Burke really needs to get over his stance against long term deals... It's the new black... and no high profile UFA signs without one... and Parise at his age is not exactly a risk for a long term deal, in my opinion...
- SofaKingBored

*cough* Anthopolous *cough*

Either would be good.
- Feeling Glucky?

Didn't we go 0-10 in 2010? I forget. So many painful painful memories...

I tend to agree, it's the only way you're going to get a top star via free agency these days. Granted, some players are way over-paid and are given much too long of a term, but I don't think Parise will be one of those guys. He's only 27 years old, still has lots of miles left of him...plus a long-term doesn't nessicarily mean he'll be hear for all those years, you never know what will happen.
- blahman20

I think giving Komisexual a 5 year deal is more detrimental to this organization than giving Parise a 10 year deal at the age of 27... That's what I'd be offering, 10 years @ $80,000,000... That's a deal that Parise would seriously consider and at least garner a counter offer and not flat out dismissal like Brad Richards last year...

Jokinen
- Feeling Glucky?

On a 1yr/3.5mil contract.....maybe!

*cough* Anthopolous *cough*
- weirdoh

Does he know anything about hockey?

I know this isn't Burke's fault. Schultz obviously already had his mind made up as I can't see this dog and pony show really affecting his decision. But he has to do something drastic and something NOT detrimental to this (frank)ing team. I know it's a broken record but for frig's sake at least fix 1 hole will ya? I should wait until tomorrow is over but I'm just getting it out of the way now.
- weirdoh

The Oilers just promised him more NHL ice time. Every team involved had a selling point but the one thing the Oilers had to offer more than anybody else was guaranteed NHL ice time.

Do you think Burke would have given him guaranteed top four minutes or would he have told him that the AHL might be where he has to start? Something like that would probably disqualify the Leafs, even though Gardiner was here.

Didn't we go 0-10 in 2010? I forget. So many painful painful memories...
- gravyface

Again, still not necessarily bad, long term.

For what reason?
- blahman20

Because Leaf fans want trades just for the sake of trades.

God forbid they make the team better, just trade Trade TRADE!!!! For who? I don't know, I don't care, just TRADEEEEEEE!!!!

Because Leaf fans want trades just for the sake of trades.

God forbid they make the team better, just trade Trade TRADE!!!! For who? I don't know, I don't care, just TRADEEEEEEE!!!!
- Tee-Dot

How would you propose they make the team better without a trade?

I think giving Komisexual a 5 year deal is more detrimental to this organization than giving Parise a 10 year deal at the age of 27... That's what I'd be offering, 10 years @ $80,000,000... That's a deal that Parise would seriously consider and at least garner a counter offer and not flat out dismissal like Brad Richards last year...
- SofaKingBored

But what if Parise only plays like an 8 million dollar player for another 5 years?

The Oilers just promised him more NHL ice time. Every team involved had a selling point but the one thing the Oilers had to offer more than anybody else was guaranteed NHL ice time.

Do you think Burke would have given him guaranteed top four minutes or would he have told him that the AHL might be where he has to start? Something like that would probably disqualify the Leafs, even though Gardiner was here.
- Two_For_Truth

Technically it is Burke's fault, if our dcorps was as poopty as edmonton's Schultz woulda come here!

Because Leaf fans want trades just for the sake of trades.

God forbid they make the team better, just trade Trade TRADE!!!! For who? I don't know, I don't care, just TRADEEEEEEE!!!!
- Tee-Dot

"Leafs out of the running"...The official motto of the NHL free agency period...

You don't even give me credit?
- QuebecPride

But what if Parise only plays like an 8 million dollar player for another 5 years?
- Two_For_Truth

I can't see him turning to poop. But you're right it's a risk. But a risk a GM who needs to knock one out of the park should take.

The Oilers just promised him more NHL ice time. Every team involved had a selling point but the one thing the Oilers had to offer more than anybody else was guaranteed NHL ice time.

Do you think Burke would have given him guaranteed top four minutes or would he have told him that the AHL might be where he has to start? Something like that would probably disqualify the Leafs, even though Gardiner was here.
- Two_For_Truth

I think it was pretty clear that of all the teams in the hunt, the Oilers D is by far the worst in the depth charts; we may not have Bourque, Coffey, Niedermayer, and Orr back there but with guys like Rielly, Holzer, Blacker, Percy in the fold, we certainly have more depth than the Oilers do, so even if Schultz stalls next year, worst is he's going to ride the pine or sit on the bottom pairing.

But what if Parise only plays like an 8 million dollar player for another 5 years?
- Two_For_Truth

Front load the poop out of it like every other long term deal... it's not like we can't afford to pay him $12,000,000 for the first couple years...

"Leafs out of the running"...The official motto of the NHL free agency period...
- Flyfreaky

"Flyers looking for goaltender help"...The official motto of the Flyers during any period during the year.

Front load the poop out of it like every other long term deal... it's not like we can't afford to pay him $12,000,000 for the first couple years...
- SofaKingBored

Burke doesn't do long term deals...

"Flyers looking for goaltender help"...The official motto of the Flyers during any period during every year.
- weirdoh

Goddammit...

Burke doesn't do long term deals...
- Flyfreaky

Oh...well then. Now that we know this tidbit, what next?

But what if Parise only plays like an 8 million dollar player for another 5 years?
- Two_For_Truth

That's the risk you take to get 5 years of Parise at his best. There's lots of inconsistent players out there, who cost less, but are going to have up and down years. What separates the high-end players from the rest is that their "off years" are better than everyone else's good years.

Oh...well then. Now that we know this tidbit, what next?
- weirdoh

"Leafs out of the running"...The official motto of the NHL free agency period...

Technically it is Burke's fault, if our dcorps was as poopty as edmonton's Schultz woulda come here!
- Feeling Glucky?

Well the Leafs did allow more goals last year so it's not really that. It's about the Leafs having more established players that Burke wouldn't honestly be able to say Schultz could automatically play ahead of.

Looking at the Leafs, they have Phaneuf, Liles, Gunnarsson and Gardiner. You would assume that Schultz wants to play with Gardiner and in the top four but realistically it leaves Schultz on the bottom pairing or in the AHL to start the season. Compared that to the Oilers who have Petry, Whitney, Smid and then the fourth spot it's up for grabs and there's little chance of him ending up in the AHL.

Burke doesn't do long term deals...
- Flyfreaky

Burke doesn't do front-loaded/cap circumvention deals. He's always said for the right player, he'd sign a long-term deal (see JVR: didn't sign him, but has no problem with his contract).