Notice though jo other teams' RFAs are even discussed? And that includes the current NHL scoring leader. Mitch's dad, Paul actually commented on that last week.
They are simply using this to try to get more attention. It is cheap.
Talk might be cheap, but its actually not cheap as the potential of OS drives up prices.
Dubas is in a tough spot because of OS potential. How is he realistically going to get players under contract at valued prices going forward with OS $$ driving up costs.
I believe Dubas & Leafs management would be naive if they don't think behind closed doors in conversations that pending RFA players at the level of AM and MM are not going to use that as leverage. Even if Leafs management is prepared to match any and all official OS to make sure they don't lose the player, the price to retain them will impact the Leafs team and cap going forward significantly.
$83 mil cap ceiling next year X 20% CBA max allowable contract / player = $16.6 mil OS limit.
Its hard to imagine Matthews agent signing off on $11 mil AAV for Auston early, when potentially he could be leaving $5 mil on the table. The closer RFA status gets the more difficult it will become.