I'm old, fat, stupid, and a terrible hockey player.

So take my opinion for what it is worth.

But if I had the choice of bringing Stanley home to Toronto or bringing Stanley to Sunrise, Florida, there would be no choice at all. I'd be wearing blue and white.

It means more here. For some players, that's something.

And the whole thing about players in Toronto being hounded is totally overblown.

Yes, the press are idiots. But that's manageable - it ends when you step out of the ACC.

Ask the players - for the most part, Toronto fans are very respectful of the personal privacy of their players.

And there are perqs that come with being a Toronto player.
- Atomic Wedgie

David Clarkson thought the same

That's if you do your taxes with TurboTax.

If you have a proper financial planner, you can pretty much come out even.

I have a friend who is a financial planner. He manages the money for a former NHL player - now broadcaster (yes, you know the guy).

Early in his career - at the request of the player (heavily influenced by his father), the guy set up his financial portfolio as a sort of blind trust. Money flows into his financial planner - and the (now-ex) player gets an allowance. Not a franking penny more.

Player says it was the greatest thing he has ever done, because from that day forward, he has never worried about money. And the dude has done very well (thanks in part to my friend). He maximizes his earnings, minimizes his taxes, and has a secure nest egg that will last him for the rest of his life - and sets up his children fairly well.
- Atomic Wedgie

but of course he had to give up his privacy, and couldn't live 'the life!' on the strip....

Depending on the player, you would easily make that up in endorsement deals, and etc in larger markets.

Either way, its really not as big a deal as has been made out. The reason the Leafs didnt get good free agents is because they have been a badly run team. Thats changed, so if someone like Tavares gets to July 1, you can bet the Leafs will be in the running.
- Archaic

thats pretty much it imo
Leafs sucked so UFAs went elsewhere.

Even last seasons with Stamkos.. TB was the better choice if you want to win

I prefaced with 'it's been suggested'

But what we know so far is that; Luongo, Barkov, Stamkos, Hedman, Seguin, Benn Doughty, the entire Panthers, Hurricanes and Golden Knights organization and now Tavares.
- PatC80

Of all the guys you listed, only Stamkos has chosen to play where he is currently playing.

thats pretty much it imo
Leafs sucked so UFAs went elsewhere.

Even last seasons with Stamkos.. TB was the better choice if you want to win
- senstroll

Hard to say that.. Leafs with Stammer would hands down be the cup fav.. Bolts are speed wobbling..

but of course he had to give up his privacy, and couldn't live 'the life!' on the strip....
- MaximusAurelius

Not quite sure how he had to give up his privacy...???

That's if you do your taxes with TurboTax.

If you have a proper financial planner, you can pretty much come out even.

I have a friend who is a financial planner. He manages the money for a former NHL player - now broadcaster (yes, you know the guy).

Early in his career - at the request of the player (heavily influenced by his father), the guy set up his financial portfolio as a sort of blind trust. Money flows into his financial planner - and the (now-ex) player gets an allowance. Not a franking penny more.

Player says it was the greatest thing he has ever done, because from that day forward, he has never worried about money. And the dude has done very well (thanks in part to my friend). He maximizes his earnings, minimizes his taxes, and has a secure nest egg that will last him for the rest of his life - and sets up his children fairly well.
- Atomic Wedgie

I just did my taxes with Turbo tax last week

Are you admitting that you are able to find a woman equal or over the age of 39 attractive?
- TheMussel

Cougars

Just to be safe, maybe tonight Freddie should stand behind the net.
- Atomic Wedgie

I don't think that's safe enough.

https://www.tsn.ca/final-...es-i-don-t-know-1.1047635

Read between the lines people. I don't know=screw this franchise...I'm going home...

So this whole Tavares thing, some people seem convinced that Montreal and San Jose are the front runners.

Outside of the cap space, is Montreal realistic?

I mean, they have Price and Weber, so Tavares would be the missing 3rd piece of any theoretical cup contender. But at the same time, from a managerial standpoint, Montreal has made some pretty bad moves over the last little while and if I was a player I'd be weary of being on a team whose only moves in the last 2 years outside of acquiring 4th liners are generally regarded as failures.

Hard to say that.. Leafs with Stammer would hands down be the cup fav.. Bolts are speed wobbling..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

its not hard to say.. last season the leafs basically just came out of a 10 year slumber to make the playoffs (barley). TB was farther along

If i was looking at the 2 teams as a UFA and wanted the better chance to win (at that point) TB looked like the better option

completely agree.

I lived in downtown Toronto during the early 90s... when the Jays were winning and the Leafs came back to life. Several of the players lived in the same condo building.

They often chatted at their initiation, no one harassed them.. maybe the odd little kid ... used to frequent the bars along Queens Quay... people would smile at the players, or give a little wave or thumbs up.

The harassment is a bi-product of the media - nothing more. And the media at that time contained more than a handful of jerks...
- BorjeFan4Ever

I remember 100 years ago, I was out in Vancouver. We went to a Canucks game, and then out for drinks afterwards (I think it was a bar called the Shark Club?!?!?! Any Vancouverites - feel free to chirp in).

Anyhoo, a few Canucks wandered in, and there was a line-up for guys to buy the players drinks.

I remember thinking, "What the hell? Why are fans buying these guys drinks? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

I'm guessing that doesn't happen as often in Sunrise.

So this whole Tavares thing, some people seem convinced that Montreal and San Jose are the front runners.

Outside of the cap space, is Montreal realistic?

I mean, they have Price and Weber, so Tavares would be the missing 3rd piece of any theoretical cup contender. But at the same time, from a managerial standpoint, Montreal has made some pretty bad moves over the last little while and if I was a player I'd be weary of being on a team whose only moves in the last 2 years outside of acquiring 4th liners are generally regarded as failures.
- TheMussel

Karlsson and Tavares are both going to SJ

Of all the guys you listed, only Stamkos has chosen to play where he is currently playing.
- Atomic Wedgie

Stamkos and Luongo. I think are the only two.. Didn't Lou ask the Cansucks to trade him back to Florida?

Karlsson and Tavares are both going to SJ
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I don't think they can afford both next season unless they dump Vlasic

And my expert guess is they're gonna try to re-sign Kane

Karlsson and Tavares are both going to SJ
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Who needs one trainwreck defensively when you can have two!

I'm a FA in NHL, and I'd be looking at


1st tier: Toronto, Montreal
2nd tier: Rangers, Boston
3rd tier: Chicago, LA, Detroit, SJ, Colorado, Vancouver, NYI

That's looking at hockey franchise status in combination with good cities (not too sure about Detroit, but ok).

I'd personally be very hesitant to look at Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Buffalo for the cities, and other teams just bc they lack 'hockey history' or a fanbase.

Still I guess Florida, Anaheim, Tampa, Arizona more interesting than Winnipeg, Edmonton..

its not hard to say.. last season the leafs basically just came out of a 10 year slumber to make the playoffs (barley). TB was farther along

If i was looking at the 2 teams as a UFA and wanted the better chance to win (at that point) TB looked like the better option
- senstroll

Idk.. If the Leafs beat the Bolts first round I think you'll have a hard time convincing anyone.

I'm a FA in NHL, and I'd be looking at


1st tier: Toronto, Montreal
2nd tier: Rangers, Boston
3rd tier: Chicago, LA, Detroit, SJ, Colorado, Vancouver, NYI

That's looking at hockey franchise status in combination with good cities (not too sure about Detroit, but ok).

I'd personally be very hesitant to look at Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Buffalo for the cities, and other teams just bc they lack 'hockey history' or a fanbase.

Still I guess Florida, Anaheim, Tampa, Arizona more interesting than Winnipeg, Edmonton..
- MaximusAurelius

Partying in Montreal for 3 nights a year > Living in Montreal

Who needs one trainwreck defensively when you can have two!
- AdamFrench

A train wreck who single handedly takes a poop team to the ECF's??

I'm even ok with Frederik Andersen avoiding getting hit with the puck, or any sort of contact.... Don't want him to get hit in the head again
- PatC80

I agree...I like McBackup...but.................................

I remember 100 years ago, I was out in Vancouver. We went to a Canucks game, and then out for drinks afterwards (I think it was a bar called the Shark Club?!?!?! Any Vancouverites - feel free to chirp in).

Anyhoo, a few Canucks wandered in, and there was a line-up for guys to buy the players drinks.

I remember thinking, "What the hell? Why are fans buying these guys drinks? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

I'm guessing that doesn't happen as often in Sunrise.
- Atomic Wedgie

I have some family that is close with Mike Richards' family. In his 3rd/4th year in Philly, those family members of mine were visiting from Kenora. They showed me a Philly newspaper article that read "Mike Richards and Jeff Carter hit the town!" or something along those lines... the accompanying photo was Mike Richards and a friend of his from Kenora... that looked NOTHING like Jeff Carter

A train wreck who single handedly takes a poop team to the ECF's??
- Arctic_AARDVARK

And single footedly apparently

I remember 100 years ago, I was out in Vancouver. We went to a Canucks game, and then out for drinks afterwards (I think it was a bar called the Shark Club?!?!?! Any Vancouverites - feel free to chirp in).

Anyhoo, a few Canucks wandered in, and there was a line-up for guys to buy the players drinks.

I remember thinking, "What the hell? Why are fans buying these guys drinks? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

I'm guessing that doesn't happen as often in Sunrise.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes, it was the Shark Club

Best memory was when Colton Orr's dad was walking around before the game like he owned the place ( pretty sure Orr was a healthy scratch )

He was lucky that 50% of the bar had Leaf jerseys on