[Signing] Leafs re-sign Matthews (4 Years, $13.25M AAV)

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Dom's metrics are always going to find that elite tier players are underpaid on average.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

According to Luszczyszyn this contract is an underpayment for what he provides according to his metrics. If the salary cap increases like everyone seems to think it's going to be looked at as a pretty good deal. I simply think we are heading to a point where star players are going to be allotted larger percentages of team salary caps and bottom six players are going to see little to no growth in salaries.

A bit baffling as the trend for Stanley Cup winners seems to be moving away from star built teams and more towards depth built teams. I guess you have to get lucky and have a star, like MacKinnon, under a value contract so you can still afford the depth?

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Yeah but 100 points for 13.25? Maybe

Matthews has hit 100 points one time....being injured every season isn't a positive. I think Matthews needs to be at least a 100 point player and even then the contract is just okay.

I'm not saying they shouldn't have done it, really they didn't have much choice. It's just not some great deal or something IMO. The player will have to have career highs to even make it decent value IMO. Maybe he will...being the highest paid player in the league comes with some pressure. Let's see how many times he is top 3 in scoring and if he can carry it over to the playoffs.

Same posters that said PPG isn't good enough for Huberdeau at 10.5 are saying this is a steal.

Matthews has the most goals in the NHL since he came into the League, and this buys the last of his 'Prime' years (Age 27-30)

He was getting at least this as UFA next summer. Hes a top 4 Center in the league and is in his prime, Huberdeau getting less at a different position and getting paid into his late 30's and not a goal scorer is not even a close comparable. Not even sure why you would bring it up.

There isnt 1 GM in the league that wouldn't trade for Matthews with this contract with Huberdeau with his.

[Strange Brew]

Iginla signed a three year, $21 million contract when the cap was under $40 million. Of course the salary cap was still new then.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Matthews has the most goals in the NHL since he came into the League, and this buys the last of his 'Prime' years (Age 27-30)

He was getting at least this as UFA next summer. Hes a top 4 Center in the league and is in his prime, Huberdeau getting less at a different position and getting paid into his late 30's and not a goal scorer is not even a close comparable. Not even sure why you would bring it up.

There isnt 1 GM in the league that wouldn't trade for Matthews with this contract with Huberdeau with his.

My only point is it's not a steal like some suggest...it's not

Again IMO, let's see how the Leafs do. I do t think they will be able to have the D or depth to win with their current contracts.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

Matthews isn't getting this contract to get 100 points, they want him to hit 50-60 goals every year, assists are just gravy, he's the finisher. Might be a little much but I think contracts are going to go up at the top end and their really won't be many 4-5 million guys in the next 5 years, you either make 7 and above or 3 and under.

He has had 50+ one time so 50-60 every year seems unlikely

He also has 22 goals in 50 playoff games...that obviously isn't good enough. When you are the top paid player in the league the bar is HIGH. Time will tell.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dino7c

My only point is it's not a steal like some suggest...it's not

Again IMO, let's see how the Leafs do. I do t think they will be able to have the D or depth to win with their current contracts.

The Leafs best window was before these pay raises.

Just as the Oilers window is until draisaitl's expiry. Whether they lose him and Connor or extend them, in either case it becomes much more difficult than it is now.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He has had 50+ one time so 50-60 every year seems unlikely

He also has 22 goals in 50 playoff games...that obviously isn't good enough. When you are the top paid player in the league the bar is HIGH. Time will tell.

He gets hurt a lot which i don't think comes into negotiations, .62 goals a game for the career, is 50.8 a year, can't control his games played but as long as he's on that pace you have to be happy. Besides if he goes on IR you don't have him against the cap.
As for playoffs, yeah it's not good enough but they've been up against Boston/TB more often than not in the first round and that's never good for the stats

[blankall]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He has had 50+ one time so 50-60 every year seems unlikely

He also has 22 goals in 50 playoff games...that obviously isn't good enough. When you are the top paid player in the league the bar is HIGH. Time will tell.

Matthews has played through multiple covid shortened seasons. He's won 2 of the last 3 Rocket Richard trophies. He's good.

I do agree there is some risk there though. As absurd as it sounds, turning 26, Matthews may be past his prime. Many high end offensive players peak at 23-24, and then start to slowly decrease in production before falling off a cliff in their late 20s and/or early 30s. If Matthews declines from being a 50-60 goal scorer to a 40ish goal scorer, he does become overpaid. Matthews finished 14th in goals this last season. So it is possible he never challenges for Richard trophy again.

[dino7c]

I never said he wasn't good...is he the best or good value is the debate

again for me not being able to play full seasons is certainly not a good thing...sure he can go on LTIR but it still costs you when building a team. They likely have another shot this year although I think they are a worse team than last. When this contract kicks in though they likely don't have Nylander so how are they any better than the team that has been nowhere near getting it done in the playoffs. Heck they got outplayed by Tampa again, got lucky and then choked in round two.

For me Nylander has stepped up more when it matters and he is probably the guy on the way out.


Great for Matthews though, he has really maximized career earning by taking short deals...assuming nothing catastrophic happens he will get another big one after this and go wherever he likes.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Kind of funny how Steve Simmons article today says Treliving has told him he hates 8 yr. deals. Big change of thinking after he stuck Calgary with a couple of these long term deals last year!

While I'm unlikely to credit Steve Simmons of all people with a great deal of insight, this is still a pretty good contract for all sides....at the moment.

And I dont believe a word of what Treliving says. He was handing out term like candy less than a couple years ago.

I do still think Matthews is going to slam the hammer down after this one.

Again, I love this contract from both sides, but I'm pretty unequivocal that its because Matthews and his agent know what they want, have a plan, thought it out and then just slid it under Treliving's nose and told him to shut up and sign it.

[dino7c]

Yeah it's easy to get and like and get a short term deal when that is what the player wants...this was the rumored deal as far back as last summer by Kypreos and others

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Yeah it's easy to get and like and get a short term deal when that is what the player wants...this was the rumored deal as far back as last summer by Kypreos and others

It is still $53M dollars.