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

[Clark4Ever]

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

Treliving was essentially negotiating with Matthews and his agent with both hands tied behind his back.

At least with Nylander, he has a limited no trade clause to use for leverage if necessary.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Sure, maybe. Depending on what other players do. Maybe Draisaitl scores 140 and wins the Conn Smythe.

But Matthews has only done that once in 7 seasons. He wasn't close last year.

So if he does it next year, you can have the conversation. You can't right now.

Matthews clearly fought injury issues most of the year . Was obvious from a viewing standpoint . I expect him to be way closer to the 50 /60 goal version than the guy that showed up last season . And that version is without a doubt a top 5 player .

 

[authentic]

Sure, maybe. Depending on what other players do. Maybe Draisaitl scores 140 and wins the Conn Smythe.

But Matthews has only done that once in 7 seasons. He wasn't close last year.

So if he does it next year, you can have the conversation. You can't right now.

Last year was the outlier playing hurt all season, other previous seasons were cut short because of COVID where he paced for 55 and 65 goals. So three straight seasons playing at a 55, 65 and 67 goal pace, playing 52 of 56 games, 70 of 70, and 73 of 82. Last season he couldn't even shoot a single one of his signature wrist shots or handle the puck very effectively through traffic and still scored 40 goals with a great defensive game.

 

[Clark4Ever]

All the keafs players are GREEDY

Morgan Rielly isn't...

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Holding it temporarily before Drai and Mcdavid smash through it .

Yeah, the biggest loser in this deal may end up being Edmonton.

 

[Little Psycho]

All that money and he still can’t buy fashion sense

 

[HockeyVirus]

The AAV is whatever. I’d be angry at the term though, if I were a Leafs fan. Especially if Marner signs for roughly the same again.

It means the Leafs are likely rebuilding in 5 years unless the team has won something and we are keeping the gang together on retirement contracts. I don't see how they can continue to buy every year beyond that.

I'm honestly fine with a rebuild at that point. A decade of playoff hockey, won a playoff series and hopefully more. Let's draft some guys and try again

 

[Beau Knows]

He's done a good job of maximizing his career earnings that's for sure.

Not sure why anyone is bashing the Leafs for this signing though. For whatever problems they have with their team, Matthews is one of the best players in the league. Unless the player decides to take a discount, what are you gonna do? You want a top player, you gotta pay for up.

 

[Strangle]

Last year was the outlier playing hurt all season, other previous seasons were cut short because of COVID where he paced for 55 and 65 goals. So three straight seasons playing at a 55, 65 and 67 goal pace, playing 52 of 56 games, 70 of 70, and 73 of 82. Last season he couldn't even shoot a single one of his signature wrist shots or handle the puck very effectively through traffic and still scored 40 goals with a great defensive game.

Hard to argue with 0.62 goals per game over his career so far.

Where a ‘bad’ season is still ppg and 40 goals lol

The guy has averaged over 50 goals per 82 games for his entire career so far. How many players have a stat like that?

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Good deal. Deserves every penny. He'll be 31 when it's over, then the leafs and Matthews can decide if they want to make him a leaf for life.

 

[Ghost of Jody Hull]

Last year was the outlier playing hurt all season, other previous seasons were cut short because of COVID where he paced for 55 and 65 goals. So three straight seasons playing at a 55, 65 and 67 goal pace, playing 52 of 56 games, 70 of 70, and 73 of 82. Last season he couldn't even shoot a single one of his signature wrist shots or handle the puck very effectively through traffic and still scored 40 goals with a great defensive game.

Well again, I'm not disputing that he's not an upper-echelon player in the league. He is. Top 10, for sure.

But so are Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Makar, Kucherov, etc. Look at their regular season and playoff numbers over the last 3 years. Why is Matthews clearly better than any of them? He's not.

 

[didimentionlarseller]

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Plenty of people have MacKinnon over Matthews.

Either way McDavid is thrilled by this. Could end up at 16

Did you read what he said ? He didn’t only say Mackinnon is better than Matthews ( arguable but not clear cut ) but that Mac is closer to Mcdavid than Matthews to Mackinnon. It’s a horrendous take if you consider any year other than this past injury impacted one ..

 

[authentic]

Hard to argue with 0.62 goals per game over his career so far.

Where a ‘bad’ season is still ppg and 40 goals lol

The guy has averaged over 50 goals per 82 games for his entire career so far. How many players have a stat like that?

Not only that but doing so with like half the powerplay time of Ovechkin and while playing an actual dominant two-way game.

 

[Kerberos]

If Matthews is healthy again then a 60 goals 100+ point two-way center is the 2nd best player in the world

Matthews isn't a good two-way player. His defensive metrics last season are below average. This narrative has been debunked, you're not fooling anybody.

And no, Matthews is not consistent enough or a good enough playoff performer to be considered anywhere near a top 2 player. Could sneak into the top 5 though.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Well it's a bit less than rumored I guess. 13.5 x3 seemed possible.

Will that be enough for Nylander to look at it like Matthews left money on the table?

The most expensive player in the league, leaving money on the table?

 

[EpochLink]

4 years? Boy be getting the big bag on his next contract

 

[34]

Mackinnon is closer to McDavid than Matthews is to Mackinnon. Terrible take.

Yeah, sure he is.

 

[Kristopher Letang]

Must be Dubas’ fault.

 

[dirtydanglez]

Younger , Hart and Rocket winner … but yah term could have been better ( 5 or 6 was personally ideal ) .

but also not a playoff performer or stanley cup winner. or the better player for that matter.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Haters can say whatever they wan a say but he was the best player in the league 2 seasons ago and he is the best scorer in the league since Ovechkin...but i promise u he is going to Arizona after this hehe

Yeah he was great two years ago. Last year though he didn’t even crack the top 10 players.

 

[Three On Zero]

Plenty of people have MacKinnon over Matthews.

Either way McDavid is thrilled by this. Could end up at 16

This could end up putting McDavid, Draisiatl and Nurse costing Edmonton nearly $40 million once all three have their new deals

 

[34]

Matthews taking another short extension screams leaving after this contract.

just like he was leaving after the first contract right. That aged well.

McDavid and Matthews will look great together in 3 seasons from now. McDavids homecoming will be epic.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

This could end up putting McDavid, Draisiatl and Nurse costing Edmonton nearly $40 million once all three have their new deals

I think McDavid is less mercenary than Matthews but for sure he will be the highest paid player and deservedly so. That’s a player you just sign for whatever it costs.

 

[Melrose Munch]

Top 5 player?

Excuse me?

be serious guy

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