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

[3074326]

Wait...I thought he was walking to Arizona. Oh no, that's just the goal posts moving.

You guys fail to understand that 99% of the people who were saying that were making fun of TML fans doing the same thing every time there is a good UFA from Canada.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

You guys fail to understand that 99% of the people who were saying that were making fun of TML fans doing the same thing every time there is a good UFA from Canada.

I've only ever seen this three times in my entire life - Stamkos (who almost did come to Toronto) and Tavares (who did come to Toronto). The third was McDavid, and that's more of a joke than anything. Pretty sure he's an Oiler for life.

Habs fans do it far more often with Quebecois expiring UFAs.

 

[TS Quint]

Over his last 4 seasons per 82 games he is averaging 51 goals. In 3 of the last 4 seasons he has been scoring at or better than a 55 goal pace.

Matthews is 7 years into his career and you still need to use pace to justify his production. At what point do you just have to admit production is production and the goals you don’t score because you are constantly injured don’t count.

 

[Channelcat]

Auston is smart, he knows exactly what he's doing by not signing long term. Say he brings 3 cups to Toronto over the next 4 years, then in his 4th year he can demand 15 or 16M on his next contract and price himself out of Toronto's range. Then he departs for LA or NY with a 16M /year deal.

There's no cups coming to Toronto, Auston knows that, we know that, even Brad Treliving knows that.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

It’s not the eight years the organization would have preferred, but still buys up the remaining years of Matthews’ prime and does so at an annual rate that’s less than what the Matthews camp was insisting on ($16 million cap hit potentially) for a full-term eight-year deal. TheAthletic

 

[The90]

Matthews is 7 years into his career and you still need to use pace to justify his production. At what point do you just have to admit production is production and the goals you don’t score because you are constantly injured don’t count.

…. Pace is literally a product of his actual production.

 

[Team_Spirit]

On the bright side it's only 2.75M more than Huberdeau.

 

[TageGod]

16m is a laugh. overpaid by about 3.5m. Yeah yeah UFA years less term still 13.5 is a joke.

 

[MikeyMike01]

Matthews taking Toronto to the cleaners again

 

[TS Quint]

Now do assists. For a guy who’s a “generational goal scorer” those are pretty pathetic numbers.

Assists? Who cares if annyone else on the TEAM scores as long as Matthews gets his regular season INDIVIDUAL awards? Those are the real Trophies that matter.

 

[Neil Racki]

Everyone wins imo.

Toronto keeps their star, Auston gets a bag o money.

I like Matthews in Toronto.

 

[TS Quint]

…. Pace is literally a product of his actual production.

No, pace is claiming he’s productive even if he doesn’t play. Which he isn’t.

I had some time for this pace argument when it was about a season or two. But now it’s been 7 years and GP is still an issue and as we see from Leafs fans all over this thread when attempting to justify this contract it’s an expected issue going forward.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

People can hate Matthews for clearly wanting contracts that fall in line with getting bigger pay days faster, and taking a larger piece of the pie away from his teammates, but as long as you can bet on yourself and stay healthy enough, why not? This could set him up for 2 more 3 year deals with a higher cap.

Yup and as long as he plays for the Leafs why not?

 

[TGWL]

It's true, but in Crosby's case, the $8.7m on his first contract was also sky-high in terms of Cap Hit %. 17.3% under the current $83.5m cap hit = AAV of $14,442,346.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

It also took him straight to UFA after only five years.... kind of like this Matthews deal.

Crosby signed it in the summer with the cap going up almost 7 million. It was closer to 15% I believe when it was done. But to your point, the cap is going up next year when Matthew's contract would have ended, so it's probably going to be a little less than Crosby's percentage against the cap in 2008-2009. (should the cap jump 5 million for the 2024-2025 season)

 

[Curufinwe]

No, pace is claiming he’s productive even if he doesn’t play. Which he isn’t.

I had some time for this pace argument when it was about a season or two. But now it’s been 7 years and GP is still an issue and as we see from Leafs fans all over this thread when attempting to justify this contract it’s an expected issue going forward.

If GP is a big issue, then it's good for Toronto to only have him signed for five more years. If he's in bad shape physically at age 30, they can move on.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

…. Pace is literally a product of his actual production.

Pace is not a product.

 

[notbias]

Matthews/McKinnon are not the same. Half the length in contract make a huge difference. Matthews contract puts him on level with McDavids contract because of the length.

Just checking. Buying more years past prime normally drives the AAV up or down?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Just checking. Buying more years past prime normally drives the AAV up or down?

It should drive AAV down. I think Mackinnon would have been 13.5 or so for 4 years.

People here only think in terms of RFAs like Stutzle where more years is better. It's the opposite when you start buying years beyond prime.

 

[Curufinwe]

Crosby signed it in the summer with the cap going up almost 7 million. It was closer to 15% I believe when it was done. But to your point, the cap is going up next year when Matthew's contract would have ended, so it's probably going to be a little less than Crosby's percentage against the cap in 2008-2009. (should the cap jump 5 million for the 2024-2025 season)

The cap is estimated to be going up by $8.5m over the next two seasons. Matthews' 24-25 AAV of $13,250,000 will have a Cap Hit percentage of 15.14% under a cap ceiling of $87,500,000.

Crosby's Cap Hit actual percentage in the first year of his 5-year contract in 08-09 was 15.34% - $8,700,000 / $56,700,00.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

SEASON	CONFIRMED	% CHANGE	UPPER LIMIT	LOWER LIMIT	MIN. SALARY
2025-26	NHL Estimate	5.14%	$92,000,000	$68,000,000	$775,000
2024-25	NHL Estimate	4.79%	$87,500,000	$64,700,000	$775,000
2023-24	Jun. 23, 2023	1.21%	$83,500,000	$61,700,000	$775,000

 

[keglu]

Pretty good term for Toronto as long as they let him walk after this one.

 

[Ninety7]

Toronto got their guy for four more years.

I know if it was Mcdavid in Edmonton I’d be jacked, as long as he wants to stay an oiler.

 

[Shocker]

That's a shit ton of money and not many years, but at least Toronto got him extended, they should be fine with it.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Part of the reason they likely do not want to pay him 13m+ until he's 34.

Would people really rather pay Mackinnon 12.6 until he's 35 than pay AM 13.25 until he's 31?

This is quite the narrative considering there were multiple reports that the Leafs wanted him to sign for longer...

MacKinnon has 100 points in 77 playoff games and a Stanley Cup. Matthews has 44 points in 50 playoff games and has won one single series.

Also, this entire thing is kind of misleading because we don't know what Matthews will be doing from 31 to 35. He could go UFA to a new team. He could sign a max term deal with the Leafs. Or he could sign a short term deal with the Leafs. If he signs a short term deal with the Leafs, you're probably looking at $15M+...

 

[Voight]

The energy trying to “spin” this as a negative for the leafs is hilarious. We get to watch our stud 1st overall, 50+ goal scorer, two-way centre, play for the leafs throughout his prime years. As long as you have a player like him you go for it and figure the rest out. None of this penny pinching sh**. Look at the other sports, this was a huge win for the leafs today.

Seriously. I don't understand some of these comments. What were they supposed to do, tell him to walk?

There is not a single person on here who would be mad at this contract if Matthews was on their favourite team.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

A top 5-10 player in the regular season, depending on the year, so the Leafs didn’t really have a choice despite his lack of playoff success. With the 4 year deal he will still be able to cash in on a long term huge deal with the Leafs at the end so you can see it from Matthews side as well.
But it really does make you appreciate much better players like Crosby and McDavid who left money on the table to help give their team a better chance of winning.