Value of: The case for trading Auston Matthews

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Ritchie is garbage. Bad contract with negative value
Trading Kerfoot is literally a running joke on HF
Reilly only interests playoff teams who would likely only deal non-roster players back

As for Marner - show me the trade that makes Toronto better. I dont think it exists. That's literally part of the reason I made this thread. lol

I think you misunderstood. By no means would I expect Ritchie or Kerfoot to return any significant value. Both can be traded, though - Ritchie might not be worth trading due to cost of dumping him, but Kerfoot would return some value and, more importantly, provide roster flexibility.

Me "showing you the trade that makes Toronto better" for Marner is a fools errand, as neither of us have any clue what all 32 GMs value him as, and we also have no clue what actually makes a team better - I am sure neither of us predicted Vegas as a powerhouse, right??

I look at Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Anaheim, Arizona, Nashville, Seattle, and New Jersey as teams who could all put together very compelling offers for Marner while significantly aiding Toronto's cap structure in the short & longterm. Players I would look at include Larkin, Zadina, Hronek, Vrana, Bjorkstrand, Gavrikov, Korpisalo, Domi, Foudy, Forsberg, Sissons, Kunin, Fabbro, Oloffson, Cozens, Miller, Jokiharju, Rackell, Lindholm, Manson, Gibson, the list goes on. Toronto is a team, more than maybe any other in the league, that needs quantity & quality. Most teams need quality over quantity.

You seem dug in on this, but your thinking is way too rigid. Trading Matthews is the one trade they cannot in terms of strengthening their current competitive window. If they trade Matthews, they are just waiting for the Tavares contract to come off the books.

 

[FourRings]

Matthews is by FAR their best player. There is zero reason to trade him.

 

[Dog]

Matthews is by FAR their best player. There is zero reason to trade him.

Unless, get a package of value coming back. It's not like they are going to win cup with this group!

 

[TGWL]

I think you don't look at it as the most value coming back, but the most value in what you can do going forward. If you trade Marner, you might not get the most coming back. That's a hefty contract and you might have to eat a little salary coming back, but you get a lot of open cap to correct some changes going forward. I like Marner, but he's the guy to go before Matthews even if Toronto wan't to blow it up.

 

[Mickey Marner]

The case for trading Matthews is a lot more simple than that.

Matthews is likely a part of the culture problem, would return a small fortune and his unnecessarily short contract requires an expedited solution.

If he were signed to an eight year deal like he should've been then you could just fire Shanahan, Dubas & Keefe and trade Marner. But there's just not enough time to do a hard reset before Matthews' NMC kicks in and he's a pending UFA.

Tales of this clusterf*** will be passed down for generations.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Unless, get a package of value coming back. It's not like they are going to win cup with this group!

So you think Marner, Tavares, Rielly & Nylander + the value of Matthews sets them up better than Matthews + the value of those 4?

Only players I would hold onto are Matthews & Nylander, plus Rielly if he looks for, at most, a 50% raise.

 

[ToasterStutzle]

I'd LOVE for the leafs to pick up M. Tkachuk

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Matthews prob makes most sense, pretty clear he’s leaving when contract is up and that’s not too far away… build around Tavares nylander and marner…. Get a giant haul for Matthews

 

[milehigh11]

Avs would be interested in a Nylander / Girard swap involving a few other pieces to make it work. We need wingers (just not 11AAV ones) as we have a strong defensive core. Girard could theorhettically on a great AAV for the next 6 years (counting this one) would be your Reilly replacement and could then trade him for a FWD so you dont lose him for nothing

 

[GuerinUp]

what they need to do is draft well and sign good college ufas, etc to smaller contracts. replacing the aging vets in the bottom 6 with good minimal contract players. Not trade away their top talent.

 

[kevsh]

Matthews is arguably the greatest talent and most marketable player this franchise has ever seen so no, MLSE does not consider moving him under any (realistic) circumstances.

Their first priority, not just in terms of extending contracts, etc., but their first priority as an organization, period, is to convince him to re-sign long-term. Failing that, then yes, before his NMC kicks in they would have to consider moving him, but until then it's a non-starter. (And if MLSE knows today that he's not going to re-sign you keep that internal for obvious reasons and make the calls to GMs the moment the '23 season concludes)

 

[RomanianLeafs]

Matthews is never going to be traded, franchise centers don't grow on trees sorry..

 

[Perfect_Drug]

For those saying trade Marner instead - I addressed why it doesn't make sense. I'd like to hear a realistic trade that actually makes the Leafs better regarding a Marner trade. I have yet to hear one honestly.

Here's three reasons why you don't trade Matthews:

1)Cuz you never trade a #1 Center

2) NEVER! Never ever ever. You NEVER EVER EVER Trade a #1 Center.

3) You NEVER EVER EVER trade a #1 Center EVER in the history of EVER EVER do you EVER trade a #1 Center.


I rest my case.

 

[TFHockey]

If that's all you got from this, then I feel bad for you.

I think Matthews is a guy you build a winner around. However if he gives indications he won't extend when the time comes then the Leafs should be able to get a massive haul for him.

 

[ThankGord]

I think you misunderstood. By no means would I expect Ritchie or Kerfoot to return any significant value. Both can be traded, though - Ritchie might not be worth trading due to cost of dumping him, but Kerfoot would return some value and, more importantly, provide roster flexibility.

Me "showing you the trade that makes Toronto better" for Marner is a fools errand, as neither of us have any clue what all 32 GMs value him as, and we also have no clue what actually makes a team better - I am sure neither of us predicted Vegas as a powerhouse, right??

I look at Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo, Anaheim, Arizona, Nashville, Seattle, and New Jersey as teams who could all put together very compelling offers for Marner while significantly aiding Toronto's cap structure in the short & longterm. Players I would look at include Larkin, Zadina, Hronek, Vrana, Bjorkstrand, Gavrikov, Korpisalo, Domi, Foudy, Forsberg, Sissons, Kunin, Fabbro, Oloffson, Cozens, Miller, Jokiharju, Rackell, Lindholm, Montour, Gibson, the list goes on. Toronto is a team, more than maybe any other in the league, that needs quantity & quality. Most teams need quality over quantity.

You seem dug in on this, but your thinking is way too rigid. Trading Matthews is the one trade they cannot in terms of strengthening their current competitive window. If they trade Matthews, they are just waiting for the Tavares contract to come off the books.

No chance Detroit moves Larkin for a winger, just sayin'. Wing is arguably our strongest/deepest position so Marner doesn't generate a lot of interest.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

No chance Detroit moves Larkin for a winger, just sayin'.

Fair enough, but Detroit has plenty of pieces and Toronto is far from desperate for a top 6 C.

 

[shortfuze]

Matthews prob makes most sense, pretty clear he’s leaving when contract is up and that’s not too far away… build around Tavares nylander and marner…. Get a giant haul for Matthews

what makes it pretty clear that hes leaving?

 

[Stuzchuk]

Nope Marner would my pick. Much easier to draft/sign/trade for a top line winger than a center. Finding someone with that cap space and need is another story.

yup, same here...

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

what makes it pretty clear that hes leaving?

He’s gunna end up in Arizona, Vegas, LA , Ana or possibly San Jose , no way he is staying in Canada. If you believe that then you are being blind and not accepting of the process.

dubas messed up hard

 

[shortfuze]

He’s gunna end up in Arizona, Vegas, LA , Ana or possibly San Jose , no way he is staying in Canada. If you believe that then you are being blind and not accepting of the process.

dubas messed up hard

so, again i ask, what makes it pretty clear?

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Auston Matthews is a franchise center. Those are virtually never traded as one franchise doesn't want to switch for another franchises notable player.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

so, again i ask, what makes it pretty clear?

Signed 5 years not 8, literally 0 interest in staying…. Wanted to get out of there as soon as possible without coming off as a spoiled brat

 

[Dog]

Signed 5 years not 8, literally 0 interest in staying…. Wanted to get out of there as soon as possible without coming off as a spoiled brat

This is reality he is going back to USA once contract up or if traded before. Going to end up losing him in free agency and end up with nothing. What motivates an American player to stay on Canadian team that can not win one playoff series? He will look for the big payday out west and my guess is be Kings as they will have the money and talent will improve in that time.

 

[Holls Blackmail]

so, again i ask, what makes it pretty clear?

This guy is a scrub, don't give him attention (like the world doesn't give attention to the Mighty Ducks).

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

This is reality he is going back to USA once contract up or if traded before. Going to end up losing him in free agency and end up with nothing. What motivates an American player to stay on Canadian team that can not win one playoff series? He will look for the big payday out west and my guess is be Kings as they will have the money and talent will improve in that time.

I feel like ducks kings vegas and arizona all make a little sense.

Kings for obvious reasons, and kings are more likely to be able to facilitate a trade and resign him without him going to free agency.
Anaheim should be trending up at that point, would also give them an American 1-2 punch in matthews + zegras, not to mention zegras is pretty similar stylistically to marner.... so matthews has his play maker on the PP. Should have plenty of money at that point.
Arizona, home town team... should have a good crop of young players and adding a superstar in matthews and local boy would b great for marketing.

Vegas and san jose would be the dark horses for me... Vegas might still be looking for that top line center to take them to the next lvl... and san jose always seems to jump in at the oppertunity to pick up a big name player.