Rumor: Kypreos says Matthews will be 13.5M (Haggling over term)

[Captain Crunch]

He is such an unlikable player

3 year term at that AAV is disgusting.

Totally agree. Both he and Marner showed what they’re all about at their last contract negotiations, and it wasn’t about taking any hometown discount to help management surround them with a deeper lineup. And it appears nothing‘s going to change. But I guess you can’t really blame them, Shanahan is willing to give them whatever they want. He has no backbone, and MLSE is all about making money, which they are doing with these two. What a shitshow!

 

[Captain Crunch]

He has no interest to leave Toronto. Arizona would end his career.

Why would he leave, when he basically gets to write the amount on the contract? No wonder he loves playing here and wants to stay. I can’t understand why we can’t go deep in the playoffs. I mean, we are the only team in the league paying three forwards over $10 million each. We should be in the Finals every year, right?

 

[Captain Crunch]

That would be the smart deal to take if you're really that concerned about maximizing the amount of money you can make.

3x$13.5M means he's 29(?) as a UFA in 2027 and likely looking at a near $100M cap. $13.5M would be nearly 16.5% of an 83.5M cap. Which means at a $100M cap the same contract would be $16.5M and no doubt he gets that for 7 years in Free agency if he went to market(Probably more honestly if he's still a Top 3 Center in the game).

Going this route could net him an extra $15-25M in career earnings tbh.


It's crazy he's trying to do this though, at least IMO... It's one thing to be unwilling to take a discount to stay on a long term deal. It's another thing entirely IMO to be unwilling to even take a long teem deal because of the potential for more cap space and more money in a couple years.

That is truly trying to maximize every dime you can get, and you almost never see it to that extent. Tough spot for Toronto if indeed this is what Matthews wants. It basically tells the team he cares way more about the money then the rest of the team and actually winning a cup with that group.

Agree 100%. You can’t have it both ways, and he and Marner definitely showed on their last contract negotiations which one is their top priority. They have become so hard to like!

 

[TBF1972]

Same for everyone else who has a job. Would you take a pay cut so your boss can give the money to someone else? Sports fans are so unreasonable.

pay cut? he is asking for 20+% raise.

 

[Leaf Fans]

pay cut? he is asking for 20+% raise.

We have no idea what he is asking for. Kipper thinks it is 13. 5M according to this thread with no link though.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I personally think that is the offer from the leafs and Matthews is aiming for 15/8

 

[Leaf Fans]

I personally think that is the offer from the leafs and Matthews is aiming for 15/8

Yup, most people have their own guess and yours is as good as anyone's.

 

[TBF1972]

We have no idea what he is asking for. Kipper thinks it is 13. 5M according to this thread with no link though.

if you don't think this is the ask you should ask for the thread to be closed for being baseless speculation

 

[Leaf Fans]

if you don't think this is the ask you should ask for the thread to be closed for being baseless speculation

It might be. Kipper might think it is.

 

[Haatley]

Here is a list of people who have won a Hart in the last three years: McDavid, Matthews
Here is a list of people who have won a Lindsay in the last three years: McDavid, Matthews
Here is a list of people who have won a Rocket in the last three years: McDavid, Matthews
Here is a list of people who have won a Ross in the last three years: McDavid

How many times has Matthews finished top 5 in league scoring?

 

[Leaf Fans]

How many times has Matthews finished top 5 in league scoring?

He hasn't. He has only finished at the top in goal scoring.

 

[TBF1972]

Do you take a discount for your job?

FWI: I totally understand why this pisses fans off, but I’m just looking at it logically. These guys have a certain number of yrs in the league… it is in their best interest to go for the money

talent only takes you so far. most athlets have a passion for their sport, competing and winning. they saccrifice a lot to get to the nhl and getting paid is definitely part of their motivation.

but the ones only motivated by money aren't born champions and will struggle to give their all for the goal of winning. if the highest paid players put money first it sets the tone for the rest of the team. in a team sport everybody needs to take some cuts from his individual goals to make it work.

 

[centipede2233]

talent only takes you so far. most athlets have a passion for their sport, competing and winning. they saccrifice a lot to get to the nhl and getting paid is definitely part of their motivation.

but the ones only motivated by money aren't born champions and will struggle to give their all for the goal of winning. if the highest paid players put money first it sets the tone for the rest of the team. in a team sport everybody needs to take some cuts from his individual goals to make it work.

Amen. Seattle got to game 7 in rd 2 in their second year with no superstars. Just a bunch of good hockey players with heart and determination. Not only overpaying matthews and Marner hurts the team, but like you said, why should others take a discount when your 2 best players won’t. It creates a domino effect and you’ll never achieve Stanley cup glory. You’re better off holding firm on a reasonable caphit, and if they don’t like it let them walk. There are players who will take a pay cut to play for the leafs ie. domi. Or a Corey Perry but dufas doesn’t like gritty players with a winning pedigree. He would rather sign joe Thornton or Wayne simmonds who’ve won squat. Create a culture. but the problem is shanahan. He created this spoiled brat culture. Until he’s axed, nothing will change.

 

[Haatley]

He hasn't. He has only finished at the top in goal scoring.

If only that was the only thing to judge a player by. Goal scoring.

 

[notbias]

How many times has Matthews finished top 5 in league scoring?

Once, and then he finished 6th the year he won the Hart but missed 10 games.

Why does this matter? Are point totals the only metric to judge how good someone is?

 

[The90]

Amen. Seattle got to game 7 in rd 2 in their second year with no superstars. Just a bunch of good hockey players with heart and determination. Not only overpaying matthews and Marner hurts the team, but like you said, why should others take a discount when your 2 best players won’t. It creates a domino effect and you’ll never achieve Stanley cup glory. You’re better off holding firm on a reasonable caphit, and if they don’t like it let them walk. There are players who will take a pay cut to play for the leafs ie. domi. Or a Corey Perry but dufas doesn’t like gritty players with a winning pedigree. He would rather sign joe Thornton or Wayne simmonds who’ve won squat. Create a culture. but the problem is shanahan. He created this spoiled brat culture. Until he’s axed, nothing will change.

You’ll also never win without superstars. Win a couple rounds with hot goaltending a few good bounces? Sure. All else equal talent is what puts the cup winners over the top.

 

[notbias]

If only that was the only thing to judge a player by. Goal scoring.

Ironic how you post this and use point totals are your metric.

Over the last 3 years he is 5th in PPG and 6th in points.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Honestly gotta feel for Leafs fans. Rebuild goes surprisingly well, you get your superstar with your first overall pick (unlike my habs) but he could not give two shits about winning, only about maximizing his career earnings. The other twerps on the team could be a great supporting cast to a superstar that really cared.

 

[centipede2233]

You’ll also never win without superstars. Win a couple rounds with hot goaltending a few good bounces? Sure. All else equal talent is what puts the cup winners over the top.

As long as the talent can produce equivalent or better then they’re caphit. paying matthews 13.5 mil going forward when he just had a down year for 40 goals and a wrist injury is setting your team up for failure. If matthews wants that money, go prove last year was an off year. Cause if you sign him to that AAV now and he has a similar year or worse, now you’re hooped. I can’t tell you how many teams have signed their star players to that 3rd contract and instantly regret it. I can give you 3 examples of teams who had their own duo of stars and signed them to big deals. 1) Getzlaf and Perry 2) Girioux and Voracek 3) Benn and sequin. None of those won a cup on their ufa contracts. The same will happen with matthews and marner.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I seriously doubt there is any “haggling” going on. What leverage do the Leafs have so they can haggle? They either sign Matthews to the contract terms he wants or he leaves on July 1, 2024.

Exactly... If he wants 13.5 and Leafs are only offering 13.4, he will just tell them to pound sand and give him the exact number he wants or he walks

 

[Funk21]

While it disgusts me to say this give him 3 years with absolutely no trade protection. Pay him all the money up front and when McDavd is available trade Matthews and sign the hometown kid. Trade Matthews to the highest bidder and end his TML career as the greediest TML ever. One who cared more about getting paid than the team success or the crest on his sweater.

Unless he signs for 8 years at the clip he has to be the most unlikable player in the NHL.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Wasn’t in a cap era…..hence it didn’t hinder the team….

fans didn’t care what players were paid pre cap. We care now because taking too much of the cap hinders team performance.

How is that Matthews fault?

 

[janesy12]

Following the Marleau mentorship.
Marleau signed short term contracts his entire career to maximize careers earnings.
From a personal, financial standpoint, it's an excellent game plan assuming you stay healthy.
From a fan/team standpoint: it sucks.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

Sundin was making 10m on an 80m Leafs roster.

Exactly….that was almost 20 years ago.

 

[aessi]

Honestly gotta feel for Leafs fans. Rebuild goes surprisingly well, you get your superstar with your first overall pick (unlike my habs) but he could not give two shits about winning, only about maximizing his career earnings. The other twerps on the team could be a great supporting cast to a superstar that really cared.

It's also very hard to overpay one of the best players in the game. It's much easier to overpay guys like Klingberg, Kämpf, Reaves, Domi etc.