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

[Leaf Fans]

Remember when Treliving was made GM?

His number one priority was getting Matthews extended.

First order of business was flying to Arizona. It's now July 10th and Matthews still hasn't extended. In light of that fact alone I'd say Treliving's tenure hasn't been successful so far.

That won't change until Matthews re-signs.

When they drafted him, the Leafs saw Matthews as an instant win button. That didn't happen. What happened was, they burned years of contention off the prime of the best Leafs player in a lifetime, in repeated failed attempt to win it all now.

Now they're gonna have to pay this guy the moon and the stars and the sun itself.

Just to keep him on a team that hasn't even come close to contending. If Matthews doesn't extend, it's over. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Look on the bright side.

They broke a few regular season records, and Matthews won a few individual trophies, during his time here.

The fans will always have those memories of the greatest Leafs player in a lifetime to cling to.

Players come and go. It is not that big of a deal if he decides to test free agency. It will be his right. But for sure, in my case, I will think of him as one of the most talented Leafs ever.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Players come and go. It is not that big of a deal if he decides to test free agency. It will be his right. But for sure, in my case, I will think of him as one of the most talented Leafs ever.

You are completely handwaving losing Matthews to free agency here as if it were the same as striking out with a date.

Oh well, no big deal. Franchise centremen are like girlfriends. They come and they go.

Move along.

There is no understating how devastating losing Matthews would be to this franchise. Anybody with even a passing interest in this team should be concerned. Matthews should have been extended by now.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

 

[Leaf Fans]

You are completely handwaving losing Matthews to free agency here as if it were the same as striking out with a date.

Oh well, no big deal. Franchise centremen are like girlfriends. They come and they go.

Move along.

There is no understating how devastating losing Matthews would be to this franchise. Anybody with even a passing interest in this team should be concerned. Matthews should have been extended by now.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

No, I am not.

 

[Niagara Bill]

You are completely handwaving losing Matthews to free agency here as if it were the same as striking out with a date.

Oh well, no big deal. Franchise centremen are like girlfriends. They come and they go.

Move along.

There is no understating how devastating losing Matthews would be to this franchise. Anybody with even a passing interest in this team should be concerned. Matthews should have been extended by now.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

Term is the issue. Leafs want long, he wants short.
Why anyone would want to give a player a long term 8 year deal is beyond me.
Especially to a player who has not demonstrated Leadership.
Give him 3 years to prove he can lead, with a no trade clause for first 2 years, pay him extra if you want, but do it and move on. If you fail to win in 2 years, trade the asset and move on.
This guy went from scoring game winning goals in tight games with his incredible shot, to scoring 2 goals in a 6-2 game. His pace no longer worries dmen, his shot is now just average.

 

[Jozay]

Fwiw, Pagnotta says it will be 3, 4, or 5 years ranging from 13 to just over 14 mill aav depending on term.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Fwiw, Pagnotta says it will be 3, 4, or 5 years ranging from 13 to just over 14 mill aav depending on term.

So I guess Nylander is going to ask for 10.5 based on that.

Why we end up with all the spoiled kids?

 

[Nineteen67]

You are completely handwaving losing Matthews to free agency here as if it were the same as striking out with a date.

Oh well, no big deal. Franchise centremen are like girlfriends. They come and they go.

Move along.

There is no understating how devastating losing Matthews would be to this franchise. Anybody with even a passing interest in this team should be concerned. Matthews should have been extended by now.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

If they were to lose Matthews it would put the franchise in a spot where they’d only sell out every game and probably never win in the playoffs. Huge impact.

 

[Niagara Bill]

Watching last season, you need to discover if AM has a chronic wrist problem reducing his shot to average as it was last year, and a chronic injury effecting his skating as it did last year (with his failure to force dmen to panic) with his new found basketball style offense or has he developed I'm rich, I am loved, ESPN likes me, and lost 10% off his intensity. All were evident. Any and all would make me say 3 years is enough in term.

 

[Arzak]

So I guess Nylander is going to ask for 10.5 based on that.

Why we end up with all the spoiled kids?

Pasta's $11.25 mill looking good already.

Nylander asking for 10.5 x 8 years
Leafs are apparently at 8.5 per at the moment.

Tough spot, I can see teams willing to pay over 9 for Styles. At the same time, he got limited NTC and is still very trade-able.

 

[Rob Brown]

Remember when Treliving was made GM?

His number one priority was getting Matthews extended.

First order of business was flying to Arizona. It's now July 10th and Matthews still hasn't extended. In light of that fact alone I'd say Treliving's tenure hasn't been successful so far.

That won't change until Matthews re-signs.

When they drafted him, the Leafs saw Matthews as an instant win button. That didn't happen. What happened was, they burned years of contention off the prime of the best Leafs player in a lifetime, in repeated failed attempt to win it all now.

Now they're gonna have to pay this guy the moon and the stars and the sun itself.

Just to keep him on a team that hasn't even come close to contending. If Matthews doesn't extend, it's over. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Look on the bright side.

They broke a few regular season records, and Matthews won a few individual trophies, during his time here.

The fans will always have those memories of the greatest Leafs player in a lifetime to cling to.

In the grand scheme of things, it's been 9 days, yet you're acting like he's gone. We're not even close to the start of training camp. There's plenty of time and we have no clue what is being discussed behind the scenes.

 

[egd27]

So I guess Nylander is going to ask for 10.5 based on that.

Why we end up with all the spoiled kids?

Daddy Dubas, refused to instill proper discipline when they were young.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Fwiw, Pagnotta says it will be 3, 4, or 5 years ranging from 13 to just over 14 mill aav depending on term.

Would love to see some leadership and loyalty from the guy who evidently is willing to take less to win. Looking like we won't see that.

 

[13pacheco31]

Would love to see some leadership and loyalty from the guy who evidently is willing to take less to win. Looking like we won't see that.

Every other player locks in at 8 years for that kind of money, but not our guys...

 

[Al14]

Players come and go. It is not that big of a deal if he decides to test free agency. It will be his right. But for sure, in my case, I will think of him as one of the most talented Leafs ever.

IMHO, Matthews should have been told he had till 48 hour before the draft to sign a reasonable extension or he would be traded at the draft to the highest bidder.

The same thing should have been told to Nylander.

Now, with their NMC/NTC kicked in, they have all the power in negotiations. Treliving f***ed himself by letting these clowns get to NMC/NTC protection.

You can't blame this on Dubas, however, you can blame it on Shanahan and his new puppet Treliving.

When will MLSE wake up and get rid of Shanahan?

JMHO.

 

[13pacheco31]

IMHO, Matthews should have been told he had till 48 hour before the draft to sign a reasonable extension or he would be traded at the draft to the highest bidder.

The same thing should have been told to Nylander.

Now, with their NMC/NTC kicked in, they have all the power in negotiations. Treliving f***ed himself by letting these clowns get to NMC/NTC protection.

You can't blame this on Dubas, however, you can blame it on Shanahan and his new puppet Treliving.

When will MLSE wake up and get rid of Shanahan?

JMHO.

Nylander doesn't have a full nmc so I'm not too concerned over him. I also don't think Matthews would necessarily refuse a trade if said team is offering him what he wants and it's a desirable spot

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Term is the issue. Leafs want long, he wants short.
Why anyone would want to give a player a long term 8 year deal is beyond me.
Especially to a player who has not demonstrated Leadership.
Give him 3 years to prove he can lead, with a no trade clause for first 2 years, pay him extra if you want, but do it and move on. If you fail to win in 2 years, trade the asset and move on.
This guy went from scoring game winning goals in tight games with his incredible shot, to scoring 2 goals in a 6-2 game. His pace no longer worries dmen, his shot is now just average.

I don't see how term is an issue.

Just give him what he wants. I'd rather have Matthews for three more years with a chance to re-sign him after, than lose him now. Hart winning 60 goal scoring franchise centremen don't grow on trees.

It's not like Treliving can take the $11M in cap space they save from Matthews and buy his replacement in the UFA market every year.

Last time they did that they got Captain Boat Anchor.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

In the grand scheme of things, it's been 9 days, yet you're acting like he's gone. We're not even close to the start of training camp. There's plenty of time and we have no clue what is being discussed behind the scenes.

I have a flair for the dramatic.

I remember the Nylander holdout. Every day it got closer to camp I was convinced he was gonna sign. Until he didn't.

It overshadowed everything else on-ice that year.

Even after he re-signed. The longer Matthews isn't extended the worse it looks for the team. They should have been confident they could sign him as of July 1st.

Or they should have traded him.

There shouldn't be anything left to negotiate. The fact the media has been calling it a "negotiation" is only because they are sugarcoating it for the team Rogers and Bell own. What it really should be called is a "beg Auston to come back" campaign.

What a wonderful world we live in when millionaire athletes can Jerry Maguire themselves into mega moula by holding their teams and their billionaire owners hostage.

Nobody cares about the fans.

 

[Mess]

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 much daylight is there between "hard balling our superstars and holding the line on over-payments?

The longer AM and WN remain unsigned, the more I see our new GM doing his job of holding the line, and not simply caving to star player demands.

That is how we got ourselves into this "Cap Hell " situation is the first place, and only ones that really suffer in the fan base because it removes Cup competitiveness in Salary Cap World.

Winning 1 playoff round in 5 years is the true payout for Fans of over-payment of star players mistakes to appease their greed. "Sports is a results oriented business" where results are measured in Wins and Cups.

If we hadn't changed GM's I have no doubt Matthews would already be signed to his 3-4 year @ $13-14 mil deal and adding million(s) above the highest paid NHL players, to keep him happy.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

 

[geo25]

You are completely handwaving losing Matthews to free agency here as if it were the same as striking out with a date.

Oh well, no big deal. Franchise centremen are like girlfriends. They come and they go.

Move along.

There is no understating how devastating losing Matthews would be to this franchise. Anybody with even a passing interest in this team should be concerned. Matthews should have been extended by now.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The fact he isn't can only mean Matthews himself is holding things up. It can't possibly be about the money. So whatever it is that's got the drama queen's panties in a knot better get resolved quickly.

Because the longer it drags on, the more it feels like they're headed for a bad breakup.

I have been saying the very same thing for months. I am 50/50 (at best) on him signing here but my gut tells me he's a goner. Our mgmt is a f.....ing joke. Stupid, inept, arrogant etc anon...this should have been done afes ago....then he should have been traded because IMO he is not a leader and we will never win the prize with him as our top player. He isnt a warrior except at the negotiating table. I'd trade WN before l July 1st but what do I know....

I have a flair for the dramatic.

I remember the Nylander holdout. Every day it got closer to camp I was convinced he was gonna sign. Until he didn't.

It overshadowed everything else on-ice that year.

Even after he re-signed. The longer Matthews isn't extended the worse it looks for the team. They should have been confident they could sign him as of July 1st.

Or they should have traded him.

There shouldn't be anything left to negotiate. The fact the media has been calling it a "negotiation" is only because they are sugarcoating it for the team Rogers and Bell own. What it really should be called is a "beg Auston to come back" campaign.

What a wonderful world we live in when millionaire athletes can Jerry Maguire themselves into mega moula by holding their teams and their billionaire owners hostage.

Nobody cares about the fans.

GAUDREAU II

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Lol.

I meant ML$E can give him whatever he wants, for however long he wants, AND structure it as player friendly as possible.

No other team can beat ML$E in terms of offering Matthews financial incentive to sign.

Money might not buy happiness. But it can sure buy loyalty. At the end of the day, they will have to give Matthews what he wants if they want him to remain on the team.

And if it's not money that's the issue, then guess what?

Houston, we have a problem....

 

[geo25]

Lol.

I meant ML$E can give him whatever he wants, for however long he wants, AND structure it as player friendly as possible.

No other team can beat ML$E in terms of offering Matthews financial incentive to sign.

Money might not buy happiness. But it can sure but loyalty. At the end of the day, they will have to give Matthews what he wants if they want him to remain on the team.

And if it's not money that's the issue, then guess what?

Houston, we have a problem....

Bingo!

 

[Gary Nylund]

Lol.

I meant ML$E can give him whatever he wants, for however long he wants, AND structure it as player friendly as possible.

No other team can beat ML$E in terms of offering Matthews financial incentive to sign.

Money might not buy happiness. But it can sure but loyalty. At the end of the day, they will have to give Matthews what he wants if they want him to remain on the team.

And if it's not money that's the issue, then guess what?

Houston, we have a problem....

You seem to be taking it for granted that no matter what Matthews is asking for, they'll just give it him immediately without even trying to negotiate a lower price. Don't take it for granted is what I would say.

There's also the possibility of several different contracts/terms being discussed, I'm pretty sure it's not all as simple as you seem to think it is.

 

[notbias]

Daddy Dubas, refused to instill proper discipline when they were young.

Lou and Babcock were brought in to change the culture, looks like they failed.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

How much daylight is there between "hard balling our superstars and holding the line on over-payments?

The longer AM and WN remain unsigned, the more I see our new GM doing his job of holding the line, and not simply caving to star player demands.

That is how we got ourselves into this "Cap Hell " situation is the first place, and only ones that really suffer in the fan base because it removes Cup competitiveness in Salary Cap World.

Winning 1 playoff round in 5 years is the true payout for Fans of over-payment of star players mistakes to appease their greed. "Sports is a results oriented business" where results are measured in Wins and Cups.

If we hadn't changed GM's I have no doubt Matthews would already be signed to his 3-4 year @ $13-14 mil deal and adding million(s) above the highest paid NHL players, to keep him happy.

The time to play hardball is over.

That was when they were RFA's. The team has no leverage now. It's either give them what they want or they walk.

If they are hardballing the players then they should remember that Dubas was just fired for hardballing a contract.

Now the team wants to nickel and dime the players?