Dreakmur
Registered User
No it didn't need to be done. You don't sign a 37 year old player to a 3 year/18M dollar deal when all your ELCs come up in two. And if he wants three, go find it elsewhere. It was a bad contract day one. There are other players with solid leadership qualities who will always be out there for far far less. Look what the Leafs got in Spezza...did he need three years? Would you sign Jason Spezza to a three year deal? He's 37.
In most cases, I would agree with you, this one I don't.
You don't think that if you were a player, just got drafted #1 overall, and #2-4 all get signing bonuses and you don't ("Three high selections from the 2016 draft class have already signed entry-level contracts – Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine (the No. 2 pick got $2.65M in potential bonuses), Columbus’ Pierre-Luc Dubois (the No. 3 pick got $2.5M in bonuses) and Montreal’s Mikhail Sergachev (the No. 9 pick got $850,000 in bonuses) – but Lamoriello was correct when he said there was no rush with Matthews.") ...are you going to turn around and give that team a friendly deal when your contract comes up? Like hell I would.
The only high end rookies that don't get signing bonuses are Lous. He's old school that way. But when you see stars like McDavid/Kane/Toews/Laine/Eichel, the list goes one get bonuses, you are a player are going to get yours back. It's just a matter of time.
Do I think Dubas overpaid. Oh heck yes, but that issue starts at the beginning of the whole story.
Lamoriello bonus policy makes Matthews deal worth watching - Sportsnet.ca
The team needed a veteran leader to help guide Matthews, Marner, and Nylander. They thought Marleau was the guy. The benefit of his guidance vs. the last year of the contract... I'm not sure it wasn't worth it.