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

[BrannigansLaw]

I get that, but fair contracts doesn't necessarily mean same term.

People care about the term because it shows where his priorities lie; cashing out and lacking commitment to the team that’s made him filthy rich.

Not gonna lie and say given his crappy body a 5 year deal would be ideal.

 

[Sypher04]

People care about the term because it shows where his priorities lie; cashing out and lacking commitment to the team that’s made him filthy rich.

Not gonna lie and say given his crappy body a 5 year deal would be ideal.

5 years is a sizable commitment, so absolute bs. The correct answer is people feel entitled to another 8 years of Matthews' career when they aren't and every player is different.

I get fans wanting 8 years, I'd like to see him a career Leaf as I'm sure many do, but acting like he has to sign for that term is where I take issue.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

5 years is a sizable commitment, so absolute bs. The correct answer is people feel entitled to another 8 years of Matthews' career when they aren't and every player is different.

I get fans wanting 8 years, I'd like to see him a career Leaf as I'm sure many do, but acting like he has to sign for that term is where I take issue.

It’s the other way around. Why does Matthews think he is so entitled to get these incredibly lucrative deals that are slanted entirely in his favor with no concession in term or salary to his club? Especially when compared to the types of contracts other franchise players sign. He’s full of himself.

 

[Sypher04]

It’s the other way around. Why does Matthews think he is so entitled to get these incredibly lucrative deals that are slanted entirely in his favor with no concession in term or salary to his club? Especially when compared to the types of contracts other franchise players sign. He’s full of himself.

He's one of the very best players in the best hockey league in the world. His current contract reflected that and nothing more. His next will likely do the same.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

He's one of the very best players in the best hockey league in the world. His current contract reflected that and nothing more. His next will likely do the same.

So are MacKinnon, Tkachuk, Makar, Pastrnak, etc. and yet those guys sign more reasonable contracts while producing just as much and proving more in the playoffs.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Actually the last contract negotiation favours what I'm saying more than the opposite. Matthews wanted 8 years, they settled on 5. If the rough numbers that were reported years ago are to be believed putting Matthews' ask at around 13M on an 8 year deal vs his 11.6M he got on the 5, he will never make up the lost money between the two options.

(11.634 x 5) + (13.5 x 3) = 98.67

(13 x 8) = 104

He still got paid very very well, but technically he could have stood his ground and demanded the 8 years, so he in fact didn't maximize his money. This actually widens if the ask was closer to 13.5 as Bob McKenzie seemed to possibly insinuate.

As for other reasons he could want shorter term that have nothing to do with pay. There are several, but he most obvious is just keeping options open. If the Leafs have no greater playoff success in the next 3-4 years than the past 7, does Matthews even want to stay past that point in time? Another would be what happens with his teammates over the next few years. Does his desire to play here change if Mitch Marner were to walk as a UFA? I'm just saying that there are other angles, we don't know what things are important to Auston.

He signed before covid though so I'm sure he was expecting more dollars on his next deal. So while it might not work out that he ends up with more dollars, it seems clear that that was the intent.

 

[Fogelhund]

So are MacKinnon, Tkachuk, Makar, Pastrnak, etc. and yet those guys sign more reasonable contracts while producing just as much and proving more in the playoffs.

Mack - Center - Career high 41 goals - Calder, Lady Byng - 15.27% of cap.
Tkachuk - Winger- - career high 42 goals, paced for 32 goals per season three seasons prior to 42 goals - no individual trophies - 11.52% of cap, only made past first round once.
Pastrank - Winger - - 48 goal career high - 13.64% of cap, 1 Rocket

Matthews -Center - 60 goal career high - 2 Rockets, MVP, Lindsay, Calder

I'm not so sure MacKinnon at 15.27% of the cap has really signed a more reasonable contract. None of the forwards have the awards, or goals. Matthews is currently lower at 14.64%.

If Matthews duplicates MacKinnon, it will be $12.75 mil.... which would be a number you'd think most would be satisfied with here, or something close. A number below $13 mil would be a decent contract for us I'd think.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Mack - Center - Career high 41 goals - Calder, Lady Byng - 15.27% of cap.
Tkachuk - Winger- - career high 42 goals, paced for 32 goals per season three seasons prior to 42 goals - no individual trophies - 11.52% of cap, only made past first round once.
Pastrank - Winger - - 48 goal career high - 13.64% of cap, 1 Rocket

Matthews -Center - 60 goal career high - 2 Rockets, MVP, Lindsay, Calder

I'm not so sure MacKinnon at 15.27% of the cap has really signed a more reasonable contract. None of the forwards have the awards, or goals. Matthews is currently lower at 14.64%.

If Matthews duplicates MacKinnon, it will be $12.75 mil.... which would be a number you'd think most would be satisfied with here, or something close. A number below $13 mil would be a decent contract for us I'd think.

Pasta has a career high of 61 goals.

 

[Fogelhund]

Pasta has a career high of 61 goals.

When discussing contracts, you can only count what they did before the contract was signed... What's happened after, can be discussed for the next contract.

 

[Martin Skoula]

When discussing contracts, you can only count what they did before the contract was signed... What's happened after, can be discussed for the next contract.

For some reason Bruins players get credit for taking big discounts when they break out after signing a contract. The “Marchand took a huge discount because he wanted to win” argument drives me nuts, he signed in September 2016 with a career high of 61 points. Where is the discount? Pastrnak scored 19 goals in 20 games after signing his contract, I guess the GM was just psychic and knew he’d start shooting 50% above his career best and go goal per game after pacing for low 50s/100 points all season prior to the contract.

 

[Golden_Jet]

When discussing contracts, you can only count what they did before the contract was signed... What's happened after, can be discussed for the next contract.

Disagree, he was still earning his old contract, Pasta hasn’t started his new deal yet,
and only signed it, in March of this year,


Not to mention cap goes up only a million.

 

[Notsince67]

After a lengthy hiatus, TSN's Chris Johnston returned to his podcast "The CJ Show" and provided a bit of insight into the Matthews and Nylander extensions. Johnston said over the last month that it has been fairly quiet between the Leafs, Matthews and Nylander. CJ stated that he believes Nylander is hesitant to be the first to sign again due to the pay gap that arose the last time he, Matthews and Mitch Marner signed extensions one after another. He reiterated that Matthews is going to sign, but wants to win and is figuring out the best way to help the Leafs do so.

CJ believes that the Matthews extension will very likely occur very close to the time frame that Nathan MacKinnon's extension was announced last off-season, signing on the eve of training camp. Neither Matthews nor the Leafs want to enter training camp with all of the Toronto media fixated on his extension talks.

With training camp not scheduled to start for another five weeks or so, it means that Leaf fans and media will continue to speculate how long his deal will be and for how much until he signs.

So Nylanders motivation is to get a cue of how low Matthews contact is to guage his discount or to see what is left in the pile of money that he can ask for?

 

[Gary Nylund]

So Nylanders motivation is to get a cue of how low Matthews contact is to guage his discount or to see what is left in the pile of money that he can ask for?

I believe is was reported earlier that yes, Nylander was waiting to see what Matthews did and if Matthews was not going to give a discount, than he wouldn't do so either.

I don't think "what is left in the pile of money" has anything to do with it, if the Leafs don't have enough to pay him then he'll just go somewhere else.

 

[Sypher04]

For some reason Bruins players get credit for taking big discounts when they break out after signing a contract. The “Marchand took a huge discount because he wanted to win” argument drives me nuts, he signed in September 2016 with a career high of 61 points. Where is the discount? Pastrnak scored 19 goals in 20 games after signing his contract, I guess the GM was just psychic and knew he’d start shooting 50% above his career best and go goal per game after pacing for low 50s/100 points all season prior to the contract.

100% agree. I've talked about this myself on multiple occasions. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Pastrnak's production as a high end winger now that seemingly all the quality centers are gone in Boston. Zacha is looking to be their #1C which is really bad, especially so when you consider that he's been far better as a LW. Charlie Coyle is a 3C. There's effectively nothing else.

 

[Stephen]

100% agree. I've talked about this myself on multiple occasions. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Pastrnak's production as a high end winger now that seemingly all the quality centers are gone in Boston. Zacha is looking to be their #1C which is really bad, especially so when you consider that he's been far better as a LW. Charlie Coyle is a 3C. There's effectively nothing else.

Part of the team friendly equation is signing long term enough to allow for the AAV to amortize over a long duration which becomes favorable for a team the more the cap grows. The reported rumours have Matthews signing a record setting AAV and shorter term so he’s building in a hedge in case the record setting deal starts to age. That’s aggressive.

 

[Arzak]

When discussing contracts, you can only count what they did before the contract was signed... What's happened after, can be discussed for the next contract.

And yet you turn around and discard your logic and the most recent season because it was still ongoing when he signed.

Mental gymnastic much? He was on his way to 60 goals and no one thought 48 goals ( shorten season which you omitted on purpose) will stay his career high for very long.

Funny how you cant do per 82 where it doesn't suit you.

 

[Fogelhund]

And yet you turn around and discard your logic and the most recent season because it was still ongoing when he signed.

Mental gymnastic much? He was on his way to 60 goals and no one thought 48 goals ( shorten season which you omitted on purpose) will stay his career high for very long.

Funny how you cant do per 82 where it doesn't suit you.

Which was already addressed above, by another poster. Funny you lack an ability to read and comprehend, where it doesn't suit you.

 

[Boxscore]

If the Leafs have no greater playoff success in the next 3-4 years than the past 7, does Matthews even want to stay past that point in time?

If the Leafs have no greater playoff success in the next 3-4 years, Matthews is a major reason why.

1. Despite being the best player on the team, his production decreases in the playoffs.

2. If he demands 13.5 and the Leafs need to trade a player like Nylander, or settle for bargain basement depth again, it's on Matthews.

 

[Boxscore]

If Matthews duplicates MacKinnon, it will be $12.75 mil....

If Matthews signed for 12.75 x 8, I think it would be a win-win for both the team and player. It is a hair high? Sure, but we're talking about 200k high and the 8 year commitment makes it more than acceptable. The problem is when we start getting into 13.5 x 4, which would be an overpayment plus under term.

 

[Mess]

Part of the team friendly equation is signing long term enough to allow for the AAV to amortize over a long duration which becomes favorable for a team the more the cap grows. The reported rumours have Matthews signing a record setting AAV and shorter term so he’s building in a hedge in case the record setting deal starts to age. That’s aggressive.

I would have worded it like this ..

The reported rumours have Matthews signing a record setting AAV and shorter term so he’s building up his hedge FUND$ in case the record setting deal starts to age.

"Hedge funds" pool money from investors, and invest that into types of investments with the goal of getting positive returns, with accelerated earnings.

So Matthews not only wants the highest NHL Salary, and then wants it front loaded and in advance also, so can invest it to start doubling down on his earning potential via interest and capital gains, and then for only a short term, so that he can take full advantage of each annual cap ceiling increase to maximizes his earning potential at both ends.

The Matthews Era in Toronto will never be confused with him being a real "TEAM GUY", where winning is his highest priority, rather his lavish life style of Mansions and Ferrari and Rolex watches is what motivates him. IMO

 

[Nineteen67]

They can’t sign him for anything above 12.75 for less than 5 yrs.
IF they’re smart they’ll have money after this season, and even more after the next. When that time comes he has to have at minimum 4 yrs left on his deal, or they’ll be in the exact same spot.

If Matthews signed for 12.75 x 8, I think it would be a win-win for both the team and player. It is a hair high? Sure, but we're talking about 200k high and the 8 year commitment makes it more than acceptable. The problem is when we start getting into 13.5 x 4, which would be an overpayment plus under term.

 

[Racer88]

If the Leafs have no greater playoff success in the next 3-4 years, Matthews is a major reason why.

1. Despite being the best player on the team, his production decreases in the playoffs.

2. If he demands 13.5 and the Leafs need to trade a player like Nylander, or settle for bargain basement depth again, it's on Matthews.

This I agree with. He dam well needs to show up in the big games in the playoffs. If he score a series winning goal or two and the choker narrative starts to go away

 

[Sypher04]

If the Leafs have no greater playoff success in the next 3-4 years, Matthews is a major reason why.

1. Despite being the best player on the team, his production decreases in the playoffs.

2. If he demands 13.5 and the Leafs need to trade a player like Nylander, or settle for bargain basement depth again, it's on Matthews.

He’s the best player on the team, so yeah, obviously if they don’t go any further he wears a fair deal of that. Not solely, but a notable role in it for sure.

 

[Gabriel426]

100% agree. I've talked about this myself on multiple occasions. It's going to be interesting to see what happens to Pastrnak's production as a high end winger now that seemingly all the quality centers are gone in Boston. Zacha is looking to be their #1C which is really bad, especially so when you consider that he's been far better as a LW. Charlie Coyle is a 3C. There's effectively nothing else.

The discount idea comes more from the aspect that Bergy and Brad didn't use FUTURE VALUE or FUTURE CAP INCREASE as much as some of our boys. Which is fair. Marchand had 61pts but he signed for like 6.125mil. Willie had a few more points before signing his second deal and he held out at 7mil.
Having said that, I think Pastra, Carlo and McAvoy signed fair deal and once again didn't really use FUTURE CAP increase too much.

If Matthews signed for 12.75 x 8, I think it would be a win-win for both the team and player. It is a hair high? Sure, but we're talking about 200k high and the 8 year commitment makes it more than acceptable. The problem is when we start getting into 13.5 x 4, which would be an overpayment plus under term.

if AM is willing to sign 12.75 x 8, thats a win for all sides. Somehow I doubt thats on the table. Would be funny if BT is holding AM to 12 * 8mil and end up settling at 12.75*8

 

[geo25]

This I agree with. He dam well needs to show up in the big games in the playoffs. If he score a series winning goal or two and the choker narrative starts to go away

I beg to differ. His body language screams indifference which spells doom in any sport. Now maybe if he was paid - that may spark his interest. I have seen enough of his body of work to confidently state I dont ever think we'll win with him as our biggest cap hit player period. Many may differ....but just look at the results, they dont lie. This guy needs to be traded to the team of his choice & with his ok (because we bumbled the opportunity prior to July 1st) or severely overpay him to stay & continue to accept failure. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. I would do the same to Nylander & MM....we need a different core. The REAL problem here is Shanny & or the board and what they are telling him....we arent privy to what they care about. Surely ticket sales is #1 ahead of a winner & AM fills our overpriced seats. Such a shame.