diceman934
Help is on the way.
You remove the option of hitting Free agency early by not signing him to a 5 year deal it is piss poor asset management it is a 3 year deal or 8 year deal. Crosby and Malkin won the cup and were staying no matter what. Stammer would have been nuts to leave a great place like Tampa. The weather and tax situation makes him the highest paid player in the NHL in Net money. Play golf year round and out of the limelight. I say JT is going to leave and if that was Mathews I would be pissed.as was pointed out several times.
Crosby signed a 5 year deal that would have had him a UFA. nothing happened
Malkin signed a 5 year deal that would have had him a UFA. nothing happened.
Stamkos signed a 5 year deal that would have had him a UFA. nothing happened.
The only reason why John Tavares might leave is because the Islanders have been a gong-show. and they don't have an arena. and he still very easily could stay.
those are the notable ones. so basically. 3 out of 4 stayed with their highly successful team . And quite frankly, there isn't a big difference between 5 and 8. because at the end of it Matthews will be a UFA anyway. if he hits 5 he's 27ish and he can get a bigger payday, if he hits 8 he's 30ish (and he's gonna hit a bigger payday). he's gonna get his money regardless.
now before Matthews changed agencies, I have said that would have been the deal i was expecting because Brission is Crosby, Malin and Tavares's agent and they all had the "short UFA track contract." i'd gather it's to protect the player (as they were all #1 draft picks) not to be in a terrible situation. 3 stayed. again. Tavares might go because the Islanders sucked for so long. if people are that afraid that matthews will leave after 5 years then quite frankly, i don't know what the other 3 years is going to do for you because he easily could leave then too.
You lock up assets for as long as you can and if Mathews communicated that he wants to play elsewhere then he is far more tradeable for better assets when he has term remaining.
There is a lot going on with Mathews and the Leafs and I see a long negotiation and maybe the deal does not get done this year. I say it’s 50/50 right now that he signs this summer. He is looking for more ice time and wants a certain line mate etc. Let’s see how this shakes out but no way he gets a 5 year deal from us unless there is an take it or leave it approach from the Mathews camp.