The Most Expensive Player In The NHL 

"For Toronto's sake they better hope the next five years are worth the purchase" - This is the million dollar quote in the video. There better be some playoff success with that kind of money.

Matthews deal on its own isn't the worse than, but combined with the other 3 being paid so much, the team has no depth. Depth wins in the playoffs.

The amount of work that goes into making just a 5-min video... Love your videos. Keep it up.

The NHL has to raise the salary cap. Pascal Siakam is making $37 million a year playing for the Toronto Raptors and everyone's calling Matthews greedy for taking $13 million. What a joke.

so many players have wilted and left Toronto's heated market... the fact the Matthews AND Marner have excelled in this market says a ton about their ability to play under pressure ALL year. That's worth the price tag. The playoffs.... yea, he may need a sports psychologist or something.. he has all the tools. I sure hope they grip the cup in the next few years.

Love Watching your videos, a huge huge NHL fan from India.

150 points is 3-4 times more impactful than 60 goals

The difference between ovechkin and matthews is that ovechkin always showed up for the playoffs and never disappeared

The Leafs will never win a cup without a decent supporting cast. They won't get far into the playoffs until they unload Tavares' contract in the 2025/26 season. If Tavares re-signs with the Leafs, it better be with a massive home town discount!

Ovi wasn’t all about the money though

Fantastic point about OVI. Please keep reminding everyone that the grass is always greener on the other side. I'm happy to see Matthews continue, that is a crazy number tho!

This upcoming season is make or break for this Leafs core. The Bruins are decimated, the Lightning should continue to slide downwards. If they can't make a serious run this year, it's not gonna get any easier when Matthews' extension kicks in. I can't imagine them failing again this season, but they continue to find new ways every year so it wouldn't be a shocker.

Haters are unreal. Matthew's is pretty much garenteed 40 a year. His defense is very noticeable. Lead in blocked shots. Starting to use the body. Good deal imo.

Tavares’ contract is up in 2 years, trading Nylander for significant pieces along with Tavares taking a hometown discount and nobody will be complaining about this contract. That being said, playoff success has to come otherwise he’s probably gone in 5 years. Marner still has a couple years as well, but they can’t pay him Matthews money again and that’s where the problems will start to come up. Remember we’re talking about a top 5 player in one of if not, the biggest hockey market in the league…

Imagine thinking you deserve more then mcdavid

Not Mathew’s fault ,.. what the leafs need is a solid defense that can calmly move the puck out of their own zone.. moving through the neutral zone (where the game is won n lost) thereby generating scoring opportunities, until they resolve that glaring issue , they will continue to disappoint! Go leafs go

He's worth it. In regular season he consistently shows up when needed. Now that the mental barrier of their 19-year playoff curse is broken, I think the core 4 will produce results this post season.

Auston Matthews is an amazing pure goal scorer no question. I can't say whether it's an overpay because Treliving didn't think it was. However, my issue with Matthews and Marner are that they are players who are only interested in making money and care about themselves. A player like John tavares is different in that he wanted to play for his hometown team, and made his intnentions clear, and is truly deserving to wear the "C" in Leafland. The playoff success that Matthews will be defined by boils down to if he buys in to being part of a team not an individual.

Dam your good, I agree with your Matthews take when you are the highest paid your going to be under the Microscope. Great Work.

Matthews is way overpaid he is definitely a 11-12 million dollar man

I truly believe that Matthews can live up to his current contract figures in the future. But not only has he done little to warrant even more, even with the cap going up he is now throttling the Leafs yet again to put a better team around him. So either someone else finally bites the bullet and takes less, or there won't be a Core Four for much longer. Nobody can tell me he "needed" what he now makes extra more than better teammates, and thus this reeks of a contract for bragging rights.

I’m just happy to have him on the Leafs in his prime years. It’s an overpay compared to the other superstars but with the cap going up I think it’ll be the right value

It’s kind of sad how the most paid player in the NHL contract wise makes virtually nothing compared to top athletes in other sports. NBA players signing over $100 million contracts like nothing

If matthews figures out how to take his regular season play to the playoffs and bring the leafs to the promise land, then the deal is worth it. If we get the same thing in the playoffs then it’s an overpay no doubt.

I like how people judge superstars based on how many cups they’ve won as if hockey isn’t a team game

I'm happy to have him back for another 4 years, but I personally couldn't justify over 13M a year for 4 years until he can help this team go deeper than 1 win in round 2. For his overall play, I would've given him 10M tops seeing as how he'll probably continue to average 40-50 goals per season, maybe a couple more Rocket Richards and a Hart, but for 13M a year, you've gotta do better than 2 assists in a 5 game series that you lost.

Over the two most recent seasons, Austin sits fourth in goal scoring. Not saying he's not a great goal scorer, but if we are putting any weight on recent seasons he's in the conversation for the best goal scorer, but it's debatable. As far as him being generational, I wouldn't go that far. Superstar, yes. But nothing about his numbers or play put him up there with Sid, Connor, Gretz for me. He may not even be in my current top 5. Generational is a stretch.

1.5ml overpay To short of term AKA bad deal for Toronto and im a Leafs fan now dont be surprised next year when Marner asks for 11 or 12 mill 😂😂😂😂😂😂 IM IN DANGER 😂😂😂😂😂😂

would be fun to know his rank for goal per 60 5vs5 in playoffs. he is top 100??

Missing that level of killer instinct that makes the best of the best that extra little bit ruthless and unforgiving

Expectations don’t mean anything.

He’s a piece you need to win, it’s about assembling the troops around him now.

It won't be long before people are saying this signing is a key moment in the disassembling of the team. If Matthews is getting that much money don't expect anyone else to give discounts on their contracts. From this point on players will look to get the biggest paycheck they can get, too, and will leave town to get it (and gladly because of the pressure in the Canadian markets). As has already been speculated Nylander could be one of the first key players to bail. We shall see.

just a added note, when was the last time a super star got a huge pay raise and he preformed like he was "WORKING" for that raise. Instead of just playing so he gets the check? Especially in Toronto?

It’s fair value for the calibre of player he is, and while the cap hit is high it could have been higher if the deal was longer. Besides, he won’t be the highest paid player for long as a certain someone in Edmonton will need an extension soon

It's what the Leafs had to do. He's a generational talent and you don't just let that walk away. Sure he could have signed for say $1 million less per year but if that $1 million in cap space is the difference between a Cup and failure that's a front office and/or coaching issue not a Matthews issue

Over/under 700 career tucks?

Playoff points per game; Matthews 0.88 Makar 1.07 Kucherov 1.13 MacKinnon 1.30 McDavid 1.53 Draisaitl 1.57 what did they just pay him?

Thus far smart move by Leafs.

Paying Tavares 11M is the real atrocity lol

I love how Carey Price is still in the top ten highest paid players

I think his real value, from the team perspective, is outside the arena. As soon he dont play and talk, he makes like 50 mil a year and pretty sure many persons have a cut.

After last season there's no doubt in my mind that the best goal scorer in the league is McDavid. He just decided to score more and scored 64.

If they raised the damn cap it wouldn’t matter so much.

Dude isn't even the best player on his team most days and is the highest paid now... just the Toronto thing to do.

"Is he actually worth it?" No. Leafs are broken if they dont retain him, though.

2 assists in the 2nd round and year after year a playoff no show. Hilarious massive overpay

This deal isn’t really too bad, will be pretty much equal value once the salary cap goes up, you can’t really compare it to McDavuds contract since it was signed 6 years ago at a higher cap hit % plus he’s underpaid by a good amount, he won’t be the highest paid player in a year or two, although I do understand why he gets the criticism due to the playoffs issues

I think that 13.25 for 4 years is way to much for a a superstar who has issues in the playoffs, maybe if he starts to perform higher I can see it, but still 13.25 has gotta hurt the depth chart

If the leafs don’t win the cup in this extension it’s not worth- I really hope they do

While I think it’s overplayed, though this is the highest pay, his contract against the cap (% wise) is a better contract then iginlas was

That 13.25 mil should be given to the shut down player on the other team in the playoffs, that keeps him off the score board.

Noone scored again bob until vegas broke him

I think he didnt want to stay in Toronto and said as a joke 13M and they said yeah 😂😂😂

Imma laugh so hard if the cap doesn’t go up as high as everyone is saying

Hearing Matthews is bad because he hasn't won a cup is like hearing Messi is bad because he hadn't won the World Cup (at the time). As if hockey and football aren't team sports

Ovie could actually score in the playoffs though

all i know is if i have to pick between mcdavid, matthews and mackinnon. im not taking matthews.

"Let's make our already destroyed cap even worse for a nobody when games get real" 🤷🤣

The guy scored 40 goals and was at the top in the league for blocks and D zone takeaways(may have even led both them not sure) He's getting a 1.5mil raise. That's not unreasonable.

okay , but where is he in the playoffs no where to be found.Great he scores goals in regular season how does that help us

Welcome to Vegas

Doesn’t really set a good precedent when the face of the franchise is getting this much I wonder what Marner and Nylander are going to ask for

He deserves it, he’s the best goal scorer in history

Can Matthews just win 2 second round playoff games?

One season over 100 points and one season with 60 goals. He is not worth 13.25 a year. He's a very good goal scorer but he doesn't lead the team and a no show in the playoffs.

I don’t understand how Toronto expects to win when their core 4 are all signed to massive deals. Barely any room is allowed for depth but I won’t complain about the leafs sabotaging their chances to win.

And the thing about the lightning series is they played poorly he didn't play well. The bolts didn't want jt this year. That's why he went right back to his typical chokefest against the panthers. No reason to pay "generational talent" pay to someone that plays like a 3rd line player in the playoffs.

I can just expect more of the same. Bye Nylander! I really liked ya.

0:30 The only thing this creampuff does better than anyone else, is worry about his receding hair. He's won the Rocket trophy twice in seven years, how exactly do you think he's better than anyone else at scoring goals? 🤣 Thanks for the laughs though.

This is a deal they had to sign, business is business, he’s an elite scorer and he had all the leverage and I think it seals the deal on trading Nylander tho. He’s gonna get 9+ and they can’t afford that with Tavares still on the books and we all know he’s going nowhere. Now again time for 34 to prove he’s worth it.

The best goal scorer in the league.....in the regular season.

He's not though. Right now the most expensive player in hockey is Nathan Mackinnon. Matthews contract right now is just under 8m in actual US dollars and his AAV is about 11.64m. It's theoretically possible someone else will sign for more and Matthews will never be the most expensive player in the NHL.

As a Leafs fan, I can confidently say. N O T W O R T H. Also, JT is definitely overpaid. Give that money to Nylander instead, make Willy FEEL appreciated. Oh and maybe make a damn decision on goaltending and then MAYYBE we win a cup lol

Didn't MacKinnon just sign for 12.6? In what world is Auston Matthews worth more?

Congrats on Toronto continuing there ability to make immovable roosters. Ateam looking to rebuild leading into another rebuild

he's probably the best goal scorer in the league, but thats kinda it

2nd round not first round

Stanley cup? Nah, my boy Auston Matthews is all about that cheddar. Good for him though and I still think the Leafs will remain competitive. If not, then it doesn't matter cause my boy still got paid lol

Probably little bit overpaid but then again the Leafs had no choice, this guy is the undisputed leader and face of the franchise.

I have never agreed with the salary these guys are making. They should all be making a third of it until they can prove themselves in the playoffs. Win the cup, then we talk salary. Until then, winning the regular season means nothing.

Matthews out scored all players in last 5 seasons yet Connor mcdavid over in Edmonton is shining up that rocket Richard trophy cause he out scored matthews best season last season and still managed to make his team mates better… matthews is not a mcdavid level player so this makes me think mcdavid is definitely getting the max next contract

For me Matthews is worth 13,5 millions

He's gotta be brave to get a deal like that with the maple leafs. He's not gonna know peace for the next four years. Canada fans are too difficult.

Yeah but how much does he make after taxes

His numbers don’t matter; they don’t need a guy like that to make the playoffs, they need a guy who can produce in the playoffs… I would kind of get it if the Leafs were having a hard time making the playoffs, which is not the case at at all…. So WTF?! As long as the Leafs hangs on to both Marner and Matthews (and Tavares, while we’re at it), they’re doomed! They don’t need both, they need one of them, and sell the other to make the team actually better

whya re the leafs allergic to signing their stars for 8 years?

See, ppl think I'm crazy when I say matthews is better than McDavid, but they only look at the point totals. The other numbers show otherwise, though.

Incorrect, hes the highest cap hit, and thats not for another year, Mackinnon will be the highest paid NHLer for about 3-4 years as his deal is 16 mil per year for years 1-3 i believe Matthews is just shy at 15.9 and nothing about our offense could be blamed on Matthews he was a stud all playoffs Bob just literally had one series of horseshoes up his rear and then went back to regular BOB, also I dont think over a half a goal per game in the playoffs is bad its actually right around his regular season numbers which is hard to do

Nylander scores big goals in the playoffs. And has for years , but Leaf fans don't care

If he keeps losing then he deserves all the criticism he gets. 13 million dollars per year for 1 first round win is not fair to the fans in the least. We deserve better, I don't care about the regular season or any trophy awarded to an individual, I care about the Stanley Cup.

It’s an overpay due to its short term.

Tavares by far is the worst contract on the leafs

Definitely an overpay for a player.

I laugh how people are calling this the most expensive player in the NHL, let's look at that plug carey price, if you do a contract value to every conceivable stat, remember his last season 20% victory rate.... and if you consider how much is left on that contract, those 2 points are the most expensive 2 points ever

For 8 years sure decent contract , 4 ?? FOUR ?

What you all fail to understand is Matthews is subject to Canadian Taxes. He pays almost 50% if not more of his contract in taxes to be in Toronto. He could easily go to a team like the Panthers, or Predators, and make MORE MONEY with a SMALLER CONTRACT. He wants to stay in Toronto but for that to happen they have to accomodate him based on our shit fucking economy. So before you roast the kid saying he’s overpaid learn that every player is bound by the Tax Laws where they play. Not all Contracts are equal.

to me paying Mathews 15% of the salary cap and not getting him for the max term is a problem for the leafs. im interested to see how the Mathews contract affects Marner and Nylander

The west is weaker than the east. Why mcdavid goes deep in playoffs. But the east is stacked. Matthews needs skill playmaker. Like mcdavid has

Ovi was produced in the playoffs before they won, minus one year where he had like 2 points but I don't know if he was injured or not. This is probably me being with my hate blinders on, but I think he can be effective in the playoffs they just have to un-staple marner from his hip. He's a smaller play making forward that can't play through contact, not really much of a shot threat and crumbles as the play offs go along. I remember seeing his numbers from games 1-4 and then 5-7 over the last few years, it was something like 1.2 down to .4 points /60. The guy crumbles as the series goes on. The next point is just my terrible observations, but it seems like he relies too much on Marner to enter the zone. Especially in the play offs when shit gets tighter. Thee Mtl series is a prime example where they just let marner take the outside and focused more on the center of the ice where Matthews was. I don't mind the price, it would've been nice to have been a continuation of his current AAV or 12. I would've liked the term to have been 6 or 8, give the team and city a bit more commitment. My main issue is that Nylander's camp said their willing to take a discount if the others do and I don't think this is much of a discount. Then Marner is going to ask for something close to what Matthews makes. At least elite centers have a history of getting paid alot, the wingers that get paid even close to that are goal scorers or dual threats like Kane. Nylander is asking for 9 and alot of other similar caliber of players are signing in the low to mid 8's, that's a manageable number. Jt will (knock on wood) hopefully take a hometown discount. The thing with the Matthew's deal is that it is debatable whether it's an of an over payment, Marners will be. Please for the love of god trade him