Speculation: Does Matthews' injury bring down his contract?

[Rudeboyting]

As much as Leafs nation has made me hate Matthews, I think he still hands Dubas a blank check and rightfully so.

The injuries are slightly concerning considering shoulders are just a mfer and were poorly designed, and concussions are nasty business in general.

That said, I don’t think the injuries are serious enough yet to dethrone him as the 2nd best player in the league...and he will be paid as such

 

[connormcmuffin]

No, it just hurts his imaginary trade value, his ability, his potential ect..... it means he sucks more but over course it also means he's more expensive because HF logic.

Hate the Leafs, own the Leafs

 

[Ciao]

Still hasn't even hit the 82 game mark and won't again this year (not his fault) but do you see this lowering his salary demands/expectations?

Except for, like, the 82 games he played in 2016-17, his rookie year.

Auston Matthews played every game of a complete injury-free NHL season in his draft year, and someone says "Still hasn't even hit the 82 game mark . . . "

Hey, thanks for your deep insight.

 

[Spirit of 67]

No idea why so many seem to be under the impression that he was injured in his first year.

Fits the narrative more so than facts do.

 

[Spirit of 67]

Still hasn't even hit the 82 game mark

 

[A1LeafNation]

No one knows what his contract was in the first place. if it was always at 10-11 per then it will most likely stay there.

For the loonies who thought it was going to close to mcDavid without any art ross, hart or 70+ point seasons, yeah maybe for them, they are coming back to reality.

 

[Pongs21]

Doubt it. Kid's a monster. If it does, maybe it brings it down 1-2 hundred K a year but even then i don't see it

 

[BM14]

and Nylander and fix your D and Kapanen?

Kapanen won't get massive raise and Nylander will go for D.
Do you understand the players are nothing more than assets? It's a business.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

HAH

Y'all wish

 

[Byron Bitz]

Well he misses out on a chance at winning a hart trophy or an art ross which would have boosted his contract.

 

[bobholly39]

Nope. When he gets a significant career impacting injury? Sure. Also - in 3 years he'll have played mostly complete seasons (assume he only misses those 4 weeks this year). It's one thing if in 3 years he had played 20, 30 and 40 games. It's not that big the time missed so far in the grand scheme of things.

Are the Leafs worried about it? 100% absolutely yes and anyone saying no is kidding themselves. It's their job to worry.

But so long as he comes back healthy with no significant impact to his long term health detected - it's his play on the ice that will determine his next contract. If he has a strong year 10M$+ is a minimum. If he has a spectacular year - 12M$ is closer. If he had an absolutely horrible and putrid year - well that's gonna start impacting his contract.

Also - 12.5M$ is *NOT* a barrier. I get the idea that he's not better than McDavid but market prices change and fluctuate year to year. He doesn't have to be to possibly earn a touch more. Maybe they even make a play of it - and sign him for 12.51M$, which would be hilarious

 

[Meeqs]

Naw, he is going to get paid whatever he wants because Tor doesn't have a choice.

 

[StevenB]

Naw, he is going to get paid whatever he wants because Tor doesn't have a choice.

Lol idk how people don’t see this. With Nylander we can afford to let him sit out to try to get him to sign under market value. Matthews can take this team, bend Dubas forward and.. you get the rest. Matthews has all the leverage in this situation. If he takes a discount it’s becuase he wanted to, not because Dubas forced him to

 

[7even]

By virtue of not having any major awards to point to, very slightly.

 

[KarmaPolice]

If it does, I strongly think it probably wont be by much. So instead of 12m x 8y, maybe he gets 11.5m x 8y (using those numbers purely as a contrast example, not what I think he'll exactly get). Probably the best you could hope for if that's what's up. Every bit helps though, so there's that. Just don't count on it being very substantial savings (if anything at all).

Young stars get paid mostly on their potential and skill level -- any injury can happen to anyone at anytime. GMs know this and still throw tons of money at them.

 

[MagicalRazor]

He didnt injury the same shoulder as his last 2 . It's the opposite one

 

[Volica]

Nope. He is going to get that McDavid money, big time.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

I think it could knock off half a million a year or something not too huge

 

[Darz]

Let’s put it this way.

Does this injury hurt his trade value if for some reason the Leafs were looking to trade him??

I don’t think so

 

[Funk21]

Look the kid is a Star, no doubt about it but you have to take into consideration his injury history. After a full 82 games in his rookie year he has and will miss significant time; 20% in year two and potentially 30% ish this year. I pray I am wrong but look what happened with Lupul, great when healthy but you can't have a 12.5+ million dollar a year player sitting in the press box 20-30% of the season.

I think that puts him back into the 11 Million dollar range IMO.

 

[Duke Silver]

Not saying it was a small hit but I've seen dirtier and bigger hits on guys that didn't get injured after or at least officially injured

Man, angle and positioning are a huge part of contact injuries, not just brute force. Stop playing the "Matthews is made of glass" angle.

 

[alg363636]

No. Leafs have no leverage here. If Matthews wants 12+ someone is going to give him 12+ and he knows it. And the Leafs know it. Either they cough up or he leaves. And I don't think forcing Matthews to sit is going to go over as well as forcing Nylander to sit.

That being said he may not be looking for 12 or 12+ I have no idea. Maybe he'll be fine matching Tavares. But it's completely up to him.

 

[orbiter11]

My bigger problem is that he can become rather invisible in half the games he plays. He also doesn't use his frame to play physical at all. With open ice his elite skill takes over,but id be nervous if he was my top line center right now. Hes worth 10 mill right now no more.

 

[habsgirl5000]

No, the kid is a star, you have to pay the stars!! 12M X 8yrs injuries or not...

exactly,

all of Carey Prices injuries didnt seem to hurt his contract, and he still sucks

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

Are you blind ? That Trouba hit was absolutely massive. He had like 6 or 7 strides coming from the blue line. I was not shocked he ****ed his shoulder up on that play. Still say it was charging. Not a dirty hit(quite nice actually).

I had to laugh at this. I just went back to the video, and Trouba circled back at the top of the circle, where he took one stride, then coasted, and took one more small stride before hitting Matthews. It was not a massive hit, Trouba is just very solid, and it caught Matthews awkwardly. It reminds me of Mike Grier's daily shoulder separations back in the day.