Matthews will not have any anyone to help him win a cup if he demands that much money.

He’s good, but 16 million?

honestly im just impressed this team is still below the cap with
matts
willy
jack
bunting
kampf
kase
and robby getting raises

Are you? This is a 2024-25 roster and hes re-signed Clifford, Simmonds, blackwell, giordano to near lge minimum deals and brought in 3 rookies on ELC. And this is the year that MArner and Tavares expire. And its excpecting growth/continued development from every player they currently have. And its an 18 skater lineup with no cap

If Matthews gets 16mil on a 82.5 cap, this team will wither and die and never win a championship

I think people are expecting him to get paid this much. Some saying even 18 million which is absolutely crazy. I'd say he takes somewhere between 12-15 mill, realistically he shouldn't be getting more than McDavid. If he does then Mcdavids next deal is gonna be massive.

This is in 24-25 season and I didn't include any draft picks over the two years. In reality, Giordano, Simmonds and Clifford likely are retired and replaced with rookies (if they draft extremely well with their limited draft picks). Tavares and his massive cap hit will expire allowing the signing of Marner and a cheaper replacement for Tavares. I agree 16 mill is way too much though, but if the leafs don't pay him 16 mill, maybe another team will if he keeps playing really well. I think he is exactly worth his current contract, but at 16 mill you could pay Draisatl and Jack Hughes, and I'd take that over Matthews 1000%.

So after 2 yrs of no rookie forwards seeing meaningful time, you will have gio/simmonds/clifford replaced with 3 lge minimum/ELC AND Knies/Niemala/Woll/Robertson? And Kase will stay healthy? I see a worse team, a team just hoping every player/prospect hits and continues to develop and stay healthy with the same cap issues theyve had the past 4-5 yrs (in 24-25). I see a pretty weak defense and still an offense composed of 4 forwards.

This is just a projection two years ahead, assuming that these players have some good development. Theoretically, in two years, Woll would now be a qualified backup, Knies and Robertson may have had two years experience in the NHL, Niemela too, and also some recent draft picks would be able to play in the bottom 6. I don't know if this will actually happen, it's in two years so the quality of the team is based entirely on if the players they have get better or worse. If all the young players suddenly become ECHL level, this team is ****ed, but if they become good then it's a good roster. And if the RFA's become good then you can sign some of them when Tavares deal is up.

Of course mcdavids next deal is gonna be massive. He signed this one 5 years ago

You didn't up the cap. Probably should be up by around 2-4 mil

I think it’s always assumed he will be signing the full 8 year or leaving. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him sign a 3 or 4 year deal for 13-14 million. That should give him enough time to break the goal and point records, hopefully win and then can be a free agent again at around 30.