Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Auston Matthews to extension (4 years, $13.25M AAV)

[Superstar]

Yes their contracts are heavily incentivized and they can earn max contracts based on all NBA team status. Even in the NBA if you remain with the team that drafted you after a number of years your eligible for a SUPER Max. I don’t understand why these things can’t be implemented into the NHL. Even with a salary cap. Again it’s nothing more than an archaic organization saying this is how things have been and we aren’t changing it.

NHL could certainly argue there's been amazing changes..."look what we've given the Vegas Golden Knights...2 Finals in 6 years and 1 championship...we're a league of dreams!"

 

[Burnie97]

If Matthews gets 50 to 60 again this year then nobody cares about this anymore.

Especially if they go far in the playoffs. Even more so.

If he's healthy ... which he should be now... there's no reason he can't get minimum 50 this year.

His shot is the best in the NHL. Just needs to be 100 percent.

 

[IPS]

If Matthews gets 50 to 60 again this year then nobody cares about this anymore.

Especially if they go far in the playoffs. Even more so.

If he's healthy ... which he should be now... there's no reason he can't get minimum 50 this year.

His shot is the best in the NHL. Just needs to be 100 percent.

That's how it goes though. The talk of it will be almost non-existent by the time he's actually playing while being paid 13.25. But the reality is the there could be a much better team on the ice with more cap space. The value of cap space can't be understated in this whole thing.

 

[Kiwi]

Wasn't happy with the contract at the time and I'm still not but it's over and done with now

At least I'm going to be able to watch possibly the best Leaf ever for well over a decade and right through his prime years

Here's hoping he can help lead us to the promised land at least once while he's here

 

[thewave]

Wasn't happy with the contract at the time and I'm still not but it's over and done with now

At least I'm going to be able to watch possibly the best Leaf ever for well over a decade and right through his prime years

Here's hoping he can help lead us to the promised land at least once while he's here

There are three things holding us back from going deep.

1. JT contract
2. Marner contract
3. Woll emerging into a top 5 tender.

JT and Marner simply stop us from affording the depth we need. Both great players but who is going to disagree with me if I say they should have a combined salary of about 17m right now. Thats like 4-5m for some better depth. Where good depth players run 2-3million we have to use 1.5m players where we can find them. Its a big difference.

 

[thewave]

Unlikely. The cap continued to grow in the wake of the 08 crisis. There was one year of paused growth and then continued on rising. A lower cap would be historically unprecedented.

I thought they shaved it back and had to give teams buyouts.

 

[PromisedLand]

Who's buying what Tre is selling?

 

[LeafEgo]

Who's buying what Tre is selling?

Sounds about right, if you read between the lines Tre is basically saying that he was screwed going in.

 

[Boxscore]

Sounds about right, if you read between the lines Tre is basically saying that he was screwed going in.

Correct. Time to move on. This is the best shot the Leafs have had since this core has been together. It's put up time now.

 

[Burnie97]

That's how it goes though. The talk of it will be almost non-existent by the time he's actually playing while being paid 13.25. But the reality is the there could be a much better team on the ice with more cap space. The value of cap space can't be understated in this whole thing.

Fair enough.

What do you realistically think Matthews would of signed though coming off already close to 12 million? These are his prime years now. 5 more years.

He'll be leap frogged by Drai and McDavid asap.

I'm not saying you're wrong but unless you trade one of the 4... Leafs can't ice a well rounded team upfront. Well... they can if Robertson and Knies work out along with domi and bertuzzi but it's a bunch of ifs

 

[kevsh]

Treliving: "The bottom line is, you're talking about one of the world's best talents. And in the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. And that's just the reality,"

I don't know, but it sounds to me like he got exactly what he wanted. Just like with his last contract. For a guy that's said multiple times he loves being a Leaf and wants to stay here he first took a shorter term so he could get to free agency sooner, and now he signs this one for 4 years which means he'll be have just as much leverage on his next deal while he's still (likely) in his prime.

So sorry Brad, that spin isn't working on everyone.

 

[tokyoite]

I like him way better than nylander.
nylander got to go. he cares about money than hockey.

 

[hockeyes]

I like him way better than nylander.
nylander got to go. he cares about money than hockey.

Which is funny because I am pretty sure Nylander is the only one who has even mentioned potentially taking less money to build a winner. But sure, he is the problem.

 

[Squiffy]

Treliving: "The bottom line is, you're talking about one of the world's best talents. And in the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. And that's just the reality,"

I don't know, but it sounds to me like he got exactly what he wanted. Just like with his last contract. For a guy that's said multiple times he loves being a Leaf and wants to stay here he first took a shorter term so he could get to free agency sooner, and now he signs this one for 4 years which means he'll be have just as much leverage on his next deal while he's still (likely) in his prime.

So sorry Brad, that spin isn't working on everyone.

Bundy is right though, no? Is there anything fundamentally false about his statement?

 

[Stephen]

Unlikely. The cap continued to grow in the wake of the 08 crisis. There was one year of paused growth and then continued on rising. A lower cap would be historically unprecedented.

I'm not an economics expert, but I always wondered about hockey related revenue vs cap and legacy contracts if we hit a period of massive inflation over a number of years. I imagine the impacts of such a disruption could really hurt teams, consumers and the purchase power of athletes, and I'd never want it to happen in real life... but your cap space expressed in dollar amounts could go shooting up. Wouldn't help you on the next round of negotiations though.

*Knock on wood.

 

[Squiffy]

I'm not an economics expert, but I always wondered about hockey related revenue vs cap and legacy contracts if we hit a period of massive inflation over a number of years. I imagine the impacts of such a disruption could really hurt teams, consumers and the purchase power of athletes, and I'd never want it to happen in real life... but your cap space expressed in dollar amounts could go shooting up. Wouldn't help you on the next round of negotiations though.

*Knock on wood.

Be awful tough on lower revenue teams. Be great for us.

 

[Stephen]

Treliving: "The bottom line is, you're talking about one of the world's best talents. And in the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. And that's just the reality,"

I don't know, but it sounds to me like he got exactly what he wanted. Just like with his last contract. For a guy that's said multiple times he loves being a Leaf and wants to stay here he first took a shorter term so he could get to free agency sooner, and now he signs this one for 4 years which means he'll be have just as much leverage on his next deal while he's still (likely) in his prime.

So sorry Brad, that spin isn't working on everyone.

On the other hand, Matthews got a mere $1.65 million raise on the last deal, which is fairly modest in % raise for someone with that greedy reputation chasing NBA style money. He certainly hit a grand slam on the 2nd contract, but the 3rd doesn't feel like another giant step if that makes sense. The contract term is pretty short, would have been perfect for me if the extension was 6 years. But for a guy who is ready to move to Phoenix or Los Angeles, he's chosen Toronto twice.

 

[Stephen]

Be awful tough on lower revenue teams. Be great for us.

Mostly, I hope Bettman just rides off into the sunset and they put in some kind of luxury tax, soft cap and realize that cannibalizing rosters and turning fans into amateur economics and accounting experts isn't the way to grow the game.

 

[Legion34]

Sucks that Ovie missed that first season to the lock out.

???? And Matthews missed half a season to the pandemic.

At the exact same age. To the day.

Matthews games. 481. Goals .299
Ovechkin. Games. 475. Goals. 301

Both 2 time rocket winners
Both had 1 60 goal season

Matthews has 2 less goals in 6 more games than the greatest goal scorer ever at the same age.

 

[Squiffy]

It’s not Mike Bossy pace, but the comparison with OV is striking in trajectory overall.

 

[kevsh]

On the other hand, Matthews got a mere $1.65 million raise on the last deal, which is fairly modest in % raise for someone with that greedy reputation chasing NBA style money. He certainly hit a grand slam on the 2nd contract, but the 3rd doesn't feel like another giant step if that makes sense. The contract term is pretty short, would have been perfect for me if the extension was 6 years. But for a guy who is ready to move to Phoenix or Los Angeles, he's chosen Toronto twice.

I agree with all this but what everyone seems to be missing out on - including me in my post - is that in 4 years he holds all the cards again and puts Toronto into a very difficult position. Even more than this go-around (where they could have moved him before his NMC kicked in).

1st, the full NMC means in 4 years Toronto either re-signs him or, as 30 year old still in his prime he walks for nothing. Which I imagine means he'll make his pitch for a 7 (or 8) year deal that will likely take him to retirement, likely at a 10M+ AAV. Toronto either ponies up or he (easily) finds another team that will.

So when I say he got everything he wanted, it's not the deal in itself (I do agree the modest raise is probably fair) but the further leverage it gives him while further weakening MLSE's hand. Brad was right, Matthews had all the leverage in this deal and that's why I say he took advantage of it.

 

[al secord]

Treliving: "The bottom line is, you're talking about one of the world's best talents. And in the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. And that's just the reality,"

I don't know, but it sounds to me like he got exactly what he wanted. Just like with his last contract. For a guy that's said multiple times he loves being a Leaf and wants to stay here he first took a shorter term so he could get to free agency sooner, and now he signs this one for 4 years which means he'll be have just as much leverage on his next deal while he's still (likely) in his prime.

So sorry Brad, that spin isn't working on everyone.

Wait. What?

Treliving: "The bottom line is, you're talking about one of the world's best talents. And in the situation he was in, he could come in and demand a whole lot more than what he got. And that's just the reality,"

I don't know, but it sounds to me like he got exactly what he wanted. Just like with his last contract. For a guy that's said multiple times he loves being a Leaf and wants to stay here he first took a shorter term so he could get to free agency sooner, and now he signs this one for 4 years which means he'll be have just as much leverage on his next deal while he's still (likely) in his prime.

So sorry Brad, that spin isn't working on everyone.

Are you upset that we have one of the premier talents in the league, or that he's getting paid like it? I'm so confused. Are you upset?

 

[Mess]

Sounds about right, if you read between the lines Tre is basically saying that he was screwed going in.

Because of the massive mistake on term of the previous deal and the full NMC Leafs GM was at the full mercy of Matthews.

Leaf Nation fans always understood this would be the only outcome outside of letting him walk away for free.

Thank the last GM for Matthews making more than McDavid now. because BT hands were tied.

Now the Leafs are really going to start feeling the true impact of that 5 year 2nd contract by having the highest AAV and Cap hit in the NHL now on his 3rd..

 

[centipede2233]

The contract is ok. at first glance I didn’t like it. But this contract does a few things in a positive way. 1) we lock in the rest of matthews prime 2) If things don’t age well with matthews or underperforms, we cut bat at matthews at 31 and let another team overpay for his 30’s 3) The 4 yrs keeps matthews motivated. we have seen plenty of 8 yr ufa contracts where it ages like milk ie. price.

In conclusion I think one of nylander or marner has to go. Depth is critical in hockey

 

[notDatsyuk]

Sorry, but your post is inaccurate.

Tavares was a PPG player last year. Sequin, although over a year younger, has not come close to that since the 2018-19 season.

As you stated: "If you're paying a player the highest price point in the league you should be expecting them to still be a top player in their early 30s." As a PPG player, Tavares is still performing at a high level, just not as high as he performed as a younger player.

I fully expect Matthews to perform at a high level when he gets to his 30's, but not as high as I expect him to perform for the next five years which should be his prime.

The Matthews contract is very good for both the team and the player. Some are worried that Matthews will be overpaid if he signs an 8-year contract that takes effect as he turns 31. Agreed. But don't assume that the Leafs will be the team overpaying at that time.

And by the way, you did not answer my question about the perfect length of contract for a player who is 27 or 28.

Last year Seguin had five fewer goals and four fewer points at even strength than JT, in about 10% less ice time.

He also had not much more than half the PP time.