How Matthews' Short-Term Deal is a Win for the Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews' contract negotiations are Brad Treliving's top priority. He needs to sign him before taking care of the rest of the roster.
It won't be an easy task as he's about to become the highest paid player in the NHL.
Speculations around his contract are everywhere. Nobody knows what he'll earn, just that it'll be a lot.
An intriguing idea was advanced, about signing Matthews short-term.
Benefits of Signing Matthews Short-Term
Of course, ideally, Treliving would sign Matthews for many years. But signing short-term could benefit the team and him.
Being first is always risky because you get hit the most while carving a path for others. But, if Matthews signs a four-year deal, others will follow suit. Sooner than later, his deal won't seem like an outlier. He won't be the highest-paid player for terribly long, he won't be the only one looking to use his leverage, and he'll effectively change the way contracts are negotiated by the league's elite. That's not a bad thing for Toronto."
If Matthews signs a four-year deal, he'll be 29 when he'll be a free agent again. Then, the cap will be higher and at this age, he could still ask for a long-term contract. Superstars are usually looking to use around 15% of the salary cap, and if the cap is higher, the 15% is too.
What kind of contract do you think Matthews will sign?
As seen on Hockey Writers - How a Matthews Short-Term Deal Could Benefit Maple Leafs Later
| POLL | ||
What kind of contract do you think Matthews will sign? | ||
| Long-term | 784 | 40.3 % |
| Short-term | 1160 | 59.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
