Matthews will take up an average of 14.6% of the Maple Leafs' current cap space under his new dealGETTY IMAGES
The Maple Leafs signed 21-year-old C Auston Matthews to a five-year deal worth $11.634M per year, and while the contract "isn't ideal: too few years, maybe too much money," it reflects hockey's "new reality," according to Bruce Arthur of the TORONTO STAR. Matthews will "eat up" an average of 14.6% of the Maple Leafs' current cap, less than the figure for Oilers C Connor McDavid. But McDavid "signed for eight years, delaying unrestricted free agency, and that brought the average up." Matthews' five-year deal was "necessary because the eight years the two sides discussed last summer would have come with a much higher number." This contract "works for the Leafs because it makes the short-term future easier," but it will make Matthews an "unrestricted free agent at age 26" (TORONTO STAR, 2/6). SPORTSNET.ca's Mike Johnston wrote news of Matthews' contract is a "sigh of relief for the Maple Leafs fan base" (SPORTSNET.ca, 2/5). In Toronto, Zwolinski & McGran note Matthews' deal "should leave plenty of cap space" -- about $18M -- to sign "key youngsters" like RW Mitch Marner, RW Kasperi Kapanen and LW Andreas Johnsson. Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said that Matthews "showed his commitment to the team by offering a shorter term" (TORONTO STAR, 2/6). Also in Toronto, Steve Simmons writes Dubas, who "waited too long and paid too much" for RW William Nylander, "did neither with Matthews" (TORONTO SUN, 2/6).
