TORONTO (June 9) -- The two-week window for buying out NHL player contracts begins this Sunday, and there continues to be speculation that the Maple Leafs will utilize the CBA clause to rid themselves of unwanted personnel. And, to help change the face of a team that has missed the playoffs three consecutive years. Many of the core players on the Leafs' roster were handed full or partial control of their contracts by former GM John Ferguson, and the buyout scenario -- though normally a last resort -- will surely be considered by Ferguson's interim replacement, Cliff Fletcher.
With three years and $9 million remaining on a deal that has a no-trade clause in effect until July, 2010, veteran winger Darcy Tucker could well be the subject of a buyout -- a possibility that seems more likely given the statements of his long-time agent, Carlos Sosa. I talked with Sosa by phone earlier tonight, and he completely rejected the notion of a trade -- a scenario Fletcher has insisted he'd pursue before buying out a contract. "We would not entertain the idea of any trade," Sosa told me. "Accepting a trade would be an absurd result because it would preclude Darcy from playing where he chooses. It would make no financial sense after what we did more than a year ago, in taking what I believe is less money to stay in Toronto. It's obviously the Leafs' choice to exercise a buyout, but if they do so, then we would exercise our rights, which would be to pick where we want to play and at what price."
That's a long way of saying that Tucker would clearly accept unrestricted free agency over being dealt to another team -- even though he'd have to first agree to play with that club. The built-in restrictions in Tucker's contract would accompany him to another NHL city, and there is no guarantee that he'd secure the same provisions on the open market. But, Sosa doesn't believe that's a factor.
"All those restrictions were built into Darcy's current deal because he wanted to stay in Toronto, and he agreed to take a lesser price than he would have received on the open market," explained the agent. "That was the trade-off between him and the Leafs and it was the entire premise of the contract. It's a deal we hoped would keep him in Toronto, minus the buyout scenario, which we have no control over. We can't trump that in any way with a clause. But, Darcy had no interest in signing anywhere else when he made the decision to stay with the Leafs last year. So, if this [buyout] comes to fruition, he'll want to pick where he plays."
In March, 2007, Tucker inked a four-year extension with Ferguson, worth $3 million per season. He completed the first year of the extension in 2007-08, scoring a mere 18 goals, but he performed more effectively in the second half of the schedule. If the Leafs choose to buy him out, they will accept a salary-cap hit of $1 million per year in each of the next six NHL seasons -- which is twice the remaining length of Tucker's pact.
"To me, that would be a bizarre way of doing business," Sosa said. "Especially, when [the Leafs] don't have the person in place that will be running the team for the next four or five years. How could this type of a decision be made on behalf of that person? And, it makes no sense whatsoever from a financial standpoint. Darcy doesn't pull in a ton of money, and the Leafs would still have to replace his 18 goals, which probably would have been closer to 25 goals if he were healthy last season. But, it's the Leafs' choice... they can do those things. That's why they give [Fletcher] a big office."
The interim GM attempted to deal a number of veteran contracts at the trade deadline in February, but was rebuffed by Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina, all of whom had no-trade, or limited no-movement restrictions. Fletcher assumed the GM's mantle after Ferguson was fired on Jan. 22. Tucker wasn't mentioned among those that Fletcher tried to unload, but there is growing sentiment that the failing Leafs of the past three years cannot retain him, and change the chemistry of the club at the same time.
Only Sundin and Kaberle have been with the Leafs longer than Tucker, who was acquired from Tampa Bay in February, 2000. He put his indelible stamp on the club by playing an upbeat, emotional game, and refusing to back down against much-larger opponents. He also chipped in with an average of exactly 20 goals in his seven full seasons with the team, including a career-best 28 in 2006-07, which earned him the four-year extension. His production dipped by 10 this past season, but Tucker battled knee and shoulder ailments through the entire schedule. During his time here, he became one of the most popular Leaf players of the past generation.
But, the club is screaming for change after plummeting to 12th place in the Eastern Conference, and missing the playoffs by nine points. Tucker is the face of the Leafs in so many ways that it's implausible to think the team can take on a different look with him still wearing his familiar No. 16 jersey. As such, Fletcher is likely to explore the buyout scenario. After mis-firing at the trade deadline, he was adamant in suggesting the Leafs will ice a much different squad in 2008-09.
Another option would be to demote Tucker to the AHL Toronto Marlies, while paying his full salary. It would eliminate the cap-hit, though it's a rather distasteful way of doing business, and treating a long-time warrior. A rival NHL club could claim Tucker on waivers, but he'd be stuck in the minors if he clears that process.
The entire situation has Sosa shaking his head. "Times change and philopshies change, but it's only in the past couple of years that the Leafs made long-term committments to all of these players, including Darcy," said the agent. "I understand there's been a change of management in Toronto, and it seems the current management is under pressure to do something. They've hired Ron Wilson as coach, so I suppose that is doing something. In my mind, the buyout concept and the blowing-the-whole-thing-up concept is a starter, but it may not be a good finisher."
Fletcher has said he would not entertain buyout options until after the NHL Draft in Ottawa, June 20-21. Given that the buyout period goes from June 15 to 30, that would obviously reduce the window he has to make use of the process.
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