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

[Rob Brown]

Love it. All leafs fans “8 years guaranteed, book it”

4 short years and he’ll be coming home.

Funny, I don't think many Leafs fans thought he was signing an 8 year extension. Like at all. But okay.

 

[Dirty Dog]

There isn’t a single other team whose star players do this to them other than Toronto.

An unprecedented player-friendly deal.

 

[person5000]

I never had any doubt he would be looking out for himself only and the team really doesn't matter.

This guy is all about the $$$$$$$$$$$.

As he should be....if you want players in Toronto you gotta pay full price. Don't blame the US teams your taxes are so painful.

 

[cyris]

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

Lol you were one of the guys that spent most of his last contact saying he was going to leave as soon as it ended.
I’m guessing you will be equally as wrong this time.

 

[Eggtimer]

I don’t think it’s that bad of a deal. If you just think of it in its own. Leafs get him for his prime versus paying him tons while he declines . Yes , say 5/6 years would be ideal , but I’d prefer 4 years of prime over a couple years of potentail overpayment.
But it’s hard to not look at the deal negatively when you see McD and his AAV . But it’s hard to view it as his contract was signed previously . If you look at it as %of the Cap in years 1-4 , I’m sure Matthews deal will look decent .

 

[Kaladin]

Pettersson is probably going to do something similar in Vancouver. It's probably because the cap is projected to up significantly in the next ~3 years. These guys want flexibility to negotiate another prime-year contract.

You think MacKinnon and his agent were just too dumb to realize the cap was going to go up and signed a 8 year deal anyways?

Interesting theory.

 

[PuckG]

Sorry, top 3.

Sure, for maybe 50 games in one season two years ago.

Odd deal. On one hand, the Leafs save themselves if he doesn’t produce the same or
more into his late 20s - but assuming he at least stays in the top 5 players for the next 5-10 years, then that term is so awful.

 

[LOFIN]

Your anecdote rebuttal to that post is here are the three best players of the entire generation who also happened to age well?

Toews and Kane fell off. Kovalchuk fell off. Rick Nash fell off. The number of guys who didn't fall off in their mid 30s is short. Iginla fell off. Stamkos isn't as good as he used to be.

Ovy is basically the only goal scorer in history that hasn't fallen off.

Matthews, unlike, those players, has been talked about as being the second best player in the game

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I don't think drai is going to look to be paid more. I really think he will want 12-13. Him and McDavid are team players.

There will be a ton of pressure from the NHLPA for Drai to hit the next new high... He won't take less value cause he is the next big superstar to set the new level

 

[Divine]

There isn’t a single other team whose star players do this to them other than Toronto.

An unprecedented player-friendly deal.

I'd argue Gaudreau/Tkachuk did worse to their team

 

[BraveCanadian]

Oof… gets money and term he wanted.. again.. with the Leafs in a closing window.

All about the name on the back.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Sorry but 4 years for your franchise player? Yikes, this gonna age so bad.
That being said, Hey, he is a leaf for awhile, so good for the fans in the meantime

or it’ll be good.

5 more total yrs. To win. If not, maybe it’s not gunna work with him.
Remember , you’d be laughing if it were 8 - saying “lol what a term to lock into someone you haven’t won with!!!!!”

 

[hamzarocks]

Gross but it was expected

We got taken straight to the shed

 

[MoreMogilny]

Love it. All leafs fans “8 years guaranteed, book it”

4 short years and he’ll be coming home.

He’s under contract for 5 more years

Maybe after that, though

 

[FrozenJagrt]

Love it. All leafs fans “8 years guaranteed, book it”

4 short years and he’ll be coming home.

Weren't you folks saying that after he was drafted? And then after he signed his second deal? The Coyotes will be in Houston by the time this deal is up.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Love it. All leafs fans “8 years guaranteed, book it”

4 short years and he’ll be coming home.

He's not coming home to Arizona, he's going to be chasing money his entire career.

I think it's painfully obvious money is his primary concern.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Gotta dump Nylander now. You cant run this bunch back for higher salaries and expect playoff success.

 

[Dominance]

Aho at 8x9.75 or Matthews at 4x13.25?

Tough to call as a Leafs fan. I might still take Matthews for next season. But the question gets a lot more difficult when you look four years down the line and it’s a matter of, “Aho at 4x9.75 or newly extended Matthews at 4x16.5?”

 

[Divine]

I don’t think it’s that bad of a deal. If you just think of it in its own. Leafs get him for his prime versus paying him tons while he declines . Yes , say 5/6 years would be ideal , but I’d prefer 4 years of prime over a couple years of potentail overpayment.
But it’s hard to not look at the deal negatively when you see McD and his AAV . But it’s hard to view it as his contract was signed previously . If you look at it as %of the Cap in years 1-4 , I’m sure Matthews deal will look decent .

If you combine this deal with the last, the Leafs signed Matthews for 9 years for under the same AAV McDavid got in a much lower cap - but you'd never know that.

 

[JoelWarlord]

McDavid signed like 6 years ago dumbass

That's great. He is also still in his prime, is significantly better, and his contract will overlap with this 4 year deal for the first two years.

It's fine, if the choice is between paying him this or having him walk then of course you sign the deal, but that doesn't mean it's good in market context. The whole cap%/Y player signed X years ago doesn't really fit if he didn't actually give them the term necessary to bake in enough future years where the contract is cheaper as a percentage of the cap.

 

[hamzarocks]

That's a good deal for Toronto

Delusional as f***

Love it. All leafs fans “8 years guaranteed, book it”

4 short years and he’ll be coming home.

If arizona is Pejorative Slured enough to pay 17M for a 31 year old Matthews they deserve to be folded

 

[General Disarray]

Where all the "Matthews will leave " crowd?

 

[TruGr1t]

You think MacKinnon and his agent were just too dumb to realize the cap was going to go up and signed a 8 year deal anyways?

Interesting theory.

No, I do think at this point last year there wasn't as much buzz about the cap cresting $90M within 2-3 years and heading northwards, though. But it helps Colorado also just won a Cup, obviously, which gives you some bargaining power as well.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Funny, I don't think many Leafs fans thought he was signing an 8 year extension. Like at all. But okay.

Agreed... Every Leaf fan knew he was signing a short contract... Not just Leaf fans but every single hockey fan knew he would

 

[HockeyVirus]

Anyone trying to defend only giving Matthews 4 years is out to lunch. Matthews is going to be an elite player well into his mid to late 30s. Not being able to get him long-term at this AAV is horrible for the Leafs.

Possible but he already has a lengthy injury history so no guarantees there.

I am more pissed at the message it sends. This guy doesn't give a f*** about the team or winning.