ongoing 2017-2018 season discussion

[Curry Rage]

LOL. What the fuck does that even mean?

[stoney]

LOL. What the fuck does that even mean?

Summer time attempts at traffic

[LeafOfBread]

[Staple] On Tavares: It’s long been believed that the Kings and the Leafs would be his preferred destinations if he could choose... The Leafs may be the wild card — they could afford Tavares at $11 million per now... If they can make a pitch, the thinking is Tavares will listen to his hometown team

[AGENT ZERO]

Tavares would really push the Leafs over the top, and from what I've seen from the Marlies I am more confident that we can fill the holes on D internally.

[Curry Rage]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Curry Rage]

Also going to mention here that I'd completely forgotten we'd signed Ozhiganov.

[LeafOfBread]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

I feel like he re-signs in NYI, seems like that kinda guy. But I do think that if he does go somewhere else (which IMO he won't), Toronto would be a top destination, with San Jose and St.Louis being the other teams in the mix. I've seen Vancouver, Montreal, etc floated about but I just don't see him being that retarded

[Curry Rage]

My thoughts are similar. The new owner in NY brought in Lou to give the organisation some stability and credibility in large part to keep Tavares on board. Without a star like that, that organisation would be (even further) in the shitter.

[Curry Rage]

Also, I'm reticent to pay him the 11 million he reportedly is seeking. With the trio coming along and Matthews in particular having the goods to be as good or better than Tavares, you're setting yourself up for trouble keeping them surrounded. Though I've seen the idea floated elsewhere of signing Tavares to a short-term (one year) max contract until you need to pay the others and try to get him to handshake on sticking around longer at a slightly lower rate. It would be very creative, but I'm not sure how far-fetched it is given the NHL's view of circumvention.

[LeafOfBread]

Also, I'm reticent to pay him the 11 million he reportedly is seeking. With the trio coming along and Matthews in particular having the goods to be as good or better than Tavares, you're setting yourself up for trouble keeping them surrounded. Though I've seen the idea floated elsewhere of signing Tavares to a short-term (one year) max contract until you need to pay the others and try to get him to handshake on sticking around longer at a slightly lower rate. It would be very creative, but I'm not sure how far-fetched it is given the NHL's view of circumvention.

That would be pretty hilarious. I mean, the NHL could cry circumvention, but at the same time if Tavares doesn't deliver or has an off year, or he gets a serious injury or something he fucks himself in the process...so really the player is taking a big risk on their part. Not sure if it's circumvention when those years aren't actually locked in.

[Curry Rage]

Yeah, he'd potentially be leaving a lot of insured money on the table.

[AGENT ZERO]

Also, I'm reticent to pay him the 11 million he reportedly is seeking. With the trio coming along and Matthews in particular having the goods to be as good or better than Tavares, you're setting yourself up for trouble keeping them surrounded. Though I've seen the idea floated elsewhere of signing Tavares to a short-term (one year) max contract until you need to pay the others and try to get him to handshake on sticking around longer at a slightly lower rate. It would be very creative, but I'm not sure how far-fetched it is given the NHL's view of circumvention.

The beauty of a guy like Tavares is that he elevates the play of fringe players. I'm not at all concerned with paying an elite player elite money, it's those slightly above average players that always scare me because when they lose a step their game drops off a cliff. JT went first overall despite a well below average skating stride, so I'm not all that concerned about him aging poorly.

[AGENT ZERO]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

I feel like he re-signs in NYI, seems like that kinda guy. But I do think that if he does go somewhere else (which IMO he won't), Toronto would be a top destination, with San Jose and St.Louis being the other teams in the mix. I've seen Vancouver, Montreal, etc floated about but I just don't see him being that retarded

JT may go the route of Stamkos and test FA only to re-sign, but what is the point. The Islanders have presumably offered him the house, unlike the Lightning and Stamkos, so why test the market if you want to stay?

[paulster]

I have it on good authority that JT is bringing his talents to Toronto.

Trust me guys.

[AGENT ZERO]

Apparently the Islanders lose the ability to offer JT an 8th year on July 1st, so that seems like an important date to gauge whether or not he will re-sign.

[AGENT ZERO]

Another guy that interests me is Jeff Skinner. The Leafs don't need another winger per say, but he is a heck of a player and it feels like the type of trade that Carolina is going to lose.

[LeafOfBread]

I have it on good authority that JT is bringing his talents to Toronto.

Trust me guys.

Didn't you say the same thing about Stamkos ?

[LeafOfBread]

I'm not getting my hopes up.

I feel like he re-signs in NYI, seems like that kinda guy. But I do think that if he does go somewhere else (which IMO he won't), Toronto would be a top destination, with San Jose and St.Louis being the other teams in the mix. I've seen Vancouver, Montreal, etc floated about but I just don't see him being that retarded

JT may go the route of Stamkos and test FA only to re-sign, but what is the point. The Islanders have presumably offered him the house, unlike the Lightning and Stamkos, so why test the market if you want to stay?

Well, this is his one big chance at being courted and actually making a free decision, while he is in the prime of his career. Even if he doesn't sign anywhere else, it doesn't hurt to be absolutely sure. It's not much different than a regular career really, you see what's out there just to compare.

[Whit Dickman]

Big difference b/w JT and Stamkos is that the islanders suck and have for a long time. Stamkos waiting to sign was a negotiation tactic. JT doesn't need to do that.

[AGENT ZERO]

I feel like he re-signs in NYI, seems like that kinda guy. But I do think that if he does go somewhere else (which IMO he won't), Toronto would be a top destination, with San Jose and St.Louis being the other teams in the mix. I've seen Vancouver, Montreal, etc floated about but I just don't see him being that retarded

JT may go the route of Stamkos and test FA only to re-sign, but what is the point. The Islanders have presumably offered him the house, unlike the Lightning and Stamkos, so why test the market if you want to stay?

Well, this is his one big chance at being courted and actually making a free decision, while he is in the prime of his career. Even if he doesn't sign anywhere else, it doesn't hurt to be absolutely sure. It's not much different than a regular career really, you see what's out there just to compare.

You don't test the market unless you have interest in playing elsewhere. That doesn't mean he does not return, but I wouldn't chalk this up as a typical case of a player re-signing with his old team. The vast majority of guys that return don't make it this far in the process.

[AGENT ZERO]

Big difference b/w JT and Stamkos is that the islanders suck and have for a long time. Stamkos waiting to sign was a negotiation tactic. JT doesn't need to do that.

Also, the Islanders are willing to give JT whatever he wants. One of the big sticking points with Stamkos and the Lightning was that they were not willing to make Stamkos one of the highest paid players.

[clawfirst]

Another guy that interests me is Jeff Skinner. The Leafs don't need another winger per say, but he is a heck of a player and it feels like the type of trade that Carolina is going to lose.

You would like the figure skater..

[Zardoz]

I can't stand Jeff Skinner. Ugh.

[AGENT ZERO]

Another guy that interests me is Jeff Skinner. The Leafs don't need another winger per say, but he is a heck of a player and it feels like the type of trade that Carolina is going to lose.

You would like the figure skater..

He would replace JVR's goal totals at a lesser cost, and can actually play a little bit without the puck.

[Whit Dickman]

JT will replace JVR

Hyman-AM-Nylander
Johnsson/Leivo-JT-Marner
Marleau-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson/Leivo-Gauthier/Altonen/?-Kapanen

*kisses fingers

Gauthier/Hyman/Brown/Kapanen for PK

JT/AM/Nylander/Marner/Rielly pp1
Leivo/Marleau/Brown/Kadri/Gardiner pp2

[LeafOfBread]

Swap Kappy and Brown and that's a solid lineup. As much as I like Brown and he's a good soldier I think he is going to be surpassed by better talent the next couple of years.

I'd also wanna keep Kadri on that first PP unit, he's been elite there.

[AGENT ZERO]

[AGENT ZERO]

Even though this article is about the draft, I think it gives some interesting insight into how best to build your team (I.E. load up on high end talent or build lots of depth).

http://:poop:.com/2018/05/30/draft-pick-value-charts/

More in depth analysis on strong link vs weak link:

https://hockey-graphs.com/2017/03/14/strong-and-weak-links-talent-distribution-within-teams/

[mooseOAK]

The mystery has been solved, finally.

[AGENT ZERO]

More reasons to empty the bank for JT:

[Whit Dickman]

He's no Sean Couturier

[AGENT ZERO]

Who is?

[LeafOfBread]

[Whit Dickman]

What else is he to do with his time leading up to free agency? Can't talk to any other teams. Might as well get a good structure for a contract so that he has something to show other teams on July 1st.

[paulster]

TAVARES IS COMING HOME, BABY.

It's essentially 90% at this point. #insiderinfo

[AGENT ZERO]

Not saying that JT won't re-sign, but Dreger hasn't been a very reliable source the past couple of years.

[LeafOfBread]

LeBrun says many execs think JT is staying.

[AGENT ZERO]

LeBrun says many execs think JT is staying.

In his story he cites 4 executives, and all of them were guessing.

Take this with a grain of salt but it’s uncanny over the last few days how many NHL team front office people have opined to me that they believe John Tavares is staying put with the Islanders.

I mean, four rival different team execs said that this week to me, even though all four of them insist they really don’t know but that’s their guess at the moment.

[Philthy Thrillz]

Classic Lou.

[cawbber]

TAVARES IS COMING HOME, BABY.

It's essentially 90% at this point. #insiderinfo

He lives in Long Island so this sounds about right.

[MonkeyWrench]

With the vacant hole at 3C/4C, I know Nylander and a Bozak return will be considered by management.
Putting those guys aside for a moment, I'm curious to see if Matthew Peca gets any consideration from Dubas. I was caught off guard that he was a UFA. 25 years old, 5'8. It doesn't appear as though Tampa will have the money, or the roster space, for him as a 4th line center. He's put up points fairly consistently at every level. Small in stature yes, but quick hands in high traffic areas. Could be a nice wildcard for the leafs to invest in short term.

Knowing the dire situation of other canadian teams however, the leafs will likely be outbid for his services. Ie, getting multiple years on contract.

[clawfirst]

8 MOAR YEARS OF BOZAK

[Honus Joglund]

Wow, didn't know Peca was a UFA. I liked his speed and tenacity when I saw him. I'd take him over Aaltonen and Lindholm as the fourth line centre.

Also interesting is that Sheldon Keefe coached him in Pembroke.

[LeafOfBread]

[clawfirst]

Dreger doesnt even pretend to have sources anymore

[MonkeyWrench]

Option A is there. Aswell as option B.
Yeah...we know. No need to dress it up as something not known.

[LeafOfBread]

[mooseOAK]

They can include a shot of Auston Matthews leaving the building.

[AGENT ZERO]

Can you assholes please stop posting Dreger tweets.

[Philthy Thrillz]

Thats one way to use the media.