I doubt he'd wanna sign with a rebuilding team but for that money maybe...

By next offseason, the rebuild will be well underway and the Hawks will be very much in contention especially if Matthews inks with the Hawks. This is a playoff team with him on it.

I strongly disagree, but that's alright. I think Chicago has many years before the rebuild is over. They got lucky with Bedard but still this isn't a playoffs team even with Bedard and Matthews on it.

If this were to happen Chicago would be praying the cap has those big increases coming. Bedard may very well be a +10 million contract guy by the end of his ELC. Then add on all the young elite players that will want to get paid along beside him and trouble would be in the horizon

I strongly disagree, but that's alright. I think Chicago has many years before the rebuild is over. They got lucky with Bedard but still this isn't a playoffs team even with Bedard and Matthews on it.

Chicago should be another bottom 10 team this year, but 24-25 should be the start of their climb in the Central.

Its interesting you don't see the comparison with Chicago and Toronto's rebuild that brought them Matthews, Marner, Willy and Rielly. Toronto made the playoffs Matthews 1st year.

Chicago has high end forward prospects (Bedard, Reichel, Nazar and Moore) Depth prospects (Ludwinski, Hayes, Savoie, Greene) + the 9 other draft picks from this past year and 13 picks in the top 3 rounds in the next 3 years. Dont forget the 60 Million in cap space in 24-25

Not all of the prospects will work, but the foundation has been started.

Personally I think $5m per year for Bear is waaaay to much.

I know Matthews is extremely talented but I have a hard time paying him $15m per season when he hasn’t proven he can win when it matters most. Now I know it is a team game but when you are the top dog, getting paid the most, you’re expected to be the guy to drag the team along with you. How many times did we see Kane or Toews step up in a crucial time and have a monster game? Matthews hasn’t done that ever in his career, it has just playoff disappointment after playoff disappointment. I believe the Leafs have won one series with him on the team… one!

I know everyone is freaked about Toronto's current cap and lack of success problem but that's NOT Matthews' fault. The Leaf's overpaid Marner and others not Matthews. To think the Hawks can't sign a top FA because they have a lot of prospects is a flawed mentality. Look at what happened when the Hawks in the early days of the last rebuild signed Campbell and Hossa those were amazing FAs to add to a crop of drafted prospects. You can never be 100% obviously, there will be mistake signings like Huet. But like I said you don't even get opportunities to sign players like Matthews every year maybe once-a-decade type FA opportunity!

If this were to happen Chicago would be praying the cap has those big increases coming. Bedard may very well be a +10 million contract guy by the end of his ELC. Then add on all the young elite players that will want to get paid along beside him and trouble would be in the horizon

I dont have a problem signing Matthews as a UFA, quiet the opposite. I just disagreed with you saying it will be "years" before the rebuild is over.

"Help is on the way dear" - Mrs. Doubtfire

The COVID escrow is on course to be paid in full by the end of the 23-24 season. They are on schedule for the increases to go into effect over the next few years with a projected cap ceiling of $92.5M for the 26-27 season. There is no question about it... Unless there is another pandemic or season haulting event of some kind that causes major profit losses AND another agreement like the COVID loan.

Hossa didn't win prior to becoming a Hawk and that worked out well when they broke the bank for him when the cap was much smaller.

That means the Hawks are one of about 3 teams who will have the most available cap space over the next 3-5 years. They can afford to spend!

Hossa had also been to the Stanley Cup finals the two previous seasons before signing in Chicago, Mathew’s has been out of the first round once and then was MIA in round two against Florida. I’m not rewarding that with the highest per season contract.

On another note how is Marner overpaid but not Matthews?

Matthews is the far better player. The reason the Leafs suck is because of their defense not their offense. Hossa was on the Wings & Pens who had some HOF talent on thier back end. Matthews is playing with overpaid D who kill their cap.
Their regular season point per game average is extremely close; Marner = 1.09 ppg, Matthews = 1.13 ppg; and Marner holds more defensive value and Mariner’s playoff point per game average is better, although again they are very close; Marner = 0.94 ppg, Matthews = 0.88 ppg.

Sure. They "COULD". But, should they? I don't think so. They start spending now and they will be shooting themselves in the foot down the road when other players start needing contracts.

Unless, they are loading up and spending to the cap on very good players and throwing a wrench in the rebuild, Matthews won't be interested in joining a rebuilding team. But, CHI shouldn't be spending anywhere near the ceiling any time soon. If they were just buying him (and maybe one more good player) while still leaving a lot of cap flexibility, and he were willing to wait a few years to make a serious run, then I'd be interested. But I doubt that is the case.

Just stay the course and keep rebuilding through the draft and development.

Sure. They "COULD". But, should they? I don't think so. They start spending now and they will be shooting themselves in the foot down the road when other players start needing contracts.

Unless, they are loading up and spending to the cap on very good players and throwing a wrench in the rebuild, Matthews won't be interested in joining a rebuilding team. But, CHI shouldn't be spending anywhere near the ceiling any time soon. If they were just buying him (and maybe one more good player) while still leaving a lot of cap flexibility, and he were willing to wait a few years to make a serious run, then I'd be interested. But I doubt that is the case.

Just stay the course and keep rebuilding through the draft and development.

I strongly disagree, but that's alright. I think Chicago has many years before the rebuild is over. They got lucky with Bedard but still this isn't a playoffs team even with Bedard and Matthews on it.

Hossa didn't win prior to becoming a Hawk and that worked out well when they broke the bank for him when the cap was much smaller.

Outside of Bedard can you guarantee any single prospect will be as good as Matthews or even has a decent shot of being at Matthews level?

They still have 13 mil in cap space after signing Matthews they are basically paying Matthews what (Perry + Johnson + Foligno) make now that is not breaking the bank they have so much cap space even after signing an MVP player.

Outside of Bedard can you guarantee any single prospect will be as good as Matthews or even has a decent shot of being at Matthews level?