From the TOR perspective, this AM34 deal makes sense on the following levels:
— Using the model of how PIT and CHI did things, and TOR aspires to follow in their footsteps, they have two franchise centres in John Tavares and Auston Matthews for the next six playoff runs.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
— there’s a premium to be paid for elite C’s; there’s a premium to be paid for elite goal scorers. Matthews is both.
— decreasing term/AAV — an 8 yr deal would’ve come in north of McDavid’s $12.5M by $1M or more — allows TOR to keep core pieces together for at least 5/6 years.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
The way I see it, signing Tavares changed everything for TOR. If no Tavares, I don’t doubt for a minute AM34 ends up on an eight-year deal. But Tavares is an accelerant and TOR’s window is narrowed to six years.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
I’m sure many Leaf fans are disappointed in AM34’s 5-year term, but you can’t have Tavares and Matthews, with Marner still to be signed, and not have to make allowances/hard choices along the way. So a six-year window, it is.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
From Matthews perspective, he had zero problem going for an eight-year deal but in order to hedge against a rising salary cap, he would have had to get a number so big as to cripple the Leafs’ ability to keep their core together. He didn’t want that.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
The five-year term doesn’t mean he is shy on commitment to TOR; it means it was the best means to give the club the ability to keep core pieces intact for the next 5/6 years. He still cashed in, of course, and that is reflective of changing times on the NHL salary front.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
His AAV is higher than many Leaf fans expected but I suspect you will see that across the board this off-season with the sterling crop of RFAs who are coming out of entry level. It’s a new generation of stars.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
Next up: Mitch Marner. It will be fascinating. No doubt in my mind that Marner’s camp will be looking to get close to what Matthews got. That is $11M+ AAV. No doubt in my mind that TOR will be looking to get Marner on a single digit AAV, in the 9’s. Big gap.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
TOR will no doubt use the premium centre/premium goal scorer argument against Marner and cite Kucherov at $9.5M as a good comparable. Marner side will cite productivity numbers that are elite and say Kucherov’s $9.5M is not applicable because it tax-free FLA $.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
I couldn’t begin to guess how that one ends up or goes, but I would suggest this: Marner’s term will be either three years or 6/7/8. A four-year term would walk Marner to UFA; a five-year term would have him expire at same time as AM34. Neither is good for the club.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
I upset all the chartered accountants because I didn’t specify (state) tax-free money in FLA, not federal tax free. In any case, as everyone knows, a dollar earned in FLA in not the same as a dollar earned in Ontario, or NY or California for that matter.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
Mike Babcock: "Mitch is gonna be ... Mitch is a lifetime Leaf."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 6, 2019
#Leafs are now the club with the highest combined AAV allocated to their top 2 centers starting next season.
TOR - Matthews/Tavares = $22.634M
EDM - McDavid/Draisaitl = $21.000M
PIT - Crosby/Malkin = $18.200M
LAK - Kopitar/Carter = $15.272M
ANA - Getzlaf/Kesler = $15.125M— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 5, 2019
Auston Matthews year by year breakdown:
Year 1: $15.2M SB, $700K salary.
Year 2: $15.2M SB, $700K salary.
Year 3: $9.7M SB, $750K salary.
Year 4: $7.2M SB, $750K salary.
Year 5: $7.2M SB, $750K salary.
That’s $54.5M in SB, $3.65M in salary.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 5, 2019
With Toronto signing forward Auston Matthews to a 5 year extension at an AAV of $11.634M, the #Leafs now have a projected cap hit of $71,909,699 for the 2019-20 season with 14 of the current 22 man active roster (8F/5D/1G) under contract.https://t.co/BPt2vFET34 pic.twitter.com/sfwZfSBK6m
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) February 5, 2019
"I love the city, my teammates, management, the whole staff from the top to bottom…I don't think there's anything like playing in this city."
ICYMI: Read more from yesterday's press conference with Auston Matthews and GM Kyle Dubas >> https://t.co/0e97vv3gZY#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/SQ3hULHI8x
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 6, 2019
Mitch Marner this morning on contract talks: “That’s why you hire an agent, let him talk to Kyle.”
He adds: “A deal’s going to get done eventually.”
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 6, 2019
Mitch Marner says he didn't see the comments from his agent, Darren Ferris, in the Toronto Star. Adds that the only thing that matters is that he's in training camp with the #leafs next season.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 6, 2019
Marner on Matthews: "It’s a great contract for him. I’m very happy for him. It’s great for this team as well and great to have him for another five years and hopefully for many longer. I think everyone in this locker room wants to be a Leaf for a long time." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) February 6, 2019
Marner feel disrespected by #Leafs? "No. Words are spun upon on things sometimes. Me and my family love it here, my agency loves it here, this is a great place to play hockey ... we all want, including myself, to be a Leaf for a long time and I’m sure that will happen."
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) February 6, 2019
Marner: "As long as I’m here for next training camp, that’s all that really matters." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) February 6, 2019