AcerComputer
Registered User
- Aug 4, 2014
- 5,391
- 3,486
Stars don't leave because there is too much risk waiting to get to FA. They usually sign at the earliest possible date, otherwise they risk career altering injuries as each day that passes.
Matthews Leafs reality
- Thread starter Schadenfreude
- Start date
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BlueBaron
Registered User
Wishful thinking despite the obvious unlikelihood,
"Where do you want to be a hockey god?"
"Well I want to be the biggest star in the league so I figure I can best do that playing in a College stadium every night and never being in the playoffs."
"Yes, I can see how special it would be to get a couple of those Arizona records"
"That's right! Original six teams aren't cool man! I don't like Justin Bieber either. Now that I think about it, being stuck with a lousy passer like Mitch has been holding me back."
"Thank you Auston, you've made Oiler fans very happy tonight"
"That's what hockey is all about"
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HolyCrap
Team before player
- Oct 2, 2015
- 5,396
- 6,375
Mathews must have scored his 50th goal. Not only are the mainboards are arguing Mathews contract is horrible but now we have posters on here saying he’s going to greener pastures (which may happen) Imagine if he played somewhere else he wouldn’t be talked about. We are the Center of the hockey universe.
Imagine AM resigning and when McD hits UFA, he signs with the Leafs.
Matthews isn’t leaving, the guy loves it here. He’s going to get paid the most here. He’s going to be a legend forever here. I would have said maybe Arizona had a shot a few years ago, but with the way ownership is a complete mess I don’t see it happening. The Marner/Matthews duo will stay together for a long time.
UFA’s don’t generally leave and I don’t think Matthews will buck that Trend. It’s gonna be McDavid or Draisaitl to be honest.
UFA’s don’t generally leave and I don’t think Matthews will buck that Trend. It’s gonna be McDavid or Draisaitl to be honest.
Spargon
Registered User
- May 31, 2019
- 1,106
- 1,790
I can't wait for Matthews to re-sign so Leaf fans can tell HF they were wrong about the Leafs for the 207483713 time as they always are. So we can be told how insufferable we are and "this is why we are hated"
People on these forums have no self reflection to understand how insufferable THEY are to begin with and they deserve it.
The whole leaving for Arizona thing always make me laugh. That franchise can't keep and owner or a building. Matthews probably couldn't help them sell out that 3000 seat arena they got relegated to cause they have so few fans. Matthews contract to Arizona would be so huge he mind as well be given ownership role cause he will be worth more than the franchise.
People on these forums have no self reflection to understand how insufferable THEY are to begin with and they deserve it.
The whole leaving for Arizona thing always make me laugh. That franchise can't keep and owner or a building. Matthews probably couldn't help them sell out that 3000 seat arena they got relegated to cause they have so few fans. Matthews contract to Arizona would be so huge he mind as well be given ownership role cause he will be worth more than the franchise.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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IMO it’s more likely they need to find a way to keep Marner and Matthews while bringing in McDavid then it is that Matthews leaves.
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
kb
Registered User
- Aug 28, 2009
- 15,357
- 22,019
That's $10 million less than any other team will need to clear.
Quick. Name a competitive team who could add $20 million to their payroll right now?
I think there are a couple things that can help our cause in extending Auston next offseason.
1. Extend Bunting this offseason. Him and Auston have become great friends, and I really think if we let Bunting walk after the 2022-23 season that Auston will not be stoked about it. Bunting is the best fit for that top line that we've ever seen, and he is still relatively young so extending him should be a given. Even if that means shedding Kerfoot and giving all that money to Bunts.
2. Giving Auston the captaincy this summer. I think Auston has more than earned that honor at this point. I genuinely would love nothing more than for JT to take that initiative on himself to give that "C" over. I think JT must know that Auston is the guy at this point, and his leadership on and off the ice is exactly where it needs to be to shoulder that responsability.
3. Money talks. We need to come in big money, big term
4. We need to have some playoff success between now and the summer of 2023. We don't need to win the cup, but we need to win a round
I genuinely think Auston is at the point where he knows he will go down as the greatest Maple Leaf of all time if he just stays with us his entire career. That has to be appealing. He was around the city when Kyle Lowry got his ring, and the overwhelming love and support that Kyle will get from the Toronto and the Country for the rest of his life doesn't even compare to what Auston would get if he manages to win it all.
He obviously has the right to leave in 2024, and I've been guarding myself at that risk of him leaving. But I am leaning more to the side that he's staying at this point.
But please make this decision easier for him and just win a f***ing playoff round
1. Extend Bunting this offseason. Him and Auston have become great friends, and I really think if we let Bunting walk after the 2022-23 season that Auston will not be stoked about it. Bunting is the best fit for that top line that we've ever seen, and he is still relatively young so extending him should be a given. Even if that means shedding Kerfoot and giving all that money to Bunts.
2. Giving Auston the captaincy this summer. I think Auston has more than earned that honor at this point. I genuinely would love nothing more than for JT to take that initiative on himself to give that "C" over. I think JT must know that Auston is the guy at this point, and his leadership on and off the ice is exactly where it needs to be to shoulder that responsability.
3. Money talks. We need to come in big money, big term
4. We need to have some playoff success between now and the summer of 2023. We don't need to win the cup, but we need to win a round
I genuinely think Auston is at the point where he knows he will go down as the greatest Maple Leaf of all time if he just stays with us his entire career. That has to be appealing. He was around the city when Kyle Lowry got his ring, and the overwhelming love and support that Kyle will get from the Toronto and the Country for the rest of his life doesn't even compare to what Auston would get if he manages to win it all.
He obviously has the right to leave in 2024, and I've been guarding myself at that risk of him leaving. But I am leaning more to the side that he's staying at this point.
But please make this decision easier for him and just win a f***ing playoff round
Man isn't going anywhere. Loves fame and money? Toronto. Arizona may be home for him, but they don't have the hockey program and don't offer nearly the same level of exposure. They could probably justify the money for the contract he'll want, but we'll be the ones who can ice a competitive team and frontload every dollar possible.
On the mainboards you'll see people throw out the typical chirp, "but what if he wants to win a cup?" and while it's a funny dig, the fact is that the Leafs have been icing competitive to contender level teams since Matthews' sophomore season. There's ups and downs in there and nobody would mistake the Leafs for the Lightning's roster, but the point remains that the Leafs have been able to surround Matthews with tons of talent. The fact that we haven't made it further in the playoffs has more to do with Matthews' own performance than it does to do with our roster. The Leafs are chokers, not stragglers; this is very much not an Edmonton situation.
There is always a chance that he'll leave, he'll have the right. But we are genuinely the best fit for him, because we offer him everything that he could possibly want. If he does leave, there's nothing we could have done differently. I'm quite confident he stays.
On the mainboards you'll see people throw out the typical chirp, "but what if he wants to win a cup?" and while it's a funny dig, the fact is that the Leafs have been icing competitive to contender level teams since Matthews' sophomore season. There's ups and downs in there and nobody would mistake the Leafs for the Lightning's roster, but the point remains that the Leafs have been able to surround Matthews with tons of talent. The fact that we haven't made it further in the playoffs has more to do with Matthews' own performance than it does to do with our roster. The Leafs are chokers, not stragglers; this is very much not an Edmonton situation.
There is always a chance that he'll leave, he'll have the right. But we are genuinely the best fit for him, because we offer him everything that he could possibly want. If he does leave, there's nothing we could have done differently. I'm quite confident he stays.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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I'm not concerned at all with him leaving but every team in the league would give him a max contract if they had the opportunity
Drytoast
Registered User
- Sep 27, 2017
- 6,602
- 4,819
Why he would leave?
-He hates the taxes.
-He hates how we handled COVID.
-He likes the United States better.
-The media here is the worst in the league.
-He wants to win a cup.
Why he would stay
- Beiber is a Leaf fan (ugh)
- Wants to play with Marner
- original 6 teams are always special
- winning here would make him a god
- Sponsorship pay is nice
- loves the attention from fans.
-He hates the taxes.
-He hates how we handled COVID.
-He likes the United States better.
-The media here is the worst in the league.
-He wants to win a cup.
Why he would stay
- Beiber is a Leaf fan (ugh)
- Wants to play with Marner
- original 6 teams are always special
- winning here would make him a god
- Sponsorship pay is nice
- loves the attention from fans.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
I'd be hesitant to give any player the "max". You'd have one hell of a player but this is not basketball where you can win with one or two super stars. Just not possible to do in hockey and if that player gets hurt, you are done.
I’m actually willing to bet Matthews and Marner’s asks on their next contracts won’t be quite as aggressive as people would maybe think from their respective seconds.
I could see Matthews taking a 1 maybe 2 mil bump max. I think if the last few years have hopefully taught them anything, it’s that they will benefit from leaving a few million dollars on the table between them.
I could see Matthews taking a 1 maybe 2 mil bump max. I think if the last few years have hopefully taught them anything, it’s that they will benefit from leaving a few million dollars on the table between them.
Interestingly, the subjects of points 4 and 5 can be argued as both positives and negatives.
He wants to win a cup, so he stays.
The media here is huge which affords him opportunities other markets won’t
Mess
Global Moderator
Because his contract is expiring in a couple years and there is a possibility.
Some of the reasons he might leave.
1) Nationality - He is a USA born and breed player, so he may want to play in his own/home country.
2) Money and earning potential - He could be offered more $$ in his next contract and it could come from a tax free/ friendly State. His endorsements and other earnings outside of hockey could also increase.
3) Success - Perhaps chasing a Cup, if it hasn't happened with the Leafs, he might think moving to a better competitive team is in his best interest if he is success driven.
4) Family - He might want to move closer to his friends and family in the States and perhaps raise his kids there (when that time comes).
5) Location - Maybe he might like warmer weather or a different climate than Toronto, like LA or Florida as he is born in Arizona. He lives in the off-season in the USA so maybe prefer that year round.
John Tavares came home to Toronto, partially because of numerous of those reasons above, so Matthews could potentially leave for some of the very same.
I don't see AM leaving for AZ anytime soon. Maybe to finish off his career or something, but why would he say he say he wants to be on a competing team and then head to that dumpster fire? As long as Toronto can remain competitive - which it will with him here, then he'll likely stay, especially since his bud Mitch is here.
Give me a list of superstars who signed the same 5 year contract Matthews did who ended up leaving to another team.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
- 78,334
- 45,565
If he were to leave(I don't think he will) it will be to LA, Vegas or New York, IMO.
I don't believe Arizona is even a thought.
Also, stay off the main board. It's worse than reading Youtube comments......if thats at all possible.
Gary Nylund
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2013
- 31,704
- 25,547
...
This is the only reason he would even think of leaving IMO. On the negative side, there's a good chance we won't win a round this year or next year, sad but true. On the positive side, even if that does happen, we should still be in a good place looking forward but yeah, would be nice to just win a f***ing playoff round and that should just about do it.
Mess
Global Moderator
I agree.
If being closer to home then both LA and Vegas would be within 5-6 hrs by car from where he grew up and take him closer to friends and family and big markets where he could thrive much like the big Apple NY.
The only other place outside of those 3 you named might be Florida State based teams for both the tax benefit and the weather and pull a Tom Brady.
Should he leave then McDavid coming home as his replacement might be the next domino effect to fall.
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