I agree with losing out on or passing on Stamkos, & passing on any big name free agents at this stage of the Leafs rebuild. Babcock himself said it only makes sense to go after free agents when they are ready (to compete), & they are a few years away yet from being ready.
Their salary cap level isn't as healthy as people assume; they are currently at $64.2 M, subtracting Horton's salary from this would leave them at $58.9 M. If they sign a big name free agent it would leave them with little if any wiggle room.
They are better off sticking to the Shanaplan & slowly piece together the puzzle - jump at the opportunity of the upcoming expansion draft, shop for a young goalie & D man.
- 1967_2015champs

Umm that is the shanaplan.
He's said himself, this will not be a slow process...that if a FA becomes available that helps the team short and long term...they add them.

The Leafs can afford to sign stamkos to $11 million and pull off the next 5 seasons under the cap.(and that is assuming no Bozak trade - which would obviously happen if Stamkos signed)

I think they offer him 7 years X $9.5 and take it or leave it. It'd be great to get him without giving up any assets, but I won't be disappointed if he doesn't come to Toronto.
- Njuice

9.5 would be great.

I had a fractured arm and was off work for 6 week. I went back yesterday. First day back. Fml day before euro cup

- systemtool

About 13 years ago, I started a new job the day of the WJC finals. Thought about calling I sick.

Funny thing is I found out I had a TV in my office, but I didn't think it was a good idea to turn it on.

Iirc, Canada lost (Jan 2004).

What's going on? I saw something about a reporter committing suicide there but haven't seen much else...
- lumlums

She was having an affair with her married boss who was having an affair with his boss.
She wrote a suicide note asking not put an obit in the paper after her death....competing newspapers found out about the death and are demanding that they do an obit or they will. Also demanding that the suicide note be published (sick facks). A well know Star reporter threatened to rip the throat out of a well known Toronto Sun reporter.
Adults acting like kids...media thinking they have to right to the world....another day in T.O

Italy.
- systemtool

She was having an affair with her married boss who was having an affair with his boss.
She wrote a suicide note asking not put an obit in the paper after her death....competing newspapers found out about the death and are demanding that they do an obit or they will. Also demanding that the suicide note be published (sick facks). A well know Star reporter threatened to rip the throat out of a well known Toronto Sun reporter.
Adults acting like kids...media thinking they have to right to the world....another day in T.O
- Fakepartofme

Link???

9.5 would be great.
- Fakepartofme

i used to think $9.5-$10.5, but i'm now thinking $9-$9.5.

She was having an affair with her married boss who was having an affair with his boss.
She wrote a suicide note asking not put an obit in the paper after her death....competing newspapers found out about the death and are demanding that they do an obit or they will. Also demanding that the suicide note be published (sick facks). A well know Star reporter threatened to rip the throat out of a well known Toronto Sun reporter.
Adults acting like kids...media thinking they have to right to the world....another day in T.O
- Fakepartofme

Jesus Christ... what a (frank)ing mess

Nice! Haven't had a snakebite in a while, may have to get one going!

As for jerseys, I'm still rocking this beaut



- lumlums

I don't understand why guys always want the latest kit.

I like the street cred of an old jersey.

Will figure out the year of mine when I get back to office.

The Leafs can afford to sign stamkos to $11 million and pull off the next 5 seasons under the cap.(and that is assuming no Bozak trade - which would obviously happen if Stamkos signed)

I think they offer him 7 years X $9.5 and take it or leave it. It'd be great to get him without giving up any assets, but I won't be disappointed if he doesn't come to Toronto.
- Njuice

I think the Leafs will do everything in their power to bring him here, including breaking the 10m AAV mark. He's actually perfect for the situation we are in right now

We have a bunch of young, dynamic players on entry level deals that can slot in more suitable positions around the lineup, with a proven leader to follow. In a market as crazy as Toronto, these kids could really use a guy like him

I don't see them walking away over a few hundred thousand. The cap will take care of itself later. If we get crunched, trade the guys that aren't considered the core (The core being: Stammer, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Zaitsev, etc) and use the prospects that we've gained over the years to replace them. In 3-4 years, all of the guys we are currently about to draft will be ready


Imagine a centre core of: Stamkos, Matthews, Kadri, veteran for the next 5 seasons? That's a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Especially when we are on home ice

I don't understand why guys always want the latest kit.

I like the street cred of an old jersey.

Will figure out the year of mine when I get back to office.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah, I don't need a dozen jerseys of the same team. When this one wears out I'll grab another.

- Bigzby

The perfect garnish for an ice cold sizzurp!!

She was having an affair with her married boss who was having an affair with his boss.
She wrote a suicide note asking not put an obit in the paper after her death....competing newspapers found out about the death and are demanding that they do an obit or they will. Also demanding that the suicide note be published (sick facks). A well know Star reporter threatened to rip the throat out of a well known Toronto Sun reporter.
Adults acting like kids...media thinking they have to right to the world....another day in T.O
- Fakepartofme

That's messed up.

Reminds me of the movie Nightcrawler. Media will do anything for a few ratings.

I think the Leafs will do everything in their power to bring him here, including breaking the 10m AAV mark. He's actually perfect for the situation we are in right now

We have a bunch of young, dynamic players on entry level deals that can slot in more suitable positions around the lineup, with a proven leader to follow. In a market as crazy as Toronto, these kids could really use a guy like him

I don't see them walking away over a few hundred thousand. The cap will take care of itself later. If we get crunched, trade the guys that aren't considered the core (The core being: Stammer, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Zaitsev, etc) and use the prospects that we've gained over the years to replace them. In 3-4 years, all of the guys we are currently about to draft will be ready


Imagine a centre core of: Stamkos, Matthews, Kadri, veteran for the next 5 seasons? That's a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Especially when we are on home ice
- t_leafs21

I may be a little superstitious but I think you're naming some "core players" a little too early. It remains to be seen how good Zaitsev or Nylander and Marner will be in the NHL.

However, aside from that your point is good.

She was having an affair with her married boss who was having an affair with his boss.
She wrote a suicide note asking not put an obit in the paper after her death....competing newspapers found out about the death and are demanding that they do an obit or they will. Also demanding that the suicide note be published (sick facks). A well know Star reporter threatened to rip the throat out of a well known Toronto Sun reporter.
Adults acting like kids...media thinking they have to right to the world....another day in T.O
- Fakepartofme

who's mother did Feschuk call to confirm this?

who's mother did Feschuk call to confirm this?
- jimi james

Please let it be Mama Cox.

Please let it be Mama Cox.

Goligoski at 5-6mln is a way better fit for the Leafs than Barrie at 6mln.
+ leafs could acquire Goligoski in UFA, need to trade away picks/prospects/nhl players to get Barrie.

Leafs don't need Barrie.
If Leafs would make a trade for a top pairing D-men, real options would be PK Subban or Mattias Ekholm.
- MaximusAurelius

I may be a little superstitious but I think you're naming some "core players" a little too early. It remains to be seen how good Zaitsev or Nylander and Marner will be in the NHL.

However, aside from that your point is good.
- Aaron_85

Yeah, well I'm basing on the track records of past players that have been drafted that high and the way they have performed to date. There's no denying their skill level and I can't see how they don't become impact players years down the road.

The jury is out on Zaitsev until he starts playing NHL games but he'll be 25 in October and has nothing but good reports from his Russian teammates. Ryan Whitney said that he viewed Zaitsev as the same calibre as Panarin when he played a couple years in the KHL before he retired

FUU

I think the Leafs will do everything in their power to bring him here, including breaking the 10m AAV mark. He's actually perfect for the situation we are in right now

We have a bunch of young, dynamic players on entry level deals that can slot in more suitable positions around the lineup, with a proven leader to follow. In a market as crazy as Toronto, these kids could really use a guy like him

I don't see them walking away over a few hundred thousand. The cap will take care of itself later. If we get crunched, trade the guys that aren't considered the core (The core being: Stammer, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Zaitsev, etc) and use the prospects that we've gained over the years to replace them. In 3-4 years, all of the guys we are currently about to draft will be ready


Imagine a centre core of: Stamkos, Matthews, Kadri, veteran for the next 5 seasons? That's a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Especially when we are on home ice
- t_leafs21

The hope is they will be our core

Yeah, well I'm basing on the track records of past players that have been drafted that high and the way they have performed to date. There's no denying their skill level and I can't see how they don't become impact players years down the road.

The jury is out on Zaitsev until he starts playing NHL games but he'll be 25 in October and has nothing but good reports from his Russian teammates. Ryan Whitney said that he viewed Zaitsev as the same calibre as Panarin when he played a couple years in the KHL before he retired
- t_leafs21

so next year's calder finalists will be Matthews, Marner, and Zaitsev?

I may be a little superstitious but I think you're naming some "core players" a little too early. It remains to be seen how good Zaitsev or Nylander and Marner will be in the NHL.

However, aside from that your point is good.
- Aaron_85

I think our core is looking good too. Not to mess with your superstitions but:

Stamkos, Matthews, Kadri, JVR, Reilly, Gardiner, Komarov, and then possibly Nylander, Marner, Brown, Zaitsev, maybe Sosh and Hyman.......

and then we don't know what we have in Loov, Neilsen, Johnson, many more and then this years other 11 picks.

Damn, try to do that list 5 years ago.

Things looking good for the 100yr!!!

It all adds up ...

Leafs will make the playoffs next year in their 100th year & will win the Cup as well... 50 year anniversary since their last cup . Come on now, get with the program!!

so next year's calder finalists will be Matthews, Marner, and Zaitsev?
- MCharisma91

Id be happy with, one being a calder finalist, one being a conn smyth finalist and one being a really good dman next year.

Not asking much right?