[Signing] Leafs sign Auston Matthews to contract extension (5 yrs, $11.634 mil AAV)

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

A few things...

1) I think the 5-year term is good for the team, and I suggested in the Tkachuk thread that 5 years could well be the way they go. I continue to believe it will be what they do.

You and me both.

5 years coming off ELC is going to be the new normal under the current CBA rules. You don't hit a home run on your second contract, you hit it on your third.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Treliving is not going to give Tkachuk anything close to 11+ million and I highly doubt it's be 5 years, 3 years x $6m or 7 years x $8m is more likely.

As for the Matthews contract, the negotiation went like this:

Dubas - Lets talk contract

Matthews - I'll bring the lube and you bend over

Edit, LOL, Matthews gets $15.2 million in bonus money the next 2 July 1st's

I'm all for sighing Tkachuk to a lesser term so we don't end up in the 9's, but a 3 year deal for Tkachuk would be a catastrophic failure for this organization. Not a chance Brad goes down that road.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Not sure why anyone is surprised by this deal. All the pundits agreed it would set a new benchmark. The league is changing, and changing fast.

The interesting thing with this deal is the term. Pretty clear Matthews doesn't plan to stick around in Canada for long.

What? You said the same thing twice but attributed two different reasons.

First you said everyone agreed this is the new type of contract for stars because the league is changing fast, then you said the term really interested you as it shows Matthews doesn't want to stick around in Canada for long.

So which is it, are these new shorter contracts the norm or is it not the norm and Austin is doing this because he doesn't want play in Canada?

[Enoch Root]

The 183 day test would be relatively easy to pass. It is calculated quite simply by counting the number of days you were in the country (at midnight).

So all US road trips do him a favour. Then, he just gets himself a little condo in Buffalo and spends a handful of nights there. Shouldn't be too difficult getting under 183 (unless they have a deep playoff run - especially against other Canadian teams)

He would have to avoid Canada in the off-season, but I'm sure he could manage.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by jayswin

What? You said the same thing twice but attributed two different reasons.

First you said everyone agreed this is the new type of contract for stars because the league is changing fast, then you said the term really interested you as it shows Matthews doesn't want to stick around in Canada for long.

So which is it, are these new shorter contracts the norm or is it not the norm and Austin is doing this because he doesn't want play in Canada?

It's both.

It's both.

[Phagoof]

jesus, the guy hasn't even gotten 70 points and he's getting McDavid money?

[Enoch Root]

Took a quick look for curiosity sake...

From the beginning of October until the end of March, this season, it looks like the Leafs will spend about 61 nights in the US (give or take). So roughly 120 days in Canada, minus the all-star break. That leaves 65-70 days for preseason and playoffs. You could easily run home to Buffalo some nights in the preseason, so it would be very doable to stay under 183, even if you went deep into the playoffs.

Taxes are fun.

[442scotty]

I think the Leafs are going to regret this contract in a year or two. I don’t think Matthews is going to live up to people’s expectations and he sure ain’t no McDavid. I would rather have Marner on my team.

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

You and me both.

5 years coming off ELC is going to be the new normal under the current CBA rules. You don't hit a home run on your second contract, you hit it on your third.

More like a home run on each contract, just slightly shorter than the home run guys have been hitting on their second contract.

Earlier choice in where you play and more total money. Only downside I can see is if you get injured / have a significant downturn in your play you could lose significant money on the second contract.

[Roof-Daddy]

The Leafs are going to have around $45 million cap committed to 5 forwards next season, assuming Marner gets around $10 million. Yikes.

And now Matthews will probably be a UFA at 26 years old haha.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I think the Leafs are going to regret this contract in a year or two. I don’t think Matthews is going to live up to people’s expectations and he sure ain’t no McDavid. I would rather have Marner on my team.

But if that's true, they did well by only committing to 5 years.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Took a quick look for curiosity sake...

From the beginning of October until the end of March, this season, it looks like the Leafs will spend about 61 nights in the US (give or take). So roughly 120 days in Canada, minus the all-star break. That leaves 65-70 days for preseason and playoffs. You could easily run home to Buffalo some nights in the preseason, so it would be very doable to stay under 183, even if you went deep into the playoffs.

Taxes are fun.

I was under the assumption traveling for work doesn’t count for residency. Could be wrong though. Hence why the article states it depends where your franchise is based.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I was under the assumption traveling for work doesn’t count for residency. Could be wrong though. Hence why the article states it depends where your franchise is based.

It is based on physical presence, and counted daily.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It is based on physical presence, and counted daily.

Exactly correct.
We have had to juggle this to be safe for 183...
Unfortunately, for pennies of Matthews dollars lol

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Crosby's first contract (after ELC) was:

43.5M/5 years, 8.7M cap hit. That was 17.30% of the cap at the time.

Matthews first contract (after ELC) was:

58.15M/5 years, 11.63M cap hit. That was 14.63% of the cap today.

Crosby still got significant more of the cap after his ELC...

Once again, people fail to see how high the cap has risen. You'll be surprised in 4 years when another star player signs another huge contract when the cap goes up even more thanks to Seattle.

I have not seen anyone in the game today that is comparable to Crosby in his prime.

[Mr.Coffee]

when does the next NHL tv deal get renegotiated?

I'm not sure if it makes sense to just assume the salary cap goes up every year forever. For that reason I think a deal like this one has a lot more risk than say, when Crosby signed.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Salary Cap driven by HRR, which can go down in any YOY scenario? Thus at some point, GM's may want to be cognizant of the ol' falling knife.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Crosby's first contract (after ELC) was:

43.5M/5 years, 8.7M cap hit. That was 17.30% of the cap at the time.

Matthews first contract (after ELC) was:

58.15M/5 years, 11.63M cap hit. That was 14.63% of the cap today.

Crosby still got significant more of the cap after his ELC...

Once again, people fail to see how high the cap has risen. You'll be surprised in 4 years when another star player signs another huge contract when the cap goes up even more thanks to Seattle.

And what did Matthews accomplish in his first 3 seasons compared to Crosby?

I understand that you're gonna have to start paying the younger guys more, but this is a bit ridiculous. Matthews isn't even the best player on the Leafs.

You want best player money? You better play like the best player.

This doesn't even make sense. I get the hype. I do. He has the tools to be a dominant player. But he has not PLAYED like that dominant player. How the heck does he deserve this contract?

The Leafs are stupid. First Tavares, then Nylander, now this. All 3 guys don't deserve their contracts. Dubas has been played like a fiddle all 3 times. John "I dreamed of being a Maple Leaf my whole life" Taveres basically played him like a fool to get a massive contract. Nylander held out and got what he wanted, and now Matthews obviously threatened an offer sheet to get what he wants.

what a mess.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Azure

And what did Matthews accomplish in his first 3 seasons compared to Crosby?

I understand that you're gonna have to start paying the younger guys more, but this is a bit ridiculous. Matthews isn't even the best player on the Leafs.

You want best player money? You better play like the best player.

He isn't?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Way too much for Matthews.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He isn't?

For the majority of the season he hasn't even been close to the best player on the Leafs.

It doesn't work to just get paid on hype alone. Even Tavares. A career 80 point guy getting that kind of money is NOT a good contract for a team that has a lot of other big contracts to sign.