TSN's Montreal station makes ridiculous trade proposal for Auston Matthews

TSN690 proposed an Auston Matthews trade that is so ridiculous that even Habs fans don't agree with it. The trade was Cole Caufield, Mike Matheson and the 5th overall pick in this year's entry draft for Matthews.

For one, Matheson is 29 and has 4 years left on his contract that pays him $4.875M per season and is coming off of an injury-plagued season that saw him skate in just 48 games for the Habs. Second, Caufield is an RFA and is looking for a very lucrative contract, with reports indicating it is North of $8M per season for a player that has a total of 53 goals and 84 points in 2 NHL seasons. Third, The Leafs do not need another left-shot defenseman like Matheson and do not need another small forward, particularly a winger, in Caufield. The Leafs have enough of both and the trade makes zero sense in that perspective. It also makes no sense in terms of cap saving space given the projected contract for Caufield and Matheson's current contract would cost more than what Matthews is owed this season.

Then, of course, you can simply look to Matthews' value to the Leafs. This is a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner and the reigning league MVP. Matthews himself is worth more than the sum of the parts that would be coming in, even if one of them is the 5th overall pick in this year's draft. Matthews also stated on locker cleanout day that he desires to remain in Toronto and wants an extension done quickly this summer, which means that the threat of him potentially leaving next summer is not really a concern any longer.

Quite frankly, I might understand the concept of trading Matthews if MLSE wants to blow it all up and start over, even if it won't happen. However, hypothetically speaking, if it DID occur, there would be 31 NHL teams interested and the bidding war would be unlike anything we've ever seen. The Leafs could certainly get more than these 3 pieces from the Habs if Matthews was ever actually placed on the market.