Auston Matthews' contract situation is probably at the top of Brad Treliving's priority list.
He is a star player for the Leafs, and it's clear that they want to keep him. But the big question is whether Toronto can afford to pay him, as he'll likely become the highest-paid player in the league.
Matthews to Choose Short-Term Contract?
Carlo Colaiacovo and Aaron Korolnek had an interesting discussion on TSN's First Up about whether Matthews might choose a shorter contract.
While a short-term contract seems more favorable for Matthews, the Leafs are aiming for a long-term deal.
"He's put the money in the bank to set his family up for a long, long time. For him, he can look at shorter deals. It leaves flexibility for him to not get locked into a bad situation.
If the cap keeps going up and up and he remains a top player in the game, that'll be beneficial for him financially. I'm not going to say an 8-year deal can't happen, but it doesn't seem likely. He's more inclined to take something in the mid-range, whether that's 3, 4, or 5 years.
It's in the Leafs' best interest to get him signed as long as they can because of what he means to the Leafs, and Shanahan has said in the past he would like some of these guys to be lifelong Leafs. So the Leafs will pitch him on an 8-year deal, but I think it'll be a tough ask at this stage because he's already made that money, and no one knows how much the cap is going up."
If the cap keeps going up and up and he remains a top player in the game, that'll be beneficial for him financially. I'm not going to say an 8-year deal can't happen, but it doesn't seem likely. He's more inclined to take something in the mid-range, whether that's 3, 4, or 5 years.
It's in the Leafs' best interest to get him signed as long as they can because of what he means to the Leafs, and Shanahan has said in the past he would like some of these guys to be lifelong Leafs. So the Leafs will pitch him on an 8-year deal, but I think it'll be a tough ask at this stage because he's already made that money, and no one knows how much the cap is going up."
Must read on Daily Hockey Dose
Who's Going to Win?
In the end, Matthews holds the upper hand. If he doesn't like what the Leafs offer him, he has the option to play for another team.
The Leafs would love to secure Matthews for a long period, but they might need to compromise. If they do, they'll have room to play with the benefits, like a full No-Movement Clause, for example.
Do you think Matthews will sign long-term or short-term?
As seen on Hockey Patrol - Massive Details Emerge regarding Matthews' Upcoming Contract
| POLL | ||
7 JUIN | 559 ANSWERS Huge Update on Matthews' Contract Negociations Do you think Matthews will sign long-term or short-term? | ||
| Long-term | 198 | 35.4 % |
| Short-term | 361 | 64.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
Latest 10 stories
