Haha if this could happen I would love it, and would also blame the Marleau signing (Oh god why)

Yea, the Leafs would have cap crunch if they paid OEL, Dvorak and Domi 19.25m a season. If they are 19.25m players, Coyotes should keep them Much more reasonable to keep Matthews at 11.5 and spend 7.75 on two other forwards.
If the Coyotes still have a Arizona franchise, I don't expect Matthews to play out his career in Toronto. HIs 3 ELC seasons and maybe 5 more as Leaf then a Coyote.

I don't agree with this last sentiment of yours PalHal, McDavid was born a Leaf Fan, and Toronto is a better hockey market than Arizona, yet he'll probably play his whole career in Edmonton, so why is Matthews any different? I'm not saying the Coyotes won't try anything, but hopefully if Toronto Management is doing a competent job then they won't get a chance to offersheet him or lure him in Free Agency. Also Leafs can easily trade Marleau in his last contract year because it is front loaded, so that a team like Arizona would have interest in his contract to reach the cap floor. Maybe we even have to trade away a pick or 2 to get his contract off the books.

Poor Connor.

How much is Matthews going to be making that the leafs cant afford him but can afford giving out 19.25 mil to the players they get back

Hey Leaf fans, I hope Matthews stays a Leaf till my 80th birthday....like another 17 years. But if a player wants he can become a UFA four years after ELC expires. I just think the financial benefits outside of the NHL might be too big for Matthews ignore in the future.....whether it's Arizona or New York. Or maybe he just wants the challenge. Personally I'm surprised that McDavid signed for 8 years, but the money was too could to pass up.
I'm sure McDavid said the Oiler, "I will go the Trouba route. Bridge me for two years, and then I went go to arbitration for two years. I'll be a UFA after 7 years an Oiler". OR
Sign me to the max, and I will stay an Oiler for 11 years." 3 years ELC, and 8 years extension. McDavid had the power to demand his contract. Will Matthews?

Fans say McDavid and Draisaitl might really hurt the future cap for Oilers. It appears if the trend continues and super stars are going to really hurt their teams cap whether its the Leafs or any team.
Are we going to teams that make up of one 12m player, two 8 m players, four 6 m players , and then other fifteen players fight for "scraps of 30m?

The leafs won't let Matthews go, thats just not how hockey works and typically not how these players are built. Unless a player is really upset in the NHL they rarely ever request a move and big players rarely ever hit free agency, for example Shattenkirk is debatably a #2 defence man and he was the biggest FA by far.

Please tell me the last time a franchise player hit free agency in their prime, because I sure as hell can't remember it.

The cap crunch you're all talking about won't be nearly as significant as most think. JVR and Bozak will be gone, an extra 9 mil free. Nylander and Marner will likely sign to 6x6 contracts which is the standard for potential elite players leaving their ELC, I don't know where everyone is getting this 8m figure from, and if Matthews puts up 100 points this season he will get 12 mil, if not he will be sitting at 11. I also don't know where you got "four 6 m players" from, they have Marleau at 6 for a season (after those contracts), aside from that they have no one over 6 or even 5. With the cap likely going up at least 4 million in 3 seasons, and exceeding that greatly after that due to a potential lockout, I doubt the leafs will end up having any financial troubles for a few seasons.

Matthews would never be traded in his prime, and will not hit free agency in his prime.

Cameron: Let's stop this hockey arrogance that "the Leafs won't let Matthews go". It's a two way street, and Matthews will have the right if he chooses to be a UFA in 7 years as a Leaf. Period. No chest thumping can stop it. But I agree with you that rarely a player turns down a long term deal when he offered a an extension as UFA. You mentioned Shatternkirk....a different circumstance....Shat signed an extension as a RFA. Tavares will be the same. These players aren't coming off their ELC contracts.
It will be interesting to see how the Trouba situation plays out. Trouba turned down more money from the Jets and long term, so he can get to arbitration rights sooner and be a UFA in 7 years as a Jet. Yes, he might be traded or sign an extension, but he is a good example of player who turned down more money and long security for the possibility of becoming a UFA at the minimum age.
I'll agree with Matthews that won't be traded even if he approaches UFA status. The Leafs are likely Cup contenders and need him to win the Cup, his UFA status be damned. In a lesser degree I feel the same way about JVR and Bozak this year. Unless the Leafs get immediate help in trade, the Leafs need those guys to help the team make the playoffs this year.