Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2016 18:56:08 GMT -6
Toronto Maple Leafs top draft pick Auston Matthews remained without a contract on Wednesday, the sticking point apparently over performance bonuses that GM Lou Lamoriello has historically avoided in his time as an NHL executive. There is no reason to panic yet, with hockey still two months away.
But some find it a curious way to do to business for a team that has invested heavily in building through youth, and spent so much time selling the pain of losing to land a player of Matthews calibre. “This one, to me, feels foolish,” an NHL source not involved in the talks told The Star. “I don’t know what Lou’s reward is if he wins for the amount of risk you take by going this direction.”
The Leafs not only risk alienating Matthews and his camp — souring future talks when Matthews will have more leverage — but they may be sending a negative message to players around the league about how the team treats stars, he said. “I hope Lou’s not holding his breath,” said an executive with a rival club. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Lou, but I would not be wagering the house on (the Leafs) being able to hold that line.”
Lamoriello declined an interview request.
It is believed Matthews is asking for an entry-level contract consisting of $925,000 in annual base salary (that includes a $92,500 signing bonus) as well as $2.85 million in performance bonuses, the same terms Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Buffalo’s Jack Eichel, the top two picks a year ago, received in their first contracts.
Patrik Laine, the second overall pick this year, settled for slightly less ($925,000 and $2.6 million) this year with Winnipeg.
It’s believed the Leafs — and Lamoriello, specifically — are balking at $2 million in performance bonuses, basically a payday if Matthews, for example, ended up as a top-five finalist in rookie-of-the-year voting.
www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2016/07/20/leafs-lamoriello-balks-at-bonus-demands-of-auston-matthews.html
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The Leafs manage to do th impossible. Screw up the Auston Matthews signing.
But some find it a curious way to do to business for a team that has invested heavily in building through youth, and spent so much time selling the pain of losing to land a player of Matthews calibre. “This one, to me, feels foolish,” an NHL source not involved in the talks told The Star. “I don’t know what Lou’s reward is if he wins for the amount of risk you take by going this direction.”
The Leafs not only risk alienating Matthews and his camp — souring future talks when Matthews will have more leverage — but they may be sending a negative message to players around the league about how the team treats stars, he said. “I hope Lou’s not holding his breath,” said an executive with a rival club. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Lou, but I would not be wagering the house on (the Leafs) being able to hold that line.”
Lamoriello declined an interview request.
It is believed Matthews is asking for an entry-level contract consisting of $925,000 in annual base salary (that includes a $92,500 signing bonus) as well as $2.85 million in performance bonuses, the same terms Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Buffalo’s Jack Eichel, the top two picks a year ago, received in their first contracts.
Patrik Laine, the second overall pick this year, settled for slightly less ($925,000 and $2.6 million) this year with Winnipeg.
It’s believed the Leafs — and Lamoriello, specifically — are balking at $2 million in performance bonuses, basically a payday if Matthews, for example, ended up as a top-five finalist in rookie-of-the-year voting.
www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2016/07/20/leafs-lamoriello-balks-at-bonus-demands-of-auston-matthews.html
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The Leafs manage to do th impossible. Screw up the Auston Matthews signing.
