There are so many answers here, like
1. I get they wanted a "coming home" trend by players, to any price, thats stupid. If the pricetag just is raising, you ask for a hometown discount and that NMC, not high salary AND a NMC. A real rookie misstake by Shannahan and Dubas.
2. When the pricetag kept raising, whybjust not leave it there? They also had other bigger needs. Esp. In a league where hreat 1D pairs is in a seldom commodity. They should had went for defenders with that dollars.
3. Dubas knew that the threw young forward stars would command dollars, and evem compare im between, but he settled himself in a complete trap.
Two years left of tavates, then toronto could be competing.
And i wpuld ask Tabares after the deal for that 1-3 million dollar contract - you got your money - now you have to give us some payback - if you really want to win the cup.
Dubas misstake that then just snowballed everything else.
That Matthews contract, I do have. It expires in his absomute prime, with just maxing out his dollars, bending over Dubas and Shamnahan completly. Then he put himself in a corner with the rest. HE did good with Nylander, but why just Nylander. Why not trying a hometown thing with Marner? Keep dollas a bit down and put in a NTC turning to a NMC, 6-8 years? Noo??
The right signings would had been
Tavares 8.75 M x 8 years NTC becoming a NMC, anounced as a hometown discount, and talks about future captain role.
Matthews to a 3 years x 11M
Marner to a 8 years x 8 millions.
Nylandernhis contract.
I saved almost 6 millions there.
And I put them on a defender.
Goalies, you can just pray for a find.