Speculation: Why hasn't Auston Matthews signed yet?

[McRib]

There was a hidden message in his last tweet, when decoded it says "I want to be a Coyote" seems pretty suspicious

 

[The Nuge]

Of course he will he doesn't really have a choice.

Oh course he does. He can demand to be traded. He could even go back to Switzerland until Lou caves, or he re enters the draft

Edit: just to be clear, I'm not suggesting any of those happen

 

[Mike Jones]

Can't he play overseas for 3 years and then become a free agent?

If Lou is offering a contract without bonuses he would probably make more money (Factoring in taxes, etc) in Europe and be in a better position to cash in big when he returns.

 

[Slush]

I would laugh hard if Matthews doesn't end up signing with Toronto. I'm sure he will though. It's summer, there's no rush.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Matthews wants to play for his hometown team, just like Stamkos.

 

[AvroArrow]

I knew he didn't look happy enough the Leafs card flipped! He wants to play at home in Arizona.

The irony

 

[Dr Pepper]

My guess would be that it's just Lou playing hardball on the whole "no bonuses" thing.

He'll come around eventually, I'm sure, and give Matthews what he deserves.

 

[PuckG]

Didn't you guys see his face when he realized Toronto won the draft? Clearly unhappy. He's going to Arizona.

 

[The Nuge]

If Lou is offering a contract without bonuses he would probably make more money (Factoring in taxes, etc) in Europe and be in a better position to cash in big when he returns.

The only thing is, he'd still have to sign an ELC. Let's say he signs the 925k ELC, and then 6 million per for 3 years. He walks away with just under 21 million. On the flip side, lets say he plays overseas for 4 years, and makes even 3 million per, and then signs his ELC for max bonuses with the team of his choosing. He walks away with ~19 million. So he makes less money, and is farther from reaching UFA status

Can't he play overseas for 3 years and then become a free agent?

Someone would draft him again in 2 years, so it'd probably be a 4 year wait

 

[Lunatik]

Maybe. I don't see that happening in the current NHL. The league has changed dramatically in the last 20 years and how fans interact with the league and teams has also changed. It could be 'career suicide' pulling a move like that. Could happen though.

Would it? With how many people detest the Leafs I think he would gain as many fans as he would lose.

 

[Divine]

If Lou is offering a contract without bonuses he would probably make more money (Factoring in taxes, etc) in Europe and be in a better position to cash in big when he returns.

No he won't, because then he'd have to sign an ELC instead of an RFA contract. It'll take him even longer to become a FA then...

 

[Matt Ress]

Probably Lou trying to hold on no-bonus policy.

Since bonuses do not benefit for LTIR and Leafs have considerable LTIR commitments (Horton), fitting bonuses under the cap is tricky situation for Leafs. If they can persuade Matthews to forego bonuses, it would help the team greatly.

Signing Matthews for cheap as **** will help the Leafs greatly. Lou making a terrible decision, then sticking to his guns will hurt the Leafs greatly.

 

[sxvnert]

Too awesome for a contract.

 

[Stand Witness]

For all we know the Leafs already have him signed and it hasn't been announced.

Keep in mind the Lou announced the Bernier trade himself in a media scrum. That is actually mind blowing when you consider how things have been in the past. Marner signed his on July 28th.

I would add the Matthews contract isn't really a priority to work on. I doubt either party is in a rush to get it down because there won't be much negotiating. We still have 2 (or 3) arbitration cases to worry about.

 

[Divine]

Lou always does this, and it benefits the team.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

For all we know the Leafs already have him signed and it hasn't been announced.

Keep in mind the Lou announced the Bernier trade himself in a media scrum. That is actually mind blowing when you consider how things have been in the past. Marner signed his on July 28th.

I would add the Matthews contract isn't really a priority to work on. I doubt either party is in a rush to get it down because there won't be much negotiating. We still have 2 (or 3) arbitration cases to worry about.

there shouldn't be much negotiating...just give him max bonuses and be done with it
but maybe Lou's being cheap with his bonus policy

 

[TOG26]

Leafs keeping cap space available as long as possible I think is all it is. With Robidas and Cowen and Horton all still counting towards the offseason total, they just need to keep the numbers down till Cowen is bought out so they finish up with the RFAs.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Lou always does this, and it benefits the team.

how exactly?

 

[Mike Jones]

No he won't, because then he'd have to sign an ELC instead of an RFA contract. It'll take him even longer to become a FA then...

I don't disagree but if a player like Matthews doesn't want to play for a certain team there are options if he isn't afraid to park his butt in Europe (London just joined the KHL for example) for 3 years.

 

[AnAceOfKidneys]

I hope he holds out and causes Lou to GTH. Lou is a dinosaur.

 

[CashMash]

The irony

I took that as being the point of his comment.

 

[Divine]

how exactly?

Less cap hit, which team wouldn't take less of a cap hit on any given player?

 

[Mike Jones]

Lou always does this, and it benefits the team.

So how does forcing your first overall pick out the door benefit the team?

 

[sabresfan129103]

Just give him the max. This is a no brainer. He's gonna be the face of the franchise for the next decade. Treat him like it FFS.

 

[Mike Jones]

Lou is a dinosaur.

But his teams are awful pretty.