Arizona's not ready for AM34 to be the difference maker and they've shown extreme aversion to spending actual money, why would they make this trade now instead of try to convince him in FA? If he's willing to sign there as a UFA, they can afford to wait and not gut needed pieces from their roster.

If you trade Matthews, it has to be to a competitor who thinks it will put them over the top. NYI, Florida, Winnipeg, Vegas would be examples.

Why trade for him when they can sign him for free man

I mean the value is fine but it doesnt fit Arizona's timeline. Best case for arizona is to sign him next summer while also having a top pick, then either drafting someone or trading it for another star (maybe in a Marner package lmao?)

Well, if they were to try and convince him in FA '24, they would be competing against 20 other teams, so he would likely demand more, no?

What is ARZ's timeline then? AM is like 26 next season. He still has 8 more good years ahead of him if he's healthy.

AM34 is not being traded. Even if he doesn't extend this summer. Dubas & Co will bang on his door every day until he signs a contract, with TO or otherwise.

I know it's interesting to think what his value is-- but you don't trade players of his caliber, in his prime, while your team is competitive.

They arent gonna be ready to contend next season. Matthews would just make them get to middle of the pack. They need more than just him.

anybody who thinks auston matthews is going to arizona needs to lay off the crack

I disagree. Gretzky, Ron Francis, Messier, Shanahan, Panarin, Shea Weber, Taylor Hall, Matthew Tkachuck...
Sometimes you have to make a trade, for financial or competitive reasons...

its such a simple concept, wouldnt be entertained if he was on any other team but the leafs

He's going to demand whatever he is going to demand wherever he feels like signing, his UFA rights being held by Arizona aren't going to make any difference to what he resigns for. Under the assumption that Matthews will go where he wants for what he wants as a UFA, why should Arizona give all that up for 1 years service, and the potential to sign him to one additional year? Value isn't there for them.

Toronto will not get back a top 10 pick for Matthews, because no one holding one of those picks sees him as the missing piece. Toronto would have to settle for quantity over quality.

who of matthews caliber has been traded this generation

Also am34 has a nmc so that lowers the value of any return as a given as like kane he can give one destination and the return could reflect that. Fully believe its either ufa or a complete overpay that lose the likes of Nylander.

Jack Eichel, Artemi Panerin. Maybe not Quite Am34 but close enough.

both arent on his tier,

jack wanted out of buffalo, panarin the hawks couldnt afford, none of these apply to matthews and toronto

did you get to the end of my list?

those guys arent his caliber

??? doesnt mean Panarin isn't on his tier..caliber and situation are 2 different things. 32 teams in the league, 32 different situations...
you asked about caliber

lol, sure matthew tkachuk is, bud

matthews is on a whole different tier than panarin. lets not get carried away here

lmao mathews is top 5 at worst, tkachuk isnt even top 10, 32 out of 32 gms are taking matthews over tkachuk

both arent on his tier

jack wanted out of buffalo, panarin the hawks couldnt afford, none of these apply to matthews and toronto[/quote]

"both arent on his tier",assinine statement So Kucherov McDavid and Draisatl haven't been traded. So Mathews can't 🙄

"both arent on his tier",assinine statement So Kucherov McDavid and Draisatl haven't been traded. So Mathews can't 🙄[/quote]

I added that guy to my ignore list. He's just trolling from the 407

If they spend $15M per season on Matthews, it’s a net positive for them. A homegrown superstar is a financial opportunity too good to pass up. If money is the driving force, which it is, it’s a no brainer to acquire and extend matthews, regardless of cost.

"both arent on his tier",assinine statement So Kucherov McDavid and Draisatl haven't been traded. So Mathews can't 🙄[/quote]

crosby, ovechkin, malkin, mackinnon, stamkos, those are all players who were top 5 nhl players who were in competitive windows and werent traded, those players dont get traded. the NHL isnt the NBA