Ok, I didn't know that Bozak was the next to be signed.

I guess, at the moment, this works out to hoping a top-6 of Lupul, Grabovski, Bozak, Kessel, Kadri, +1 subpar 1st liner/above-average 2nd liner can carry the Leafs for the next 2-3 years at least. If that is the message being sent I would upset as a Leafs fan as well. It definitely looks to be an about average top-6 all around... Not an inspiring turn-of-events.
- Mr_Clean

Don't forget JVR

i dont necessarily think so.. because then you would have to say grabovski is a key guy

i love grabo, dont get me wrong, but i dont think ownership or management has given him any reason to believe he is going to be a long term building block and they are paying him a quarter of a million more

there was no way the leafs could give grabo 5.5 last year and turn around and say to lupul "our offer is 4 million".
- Dozzer

That basically sums up my mindset once we signed Grabs to that deal.

He got 5.5 for two sub-60 pt seasons, purely because we were so weak at centre.

Turn around a year later and Loops needs a new deal, and after the season he had, I'm surprised he didn't get at least as much money as Grabs, but I guess he wanted the term, and got it.

Now it'll be interesting to see How Nonis deals with the cap situation as Dion and Phil enter contract years next year. We have a half decent cap situation. Once Komi comes off the books, that'll make for Franson and Gunnar's raises.

At the same time Kadri and Gardiner's deals will be up, and we should be looking at getting both of those guys 7 or 8 year deals, so that we have them for the rest of their twenties at relatively good cap hits.

I dont think he was signed because of last night. He didnt have that good of a game to merit a new contract. He got that because of his play last year. 67 pts in 66 games is good. Its a risk I can handle. Luongo is not. If lu was a five year deal and didnt cost assets I'd be all for it.
- kylkri

I dont either. Im just saying fans are getting too high over last nights win, refusing to be critical. If the team lost, shouts for trades and rebuilds would still be echoing well into tonight.

Lupuls play last year is the only real positive in his whole career to justify this contract, and he still got hurt. Im sorry, but I cant pretend that athletes are robots and that Lupuls injury riddled past isnt a concern as he approaches his 30's.

Don't forget JVR
- twiztedmike

Schenn and JVR had comparable deals. I think we win in terms of the money game.

I dont think he was signed because of last night. He didnt have that good of a game to merit a new contract. He got that because of his play last year. 67 pts in 66 games is good. Its a risk I can handle. Luongo is not. If lu was a five year deal he might be worth the assets
- kylkri

Nonis probably started talking deal with Loops the moment the CBA was ratified.

He had a solid idea of what he wanted to get out of the way, and obviously Luongo wasn't one of those things.

It looks like Nonis is going to give the two lads we have a chance to win the no. 1 job. While I'm not crazy about having an unproven starter, having two guys with equal abilities the chance to compete amongst themselves means they'll both get a chance, and based on what little I've seen of Scrivens, he's got a decent chance.

In the end though, how well the team as a whole buys into Carlyle's concept of team defence will determine our GA just as much as the goalies will

This seems like patience to me.

Am i missing something? As long as they aren't dishing out 1st rounders, this team will continue to build with Lupul and Bozak in the lineup. How does their signings effect it?
- Leafland

You are missing something. By keeping guys like Lupul and Bozak instead of trading them, the Leafs are missing out on two key opportunities. The first is to acquire more picks and prospects by trading them. The second is to finish lower in the standings and getting higher picks.

Don't forget JVR
- twiztedmike

I'm not forgetting JVR, I am just not convinced he will be the above-average 2nd line/below-average first-line winger I'm referring too.

If he is, then he will be a relative steal until his contract expires.

Didn't get a chance to watch the Leafs game last night, how'd they look?

You are missing something. By keeping guys like Lupul and Bozak instead of trading them, the Leafs are missing out on two key opportunities. The first is to acquire more picks and prospects by trading them. The second is to finish lower in the standings and getting higher picks.
- Two_For_Truth

As long as Kessel is able to score 30+ goals by himself the other two there don't matter, and we'll continue to play ourselves out of a top 3 pick.

Kessel may very well be moved in the off season. But we'll have to wait and see how this team does. if we make the playoffs, Kessel will be more inclined to sign, and Nonis will be more inclined to pay-up to keep him.

You are missing something. By keeping guys like Lupul and Bozak instead of trading them, the Leafs are missing out on two key opportunities. The first is to acquire more picks and prospects by trading them. The second is to finish lower in the standings and getting higher picks.
- Two_For_Truth

They can still be traded. This signing changes nothing. Other then it locks up a player for 5 years at a decent salary.

As long as Kessel is able to score 30+ goals by himself the other two there don't matter, and we'll continue to play ourselves out of a top 3 pick.

Kessel may very well be moved in the off season. But we'll have to wait and see how this team does. if we make the playoffs, Kessel will be more inclined to sign, and Nonis will be more inclined to pay-up to keep him.
- AngryWhiteMale

Oh I think it matters. Kessels 30 goal compains have not gotten us out of lottery range in the past. Whats different now? Get rid of his line mates and you're going down, not up.

Didn't get a chance to watch the Leafs game last night, how'd they look?
- celata29

It was a pretty choppy game.

It was really nice to see Kadri come in and cement his spot on this roster. He'll give our attack many options.

We won't be able to make any solid conclusions about this team until they've played BUF, PIT, NYI & NYR.

By then, we'll know what direction this team's going this year. If they whether the storm, they get confidence and points. If they don't do well, they may well already be out of a playoff spot

I dont either. Im just saying fans are getting too high over last nights win, refusing to be critical. If the team lost, shouts for trades and rebuilds would still be echoing well into tonight.

Lupuls play last year is the only real positive in his whole career to justify this contract, and he still got hurt. Im sorry, but I cant pretend that athletes are robots and that Lupuls injury riddled past isnt a concern as he approaches his 30's.
- systemtool

nobody thinks this team is a contender just because they beat the lowly Canadiens

They can still be traded. This signing changes nothing. Other then it locks up a player for 5 years at a decent salary.
- Leafland

It changes alot because if he keeps getting injured every season, nobody is going to trade for an over paid guy who can barely play half a season.

Or maybe you meant how we traded Komisarek and Connolly?

It changes alot because if he keeps getting injured every season, nobody is going to trade for an over paid guy who can barely play half a season.

Or maybe you meant how we traded Komisarek and Connolly?
- systemtool

Every single player in this league comes with that IF.

Tell me if I'm wrong but can't u trade cap space now in the new cba so what if the leafs got Lu and had Vancouver take half the cap hit ? Just an idea

nobody thinks this team is a contender just because they beat the lowly Canadiens
- bobbyisno1

So, tell me.

Why did we just lock up a guy approaching his 30s with injury concerns? Because contending teams make deals like that, not teams who should be focusing on the future.

Again, I love Lupul. But it should have been a 2-3 year deal tops or trade him.

Every single player in this league comes with that IF.
- Leafland

Has every single player in the league failed to play 70 games 4 of the past 5 seasons?

It was a pretty choppy game.

It was really nice to see Kadri come in and cement his spot on this roster. He'll give our attack many options.

We won't be able to make any solid conclusions about this team until they've played BUF, PIT, NYI & NYR.

By then, we'll know what direction this team's going this year. If they whether the storm, they get confidence and points. If they don't do well, they may well already be out of a playoff spot
- AngryWhiteMale

Saw Kadri scored, hopefully he can keep that up...not against the Bruins though

The Canadiens looked like they did last year I imagine?

Saw Kadri scored, hopefully he can keep that up...not against the Bruins though

The Canadiens looked like they did last year I imagine?
- celata29

Like an AHL team. It was brutal.

Like an AHL team. It was brutal.
- systemtool

That's what I like to hear

Tell me if I'm wrong but can't u trade cap space now in the new cba so what if the leafs got Lu and had Vancouver take half the cap hit ? Just an idea
- arnpriorguy

If they can, this changes everything for me.

I thought it was just money they could trade.

If they can, this changes everything for me.

I thought it was just money they could trade.
- systemtool

The money the team retains adds to the team who took the moneys cap. So if the Nucks traded Lu and said they would keep 2M of his contract, then it would add to the Nucks cap space. At least that's what I thought I heard.

When I looked at cap geek, the Leafs hace 500,000 cap hit for Lombardi

The money the team retains adds to the team who took the moneys cap. So if the Nucks traded Lu and said they would keep 2M of his contract, then it would add to the Nucks cap space. At least that's what I thought I heard.
- celata29

For just one year? or the whole contract?

So, tell me.

Why did we just lock up a guy approaching his 30s with injury concerns? Because contending teams make deals like that, not teams who should be focusing on the future.

Again, I love Lupul. But it should have been a 2-3 year deal tops or trade him.
- systemtool

If Lupul stays healthy and goes off for another pt per game this season, how will you feel about this signing?

I think if Kessel and Lupul can get a true 1C locked up for similar duration, this will be a very good signing (still need to lock up Kessel long term too).