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

[Devilsfan992]

lol it’s great for the player, how does the short term and cap hit in any way benefit the team?

Because in 5 years when he is 31, he may not be worth 13.5M anymore. Maybe Toronto will be in a position to rebuild in 5 years, and they would be fortunate not to be strapped to a huge longterm contract. If I had to guess, he will still be a great player, but you never know what can happen in the NHL.

 

[Kerberos]

13.anything is already an overpayment for Matthews. 4 years rubs salt in the wound.

Oof.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

I disagree. Players career peak is between 24 and 30 years old. He will not get that much terms/salary after that peak. Toronto basically will have Matthews for the greatest part/all of AM peak.

The generational players and stars peaks are extending well into their 30 year old seasons. These guys have so much more available to them as far as recovery, nutrition and training than players of past.

It was not good not to lock him up longer

 

[93LEAFS]

I never argued the bad contract, its fair but Toronto definitely whishes they could lock up a player like him longer. What I did say is many Toronto fans ripping Dubas for not being able to "negotiate" and here they are with Trev only getting a top player in the league on 4 years.

I said he was a top 3 player in the league, I think its fair and very arguable.

Dubas had leverage, and was buying only one UFA year. I'm not a fan of Treliving, but Treliving is only buying UFA years. Very different situations. Matthews could have walked for nothing, and had a full NMC, previously he was a UFA who would get 5 first round picks, and could be traded with RFA years with him having no ability to block it.

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

I disagree. Players career peak is between 24 and 30 years old. He will not get that much terms/salary after that peak. Toronto basically will have Matthews for the greatest part/all of AM peak.

They've overpaid, so far, for his "peak", and will continue to do so, considering what other star players in the league have made and will make over the next 4 seasons.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Perfect contract for Matthews 4 years if it was 3 years it would have lined up with McDavid now when McDavid becomes a ufa Matthews will have 1 year left and McDavid will not be signing in Toronto.

Tavares will be off the books by then so it's still possible depending on the salary cap at that point in time, and if McDavid wants to come home.

 

[ffh]

Was never going to end well for willy. This proves it

 

[Tripod]

Maybe, but what makes a brand valuable? Winning championships, not being entertaining. We are becoming the Cleveland Browns of the NHL. A once great organization that has been reduced to a laughing stock.

The TML will make money regardless. The difference between great organization and us is that they win championships. How much is the Patriots organization worth now Vs what is was when it the laughing stock on the NFL. You change the culture and build the team right and you win. Yes I get that they had Brady but that what you need is a team and a leader. Matthews is no leader and we can’t build a team around him because he is a selfish player.

He took a 1.6 million pay increase. All It means is you don't get a 2.5 depth guy who plays 8-13 mins a game and instead play a ELC guy.

No one thought Ovi and the Caps would win either.

Can't believe I am depending a team I hate. You do realize you could rebuild and end up with a Nolan Patrick, right? You should be happy as hell to have a guy capable of 60 goals a season. Those guys deserve big money.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The generational players and stars peaks are extending well into their 30 year old seasons. These guys have so much more available to them as far as recovery, nutrition and training than players of past.

It was not good not to lock him up longer

What if dare I say... he is not generationnal and not worth that much when people realise that he peaked fron 23 to 28.

 

[KingAlfie11]

Matthews is smilling like a butcher's dog all the way to the bank!! The fact that he's the top payed player in the league is just funny!! What has he accomplish to be the top payed player in the NHL??? Now how much is McDavid worth in is next contract, he's gonna broke the bank!!!

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

lol it’s great for the player, how does the short term and cap hit in any way benefit the team?

Gets him for his prime years ( 26 to 31 ) while mitigating the risk of an at times injury prone player

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Tavares will be off the books by then so it's still possible depending the salary cap at that point in time, and if McDavid wants to come home.

They'd have to say goodbye to Marner after 24/25, along with Tavares, if they wanted to make a run at McDavid.

Vegas is the team that's set themselves up for that pursuit.

 

[Clark4Ever]

They've overpaid, so far, for his "peak", and will continue to do so, considering what other star players in the league have made and will make over the next 4 seasons.

I don't disagree, but I don't think anyone can fault Treliving for the situation he inherited from a GM that was a terrible negotiator.

 

[Legion34]

He’s just waiting 4 more years for the coyotes to have a staduim + talent around him…. Then he goes to Arizona.

Welll he is signed for 5.

But I agree in principle. Get his prime. Let him set records. Trade him at 30 in his last year.

Or sign him 31-38.

Better than signing him from 35-40

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Top 6-7 is arguable, heading into next year. Top 3 is a very tough case to make. Impossible, really, after last season. He was 22nd in league scoring and flamed out in the playoffs.

He could vault himself into that discussion again if he scores 50+ and gets to the ECF. We'll see if he does it.

He’s paced for 60 plus 3 of the last 4 years ; which season looks like the outlier to you ? After Mcdavid any number of players can slot into 2 to 10 area . If this contract were signed after the year prior where does he rank in the league then ? 2 ? 3 ?

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

I don't disagree, but I don't think anyone can fault Treliving for the situation he inherited from a GM that was a terrible negotiator.

I'd blame Shanahan much more than Treliving, for sure. Treliving had no choice.

Shanahan is at fault even more than Dubas.

He’s paced for 60 plus 3 of the last 4 years , which season looks like the outlier to you ?

Sure, and like I said, if it does prove to be an outlier, he'll be in that conversation again.

Right now, he isn't. There are a lot of great players in the league. It's impossible to make a case for Matthews being better than McDavid, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Makar, etc. right now. Unless you're the biggest homer.

That could change if he puts up 50-55+ again. Even better if he puts the team on his back in the playoffs. But he has to do it.

Who knows who'll be a "top 3 player" after next season. For all we know, it could be McDavid at #1, Hughes at #2 and Bedard at #3. Didn't Gretzky already say Hughes is #2 in his mind?

 

[Pantokrator]

This is a great deal. He won the Hart trophy two years ago, still in his prime, and he got less than he could have. He hardly got a raise.

 

[Shane Diesel]

Appreciate MacKinnon will only carry the mantle for one season of highest cap hit.

 

[thefutures]

He needs to give short contracts to his best players with NMCs in their last year so he doesnt have any leverage in negotiations and then stagger them so they all happen at the same time.

So Tree essentially has a get out of jail free card that nobody else ever gets? Even Yzerman is taking heat and he was left a steaming pile of crap from Ken Holland. Tree was given a team that finishes top 4 or 5 every year so the mental gymnastics will be interesting

 

[Clark4Ever]

They'd have to say goodbye to Marner after 24/25, along with Tavares, if they wanted to make a run at McDavid.

Vegas is the team that's set themselves up for that pursuit.

If Marner is as greedy in his next contract negotiation as he was the last time around you might be right. If Marner and McDavid are both willing to leave money on the table to retire in their hometown, it could work, even with Nylander signed to an extension.

 

[dixie]

Four years right in time for a new arena to be built in Arizona!

 

[biturbo19]

lmao this dude is just gonna bleed the Maple Leafs dry with a new "biggest salary" contract every 4 years? That's hilarious.

Four years right in time for a new arena to be built in Arizona!

Seems optimistic.

 

[TS Quint]

$53,000,000 on this contract, Ill bet he maintains his value to his next 4 year contract so add $60,321,400 based on a $3m average increase in cap. That's $113,321,400 over 8 years making a 16.38% cap hit Vs. McDavid's 16.67%. That's not good but honestly better than I thought. I though he would come in above McDavid.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

So Tree essentially has a get out of jail free card that nobody else ever gets? Even Yzerman is taking heat and he was left a steaming pile of crap from Ken Holland. Tree was given a team that finishes top 4 or 5 every year so the mental gymnastics will be interesting

No, and I dont give a shit one way or the other. If he is semi-competent, he will jettison Nylander and start working on that D with the space and hold the line with Marner, who is frankly useless in the playoffs, when things get uncomfortable.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Last year with Tkachuk, this year with Dubios.
But I’m sure they don’t count for some reason

Those weren’t sign and trades, they were trades and signs, big difference. Opposites actually.