Inflation has hit EVERYTHING. (EVV REE THING!)

This includes free agents.

All of these guys are gonna sign at numbers that are way too high.

You can book that. Whatever you think a UFA is gonna demand, add $2m cap and another 2-3 years term on it.
- GalacticStone

I think so. The cap going up 4.2M doesn't sound like much but that's an extra $130 million in the pot ...plus you throw the suddenly rich Utah HC in the mix ....it's going to be gross.

Or more if he hits free agency
- Canada Cup

The 12M is the amount of the 8th season he can get only in a sign and trade. And, no, he's not making that extra 12M up in a 7 year deal somewhere else despite what you keep saying. You're literally the only person in the hockey universe who believes that. He's overpaid as it is already.
- fifty__missions

There’s all kinds of scenarios other than a straight 8 year deal. $13 over 7 years amounts to $5M less than an 8 years at $12M deal. I’m not sure playing that last year for $5M is as appealing as it’s made out to be.

Also, there’s no reason to assume that a 7 year deal is the best way to go if he hits free agency. In an environment of a rapidly growing cap going 3-5 years and then locking in at a significantly higher salary would probably bring a bigger return than going 7 or 8. It’s why Matthews is better off doing a4 year deal rather than locking in long term.

The benefits of an 8 year deal are significantly overstated

For clarity ...he's saying if the Leafs can do 8x12 ..some other team isn't going to go 7x13.5 to match. I'm not sure that's true but that is an important variable.

And JT took less to come home - I know hard to believe but it's true. 7x13M from the Sharks and the Isles were reportedly willing to at least match the Leafs and go 8 years. So really 10-15M less to sign in Toronto.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ets-free-agency-unfolded/
- The Law

You are making my point for me.

JT IS overpaid in TO for what he has brought to the table. That another team would pay even more for him does not make his current contract good.

Both deals would be considered a overpayment considering he signed in 2018.

So Marners is retiring after the 7 year deal ends?
You realize he makes more per year on the first 7 years then signs a new contract one year before the 8 year deal would end.

And I like how you deflect from the JT overpay... as if the Leafs are the only team capable of doing that.
- Nasty_Duck

Guaranteed cash ...is a variable. That 8th year is maybe not the end of the world but it's sumpin' sumpin'

Yeah. He left because they didn't value what he brought. Good on him. Just another of the big Dubas mistakes. We got Michael (frank)ing Bunting instead.
- fifty__missions

Yes so in other words left for the money. The more money Oilers offered than the Leafs were willing

It doesn't really matter what it was about for ZH. The Leafs management (frank)ed it up.
- fifty__missions

Wait what? Hyman says he wanted to stay a leaf for life. He could have taken the deal offered since being from Toronto, his family (wife's family too) was from Toronto too. Clearly they weren't that important.

sound like the Leafs ah Dubas offered him 3.5M over 8 yrs.
- dmnted

Dangit, he did want more money.

I think so. The cap going up 4.2M doesn't sound like much but that's an extra $130 million in the pot ...plus you throw the suddenly rich Utah HC in the mix ....it's going to be gross.
- The Law

It's gross, but I think it's what's gonna happen. Just sit back and watch the UFA feeding frenzy.

The cap is loosening up after years of Covid stagnation. 20-goal scorers are going to command prices that 40-goal scorers were earning five years ago.

I mean, everything else has gone through the roof, why not sports free agents?

Guaranteed cash ...is a variable. That 8th year is maybe not the end of the world but it's sumpin' sumpin'
- The Law

Matthews should fire his agent

Matthews should fire his agent
- Canada Cup

Maybe he did a short term deal because Arizona might have a team again in a few years?

There were (a few) people in here who wanted him kept. They were the same people who wanted a core piece moved like 4-5 years ago. 😉
- fifty__missions

Are you trying to suggest you wanted a core piece moved 5 years ago? When Matthews, Nylander and Marner were the ages of 21, 23 and 22 respectfully. Point to which team moved a guy that young who was drafted as high as those guys. Show me.

Noone would have done that. Not a single GM is moving their young studs essentially on ELC or just about to come off it for a "RHD top 4 with some snot". NOONE.


I don't see how you'd ever run a team moving your recent picks worrying about cap space too much.

Oilers are in the cup finals because their stars have been playing like stars. Not because Bret Kulak or Cody Ceci are RHD or hit some guys.

Wait what? Hyman says he wanted to stay a leaf for life. He could have taken the deal offered since being from Toronto, his family (wife's family too) was from Toronto too. Clearly they weren't that important.
- Aaron_85

It wasn't about money, it was about getting more money

Wait what? Hyman says he wanted to stay a leaf for life. He could have taken the deal offered since being from Toronto, his family (wife's family too) was from Toronto too. Clearly they weren't that important.
- Aaron_85

They lowballed him and he told them to pound salt. Good on him.

Do I have spell this out for you? Ok. I will.

He's not making 12M per on a new deal 7 years from now.
- fifty__missions

He doesn't have to.

He makes more per year for the first 7 years. The next contract, signed a year earlier, more than makes up the difference.

I spelled it out for you. You're welcome.

You are making my point for me.

JT IS overpaid in TO for what he has brought to the table. That another team would pay even more for him does not make his current contract good.

Both deals would be considered a overpayment considering he signed in 2018.
- Nasty_Duck

Sure? ...but that's been true for 30 years ... virtually every significant UFA signed is an overpayment. It's the nature of the beast. You pay what the market demands ...or you don't ..because you don't live/work in a vacuum. So no argument there ...we could name a thousand UFA overpayments.

Are you trying to suggest you wanted a core piece moved 5 years ago? When Matthews, Nylander and Marner were the ages of 21, 23 and 22 respectfully. Point to which team moved a guy that young who was drafted as high as those guys. Show me.

Noone would have done that. Not a single GM is moving their young studs essentially on ELC or just about to come off it for a "RHD top 4 with some snot". NOONE.


I don't see how you'd ever run a team moving your recent picks worrying about cap space too much.

Oilers are in the cup finals because their stars have been playing like stars. Not because Bret Kulak or Cody Ceci are RHD or hit some guys.
- Aaron_85

I advocated moving a core piece after the Montreal fiasco. Yes indeed.👍. The cap and roster construction have been (frank)ed for that long if not longer.

Matthews should fire his agent
- Canada Cup

Why ..that'd be really short-sighted. Big thinkers would realize that walking into UFA at age 30 lets him extend the next big deal out to age 38.

$$Booty.

I advocated moving a core piece after the Montreal fiasco. Yes indeed.👍
- fifty__missions

Yeah point to a team who would ever do such a thing. When did Washington trade Ovie or Backstrom when they couldn't get past a second round? For comparison since Matthews was drafted the leafs have never missed the playoffs. Ovechkin was drafted in 04 and they didn't make the playoffs until 08 and again in 2014. Things take time. But sure you think of real NHL franchises as if you're playing an EA sports game. Moron.


Convenient you ignored the rest of the post asking for an example in real life.

Why ..that'd be really short-sighted. Big thinkers would realize that walking into UFA at age 30 lets him extend the next big deal out to age 38.

$$Booty.
- The Law

I agree. I would think more players act like him from now on and take shorter deals.

Yeah point to a team who would ever do such a thing. When did Washington trade Ovie or Backstrom when they couldn't get past a second round? For comparison since Matthews was drafted the leafs have never missed the playoffs. Ovechkin was drafted in 04 and they didn't make the playoffs until 08 and again in 2014. Things take time. But sure you think of real NHL franchises as if you're playing an EA sports game. Moron.


Convenient you ignored the rest of the post asking for an example in real life.
- Aaron_85

No team has EVER constructed their cap the way this team tried. I called it the failure it is a long time ago. Sue me.

He doesn't have to.

He makes more per year for the first 7 years. The next contract, signed a year earlier, more than makes up the difference.

I spelled it out for you. You're welcome.
- Nasty_Duck

How much more per year are you suggesting?

You might be right about making up that 8th year but it'll be his age 35 year. It's all a part of the negotiation but the point stands ....always better to have it in your pocket if you can ..and if everything else makes sense.

En anglais s'il vous plait?

It was the Core5.
- The Law

Patrick Marleau

Why ..that'd be really short-sighted. Big thinkers would realize that walking into UFA at age 30 lets him extend the next big deal out to age 38.

$$Booty.
- The Law

Exactly. He’ll make a lot more than if he signed an 8 year deal. Same for Marner There’s no way that 8 years is automatically the best deal even if it gives the biggest number on signing. Ask Nate MacKinnon how much more he could have made if he didn’t lock in.

There were (a few) people in here who wanted him kept. They were the same people who wanted a core piece moved like 4-5 years ago. 😉
- fifty__missions

And I'm to believe all those people would have been fine then and would be fine with it now if the Leafs had agreed to give him 7 years at (slightly) more than double the salary the Leafs had paid based on his expiring deal?

Sorry I just can't believe that at all.

There was no reason to believe his game would improve so drastically, Oilers took a huge gamble and it paid off - it's that simple & it's awesome for him and the Oilers and sucks balls for Leafs and Leaf fans.

I liked Hyman a lot but was big time in the 'no way he is worth that much' camp - who knows if he would have become the player he is today if he stayed, maybe but maybe not.

He had 13 points in 5 playoffs with the Leafs (32 games)

He had 16 points in his first playoff season with the Oilers (16 games)

#McDavideffect


From the article (note the bolded parts):

The forward signed a seven-year $38.5 million contract with a cap hit of $5.5 million a season – a bargain in comparison to the numbers he’s produced upon his arrival. Having never scored more than 21 goals in a season, Hyman has risen to stardom scoring 54 goals in 80 games during the 2023-24 regular season, setting career-highs in goals in each of his first three seasons in Edmonton.

In six seasons with Toronto (2015-21), Hyman scored 91 goals and 107 assists for 198 points in 377 regular and postseason games. In comparison, he has already scored 145 goals and tallied 114 assists for 259 points in 281 regular and postseason games.

How much more per year are you suggesting?

You might be right about making up that 8th year but it'll be his age 35 year. It's all a part of the negotiation but the point stands ....always better to have it in your pocket if you can ..and if everything else makes sense.
- The Law

Mitch will have made $52M when this contract ends. Going 8 years for security isn’t a big deal. Hitting a home run with two deals might be much appealing.