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

[Kimota]

It's steep but they had to give him that.

 

[TheNumber4]

Matthews 5 on 5 goal scoring is off the charts and much better than Ovechkin’s. Ovy has an incredible one timer on the PP which is great but I prefer the guy who scores goals in so many different ways 5 on 5. You can see in this clip how diverse Matthews skill set is.

Young Ovie scored in more ways than Matthews could ever imagine. Matthews can’t even imagine carrying the puck through the neutral zone for a goal. Ovie used to shred through the neutral zone and score all by himself.

 

[TotalHomer]

The guy shrinks with physical play. Love it.

 

[DueDiligence]

You can be a generational goal scorer.

Ovie is the only current generational goal scorer. Let's see what Matthews does in his next 5 years.

 

[kingpest19]

Kopitar was considered made of glass early on in his career, then didn't have any major injuries again. We can't think about certain players like "they might get inured". They might not get injured either. His salary will be very manageable next season when the cap goes up.

When was Kopitar considered made of glass? He wasn't injury prone in any way

 

[shortfuze]

Ovie is the only current generational goal scorer. Let's see what Matthews does in his next 5 years.

For sure he is

 

[GirardSpinorama]

For sure he is

Lol cause of a bunch of 30/40 goal seasons and 1 60 goal season?

 

[TheDoldrums]

Lol cause of a bunch of 30/40 goal seasons and 1 60 goal season?

Because he scores goals at a significantly higher rate than anyone from his generation, its not that difficult for most to understand

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Because he scores goals at a significantly higher rate than anyone from his generation, its not that difficult for most to understand

Ovechkin isnt a generational goal scorer cause of hypothetical goals. Why does matthews get that luxury?

 

[Legion34]

What people also forget is there

He's not a generational player not even close. Generational players come along once a generation. He isn't even currently top 5. You can make a debate that he is but its a debate. That's not generational.

There are 2 currently in the league Crosby and McDavid. It happens roughly once every 10 years.

Wait. So you think ovechkin. The greatest goal scorer ever. Like literally the best at the entire point of the game.

Is not generational?

Ovechkin isnt a generational goal scorer cause of hypothetical goals. Why does matthews get that luxury?

Matthews is 2 goals behind ovechkin at the same age

 

[TheDoldrums]

Ovechkin isnt a generational goal scorer cause of hypothetical goals. Why does matthews get that luxury?

He's scored more goals than anyone since he entered the league. Those aren't hypothetical goals.

 

[D Wakaluk]

Does anyone remember the pace Matthews was on in the Florida series?

 

[Dache]

I think most people would have preferred Matthews to sign an 8 x 11.64 million originally (vs 5 years). This would have covered 3 of the 4 years of the current extension just signed - That's my opinion anyway

I agree with this thought. I don’t think contract on its own is really that bad. Pretty much guearantees avoiding an albatross contract for a 33-35 year old if he declines hard. The issue for me comes from that the frost deal should have been 8 years at that cap hit buying 3 more years at the lower number.

 

[TotalHomer]

Does anyone remember the pace Matthews was on in the Florida series?

I remember him starting to shoot from the blueline because there were big bad meanies in front of the net and he wanted no part of them.

 

[Rude Dog]

Vancouver might vary, but don't try and tell me that Leafs fans in the aggregate aren't extremely wrapped up in the Oilers (of course I'm not talking about casuals here). Canadian hockey media pits them against each other nonstop, and both fanbases are thrilled to oblige especially when the Oilers seem to enjoy signing everyone the Leafs let walk as free agents. And when after Matthews won the Hart there was a ton of talk about him being a 1B to McDavid or even approaching the same level of play.

This is why I find it so confusing, but it's something I've experienced a lot with virtually every non-casual Leafs fan I interact with across any generation/age/social circle. For whatever reason they just absolutely love to revel in anything bad that happens with the Canucks.

I assume it's mostly a Canadian media thing where hot take artists liked to point to Vancouver as a team that was built more "properly" than the Leafs after the bubble playoffs because they had a big name goalie and at the time had guys like Horvat who the national media loves, etc.


Do they know more about Toronto than Montreal, or do they just continue watching the playoffs without their team involved unlike Toronto fans after elimination?

I am sure most Oiler fans don't even know Toronto has a team. They are obsessed with the Leafs. Don't believe me...check out their team page any time during the regular season. You would swear it was the Leaf page. They are a very positive bunch. Very entertaining (in a death to America) kind of way. The level of hate is very impressive.

Young Ovie scored in more ways than Matthews could ever imagine. Matthews can’t even imagine carrying the puck through the neutral zone for a goal. Ovie used to shred through the neutral zone and score all by himself.

That would be amazing if a goal scored carrying through the neutral zone counted for more than a goal. Pretty sure they all count the same.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Draisaitl has been on for 43 GF and 42 GA - 50.6%
McDavid has been on for 49 GF and 39 GA - 55.7%
Matthews has been on 21 GF and 16 GA - 56.8%

His numbers are off.

Matthews is getting that money for the same reason Tkachuk got his. No one expected Tkachuk to be a .5 PPG player in the playoffs his whole career.

The playoffs are far too short with far too many variables to compare production amongst players accurately.

All of Matthews' underlying numbers are great and he is generating a ton, I doubt his numbers stay that low.

2023 22nd expected goals, T-116th in GP
2022 26th expected goals, T-147th in GP
2021 28th expected goals, T-141st in GP

These are his individual chances, and it is being compared to everyone in the playoffs.

Results matter, and he needs to do better, but he didn't forget how to shoot or score.

I think it is much more likely that he will have some breakout seasons instead of continuing around a PPG, but at least while he is doing so, he is being defensively responsible.

Not that it matters too much, I was just curious because I know he has a lot of posts/crossbars, so I checked.
He is tied with McDavid and Rantanen (7) for most posts/crossbars, he is inches away from a different narrative.

This is the most effort I will likely put into a post in this thread considering I think most is just trolling.

I just think Matthews has driven play, and still dominated, despite not scoring as much as he should, and hopefully (and likely in my opinion), the scoring will pick up at some point.

Playoffs! You seem to brush them off or de-emphasize them like it doesn't matter. AM still has good playoff stats, BUT he has disappeared or been far less noticeable and productive in several of the biggest games. To be the ultimate winner and earn the highest salary, you'd really hope the highest paid player in the league would rise to the occasion and dominate the big games, even carry the team on his back at times. Until then, AM will just be a regular season, high scorer - a very good one mind you, just not a champ.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Young Ovie scored in more ways than Matthews could ever imagine. Matthews can’t even imagine carrying the puck through the neutral zone for a goal. Ovie used to shred through the neutral zone and score all by himself.

This is hilarious to me because anyone who watches the players would know in the Canadian division his wrist was dead (and he had surgery that offseason) and he still continued scoring at his insane pace. He found all kinds of ways to get goals and it was really entertaining watching him find different ways to do it.


As for your last point... LOL





I would find more examples but I know it's a waste of time

 

[Surf Nutz]

Stud #1C, first overall, 50+ goal scorer, two-way player, etc. has committed the first 12 years of his career to the team that drafted him after us fans were told a million times he was out the first chance he got. The haters can try and spin the narrative that he’s a money player but he’s committed 5 UFA years to the leafs when he could’ve bolted. 31 other teams would’ve taken him at this contract and made it work. It’s a win for the leafs and as long as we have him we’re going for it.

Good luck with your goal of the third round.
If only he wouldn't run out of rogaine in the playoffs...
31 other teams would not have bent over for this contract, especially ones that focus on playoff performance.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

That’s only if you’re a Leafs doomer who thinks he’s going to sign an 8-year $15m+ deal, which I

(much to @Golden_Jet ’s dismay exaggerated to a $150m deal - it’s only actually a $120m deal, so f*** me right? Right @Golden_Jet ?)

think is absolutely laughably ridiculous. There’s no way you want a 34-38yo Matthews with a $15m+ cap hit.

But hfboards trolls gonna troll

100% agree with your bolded comment. Given Matthews contract negotiations to date though - why do you think that the contract he signed ends when he's 30 YO?

IMO - it's at least possible that he wants to sign his LT deal at that point where teams typically make mistakes with the core players. My favorite team (Hawks) 100% did this with a guy like Seabrook to disastrous results. (Not saying the Matthews would age like a tough physical d-man, but I think you'd understand the underlying point.)

 

[bert]

I guess so? It was a pretty remarkable achievement at the time, especially given that he missed 9 games. Idk those guys are absolutely sick players though and if it's not appropriate to call 3 players who are around the same age "generational" then so be it

There are two generational players currently playing in the league and Matthews is not even close to being one of them but he is getting paid like it.

What people also forget is there


Wait. So you think ovechkin. The greatest goal scorer ever. Like literally the best at the entire point of the game.

Is not generational?




Matthews is 2 goals behind ovechkin at the same age

I dont believe that Ovechkin is a generational player no. I think he is the best goal scorer ever but I dont think he is generational because he isnt the best player from his generation.

Ovechkin lost a full season due to the lock out and scoring is way up now, he's much better than Matthews.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

His average is 51 goals per 82 games over his career

He has to play 82 games though, which he's done once. Until then, he averages 43 goals a season.

Yep, the old pace argument.

Balls said the queen, if I had them, I'd be the king.

 

[shortfuze]

Lol cause of a bunch of 30/40 goal seasons and 1 60 goal season?

I don’t understand what you’re trying to say?

I was referring to ovechkin being a generational goal scorer.

 

[Boud]

I'm not sure why people are so surprised or up in arms about this contract. I'm not a Leafs fan but this is pretty much what I expected after his last contract. He's one of the best players in the league and he has the ability to choose his own destiny. He wanted a shorter term contract which gives him a lot of flexibility when he's still a very good player at 30.

I don't see anything wrong with that. He could've easily decided to go play in some sunny market with less pressure and taxes but he decided to stay in Toronto. I respect that.

The AAV is high but it was obviously going to be. 4 year covers arguably the best portion of his career going forward so if there is a time to pay him that much money it's probably the time where Toronto will extract the most value. The cap is going up and contract values will be going up as soon as next summer and will keep increasing over the next 2-3 years. Any agent doing his job will be forecasting the increase of the cap ceiling when negotiating a contract.

Is it a good value contract? Absolutely not. Is it what should've been expected for Matthews? I think so. Toronto had to keep him as well.

 

[Legion34]

There are two generational players currently playing in the league and Matthews is not even close to being one of them but he is getting paid like it.

I dont believe that Ovechkin is a generational player no. I think he is the best goal scorer ever but I dont think he is generational because he isnt the best player from his generation.

Ovechkin lost a full season due to the lock out and scoring is way up now, he's much better than Matthews.

Matthews lost parts of 2 seasons to Covid.

At 25 years old matthess had 299 goals. Ovy had 301.
I think Matthews had played about 7 more games? They have very comparable raw numbers.

Also. Until 25 this is untrue.

Ovy played in the highest scoring seasons post lockout. He also started at 20
Both lead the league in goals twice.
Of course I personally don’t believe that Matthews will age like ovy at all. I am not predicting 800 goals. Heck 600 would be crazy. But Matthews is the best goal scorer in the game for his first 7 years in the NHL. That is an incredibly rare thing.

Plus he is a dominant defensively responsible 2 way c.

Ovy is generational. Matthewss may not be that. But he is keeping up with the best goal scorer who ever lived.

 

[LilySmoov]

Yep, the old pace argument.

Balls said the queen, if I had them, I'd be the king.

How/why do people like you not understand the difference between extrapolating from a small sample size and gpg rate over an entire multi-year career?