Sportsnet: Elliott Friedman on Sportsnet 590 Friday on Aston Matthews’ potential contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Matt Marchese: “Before we let you run here. Auston Matthews. We know about, there have been talks about an extension. I think you and I are on the same page. We don’t think it’s going to be long. I feel like three years is probably the number.”
And I do apologize to whoever wrote this article in The Athletic about it, but Auston Matthews has an opportunity here to perhaps set the standard. And we talk a lot in hockey about doing what’s best for the team and not being selfish and all that. All those things we learned in this hockey world growing up. Auston Matthews kind of has an opportunity to set the bar here.
I mean, I don’t think he’s going to make $15 million a year, I don’t think that’s the case. But do you think he’s really going to push this because the rising tide is lifting all boats and Auston Matthews is getting a big number on a three-year deal. This is probably what is best for the players union, which is something they want too.
Do you expect him to push Toronto here for a big number? “
Elliot Friedman: “Yeah. Like I don’t know how many times I’ve said it. I think he’s going to be the highest paid AAV player in the NHL.
Marchese: “But is that only $100,000 more than Nathan McKinnon or are we talking a million dollars more than Nathan McKinnon because those are two different things right?”
Friedman: “I don’t think it will be $100,000, I don’t know if it will be a million dollars, but I don’t think it will be $100,000. I think it will be a bigger number.
And the other thing, that is, I’ve been talking to an agent about this, a lot of agents look at deals as a percentage cap, okay. Let’s just say, one of the things that happened because of COVID the lid didn’t go anywhere. I think it would be interesting, Matthews even if he signed an extension and he will. I think it will be done before the season.
He’ll sign it, I don’t know, 16% of the max. By the time it starts, it’ll probably be done to 15 and eventually get down to 14. So it’s going to be a big number but, what the agent said to me, and two of them have done this, always keep an eye on not the number but the percentage of the cap. And when the cap begins to grow, this percentage will decrease. And he said that’s how the Leafs are going to see it and that’s how it’s going to be sold to the Leafs.”