I expect he will be. He might even be on the top 2 lines if they want to protect the kids.



Lupul - Bozak - JVR
Marner - Matthews - Nylander
Michalek - Kadri -Komarov
Greening - Brown - Soshnikov

Hyman, Kapanen sub-ing back and forth from Marlies
- Aetherial

That second line will be a defensive nightmare, IMO.

All of this tax talk is forgetting one major component....Stamkos does NOT get taxed like a 40 hour a week employee.

Stamkos is a corporation. At some level. His real estate holdings, himself personally, in some way he is sheltered by corporate tax laws.

For all we know his accountant has him completely structured as a corporation at the top allowing for all sorts of different deductions, property ownership deductions, expenses....blah, blah, blah.

There was an article posted months ago that explain exactly the tax issue being negligible between Tampa and Toronto.

It's a different level of wealth people.

Mitt Romney had to expose he pays only 10% tax. It's this type of accounting practice that keeps the wealthy, wealthy.

Also and if anything at all, wealthy people will pay themselves through their corporations a middle class, taxable income per year to keep it all legal.

FOR THE LAST TIME, THERE IS NO TAX ISSUE WITH STAMKOS SIGNING IN TORONTO. None that would make a squirt of piss difference to how many houses, suits or cars he buys and gifts to his 3rd cousin in PEI.

His decision will not be based on taxes. Money, perhaps, but not the tax ramifications. There are way too many ways around it.
- underhill14

the conversations was in response to an article/blog that postulated he might already be paying ontario taxes anyways based on whether or not he is deemed a resident. Lots of fans jumped on this as another reason he would possibly choose Toronto. I was simply trying to point out there are likely very simple ways to get around this, even if you aren't super rich and incorporated.

also by the sounds of it, there are plenty of rich athletes that do not get professional advice, and have not gone the route of creating a corporation, and end up losing a bunch of money.

As I mentioned in the other blog, the one thing the leafs can offer that other team can, is post career money. No other alumni of any NHL teams make as much as leafs alumni have.
I know thats further down the road....but
- Fakepartofme

Let's not forget the other magic carrot that he no doubt dreamed of as a kid - the chance to be the captain of the Leafs. If he signs on July 1st he'll have the C by the start of camp (at the latest) is my bet

JVR-Stammer-Nylander
Komarov-Matthews-Brown
Rychel-Kadri-Marner
Greening-Laich-Hyman
Leipsic
- TheMussel

I like the line up game too and like your line up with a few tweaks:

JVR, Stamkos, Nylander....agree with this one, would be filthy with Willie setting them up and JVR in front of the net.

Komarov, Matthews, Marner....kid is not going to the O and him and Matthews are the future so start them together with the Corporal.

Rychel, Kadri, Hyman....this line would be GRITTY. I think Rychel with Kadri has the makings of something really special...needs time to gel but just a feeling.

Greening, Laich, Michalek....this is our salary dump line. It's the new NHL, no goons on the 4th line just salary dumps.

(If Lupul is healthy, Lupul, Matthews, Marner and then Rychel, Kadri, Koma and if Marner goes to the O slide Hyman with Matthews.)

That second line will be a defensive nightmare, IMO.
- LeafMan

For us? Not really. Both Marner and Matthews have had lots of complimentary things said about their play without the puck and in their own zone.

I expect he will be. He might even be on the top 2 lines if they want to protect the kids.



Lupul - Bozak/Kadri - JVR
Marner - Matthews - Nylander
Michalek - Kadri/Bozak -Komarov
Greening - Brown - Soshnikov

Hyman, Kapanen sub-ing back and forth from Marlies
- Aetherial

I just dont feel like brown will be in the line up before Hyman. Just my opinion.

That second line will be a defensive nightmare, IMO.
- LeafMan

Yeah it might be a 3rd line instead. Babcock did say Matthews would be a #3C. I was thinking that halfway into the season, that line would have too much talent to be getting 3rd line minutes.

That second line will be a defensive nightmare, IMO.
- LeafMan

Learning curve.
thats ok.

Let's not forget the other magic carrot that he no doubt dreamed of as a kid - the chance to be the captain of the Leafs. If he signs on July 1st he'll have the C by the start of camp (at the latest) is my bet
- lumlums

Ya Im not sure we just give it to him...but I could see them doing that.

For us? Not really. Both Marner and Matthews have had lots of complimentary things said about their play without the puck and in their own zone.
- lumlums

Coaches will match them up against top lines on the road. Can't have three rookies on one line, they are all offensive players.

I just dont feel like brown will be in the line up before Hyman. Just my opinion.
- Fakepartofme

I forgot about Rychel. I think he may be here also ... and maybe Hyman or Greening in the Marlies.

A lot of the bottom 6 stuff will be pretty fluid this year with Marner and Matthews probably getting bottom 6 minutes for a good part of the year.

One thing that seems apparent is that the team is not going to compete for much next season. I don't agree they will be *worse*, but I think the playoffs will be well out of reach. I expect a similar point total to Buffalo last year.

They are still very weak on D.

Ya Im not sure we just give it to him...but I could see them doing that.
- Fakepartofme

If I recall they pretty much did with Dion, no? Acquired in January and given the C by like May or June, right?

As I mentioned in the other blog, the one thing the leafs can offer that other team can, is post career money. No other alumni of any NHL teams make as much as leafs alumni have.
I know thats further down the road....but
- Fakepartofme

It counts. Plus what is the cool factor of being a home town captain of a team that finally ends the curse of Harold Ballard in a hockey crazy market.

Coaches will match them up against top lines on the road. Can't have three rookies on one line, they are all offensive players.
- LeafMan

... no matter how you slice it, it is going to be a long season, with a lot of very young players getting significant minutes.

Coaches will match them up against top lines on the road. Can't have three rookies on one line, they are all offensive players.
- LeafMan

Yeah, I'm with you on that point. There's gonna be lots of rookies in the lineup though I would think...

For us? Not really. Both Marner and Matthews have had lots of complimentary things said about their play without the puck and in their own zone.
- lumlums

Yeah, but defensively responsible play in the OHL/Swiss league (albeit that one, much closer) are totally different than what they'll be asked to do in the NHL. Especially under Babcock.

Coaches will match them up against top lines on the road. Can't have three rookies on one line, they are all offensive players.
- LeafMan

Matthews is a two-way player... Marner also has some Datsyuk-like qualities.. Im not so worried about them. They both have off the charts IQ and are being coached by Babcock.. Just keep sosh away from them, i think hes the biggest liability

... no matter how you slice it, it is going to be a long season, with a lot of very young players getting significant minutes.
- Aetherial

Or it could be a hell of a good surprise year.

I like all the young players in the lineup but spread them out with a vet on each line.

Yeah, I'm with you on that point. There's gonna be lots of rookies in the lineup though I would think...
- lumlums

Assuming Marner stays, you will have Matthews Marner and Nylander almost certainly.

Soshnikov, Hyman, Brown maybe. Have to figure at least one sticks. I don't see Kapanen making it.

So at least 4 rookies up front. You probably don't want more than that.

... no matter how you slice it, it is going to be a long season, with a lot of very young players getting significant minutes.
- Aetherial

Leafs will make the playoffs and all the worried fans will just have to stfu..

the conversations was in response to an article/blog that postulated he might already be paying ontario taxes anyways based on whether or not he is deemed a resident. Lots of fans jumped on this as another reason he would possibly choose Toronto. I was simply trying to point out there are likely very simple ways to get around this, even if you aren't super rich and incorporated.

also by the sounds of it, there are plenty of rich athletes that do not get professional advice, and have not gone the route of creating a corporation, and end up losing a bunch of money.
- vermie22

Interesting. I think I just found that blog.

While the person that wrote the blog had basic facts straight, it’s quite obvious they had no practical knowledge of how the CRA actually applies the rules and even less insight into Stamkos’ personal situation. They were overly presumptuous in their conclusion and had no sound basis for making one.

It’s impossible to say what Stamkos’ tax status is based on public information I have seen. By following some simple advice from a tax lawyer he could have avoided a big chunk of Canadian taxes. It’s impossible to say with any certainty whether he obtained/followed any advice.

Matthews is a two-way player... Marner also has some Datsyuk-like qualities.. Im not so worried about them. They both have off the charts IQ and are being coached by Babcock.. Just keep sosh away from them, i think hes the biggest liability
- Tanooki

Holy poop

the conversations was in response to an article/blog that postulated he might already be paying ontario taxes anyways based on whether or not he is deemed a resident. Lots of fans jumped on this as another reason he would possibly choose Toronto. I was simply trying to point out there are likely very simple ways to get around this, even if you aren't super rich and incorporated.

also by the sounds of it, there are plenty of rich athletes that do not get professional advice, and have not gone the route of creating a corporation, and end up losing a bunch of money.
- vermie22

I knew you guys were discussing the article. I was making more of a general statement to try to finally squelch the topic. Taxes are just not the issue. I'm sure he pays in both countries but that is probably less because of the jock tax and time on the road. It gets tricky....I have friends who are accountants for athletes and musicians. They all do just fine at hiding their money.

Guys like Stamkos, with his agent help, have the best team of CPAs and financial managers out there. They have already run every tax scenario for every team and have come up with a strategy to minimize tax exposure in each city.

Like I said, he's not a landscaper trying to get a few thousand back from HR Block. It's a totally different game.

Coaches will match them up against top lines on the road. Can't have three rookies on one line, they are all offensive players.
- LeafMan

I see at least one vet on each line (Stammer, Kadri, Laich, Greening, Michalek, Lupul, JVR what have you).

I think Brown, Hyman, Sosh are locks to make the team barring a poor performance in camp. They have played more pro hockey than most of the other prospects in serious consideration. Nylander Marner Matthews are guarantees in my head but you never know. Fill in the rest with kids if some of the vets end up on Robidas island.

Edit: Hyman maybe not as much pro hockey but 4 years in College too.

Or it could be a hell of a good surprise year.

I like all the young players in the lineup but spread them out with a vet on each line.
- LeafMan

quite possible.

Even if they are bad I am going to enjoy this season.

I watched more last season than any of the past 10 years probably, just out of curiosity to see how a real coach would change the team. If it weren't for abysmal goaltending for half the year, we would have not been near last in the league. Bernier should be our hero for gifting us Matthews!