Matthews with 7/8 year deal.
Bedard becomes Lindros vol.2

Wrong pick for Bedard

Heh. And you think that elsewhere is Toronto?

Chicago accepts and uses this year's 1st to take Bedard.

Well to.be fair we have no reason not to.

Mmm maybe (though him being from clear across the country seems like a clue). But not having a reason not to ain't quite the same as having a reason to think that he specifically wants to go there.

Matthews seems to want to be the highest paid player in the league, and Matthews at 15M$ a year is probably a negative asset for a team. I don't think they'd get a late 1st round for Matthews at 8*15M$

Lol come on man seriously.

Matthews doesn't fit with Chicago's timeline. They don't have the pieces to expedite the timeline either. He won't sign with a bottom feeder. Ironically, it makes more sense for Matthews to sign there next year if they have Bedard and another top prospect from 2024. Because that way they are a few trades and signings away from turning the corner.

If Bedard refuses to sign, they will still draft him. They have two years to wait him out and get the best return possible.

Seriously why would any team want to give valuable asset to acquire Matthews, a great regular season player but a complete useless player in the playoffs, at 14/15M for 8 years?

78 years for Matthews?

Hold up

Not completely useless no and with a coach who had a clue it would be different too in my opinion. I always wanted to see him with a power forward as opposed to a smaller guy who always slows down the play. I guess we'll disagree, but there is no way he goes for less than multiple firsts.

If Bedard was going to pull a Lindros he wouldn’t want to go the Leafs if he’s a die hard Canucks fan

"With a coach who had a clue" "small guys who always slows".

He played for a coach who won the Olympics, the Stanley cup, and reached two other finals. He played with very, very talented linemates, yet he never delivered in the playoffs, looked completely invisible in all "must-win" game he played in, he's soft and doesn't seem to be a leader.

Sounds like you're just looking for excuses for his poor performance.

Matthews at 14/15M$ for long term? Pretty sure the return would be very underwhelming. Sure there's probably a team who'd pay more than a late first, after all h'e gonna sell jerseys and he's a high profile player, but there's no universe in which Leafs get a Connor Bedard type of return.

I saw that. You beat me to it xD

Sigh I am making no excuses man, nor do I ever. All I am saying is that if he is set up for success with linemates may are tougher and not afraid to be hit all the time, it might be different.

I don't think he will get 15 mill anyways and there would he players coming back to balance the cap. If you think the Leafs get less of a return (for at least a whole year of him) than teams get in deadline deals for much lesser players (for a few weeks) then I am not sure what to say. That is ridiculous. It happens every single year.

I guess we will just wait and see, but this is laughable.

He'll get less of a return if he's signed to the highest paying contract in the league. Cap hit has an impact on a player's value on the trade market. It isn't new. And if he becomes the highest paid player in the league, his value would drop dramatically I think as he never performed like a top player in the playoffs.

Well he won't first of all, but to say he might not even get a late first is...well kind of nuts. I do get your point though, but strange stuff happens and this would be no different.

As a Leafs fan if he is not 100% committed, I would want the bald prick gone. I don't get attached to players.

Well there was a rumor that his asking price is $15M, now that might not be true, or that might not be the contract he gets... All I wanted to say is that IF that's his cap hit (or around that amount), his value will be lowered significantly. There's no way he fetch a return like the pick for Bedard. I think a lot of teams would pass on giving up valuable asset for a guy like him at this price tag.

If he's signed at a more reasonnable amount than yes, the return would be much better, but again, it's not going to be Bedard.