really??

you being serious??
- faceto27

Actually ya.....everyone chirped Feaster. I think it was a great signing.

Ok keep Carlyle and Phaneuf. What next?
- robin_steele264

Draft??

yes..a quick partial rebuild like the sens did. not a complete one..hold onto your young players
- senstroll

It's paying dividends for them.

So in the past 5 years, there has been only one player that was worth overpaying for?

If that is the case, then the most prudent thing to do, is to not sign any UFA's at all.
- faceto27

I'm gonna go out and say Zdeno Chara.

It depends. If you don't have any star players to spend your money on, why not take a change at signing UFAs?

I mean, it's not like it (frank)s up your cap situation if you don't have anyone to spend the money on and your team is allowed to spend to the cap limit.
- Pecafan Fan

Some of the best UFA signings are the complimentary type players like McClement, better bang for the buck.

Some of the best UFA signings are the complimentary type players like McClement, better bang for the buck.
- LeafMan

Hudler

Hudler
- The-O-G

yep, good example.

Some of the best UFA signings are the complimentary type players like McClement, better bang for the buck.
- LeafMan

Obviously.

Prust is working out well for the Habs, so far.

yep, good example.
- LeafMan

Except that he turned out to be much more than complimentary

I'm gonna go out and say Zdeno Chara.
- Scabeh

I said past 5 years!!

friggen hab fans can't read properly

Suter is a fabulous defenseman, but still overpayed.

Parise, is definately overpaid.

Both terms for those contracts is plain and simple stupid hockey management.
- faceto27

Makes me feel a little better about Clarksons contract.....but not much

I said past 5 years!!

friggen hab fans can't read properly
- faceto27

My bad.

It's hard to evaluate some deals made in the past 5 years considering you don't know how they'll turn out.

If I had to guess, I'd say Minnesota will remain quite happy with Parise and Suter for a long time.

stockpile picks. Trade the vets.
- Feeling Glucky?

Christ...

Except that he turned out to be much more than complimentary
- The-O-G

The only drawback is, that if it is a one year deal and they break out, the next pay day will be big, then the bargain is not as great as it once was.

Ok keep Carlyle and Phaneuf. What next?
- robin_steele264

You're always good for conversation.

Some of the best UFA signings are the complimentary type players like McClement, better bang for the buck.
- LeafMan

Yup. But you also need to get a big splash if you want to take your team to the next level.

It's rare that a team can get all the pieces it needs through draft and trade. Eventually, you gotta bite the bullet and overpay a player in UFA that you feel is important.

Leafs did that with Clarkson, and it hasn't panned out yet... but the whole roster has been changing on a game-by-game basis with injuries, suspensions, demotions, signings trades, and callups.

They need to settle things down and try to find some consistency.

My bad.

It's hard to evaluate some deals made in the past 5 years considering you don't know how they'll turn out.

If I had to guess, I'd say Minnesota will remain quite happy with Parise and Suter for a long time.
- Scabeh

10 years in hockey is a very very long time

The Leafs were legitimate cup contenders 10 years ago

Christ...
- A_Tree

trade the best d-man on the team with no viable replacements and find a new coach mid-season.

It's not a recipe for success, unless the top pick in the draft is your idea of success.

Yup. But you also need to get a big splash if you want to take your team to the next level.

It's rare that a team can get all the pieces it needs through draft and trade. Eventually, you gotta bite the bullet and overpay a player in UFA that you feel is important.

Leafs did that with Clarkson, and it hasn't panned out yet... but the whole roster has been changing on a game-by-game basis with injuries, suspensions, demotions, signings trades, and callups.

They need to settle things down and try to find some consistency.
- Feeling Glucky?

I think we hang our hat on that the second year he will settle down and be the type of player we hope we were getting, can't write him off on just a half season.

Who called the shots in terms of allowing Grobovski and MacArthur walk?

Draft??
- Fruitcakenipple

I like this answer.

Yup. But you also need to get a big splash if you want to take your team to the next level.

It's rare that a team can get all the pieces it needs through draft and trade. Eventually, you gotta bite the bullet and overpay a player in UFA that you feel is important.

Leafs did that with Clarkson, and it hasn't panned out yet... but the whole roster has been changing on a game-by-game basis with injuries, suspensions, demotions, signings trades, and callups.

They need to settle things down and try to find some consistency.
- Feeling Glucky?

Well I don't think standing pat is really a good idea either, it's hard to say. It's like gold prices last year. If you knew gold was going to drop $600.00 into this year...

Who called the shots in terms of allowing Grobovski and MacArthur walk?
- spatso

HH

The only drawback is, that if it is a one year deal and they break out, the next pay day will be big, then the bargain is not as great as it once was.
- LeafMan

Definite problem....which is why Hudler for 4 years @ 4 worked out even better.

But it's tough to get guys to sign 3-4 year deals. Like you said they'd rather sign a 1 year and try to break out.....or sign for 6-7 years

yep, good example.
- LeafMan

Another good strategy is taking runs at guys that other teams don't want, that you think can work in your system

Worked for Washington with Grabo.
Worked for Phoenix with Ribiero.
Worked with LA for Penner(Wanted Leafs to grab him)
And it worked for the Leafs with Raymond.

Get those boom or bust signings. Way better value.