quiet you, you said you were done talking Clarkson



If he puts up goals in 5 of the next 6 years the way he did in 5 of the last 6 years, (full seasons mind you) he's everybody's favourite Leaf and the contract is fine.
- Big_Lightnin

That's a big if.

Smart betting odds would be that he won't. Even if the scoring ability stayed consistent, his style of play is bound to lead to a lot more lost games. Not saying he won't, but a players totals not declining post 30 years of age is on the rare side before you factor in his style of play. Not a good contract.

I'm done.

You know me, I prefer to stay on the reserved side. I've been a leaf fan long enough to know that my expectations will stay tempered until I'm given good reason to change them.

Underestimating the cost of players is notorious in the Leafs thread

To just get under the cap on a 21 man roster. We would need:

Kadri @ 2.8M ( PK type 2 year deal)
Fraser @ 1 M even

and Franson at 3.4M just gets the leafs under.

First 2 are very possible.

IMO this media on the topic is trying to squeeze Franson down to 3.4M or so. Good luck.. he wants 4 for sure would likely take 3.7 - 3.8 but less than that will be a tough sell.

That $500K retained on the Bernier deal would be nice to have right about now.
- D.Lemieux

We have 7.4M left to spend excluding holzer and that smith guy.

4M goes to franson, 3.25 to kadri, goodbye fraser

Which then we get to run a 20 man squad instead of 23.

Underestimating the cost of players is notorious in the Leafs thread
- aminnes

until they are gone

Dion is a top pairing guy and every stat shows that. The people who vote for the Norris watch a lot more hockey from around the league than you or I.

Even if he weren't, why is your brilliant solution to subtract him altogether?

So, you want to roll into next year with Gunnarsson, Franson, Gardiner, and... Ranger?.... As your top 4 and have them a play 20+ minutes per night against Ryan-Spezza, Crosby-Malkin, Ovie-Backstrom, Zetterberg-Datsyuk, and Lucic-Krejci (plus significant SH time)?

You must be a huge McDavid fan.
- Leeman4Gilmour

No, if you read my posts, I said it frees them up to trade for another solid homer. I do believe FRaser and FRanson have a ways until they hit their ceiling. I don't think it would hurt as much as you do. It is what it is, we can't agree.

We have 7.4M left to spend excluding holzer and that smith guy.

4M goes to franson, 3.25 to kadri, goodbye fraser
- Mapleleafs_91

Where are you getting 7.4? They signed Ranger

until they are gone
- puckhead17

The last 2 months has been a laugher watching peoples projections of guys. Not even remotely close.

Yet another indication of how good Phaneuf is, and how tough an assignment he had this year.

List all the guys Dion was paired with this year - put it on the left side of your page.

OK, now list all the guys Dion was paired with this year who weren't dog poop - put it on the right side of your page.

Notice anything?

That's right - IT'S THE SAME LIST!!!
- Atomic Wedgie

I've always been a big critic of phaneufs game..

But I'll be the first to admit. If he didn't have a soup can for a partner every night, we'd have a rare defenseman in this league.

Carlyle will be great for sorting out his shortcomings to.

Team would be stupid to move him, unless it was a rare swap that brought another top 15 dman back.

Where are you getting 7.4? They signed Ranger
- jake24242

capgeek. 6.1+holzers+smiths=7.4

We have 7.4M left to spend excluding holzer and that smith guy.

4M goes to franson, 3.25 to kadri, goodbye fraser
- Mapleleafs_91

maybe Kulimen

wonder why they didn't buy out Liles instead of Komisarek, Liles has more years & the coach hates him, Komisarek just one more year

For his potential please look at his stats (he's already 29)

who else would they call NJ for 39 year old Elias?
- puckhead17

29? really already?? book him a long term care room already!!!!!

Yes...nobody else on Jersey, you're right Clarkson sucks...all 30 gms should be canned for even thinking about signing him!!!!

capgeek. 6.1+holzers+smiths=7.4
- Mapleleafs_91

Again they signed Ranger for 1M

16-17 minutes games played i know, I don't hate that they acquired Clarkson, I hope he plays well, I just don't get how so many hate Phaneuf & think he's worthless, or overpaid.
- puckhead17

for the record I'm not one of them.

Though his cap hit is a bit higher than it should be, and I honestly believe he'll be extended for the same or a lower hit.

7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 6, 6, 6, 5.5, 5

cap hit just over $6M

The last 2 months has been a laugher watching peoples projections of guys. Not even remotely close.
- aminnes

The market considerations will always be what's considered.

We have 7.4M left to spend excluding holzer and that smith guy.

4M goes to franson, 3.25 to kadri, goodbye fraser
- Mapleleafs_91

Just under 7.2 actually assuming Ranger and his 1M make the team.

NO Fraser means you roll with a 20 man roster . Only extra is the back up tender?

I thought I was pushing it with only 21.

Underestimating the cost of players is notorious in the Leafs thread
- aminnes

Apparently its notorious in the front office too.

Our highest scoring defenseman and second highest scoring forward are ready for their payday, and we dont have enough money to give them.

No, if you read my posts, I said it frees them up to trade for another solid homer. I do believe FRaser and FRanson have a ways until they hit their ceiling. I don't think it would hurt as much as you do. It is what it is, we can't agree.
- aminnes

If you don't think that

Gunnarsson - Ranger
Franson - Gardiner

as your top 4 would hurt as bad as I do, then I believe we've reached an impasse. I look at that top 4 and see a lottery team without a doubt.

Again they signed Ranger for 1M
- jake24242

again capgeek has ranger in there check

What if the traded Franson for a top Center Prospect and signed a ufa to replace him like Hainsey or Murray both very good shot blocking 3rd and 4th D

for the record I'm not one of them.

Though his cap hit is a bit higher than it should be, and I honestly believe he'll be extended for the same or a lower hit.

7.5, 7.5, 7.5, 6, 6, 6, 5.5, 5

cap hit just over $6M
- Big_Lightnin

you think hey will keep him?
I wonder, it seems Nonis wants his own name on the team

Apparently its notorious in the front office too.

Our highest scoring defenseman and second highest scoring forward are ready for their payday, and we dont have enough money to give them.
- Leafs43

Unless we move Liles your probably right, we can only pay one. And It's not going to be Franson. Would be sad to see either leave but it may be the only option.

Just under 7.2 actually assuming Ranger and his 1M make the team.

NO Fraser means you roll with a 20 man roster . Only extra is the back up tender?

I thought I was pushing it with only 21.
- D.Lemieux

Who cares, not like the 3 other players would play Id rather have the waterboy play

No, if you read my posts, I said it frees them up to trade for another solid homer. I do believe FRaser and FRanson have a ways until they hit their ceiling. I don't think it would hurt as much as you do. It is what it is, we can't agree.
- aminnes

Fraser has hit his ceiling.

I've said it before - he's the best #6 defenceman in the league.

I don't ever want to see him at #5.

Not how he's being paid though. Gunnar would have gotten $4+ in arbitration IMO. The numbers are all there.

He's steady and can play with anybody and in all situations. And at $3.15M he's got a very good cap number that is tradable if need be.

IMO they'd have been more (frank)ed next year if they let Gunnar given the lack of anybody who can play top pair.
- Big_Lightnin

Next year really doesn't matter to me. It's cup or bust for this guy. Are we winning a cup next year? No.. So making sure we shell out money to make sure guys who probably don't factor into that theory are here to ensure the team stats mostly irrelevant isn't really a big deal to me.

Gunnarsson is overpaid, it doesn't matter that arbitration would have made him even more overpaid to me. 3 mil is to much for a guy who may be bottom pairing at best on a legitimate cup contender.

It's low on my list of issues because 3 years of term is peanuts.

What if the traded Franson for a top Center Prospect and signed a ufa to replace him like Hainsey or Murray both very good shot blocking 3rd and 4th D
- jake24242

I don't think anyone is giving you a top center prospect. Franson's value is not as high as he thinks it is.

He'll find that out as he's sitting at home holding out 20 games into the season.