-- Sportsnet It will be interesting to see how Matthews bounces back after a "down year" (74GP 40G 45A 85pts) for him. According to Matthews, he was dealing with a hand injury for most of last...
The deal carries an average annual value of $13.25 million, which will make Matthews the league's highest-paid player beginning in 2024-25, surpassing Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon's $12.6 AAV.
It will be interesting to see how Matthews bounces back after a "down year" (74GP 40G 45A 85pts) for him.
According to Matthews, he was dealing with a hand injury for most of last season that only started to feel better towards the end of the regular season:
“I think my hand and everything has been feeling a lot better, just stronger,” Matthews said, acknowledging the nature of that injury for the first time. [...] "Just shooting it a little bit more fluidly I’d say.”
Assuming he does bounce back, the four year term gives him the opportunity to sign one more huge contract before retirement (he'll be 31 when the deal expires).
Also gives the Leafs the freedom to walk away (or negotiate a pay cut) if Matthews doesn't recover as expected.
It seems strange to me for him to take such a short contract as well. All that I can think is that he wanted to be the highest paid player in the league and a shorter contract was the only way the...
It seems strange to me for him to take such a short contract as well. All that I can think is that he wanted to be the highest paid player in the league and a shorter contract was the only way the Leafs would do it.
I think that Reilly is the only Leaf with a contract that extends past Matthews' new one, so maybe the plan is to wait until the Leafs have more cap space before negotiating his last big contract.
My guess is that he is willing to give the Leafs and this core 4 more years to win and if they fail he can easily go play anywhere at 31 to try and win a cup.
My guess is that he is willing to give the Leafs and this core 4 more years to win and if they fail he can easily go play anywhere at 31 to try and win a cup.
I was listening to 32 thoughts and they were projecting somewhere between 3-5 with his camp wanting the longest possible - going for five. It'll be interesting to see how this impacts William...
I was listening to 32 thoughts and they were projecting somewhere between 3-5 with his camp wanting the longest possible - going for five. It'll be interesting to see how this impacts William Nylander who is heading into the final year of his deal.
-- Sportsnet
It will be interesting to see how Matthews bounces back after a "down year" (74GP 40G 45A 85pts) for him.
According to Matthews, he was dealing with a hand injury for most of last season that only started to feel better towards the end of the regular season:
-- The Athletic
Assuming he does bounce back, the four year term gives him the opportunity to sign one more huge contract before retirement (he'll be 31 when the deal expires).
Also gives the Leafs the freedom to walk away (or negotiate a pay cut) if Matthews doesn't recover as expected.
It seems strange to me for him to take such a short contract as well. All that I can think is that he wanted to be the highest paid player in the league and a shorter contract was the only way the Leafs would do it.
I think that Reilly is the only Leaf with a contract that extends past Matthews' new one, so maybe the plan is to wait until the Leafs have more cap space before negotiating his last big contract.
My guess is that he is willing to give the Leafs and this core 4 more years to win and if they fail he can easily go play anywhere at 31 to try and win a cup.
I was listening to 32 thoughts and they were projecting somewhere between 3-5 with his camp wanting the longest possible - going for five. It'll be interesting to see how this impacts William Nylander who is heading into the final year of his deal.