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

[myleafs]

When would you decide when to sign or train?

Soon....very soon

 

[authentic]

yea im def warming up to the idea of shorter term...then if he slides in production or has injury issues (wrist) we arent tied down with a long contract. Why he wouldnt take the guaranteed money (longer term) over maybe making more in the future when we are talking about a 26 yr who is worth tens of millions already doesnt make sense to me but whateves.


Id be ok with a 3yr the more I think about it

Well look at it this way if he takes the shorter term he's obviously confident enough in his ability to justify earning more again in his 30s with his play over the next few seasons. A shorter term would easily be better than longer term, if he proves to be injury plagued again then let him walk after that.

 

[ULF_55]

Soon....very soon

So:
Signing him July 1st. or later ... can't sign until then.
Trading him without restriction before July 1st.
Trading him where he wants to go after June 30th.

 

[authentic]

Since he joined the Leafs he is the highest scoring #2 center in the league (unless you count Drai as a center). Not sure who you could expect to be better slotted behind Matthews playing 16 minutes a night.

Matthews
McDavid
Drai (if you count him as a C)
Mackinnon
Stamkos
Crosby
Barkov
Zibanejad
Aho
Scheifele
Point


The only full time centers with more points than Tavares since he joined us. All except maybe 2 come with at least an $11M pricetag as a UFA.

If we could add more speed throughout the lineup with that 11 million that would be a luxury to us. I do not believe he's easily replaceable by any means but I also don't believe he's that big of a factor at even strength anymore to justify that contract and we could make the team better with that extra cap space.

Realistically he will be here until his contract is up though and after that he either takes a major paycut or he's gone.

 

[Budz]

I really think Calgary is a good potential trade partner for us.

 

[myleafs]

So:
Signing him July 1st. or later ... can't sign until then.
Trading him without restriction before July 1st.
Trading him where he wants to go after June 30th.

I understand all the restrictions but Treliving can certainly get a very good idea on where Matthews head is at and what money term he is looking for. If Matthews doesnt want to handshake commit befor July 1 with Brad then I dont see how you can go into the season like that and risk losing him for nothing. So when I say soon I mean soon.....go see matthews beginning of next week spend a day with him then a day or 2 with his agent and make a decision . It should be pretty cut and dried. It could be that Treliving gives Matthews whatever he wants but that will mean 1-2 of the other core need to go. Either way Trevliving needs to know ASAP.

 

[authentic]

If we could add more speed throughout the lineup with that 11 million that would be a luxury to us. I do not believe he's easily replaceable by any means but I also don't believe he's that big of a factor at even strength anymore to justify that contract and we could make the team better with that extra cap space.

Realistically he will be here until his contract is up though and after that he either takes a major paycut or he's gone.

This also made me think of the possibilities of molding Nylander into a two-way center since he has shown he has the ability to be a two-way player (and played center before the NHL) but only when he really wants to. If he could stay committed to that we immediately solve our #2 center problem with an extra 11 million dollars to shop around. That would be pretty cool.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Nick Kypreos proposed the following Auston Matthews trade to the Los Angeles Kings today on Real Kyper and Bourne:

Toronto Maple Leafs get:

• Quinton Byfield

• Gabriel Vilardi

• Mikey Anderson

• top 3 protected 1st round draft pick

Los Angeles Kings get:

• Auston Matthews

 

[thewave]

This also made me think of the possibilities of molding Nylander into a two-way center since he has shown he has the ability to be a two-way player (and played center before the NHL) but only when he really wants to. If he could stay committed to that we immediately solve our #2 center problem with an extra 11 million dollars to shop around. That would be pretty cool.

Said since he was drafted. He can do C.

 

[ULF_55]

I understand all the restrictions but Treliving can certainly get a very good idea on where Matthews head is at and what money term he is looking for. If Matthews doesnt want to handshake commit befor July 1 with Brad then I dont see how you can go into the season like that and risk losing him for nothing. So when I say soon I mean soon.....go see matthews beginning of next week spend a day with him then a day or 2 with his agent and make a decision . It should be pretty cut and dried. It could be that Treliving gives Matthews whatever he wants but that will mean 1-2 of the other core need to go. Either way Trevliving needs to know ASAP.

Great.

Faith ...

I'd be willing to "have faith" that Matthews sticks to his word with regards to his want.

So if he won't verbally agree to a sign and trade / sign and stay then you trade him for a much lessor package before July 1st.

There is the option to play him for the year and let him shop himself like Stamkos did as free agent.
As UFA Stamkos shopped himself and then signed for less money than he was offered.

 

[stickty111]

One of those players you sign at his value, and make adjustments to the rest of the roster. You don't let him go unless he wants too.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Nick Kypreos proposed the following Auston Matthews trade to the Los Angeles Kings today on Real Kyper and Bourne:

Toronto Maple Leafs get:

• Quinton Byfield

• Gabriel Vilardi

• Mikey Anderson

• top 3 protected 1st round draft pick

Los Angeles Kings get:

• Auston Matthews

Is that good?

 

[myleafs]

Great.

Faith ...

I'd be willing to "have faith" that Matthews sticks to his word with regards to his want.

So if he won't verbally agree to a sign and trade / sign and stay then you trade him for a much lessor package before July 1st.

There is the option to play him for the year and let him shop himself like Stamkos did as free agent.
As UFA Stamkos shopped himself and then signed for less money than he was offered.

If Matthews is serious about being in Toronto he will know what he wants and will share that with Brad. If he states he is going in to the season without an extension then that tells me he is going to test the UFA waters or try to bend the leafs over for max money during the season. This is his right to do so but as the gm its my right to do what I think is best for the team and not just the individual. And as a fan it turns me off if money is all he cares about. Im not saying it is but if it turns out like that.

Going into the season with a not extended Matthews is an option. Worst case scenario is he walks for no assets and we get the cap space moving forward which I could live with if that happens but for me personally in this situation and if its my decision I want him signed or I trade him. Asset management. Its clear the core guys dont care about touchy feely its about the team feelings when its about their contract so it shouldnt be like that for the gm either. Its just business.

Either way I wont lose any sleep over it. For me, he is not bigger than the team.

 

[PeE eL DuBoiS]

8 years, 12.5 mil per

$100M, take it or leave it bud.

I fully agree with this. He's been injured and doesn't have the same wrist snap-type shot he used to. He's a phenomenal player but there's likely no longer any upside with him to justify more than this. If he's demanding more, or a 2-4 year term, I would trade him this month. Kick start a proper rebuild.

 

[ULF_55]

If Matthews is serious about being in Toronto he will know what he wants and will share that with Brad. If he states he is going in to the season without an extension then that tells me he is going to test the UFA waters or try to bend the leafs over for max money during the season. This is his right to do so but as the gm its my right to do what I think is best for the team and not just the individual. And as a fan it turns me off if money is all he cares about. Im not saying it is but if it turns out like that.

Going into the season with a not extended Matthews is an option. Worst case scenario is he walks for no assets and we get the cap space moving forward which I could live with if that happens but for me personally in this situation and if its my decision I want him signed or I trade him. Asset management. Its clear the core guys dont care about touchy feely its about the team feelings when its about their contract so it shouldnt be like that for the gm either. Its just business.

Either way I wont lose any sleep over it. For me, he is not bigger than the team.

Leafs traded the Big M, and I wasn't happy but survived just fine thank you.
If the Leafs trade the Little M (marner) I'd be just fine thank you.
If the Leafs trade the Second Big M, so be it.

 

[Jmo89]

Nick Kypreos proposed the following Auston Matthews trade to the Los Angeles Kings today on Real Kyper and Bourne:

Toronto Maple Leafs get:

• Quinton Byfield

• Gabriel Vilardi

• Mikey Anderson

• top 3 protected 1st round draft pick

Los Angeles Kings get:

• Auston Matthews

I don't know those guys that well, but that seems a little heavy for LA. Doesn't it create two holes for them to fill one?

 

[therealkoho]

Auston does deserve more money than McDavid at this time....bc Matthew's contract is up first. Then when McDavid's contract comes up, he will get more than Auston. And when the next generational talent contract comes up, they'll jump ahead.

The good news is at the press conference Tree said he knows what kind of money it takes to get a contract done with Auston. Don't penny pinch. Just give Auston what he wants and make him fee; respected.

Respected, like how he respects his teammates, or how he respects his coaches or how he respects security guards?

8 years, 12.5 mil per

$100M, take it or leave it bud.

That's not what you pay a guy who hasn't led his team anywhere, who if the wrist thing is chronic is maybe a 40 goal guy.

 

[WillNy29]

I don't know those guys that well, but that seems a little heavy for LA. Doesn't it create two holes for them to fill one?

little heavy for LA while we get significantly worse? lol

 

[nuck]

They can certainly choose to not go down that road. But they'll still be without a 1C for the foreseeable future as a result.

If the team wants to start playing hardball, I'd rather do it with a winger, not the centre

You would likely need to get a center back to make it work at all or resign O'Rielly and see if that's enough. Yes he's not Matthews but neither is Eichel. Maybe you add a winger and finally see if Willie is a center of not.

A top player asking for a 3 year deal in order to put your nuts in a vise is already playing hardball. And if AM is moved Marner's cost to resign immediately goes down.

 

[ToneDog]

Nick Kypreos proposed the following Auston Matthews trade to the Los Angeles Kings today on Real Kyper and Bourne:

Toronto Maple Leafs get:

• Quinton Byfield

• Gabriel Vilardi

• Mikey Anderson

• top 3 protected 1st round draft pick

Los Angeles Kings get:

• Auston Matthews

I'd add something if the give us Clarke instead of Anderson.

 

[Da Mash]

You would likely need to get a center back to make it work at all or resign O'Rielly and see if that's enough. Yes he's not Matthews but neither is Eichel. Maybe you add a winger and finally see if Willie is a center of not.

A top player asking for a 3 year deal in order to put your nuts in a vise is already playing hardball. And if AM is moved Marner's cost to resign immediately goes down.

I still don't understand the love affair with ROR. He couldnt drive a 3rd line and we want him to drive our top 2 lines? Yikes. The guy is a shell of his old self and is slower then Tavares.

 

[Apex Predator]

I'd add something if the give us Clarke instead of Anderson.

Same I’d prefer Clarke over Anderson

 

[Menzinger]

You would likely need to get a center back to make it work at all or resign O'Rielly and see if that's enough. Yes he's not Matthews but neither is Eichel. Maybe you add a winger and finally see if Willie is a center of not.

A top player asking for a 3 year deal in order to put your nuts in a vise is already playing hardball. And if AM is moved Marner's cost to resign immediately goes down.

You'd definitely need a young center coming back if you were to trade Matthews. ROR was fine as a TDL addition, but he's not the guy id look to build my top six around and that's if he's willing to stay. And maybe Nylander is able to fill in as the 2C - but we're then asking a 32-33 year ols JT to carry the burden of being the main defensive centre which I don't like.

Id see a three year deal as giving the team at least two more seasons minimum to figure it out, which personally I'd take over the alternative. Though I think the Leafs would likely push for a deal in the 4-6 year range more so

 

[therealkoho]

I'd add something if the give us Clarke instead of Anderson.

In a heartbeat, it looks a lot like my proposal of a few weeks back

Byfield, Kemper, Durzi a 1st and 2nd

 

[Community]

Nick Kypreos proposed the following Auston Matthews trade to the Los Angeles Kings today on Real Kyper and Bourne:

Toronto Maple Leafs get:

• Quinton Byfield

• Gabriel Vilardi

• Mikey Anderson

• top 3 protected 1st round draft pick

Los Angeles Kings get:

• Auston Matthews

If Toronto trades Matthews, they need to do whatever they can to get a #1C back in the deal.

Byfield is young and was a highly touted top pick, but hasn't shown any indications he's going to be a #1C so far. If you're dealing for him, you have to be certain he'll grow into a #1C and quickly.

Most people don't think JT should even be a center anymore (and if he is, a lot of people wrongly believe he isn't even a #2C at this point). Either way, he's trending down... so how good is our center group going to look in the next few years?

I don't want him traded, but a deal around Beniers/Larkin/Pettersson/Suzuki plus extras makes a lot more sense to me.