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

[Sypher04]

Are you not paying attention to the economy? The cap is not going to rise rapidly lol. As unemployment and inflation continue to rise rapidly, one thing is for sure, most people are going to choose food and nest egg over high-priced hockey games.

The cap is projected to grow to 92 million dollars by 2 years from now. It’s only down artificially at the moment while the players repay the owners which is very nearly complete

 

[Sypher04]

With regards Matthews and Leafs.
I'm ok with him potentially being highest payed leaf... I'm not ok with him being highest payed player in the NHL especially on a f***in 3 year deal.

That’s unfortunate for you I suppose, as he’s earned being up there until Draisaitl and McDavid come due for new deals.

 

[ACC1224]

IMO, it's pretty naïve not to expect Matthews to be the highest paid player in the short term. He won't hold the title forever though.

 

[lbc1358]

Gaudreau didn’t “plan on leaving” Calgary either.

 

[Metroid]

That’s unfortunate for you I suppose, as he’s earned being up there until Draisaitl and McDavid come due for new deals.

Technically it's unfortunate for all leaf fans. Only person here it benefits is him. Good on him for making so much money.
I'm no Matthews hater, just don't think he should get 13. 3 years I'm def not ok with. But whatever.
Out of our hands.

 

[Menzinger]

IMO, it's pretty naïve not to expect Matthews to be the highest paid player in the short term. He won't hold the title forever though.

Yep. It's a cyclical process.

I remember when people were freaking out that Getzlaf and Perry signed thoer 8x8 deals with Anaheim

 

[Tak7]

In the past week, Caufield & Severson have both signed 8 year deals.

....but Matthews can't?

Let's be crystal clear here - Auston Matthews' next deal will prioritize his own monetary gain, not the Leafs winning / living in Toronto etc.

It's honestly nauseating.

 

[1specter]

IMO, it's pretty naïve not to expect Matthews to be the highest paid player in the short term. He won't hold the title forever though.

It's not necessarily just the money though, I can live with a 13M AAV, but then he supposedly only wants 3-4 years? Can't have it both ways getting the highest AAV and also chincing on the term.

 

[thewave]

Gaudreau didn’t “plan on leaving” Calgary either.

Not planning on leaving is code for. I am taking leaving into very serious consideration.

Any GM or President or agent who does not read that statement that way is just plain stupid.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I don't disagree with either of your statements I've bolded, I just think your solution of just trade him to Arizona or some other bottom feeder is neither simple nor the correct solution.

I suggested to use the possibility as a wake up to AM.
Talk to Arizona, his agent will find out, AM will either love it or hate it. If he thinks it may happen it is easier to get a pen on paper from him.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Something I heard today actually made my jaw drop.

RBC which is the sponser of the Canadian Open, the same RBC that pays Matthews scads of money to appear in those kind of limp commercials and act as a spokesperson for them. They asked Matthews to come and participate in the Opens celebrity pro-am, which he flat out refused to do.

You would think that a guy who supposedly "loves Toronto" not to mention makes some sweet coin from their association, couldn't be bugged to come up to the city he "loves" get to meet the new GM, shoot a nice easy round, get feted and pick up some swag thats fit for a king.

Not in love atm , perhaps?

Where did you hear that? Do you have a link.

Nick Kypreos: What the Maple Leafs can learn from Adin Hill’s Stanley Cup final run with Golden Knights

The Leafs have plenty of options in goal, but after watching Hill’s playoff run the question is: how bold does GM Brad Treliving want to be?

www.thestar.com

It’s believed RBC was hoping to get hockey ambassador Auston Matthews to participate in the pro-am Wednesday at Oakdale, but he decided to take a pass. I wonder if the media focus on his next contract played any part in his decision ...

 

[ACC1224]

It's not necessarily just the money though, I can live with a 13M AAV, but then he supposedly only wants 3-4 years? Can't have it both ways getting the highest AAV and also chincing on the term.

Unless I missed it(quite possible) isn't this all media speculation to garner attention?

 

[justashadowof]

Can you imagine going to a pro-am golf tournament and getting relentlessly hounded for a statement about your personal finances?

 

[nuck]

If Matthews were willing to ink an 8 year $14M aav deal on July 1st, would you jump at that deal (my first impulse) or be suspicious why it was that easy (I may be damaged beyond repair)?

No for me. On his last deal if you gave him credit for "on a pace for" he arguably earned it 2 years out of 5. The gap between him and Connor is a lot more than the gap between him and Pasta/Mac/Tkachuk. He should be looking south, not north.

And then you get to what are his chances of being a top 5 player in the last few years of the deal? There is a possibility his issues are chronic, and they will be paying $14M per for the 22nd highest scorer in the league. If not, he could realistically give 2 massive years out of 5 again, and then none in his last 3. That isn't worth $1.4M more than Mackinnon.

$13 x 7? The thing about the cap going up is that it can help insulate clubs from bad high dollar deals but not if they give it to top earners as inflation protection. $13 x 6 would be better. Maybe they meet at $13 x 5 which would work for me. Still likely an overpay but affordable. The idea of a 3 year deal just doesn't work for me. You can't make long term plans around a contract that short with the obligatory NM. I am trading him if he wants a 3 or 4 year deal with a NM. It isn't like they were knocking on the door of the finals the last couple years and getting jacked on big deals is why guys like Hyman couldn't be kept.

 

[Captain Crunch]

That’s unfortunate for you I suppose, as he’s earned being up there until Draisaitl and McDavid come due for new deals.

But how much MORE has he really earned? I'm perfectly fine if he's willing to do what MacKinnon did, but not okay if he's looking for any more than that. It might be different if he had won a Cup, but even then, and I am repeating myself, look at what MacKinnon did.

 

[Gabriel426]

Something I heard today actually made my jaw drop.

RBC which is the sponser of the Canadian Open, the same RBC that pays Matthews scads of money to appear in those kind of limp commercials and act as a spokesperson for them. They asked Matthews to come and participate in the Opens celebrity pro-am, which he flat out refused to do.

You would think that a guy who supposedly "loves Toronto" not to mention makes some sweet coin from their association, couldn't be bugged to come up to the city he "loves" get to meet the new GM, shoot a nice easy round, get feted and pick up some swag thats fit for a king.

Not in love atm , perhaps?

And coming up and play golf with hundreds of medias asking him constantly when are you going to sign and for how much. I would pass too.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Nick Kypreos: What the Maple Leafs can learn from Adin Hill’s Stanley Cup final run with Golden Knights

The Leafs have plenty of options in goal, but after watching Hill’s playoff run the question is: how bold does GM Brad Treliving want to be?

www.thestar.com

It’s believed RBC was hoping to get hockey ambassador Auston Matthews to participate in the pro-am Wednesday at Oakdale, but he decided to take a pass. I wonder if the media focus on his next contract played any part in his decision ...

OK, so taking a pass and flat out refused... they are both giving negative answers.

 

[ACC1224]

Can you imagine going to a pro-am golf tournament and getting relentlessly hounded for a statement about your personal finances?

I doubt that's why.

 

[francis246]

Something I heard today actually made my jaw drop.

RBC which is the sponser of the Canadian Open, the same RBC that pays Matthews scads of money to appear in those kind of limp commercials and act as a spokesperson for them. They asked Matthews to come and participate in the Opens celebrity pro-am, which he flat out refused to do.

You would think that a guy who supposedly "loves Toronto" not to mention makes some sweet coin from their association, couldn't be bugged to come up to the city he "loves" get to meet the new GM, shoot a nice easy round, get feted and pick up some swag thats fit for a king.

Not in love atm , perhaps?

Because it wouldn’t just be an nice easy round. It would be the media up his ass about the contract extension all day. Also maybe he doesn’t really love golf like that lol. Also you’d have people all over Twitter getting on him about playing in the pro am instead of being on the ice training lol. So there’s really no benefit to going.

 

[Legion34]

Matthews won't be the end of the problem.

Whatever the Leafs give him, Marner will want something close to it and unfortunately Marners NMC kicks in July 1 for his last 2 years.


I've seen something about that but never seen anything to substantiate it.

I think it was he wanted more $$ for 8 years...again, haven't seen anything to verify it.

Friedman reported that it was widely known that Matthews was going to be offered 15x7 as an offer sheet.

So I don’t know what the number would have been by the leafs on an 8 year deal?

Eventually they went for 14% of the expected cap of 83.5 million.

The cap was 81.5 with an escalator to 86.5. There was NO time that they hadn’t used it. The year that Matthews signed was the first. They played the odds and lost.

 

[ToneDog]

Because it wouldn’t just be an nice easy round. It would be the media up his ass about the contract extension all day. Also maybe he doesn’t really love golf like that lol. Also you’d have people all over Twitter getting on him about playing in the pro am instead of being on the ice training lol. So there’s really no benefit to going.

It would not be. All he or RBC have to say is he is not talking about the contract.

 

[1specter]

Unless I missed it(quite possible) isn't this all media speculation to garner attention?

Yeah, but media were also pumping out some crazy numbers for both Matthews and Marner's first contract negotiations which threw people off, but it ended up being quite accurate to what they actually signed (people thought Marner getting 11M was ludicrous and it was reported he turned down 11Mx8 yrs and his final deal ended up being close to 11 anyways). I think we often believe that the media is out to lunch, and sometimes they are, but many of these guys are connected to the agents of these players, especially in Toronto where many of the big agencies and agents are located.

 

[ACC1224]

Yeah, but media were also pumping out some crazy numbers for both Matthews and Marner's first contract negotiations which threw people off, but it ended up being quite accurate to what they actually signed (people thought Marner getting 11M was ludicrous and it was reported he turned down 11Mx8 yrs and his final deal ended up being close to 11 anyways). I think we often believe that the media is out to lunch, and sometimes they are, but many of these guys are connected to the agents of these players, especially in Toronto where many of the big agencies and agents are located.

I was under the impression that Treliving and Matthews agent hadn't met yet?

 

[francis246]

It would not be. All he or RBC have to say is he is not talking about the contract.

Meh it’s not that big of a deal. I think it has more to do with him not loving golf like that. Don’t think he’s heavily interested in it and that’s okay. Why does everything have to be an issue for people on here?

He doesn’t want to play in the pro am, who gives a flying f***? Should be a total non story.

 

[TheDoldrums]

In the past week, Caufield & Severson have both signed 8 year deals.

....but Matthews can't?

Let's be crystal clear here - Auston Matthews' next deal will prioritize his own monetary gain, not the Leafs winning / living in Toronto etc.

It's honestly nauseating.

This is such a weird sentiment. What the hell does Damon Severson have to do with Auston Matthews? Like stick to MacKinnon comparisons that are actually make sense. Why should anyone feel nauseous because a decent defenseman got signed until he's 37. You think Severson signed that because he's prioritizing winning? Leaving NJ for Columbus? Do you think Columbus wanted to sign him for 8 years? Of course not, but they had to go to bad places to land him.

it's actually nauseating how our fanbase takes every single NHL transaction and somehow makes it about the Leafs