Well I'm picking an American team, that's my bet.
- LeftCoaster

And Kessel picked a Canadian team.

No reason to fire a guy that's had success, despite his ineptitude on certain things. His team has made the finals, won a couple President's Trophy's and he's made the playoffs every year.
- LeftCoaster

And he's done what exactly to help get the team there?

So you're satisfied with your team making the playoffs once in the last 9 years? So that's it? 1st round exit and they are done re-building?

Adding Clarkson was the missing piece?

You are very easy to please.
- bloatedmosquito

What happened the previous 8 is meaningless. The Leafs have a solid young team. They are building on last season.

Not many teams change out their core players for the sake of change, except the Flyers, that doesn't make sense. That said, he has tried to make changes and he's also been too patient with players like Raymond. It's just nothing he's done has worked...he's an idiot.
- LeftCoaster

Who the hell said change your core players, i didnt say get worse Raymond is garbage forget about raymond..

You have 4/6 players to actually be proper 1st and 2nd line players. Kesler was hurt all year, so you can make that 3/6. You guys are rammed up the ass with defense and have corrado who could easily fill in a spot. Would it not be smart to move a defender to obtain some offense you so desperately need since luongo can handle the duties and thrives on a little more shots on net to get hot.

If he signed for 5 he'd have to put up about what, 65 points per year in today's league?
- aminnes

He won't put up those numbers.

Rather see Lindros Comeback
- Byfuglien Ate Me

One of my all-time favorites, man that guy was awesome!!

Ok let me think...which hurts. New York Rangers have 37 million in cap space for 2014/15. Any better?

Also, Nashville stinks and he's got a boat load of money now thanks to Brian Burke.
- LeftCoaster

He's underpaid. The Burke contract hardly makes him want to take millions less on his next contract.

This is all about MLSE/media - to try to turn the fans against Kadri
Remember TSN owns the Leafs - Bob is the spin doctor for the team

I don't believe that Kadri is looking for 5.5 - that is simply Bob's [owners] message

Kadri is probably looking for Henrique money for a year or 2

What if he wants a NUMBER 1 center to play with, well now you're just screwed aren't you!!
- LeftCoaster

Kadri is on his way. 44 points in 48 games at age 22.

And he's done what exactly to help get the team there?
- burn

Well...he's tried, but failed misserably, to put together a second line. Four years running he's still hasn't done it. Did I mention I think he's an idiot in that respect!!

See at least I can call him out, not like you fellas blowing sunshine and roses up Burkes behind.

This is all about MLSE/media - to try to turn the fans against Kadri
Remember TSN owns the Leafs - Bob is the spin doctor for the team

I don't believe that Kadri is looking for 5.5 - that is simply Bob's
- MTL1[owners] message

Kadri is probably looking for Henrique money for a year or 2

Ya, when the press owns the team, ya don't crap where ya eat. That goes for sportsnet also.

And Kessel picked a Canadian team.
- RogerRoeper

Good point. Kessel agreed to sign with the Leafs or the trade never would have happened. If he was hell bent on staying in the US, he would have went to Nashville who also was interested.

This is all about MLSE/media - to try to turn the fans against Kadri
Remember TSN owns the Leafs - Bob is the spin doctor for the team

I don't believe that Kadri is looking for 5.5 - that is simply Bob's
- MTL1[owners] message

Kadri is probably looking for Henrique money for a year or 2

I don't believe for a second Bob is going to risk ruining his entire reputation he's built for 25 years for that.

Good point. Kessel agreed to sign with the Leafs or the trade never would have happened. If he was hell bent on staying in the US, he would have went to Nashville who also was interested.
- GCHonda

Yup. Kessel had the PERFECT opportunity everyone claims he wants with Nashville and he said no.

He won't put up those numbers.
- Aetherial

Thats what they would have top decide. IMO he's a point per game at 25 years old.

Ya, when the press owns the team, ya don't crap where ya eat. That goes for sportsnet also.
- aminnes

We'll see. There's been tons of Leaf bashing on both networks the past few years. Hopfully that means they'll ban John Garrett.

This is all about MLSE/media - to try to turn the fans against Kadri
Remember TSN owns the Leafs - Bob is the spin doctor for the team

I don't believe that Kadri is looking for 5.5 - that is simply Bob's
- MTL1[owners] message

Kadri is probably looking for Henrique money for a year or 2

Umm a 4mil bridge? That's totally assinine. That's suppose to be better?

I think people are missing the point. When Tavares signed that deal, he wasn't the same John Tavares we saw last season. Sure, the amount is high for Kadri, not it's not crazy. not with some of the contracts other young, more inferior players are getting.

Who the hell said change your core players, i didnt say get worse Raymond is garbage forget about raymond..

You have 4/6 players to actually be proper 1st and 2nd line players. Kesler was hurt all year, so you can make that 3/6. You guys are rammed up the ass with defense and have corrado who could easily fill in a spot. Would it not be smart to move a defender to obtain some offense you so desperately need since luongo can handle the duties and thrives on a little more shots on net to get hot.
- Mapleleafs_91

You're preachin to the choir here mister. He just seems incapable of finding a top six guy to put the team over the top.

2008/09 - he brought in Demitra (20 goals), Sundin, Wellwood and Bernier.
2009/10 - he brought in Samuelsson (30 goals)
2010/11 - he brought in Malhotra, Torres, Higgins, Lapierre and Jeff Tambellini.
2011/12 - he brought in Booth and Kassian.

I think people are missing the point. When Tavares signed that deal, he wasn't the same John Tavares we saw last season. Sure, the amount is high for Kadri, not it's not crazy. not with some of the contracts other young, more inferior players are getting.
- RogerRoeper

And of course, there are guys at the other end of the spectrum as well. Many people still loathe the Bozak signing and wished they kept Grabo. Grabo makes 5.5 million, and Kadri's career year already dwarfs his. Tavares is a major discount now, which, if Kadri is the real deal could be the same thing, Kessel also is on a 5 mill deal and would be making 7.5 for sure if he wasn't already signed. There are benefits to the club on the longer deal as well - so long as they make a good assessment of what the young player could become.

Also - Chicago signed all their good young talent in these terms and have won 2 cups in the process of those contracts.

Kadri is on his way. 44 points in 48 games at age 22.
- RogerRoeper

Nice half a season, or rather 30 games he put together. He's got things to prove to Leaf management before he cashes in!!

And of course, there are guys at the other end of the spectrum as well. Many people still loathe the Bozak signing and wished they kept Grabo. Grabo makes 5.5 million, and Kadri's career year already dwarfs his. Tavares is a major discount now, which, if Kadri is the real deal could be the same thing, Kessel also is on a 5 mill deal and would be making 7.5 for sure if he wasn't already signed. There are benefits to the club on the longer deal as well - so long as they make a good assessment of what the young player could become.

Also - Chicago signed all their good young talent in these terms and have won 2 cups in the process of those contracts.
- aminnes

How does it already dwarf Grabo's career? For (frank) sakes, it's been A HALF A YEAR. What is gonna happen if Kadri gets this deal that so many people think he deserves and gets 5 mil a year and turns out to be a 50 pt player. Signed for 5 (frank)ing years. What then? "Oh well, it was a risk" (frank) that jazz.

Nice half a season, or rather 30 games he put together. He's got things to prove to Leaf management before he cashes in!!
- LeftCoaster

Apparently he's already excluded from being a #1 centre in your criteria.

I think Kadri can be a very, very good player. However, are they more likely to see the guy who put up 18 goals and 44 points in 48 games? Or they guy who put up 5 goals and 16 points in 51 games? It's probably closer to the former, but for a guy who's had 1 good season, he sure seems to want a lot of money.
- jmatchett383

I agree and the #2 hole is his to lose, playing alongside two very good wingers in Lupul and Clarkson, so why not take a bridge deal, have a career year, and shoot for the moon when the cap's higher and you have a history of performing at an elite level?

Right now it's actually irritating me to hear how much he's asking for, essentially implying that he's in the same league as Duchene, Tavares, or Subban...

I think people are missing the point. When Tavares signed that deal, he wasn't the same John Tavares we saw last season. Sure, the amount is high for Kadri, not it's not crazy. not with some of the contracts other young, more inferior players are getting.
- RogerRoeper

Tavares scored 25goals as a rookie and 29 in year two as an 18-20 year old. Kadri isn't in that range.