The Toronto Maple Leafs sign Auston Matthews to a five-year contract for $58.17 million – a $11.634 million salary cap hit.
Bob McKenzie: Salary and bonus 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.
Bob McKenzie: Matthews will get a $15.2 million signing bonus on July 1, 2019 and another $15.2 million on July 1, 2020.
Chris Johnston: 93 percent of the contract is paid out in signing bonuses.
Pierre LeBrun: “I think the conversation on an eight-year deal would have been focused on an AAV around 13.5 to 14…. the five-year deal is best possible move for the Leafs from the perspective of cap flexibility next five years or so.”
Chris Johnston: “The Auston Matthews ask on an eight-year extension was in the range of Connor McDavid’s 16.67% of cap hit. So a ~$13.8M AAV based on projected $83M cap. The #leafs delayed more than $2M AAV per for five seasons, but will have to negotiate again with Matthews at age 26 to do it.”
Greg Wyshynski: “On the one hand it’s insane to me that Auston Matthews doesn’t have an eight year term that eats up UFA years, on an AAV that’s 14.6 percent of the current cap. On the other hand, Kyle Dubas knows the Blackhawks won 3 Cups in 6 years. Eyes on the prize, I guess.”
Will Scouch: “Because people are pointing out Matthews is too expensive/short:
1) Since 2016, Matthews is #1 in G/60, and 18% ahead of #2.
2) He is also the 2nd best in ixGF/60 behind B. Gallagher.
3) He is also #2 behind McDavid in P1/60, similar to Malkin, and 8.2% higher than #4.
4) Getting Matthews for 8 yrs would boost his AAV significantly, as they’d be buying 4 UFA years instead of 1.
5) 14% cap isn’t unheard of, let alone for a Top-3 offensive player in the league. McDavid was 16.67%.
6) At current trends, the deal will be ~12.5% cap in 2023-24.
7) 12.5% of the cap this season is $9.9mm. That’s somewhat similar to guys like Benn, Subban at somewhat similar ages.
8) They have guys on staff who worked on the CBA, and they had plenty of time to negotiate this deal. I think there’s a plan here.
Last thing: The next five yrs are a window to convince guys like Matthews/Nylander that taking a Stamkos/Kucherov-like contract in 2024 is actually worth it, as opposed to leaving to attempt success elsewhere.”
The length doesn’t matter if the team is impossible to leave behind.”
The Hockey News: Top 10 salary cap hits for next season.
McDavid EDM $12.5M
Matthews TOR $11.634M
Doughty LA $11.0M
Tavares TOR $11.0M
Kane CHI $10.5M
Price MTL $10.5M
Toews CHI $10.5M
Eichel BUF $10.0M
Kopitar LA $10.0M
Seguin DAL $9.85M
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
— 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
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
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
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
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