23 Nov 2018 13:16:22
“I’m hearing that 6.9 mill a year gets @wmnylander in a @MapleLeafs uniform before December 1st deadline! My insider will remain anonymous! Goodnight Ladies and Gents.
But I believe they are still having trouble with Term of the deal! “

2 tweets from Marc Savard. Adding that to Mike Babcock comment:

“Our team will get better, we have significant pieces missing and they will be here”

Maybe it is coming together finally. And if they can get it long term, the cap hit will be near $10 mill this season and significantly leas for the next years.


1.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 13:49:51
Yeah that little cap loophole is definitely an interesting play. big hit this year when the Leafs can afford it, smaller hit the following years when they are going to be squeezed.

The question remains if that's on a bridge term or something longer (5 years +? )


2.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 13:59:41
That's great news. With Mathews and Nylander injected into the lineup the Leafs could glide to a presidents trophy. Sitting 2 points out of first overall now, they should improve nicely with those two back? Basically like adding a top line, put any random third guy with them.

With how good Marner is doing now, I wonder how close to Mathews his camp will want to be?
What if Mathews and Marner took matching $11M to Tavares? All three at the same amount. Is that a crazy thought?


3.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 14:07:59
IMO Marner at $11 mln is a pretty big reach. total guess but I would put him more in the $8-$9 range.


4.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 14:36:42
I honestly think Matthews (along with Kapanen) is going to get a bridge deal. Due to his injuries, the leafs aren't fully aware of what Matthews can do and the amount of stats he can put up in 1 season. Matthews may also want to prove that he is worth more then 11 mill so I don't dought that he would be ok with a bridge deal.


5.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 15:01:25
My guess is Matthews comes in over Tavares, under mcdavid, $11.5-12 mill and marner around $9-$9.5. People keep talking he will be $10mill+ and I’m sure him and his agent can look at Eichel and some others and justify. Marner plays wing like a Centreman, but bottom line is he’s a winger. When Nikita Kicherov makes $9.5 mill and that’s not on an outdated contract, it hasn’t started yet, that would be my top dollar.

The guys signed for the next 3 years would be

Matthews $11.5
Tavares $11
Marner $9.5
Nylander $6.9
Rielly $5
Andersen $5
Kadri $4.5
Hyman $2.25

And that’s your true cup window before Kadri, Rielly (2022/ 23) and Andersen (2021/ 22) need contracts. At that point you either can’t afford them or lose all your depth to keep them.


6.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 15:26:17
Leafs still trying to sign Nylander while bergivan is out here signing over point per game players like domi at 3 mil a year hahaha jokes.


7.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 15:40:19
@TheMostLeaf33, your logic makes sense on it. I just think players, especially one who has had injuries in the past, will take security more often than not.

These kids have so much skill and confidence that they want to bet on themselves, but if you have had injuries already and there’s a piece of paper needing a signature that guarantees you $92-96 million dollars whether you ever wear skates again or not, that’s tough to walk away from.

Not negotiating with a year left on your ELC and betting on yourself to get paid more is one thing, like marner is doing, but turning down 8 year deals at 21 is a whole different ball game.


8.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 16:37:35
Eh Shadow, what about Marleau and Kapanen in your window now? They are note worthy aren't they there.
And you don't want anymore help on D, you don't believe in the phrase "defense wins championships" or you happy with what you have maybe? Best way to play defense is to always be on offense tho so you might be alright come playoff battles.


9.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 17:18:52
That Domi contract is a real steal for the next two years for sure. too bad it's not as long as the $10.5 mln/ yr Bergie is paying Price for the rest of time.


10.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 17:37:01
Marleau and kapanen aren’t signed beyond nextvuear and may not be back. That’s why they aren’t on that list of players signed for the next 3 years, because they are not signed for the next 3 years. Seems simple to me, but I guess not to everyone lol

Nylander should be signed by tomorrow seems to be the consensus of insiders, possibly today.

Also Bob McKenzie just tweeted that if the deal is for 2-3 years, the AAV he assumes to be $5 mill or just north of it. High $6’s if it’s a 6 year deal. So that’s what the reported top dollars from dubas was 10 weeks ago lol

I know people will argue against it, but if Dubas signs Nylander in November for what their top dollar was in the summer and now gets to take advantage of the cap savings that come along with it when it overlaps Matthews and Marners contracts, that’s a win all day long.


11.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 17:50:43
If Nylander signs now for the same amount Dubas was offering in the summer, then he’s a goof and should be booed mercilessly every time he touches the puck for as long as he is a Leaf.


12.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 18:20:09
A contract dispute that leads to a player sitting out and missing games, becoming a big distraction, not there to help the team out doesn't seam like a good thing or a "win". I guess since its your team it's brilliant?


13.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 18:20:56
Was Dubas offering $6.9M in the summer?


14.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 18:22:09
Eh Shadow, Do you believe in that phrase "defense wins championships" or no? What's your stance on that phrase, and do you think your D is good enough now to win playoff rounds with that vey good offense?
Only curious what your stance is on that phrase, that's all.


15.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 18:50:27
@LeafsGM, I wouldn’t boo him for it. I would applaud Dubas for staying strong but I wouldn’t hold it against Nylander. He Felt he’s worth more than his boss did which can be said about the majority of working people in all fields. He will have been put in his place and I would welcome him back.

I would feel differently about both him and dubas if we were struggling and they both were being stubborn while wasting a year of a great core. If we were now in an uphill battle to make the playoffs, it would hurt. But to add him when we are doing so well and getting the cap savings as well is great.

Also what this does is puts us in a really unique situation. Everyone knows that bottom feeding teams will take players who are owed very little cash but have a high cap hit to hit the cap floor. But if there’s tension between Nylander and other players later, or just the cap squeeze needs some relief, we would now have a 22, 23, 24 year old top six player who’s cap hit is actually less than his salary. Instead of the same 3-4 teams interested, you could theoretically have all 30 teams interested, even contenders. Endless options going forward really.


16.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 19:06:44
It was a big distraction?! They’re battling for 1st overall in the league. I think they handled it just fine lol

Pittsburgh won the cup 2 seasons ago with Ron Hainsey on their top pair. Is that ideal? Absolutely not. But to correct that would I recommend my GM trade a star forward for a mediocre Dman like some teams have done before falling like a rock down the standings? Absolutely not. Leafs D as constructed is better than the penguins who won the cup hands down. Letang never played so they never had anyone in Reilly’s class. Hainsey was top pair like he is here right now. They had Schultz who plays like Gardiner but not as good I’ll take zaitsev and dermott over Ian Cole and maataa, and I’m sure the leafs can add a Trevor Daley type vet if they want to.


17.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 20:04:39
Big story eaten up by the media. Regardless of how the team is doing its an off ice distraction, yes.
I know for a fact if my GM and a top player were ha I F disputes that lead to the player missing 20+ games I would be pissed and would have no way of spinning it into a "win". How the team is doing is irrelevant to the contract disputes itself.

If it comes out them at they set this all up together to save a few bucks moving forward, brilliant bold move cotton.
But no matter what, I would be pissed if my GM and a player had a dispute that lead to missing out on a quarter of the season. Pretty lucky teams doing well. They should be leaps and bounds better when he returns.


18.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 20:52:25
The Leafs are currently 5th in goals against. their goalie has played very well but I think people worry too much about their D (Yupp especially as he seems to be almost losing sleep over it for some reason?! ) . a great D-core is obviously a plus and the Leafs would definitely benefit from the addition of a top four D on the right hand side, but forwards play a big role in how defensively sound a team is as well and so far as a whole the Leafs have looked pretty solid in the games I’ve watched (although they were comically peppered against carolina in the first period this week 😂)


19.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 20:56:18
Well Yupp thankfully Chia has not had any such disputes with the Oilers this season so you have nothing to worry about!


20.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 21:17:41
I sleep just fine 😉😉. Ya this contract dispute is something Chia would pull!
That's a good stat for the Leafs. They should be just fine come playoff battles with the current D then. Nothing to worry about, Thanks for your inputs. ✊🏿.


21.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 21:19:05
Oh I'm not too worried my brother. It's just been a big question from analysts all around. Was curious if any you Leafs fans were worried.


22.) 23 Nov 2018
23 Nov 2018 21:20:39
They aren’t lucky they’re doing well lol they built a deep team that can handle a good player being out. Kapanen was a 1st rounder the same year as Nylander and has been patient waiting for an opportunity. He got and seized it. Marner and Tavares have lead the way which is expected of them and Freddy has been great which is also expected of him at this point. It’s not a nobody putting a bad team on his back like what the hanburgler did with the Sens and went 18-3 or whatever down the stretch that season.

And media and fans having a story to beat to death is different than an off ice distraction. Players were asked about it a few times, they had very little, if anything to say about it and carried on doing their job winning games. I didn’t see one time where it affected a player besides giving a cpl of them an opportunity they would otherwise not have had.

And I agree that you should be pissed and worried if the oilers GM had a stand off with a player like Nylander that kept him out of the lineup, it would be devastating. The luxury we have is that we don’t only have 3 good players and the organizational depth of a roadside puddle. So it’s apples and oranges.


23.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 04:43:13
@unbiasedjim

Nylander holding out this long only to sign last minute is a childish move. He deserves to be traded. He’s not a team player at all. And yes, I feel this was a distraction for the team. It weighs enormous on the future for the team and makes Dubas look bad his first year on the job. Dubas must be infuriated right now.

An underpaid factory worker goes on strike is one thing. An already rich athlete making millions of dollars to play a game (and is therefore already overpaid) seeking to drive salaries up and enrich himself further at the expense of the team should not be rewarded with an extra million or two.


24.) 24 Nov 2018
24 Nov 2018 05:25:43
LeafsGM, I agree he shouldn’t get a million or 2 extra which is why I’m glad Dubas held strong. Bottom line is we can add a top Winger that they haven’t really missed too much on the ice without losing an asset. See how it works and if they get any indication he’s not in it for the right reasons going forward they can always trade him then.