The Most Expensive Player In The NHL

#hockey #nhl #torontomapleleafs
It's official, Auston Matthews will remain a Toronto Maple Leaf for the next 5 years. He will also be the highest paid player in NHL Hockey. In this video, we break his game & if a contract like his is worth it in the salary cap era.

[@Minamakhlouf]

"For Toronto's sake they better hope the next five years are worth the purchase" - This is the million dollar quote in the video. There better be some playoff success with that kind of money.

[@RG-lr4pk]

There won't be, don't worry. With leaders like this, who needs opponents.

[@Minamakhlouf]

@RG-lr4pk Very well said, these guys have a history of shooting themselves in the foot.

[@clandon9624]

@@RG-lr4pk?? They just performed the best they have in the playoffs? You honestly think with no bias that this team will regress after the long overdue success of last season.

[@WaaDjooNoBoutDa]

@@clandon9624 Their best is winning one round barely in 7 games and then losing 4-1 where Matthews had only 2 points and not a single goal !? Meanwhile in their first 12 games McDavid had 8 goals 12 assists and Draisaitl had 13 goals and 5 assist while Matthews had 5 goals and 6 assists. I really don't know what Leafs fan are smoking to be satisfied with Matthews performance and his new contract.

[@clandon9624]

@@WaaDjooNoBoutDa you’re wrong, they won in 6. And bobrovsky ruined they’re mental, you can’t really use a once in a decade goalie run as actuall ammo against the leafs here. It’s like shitting on the 2012 Canucks for Bowing out in 5 against quicks stupid 946 save percentage. There was no winning against such a confident team because of who’s in net

[@HumanAction76]

Matthews deal on its own isn't the worse than, but combined with the other 3 being paid so much, the team has no depth. Depth wins in the playoffs.

[@neeltheother2342]

Based Hazlitt

[@Wayf4rer]

Honestly this deal is crippling no matter how you slice it. There's only a handful of gamebreakers worth this much, and Matthews just isn't one of them. He knew they had no leverage and yet again took them for every penny he could. Good business from Matthews agent, horrific from the leafs.

[@aparks6463]

​@@Wayf4rer you got small ass hands if Matthews isn't in that handful. Casual.

[@Wayf4rer]

@@aparks6463 You can speak in hypotheticals all you want, but until Matthews shows he's capable of carrying the team when it matters, he's not a gamebreaker. Go re-watch the Florida series if you want a reminder of what your 13 million dollar player gets paid for.

[@brianlb78]

@@Wayf4rer He scored 40 goals last year and led the league in blocks, and d zone takeaways. He's a consistent top goal scorer. He got a 1.5m raise. It took Ovi what 12 year or something to get his cup but no one was raging on him. And and one player doesn't carry a team in the playoffs. Name one cup champion in the cap era where the entire run was only due to one player. Every one of them had depth, especially down the middle at center. Depth wins the cup not one player.

[@staychrispy91]

Ovi wasn’t all about the money though

[@chleepy]

id rather have prime ovi than prime matthews for the physical presence alone

[@HYP3DSNIP3R]

Ovi's contract would be equivalent to 15.83 mil per year

[@HYP3DSNIP3R]

@@chleepy What about two way game?

[@chleepy]

@@HYP3DSNIP3R what about staying healthy? i feel like you guys dont remember how impossible it was to keep up with young ovi, fast, relentless, powerful, accurate, he was a machine.

[@3flavourscornetto237]

ovi took more percentage wise, tell me ur a casual without telling me

[@rh71el2]

The amount of work that goes into making just a 5-min video... Love your videos. Keep it up.

[@beaver_warrior]

The NHL has to raise the salary cap. Pascal Siakam is making $37 million a year playing for the Toronto Raptors and everyone's calling Matthews greedy for taking $13 million. What a joke.

[@joer8854]

Not only that but the NHL is going to take over 17% of that back. Hockey players are lucky to see 50% of what they make. Matthews if he's very lucky might, and I emphasize might see 6 million of that. And that's every player in the NHL regardless of where they play might manage to pull off keeping 50%

[@safron_beats]

so many players have wilted and left Toronto's heated market... the fact the Matthews AND Marner have excelled in this market says a ton about their ability to play under pressure ALL year. That's worth the price tag. The playoffs.... yea, he may need a sports psychologist or something.. he has all the tools. I sure hope they grip the cup in the next few years.

[@stevencooke6451]

As long as they can keep Samsonov I think they are an upgrade from last year. They have more players with edge now which should allow their elite players to not get bullied as they were by Florida. How I would have loved to see someone on Toronto do to Tkachuk what Kassien used to do in Alberta. Ditto for Sam Bennett. Not sure how you can call Matthews overrated. He is an elite talent, and vastly underrated for his defensive work.And he spent an entire season with a wrist injury that wouldn't heal Hopefully, that has repaired itself, or then this deal could be questioned. Kerfoot was the poster boy for being overrated. As was Holl. Remember what the Leafs gave up to protect those at-best fourth line, fourth pair stiffs.

[@clandon9624]

@@stevencooke6451hey Kerfoot is worth keeping solely for his GWG. However as an outside fan, I was mindblown ghat they kept dressing holl game after game. The dude fucking sucks

[@braedonmorrissey7548]

@@stevencooke6451 naw kerf was worth every bit what the leafs payed him. he could do anything, bro's a swiss army knife

[@Furcapper]

"...to play under pressure ALL year." Yet Nylander is the best of the three to do damage come playoff time. Those guys are one of the best players during the regular season, but to say they can succeed under pressure all year long is a bit of stretch. I'm honestly surprised that the Leafs are still going to beat the same drum and not make more drastic changes. Even if Matthews is worth the money, I'm surprised even more that he didn't take a pay cut on a shorter term, just to help his team succeed in the playoffs. This team won't be deep enough to succeed and that has been an issue for a couple of seasons already imo.

[@ronbrown1236]

They both have consistently failed under pressure and when the media was on their ass.

[@abhishekdilta8603]

Love Watching your videos, a huge huge NHL fan from India.

[@dylangiles2624]

Awesome

[@Danny0dbert]

Haters are unreal. Matthew's is pretty much garenteed 40 a year. His defense is very noticeable. Lead in blocked shots. Starting to use the body. Good deal imo.

[@Killa_Zman20]

A good deal that was overpaid imo. I can justify 10M a year due to the fact that his defensive play has improved drastically from a year ago, and he'll probably continue averaging 40 or 50 goals a year, but until he proves he can consistently produce in the playoffs, I wouldn't have done 13M.

[@muslimcatpfp]

yeah but as a habs fan, we pay our captain less than 8 mil which pushes the players to take a pay cut (caufield) cuz you usually dont make more than the captain but matthews with the influence he has on the leafs do you really think marner and nylander are gonna want to re sign for cheap with him hogging all the cap space?

[@msideshiftr1121]

Matthews deserves to be the highest player in the league. I just can't see how the Leafs can go deep into the playoffs without a decent supporting cast beyond the top 4! The CAP is a killer!

[@msideshiftr1121]

Matthews will excel in the regular season, no doubt. He is the best all round player in the league. Matthews defensive game is often overlooked and when you compare defensive stats with McDavid, there is no question about who is the better player! Unfortunately, the officiating in the playoffs is garbage. If the refs call the playoffs the same as the regular season, Matthews will excel, but for as long as the refs change the rules come playoff time, Matthews and the Leafs will never get close to the Cup!

[@carbb5760]

@@msideshiftr1121great player for sure. He’s clearly a tier below mcdavid, I don’t care what level of defence he’s playing. Mcdavid outproduces him and gets better results in the regular season and post season, there is no player in the league who is comparable to mcdavid

[@msideshiftr1121]

The Leafs will never win a cup without a decent supporting cast. They won't get far into the playoffs until they unload Tavares' contract in the 2025/26 season. If Tavares re-signs with the Leafs, it better be with a massive home town discount!

[@dionball3627]

He’s been over paid since he signed

[@clandon9624]

@@dionball3627his first year he was worth

[@dontreportmecauseialreadyb8658]

@@clandon9624Under 90 points!! Delusional Ontarian's

[@clandon9624]

@@dontreportmecauseialreadyb8658 he had 47 goals, definitely worth it. and I’m from the west coast nice try

[@dontreportmecauseialreadyb8658]

@@clandon9624 Draisitl does 50 goals every year!! and he's not worth that much??!! and He's from the West!!😒

[@TheHat--Man]

150 points is 3-4 times more impactful than 60 goals

[@Boocus_]

Goals> apples

[@dylangiles2624]

Apples=goals

[@Boocus_]

@@dylangiles2624 definitely a rnh fan

[@scottbrowne7488]

Fantastic point about OVI. Please keep reminding everyone that the grass is always greener on the other side. I'm happy to see Matthews continue, that is a crazy number tho!

[@meowza]

This upcoming season is make or break for this Leafs core. The Bruins are decimated, the Lightning should continue to slide downwards. If they can't make a serious run this year, it's not gonna get any easier when Matthews' extension kicks in. I can't imagine them failing again this season, but they continue to find new ways every year so it wouldn't be a shocker.

[@stevepiccinnin1157]

Not Mathew’s fault ,.. what the leafs need is a solid defense that can calmly move the puck out of their own zone.. moving through the neutral zone (where the game is won n lost) thereby generating scoring opportunities, until they resolve that glaring issue , they will continue to disappoint! Go leafs go

[@moraled]

The difference between ovechkin and matthews is that ovechkin always showed up for the playoffs and never disappeared

[@DampfGecko]

I truly believe that Matthews can live up to his current contract figures in the future. But not only has he done little to warrant even more, even with the cap going up he is now throttling the Leafs yet again to put a better team around him. So either someone else finally bites the bullet and takes less, or there won't be a Core Four for much longer. Nobody can tell me he "needed" what he now makes extra more than better teammates, and thus this reeks of a contract for bragging rights.

[@codypendency9482]

Imagine thinking you deserve more then mcdavid

[@pajamatime5750]

Mcdavids contract was signed years ago. Nothing says Matthews is worth more nor is that his bench mark. If Matthews is signing for $13.25 million today Mcdavid would be getting $15 million. You can’t say Matthews thinks he’s worth more then Mcdavid because of this. Mackinnon does to then???? Based on your logic.

[@RG-lr4pk]

@@pajamatime5750 ??? In reality the Leafs are paying Matthews 2 million total dollars less than McDavid for the same amount of years. Time to check into the mental asylum.

[@KS-xk2so]

McDavids contract was 16.7% of the cap when he signed it 6 years ago. This is 15.1% of the cap. Its not more than McDavid when you actually look at it with some logic. He's making more than Gretzky ever made too, do you think he thinks he's better than Wayne?

[@keithck3720]

Salary cap was something like 12 million less when McDavid signed his contract. He's going to be highest paid when he's eligible to extend and will make $15-16 million.

[@bettingpicksandparlays8087]

Dam your good, I agree with your Matthews take when you are the highest paid your going to be under the Microscope. Great Work.

[@KrillTheThrill97]

Tavares’ contract is up in 2 years, trading Nylander for significant pieces along with Tavares taking a hometown discount and nobody will be complaining about this contract. That being said, playoff success has to come otherwise he’s probably gone in 5 years. Marner still has a couple years as well, but they can’t pay him Matthews money again and that’s where the problems will start to come up. Remember we’re talking about a top 5 player in one of if not, the biggest hockey market in the league…

[@FighteroftheNightman]

​@@_SayaNaratheyre not

[@nathanthemoneyman9191]

Marner isn’t top 5 players in the league lmao

[@KrillTheThrill97]

@@nathanthemoneyman9191 I meant Matthews

[@serialmiller1987]

Auston Matthews is an amazing pure goal scorer no question. I can't say whether it's an overpay because Treliving didn't think it was. However, my issue with Matthews and Marner are that they are players who are only interested in making money and care about themselves. A player like John tavares is different in that he wanted to play for his hometown team, and made his intnentions clear, and is truly deserving to wear the "C" in Leafland. The playoff success that Matthews will be defined by boils down to if he buys in to being part of a team not an individual.

[@msideshiftr1121]

Tavares is overtly overpaid. Worst contract on the Leafs roster.

[@the1andonly759]

I’m just happy to have him on the Leafs in his prime years. It’s an overpay compared to the other superstars but with the cap going up I think it’ll be the right value

[@xmemegodx]

born2cope

[@Wayf4rer]

I understand the optimism, but the cap elevator isn't going to be enough to offset some of the awful contracts that will be signed in the next couple of years. This deal completely cripples the leafs cap structure, which they already had no flexibility in. This is the death knell of Toronto's time as an even fringe competitor.

[@RG-lr4pk]

The cap will go up and then the Leafs will have to overpay him again. Garbage contract.

[@patrickschannelpokemonswee3803]

1 season where he had over 100 pts and he had only 1 season where he played all 82 games. This guy is overpaid asf

[@clandon9624]

@@patrickschannelpokemonswee3803biased hater

[@Childofbhaal]

It’s kind of sad how the most paid player in the NHL contract wise makes virtually nothing compared to top athletes in other sports. NBA players signing over $100 million contracts like nothing

[@Killa_Zman20]

What's even worse is that if you put NBA superstars in skates, for one they'd flop instantly, and 2 they wouldn't be able to take a punch or handle the physicality and grind that is hockey, all they do is run up and down a court and dribble a ball.

[@jasontroia3434]

Go look at the TV contracts the NHL has with the other sports, Then we'll talk.

[@Killa_Zman20]

I'm happy to have him back for another 4 years, but I personally couldn't justify over 13M a year for 4 years until he can help this team go deeper than 1 win in round 2. For his overall play, I would've given him 10M tops seeing as how he'll probably continue to average 40-50 goals per season, maybe a couple more Rocket Richards and a Hart, but for 13M a year, you've gotta do better than 2 assists in a 5 game series that you lost.

[@EffinAssNinja]

Shit take grats

[@KS-xk2so]

I stopped reading at 10M tops, since you clearly have no clue what you're talking about lol

[@dylangiles2624]

If matthews figures out how to take his regular season play to the playoffs and bring the leafs to the promise land, then the deal is worth it. If we get the same thing in the playoffs then it’s an overpay no doubt.

[@shadowz4262]

Matthews is way overpaid he is definitely a 11-12 million dollar man

[@Shockwave1984]

Wrong

[@3flavourscornetto237]

wb when the cap is 90 million in 3 years,

[@HappyTurtleTurtle]

Over the two most recent seasons, Austin sits fourth in goal scoring. Not saying he's not a great goal scorer, but if we are putting any weight on recent seasons he's in the conversation for the best goal scorer, but it's debatable. As far as him being generational, I wouldn't go that far. Superstar, yes. But nothing about his numbers or play put him up there with Sid, Connor, Gretz for me. He may not even be in my current top 5. Generational is a stretch.

[@KS-xk2so]

If your Top 5 doesn't have McDavid, McKinnon, Matthews, and Draisaitl in it, your Top 5 is wrong.

[@Mulukkis]

After last season there's no doubt in my mind that the best goal scorer in the league is McDavid. He just decided to score more and scored 64.

[@danielpetrucci8952]

1.5ml overpay To short of term AKA bad deal for Toronto and im a Leafs fan now dont be surprised next year when Marner asks for 11 or 12 mill 😂😂😂😂😂😂 IM IN DANGER 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bangyahead1]

It won't be long before people are saying this signing is a key moment in the disassembling of the team. If Matthews is getting that much money don't expect anyone else to give discounts on their contracts. From this point on players will look to get the biggest paycheck they can get, too, and will leave town to get it (and gladly because of the pressure in the Canadian markets). As has already been speculated Nylander could be one of the first key players to bail. We shall see.

[@VicLaranja]

He's worth it. In regular season he consistently shows up when needed. Now that the mental barrier of their 19-year playoff curse is broken, I think the core 4 will produce results this post season.

[@DrBdan8]

It's what the Leafs had to do. He's a generational talent and you don't just let that walk away. Sure he could have signed for say $1 million less per year but if that $1 million in cap space is the difference between a Cup and failure that's a front office and/or coaching issue not a Matthews issue

[@thatoneguy9666]

I like how people judge superstars based on how many cups they’ve won as if hockey isn’t a team game

[@danielshays7161]

It’s a team game and teams all have the same salary cap.The stars need to accept that reality if winning is important to them.

[@thatoneguy9666]

@@danielshays7161 and one team can’t carry a whole team

[@southerncomfort971]

just a added note, when was the last time a super star got a huge pay raise and he preformed like he was "WORKING" for that raise. Instead of just playing so he gets the check? Especially in Toronto?

[@niibinmoore4985]

He’s a piece you need to win, it’s about assembling the troops around him now.

[@TheHat--Man]

no.. 13 million for one 60 goal season (stamkos: one 60 goal season : 8.5 million/8yr)

[@dontreportmecauseialreadyb8658]

I hope Nylander and Marner Split ways

[@braedonmorrissey7548]

@@TheHat--Man after taxes in Ontario Matthews takers home around what 6-7 million, in Florida it equates the same... it sucks but to keep stars in Canadian markets it has to be done

[@jameson1239]

@@braedonmorrissey7548Mathew’s more then likely gets millions in endorsements in Canada which he wouldn’t be able to get in Florida or most American teams

[@chrislaverick6413]

@@braedonmorrissey7548 I dont know why this isnt talked about more, it makes it way harder for canadian teams to win.

[@elijahperez6506]

Expectations don’t mean anything.

[@Mlchael839]

It’s fair value for the calibre of player he is, and while the cap hit is high it could have been higher if the deal was longer. Besides, he won’t be the highest paid player for long as a certain someone in Edmonton will need an extension soon

[@FrankF.Y]

would be fun to know his rank for goal per 60 5vs5 in playoffs. he is top 100??

[@nicholastempesta5950]

This deal isn’t really too bad, will be pretty much equal value once the salary cap goes up, you can’t really compare it to McDavuds contract since it was signed 6 years ago at a higher cap hit % plus he’s underpaid by a good amount, he won’t be the highest paid player in a year or two, although I do understand why he gets the criticism due to the playoffs issues

[@jokersfunhouse8280]

I think that 13.25 for 4 years is way to much for a a superstar who has issues in the playoffs, maybe if he starts to perform higher I can see it, but still 13.25 has gotta hurt the depth chart

[@alexx9252]

Playoff points per game; Matthews 0.88 Makar 1.07 Kucherov 1.13 MacKinnon 1.30 McDavid 1.53 Draisaitl 1.57 what did they just pay him?

[@johnlocke_1]

"Is he actually worth it?" No. Leafs are broken if they dont retain him, though.

[@gladbuffalo7805]

Missing that level of killer instinct that makes the best of the best that extra little bit ruthless and unforgiving

[@KamekoTsuruga]

all i know is if i have to pick between mcdavid, matthews and mackinnon. im not taking matthews.

[@Pierrekira]

I think his real value, from the team perspective, is outside the arena. As soon he dont play and talk, he makes like 50 mil a year and pretty sure many persons have a cut.

[@hsdbckcj3892]

Over/under 700 career tucks?

[@Cannadian23]

Dude isn't even the best player on his team most days and is the highest paid now... just the Toronto thing to do.

[@BondandBourne]

I don’t understand how Toronto expects to win when their core 4 are all signed to massive deals. Barely any room is allowed for depth but I won’t complain about the leafs sabotaging their chances to win.

[@spiceweasel]

I love how Carey Price is still in the top ten highest paid players

[@Boocus_]

If the leafs don’t win the cup in this extension it’s not worth- I really hope they do

[@andrewphilips2457]

Thus far smart move by Leafs.

[@User-wt9jk]

Paying Tavares 11M is the real atrocity lol

[@brianlb78]

The guy scored 40 goals and was at the top in the league for blocks and D zone takeaways(may have even led both them not sure) He's getting a 1.5mil raise. That's not unreasonable.

[@KS-xk2so]

He also won 2 Rockets in the past 3 years, and a Hart haha people saying this is an overpay have no clue.

[@brianlb78]

@@KS-xk2so True, I think the only crazy thing here is they where not able to lock him up for 8 years. I'm sure they tried because at the end of this new deal if he is still performing the same 13.5m would seem like a steal, also probably why his agent pushed for a short term deal too.

[@carbb5760]

He’s being paid appropriately for the level of player he is. Guy is arguably the second best player in the league. It’s really not a team friendly deal at all though as the leafs diddnt get the term they probably wanted

[@brianlb78]

@@carbb5760 yea 7-8 years would of been much better for them but he obviously knows that when he turns 31 it will be his last chance for a major deal vs 35 where he is going to be playing for much less on 1 or 2 year deals like most 35 year olds. When you actually look at it and look and what the cap will be doing during those contract years it's not bad at all.

[@HiroshiiiNate]

Imma laugh so hard if the cap doesn’t go up as high as everyone is saying

[@ggcorbs]

The cap is 100% going up.

[@davidcianfarani2701]

okay , but where is he in the playoffs no where to be found.Great he scores goals in regular season how does that help us

[@Nic_Garscum]

2 assists in the 2nd round and year after year a playoff no show. Hilarious massive overpay

[@BKHockeyTalk]

This is a deal they had to sign, business is business, he’s an elite scorer and he had all the leverage and I think it seals the deal on trading Nylander tho. He’s gonna get 9+ and they can’t afford that with Tavares still on the books and we all know he’s going nowhere. Now again time for 34 to prove he’s worth it.

[@braedonconnor4389]

While I think it’s overplayed, though this is the highest pay, his contract against the cap (% wise) is a better contract then iginlas was

[@namesfloop8460]

As a Leafs fan, I can confidently say. N O T W O R T H. Also, JT is definitely overpaid. Give that money to Nylander instead, make Willy FEEL appreciated. Oh and maybe make a damn decision on goaltending and then MAYYBE we win a cup lol

[@boombastickmonke3509]

He deserves it, he’s the best goal scorer in history

[@nanaimoshoerepair]

That 13.25 mil should be given to the shut down player on the other team in the playoffs, that keeps him off the score board.

[@Akaoni21]

I can just expect more of the same. Bye Nylander! I really liked ya.

[@lukejaffray2518]

Matthews out scored all players in last 5 seasons yet Connor mcdavid over in Edmonton is shining up that rocket Richard trophy cause he out scored matthews best season last season and still managed to make his team mates better… matthews is not a mcdavid level player so this makes me think mcdavid is definitely getting the max next contract

[@jameson1239]

Doesn’t really set a good precedent when the face of the franchise is getting this much I wonder what Marner and Nylander are going to ask for

[@jessepylvalainen2288]

Probably little bit overpaid but then again the Leafs had no choice, this guy is the undisputed leader and face of the franchise.

[@ZackyBonk1023]

I think he didnt want to stay in Toronto and said as a joke 13M and they said yeah 😂😂😂

[@zweibaer.]

Stanley cup? Nah, my boy Auston Matthews is all about that cheddar. Good for him though and I still think the Leafs will remain competitive. If not, then it doesn't matter cause my boy still got paid lol

[@cackoocacho1629]

0:30 The only thing this creampuff does better than anyone else, is worry about his receding hair. He's won the Rocket trophy twice in seven years, how exactly do you think he's better than anyone else at scoring goals? 🤣 Thanks for the laughs though.

[@abekornelsen125]

Noone scored again bob until vegas broke him

[@farmonious420]

The best goal scorer in the league.....in the regular season.

[@Killa_Zman20]

Exactly, until you can score consistently in the playoffs, there is no justification to get that much for 4 years.

[@davemason4055]

His 60 was a one off and I doubt it will be repeated.

[@youngwang97]

Hearing Matthews is bad because he hasn't won a cup is like hearing Messi is bad because he hadn't won the World Cup (at the time). As if hockey and football aren't team sports

[@user-mi7nw5kt4w]

Ovie could actually score in the playoffs though

[@gort8687]

whya re the leafs allergic to signing their stars for 8 years?

[@neeltheother2342]

Matthews didn't want an 8 year deal apparently

[@staychrispy91]

- He wanted short term

[@gort8687]

@@neeltheother2342 future arizona legend

[@KS-xk2so]

because Toronto media and the Leafs fans are insane and no one wants to commit forever when the city can turn on you in a second?

[@dunsbroccoli2588]

If they raised the damn cap it wouldn’t matter so much.

[@joeford5181]

Welcome to Vegas

[@joer8854]

He's not though. Right now the most expensive player in hockey is Nathan Mackinnon. Matthews contract right now is just under 8m in actual US dollars and his AAV is about 11.64m. It's theoretically possible someone else will sign for more and Matthews will never be the most expensive player in the NHL.

[@tylerdurden4006]

"Let's make our already destroyed cap even worse for a nobody when games get real" 🤷🤣

[@jimlangdon1947]

Can Matthews just win 2 second round playoff games?

[@n9nelives751]

Didn't MacKinnon just sign for 12.6? In what world is Auston Matthews worth more?

[@KS-xk2so]

They both could've easily gotten 14.5 or 15 a year based on the current cap. They both took a discount, McKinnon just took a bigger one.

[@FighteroftheNightman]

And the thing about the lightning series is they played poorly he didn't play well. The bolts didn't want jt this year. That's why he went right back to his typical chokefest against the panthers. No reason to pay "generational talent" pay to someone that plays like a 3rd line player in the playoffs.

[@anapaulasantos7784]

He's gotta be brave to get a deal like that with the maple leafs. He's not gonna know peace for the next four years. Canada fans are too difficult.

[@cam2159]

2nd round not first round

[@dawsonholdsworth5371]

Congrats on Toronto continuing there ability to make immovable roosters. Ateam looking to rebuild leading into another rebuild

[@Emphatic83]

Incorrect, hes the highest cap hit, and thats not for another year, Mackinnon will be the highest paid NHLer for about 3-4 years as his deal is 16 mil per year for years 1-3 i believe Matthews is just shy at 15.9 and nothing about our offense could be blamed on Matthews he was a stud all playoffs Bob just literally had one series of horseshoes up his rear and then went back to regular BOB, also I dont think over a half a goal per game in the playoffs is bad its actually right around his regular season numbers which is hard to do

[@shaunlitt]

I have never agreed with the salary these guys are making. They should all be making a third of it until they can prove themselves in the playoffs. Win the cup, then we talk salary. Until then, winning the regular season means nothing.

[@andrews5236]

Yeah but how much does he make after taxes

[@sucraf1]

One season over 100 points and one season with 60 goals. He is not worth 13.25 a year. He's a very good goal scorer but he doesn't lead the team and a no show in the playoffs.

[@keaters123]

Nylander scores big goals in the playoffs. And has for years , but Leaf fans don't care

[@danielpaquet3963]

he's probably the best goal scorer in the league, but thats kinda it

[@Ogchampayne]

For 8 years sure decent contract , 4 ?? FOUR ?

[@joshb6470]

I laugh how people are calling this the most expensive player in the NHL, let's look at that plug carey price, if you do a contract value to every conceivable stat, remember his last season 20% victory rate.... and if you consider how much is left on that contract, those 2 points are the most expensive 2 points ever

[@AlexTheOilersFan]

No way you just called Carey Price a “plug”. The dude won gold with team canada, nearly single-handedly embarrassed Toronto in 2021, AND made it go a SCF. In his prime he was nigh unbeatable and was one of the best goalies in the league.

[@joshb6470]

@@AlexTheOilersFan sure did, look at his stats, over hyped plug, montreal and her fans trying to polish a turd and call it a diamond

[@SaudiChimp]

to me paying Mathews 15% of the salary cap and not getting him for the max term is a problem for the leafs. im interested to see how the Mathews contract affects Marner and Nylander

[@shaman9]

So this deal is so bad that your suggestion for improving it is to make it longer. Right.

[@SaudiChimp]

@@shaman9 the deal is awful regardless of what you do but i feel if u are going to pay 15% of the cap to one player u should get 8 years not 4

[@idontgivea1769]

His numbers don’t matter; they don’t need a guy like that to make the playoffs, they need a guy who can produce in the playoffs… I would kind of get it if the Leafs were having a hard time making the playoffs, which is not the case at at all…. So WTF?! As long as the Leafs hangs on to both Marner and Matthews (and Tavares, while we’re at it), they’re doomed! They don’t need both, they need one of them, and sell the other to make the team actually better

[@charlesdurocher3134]

For me Matthews is worth 13,5 millions

[@PsychedelicValidity]

What you all fail to understand is Matthews is subject to Canadian Taxes. He pays almost 50% if not more of his contract in taxes to be in Toronto. He could easily go to a team like the Panthers, or Predators, and make MORE MONEY with a SMALLER CONTRACT. He wants to stay in Toronto but for that to happen they have to accomodate him based on our shit fucking economy. So before you roast the kid saying he’s overpaid learn that every player is bound by the Tax Laws where they play. Not all Contracts are equal.

[@cn240studios5]

If he keeps losing then he deserves all the criticism he gets. 13 million dollars per year for 1 first round win is not fair to the fans in the least. We deserve better, I don't care about the regular season or any trophy awarded to an individual, I care about the Stanley Cup.

[@MmaFan34]

Definitely an overpay for a player.

[@matthewweinkauf6831]

Tavares by far is the worst contract on the leafs

[@juholaitakari1305]

It’s an overpay due to its short term.

[@Copyrighttt_]

Ovi was produced in the playoffs before they won, minus one year where he had like 2 points but I don't know if he was injured or not. This is probably me being with my hate blinders on, but I think he can be effective in the playoffs they just have to un-staple marner from his hip. He's a smaller play making forward that can't play through contact, not really much of a shot threat and crumbles as the play offs go along. I remember seeing his numbers from games 1-4 and then 5-7 over the last few years, it was something like 1.2 down to .4 points /60. The guy crumbles as the series goes on. The next point is just my terrible observations, but it seems like he relies too much on Marner to enter the zone. Especially in the play offs when shit gets tighter. Thee Mtl series is a prime example where they just let marner take the outside and focused more on the center of the ice where Matthews was. I don't mind the price, it would've been nice to have been a continuation of his current AAV or 12. I would've liked the term to have been 6 or 8, give the team and city a bit more commitment. My main issue is that Nylander's camp said their willing to take a discount if the others do and I don't think this is much of a discount. Then Marner is going to ask for something close to what Matthews makes. At least elite centers have a history of getting paid alot, the wingers that get paid even close to that are goal scorers or dual threats like Kane. Nylander is asking for 9 and alot of other similar caliber of players are signing in the low to mid 8's, that's a manageable number. Jt will (knock on wood) hopefully take a hometown discount. The thing with the Matthew's deal is that it is debatable whether it's an of an over payment, Marners will be. Please for the love of god trade him

[@Y.A.A.E.G._Games]

Leafs have 3 players in top 10 aav and no cup lmao😂

[@bigseff23]

He's way overpaid. The only reason he did good against the lightning is because the lightning were so inconsistent that series