This has been their problem all year. They don't hit and don't fight. They physically abused the bruins in the playoffs. That is how you weaken top teams. The leafs aren't a top tier team but they had the ability to soften teams up by steam rolling them. That's what made them so hard to play against last year. They definitely miss Komorov!
- Cap22

None of this is even close to reality.

- poohcrumbs

WTF is Rielly doing on the line with Ranger?
Fack Carlyle.

So why is Kessel worth 8 million when Kane is making 6.3?

My point.

If Kessel is worth 8 million, Kane will, most likely, make more than Kessel the next contract he signs

So, Dion making 7 million isnt all that bad when you look at times contracts were signed, ect.

People will be freaking out because he'll be making 7 million, and other to pairing Dmen will be making less, but those other Dmen, like Kane, will most likely get the same, if not more money when they hit free agency in a couple of years
- jbold

Kessel is a top teir player, Dion is NOT.

Will you guys stop saying understand, it is degrading.. We do understand, we just don't agree with it. But we can manage to understand it..
- bixll

Then make your argument seem like you just don't agree. You can disagree with Phaneuf's contract but the whole league is going to turn into this. If you disagree with the whole league doing this then say it, not just Phaneuf's contract. This will happy across the board everywhere no matter what. So no use in bickering, everyone just has to deal with reality. Phaneuf is worth this..why?? Because anyone else in the same situation will get the same!

So why is Kessel worth 8 million when Kane is making 6.3?

My point.

If Kessel is worth 8 million, Kane will, most likely, make more than Kessel the next contract he signs

So, Dion making 7 million isnt all that bad when you look at times contracts were signed, ect.

People will be freaking out because he'll be making 7 million, and other to pairing Dmen will be making less, but those other Dmen, like Kane, will most likely get the same, if not more money when they hit free agency in a couple of years
- jbold

jesus jbold.. i already told you.. kane was RFA when he signed for 6.3... kessel was a UFA when he signed for 8

kane's contract is up at the end of next year... my bet is he he gets more than kessel. and deservedly so.

so... overpay guys cause the rest of the league does? or be one of those teams that say.. if you want to play here its going to be for this much.. we're about winning.. not huge individual contracts.

create a culture of overpayment and entitlement.. or one of selflessness and team dedication.

i mean its moot.. the leafs will overpay for a second rate core group... just like always.
- Dozzer

If everyone was famous, no one would be famous.

Its not overpaying when guys with that skill set are making the same amount of money.

They're benefiting from the cap going up. Ideally. Its been happening for many years now since the cap was put in place

WTF is Rielly doing on the line with Ranger?
Fack Carlyle.
- Fakepartofme

Im guessing thats what Ranger does

Really, top of the Cap, and 1 win in regulation for the past 18 games. Not seeing it the same.
- bixll

How he doesn't get credit for leading the team to the playoffs in 8 years but everyone seems to jump on any negatives.

Kessel is a top teir player, Dion is NOT.
- bixll

Kessel is a top teir offensive player.


Top teir players who are all around players would easily get 9-10 million.


Top tier defenseman would get 9-10 million.

Exactly why Dion is worth, and will be getting 7 million.

Different situations and scenarios and factors = why players get what they get..who cares what Kane makes...
- poohcrumbs

That's exactly the point!

Comparing guys who signed as RFAs or who signed years ago, or who signed insanely front-loaded contracts to Phaneuf doesn't make any sense.

If he had been UFA 1 or 2 seasons earlier, he'd also be getting a lot less, under the old rules or under a falling cap.

But in a rising cap, without the ability to insanely front-load a contract, you can't get Phaneuf for less than 7.

You won't be able to get any #1 d-men for that in UFA.

Kessel is a top teir offensive player.


Top teir players who are all around players would easily get 9-10 million.


Top tier defenseman would get 9-10 million.

Exactly why Dion is worth, and will be getting 7 million.
- jbold

Dog chasing his tail

If you move Dion I think you're committing the team to another few years of rebuilding. And with the way this team has been playing, that may not be the worst course of action. You have to be careful, though. Kessel and JVR are offensive weapons you can win with, and at an age where they should be winning soon. You don't want to waste talent like that on a long, arduous rebuild.
- BetterCallSaul

no no.. move dion.. sign a couple mid level reliable guys in the offseason and continue to mold the young core.

you are looking at a D that can consist of rielly, gardiner, franson (tho i think he should be moved as well) liles (as one of the mid tier veteran guys) gunnar, reliable but needs surgery, with guys like percy, and granberg, and macwilliam etc filling out the ranks.

they wouldnt be any worse than they are now and they'd be cheaper.

How he doesn't get credit for leading the team to the playoffs in 8 years but everyone seems to jump on any negatives.
- Yeti1181

What does, what he did last year have to do with how he is handling the Team adversity this year ?

That's exactly the point!

Comparing guys who signed as RFAs or who signed years ago, or who signed insanely front-loaded contracts to Phaneuf doesn't make any sense.

If he had been UFA 1 or 2 seasons earlier, he'd also be getting a lot less, under the old rules or under a falling cap.

But in a rising cap, without the ability to insanely front-load a contract, you can't get Phaneuf for less than 7.

You won't be able to get any #1 d-men for that in UFA.
- Feeling Glucky?

If everyone was famous, no one would be famous.

Its not overpaying when guys with that skill set are making the same amount of money.

They're benefiting from the cap going up. Ideally. Its been happening for many years now since the cap was put in place
- jbold

actually.. yes it is.. just because value is inflated league wide doesnt make it any less inflated.

That's exactly the point!

Comparing guys who signed as RFAs or who signed years ago, or who signed insanely front-loaded contracts to Phaneuf doesn't make any sense.

If he had been UFA 1 or 2 seasons earlier, he'd also be getting a lot less, under the old rules or under a falling cap.

But in a rising cap, without the ability to insanely front-load a contract, you can't get Phaneuf for less than 7.

You won't be able to get any #1 d-men for that in UFA.
- Feeling Glucky?

Reality.

Kessel is a top teir offensive player.


Top teir players who are all around players would easily get 9-10 million.


Top tier defenseman would get 9-10 million.

Exactly why Dion is worth, and will be getting 7 million.
- jbold

It is just YOUR opinion. It is just my opinion, they are allowed to differ.

That's exactly the point!

Comparing guys who signed as RFAs or who signed years ago, or who signed insanely front-loaded contracts to Phaneuf doesn't make any sense.

.
- Feeling Glucky?

Its frustrating that they dont understand this is what we're saying when it comes to Dion, but they understand it when it comes to players like Kane.

Like, wow

It is just YOUR opinion. It is just my opinion, they are allowed to differ.
- bixll

True dat

It is just YOUR opinion. It is just my opinion, they are allowed to differ.
- bixll

Buffalo was willing to make Vanek the highest paid forward in the league..

Its not opinion.. its fact.

The salary cap going up= soon to be UFA's are going to cash in.

Like they've been doing every single season.

Its common sense

Buffalo was willing to make Vanek the highest paid forward in the league..

Its not opinion.. its fact.

The salary cap going up= soon to be UFA's are going to cash in.

Like they've been doing every single season.

Its common sense
- jbold

So, greedy player will get paid and put their teams in bad situations because of it, Ala Nashville. Impressive leadership skills there..

actually.. yes it is.. just because value is inflated league wide doesnt make it any less inflated.
- Dozzer

You're right.

Out of principle, the Leaf's shouldn't offer players what they're valued league-wide, they should just use their own, lower valuations.


I'm sure players will line up to play for us.

It worked in the Ballard years, right?

What does, what he did last year have to do with how he is handling the Team adversity this year ?
- bixll

Everyone has been saying he's a horrible leader not just this year my point is if everyone likes to focus solely on the negatives with the leafs. If we are purely focusing on this year he has been much better then let and and karlsso who are so called superstars.

How he doesn't get credit for leading the team to the playoffs in 8 years but everyone seems to jump on any negatives.
- Yeti1181

How he gets credit for leading the team to the playoffs in a weak eastern conference during a shorten season is beyond me.
Many more things outside of Dion got the team to the post season. It was the lack of real leadership that lead to the game 7 implosion.....thats what Dion can take part credit for!

Top UFA's every year sign for way less than "market value", its something the NHLPA encourages