Dubas handed JT a
$15,25 mil signing bonus cheque (highest in NHL history) to sign on the dotted line making JT the highest paid player in the NHL this year @$15.9 mil and the 2nd highest AAV at $11 mil behind only McDavid. Pretty hard for anyone to turn that down to come home and not play for your dream team.
So unless you believe Tavares is either the best or 2nd best player in the NHL, then Dubas got his man but showed little to no cost restraint in the process. If Dubas now hands Matthews a similar $11 mil AAV or greater contract that would mean Leafs would have the
2nd and 3rd highest paid players in the entire NHL.
Highest NHL AAV
1) McDavid
2) Matthews
3 Tavares
Now you start talking getting Marner signed & Nylander and if those deals are also >> player comparables based on actual stats performance.
Pretty hard not to see Leafs are heading for Cap hell by making their players the highest paid in the NHL and still trying to ice a competitive Cup winning team, because of the fear a rookie GM is simply overpaying to get his contracts signed. Sure you have good players and that's great but there will be a steep price to pay somewhere and I'm suggesting its team strength and depth that will suffer and Leafs still haven't addressed their greatest need the Dcore.
Leafs are heading down a slippery slop salary cap wise, and will a greenhorn GM be aware of these ramifications is my greatest concern by paying 4 forwards ~ 1/2 your cap total available and then trying to pay the remaining 18 players the other 1/2 balance remaining?.