[Signing] UPD: Leafs sign Matthews to max ELC including max bonuses

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by getbak

Because he played last year in Switzerland, he's considered a European draft pick, so the Leafs own his rights for four years. If he's not signed by June 1, 2020, he would become a UFA.

Matthews would arguably be better off going that route if they want to play hardball. Stupid stance by the Leafs when they have a ton of cap space and enough money to buy a small country.

[sureLoss]

Defenders of Lou say it is not money based reasoning.

They claim the reason he is doing it is that performance bonuses, especially as they are set up in the CBA with respect to ELCs, only reward individual performances and not team success.

From a highly ideologically perspective it makes sense if you want to send a message that team performance is more important than individual performance. However, it is probably not practical in today's NHL.

[Cantrader]

He just want to enforce his power maybe Austin should pull a Lindros and demand a trade. That would be funny

[TheScorpion]

Toronto Maple LOLs

Oh, Toronto. I actually kinda like you, and I don't think this is a huge issue, but...

[socalwingfan]

They will get the bonuses sorted out, and when it's time to pay them out, Lou's buddy Gary will ignore the rules and announce they don't count against the Leaf's cap. Also they will be paid out by the other 29 teams

[Finger Cookin]

Welcome to the bubble, Matthews. Only 9 years to go!

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Defenders of Lou say it is not money based reasoning.

They claim the reason he is doing it is that performance bonuses, especially as they are set up in the CBA with respect to ELCs, only reward individual performances and not team success.

From a highly ideologically perspective it makes sense if you want to send a message that team performance is more important than individual performance. However, it is probably not practical in today's NHL.

Sounds like something to aim for in the next round of collective bargaining, not on a contract like this where there are years and years of precedent. Philosophically, it's an admirable aim. It's tactically questionable for this particular contract though.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

The Leafs suck.

You heard it here first...

Ha hate to date myself, but heard that before there was internets.

[calgaryblood]

What a dinasaur Lou is.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Gaudreau for Matthews. Getter done!

No thanks. One has proven he's an NHL star and the other hasn't. It's not like Mathews is McDavid good. Personally I think he's gonna be one of the worst first overalls in the last little while after Yakupov.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

It's not only because he's a dinosaur, but because he's a dinosaur who spent his entire career GMing a budget team. Lou doesn't know any other way of doing business and isn't about to start now.

I know the bonuses factor into the cap, but this is nothing but petty by Lou.

I don't think the Devils were ever a budget team. Especially pre-lockout.

[calgarywinning]

Pretty much have to follow past ELC signings of players of this calibre. I agree that it will alienate the Matthews camp when it comes to resigning.

[savemedrzaius]

This is the Toronto media we are talking about..so everything is blown out of proportion.

But then again this is Lou we are talking about, the guy who made Larsson sign without any bonuses.

Just give him what all the other number 1's get and move on. This is just stupid and I'm starting to hate management again after thinking maybe they had turned a corner and had become competent.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

This is the Toronto media we are talking about..so everything is blown out of proportion.

But then again this is Lou we are talking about, the guy who made Larsson sign without any bonuses.

Just give him what all the other number 1's get and move on. This is just stupid and I'm starting to hate management again after thinking maybe they had turned a corner and had become competent.

Blown out of proportion? When is the last time a first overall has taken this long to sign?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Blown out of proportion? When is the last time a first overall has taken this long to sign?

Two years ago. Ekblad signed in September 2014.

This is not an issue, I don't think.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Blown out of proportion? When is the last time a first overall has taken this long to sign?

Ekblad took longer. Someone can pull up the stats for recent years.

[TheScorpion]

McDavid: July 3, 2015 (Oilers)
Ekblad: September 3, 2014 (Panthers)
MacKinnon: July 9, 2013 (Avalanche)
Yakupov: July 23, 2012 (Oilers)
Nugent-Hopkins: July 2, 2011 (Oilers)
Hall: July 5, 2010 (Oilers)
Tavares: July 15, 2009 (Islanders)
Stamkos: July 29, 2008 (Lightning)
Kane: July 25, 2007 (Blackhawks)
Johnson: May 14, 2007 (Blues)
Crosby: September 9, 2005 (Penguins)
Ovechkin: August 31, 2005 (Capitals)
Fleury: October 6, 2003 (Penguins)

bolded are notably late signings, or signings which occurred later in the year than July 20 of the player's draft year

[dammage79]

Good start for the team and their future #1 franchise C. Derp.

[BigRed]

Oilers with 4 1st OAs in 6 years. Every time I see it, it makes me mad.

[SofaProfessor]

Seems like a weird money-related issue for Toronto to draw a line in the sand on. I mean, they traded for Nathan Horton and don't mind paying him to be crippled just so they could get rid of Clarkson and get the money off their cap and onto LTIR. Money should be no obstacle for that team and taking some weird stand on individual performance bonuses that pretty much every other team hands out is a pretty poor message to your new franchise player.

[Gaudfather]

NSFW!

Yes Lou, you're being obtuse!