Hounsy wrote:
If Matthews got that money over 7-8 yrs I don't mind, But with only 5 yrs on a guys I don't really think wants to be in Canada I think it stinks. If your going to expose yourself to him walking in two less years than the comparable other signings(Eichel and McDavid) he should get less. Dubas had leverage to say get an offer sheet we may or may not match or sit and get nothing but he caved.
Different circumstances. There's a new TV deal to be negotiated (where the cap is expected to rise substantially) a new CBA and likely another lockout happening soon, and frankly, I think all star players look at the McDavid contract and realized that was a mistake. He won't say it out loud, but he wants out. Players and their agents are now seeing the wisdom of shorter-term deals when before they were fine with max term.
And Dubas had no leverage. Matthews is way, way, way too important. If he even risked an offer sheet he'd be pilloried. Marner is not as important, so they can afford to play a little hardball, but not AM34.
The players as a whole are pushing the market to new extremes, it's really just bad timing and bad luck for Dubas and the Leafs that their "Big Three" all opted to do so now.
It looks like there's been some discussion behind closed doors. The RFAs are presenting a bit of a united front right now. Once the Marner deal is signed it'll be a watershed event, but everyone's waiting on him.