Bishop should be able to at least get a 1st, based on the Miller and Schneider trades, anyway.
- Jeropotato

Those are older trades if you look at last year. Not the case. Though bishop maf are the biggest names since miller Schneider I can think of. I don't see flyers parting with their first I could see a 2nd prospect neuvirth. Again it's all just speculation. But in Philly we know hextall does not believe in Mason.

Those are older trades if you look at last year. Not the case. Though bishop maf are the biggest names since miller Schneider I can think of. I don't see flyers parting with their first I could see a 2nd prospect neuvirth. Again it's all just speculation. But in Philly we know hextall does not believe in Mason.
- Tfaehner

Point is, Bishop will command a decent return. If not from the Flyers, than from one of the many who would love an elite starting goalie ( Islanders, Flames, Maple Leafs, etc.)

You can play hardball and just sign James Reimer, I suppose.

Point is, Bishop will command a decent return. If not from the Flyers, than from one of the many who would love an elite starting goalie ( Islanders, Flames, Maple Leafs, etc.)

You can play hardball and just sign James Reimer, I suppose.
- Jeropotato

Tampa is in a situation where they have to let Stamkos walk or trade bishop. So they can't exactly play hardball. And philly did have a pretty good pairing though neither goalie is bishop. Also none of those other franchise mentioned are in a position to trade draft picks or promising prospects. Islanders have cap issues. Not as easy as you think. Carolina is a strong contender for a goalie nobody appreciates.

The deal with the leafs will be 9.1/9.2 per season. The dollars don't matter if he signs with the leafs. He will make cash for life!!! Endorsements, TV, signings etc....I spoke to Doug Gilmour several times the last few years while he was living in Tecumseh with Danny Probert.....he was telling me he's made just as much money now as he did playing. He's rarely paid for a meal, drink etc. gets close to $10,000 a day in appearances.....how can anyone imagine stampkos now doing the same??

EK,

You do realize when Sid signed his contract, it ate up the exact amount percentage wise of the cap that Toews/Kane's current deals did.

He signed 12yr - 104mil (8.7 per). His cap hit was 14.5% of the cap
Toews/Kane's hit is currently 14.4%

So it wasn't that he gave (or any superstar players, for that matter) any "discounts". He signed for the market value. The NHLPA never wants superstars (and usually do not let them) sign for any "discounts"

It may appear to be one because of the cap increase since the day he signed it.

So expect Stamkos to get as much as he can wherever he can get it. As he should.
- PatShart

You don't think the $8.7M cap hit is just a little coincidental? Crosby was wayyyy better than Kane and Toews when he signed his deal relative to when they signed theirs. If anyone was/is worth the 20% max it was Sid when he signed. He could've gotten them up to 16% fairly easily. It's not a huge savings, but it allowed them to sign Malkin, who incidentally, makes more. If that's not an indication that he gave the Pens a discount I don't know what is.

If Stamkos wanted to sign with Tampa, he'd have signed with Tampa. They've had a year to get it done.

Instead, he chose to play all year and risk losing the future $60-100 million dollars if he had gotten seriously injured in a career-ending incident. Quite a risky bet and he's lucky the blood clot wasn't worse.

It's obvious he intends to get paid (unless he has the absolute worse agent and advisors in history). If Tampa were going to pay, they'd have paid already. No benefit to them of a giant game of chicken with Stamkos. At this point, he's just waiting to review the offers.

You don't think the $8.7M cap hit is just a little coincidental? Crosby was wayyyy better than Kane and Toews when he signed his deal relative to when they signed theirs. If anyone was/is worth the 20% max it was Sid when he signed. He could've gotten them up to 16% fairly easily. It's not a huge savings, but it allowed them to sign Malkin, who incidentally, makes more. If that's not an indication that he gave the Pens a discount I don't know what is.
- Wetbandit1

Crosby wayyyy Better than toews kane? The 3 time cup winners. The reigning mvp. The guy crosby had to ask permission before he could become a captain of team Canada? Yeah go with that. Lol.

Crosby wayyyy Better than toews kane? The 3 time cup winners. The reigning mvp. The guy crosby had to ask permission before he could become a captain of team Canada? Yeah go with that. Lol.
- Tfaehner

You don't read much, before posting, do ya?

Stamkos cannot be insured. So the team that signs him for 7-8 years and 9-11 mill is taking a huge financial risk. Both in terms of cap and actual cash.

I can only think of one team that is in desperate need of Stamkos and doesn't give two (frank)s about throwing around the cash.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to which team i'm talking about?
- 13LEAFS01

TAMPA ?

Let's fast forward to free agency.


Stamos signs with TOR:

Yeaaaah Baby!!!!!!! Best day EVER!!!!!!!!!

Signed,
Leaf Fans


Stamos signs with OTHER:

So glad we didn't give out a max deal!!!! We didn't want him anyway!

Signed,
Leafs Fans

Really, it's what any fan base would say. I just said TML purely based on getting a better reaction.

Crosby wayyyy Better than toews kane? The 3 time cup winners. The reigning mvp. The guy crosby had to ask permission before he could become a captain of team Canada? Yeah go with that. Lol.
- Tfaehner

I hate how people take insignificant details like Crosby being polite and asking Toews permission to be captain and somehow turn that into Toews being as good or better than Crosby.

This is how I see it:
Management obviously felt Crosby deserved it more. Crosby, knowing Toews might feel slighted, asked his permission, thus validating Toews' contribution to the team and allowing him to save face. Toews responds graciously (doing otherwise would have made him look like a giant douche) and the team has better chemistry - It was a smart move by Crosby and in no way him somehow suggesting Toews was a better player.

P.S. Hockey is a team sport. A lot of terrible players have won a cup. This does not necessarily make them better players than others that haven't won one. By the same reasoning, Toews and Kane having more cup wins doesn't make them somehow equal to or better than Crosby. Its like comparing wins and losses and saying one goalie is better than another simply because they have more wins. Its not that simple.

I hate how people take insignificant details like Crosby being polite and asking Toews permission to be captain and somehow turn that into Toews being as good or better than Crosby.

This is how I see it:
Management obviously felt Crosby deserved it more. Crosby, knowing Toews might feel slighted, asked his permission, thus validating Toews' contribution to the team and allowing him to save face. Toews responds graciously (doing otherwise would have made him look like a giant douche) and the team has better chemistry - It was a smart move by Crosby and in no way him somehow suggesting Toews was a better player.

P.S. Hockey is a team sport. A lot of terrible players have won a cup. This does not necessarily make them better players than others that haven't won one. By the same reasoning, Toews and Kane having more cup wins doesn't make them somehow equal to or better than Crosby. Its like comparing wins and losses and saying one goalie is better than another simply because they have more wins. Its not that simple.
- Thecakeisalie

Well said.

Yes we all did, but could you imagine letting a player at Stamkos' level and at his age just walk away via free agency getting absolutely nothing but his crop dust? Especially when Stevie Y could have flipped him at the deadline. Obviously it was tough scenario to decide then and there; and I don't think anyone expected a Stamkosless team to make it that far (if I recall people were picking the Wings to win.) But if God forbid Stamkos walks, AND he happens to sign with a team in same division (you never know), then there are going to be some furious fans and owners.
- arichardson22

I'm MASSIVE Stamkos fan, as well as most Canadian players. You have to consider several key points for both sides (in no particular order).

*Salary/Cap constraints and the need to resign other key players.

*success of the team during his abscence.

*appeal of playing/winning/leading another team to glory

*desire to play for his hometown/country team

*the fact he has not signed already.

*impact of injuries both past and potential. Can you invest THAT MUCH, for that long in someone with two rather serious injuries
and is really only critical to TB's success for another 1-3 seasons?

I hate how people take insignificant details like Crosby being polite and asking Toews permission to be captain and somehow turn that into Toews being as good or better than Crosby.

This is how I see it:
Management obviously felt Crosby deserved it more. Crosby, knowing Toews might feel slighted, asked his permission, thus validating Toews' contribution to the team and allowing him to save face. Toews responds graciously (doing otherwise would have made him look like a giant douche) and the team has better chemistry - It was a smart move by Crosby and in no way him somehow suggesting Toews was a better player.

P.S. Hockey is a team sport. A lot of terrible players have won a cup. This does not necessarily make them better players than others that haven't won one. By the same reasoning, Toews and Kane having more cup wins doesn't make them somehow equal to or better than Crosby. Its like comparing wins and losses and saying one goalie is better than another simply because they have more wins. Its not that simple.
- Thecakeisalie

I figured this didn't need to be said. And was just common knowledge. I was wrong.

Those are older trades if you look at last year. Not the case. Though bishop maf are the biggest names since miller Schneider I can think of. I don't see flyers parting with their first I could see a 2nd prospect neuvirth. Again it's all just speculation. But in Philly we know hextall does not believe in Mason.
- Tfaehner

Martin Jones was traded for a 1st just last summer. The price for Bishop starts at a 1st.

Did anybody in Toronto ever appleciate that Phil Kessel was a very good hockey player?

If Stamkos wanted to sign with Tampa, he'd have signed with Tampa. They've had a year to get it done.

Instead, he chose to play all year and risk losing the future $60-100 million dollars if he had gotten seriously injured in a career-ending incident. Quite a risky bet and he's lucky the blood clot wasn't worse.

It's obvious he intends to get paid (unless he has the absolute worse agent and advisors in history). If Tampa were going to pay, they'd have paid already. No benefit to them of a giant game of chicken with Stamkos. At this point, he's just waiting to review the offers.
- JimboCoppertone

Maybe, but I don't think so. Yzerman is cool, Stamkos has always said that he wanted to resign with the Bolts. Yzerman wants a home team discount. Stamkos wants at least $9m. Maybe it is as simple as it appears and both sides are just trying to leverage their position as best they can.

I think Yzerman will give in at $9m and trade several other assets to create the necessary cap space. He will want top picks and/or prospects (no salary) in return.

Everyone thought Yzerman was in a very bad position when Martin St. Louis demanded a trade. But, he certainly won that deal with the Rangers.Yzerman is very good at what he does. Some people believe that his Assistant GM (Julian Brisebois) has the sharpest eye and best mind in hockey for assessing talent. But full credit to the boss who listens to his guys.

Eklund: Stamkos Situation Gets a "Little" More Clear. Buzzcast at 1pm
- Eklund

It's all coming to a strong reality. Oh, and Kulemin is Datysuk.

Did anybody in Toronto ever appleciate that Phil Kessel was a very good hockey player?
- spatso

The trolling that never ceases....

Crosby wayyyy Better than toews kane? The 3 time cup winners. The reigning mvp. The guy crosby had to ask permission before he could become a captain of team Canada? Yeah go with that. Lol.
- Tfaehner

Sharp is better than Crosby, too.

Did anybody in Toronto ever appleciate that Phil Kessel was a very good hockey player?
- spatso

Yes. He's still one of my favorite.

If Stamkos prefers money over any kind of success, then Toronto is perfect for him.

The fans have no expectations that the team will ever achieve anything and their biggest win over the last 15 years was winning the draft lottery.

If you want to rot away in hockey hell, by all means sign in Toronto.

If Stamkos prefers money over any kind of success, then Toronto is perfect for him.

The fans have no expectations that the team will ever achieve anything and their biggest win over the last 15 years was winning the draft lottery.

If you want to rot away in hockey hell, by all means sign in Toronto.
- MikesPillBottle

If he prefers money, im sure SKA St. Petersburg is the place to be...although with the value of the ruble maybe not..

Crosby wayyyy Better than toews kane? The 3 time cup winners. The reigning mvp. The guy crosby had to ask permission before he could become a captain of team Canada? Yeah go with that. Lol.
- Tfaehner

Post less. watch more hockey