You do know that Yotes fans are going to take this seriously right? lol

Well for expect to get two replies....from all the Yotes fans on the CapFriendly.
PS. I am serious in my post. It is a legit concern that Matthews could accept a huge offer sheet that the Leaf can't/won't match.

Very interesting thought process/explanation, palhal! I could see this happening, and who knows, maybe even becoming a future trend.

No he won’t. He has already stated he is long term with the leafs and assured Tavares before Tavares would even sign. I don’t see him as a person of no character. I could certainly see him finishing his career in in Arizona. If Toronto was really concerned about that he would have a contract already. Even Bobby Orr has come out and said that Matthews will be with the leafs long term. Please try to tell me you don’t trust Bobby...

I like the hypothetical, leafs are certainly not a bad team and with 4 first rounders that are not lottery protected and a 15m Matthews sucking the yotes dry would probably net us a better return. Wouldn’t 4 first over all picks be nice? Lol.

Its money that makes world going round....the world going round....the world going round

Its what we are wishing, if he will keep his face and his "promises" again depends from many factors.....his agent, his dad, his mom, his dog, his greed, his....you know where i am going

To me, it is a little suspect that Matthews and Marner haven't signed when they were eligible on July 1.

McDavid did, Eichel did.

Maybe that is the way Toronto wants it, I honestly don't know.

If I was Toronto I would prioritize the "big 3" as Matthews, Marner, then Nylander"

But, to me, it is odd that none of them are signed and they signed Tavares.

What does it mean? I don't know.

Lol "everybody knows that Arizona will offer sheet a contract they can't match"???? Since when??? They will 100% try to sign Matthews, and he likely will sign a smaller deal to TML than Arizona, especially if they do well this year. I would say that Arizona will offer sheet, but I don't think Matthews is going anywhere. Nylander would get traded (after being signed) before they let him go, and even that probably won't happen. Dubas knows that a Matthew-Tavares situation mimics a Crosby-Malkin situation and we all know how that worked out (3 cups).

Also you have 7 million in cap space on this, but can't sign Matthews and get rid of someone else? He would want 10-11 million sure, but if Marner and nylander both get 7.5 i would be shocked. I would say 7 each for them, that leaves 9 for matthews Plus additional for sending down engvall and Brooks. And Ozhiganov won't get 2.5 so they lose Gardiner.

Leafs are so scary deep up front. Even without Matthews this team is still very deep

We saw "wanting to stay" from Tavares....and he left for the Isles. So as you suggest, never believe a play or executive when they talk publicly about their contract negotiations. The reason I think Matthew might be in play is that that the Coyotes is kinda in a unique situation. Lots of cap, perennial out of the playoff, not much of a Coyotes fan base (lots of snowbirds attending the games), It might be a gamble they would take signing a hometown boy and making a gamble the Matthews would do. Most offer sheets potentially are a difference between 1 and 2 m a year Coyotes could blow everyone out of the water by offering a 15m deal which the Leafs wouldn't match IMO.

You suggested that the Leafs pay Matthews 9m, let's say Arizona offers 14m....,.,do the Leafs match? It isn't a question of the Leafs being not fair in their fair, it's whether another time offers "too much".
But you are correct, a team can present an offer sheet, it doesn't mean a player will sign it. He then has more leverage to get more from his team.

I see your point, I just can't see Arizona offering so much that he declines. Look at Tavares. He signed for 2 million less to be on TML, partially to be WITH MATTHEWS. Matthews will do the same, probably taking 9-10 instead of 12

Though i could see ARI offering matthews a contract from interviews matthews has made he has assured the management group and Tavares he wants to stay with the leafs and be part of what is building here. Though he could be BS when he told Tavares this he doesn't seem the type to do that. I could see his agent listening to offers only to leverage max money the leafs can afford to pay so even if ARI offers 12 million the agent will decline and use that to get the same exeact contract as Tavares meaning 11 million and Strike proof. But who knows maybe Matthews has stated he doesnt intend to resign with the leafs and BS tavares so he can get out of Toronto without being linched by the fans