Return for Matthews in a trade

[ULF_55]

It's a better gamble to a franchise than finishing dead last and hoping the ball bounces your way. That team would have a whole year to convince him. Someone mentioned LA. I would send him west.

And may I add. What a horrible deal to negotiate by Dumb***. Give the guy a NTC the day you can negotiate with him. I'm glad he is gone, he is useless.

Worse, it is a NMC.

Leafs do have one card after July 1st., an 8 year deal.

Not sure that is something Matthews wants though, even on a sign and trade.

 

[rumman]

It's hilarious that this is what people think he's going to be going forward. Just watch and see how funny it's going to look.

The same posters bitching about JT being a overpaid slug now will be saying rut roh when this overpayment comes of age, if a fair deal can’t be struck you have to move on………

 

[justashadowof]

Matthews seems like he'd really enjoy a big market U.S. city.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I don't believe NHL by-laws permit that nor does the CBA

Nudge nudge wink wink is fine if there are no physical record of it

Not sure I would trust Matthews/agent on that, I'm sure they're fine folk and all, but money's involved and money makes people do money kind of things.

If not an LOI he can actually sign a post dated contract extension that isn’t filed with the league until after July 1.

What I can guarantee is that if Matthews camp refuses to negotiate before July 1 then you have to trade him. Losing him for nothing in 2024 is completely unacceptable. That’s when Shanahan gets turfed.

 

[RoadWarrior]

The Matthews agent apparently mentioned delivering a take it or leave it offer to the Leafs Management, I'm not sure if there was a timeline to go along with it.

there won’t be a timeline. His agent wants to drag out the process until after July 1.

The only leverage the leafs have is the threat of trading him to a crappy team and away from Mitch Marner. That might not scare Matthews agent but it sure as hell will scare Matthews. I’d say it’s 50/50 whether Matthews comes back with the team. it really depends on his agent. Keep in mind they just dumped Dubas who is represented by the same agency. That might not sit well.

Personally I would trade him because his ask is likely going to be north of McDavid and Draisaitl which based in his “accomplishments” is ridiculous. He’s a great player but not a hall of famer yet. Certainly not in the top 5 players in the league this past season.

then you have the wrist injury. That alone could hamper him for some time and he might never get back to 60 goals again.

 

[Zero1]

I don't think Matthews would be coming off the lot in mint condition though. That's why there's mutual benefit in sticking together. There's pressure on both sides. What other team is going to cleave $13 + million from their salary structure for Matthews without feeling risk?

Leafs need to play this out with goodwill, open communication but you can't panic.

I’ll be honest, I don’t think hockey GMs have that kind of foresight and I get why. No one’s job is secure for life.

You have a team that’s either entering or already in your cup window. Auston Matthews a 60-goal scoring 1C in his prime says I’ll come to your team as a UFA but pay me $13+ mill, you wouldn’t sign him on the spot and make the money work? I think there’s plenty of teams that would try to sign him.

We did the same thing with Tavares as well.

Obviously, there are things the Leafs can offer Matthews that no other team can but it depends on how he values those things.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

"If it isn't in writing tear it up and throw it away."

I'd trust him to keep his word, but if he doesn't you play him and he walks.

Does his word mean anything or is it for sale?
I don't know him, nor do I know his agent.

Leafs would be acting on faith, and I can live with that.

The absurdity of just "play him and he walks" would be the worst asset management in the history of the NHL. Im shocked any sensible person would advocate for that

 

[ULF_55]

The absurdity of just "play him and he walks" would be the worst asset management in the history of the NHL. Im shocked any sensible person would advocate for that

You can't trade him after June 30th., without his agreement, you can't extend him before July 1st.

Are you trading him as a 1 year rental?

 

[Avilaj07]

To Toronto-
Mason Mctavish
Pavel Mintyukov
Adam Henrique
2nd overall pick

To Ducks-
Auston Matthews
Nick Robertson
Filip Kral
28th overall pick

 

[authentic]

I’ll be honest, I don’t think hockey GMs have that kind of foresight and I get why. No one’s job is secure for life.

You have a team that’s either entering or already in your cup window. Auston Matthews a 60-goal scoring 1C in his prime says I’ll come to your team as a UFA but pay me $13+ mill, you wouldn’t sign him on the spot and make the money work? I think there’s plenty of teams that would try to sign him.

We did the same thing with Tavares as well.

Obviously, there are things the Leafs can offer Matthews that no other team can but it depends on how he values those things.

When you think about it with the cap going up signing Matthews at 13 now is actually way better than signing Tavares for 11 million 5 years ago. It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have so much money tied up in 3 other forwards, which is why one of Marner or Nylander would be the better choice to move on from and then in a few years obviously don't resign Tavares.

 

[authentic]

We were slightly better the first series against Tampa, they outplayed us the second series. And now all 3 of them are getting another raise?

Bottom line is the team hasn't done anything in 7 years nor do any of the core 4 elevate their performance during the playoffs, just the opposite, they all play WORSE.

Be my guest to give guys failing and not showing up for the most important part of the year a raise.

No one on Tampa outplayed our core players in the 2nd series.

Marner 11 points, Matthews 9, Rielly 8, Tavares and Nylander 7.

Their highest scorers were Kucherov and Cirelli with 6 points, Stamkos and Point had 4 points

When Justin Holl wasn't on the ice we outscored Tampa 19-6.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

It's incredible that 15 other teams make the playoffs each year without Matthews.

Cool. How many years before we got Matthews were we not in the playoffs? How many years after Sundin left, were we looking for a #1 centre? How many teams do you think would take Matthews off of our hands?

 

[Confucius]

It's hilarious that this is what people think he's going to be going forward. Just watch and see how funny it's going to look.

That’s what history tells us, he won’t be as good as he has been. He has a averaged 43 goals per season, after next season his average will not increase.

 

[authentic]

That’s what history tells us, he won’t be as good as he has been. He has a averaged 43 goals per season, after next season his average will not increase.

He just scored 40 playing hurt all season and missing 8 games...

Lol you don't think Matthews is scoring 50 multiple times if he plays 70+ games relatively healthy? Get real man

Your "average" includes a 52 game COVID season which he was far and away the leading scorer, and a few other injury plagued seasons and a 40 goal rookie season where he played 17 minutes under Babcock with rookie wingers and scoring throughout the NHL was like half a goal less per game than it is today.

 

[Confucius]

He just scored 40 playing hurt all season and missing 8 games...

Lol you don't think Matthews is scoring 50 multiple times if he plays 70+ games relatively healthy? Get real man

Your "average" includes a 52 game COVID season which he was far and away the leading scorer, and a few other injury plagued seasons and a 40 goal rookie season where he played 17 minutes under Babcock with rookie wingers and scoring throughout the NHL was like half a goal less per game than it is today.

Bottom line he won’t be as good, no player not one in the entire history of the NHL scored more goals in his 2nd 8 years than he did in his 1st. Can’t argue with that history.

 

[authentic]

Bottom line he won’t be as good, no player not one in the entire history of the NHL scored more goals in his 2nd 8 years than he did in his 1st. Can’t argue with that history.

He still has more than a few prime seasons left. He's only going to be 26 to start the season

 

[Confucius]

He still has more than a few prime seasons left. He's only going to be 26 to start the season

I agree but he isn’t worth more than he is getting now. Why pay more when history tells you he won’t be better? And we have him next year so it’s 27 and counting. Lol! On his next deal.

 

[Stephen]

I’ll be honest, I don’t think hockey GMs have that kind of foresight and I get why. No one’s job is secure for life.

You have a team that’s either entering or already in your cup window. Auston Matthews a 60-goal scoring 1C in his prime says I’ll come to your team as a UFA but pay me $13+ mill, you wouldn’t sign him on the spot and make the money work? I think there’s plenty of teams that would try to sign him.

We did the same thing with Tavares as well.

Obviously, there are things the Leafs can offer Matthews that no other team can but it depends on how he values those things.

No I don’t mean foresight I just mean many contending teams would have to throw cap overboard to do it. We don’t.

 

[Apex Predator]

To Toronto-
Mason Mctavish
Pavel Mintyukov
Adam Henrique
2nd overall pick

To Ducks-
Auston Matthews
Nick Robertson
Filip Kral
28th overall pick

I would do that but doubt Anaheim does

 

[jkutswings]

it’s time for the leafs to stop coddling players.

I'll take, "Too Little Too Late" for $400, Alex.

 

[authentic]

I agree but he isn’t worth more than he is getting now. Why pay more when history tells you he won’t be better? And we have him next year so it’s 27 and counting. Lol! On his next deal.

I think you are seriously underestimating how good of a two-way player a hopefully healthier late 20s/early 30s Matthews will be. This is when a lot of elite scorers have won the Stanley Cups as well, Would you rather lose him for basically nothing?

 

[Canada4Gold]

I'm in the boat you can't let Matthews walk for nothing, and if you decide to trade Matthews then you might as well tear the whole thing down and start over. Clear crossroads.

1. Resign Matthews, maybe trade Marner in a hockey type deal where you retool on the fly but still are a cup contender next year.

2. Trade Matthews, trade at least 1 of Marner/Nylander, if you don't trade both then resign the other. Plan to be bad for 2 years. Get Michkov+ as a return for Matthews. Be bad in 2024, top 10 pick. Be bad in 2025, hopefully top 5 pick(it's top 10 protected). In 2026 we don't have our 1st(if the 2025 pick is top 10) but Michkov's contract is over in Russia and he comes over already developed. Tavares contract is off the books, McDavid is a free agenct 1 year later. The 2026 pick is gone but hopefully we've made the right moves and picked the right players for the next 3 drafts that we're good again and it won't matter.

and Matthews has all the leverage on July 1st so this decision needs to be made in just under 6 weeks and we just started our GM search. Lovely timing

 

[NorthKoreanHockeyFan]

idk if posted yet but Schmaltz (if his NTC allows it), Cooley, Soderstrom, '24 2nd (MTL), and '25 (TOR) - also think the Coyotes would give Matthews a massive extension and it'd really help them secure a new rink

- Schmaltz clears some cap space to try and keep O'Reilly or explore other options at F if they want to keep the window open
- Soderstrom could use a change of scenery - I'd say his value is that of a 3rd/4th round pick at this point
- Cooley likely signs in TOR cause of Knies and is the centre piece of this trade
- They desperately need draft capital regardless of anything

 

[Confucius]

I think you are seriously underestimating how good of a two-way player a hopefully healthier late 20s/early 30s Matthews will be. This is when a lot of elite scorers have won the Stanley Cups as well, Would you rather lose him for basically nothing?

I wouldn’t be paying him 12 million a year that is for sure. I’m sure we could get something for him in a trade even if he only has a year left.

 

[daveleaf]

If not an LOI he can actually sign a post dated contract extension that isn’t filed with the league until after July 1.

What I can guarantee is that if Matthews camp refuses to negotiate before July 1 then you have to trade him. Losing him for nothing in 2024 is completely unacceptable. That’s when Shanahan gets turfed.

That was boy wonders contract negotiation with him.