C Auston Matthews - USNTDP, USHL (2016 Draft)

[Vipers31]

I was just answering to a guy asking if an AHL team could sign him to a AHL only deal and I wanted to know if he could make the same amount of money in the AHL

Oh, I got that. I just meant that the top salaries in the AHL are in the millions, so answering that very question wouldn't have given you the answer you were looking for. It's been solved now, though.

 

[JimboA]

Always been a big fan of him since I first heard about him, and now I like him even more. Swiss league will be perfect (travel distance, games, new cultures and so on).

 

[SCBdude]

Oh, I got that. I just meant that the top salaries in the AHL are in the millions, so answering that very question wouldn't have given you the answer you were looking for. It's been solved now, though.

I should have been more accurate with what I'm asking. Since the conversation was about Matthews signing an AHL only contract my question was about that kind of contract. But as you say we have received an answer now

 

[Rebuilt]

]With all due respect - that is a terrible, terrible reasoning[/B]. We can just make everything discretionary arguing like that. Toronto is a huge market, a huge financial factor for the league, is in eternal need of a center, so why not just give them McDavid? Those concerns for the teams simply cannot be the basis for a fair process. Cutoffs are there out of necessity. There's always going to be guys suffering from any cutoff. Making those lines discretionary just opens things up for arbitrary decisions based on reasons like your's, which are up for consideration if you're working for a PR firm, but for the main body of a sports league, those considerations are simply not fair. A static cutoff is entirely fair.

We shouldn't have this merely tangent offtopic overtake Matthews' thread, btw.

I dont think it is.

If the Leafs were in trouble and due to draft 1st overall , and Mc David was from Toronto and 48hrs short of the draft, I would be making the same argument.

A static cutoff is 'fair' but is not ideal. Life is not this black and white. There are exceptions to most rules in life, let alone to the NHL playbook.

This is a Matthews thread so I also disagree with you that we cant discuss issues directly relating to him such as this one is.

 

[Woodhouse]

I don't doubt Matthews may have narrowed his NLA options to ZSC, but nothing's official yet. Morreale got a statement from Matthews:

Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, still is mulling his options on where he will continue his hockey career in 2015-16.

Matthews confirmed Sunday that in addition to the NCAA and Canadian Hockey League route, he is considering playing in Switzerland. He didn't identify which team he was considering but did say it likely would be with a team in the top division of the Swiss professional league.

"I am looking at all opportunities," Matthews told NHL.com via a text message. "Switzerland, Everett [Silvertips in the Western Hockey League] and the CHL, as well as the NCAA are all great options for me. I am speaking with my family and advisers Pat Brisson and Judd Moldaver and will probably make a decision soon."

Also, these were recent takes from the Everett and DU/NCAA perspectives:

Matthews, a super-skilled 17-year-old center from Arizona, is currently projected as the first-overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft. His junior rights are held by Everett, and it was believed he was choosing between playing next season for the Tips or an NCAA school.

However, this is an interesting new twist. There's never been a North American player who played his pre-draft season professionally in Europe. There's been a few cases of basketball players avoiding the NCAA by playing their post-high school season professionally in Europe, such was the case with Brandon Jennings. But no hockey player has done anything like that, so if Matthews did indeed head overseas he would be a trail blazer.

This could very well be a bigger concern for Everett than the NCAA. Matthews would have to accelerate his schooling to play in the NCAA next season, so that likely would require summer classes. But he wouldn't need to take any classes to play in Switzerland, and he'd also get paid.

Matthews, 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, could make the same impact for coach Jim Montgomery's attack-style DU team in need of a center for two of the country's top returning wingers, Trevor Moore and Danton Heinen.

The Pioneers, who cannot publicly comment about recruits, are pushing hard for the kid, along with Michigan, North Dakota, Boston College and Boston University. Denver is an attractive destination for many reasons, including geography relative to Matthews' upbringing in Scottsdale, Ariz. The opportunity to play with Moore and Heinen is intriguing, and that's undoubtedly being pitched by DU senior wing Zac Larraza, also of Scottsdale and a friend of the Matthews family.

Landing Matthews would give DU its top recruit of all time, and the Pioneers have no problem agreeing to a one-and-done college career.

 

[SCBdude]

Swiss hockey journalist Klaus Zaugg reports that Matthews would make "at least" 200'000$ with the ZSC next year. Also ZSC's CEO confirmed their interest in him and said that they feel he's good enough to play in the NLA as a foreigner and that they won't sign an extra foreigner in preparation of him not being able adapt to the NLA

http://www.watson.ch/Eishockey/articles/654133049-Ein-Lehrjahr-f%C3%BCr-%C2%ABAmerikas-Gretzky%C2%BB-%E2%80%93-Auston-Matthews-vor-dem-Wechsel-zu-den-ZSC-Lions

 

[Vipers31]

If the Leafs were in trouble and due to draft 1st overall , and Mc David was from Toronto and 48hrs short of the draft, I would be making the same argument.

You shouldn't be making the argument in the first place. First of, Arizona is not "due" to draft 1st overall. They were on their way to picking 2nd overall, but a team won the lottery, which is part of the fair procedure, dedicated to particularly make it less attractive for teams to come in at/near the bottom. So that is not even a viable argument for a league's POV. And the 48 hours are a fun fact, but the fact remains that there is a static cutoff, which does treat everyone by the same fixed standard. Making it discretionary only opens up room for abitrary or ill-advised decisions.

A static cutoff is 'fair' but is not ideal. Life is not this black and white.

It's not ideal, but a necessity. Even life in all its colorations needs some fix points in extensive sets of rules. Especially when there's no viable alternative. And by all means, what you're presenting, a discretionary decision based on fun/marketable stories and subjective feelings about teams being deserving of something good, is not remotely viable.

This is a Matthews thread so I also disagree with you that we cant discuss issues directly relating to him such as this one is.

A discussion about a hypothetical rule change that isn't even possible to be implemented in time for it to affect him is by no means directly relating to him.

 

[The Noot]

Swiss hockey journalist Klaus Zaugg reports that Matthews would make "at least" 200'000$ with the ZSC next year. Also ZSC's GM confirmed their interest in him and said that they feel he's good enough to play in the NLA as a foreigner and that they won't sign an extra foreigner in preparation of him not being able adapt to the NLA

http://www.watson.ch/Eishockey/articles/654133049-Ein-Lehrjahr-f%C3%BCr-%C2%ABAmerikas-Gretzky%C2%BB-%E2%80%93-Auston-Matthews-vor-dem-Wechsel-zu-den-ZSC-Lions

To call Zaugg a journalist is a huge stretch. His claim in regard to the potential salary and the fact that he calls Matthews "America's Gretzky" pretty much confirms that.

 

[SCBdude]

To call Zaugg a journalist is a huge stretch. His claim in regard to the potential salary and the fact that he calls Matthews "America's Gretzky" pretty much confirms that.

Well the fact that he receives money to write stories for a news outlet makes him a journalist by definition.

Now him being a good journalist is ... well let's just say you could argue about that.

He loves to exaggerate and and create rumors, but he does have a lot of access and some inside knowledge.

 

[EdwardTK]

Damien Cox @DamoSpin
Reports that Auston Matthews has already signed with Zurich of Swiss league are untrue. But Swiss league is a "viable" option, sources say.

 

[Richi]

Damien Cox @DamoSpin
Reports that Auston Matthews has already signed with Zurich of Swiss league are untrue. But Swiss league is a "viable" option, sources say.

Peter Zahner (ZSC Lions CEO) said that talks are progressing and the signing is imminent, but nothing is yet formal...

 

[Spawn]

Certainly an interesting choice to make if he does it. Not sure I'd recommend it. It's very different playing in a mens league. If he goes in and doesn't produce it could hurt his draft position. Subsequently you could say if he goes in and produces you'd argue it would help... but then again, he's already the top rated prospect going into the year so its not like he's gonna climb.

It's like.... worst case scenario, you're draft status falls.

Best case scenario it stays the same.

Yeah he makes a couple hundred grand, but long term that is completely irrelevant in terms of the money he'll be making (and very soon).

But, that's looking at it purely as a "how will this effect him as a prospect in the draft." In terms of a life experience, it would probably be a pretty great one and something he'd probably never forget.

 

[DuckJazz]

Granted I was never in the position to be drafted to the NHL, but I'm having trouble understanding why would the prospect himself care about his draft ranking? No doubt he'll develop into a better player playing against men, should he care what a scouting agency ranks him at if he knows he's better than a year ago?

 

[Oan]

Granted I was never in the position to be drafted to the NHL, but I'm having trouble understanding why would the prospect himself care about his draft ranking?

"No one remembers number two"

 

[Vipers31]

It's like.... worst case scenario, you're draft status falls.

Best case scenario it stays the same.

I think you're focusing a bit too short term. Best case scenario, it goes a long way to prepare him for playing against men in the NHL for his post draft season. I think that's probably a bigger motivation for doing it than to secure his draft position.

I do agree in regards to the experience part, though. That's probably underrated by many.

 

[DuckJazz]

"No one remembers number two"

I refuse to believe the players themselves would be that vain. I'm 100% they thrive on being the best player available at the draft, not be the best player ranked by a hockey magazine.

 

[Hockey7492]

https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/597476988778065920

Darren Dreger on Twitter:
Pat Brisson, Auston Matthews family advisor says playing in Switzerland is an option, but no decision has been made. Decision this week.

 

[umwoz]

So the thread title should probably be changed in the meantime if nothing is official... Right?

 

[Stand Witness]

Certainly an interesting choice to make if he does it. Not sure I'd recommend it. It's very different playing in a mens league. If he goes in and doesn't produce it could hurt his draft position. Subsequently you could say if he goes in and produces you'd argue it would help... but then again, he's already the top rated prospect going into the year so its not like he's gonna climb.

It's like.... worst case scenario, you're draft status falls.

Best case scenario it stays the same.

Yeah he makes a couple hundred grand, but long term that is completely irrelevant in terms of the money he'll be making (and very soon).

But, that's looking at it purely as a "how will this effect him as a prospect in the draft." In terms of a life experience, it would probably be a pretty great one and something he'd probably never forget.

In reality though does his him dropping in the draft because he didn't live up to expectations really hurt him? At the end of the day it is all about what he is able to do with the opportunities he is given. He will get his max ELC and will be drafted regardless at this point.

Unless we get severely hurt which is possible in any league he will always maintain that talent level he has.

I said this in the Leaf thread:

What is he really risking? He might drop from 1st overall to 7th overall but he will make 500k and he will still be Auston Matthews with all the same potential he would have had if he went 1st.

 

[DuckJazz]

What is he really risking? He might drop from 1st overall to 7th overall but he will make 500k and he will still be Auston Matthews will all the same potential he would have had if he went 1st.

Exactly this.

It might even help his career to get drafted into a working organization that just had a bad year, instead of Edmonton/Toronto

 

[Shrimper]

According to an agency website I saw;

Switzerland
NLA (top league)
One of the top paying leagues in Europe plus a great place for players to bring their families and raise their children. Former NHL players and top end AHL players come to play in the NLA.
** Pay scale will range from 75,000 Swiss to upwards of 425,000 Swiss

NLB (2nd league in Switzerland)
Great option for older players that still want to play at a high level and earn a good wage. Plus normally teams will travel home after games and you sleep in your own bed each night. Top Czech – DEL – AHL players can normally find a decent job in the NLB.
** Pay scale from 40,000 Swiss to over 100,000 Swiss

Far from $500k.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

According to an agency website I saw;



Far from $500k.

That is not a hard and fast rule as far as I know.

They certainly could be making an exception to have the #1 prospect in the world in their league and a top talent in the league. I guess a Swiss expert would know more, but we know guys have made more than that during the lockouts for instance.

The exchange rate will actually go up for him too assuming he gets paid in either swiss franc or Euros.

 

[umwoz]

Exactly this.

It might even help his career to get drafted into a working organization that just had a bad year, instead of Edmonton/Toronto

You should familiarize yourself with the rules for the 2016 NHL Lottery .... It's not unlikely that happens even as a first overall

 

[chokei]

This is awesome news if true! I like the mentality of Matthews to do such a thing but I also like the mentality of ZSC to pursue a player like this. I like that route. Matthews gets experience and better opposition than in junior leagues, ZSC and the NLA get to develop a future 1st overall.

Concerning his salary: Damien Brunner makes almost 1 million CHF per year. Top foreign players are also around that salary, but there are almost no official numbers for hockey players in Switzerland. Keep in mind that he's very young and basically still unproven, so I doubt they pay him a crazy amount of money. On the other hand, money played likely a role in his decision to come to Switzerland. I'd say between 200k and 500k it's all realistic.

And the average salary in Zürich is around 7000 CHF/month (80-85k/year, 90k USD), so he should have a decent life here with easily double than that as a 17 year old.

 

[snizzbone*]

Oh, I got that. I just meant that the top salaries in the AHL are in the millions, so answering that very question wouldn't have given you the answer you were looking for. It's been solved now, though.

Those salaries are from NHL contracts though.

Players signed to 2-way deals or AHL only deals do not make more than 1mil. It's the Mike Richards and such type guys who are on 1-way deals that make their NHL salary in the AHL.

For example: Nail Yakupov is on a 2-way deal. His NHL salary is $925,000 + bonuses. His AHL salary is $70,000 (+ bonuses maybe?).