Matthews signs 5 year contract, $11.634mil AAV

[CarltonTheBear]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

Admittedly I do think this was a somewhat common belief 1-2 years ago. I'm sure I even used that number before. But yeah, it's pretty obvious we couldn't have been more wrong.

 

[Peter D.]

Just for reference:

https://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php?topic=5044.0

 

[Guilt Trip]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

Admittedly I do think this was a somewhat common belief 1-2 years ago. I'm sure I even used that number before. But yeah, it's pretty obvious we couldn't have been more wrong.

Agreed. Def wishful thinking on our parts.

 

[AlmosGirl]

Glad it's done.

 

[bustaheims]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

Admittedly I do think this was a somewhat common belief 1-2 years ago. I'm sure I even used that number before. But yeah, it's pretty obvious we couldn't have been more wrong.

If they were all willing to sign extensions this past summer, I think it might have been possible to get them all signed at around $27M total. However, it's become pretty clear that Marner wasn't. Matthews may not have been super-keen on it either, and, well, we all know how the Nylander situation played itself out.

Unfortunately, the Leafs can't simply impose their will on players, and these guys listened to everyone who told them they'd be able to make more money if they waited - and, those people were right. So, you know, good for them.

 

[azzurri63]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

Not smoking anything. Nylander overpaid. Marner I know had to sign and wanted to wait but they should have pushed it long ago. Now looking at 10 million which is crazy. Matthews love the kid. Exceptional talent but his compete level nowhere near Marners and the injuries are a definite concern. I don?t think the kid will play a whole season.

I know it takes two to tango but I would from the Leafs standpoint pushed the envelope to try and got these guys signed long ago.

They would have saved some cash and allowed to keep more of the team intact. Nylander signing was a joke. Kid sat 2 months and still got what he wanted. Dubas mistake. I would of traded him. All it did was bumped up the contracts for the next two.

See where we are in 2-3 years.

 

[Kin]

They would have saved some cash and allowed to keep more of the team intact. Nylander signing was a joke. Kid sat 2 months and still got what he wanted.

Throughout the entire Nylander process it was "Nylander wants 8+ million" then he signs for under 7 and it's "Nylander just got what he wanted".

Just saying "I would have done it better" isn't an argument, especially when it's clear you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Kin]

Admittedly I do think this was a somewhat common belief 1-2 years ago. I'm sure I even used that number before. But yeah, it's pretty obvious we couldn't have been more wrong.

I feel like when I would ball park it I would say 27 was about where I thought it would be but even then, my reaction there is "My guess was wrong" instead of "I could be a better GM than Dubas".

 

[Zee]

Just for reference:

https://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php?topic=5044.0

So 6 months ago we were hoping for 8 years by 11.5, but now we're good with 5 years x 11.6.  Seems logical.

 

[azzurri63]

They would have saved some cash and allowed to keep more of the team intact. Nylander signing was a joke. Kid sat 2 months and still got what he wanted.

Throughout the entire Nylander process it was "Nylander wants 8+ million" then he signs for under 7 and it's "Nylander just got what he wanted".

Just saying "I would have done it better" isn't an argument, especially when it's clear you have no idea what you're talking about.

Whatever you think.
Who gives a sh*t what Nylander was asking? Are you an idiot?
Of course he's going to start high. He knew he would never have gotten that. So if he asks for 9 do you give him 8?
Wow good thing you're not running the team.
Everyone figured he should have gotten less than Pasternak and rightfully so. I understand the cap is going up but I wouldn't have caved to him.
Instead he got more and hopefully he proves me wrong but as of now not the same goal scorer as Pasternak.

I always go back to Dubas' words when he signed Tavares as far as keeping the team intact the big 3 would have to take a team discount.
Guess what that didn't happen.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I still prefer 8 x 88. But I would also prefer my company to double my salary. Sadly, they won't no matter how nice I ask.

 

[Kin]

Here's me, in that thread:

Thing is, you may be coming at that from the perspective of a Leafs fan who wants a relatively team friendly deal. I can absolutely see how Toronto would make the argument that 11 or 11.5 is the "right" place for Matthews in the league's salary structure.

Thing is, I can also see how Matthews' representation might make the argument that the "right" place for Matthews in the league's salary structure might be more like 12.5 or 13 million a year. Especially if he goes out and has a Richard winning season.

My first guess was low, I don't base my evaluations on my "hopes".

 

[dappleganger]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

It's probably going to come in around $27.5m (Marner at $9m?) so it's not too far off.

In the offseason, I thought Willy at $6.5m, Marner at $7.5m, and Matthews at $10.5m.

Failing to get things done in the summer made things more expensive, I'll say that.

 

[Peter D.]

Here's me, in that thread:

Thing is, you may be coming at that from the perspective of a Leafs fan who wants a relatively team friendly deal. I can absolutely see how Toronto would make the argument that 11 or 11.5 is the "right" place for Matthews in the league's salary structure.

Thing is, I can also see how Matthews' representation might make the argument that the "right" place for Matthews in the league's salary structure might be more like 12.5 or 13 million a year. Especially if he goes out and has a Richard winning season.

My first guess was low, I don't base my evaluations on my "hopes".

The basis was he'd argue that much on what term contract?

 

[Kin]

Who gives a sh*t what Nylander was asking?

Believe it or not but the people who actually have to do the negotiating have to care about what people are asking for. I'm sure it's easy to take a very tough negotiating stance while sitting on your couch but it doesn't actually bear any reflection on the negotiations that took place.

 

[azzurri63]

All 3 could and should have been signed for 24 million tops.

You need to cut back on what you're smoking.

It's probably going to come in around $27.5m (Marner at $9m?) so it's not too far off.

In the offseason, I thought Willy at $6.5m, Marner at $7.5m, and Matthews at $10.5m.

Failing to get things done in the summer made things more expensive, I'll say that.

Totally agree with you. Exactly my thoughts. I wouldn't have gone higher than that with any 3 of them.

 

[Highlander]

5 years doesn't bother me in the slightest bit. Anybody worrying that this means he's going to bolt once he hits UFA status needs to take a chill pill. I've said this before but 5 years is an incredibly common term for superstar players to take after their ELCs. Kane, Toews, Malkin, Benn, Crosby, Stamkos, Getzlaf, and Perry all went that route and they all re-signed with their teams. As long as the Leafs are still competitive after the contract, there's literally zero reason to think that he'll bolt.

If that cap hit is accurate, well it's slightly more than I would have liked at 5 years but at the end of the day Matthews is a top-10 player in the league and rules about RFA discounts or buying UFA years don't really apply to him. He gets what he deserves regardless of those things.

I agree with CTB, and I think it is a good deal, guarantees that Mitch won't see over 9 or 9.5.    However if we win two Cups in the next 5 years, we could trade Auston to AZ for a Kings ransom. Just saying.
Also less years means less exposure if indeed he was injured (a la Horton or Savard). 

 

[Zee]

5 years doesn't bother me in the slightest bit. Anybody worrying that this means he's going to bolt once he hits UFA status needs to take a chill pill. I've said this before but 5 years is an incredibly common term for superstar players to take after their ELCs. Kane, Toews, Malkin, Benn, Crosby, Stamkos, Getzlaf, and Perry all went that route and they all re-signed with their teams. As long as the Leafs are still competitive after the contract, there's literally zero reason to think that he'll bolt.

If that cap hit is accurate, well it's slightly more than I would have liked at 5 years but at the end of the day Matthews is a top-10 player in the league and rules about RFA discounts or buying UFA years don't really apply to him. He gets what he deserves regardless of those things.

I agree with CTB, and I think it is a good deal, guarantees that Mitch won't see over 9 or 9.5.    However if we win two Cups in the next 5 years, we could trade Auston to AZ for a Kings ransom. Just saying.
Also less years means less exposure if indeed he was injured (a la Horton or Savard).

How do you guarantee Marner won't see over 9 or 9.5?  On what term?  You think Paul Marner is going to want anything under 10?

 

[Kin]

The basis was he'd argue that much on what term contract?

8 years. So the context there was that Matthews might want 13 on a long term deal(McKenzie's saying it was 13.5 or higher) but would get less on a shorter term deal. Which, as far as I can see, is what happened.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm appropriately pleased about this highly appropriate deal.