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

[Legion34]

Agreed I've made this same point earlier using the $11 mil JT contract as the landmine that started it all.

Who would it be better for the Leafs to have now?

Keeping and resigning Zack Hyman for $5.5 mil

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&
Jared McCann for $5 mil

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or John Tavares @$11 mil

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Keeping the core 4 together would be so much better served if the Leafs could get rid of an $11 mil AAV and bring in 2 X players making 5-6 mil each and get double the production.

Quality depth at productive rates is much better bang for your salary cap buck. Leafs are paying JT $11 mil for 36 goals because they couldn't afford to keep Zach Hyman who also scored 36 goals but for 1/2 the cap cost & McCann who scored 40 goals for just $5 mil AAV.

Now Nylander coming off a 40 goal season also already makes +$2 mil more than McCann, and his same 40 goals but for $5 mil not $7 mil AAV. So what now resign Nylander for +$9 mil to keep the core 4 together at + $4 mil more than McCann would cost?

Sooooo your plan is to save 11 million. In cap for 5 years… anticipating the unprecedented response to Covid?

And sign Hyman who again injured his leg for the 3rd time in 4 playoffs?

 

[therealkoho]

Shanny's guy left a bomb behind for us. How did nobody above see this crap unfolding? Shanny should be fired too tbh.

I can't be bugged looking it up , but my initial reaction to the Matthews signing wasn't positive whatsoever and in fact I talked about handing the reins over to him going into the last year.

 

[Apex Predator]

 

[ULF_55]

So do all the top free agents hope he's moved before July 1st. so they can knock on the Vault door?

 

[rielledup]

I'd need a lot more than Fantilli to move Matthews. I'm listening if they add MacTavish and Drysdale.

No way in hell Anaheim gives us those three for AM. Based on recent scouting reports Fantilli would be the number 1 in almost any other draft and almost sounds like the Jack Eichel to Bedards McDavid. He'll also be playing on an ELC.

I'd take Fantilli and Drysdale for AM in a heart beat.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

My question to anyone adamant about resigning all of our stars: ask yourself honestly, is the heartache over the last several years *really* preferable to a rebuild? If yes, are you expecting different with this group moving forward? Personally, I'm open to anything at this point. A tweak, a rebuild or business as usual so I'm pretty breezy over this no matter what happens. Just curious about where people's feelings are.

 

[Gabriel426]

Sure take every penny but understand that that comes with expectation. Rielly shut up every fan that bitched about his contract with his playoff performance.

Reilly also took less too.

Personally, they could all sign for 15mil Avv if they showed up in the playoffs and win the Cup.

You can’t ask for top money and expected other to carry you when adversity hits. If they showed up and fight till they drop and still lose. That’s fine but they haven’t. The illusion of 1st round demon and once that’s over they will take over was false hope and that’s the reality and pretty sure they know that too. That’s why this year locker clean out was so different. Their beliefs that it is only 1st round demon…. Is gone and they realized they are so far off to be winning another round.

 

[rielledup]

To the people claiming that Shanny now has to give AM whatever he wants to keep him, how many Leaf fans do you actually think would be pissed if the Leafs trade AM if it gets out he was asking for 15 mil?

 

[Menzinger]

To the people claiming that Shanny now has to give AM whatever he wants to keep him, how many Leaf fans do you actually think would be pissed if the Leafs trade AM if it gets out he was asking for 15 mil?

I think the majority of fans would be fairly displeased if Matthews goes. Most people don't care about contract stuff

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

My question to anyone adamant about resigning all of our stars: ask yourself honestly, is the heartache over the last several years *really* preferable to a rebuild? If yes, are you expecting different with this group moving forward? Personally, I'm open to anything at this point. A tweak, a rebuild or business as usual so I'm pretty breezy over this no matter what happens. Just curious about where people's feelings are.

I hate to say it ...but I had a much more enjoyable time as a fan when things were being rebuilt and there was hope in the air. I remember telling my son after the Washington series that we should be contending for a cup in 2-3yrs based on how well the kids played the Caps. The years between 2015 and 2018 seemed like everything was going to come up roses...The last 4-5yrs have been a nightmare with all the drama and first round boot outs. I know we win a lot more during the regular season...but it's always tainted by "What are they going to do this spring?" and it kind of numbed me a bit. At this point I could care less if they blow it up...I can console myself with hope for a few years. This shit show is not exactly better for us fans.

 

[thewave]

I think the majority of fans would be fairly displeased if Matthews goes. Most people don't care about contract stuff

They care about it when you're not winning PO rounds.

 

[Trapper]

My question to anyone adamant about resigning all of our stars: ask yourself honestly, is the heartache over the last several years *really* preferable to a rebuild? If yes, are you expecting different with this group moving forward? Personally, I'm open to anything at this point. A tweak, a rebuild or business as usual so I'm pretty breezy over this no matter what happens. Just curious about where people's feelings are.

If you get everyone signed, then you have bought a new GM time to move on from players if it’s the same old song and dance.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think the majority of fans would be fairly displeased if Matthews goes. Most people don't care about contract stuff

I honestly think there are more people whining about contract stuff than about them actually failing to win anything... Like if Matthews/Marner/Tavares came in at a combined 5 mill less, all would be forgiven even though it would take a lot more than 5 mill to make up for how they played in that 2nd round.

 

[Stephen]

My question to anyone adamant about resigning all of our stars: ask yourself honestly, is the heartache over the last several years *really* preferable to a rebuild? If yes, are you expecting different with this group moving forward? Personally, I'm open to anything at this point. A tweak, a rebuild or business as usual so I'm pretty breezy over this no matter what happens. Just curious about where people's feelings are.

What you're pining for is the 1) Build Up and the 2) Innocent Climb when the ceiling of your build has not been reached, no errors or tough choices have been made and anything seems possible. We are much further along here and if the organization pushes together we can win a championship. But like Shanahan said, this is when the road gets harder every round, when every decision is magnified further. There's real skin in the game. This group can still do great things but the right mindset has to be taken, there needs to be more care for the organization needs. If that doesn't happen and we have to take a few steps back, that's life. Everything is cyclical. No player, executive, coach or individual is above the laundry.

 

[Menzinger]

I honestly think there are more people whining about contract stuff than about them actually failing to win anything... Like if Matthews/Marner/Tavares came in at a combined 5 mill less, all would be forgiven even though it would take a lot more than 5 mill to make up for how they played in that 2nd round.

There are folks who likely have every detail of the big four contracts memorized - and I think has especially been exacerbated in recent years. I don't remember people being so contract orientated during the Burke years in comparison.

But in the big picture they're an incredibly small minority in the wider Leafs fandom. Most people just want to watch Matthews score goals and be happy with that

 

[RoadWarrior]

Mackinnon won a cup. McDavid is the greatest player of this generation. Matthews does not deserve to make more than either of them.

I get that the cap increases, and they go by % as well, but if Matthews is serious he needs to leave some on the table and not handcuff us moving forward.

11.5-13 max is what it should be. He didn't score another 60 and scored nothing in the 2nd round, he cannot ask for the moon here.

He needs to be like Rielly, if he truly loves his teammates, well leave some on the table for them to also re-sign at a small discount and when Tavares comes up we use that extra 7-8 million from signing him back at 3-4 to add another difference maker on the back end.

Rielly is the only legit Leaf IMO. The guys bleeds blue and white and took a team friendly discount just to stay here.

He should be named captain immediately.

 

[MCR74]

To the people claiming that Shanny now has to give AM whatever he wants to keep him, how many Leaf fans do you actually think would be pissed if the Leafs trade AM if it gets out he was asking for 15 mil?

lf Matthews wants a fair deal, great. If not, he'll have many suitors. Matthews signs big, Marner will want the same. Enough with the big money, no performance contracts.

 

[Buds17]

I honestly think there are more people whining about contract stuff than about them actually failing to win anything... Like if Matthews/Marner/Tavares came in at a combined 5 mill less, all would be forgiven even though it would take a lot more than 5 mill to make up for how they played in that 2nd round.

I'm of the view that the lack of term on those deals is more problematic than even the AAVs are due to the guaranteed window of having Matthews, Marner and even Nylander being shorter than it'd otherwise be. That aside, the trio of Matthews, Marner and Tavares coming in at a collective 5M less against the cap arguably becomes enough to then fit in a fairly useful player.

 

[RoadWarrior]

"I'll keep tossing the media chum until my NMC kicks in, then demand whatever I want or walk"

His wrist injuries more than anything scare me to death. He was basically a middle of the pack # 1 centre this year in the regular season.

His wrists and hands are what make Matthews special. He doesn't have fast speed or a high hockey IQ.

if his wrist doesn’t heal then he’s just another 40 goal guy worth no more than Nylander. I would trade him before July 1st if he doesn’t re-sign.

 

[Mess]

But in the big picture they're an incredibly small minority in the wider Leafs fandom. Most people just want to watch Matthews score goals and be happy with that

I think the majority of fans would be fairly displeased if Matthews goes. Most people don't care about contract stuff

No offense but ...

This makes it sound like winning doesn't matter, and contracts don't matter, only having the player in a Leafs jersey matters so you can watch him score goals and be happy.

So are you cheering for the crest on the front, or the name on the back

when supporting the Leafs?

Is Matthews winning the Rocket Richard as the NHL best goal scorer >> Leafs wining the Stanley Cup?

If Matthews was making $15 mil AAV is that irrelevant, if he is scoring 100 goals in the regular season, but Cap hit coming at the cost of Leafs being out in round #1 of the playoffs are you happy or sad?

Would that put you in the majority or the minority in terms of Leafs fandom?

 

[Stephen]

There are folks who likely have every detail of the big four contracts memorized - and I think has especially been exacerbated in recent years. I don't remember people being so contract orientated during the Burke years in comparison.

But in the big picture they're an incredibly small minority in the wider Leafs fandom. Most people just want to watch Matthews score goals and be happy with that

Sometimes I wonder... I had a casual chat with a coworker before Game 4 vs Florida, or what was a casual chat. We'd never talked about hockey before, this person does not seem to be a hockey fan whatsoever, I don't seem like a hockey fan whatsoever, and by the end of a 10-15 minute chat we were doing a recap in detail of the era, contracts, mistakes, missed opportunities. I think people are really, really into it in this city. I think the knowledge, memory and awareness runs deep.

Re: Burke. The challenge during that era is the team didn't have draft picks or a foundational core to plausibly build anything. So cap wasn't the issue, more like we had expensive furniture but no house to put it in. Now we have a house, but we need to put a roof on it.

 

[Legion34]

No offense but ...

This makes it sound like winning doesn't matter, and contracts don't matter, only having the player in a Leafs jersey matters so you can watch him score goals and be happy.

So are you cheering for the crest on the front, or the name on the back View attachment 711195 when supporting the Leafs?

Is Matthews winning the Rocket Richard as the NHL best goal scorer >> Leafs wining the Stanley Cup?

If Matthews was making $15 mil AAV is that irrelevant, if he is scoring 100 goals in the regular season, but Cap hit coming at the cost of Leafs being out in round #1 of the playoffs are you happy or sad?

Would that put you in the majority or the minority in terms of Leafs fandom?

You are cheering for neither

 

[desperateblue]

Has there been a cup winning team since the start of the cap that had its biggest stars demand top dollar? I can’t think of any…..

For me this is simple when players take teams to arbitration they bring their lists of comparable players, and the team brings there’s and they usually meet somewhere in the middle.
If it were up to me I’d put an offer of 12.5 x 8 on the table for him to sign if he won’t sign then I’d call every gm in the league and ask for their best offers.
Same thing for nylander and ole Mitch next year.
It’s sickening how entitled and out of touch leaf players have become

 

[3blizzard4]

Every time I read this thread title it I read it as “doesn’t plan to stay”.

I skip a beat.

 

[Mess]

I honestly think there are more people whining about contract stuff than about them actually failing to win anything... Like if Matthews/Marner/Tavares came in at a combined 5 mill less, all would be forgiven even though it would take a lot more than 5 mill to make up for how they played in that 2nd round.

Problem being most Leaf fans can walk and chew gum at the same time and connect multiple dots at the same time.

Here is a quick summary why the Leafs nearly got swept in round #2

That is because 1/2 of Leafs salary Cap combined for 3 goals in 5 games and 2 X $11 mil centers posted Zeros while the opposition goalie allowed no more than 2 goals against per game.

The image shows the Leafs were down 0-3 in the series because the core 4 combined for Zero goals in 3 straight games. Good starting point to analyze what and where it went wrong.

The teams best players were not their best players to win. This isn't also a one and done data sample, only the most recent where the previous 7 playoff years also ended in playoff failure.
&
You're out of the playoffs because you have too much cap invested in too few players and those players you did invest in may not be the right ones and certainly not as group good enough. Since the players didn't sign themselves to those contracts nor decide who is on the team its easy to connect those dots back the to GM in charge and accountability for this reside with him.

Some fans love the core 4 because of talent, and believe its the other 1/2 of the roster making much much less that is suppose to carry the team to victory.

Breaking up the core 4 and spreading the cap wealth to create a deeper team with different components and skill sets, based on these results that determined Leafs fate is not an irrational nor illogical conclusion to make if WINNING is the #1 priority.

If Tavares made -$5 mil less but still posted 0 goals that situation wouldn't improve on cap space & usage alone, unless where you spent that $5 mil on the rest of the team changed the outcome.