The Core

[Leaffan61]

Hi. Been a  while. Time to get my sea legs back.

[Rob]

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

[CarltonTheBear]

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

I know he's coming off an underwhelming follow-up to a Hart winning season, but this would still be a steal for Matthews (which is hilarious because it's obviously a ridiculous amount of money).

[Nik]

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

McDavid's at 12.5, I'd give Matthews 13.

[Rob]

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

McDavid's at 12.5, I'd give Matthews 13.4.

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

McDavid's at 12.5, I'd give Matthews 13.

Well then we might as well make it $13.4 million. 

[Nik]

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

McDavid's at 12.5, I'd give Matthews 13.4.

What's every ones acceptable number for Matthews?  I would do 8 years $100 million. 

McDavid's at 12.5, I'd give Matthews 13.

Well then we might as well make it $13.4 million. 

I'm tempted to say 12,500,001

[herman]

MacKinnon is at 12.6M x 8

I see Matthews taking 13.4M min for 4 years so he can snag one more big contract upon that expiry when there is also more clarity about the cap going up. He'd be 31 at that time and probably 16-18M AAV at that point.

[Bender]

MacKinnon is at 12.6M x 8

I see Matthews taking 13.4M min for 4 years so he can snag one more big contract upon that expiry when there is also more clarity about the cap going up. He'd be 31 at that time and probably 16-18M AAV at that point.

So great that we won't get a reasonable aav or term when most other teams seem to get it from their stars.

[Significantly Insignificant]

MacKinnon is at 12.6M x 8

I see Matthews taking 13.4M min for 4 years so he can snag one more big contract upon that expiry when there is also more clarity about the cap going up. He'd be 31 at that time and probably 16-18M AAV at that point.

So great that we won't get a reasonable aav or term when most other teams seem to get it from their stars.

I think reasonable in either of those is relative to whether you focus on the negatives or the positives of the deal.  I think if the term is short that is great.  You don't know what state a player is going to be in after 8 years of hockey.  Even a player like Matthews can fall off.  You sign him for 4 years, see where he is at, and then assess.  Also, with the last deal being signed before he is 35, he can retire, and his cap comes off the books.  I actually think that shorter terms on deals are better, and it takes a player that is confident in their abilities to sign them.  It's the GM's problem to resign him.  Maybe the Leafs trade him in his early 30's. 

As for the AAV, what would Matthews get on the open market?  If he signs at 13.4 I think that is less than what he would get if he went to free agency, so that seems reasonable to me.  It depends on if you compare it to what he could get versus what you would like him to sign for.   

[azzurri63]

For a player with a big question mark as far as elevating his game in the playoffs why do we have to pay him more than McD or MacK?

[Significantly Insignificant]

For a player with a big question mark as far as elevating his game in the playoffs why do we have to pay him more than McD or MacK?

Because that is how finances work in sports.  Look at the NFL.  There is no better QB in the game than Mahomes, but every year, the QB that is up for renewal makes more, because inflation exists.

It's not about whose better when it gets to the financial situation.  This is their job.  I could see a comment from Matthews like "Hey you have to pay me more because I have to put up with unknown people saying derogatory things about me and questioning my desire to play this game on a nightly basis". 

[Guilt Trip]

For a player with a big question mark as far as elevating his game in the playoffs why do we have to pay him more than McD or MacK?

Because that is how finances work in sports.  Look at the NFL.  There is no better QB in the game than Mahomes, but every year, the QB that is up for renewal makes more, because inflation exists.

It's not about whose better when it gets to the financial situation.  This is their job.  I could see a comment from Matthews like "Hey you have to pay me more because I have to put up with unknown people saying derogatory things about me and questioning my desire to play this game on a nightly basis". 

Yup he has to raise the bar to keep the NHLPA happy as well. MacKinnon isn't worth more then McD but he's an elite forward and needed to go above him.

[Nik]

So great that we won't get a reasonable aav or term when most other teams seem to get it from their stars.

That would be a great term for the Leafs. You don't want to commit big money to years 32-35.

[Nik]

For a player with a big question mark as far as elevating his game in the playoffs why do we have to pay him more than McD or MacK?

Because that is how finances work in sports.  Look at the NFL.  There is no better QB in the game than Mahomes, but every year, the QB that is up for renewal makes more, because inflation exists.

Exactly. What the people who constantly whine about this don't get is that one player signing a below market deal, or even lots of players, doesn't fundamentally change the market. Lots of guys got deals with higher AAVs than Crosby, FA defensemen will get higher deals than Makar...hell, San Jose apparently offered John Tavares 13 million a year when he signed here and Matthews is considerably more valuable than Tavares is.

The Cap artificially restricts the market but it doesn't fundamentally alter the reality of what these guys are worth.

[hobarth]

So great that we won't get a reasonable aav or term when most other teams seem to get it from their stars.

That would be a great term for the Leafs. You don't want to commit big money to years 32-35.

Who doesn't?