Try more like $10 million for Doughty, He's not going to sign for $1 million more then what he's currently making now.

You throw away those salary numbers like they are factual. Tell me, besides the Kings who would to overpay their UFAs, what other team would pay Doughty 10m a year?
Cheaping out on Matthews. Nylander and having no money for upcoming RFAs isn't a way to get Doughty. I doubt there is really money or the desire on the Leafs for him.

Dude? Doughty is a Norris guy plus future hall of famer and it's been widely reported that he's seeking $10 million on his next deal. No way is Doughty signing for only $1 million more then what he's currently making and that is a fact he will want at the very least $9 million he will want to e paid amongst the very high paying D men in the NHL.

Dude. Larking. Thanks for proving my point. I asked you. "Tell me, besides the Kings who would overpay their UFAs shout other team would pay Doughty 10m a year"? Of course you didn't answer but gave some red herring answer about Doughty being a Hall of Famer. And of course you keep on saying about these "widely reported", like they mean anything. My point is that if Doughty moves from LA, he would likely want to go to a contender. What contender can pay him 10m? I guess you will never answer my simple question, red herring ranting is more your style.

I'd guess that Doughty's minimum salary is $8, more likely around $9 but $8 is possible.
Top AAV for defensemen:
Subban 9
Burns 8
Hedman 7.875
Weber 7.857

Matthews at $10M would be nice for the Leafs but with McDavid 12.5, Draisatl at 11.3 and Toews at 10.5, he could easily have a deal north of 11 now that Eichel signed for 10.

Do Leafs really want Nash at his age and production given their winger depth?

Don’t forget Ehlers and Scheifele at $6M.. just because some GMs are idiots and overpay for talent doesn’t mean everyone will follow suit. Matthews could absolutely be signed at $10M

larking probably will continue with doughty not wanting to play in canada. for 2018/19. here are the highest dman cap hits.
subban 9m burns 8m hedman 7.875m weber 7.867 byfuglien 7.6m suter 7.538m ekblad 7.5m letang 7.25m phanuef 7.0m, doughty 7.0m.
possibly doughty is entitled to more than some of these players, as some are overpaid. doughty and his agent has to find a team that can fit pay him what he wants. and since most teams and most contending teams are near the cap, this even lessens the signing options for doughty. maybe the kings rebuild without doughty. one team with cap and not too far from doughty's LA home is vegas.
i don't know, but let's think doughty's preferred places to play are LA, ducks, leafs, tampa dallas, rangers. all of those teams might be so restricted in cap that they could offer him no more than 8m, maybe even less. so what are doughty's options to stay in la or take a flyer with an upcoming team with cap such vegas or arizona. if he wants to sign for the biggest buck.

as jaded pointed out, it seemed to make more sense when players signing their first rfa contract made less. mcdavid, draisaitl, pasta now how broken the mode. if the leafs want matthews long term they will have pony up over 11m. if not matthews can be a ufa in four after his elc expires.

Teams seem to want to extend their star ELC to long term deals. Doughty will be 29 when he's UFA, do the Leafs are any team really want to sign him to real long term contract? I'm sure some team might. But looking at some of those high priced Dman, in Clark's blog, the older players may not be holding their value in a cap world.