Cost of living, housing costs and top line dollars are essentially peripheral to core financial determination. Accountants will plot out the net and timing of every dollar paid and determine the exact investment opportunity of any offer.

Clearly there is a huge, well documented financial advantage for any team where players are not obliged to pay state taxes. On $10m. I think the net benefit of no state tax is about $600k (in your pocket dollars). Unless you work on the numbers end of the calculations you have no idea how huge that number is when repeated annually and projected over 7 (or 8) investment years. The financials are overwhelmingly tipped in Tampa's favour. Have to wonder if Yzerman has misunderstood or misplayed his hand.

Also, need to wonder if Tampa decided a while ago that they are okay with him leaving. So, why not trade him last year?
- spatso

Yeah I wonder if stamkos had some sort of say if he could be traded or not.

State income tax (NY) on income over $1m. is computed at 8.82%. All income taxes in Canada are higher. In Florida, state personal income tax is 0%.

So a $12m offer from Buffalo results in an annual state tax of $1.06m. If you compound the saving that you achieve by signing a deal where there are no state taxes it is a net gain of $10m over 8 years. The difference is astounding. There are some things that can be done to mitigate the tax load but they tend to apply equally in Florida and NY.

My guess is the Bolts want the tax benefit to be used to their benefit. They want Stamkos sign for $1m less and say the net value is equal. The Stamkos camp would likely agrue that it is a "personal" income tax and Stamkos should get the benefit.

Does anybody else wonder why the Panthers have cleared all that cap space?

Subban has won a Norris and played on his country's olympic team. Hedman not so much. I believe Hedman is worth $9M / season like Subban.
- Leafsandbolts

True about the Norris, but we all know Hedman SHOULD have been on his country's Olympic team. That was the most ridiculous oversight I've ever seen when it comes to Olympics rosters.

Just a prediction Whoever signs Stamkos to an over inflated contract will regret it and it won't take long to figure that out Just have a bad feeling that someone is going to get screwed big time on this one. Just hope and pray that it is not YOUR team.
- holeinone

THIS

True about the Norris, but we all know Hedman SHOULD have been on his country's Olympic team. That was the most ridiculous oversight I've ever seen when it comes to Olympics rosters.
- SolidGoldBricks

Karlsson logs the same kind of minutes playing for Sweden as he does for Ottawa. So the other Dmen named to their team tends to be shaped in the image of the precious one.

I find it funny when fans of teams say that they wouldn't pay the extra 500k-1M to land a 26 year old superstar. "I'd do 10.5 but if the Sabres pay him 12 I'll be glad we didn't get him". Come on. Leafs fans would rightfully rejoice if Stamkos comes home for 7 x 11.5 or 12. All I can say for sure is that if he signs somewhere other than Buffalo, I will be disappointed, regardless of a few extra $$$
- chugger38

There is no way I will rejoice if Stamkos is signed by Toronto for $11.5m or $12m AAV. Look at the situation the Blackhawks are in. They won their Cups with two superstars making bridge deal money, and Keith on a super economic contract. Now they have to get rid of lots of good role players because of their superstar's contracts.

An extra $500k can make a big difference in the future.

Karlsson logs the same kind of minutes playing for Sweden as he does for Ottawa. So the other Dmen named to their team tends to be shaped in the image of the precious one.
- spatso

Somehow Canada makes it work with 3 big-minute players. Even if they took Hedman to play 10-minutes a game he'd have been an improvement. Sweden was a much weaker team for not having Hedman. Heck, Canada had Subban playing a 7th d-man role, and he logs a ton of minutes in Montreal, too.

I will never understand leaving Hedman home that year.

Ty you do know buffalo has much higher taxes then in Florida right ?
- todd1a

oh and its effing Buffalo

I don't get this comment? Are you implying Toronto has more wealth and affluence than Tampa?
- ehabs9

i think thats obvious for many reasons

Somehow Canada makes it work with 3 big-minute players. Even if they took Hedman to play 10-minutes a game he'd have been an improvement. Sweden was a much weaker team for not having Hedman. Heck, Canada had Subban playing a 7th d-man role, and he logs a ton of minutes in Montreal, too.

I will never understand leaving Hedman home that year.
- SolidGoldBricks

Toby Enstrom didnt even make the preliminary practice rooster bc (and im quoting here) "We forgot that he was playing over there". Toby later declined the invitation to trainingcamp.

The same coach selected Henrik Tallinder over Hedman, bc "its important with leadership in the lockerroom". Apparently it wasnt enough with Zetterberg, Sedins, Alfie, Kronwall, Lundkvist and 3 defending stanley cup champions.

He coached his last game as Swedens head coach this WC, a total of five regular NHLers accepted his invitation to play.

So i would not look in to much about him not participating in the olympics.

There is no way I will rejoice if Stamkos is signed by Toronto for $11.5m or $12m AAV. Look at the situation the Blackhawks are in. They won their Cups with two superstars making bridge deal money, and Keith on a super economic contract. Now they have to get rid of lots of good role players because of their superstar's contracts.

An extra $500k can make a big difference in the future.
- SolidGoldBricks

Uhhhhh how about we focus on the Leafs winning cups? I don't give a flying (frank) about 10 years down the road if we win the cup in 4-5 years... I would gladly take the stress of a salary cap crunch knowing it came at the "expense" of winning a cup

Uhhhhh how about we focus on the Leafs winning cups? I don't give a flying (frank) about 10 years down the road if we win the cup in 4-5 years... I would gladly take the stress of a salary cap crunch knowing it came at the "expense" of winning a cup
- Conquest

That is my whole point though. If this young core all of a sudden has to start being broken up before they can win (because of a massive Stamkos contract) then that sucks.

I'm not saying I don't want Stamkos, but $12mm AAV is ridiculous. Is it that unreasonable to think that the Leafs MIGHT not win the Cup before a $12mm salary on the books becomes an issue in 3-5 seasons?

It won't be a problem in 10 years. It will be a problem in a few seasons when Matthews, Marner, Nylander etc. are all up for new contracts. If they are all so good that the Leafs are contenders, then it could be a problem.

I hate seeing Tampa Bay lose a good goal scoring for nothing. But you don't give a one dimensional player with a 16" rod in his leg 10M per year. I think the $7.5M that he currently gets is about right. Only people that haven't watched him play a lot believe he's worth over 10M. They are influenced by his name and past play. He does not make players around him better. Tampa needs to move on.

Don't know but the thing I hate about Stamkos is kucherov and Johnson raise there game during the playoffs Stamkos does not.
- todd1a

You are correct that Stamkos has not had the playoff success one would expect. I believe the effort was there but no finish.

Kucherov has past Stamkos up pre broken leg sure Stamkos was better post broken leg heck no
- todd1a

You can argue that Kucherov past Stamkos this past season but 2014 - 2015 Stamkos had a better season. I hope Stamkos will bounce back once his contract is signed and he has more offensive minded linemates.

Jesus. Sounds like Stamkos is about as useful as Kostitsyn. Feck, his ability levels must have dropped rapidly.

The Stamkos free agency process will create the next big contract trend. Crazy for teams to allow the contract process to tease out for an elite player to become a UFA at age 26. Far better for teams to sign franchise players at 22 or 23 years of age to 8 year contracts. So, for example, if McDavid continues on his current growth line he gets $100m over 8 years starting around age 22/23.

This type of contract is far more efficient than what is happening now. Way too many retirement contracts are being given out where you are paying a player based on past performance. Does make sense in any business, makes even less sense in sport.
- spatso

Tough to have a "growth line" after one season even if your surname is McDavid. It will also be tough and risky to pay a player $100M after only 3 seasons.

Stamkos was entitled to UFA under the CBA since he has played 7 seasons (actual 8) and his contract has expired.

Bonus driven contracts are the way to reward current performance but they don't work in a hard CAP league.

I hate seeing Tampa Bay lose a good goal scoring for nothing. But you don't give a one dimensional player with a 16" rod in his leg 10M per year. I think the $7.5M that he currently gets is about right. Only people that haven't watched him play a lot believe he's worth over 10M. They are influenced by his name and past play. He does not make players around him better. Tampa needs to move on.
- tampa2

Free agency market prices.

should have locked stamkos last summer


your loss will be a gain for another team

Not to mention next year when they need to sign Johnson, Hedman, Drouin, Palat and one of Bishop/Vasilevskiy. This year is the least of their issues. They should get whatever they can for Stamkos' rights, trade Bishop before the expansion draft and move on with Kucherov/Drouin/Johnson/Hedman/Vasilevskiy as the future of the team.

Fwiw a million dollar house in Buffalo costs 3 mil in TO or Tampa.

Some people don't want big city b.s., like traffic, crime, paying fifty bucks just to park your car, etc. Maybe he does not want the media circus that every single day would bring in TO. He would be treated like a superstar here but not harrassed and every time his family goes out it won't cause a riot. He might get some flack if he has a down year here, but he won't get publicly crucified.

And the notion of getting more endorsements in TO is shaky. Do we really think CCM, Rebok, Bauer or whomever is not going to throw millions at him if he lives in a small U.S. city vs TO?

People are motivated by a lot of things.

Fwiw a million dollar house in Buffalo costs 3 mil in TO or Tampa.

Some people don't want big city b.s., like traffic, crime, paying fifty bucks just to park your car, etc. Maybe he does not want the media circus that every single day would bring in TO. He would be treated like a superstar here but not harrassed and every time his family goes out it won't cause a riot. He might get some flack if he has a down year here, but he won't get publicly crucified.

And the notion of getting more endorsements in TO is shaky. Do we really think CCM, Rebok, Bauer or whomever is not going to throw millions at him if he lives in a small U.S. city vs TO?

People are motivated by a lot of things.
- LandlordTom

How about Buffalo takes Callahan off our hands if Tampa retains $1M? Cally is a good old Rochester lad!

But $8.5M was never going to get it done.

Yzerman has mismanaged this resigning.

If he had offered over $9M last June, I doubt the team would be in this position. I hope Yzerman has learned that he needs to offer Hedman the same money as Subban.

He never was going to sign for $9M either. Only chance they had of signing early was to match the Toews/Kane deals which if they did that would cost us other players. This is about cap management and going above $9M for this team is cap suicide

All up to Stamkos now last effort by Tampa https://mobile.twitter.co...status/745630123697704960

Stamkos' linemates, ice time, team powerplay and faceoff starts also explain a lot of his declining points.
- Leafsandbolts

Don't disagree, however for player to command and be worth the cap hit he will get said player needs to be better than producing stats based on who he plays with. He's a goal scorer and is/will be paid to score goals. Problem is he isn't scoring goals like he used to and for a player to be worth the % of cap he is going to be he needs to be able to continue producing at the higher level even without certain linemates b/c in a cap world the reality is signing Stammer to anything above $9M will cost the team talent to play around Stamkos