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

[Aashir Mallik]

That's what I'd do with Kyle. Why not?

Now that the piggy ban is gone...likely not a play that will work


I'm convinced AM was done the minute Dubbas handed JT the C. I have a feeling the AM stuff will get real messy.

It’s fine, then you deal him

You can still have a team without Matthews, you still have a top 6 Center in Tavares and great support pieces from Matthews’s deal/FA and nylander and Marner if need be

You can build a team without him, he needs to be reminded that he isn’t the only piece here

 

[AcerComputer]

Absolutely, if he wants more than he is getting now we trade him. He won’t do better over the next 8 years than he did in his 1st 8 years. Why pay more, especially when many said he was overpaid the 1st 8.

So Matthews was overpaid in his first 3 years as a rookie making $900k/year, $3.75m/year with bonuses? That's the first I've ever heard that, considering he was what a 40 goal guy PPG player, won rookie of the year.

Who cares…

He will command an absurd salary and there is a team that will pay…

However, Matthews is no winner… that‘s just a fact, so better save your bucks for someone else

I thought the narrative was Matthews wants out, and would prefer to play for a perennial bottom feeder in a 5000 seat arena in Arizona. So now he wants to stay, the Leafs should dump him. HFBaords logic, gotta love it.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

It’s fine, then you deal him

You can still have a team without Matthews, you still have a top 6 Center in Tavares and great support pieces from Matthews’s deal/FA and nylander and Marner if need be

You can build a team without him, he needs to be reminded that he isn’t the only piece here

Tavares can't play C at a high enough level for 82 and playoffs. When Tavares contract is up who's the #1 and #2 C. Matthews leaving or being dealt would be crippling for the franchise either way.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I thought the narrative was Matthews wants out, and would prefer to play for a perennial bottom feeder in a 5000 seat arena in Arizona.

He's going to get the Coyotes to move in with the new owner of the Phoenix Suns.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Tavares can't play C at a high enough level for 82 and playoffs. When Tavares contract is up who's the #1 and #2 C. Matthews leaving or being dealt would be crippling for the franchise either way.

Matthews isn’t going to be dealt for peanuts, he will get back a top 6 C replacement. Alternatively you can get FA, or package his return back for a gokd center.

Tavares was the islanders franchise 1C, they ended up getting better by losing him for nothing. Not saying that’s the model we should follow, but dealing him doesn’t take us out of the playoff race, as long as we deal him for usedul and smart pieces

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

If Matthews wants out i sell the farm. Max retain on Matthews, Marner, Nylander. Trade Brodie, Mccabe. Wait a year with Tavares then force his hand, max retain on him in a trade. I think you could collect an ungodly amount of picks and prospects in two years.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Kyle Dubas doesn’t plan on leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs

 

[keonsbitterness]

Kyle Dubas doesn’t plan on leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs

Instead Shanahan left the gun and took the cannoli.

 

[mapleleafs34]

Question. Can Matthews and the Leafs negotiate BEFORE July 1st and have a deal ready to be signed once July 1st hits?

 

[Menzinger]

Question. Can Matthews and the Leafs negotiate BEFORE July 1st and have a deal ready to be signed once July 1st hits?

Yes. Happens all the time.

 

[yubbers]

Question. Can Matthews and the Leafs negotiate BEFORE July 1st and have a deal ready to be signed once July 1st hits?

Why would AM give up the leverage? He'll run out the clock imho.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Why would AM give up the leverage? He'll run out the clock imho.

He could if he really wants to be here.

 

[yubbers]

He could if he really wants to be here.

maybe with his homie Dubas gone it makes him change strategy.

But I would've 100% played chicken with Kyle.Let the NMC kick in and ask for the moon.

 

[WillyC]

Auston signs for 11 x 5 and takes the pressure off himself within the next 2 weeks… saves the Leafs $10 million over the length of the contract and shows he wants to be here.

 

[Leafidelity]

Im not sure Id take any of the players quotes about staying as gospel now that the management group is changing

Does Matthews sign an extension before seeing who's running the team and what they want to do?

I doubt it.

 

[Trapper]

If Matthews wants out i sell the farm. Max retain on Matthews, Marner, Nylander. Trade Brodie, Mccabe. Wait a year with Tavares then force his hand, max retain on him in a trade. I think you could collect an ungodly amount of picks and prospects in two years.

If Matthews wants out you might as well see what you can get for everyone.

 

[trellaine201]

Why would AM give up the leverage? He'll run out the clock imho.

Yep that would be dumb on him and his agent. My sense is he won’t tip his hand. Leafs will have to decide on waiting or bailing.

 

[horner]

It’s fine, then you deal him

You can still have a team without Matthews, you still have a top 6 Center in Tavares and great support pieces from Matthews’s deal/FA and nylander and Marner if need be

You can build a team without him, he needs to be reminded that he isn’t the only piece here

You need the right GM in place to build a playoff team.
Seattle did fine without Matthew's.

For Matthew's money you can get 3 players

Recently signed contracts

Verhege 4.125 42 goals
It's a shame that we gave up on him

McCann 5 mil 40 goals
We got rid of the wrong player

 

[Lemontree]

If Matthews wants out you might as well see what you can get for everyone.

Agreed, if Matthews isn't willing to sign a reasonable (I mean not taking them to the cleaners) contract extension that he gets moved, that signals the full retool of the team. You could be looking nice with assets and cap space in 3 years when a certain someone is scheduled to become a UFA.

That doesn't mean trading Matthews, Marner, Nylander for draft picks only, it means acquiring pieces that fit in a certain timeframe window.

 

[sxvnert]

Sell him to the highest bidder @ 50% retained. 2023 draft is the deepest in years.

 

[Trapper]

Agreed, if Matthews isn't willing to sign a reasonable (I mean not taking them to the cleaners) contract extension that he gets moved, that signals the full retool of the team. You could be looking nice with assets and cap space in 3 years when a certain someone is scheduled to become a UFA.

That doesn't mean trading Matthews, Marner, Nylander for draft picks only, it means acquiring pieces that fit in a certain timeframe window.

Exactly. It’s a rebuild without waiting for the draft lottery.
If each player returns you 2/3 quality pieces, rebuild.

 

[sxvnert]

Agreed, if Matthews isn't willing to sign a reasonable (I mean not taking them to the cleaners) contract extension that he gets moved, that signals the full retool of the team. You could be looking nice with assets and cap space in 3 years when a certain someone is scheduled to become a UFA.

That doesn't mean trading Matthews, Marner, Nylander for draft picks only, it means acquiring pieces that fit in a certain timeframe window.

Exactly. It’s a rebuild without waiting for the draft lottery.
If each player returns you 2/3 quality pieces, rebuild.

Exactly. Ask for prospects instead of picks. 6-7 good young prospects (obviously not at the Matthews/Marner/Nylander level) in return starts the next rebuild + almost 30m in cap space.

I believe the Kings (Brandt Clarke + 2024 1st & 2025 1st if he signs) or Avs (Byram + 2024 1st & 2025 1st if he signs) would be interested in Matthews @ 50% for one season. Basically a rental for an entire season. Then package those picks for other young players or use them to make a selection.

Either way this isn't the mess Shanny took over in 2014 unless he locks up Marner/Matthews/Nylander long term. Then we're on an unsustainable path that will eventually require a full bottoming out rebuild.

 

[Petrus]

Why would AM give up the leverage? He'll run out the clock imho.

Toronto can also trade him before he runs out the clock.

Toronto can present an offer and if not verbally accepted prior to the 2023 draft you trade him to the highest bidder.

 

[yubbers]

Toronto can also trade him before he runs out the clock.

Toronto can present an offer and if not verbally accepted prior to the 2023 draft you trade him to the highest bidder.

With a GM vacancy? Not much time to play that game.

 

[Petrus]

With a GM vacancy? Not much time to play that game.

There is not really a choice. Shanahan and Pridham will have to do without Dubas unless the GM position is addressed before hand.
Not ideal.