Équipe: 2022-23 Maple Leafs de Toronto

Date de création initiale: 13 mai 2023

Publié: 13 mai 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I want to say that I am a Leafs hater, so I am biased but, the question still is: what is the value to Matthews to another team in a trade.
He is undoubtedly an elite player in the regular season, No question.
In the playoffs, though, he really does seem to disappear/play a perimeter game that does not work in the playoffs.
In my mind he is kind of like Ovechkin was in the years before Washington won the Cup...great in the regular season but not performing in the playoffs.
Could Matthews turn his career around like Ovechkin did and actually be a contributor to a team that has playoff success?
Then there is the factor about his salary. He needs a new contract after the upcoming year and will likely take up about 13% to 16% of a team's total cap space. That is not insignifcant, because a team taking on a high-end talent like Matthews is also taking on the risk that they will use a big part of their overall salary cap availability to take on a player who may never get it done in the playoffs as a leader. This is why some of my trade values may seem low.
So how much is he worth in a trade?
From Toronto's perspective I think they could think about trading him to a team for a lesser talented package of players, BUT players who are more likely to perform in the playoffs.
I also think there is a real possibility Matthews decides that he will go to free agency with a U.S. team because he gets tired of the pressure and criticism (which is richly deserved) in Toronto, so perhaps T.O. has to lower their expectations in a trade return.
I suggested a few trades below that might work (although, as a Habs fan, I would prefer to see him stay in Toronto and continue to be a no-show in the playoffs for the next decade!)
Any other reasonable trade scenarios are welcomed.

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