But why should he? He's better than Matthews, and he (rightly) thinks he should be compensated as such
- jcragcrumple

Better then Matthews?? See if he hits 90+ playing along side Johnsson and Kapanen? Mitch is a great plaer but he also played with JT all year.

I don't wanna give away the source, but it's none other than former NHLer Feter Porsberg
- ChonDerry

That's just hearsay

makes sense. matthews is the 34th best C in the league, just like his jersey number.

1-31. 31 #1 C's
32. Malkin
33. Samsung Rinehurt
34. mattews
- Tumbleweed

Goals? Is that everything? Mitch is absolutely one of the most exciting and effective players in hockey - right up there with the McDavids. Why shouldn't he have the same dough? Certainly Mathews is a great player - but who is more exciting, and just as effective - Mitch Marner!
Marner is a must watch when he is on the ice - every shift. Auston? At times. Certainly Mitch is at least an equal to Matthews.
- grahamzky

Marner: Pay me.

Dubas: Why?

Marner: Because I'm exciting. Screw goals and real numbers and stuff. Grahamzky said so.

Dubas: Sure, take all of it. My whole strategy is to pay my wingers higher than what other teams pay, especially higher than centers, so this is perfect! Who cares that you're an RFA and it's obvious the only place you want to play is Toronto. You win.


...sound about right?

Auston matthews is REALLY underrated. One of the very best in the NHL.

*Please insert "One 70 point season response here*

Auston matthews is REALLY underrated. One of the very best in the NHL.

*Please insert "One 70 point season response here*
- RogerRoeper

73 points / 37 goals in 68 games playing with 3rd line wingers who struggle to get above 40 points.

39 goals in his rookie season.

He's not under rated at all, he's just 21 years old.

73 points / 37 goals in 68 games playing with 3rd line wingers who struggle to get above 40 points.

39 goals in his rookie season.

He's not under rated at all, he's just 21 years old.
- Buggy166

AND even in 68 games last season, he somehow (Thanks Babcock!) was 38th most used centre in the entire NHL!

37 goals, 73 points in 68 games being 38th in TOI among NHL centres with 3rd line wingers.

He scored 40 in his rookie season. He'd have 3 40+ goal seasons if not for his injuries.

Kutcherov had 41 goals, 87 assists, for 128 points! Those incredible numbers followed an impressive 100 point season the year before....He is a right wing...He is only making 9.5 million. None of these RFA jokers deserve to make more then Kutcherov. To be clear, I am not a lightning fan, I am an AVS fan. I love Rantannen, and he should get paid. Based on the numbers though, I think he should take a 8 year deal, for 9M per, 72M contract...Everyone talking about these guys wanting anywhere from 10 to 12M a year, I think its crazy....None of these guys came close to Kutcherov's numbers. Kutcherov put up 87 assists, that's as many total points most of these guys had, and then he tacked on 41 more GOALS! No way these youngsters can justify reasonably that they should make more then him...He set the top pay bar in my opinion, and they all need to follow along in scale.

73 points / 37 goals in 68 games playing with 3rd line wingers who struggle to get above 40 points.

39 goals in his rookie season.

He's not under rated at all, he's just 21 years old.
- Buggy166

and 0-3 in the playoffs...

73 points / 37 goals in 68 games playing with 3rd line wingers who struggle to get above 40 points.

39 goals in his rookie season.

He's not under rated at all, he's just 21 years old.
- Buggy166

40 goals in his rookie season.

and 0-3 in the playoffs...
- RippedFuel

1st, 4th, and 3rd.

and 0-3 in the playoffs...
- RippedFuel

Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs in 8 years

Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs in 8 years
- RogerRoeper

so...the same amount of playoff success as the Leafs

if huge true
- poopstash

This seems to be a trend with young players, they act like the agent will figure everything out and they'll just sign. The reality is that it's their career, and their future, and the agent works for them.
- BestRapperAlive

Think about the reality of this situation. You have a kid who just turned 22. He's barely an adult and has never had to be responsible for any adult things. He didn't get an education beyond prep school and there he likely focused on hockey more than anything else. And, if you throw in the stereotypical criticisms of Millennials, he also has grown up in a world where people do things for him rather than teach him how to do them for himself.

On the other side you have multiple, experienced executives of the most valuable hockey franchise in the world. People who have been through this process hundreds of times and are managing term, dollars, cap space, CBA rules, etc.

I think it is very very likely true that they feel like the agent will figure it all out.

It is, just not the way you were using it. Guess what...Marner was on the ice for more goals against than Matthews. Look it up. Oh and Matthews was on the ice for 74 not 81.
- HockeyCanadian

I admit I did not take into account Powerplay points however everything else was correct.

Matthews had 73 points. To go even that means 73 goals would have had to be scored against. He was -9 so 9 more goals were scored against than for which means the number was 82

Marner had 21 and Matthews 20 powerplay points respectively and they do not count against the +/-

So matthews had 62 GA while he was on the ice

Marner had 94 points and was a +22. 94-22 =72
Remove the Powerplay points now of 21 and you are left with 51 GA for Marner

The Leafs and Dubas are responsible for the current situation in the signing of Marner. The reason is they gave Matthews both contract dollars and player preferable term and Marner wants the same. If they Leafs offered Mitch 11.5 for 5 years he would be signed, but the Leafs want 7 or 8 years for 11 million and less for a 3 year term. Like it or not, Marner has lead the team in point in back to back years, and every fantasy hockey pool magazine out there has him as the leader for this upcoming season as well. In fact several have him top 10 in the league, one even top 5. Leafs will need to pay him, and fans shouldn’t get upset about it. Matthews, Willy, and Tavares all got the contracts they wanted. Mitch should expect the same.
- malcolmthornton

In 2017/2018 Marner had 69pts in 82 games. Matthews 63pts in 62 games. And Marner was back to back 60pt player until JT came along...JT pulls his line, Matthews pulls his. Matthews is a goal scorer, as is JT. Matthews 1st in league in goals per 60mins, JT 4th. Goal scorers get paid. Centers get paid.
The fact that Leafs offered $11mil for 7yrs and was turned down is ridiculous. That contract would be one of the largest in Leafs history and put him up there as one of the top paid wingers in the league. I'm starting to think he doesn't care if he's a Leaf, he just wants to get paid. Because if he legit cared, that contract is more than fair...and he wouldn't be trying to handcuff the Leafs. (frank) Marner.

Goals? Is that everything? Mitch is absolutely one of the most exciting and effective players in hockey - right up there with the McDavids. Why shouldn't he have the same dough? Certainly Mathews is a great player - but who is more exciting, and just as effective - Mitch Marner!
Marner is a must watch when he is on the ice - every shift. Auston? At times. Certainly Mitch is at least an equal to Matthews.
- grahamzky

Are goals everything?
In a sport where goals determine the outcome of a game...Yes, yes they are everything.

Still hasn't ?