AM34 Trade

One season of Auston Matthews, at the cost of three essential elements of our future . . . no, thanks; we have the patience to wait until 2024. Imagine how good our squad will be after two Stanley Cup campaigns, in which Brandt Clarke will have played at least one, and the only significant players who'll be expiring are Viktor Arvidsson and Matt Roy (highly likely, along with Anze, to re-up if we sign AM).

As good as Matthews is, I don't think they are the right buyer. Even with 50% retention. Maybe an Eastern team like NYR or Pitt might be more aggressive for a player like Matthews.

I really don't think the Leafs trade him within the conference

Hey, if you don't want one of the best pure goal scorers on the planet at just over $5 million and exclusive negotiating rights for his future, I'm sure just about any other team will give up a similar or better package. You're right, retaining Arvidsson and Roy is probably more important

So THAT's the conclusion you drew from my comment?!? Pretty impressive, although not in the way that you probably hoped . . . you missed my main point entirely, and misconstrued my second point out of all recognition.

By the way, as to the value of "exclusive negotiating rights," Matthews and his agent(s) know that any offer Los Angeles would make in 2023-2024 would be exceeded by the offer extended in the summer of 2024.