Quoting: Carpy22
I don't think are opinions are ever going to see eyes to eye on this topic we just have different views from each other (not saying this as a bad thing just differing views)
The one thing I'll say to your last point there is just be aware that the cap is going up these next couple seasons as well, which makes 10 million not mean the exact same thing as it did even three years ago in terms of percentage of salary cap. Ex. Crosby/Malkin in 15-16 when they won the cup accounted for about 25-26% of there teams salary cap and if Matthews signed next year for 10-11 million him an Tavares would take up roughly around the same (25-27%) percentage of cap space as Crosby and Malkin (assuming the cap goes up by at least a couple million by 2019 as expected). So its not impossible to win with a couple expensive players on the roster.
But like I said before I guess I can see where your coming from if you are Dubas and or a Leafs fan you would want Matthews at a lower pay annually but I'm thinking from Matthew's/his agent's perspective in that he will go in there and want Eichel/Tavares money (money which I personally believe he will get/deserve)
I'm fine with differing opinions and to agree to disagree.
When Leaf fans talk Matthews they bring up Crosby, Malkin, and Mcdavid as though he is on their level, which he is not. And it's not even close. Winning a Cup with Crosby and Malkin eating up a quarter of your Cap is one thing, Matthews scored 1 goal in the playoffs last year, if he and Tavares are eating up 25% of the cap, the Leafs are doomed. That would mean Marner and Nylander would be another 20% as well.
Tavares is a good comparable to Matthews but not the 9 year vet that Tavares is now. Tavares is far more dominant and well rounded presently and no doubt Mathews will grow quickly, he still has a lot of growing to do as a player. Of course he will want Eichel money, I want Eichel money, but Eichel has no one to play with and his situation is very different. He threw a tantrum, the owner fired the coach and GM, and they signed him to his 80M contract.
There is no value to the team if they have to pay him 10M. They'd have to move out at least one other key piece, and more importantly, there are a dozen players in the 6-8M range that can produce the same that would be more valuable to the team at that salary.
From a team standpoint, would you rather have Eichel at 10M or Scheifele at 6M? Similar production, Scheifele appears to be the better player, and with that extra 4M you can improve elsewhere on your roster.