Trades and Free Agency - 2022 Off-season

[Legion34]

Matthews signing a 5-year post-ELC contract wasn't unusual though. It's literally the most common post-ELC term for high tier players throughout the cap era. And in that situation, it actually does help bring the cap hit down. Matthews signing a 5-year UFA contract however would be extremely unusual, and there's no reason for anybody to think it's a likely route. It would hurt the team and be a pretty big risk for Matthews. Which is why it's so unheard of.

So was being born in Arizona and playing hockey
So was going to play in Swiss league in draft year.
So is a once in a. Century pandemic that just so happened
to boost the cap the year after you cash in

There absolutely is a logic to trying to time the jump. It does not appear to be the route that some players are taking (tkachuk/stuzle etc) but it is one that a top agent has openly advocated.

I’m not saying Matthews does it. But there absolute is reason for people to think that is a legitimate possibility.

A top agent has openly suggested it as a viable possibility.

We will see. We don’t know what he will do. But we can’t say there is no reason to think a player would do it. When we know a pro agent has recommended it. It absolutely is a viable possibility.

 

[Dekes For Days]

So was being born in Arizona and playing hockey
So was going to play in Swiss league in draft year.
So is a once in a. Century pandemic that just so happened
to boost the cap the year after you cash in

There absolutely is a logic to trying to time the jump. It does not appear to be the route that some players are taking (tkachuk/stuzle etc) but it is one that a top agent has openly advocated.
I’m not saying Matthews does it. But there absolute is reason for people to think that is a legitimate possibility.
A top agent has openly suggested it as a viable possibility.
We will see. We don’t know what he will do. But we can’t say there is no reason to think a player would do it. When we know a pro agent has recommended it. It absolutely is a viable possibility.

I'm sure an agent would love it, because he's all about maximizing the money, but teams and players have other considerations, and that's why it doesn't happen. It hurts the team and the player takes on significant risk. There's nothing to indicate that it's something that Matthews or anybody else is looking to do.

 

[HolyCrap]

So was being born in Arizona and playing hockey
So was going to play in Swiss league in draft year.
So is a once in a. Century pandemic that just so happened
to boost the cap the year after you cash in

There absolutely is a logic to trying to time the jump. It does not appear to be the route that some players are taking (tkachuk/stuzle etc) but it is one that a top agent has openly advocated.

I’m not saying Matthews does it. But there absolute is reason for people to think that is a legitimate possibility.

A top agent has openly suggested it as a viable possibility.

We will see. We don’t know what he will do. But we can’t say there is no reason to think a player would do it. When we know a pro agent has recommended it. It absolutely is a viable possibility.

You’re wasting your time with that poster. He is here to argue and that’s it. He would argue that water isn’t wet just to keep him busy.

 

[Havoc]

Some media guy throwing out pure clickbait speculation doesn't make it any more likely. The stated argument it's based on isn't even true anyway. A shorter term would be more expensive than an 8 year deal, so I'm not sure why they'd think it would be done to "keep cap down".

Still find it funny how I rolled my eyes yesterday that a poster suggested the < 8 years as a possibility, then the very next day they receive a form of validation for their thoughts via an article thinking the exact same way. The posters idea was purely original and made on the spot, they were not prompted by any previous articles recently to think that way. Have to give credit where it's due for coming up with a minority thought that might actually have some smoke to it even though unlikely.

 

[kb]

Quick, name any recent superstar player who didn't sign for either 7 or 8 (max term) years once they hit UFA.

I'll wait.

The lights are dimming in here.

 

[Fogelhund]

Just be forewarned, the Chychrun trade rumours won't stop anytime soon. He wants to be traded, but in all probability the Arizona ask is too much. He's a pretty good Dman, and on the right team should shine. That being said, man is he injury prone.

""

""

 

[Havoc]

Quick, name any recent superstar player who didn't sign for either 7 or 8 (max term) years once they hit UFA.

I'll wait.

The lights are dimming in here.

Relax dude I'm just giving the guy some props for his unlikely, lone ranger scenario appearing in an actual article (receiving a form of validation from someone with more credibility than us*) the very next day. The actual topic doesn't really matter.

 

[justashadowof]

Nik Soshnikov getting another NHL contract came out of nowhere.

 

[Legion34]

Still find it funny how I rolled my eyes yesterday that a poster suggested the < 8 years as a possibility, then the very next day they receive a form of validation for their thoughts via an article thinking the exact same way. The posters idea was purely original and made on the spot, they were not prompted by any previous articles recently to think that way. Have to give credit where it's due for coming up with a minority thought that might actually have some smoke to it even though unlikely.

No offense to that poster but this isn’t a new idea.
Allan Walsh suggested it as a strategy he would recommend as an agent

Multiple insiders have reported this potential strategy all summer. Who knows if it will happen but it’s been proposed for months

 

[andora]

No offense to that poster but this isn’t a new idea.
Allan Walsh suggested it as a strategy he would recommend as an agent

Multiple insiders have reported this potential strategy all summer. Who knows if it will happen but it’s been proposed for months

i will back this up - in saying this idea i certainly didn't think i was pioneering lol - i've seen it mentioned and the theory behind managing cap for team / making more money for player

 

[Menzinger]

Nik Soshnikov getting another NHL contract came out of nowhere.

The Isles new top 9 forward apparently

 

[Legion34]

Quick, name any recent superstar player who didn't sign for either 7 or 8 (max term) years once they hit UFA.

I'll wait.

The lights are dimming in here.

Name a player who held out til the last day before nylander

Name a us player who went to play in Swiss in his draft year.

Name the last time 2 100 pt players were traded for each other. Or when the top ufa signed in Columbus.


Did you make the same argument when Matthews was an RFA? When was the last time a superstar player came out and said he wanted 8 years but the manager wanted him to only take 5.

This is a silly line of reasoning. We have a unique circumstance which we don’t know how it will play out

The same people that everyone is willing to cite as proof that Matthews will re sign know nothing when it comes to how long…..

Makes no sense. They are clearly saying they have talked to him. His agent and people around him and feel that he wants to stay. Then they floated out that he might take less years.

 

[Stephen]

Matthews was pretty relaxed and friendly when he was talking about the possibility of a contract extension as well as enjoying his time as a Leaf and playing in Toronto, considers it home here. He took a very genuine and relax guys approach about not being able to sign an extension for another 10 months, can't do anything at the moment. Doesn't come across as a guy scheming to get out the door a la Kawhi post championship.

Re: term, it could be longer or shorter. MLSE has a lot of money. They'll probably want to lock up the golden goose more than you do. Anything can happen but the player says he likes it here, and the good news is the Leafs have all the money in the world to make anything happen.

 

[Stephen]

Name a player who held out til the last day before nylander

Name a us player who went to play in Swiss in his draft year.

Name the last time 2 100 pt players were traded for each other. Or when the top ufa signed in Columbus.


Did you make the same argument when Matthews was an RFA? When was the last time a superstar player came out and said he wanted 8 years but the manager wanted him to only take 5.

This is a silly line of reasoning. We have a unique circumstance which we don’t know how it will play out

The same people that everyone is willing to cite as proof that Matthews will re sign know nothing when it comes to how long…..

Makes no sense. They are clearly saying they have talked to him. His agent and people around him and feel that he wants to stay. Then they floated out that he might take less years.

The other factor that makes a Matthews UFA exit difficult is it'll cost a franchise destroying amount of cap space to make it happen.

Matthews makes $11.6 million and Toronto needs to find $3.4 million (what a sign) to get to a hypothetical $15 million salary x 8 years, getting to $120 million, and I assume any contract structure is doable. The next competitor can only offer $105 million over 7 years, but the key factor is any team doing so needs to empty out $15 off their roster to fit in Matthews.

What current competitive NHL team could offload $15 million in one offseason to get Matthews while still having a supporting cast to play with him whose roster would still be recognizable?

What current rebuild/young NHL team could swallow up a $15 million salary and still have money to pay its young RFA's? Why would Matthews go to a pre-contender only for all the young kids to get priced out?

It's very difficult to imagine a complex and massive move like this working for another team. It could very well happen for whatever reason, but Toronto is bar none the most predictable, projectable option with the biggest pot of money.

 

[ACC1224]

The other factor that makes a Matthews UFA exit difficult is it'll cost a franchise destroying amount of cap space to make it happen.

Matthews makes $11.6 million and Toronto needs to find $3.4 million (what a sign) to get to a hypothetical $15 million salary x 8 years, getting to $120 million, and I assume any contract structure is doable. The next competitor can only offer $105 million over 7 years, but the key factor is any team doing so needs to empty out $15 off their roster to fit in Matthews.

What current competitive NHL team could offload $15 million in one offseason to get Matthews while still having a supporting cast to play with him whose roster would still be recognizable?

What current rebuild/young NHL team could swallow up a $15 million salary and still have money to pay its young RFA's? Why would Matthews go to a pre-contender only for all the young kids to get priced out?

It's very difficult to imagine a complex and massive move like this working for another team. It could very well happen for whatever reason, but Toronto is bar none the most predictable, projectable option with the biggest pot of money.

Teams will figure it out. If McDavid makes it to UFA the Leafs has better find the money to bring him in.

 

[kb]

The other factor that makes a Matthews UFA exit difficult is it'll cost a franchise destroying amount of cap space to make it happen.

Matthews makes $11.6 million and Toronto needs to find $3.4 million (what a sign) to get to a hypothetical $15 million salary x 8 years, getting to $120 million, and I assume any contract structure is doable. The next competitor can only offer $105 million over 7 years, but the key factor is any team doing so needs to empty out $15 off their roster to fit in Matthews.

What current competitive NHL team could offload $15 million in one offseason to get Matthews while still having a supporting cast to play with him whose roster would still be recognizable?

What current rebuild/young NHL team could swallow up a $15 million salary and still have money to pay its young RFA's? Why would Matthews go to a pre-contender only for all the young kids to get priced out?

It's very difficult to imagine a complex and massive move like this working for another team. It could very well happen for whatever reason, but Toronto is bar none the most predictable, projectable option with the biggest pot of money.

Thank you for writing out what I thought was obvious to all. I shouldn't assume any level of critical thinking in the future.

 

[Stephen]

Teams will figure it out. If McDavid makes it to UFA the Leafs has better find the money to bring him in.

It's *somewhat* easier for the Toronto Maple leafs because we've been paying out late 2020's cap hits since 2019. So you delete out Tavares at $11 million and you're already close to McDavid for example.

Most other teams aren't like that. LA Kings have Kopitar coming off the books in 2024 at $10 million, but it's hard to imagine Kopitar wouldn't come back for some portion of the money. Factor in some modest raises for the Byfield generation and poof, money is gone, or else what makes the current Kings build attractive is already getting thrown out.

On the opposite end, if it's a rebuilder like Chicago, who let's say has second year Bedard as an attractive destination, signing Matthews opens up Bedard to a massive offer sheet possibility as well in 2025. Good luck getting anything done if you end up paying Matthews and Bedard a combined $30 million in any cap situation. As an example.

 

[Legion34]

The other factor that makes a Matthews UFA exit difficult is it'll cost a franchise destroying amount of cap space to make it happen.

Matthews makes $11.6 million and Toronto needs to find $3.4 million (what a sign) to get to a hypothetical $15 million salary x 8 years, getting to $120 million, and I assume any contract structure is doable. The next competitor can only offer $105 million over 7 years, but the key factor is any team doing so needs to empty out $15 off their roster to fit in Matthews.

What current competitive NHL team could offload $15 million in one offseason to get Matthews while still having a supporting cast to play with him whose roster would still be recognizable?

What current rebuild/young NHL team could swallow up a $15 million salary and still have money to pay its young RFA's? Why would Matthews go to a pre-contender only for all the young kids to get priced out?

It's very difficult to imagine a complex and massive move like this working for another team. It could very well happen for whatever reason, but Toronto is bar none the most predictable, projectable option with the biggest pot of money.

1.) kopitar is coming off las books that year. That’s 10.. Kreider goes to m NTC. You can try it on cap friendly. It’s pretty easy to do.

2.) Daly just said the cap might jump his ufa year

 

[BertCorbeau]

I don't see Matthews' leaving

Either:

- the Leafs have playoff success this season with him leading the charge (and he'll want to re-sign)
- the Leafs fail again, Dubas gets fired, and a new GM will come in an absolutely want to prioritize extending Matthews in re-tooling the team

 

[LeafEgo]

It's *somewhat* easier for the Toronto Maple leafs because we've been paying out late 2020's cap hits since 2019. So you delete out Tavares at $11 million and you're already close to McDavid for example.

Most other teams aren't like that. LA Kings have Kopitar coming off the books in 2024 at $10 million, but it's hard to imagine Kopitar wouldn't come back for some portion of the money. Factor in some modest raises for the Byfield generation and poof, money is gone, or else what makes the current Kings build attractive is already getting thrown out.

On the opposite end, if it's a rebuilder like Chicago, who let's say has second year Bedard as an attractive destination, signing Matthews opens up Bedard to a massive offer sheet possibility as well in 2025. Good luck getting anything done if you end up paying Matthews and Bedard a combined $30 million in any cap situation. As an example.

I agree with all the complexities, it would be difficult to make it work, but I would add that there are teams who are more concerned with gate revenues and branding than teams like the Leafs.

Matty will go down as the best American hockey player of all time when he's done. If he were ever available there will be teams that are willing to make it happen. Owners would get involved at that point.

 

[Stephen]

1.) kopitar is coming off las books that year. That’s 10.. Kreider goes to m NTC. You can try it on cap friendly. It’s pretty easy to do.

2.) Daly just said the cap might jump his ufa year

Kopitar could be re-signed by the Kings. If you pay him $1 million on a retirement deal that only frees up $9 million. Where's the other $6 million? Between now and then Byfield, Moore, Kaliyev, Grundstrom will all make a little more than present day. They might also need another goalie to replace Quick next year in a tandem with Peterson. The money is mostly spent before you even think about it. Top it all off, Kings aren't even that good yet.

But by all means choose to live in fear.

 

[Leaffan1991]

What "comparables" for Robertson do you think got 8.25m x 8? No way he's signing that.

Thomas, Kyrou

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I don't see Matthews' leaving

Either:

- the Leafs have playoff success this season with him leading the charge (and he'll want to re-sign)
- the Leafs fail again, Dubas gets fired, and a new GM will come in an absolutely want to prioritize extending Matthews in re-tooling the team

If we are re-tooling and do not bring back Dubas (he won't be fired), does Matthews want to stay? The new GM will have to really sell the vision.

 

[Legion34]

I don't see Matthews' leaving

Either:

- the Leafs have playoff success this season with him leading the charge (and he'll want to re-sign)
- the Leafs fail again, Dubas gets fired, and a new GM will come in an absolutely want to prioritize extending Matthews in re-tooling the team

I don’t see it either. All the insiders are reporting he wants to stay. But we have to consider all possible outcomes

 

[hamzarocks]

I don't see why we care if matthews signs for 8 years or 5 years again?

He's now proven to be a certified top 5 player over the past 3 years.

If he signs a 3rd deal for 5 years that's 13 years with the leafs at minimum and I'd feel good he signs a 4th deal probably 5 years again to end his career with us

Sure it's not conventional but AM34s career/hockey life hasn't been conventional

Developed from AZ
Played in Swiss league in his D year
Signs 5 years in his 2nd Deal

He's a unique player with a different personality than a lot of these guys. He very well could go for 5 years 65M or so and then do 5 years 55M on his least deal for 120M over 10 years

As long as his next deal is at least 4 years term I'll be happy. Likely we are contending heavily all of those 4 years so if things work out He's coming back and being a leaf for life