Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] F Auston Matthews signs extension with the Maple Leafs (4 years, $13.25M AAV)

[SI90]

Seems like a great deal for Toronto. You’d like longer than 4 years but god forbid something happens to him it’s short enough to not hurt the team. The AAV is really good too considering his status and the cap going up.

 

[JadedLeaf]

13.2 x 3 is my guess.

Edit: 4 years. The f*** do I know.

You were incredibly close on the avv though to be fair. I'd still give that one to ya.

That's not usually the case. Toews had massive health issues. What about Crosby? Or Malkin? Or Ovechkin? Not worth the money at 34?

And Matthews doesn't have hip and wrist issues?

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Assuming Toronto continues on as a non-contender, I wonder if the ultimate plan for the Leafs is to Kessel Matthews and tank again...with the 4 year deal ensuring they won't be stuck with a lengthy salary retention period when they trade Matthews for future picks and prospects.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

He should have been honest. He is fortunate to receive that contract is the intention.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Good for him.

The AAV is totally fair for both sides. This is modern professional sports. The best player doesn’t always have the biggest contract or set some sort of cap. It’s nauseating seeing all the “he’s not better than McDavid or MacKinnon BS”.

The term is surprising but I’ll say again - good for AM and good for the players. Get that bag, get that flexibility. The owners can afford it. Superstars are worth every dime to a franchise. And it’s still an absolute pittance to what players in other leagues are making.

Top players make very small gains in the NHL each season lately now coming off a flat cap and traditionalists are having strokes complaining about “the cost”. Yet every year in other sports we are adding tens of millions onto contracts and fans of those leagues don’t bat an eye.

I generally agree with this. But I’ll say that top players getting that money is only going to negatively effect a lot more players that’s aren’t stars unless the cap situation truly changes

 

[Divine]

You were incredibly close on the avv though to be fair. I'd still give that one to ya.

And Matthews doesn't have hip and wrist issues?

It's a horrible example overall because all of those players got a lower AAV hit on their 30+ contracts even with a higher cap.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Oh boy, can't wait to see all of the Leafs fans turn on Treliving for losing the negotiation with Matthews like they did with Dubas.

They have to wait until Trelivings fired before they can say anything bad about him. As of now its a brilliant move.

In all seriousness top 3 player in the game right now staying is good. Toronto just wishes it was longer

 

[innitfam]

I guess this is better than the 13.5M/3yr that was rumored, but yeesh.

 

[Byron Bitz]

I’m fine with the term, atleast 5 more years of Matthews sounds good to me, with the cap rising he’s well worth that AAV

 

[Coaches Coroner]

The cap is going up so every long term deal is good to great...except now apparently lol.

Obviously less is better. Gambling on the cap is a gamble, one that bit Dubas in his time, but one more teams are making to lock guys up they like, than previous.
I'd rather have him as a Leaf longer than not. If they can't get it done with him, I can't see how they'd possibly get it done without him in the same time, or within 5-8 years of his departure (were he not to re-sign).

 

[Dion TheFluff]

frustrating because other stars take long term but we get him for his prime years and then we can just walk away if he declines because of injury. Glass is always half full.

 

[Rob Brown]

He should have been honest. He is fortunate to receive that contract is the intention.

Well no shit, find me a player that said that after signing a big contract, though. He can be happy to sign a big deal and also happy to stay with his team. You're nitpicking over nothing.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The cap rose 3-5% regularly until Covid. Some years more some less but always steady 3-5%. Only a global shut down will cause that again, but hey if you all need to bank on another pandemic to make this deal look bad then go ahead.

The escalator was the reason.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Top 5? Yikes

This opinion says more about the folks saying it than it triggers leaf fans.

 

[dirtydanglez]

wooof but at least they got it done.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Lmao

Should have got him for 8 years at that price

Wasn’t going to happen w the rising cap

 

[swiftwin]

Imagine not being able to lock down your franchise player for more than 4 years.

Bahahahaha.

 

[Demon Eyes]

4 years? Is he waiting to see if Arizona has a team by the time it's over?

 

[swiftwin]

Wasn’t going to happen w the rising cap

Strange. Lots of other teams have done it.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Leafs were played like a chump organization. Marner on deck for next year with same NTC. Thanks Dubas.

 

[Rob Brown]

Leafs were played like a chump organization. Marner on deck for next year with same NTC. Thanks Dubas.

Coming clearer and clearer that he really f***ed the Leafs situation with these guys.

 

[Tuggy]

Great deal for Matthews.

He did really well.

Leafs...not so much.

 

[gritdash60]

I'd rather be in Arizona's situation than the Leafs 10/10 times.

Looking forward to when the Leafs current core ages out and the Leafs have absolutely nobody in the cupboard worth a damn and still haven't won the cup. Leafs will continue the cycle of trying to build through FA and trades and occasionally lucking into a few good players through the draft ad nauseum for quite some time more, it was true 20 years ago and it's true now, until ownership changes and stops prioritizing profits it'll be the same for another 20 years.

Username checks out

 

[Divine]

Leafs were played like a chump organization. Marner on deck for next year with same NTC. Thanks Dubas.

Leafs going to replace Marner with Draisaitl next summer?

 

[Muffin]

Leafs lose on terms and AAV AGAIN. Man Matthews has them bent over.