not hassles, headaches, or overpayments, like our players have been.

Mackinnon did not take less. He was just bad when he signed. You have absolutely zero idea how both their negotiations and our player's negotiations went/are going.

 

[Boxscore]

You have absolutely zero idea how both their negotiations and our player's negotiations went/are going.

How do you think they're going? Why do you think we had to settle for over-the-hill bargain bin filler, and inadequate depth pieces, to complete the roster since the core signed these massive contracts? Are you someone insinuating the Leafs players are asking for less and the Leafs are simply overpaying them for no reason?

 

[nuck]

Well, this is more or less what I expected him to sign for anyway. I thought it would be around 14 million. I never once thought he was taking 13 or less so it is what it is, players like him do not grow on trees. Plus wouldn't we rather have him signed for a shorter deal rather than commit that much money long term when his health may not be so great going forward? I have no real problem with 13.5 at 3 or 4 years.

$13.5 x 4 with a modified NT in the final year. At 3yrs with a no move it kind of screws the club a bit, basically just giving them the 8th year he should have given in the first place. If he is earning his deal and the club is going places in the final year as both sides want, that's great. If he isn't or they aren't it lets them part ways and costs him nothing. I think the MNT would be a coup for Tre.

 

[Dekes For Days]

How do you think they're going?

I think they're going pretty normally. We have no reason to think otherwise.

Why do you think we had to settle for over-the-hill bargain bin filler, and inadequate depth pieces, to complete the roster since the core signed these massive contracts?

Not really related to the topic, but:
1. We've actually managed to put together pretty good depth over the years.
2. If you're upset that we didn't have even better depth, that has more to do with the cap unexpectedly stagnating for multiple years due to a pandemic and our disappointing drafting towards the end of our rebuild and the beginning of our rise than it does paying elite players what they're worth.

Are you someone insinuating the Leafs players are asking for less and the Leafs are simply overpaying them for no reason?

They're not overpaying them at all. They're negotiating around what would be pretty reasonable deals.

 

[tuckerintensity]

naive to a degree Sypher either that or you're trying to sell me last weeks doughnuts,

multiple media people closer to the Leafs and privy to info we never see, have all stated that this is what he wants, to be the highest paid ever!

Seravalli, Kypreos, Dreger, Johnston and Johnson have all said the same things and have all stated that 15m seems to be the ask.

as far as who gets paid and when, the majority of silly pay days come after winning SCs, see the Chicago Blackhawks, Kane &Toews got the twin contracts after the cup and not before, Sid who was going to sign a biggie no matter what, signed his first 8.7 after 2 SC finals.

Reputable insiders have also said the expect the deal to start with a 13 and be five years, you seem to want to believe one is true and not the other.

Toews and Kane would've gotten and signed those deals regardless. Toews contract timeline is similar to Matthews, in fact. Winning had nothing to do with the money (10.5/15% of the cap, actually).

FWIW, you seem like the kind of guy that would eat week old donuts.

 

[KPower]

3 x13.5 is quite the discount. Lol.. only in Toronto.

 

[tuckerintensity]

Am I wrong?

Yes.

 

[KPower]

$13.5 x 4 with a modified NT in the final year. At 3yrs with a no move it kind of screws the club a bit, basically just giving them the 8th year he should have given in the first place. If he is earning his deal and the club is going places in the final year as both sides want, that's great. If he isn't or they aren't it lets them part ways and costs him nothing. I think the MNT would be a coup for Tre.

He’s not signing a modified no trade. He’s getting all the bells and whistles; short term, high salary, no move, as much signing bonus up front as possible.

He’s taking the leafs to the cleaners. He knows they have no choice.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

He’s not signing a modified no trade. He’s getting all the bells and whistles; short term, high salary, no move, as much signing bonus up front as possible.

He’s taking the leafs to the cleaners. He knows they have no choice.

And he knows they - owners, Shanny and his puppets- have no balls. The organization has not only bent and curtsied to these spoiled, perennial losers, it’s snapped irreparably

They haven’t made one tough decision and no one has paid any accountability for futility.

 

[Squiffy]

And he knows they - owners, Shanny and his puppets- have no balls. The organization has not only bent and curtsied to these spoiled, perennial losers, it’s snapped irreparably

They haven’t made one tough decision and no one has paid any accountability for futility.

Ballard wouldn't have put up with this.

 

[kb]

Ballard wouldn't have put up with this.

But we were always in the basement with Ballard - there is that.

 

[Squiffy]

But we were always in the basement with Ballard - there is that.

Ya thats where I'm driving this thing lol.. hard balling our superstars out of town hasn't gone well round these parts. We've done it lots and lots. 1967.

 

[Kiwi]

Ya thats where I'm driving this thing lol.. hard balling our superstars out of town hasn't gone well round these parts. We've done it lots and lots. 1967.

There's a slight difference between hard balling guys and what we've been doing with this lot

It's a hard cap, if we overpay our stars in comparison to other stars around the league we are at a competitive disadvantage

If you're stars take team friendly deals that's money you can spend on the talent around them, there's a reason we skimp on our bottom 6, defense and goaltending in comparison to our competitors

Here's the thing, we can overpay these guys and continue to do it throughout there careers but our chances of winning anything are going to be miniscule

That's just a fact so when I see 13.5M over 3 years for Matthews and 12+ for Marner and 10+ for Nylander I just laugh to myself

Best of luck winning with that **** on your cap

 

[KPower]

Ya thats where I'm driving this thing lol.. hard balling our superstars out of town hasn't gone well round these parts. We've done it lots and lots. 1967.

How come it’s only our stars that hard ball the team?

Around the league most stars sign more team friendly contracts.

Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Tkachuk, Pasta, Crosby, Malkin, etc.

 

[Peace Frog]

Really? Were those teams the Toronto Maple Leafs with other superstar players that need to be signed, including William Nylander? Were those teams under the microscope for annually crapping the bed in the playoffs and in need of an internal salary reset?

None of those players or their contracts were a burden for their teams. MacKinnon and his teammates all took less over the years, just like the Bolts players did. Those other superstars signing their deals were formalities, not hassles, headaches, or overpayments, like our players have been.

The Leafs are in a different situation as expectations are sky high, this core has failed, the team is starved for leadership, and key players are on the verge of expiring contracts where they can walk for nothing in the not-too-distant-future. The club cannot afford to take a nonchalant, ho-hum approach with these guys. These contracts (especially Matthews) are paramount and need to be done fairly quick and correctly. This team has proven they cannot win anything substantial with an overpriced core of finesse players. They need to man up and take less to stay here and that starts with number 34.


That's no discount for Matthews and his 0.88 PPG in the playoffs. MacKinnon just signed for 12.6 x 8 last offseason after winning a Cup. And the cap has barely moved and we're in a down economy. How in the world is Matthews worth 13.5 when MacKinnon just committed to 12.6?

That’s kind of the point I was trying to make.

 

[Marshy]

How come it’s only our stars that hard ball the team?

Around the league most stars sign more team friendly contracts.

Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Tkachuk, Pasta, Crosby, Malkin, etc.

Why does a dog lick its privates? Because it can.

 

[ACC1224]

How come it’s only our stars that hard ball the team?

Around the league most stars sign more team friendly contracts.

Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Tkachuk, Pasta, Crosby, Malkin, etc.

You don't win the Agents award for 'Easiest GM to Deal With' without putting in the effort.

 

[Stephen]

You don't win the Agents award for 'Easiest GM to Deal With' without putting in the effort.

The Toronto Maple Leaf-Dubasisms of “betting on yourself” needs to be corrected over the next little while from a cultural standpoint. It’s all good for a UFA or own free agent to come here for individualistic reasons, build their career, inflate their next contract via market exposure. These are realities that work for the Leafs in attracting talent.But it also fosters an openly short term, mercenary mentality and tacit understanding that this organization won’t be able to reward you. Just milk you for your short term gain. That needs to change. We need to be a team where the goal is to be a Leaf and be successful and everything else is gravy. Not the vehicle to all the other stuff.

 

[al secord]

Why does a dog lick its privates? Because it can.

I thought it was a hygiene thing

 

[Arzak]

Well, this is more or less what I expected him to sign for anyway. I thought it would be around 14 million. I never once thought he was taking 13 or less so it is what it is, players like him do not grow on trees. Plus wouldn't we rather have him signed for a shorter deal rather than commit that much money long term when his health may not be so great going forward? I have no real problem with 13.5 at 3 or 4 years.

The term was important on his last deal. And we got 0.

I agree with potential chronic wrist issues it could get ugly on an 8-year deal.

Plus if he signs 3 years we can be in perpetual negotiations with our CORE 4 . Sounds like fun.

 

[egd27]

1. We've actually managed to put together pretty good depth over the years.

Pretty good is fairly subjective.

Since M&M's contracts kicked in, we've tried at least 25 "depth" forwards. Not a lot of "wow's" in my opinion.

Pierre Engvall
Jason Spezza
David Kampf
Ilya Mikheyev
Wayne Simmonds
Zach Aston-Reese
Calle Jarnkrok
Kasperi Kapanen
Frederik Gauthier
Ondrej Kase
Joe Thornton
Andreas Johnsson
Kyle Clifford
Dmytro Timashov
Pontus Holmberg
Nick Ritchie
Nicholas Robertson
Denis Malgin
Jimmy Vesey
Trevor Moore
Alex Galchenyuk
Noel Acciari
Travis Boyd
Sam Lafferty
Adam Brooks

 

[andora]

Pretty good is fairly subjective.

Since M&M's contracts kicked in, we've tried at least 25 "depth" forwards. Not a lot of "wow's" in my opinion.

Pierre Engvall
Jason Spezza
David Kampf
Ilya Mikheyev
Wayne Simmonds
Zach Aston-Reese
Calle Jarnkrok
Kasperi Kapanen
Frederik Gauthier
Ondrej Kase
Joe Thornton
Andreas Johnsson
Kyle Clifford
Dmytro Timashov
Pontus Holmberg
Nick Ritchie
Nicholas Robertson
Denis Malgin
Jimmy Vesey
Trevor Moore
Alex Galchenyuk
Noel Acciari
Travis Boyd
Sam Lafferty
Adam Brooks

My bigger frustration even though that isnt really inspiring.. was dubas trading history

75% of players traded for were out of the organization less than a year.. and the 25% the best keep was campbell and or kerfoot

 

[Dekes For Days]

Pierre Engvall
Jason Spezza
David Kampf
Ilya Mikheyev
Wayne Simmonds
Zach Aston-Reese
Calle Jarnkrok
Kasperi Kapanen
Frederik Gauthier
Ondrej Kase
Joe Thornton
Andreas Johnsson
Kyle Clifford
Dmytro Timashov
Pontus Holmberg
Nick Ritchie
Nicholas Robertson
Denis Malgin
Jimmy Vesey
Trevor Moore
Alex Galchenyuk
Noel Acciari
Travis Boyd
Sam Lafferty
Adam Brooks

You seem to be missing a number of names there. Weird how you went really in depth to injury fill-ins and players that played a handful of games, but missed a bunch of the better and more obvious players. Also weird how our supposedly bad depth keeps finding raises and spots with other competitive teams.