James Tanner: The NHL Has a New Worst GM Chiarelli should send MacLellan a crate of champagne and a box of Cubans.

Some real head scratchers for sure....Glad its not my team...

Comes down to quality of competition, player usage, and how those goals are scored. On the stat sheet those players like similar though!

I know your a Leaf Fan James, just wondering what your thoughts are on the Marleau signing?

Comes down to quality of competition, player usage, and how those goals are scored. On the stat sheet those players like similar though!
- fry

If they played mostly on the same line, it's hard to question the stat lines.

I know your a Leaf Fan James, just wondering what your thoughts are on the Marleau signing?
- sparky

As a fan I'm glad to see the Leafs get a HOF player.

The cap hit is high and I have to wonder if its a good move.

I guess the Caps will be in the Conference Final this season. Last year you said Bob Murray was the worst GM, and his team did just fine. And they look pretty good going forward too.

To be fair to you though, didn't Washington just sign 30.5-year-old T. J. Oshie to an eight-year contract for $46 million? You're right, this dude is pretty bad. The guy in Edmonton is up there though.

As a fan I'm glad to see the Leafs get a HOF player.

The cap hit is high and I have to wonder if its a good move.
- james_tanner1

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."

Terrible move indeed. Terrible asset management. At the risk of of sounding like I'm happy about it, which I'm sure every Metro team is happy right now about what some rivals are doing.

This is an issue that faces teams in the cap world, especially when you have a bevy of top young talent like the Caps do.

The trade-off for me here is that $8M could have gone to re-signing both Schmidt and Williams, and still being able to keep Johansson. So basically, one players is kept in lieu of keeping three. Let's say Williams wanted to leave regardless, you still have the ability to replace his roster spot.

To me you move Kuznetzov. I don't think I'm over-estimating here, but I think they could have easily gotten a 1st rounder regardless if he was signed or not, and maybe more. Maybe a 1st rounder and a quality 3C still under his ELC so you move Eller and free up even more space.

You don't think a team like AZ(not saying them because of Tanner) would give up their 2018 pick for that guy to be their #1C? How about teams like Carolina or Vancouver?

Poor asset management. I mean, it's not like you won't be a playoff team this year, but it will be interesting to see how far down you slide.

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."
- yzermaneely

He'll be 41 when the contract ends. Is that your definition of well into his 40's ?

Sorry to the cap fans but for us Devil fans I am very happy for the trade.

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."
- yzermaneely

He's decent defensively as a forward, hasn't missed a game for 8 straight seasons and is only signed til he's 41, I don't get people sometimes lol.

Finally the Avs arent the worst

Avs are back

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."
- yzermaneely

It's a three yr contract. I wouldn't call 41-42, well into his forties.

James Tanner: The NHL Has a New Worst GM
Chiarelli should send MacLellan a crate of champagne and a box of Cubans.
- james_tanner1

Congrats

He's decent defensively as a forward, hasn't missed a game for 8 straight seasons and is only signed til he's 41, I don't get people sometimes lol.
- Conquest

Plus he still skates like the wind, he will fit in nicely and it now sets up the JVR trade for the backend

This guy is still talking about the Penguins. Let it go bruh, you lost to a better team.

This must have been very difficult for you having covered this team since the middle of last season. Thoughts and prayers.

As a fan I'm glad to see the Leafs get a HOF player.

The cap hit is high and I have to wonder if its a good move.
- james_tanner1

Why wonder?

I don't necessarily disagree, but I don't think it endangers any development plans or re-signing guys. It probably means no JVR, but I am not a JVR fan anyway and I think the Leafs don't feel he is necessary.

Johansson is not better than Kuznetsov.

Come on now.

From 14-17 Kuznetsov is 40th among forwards (min 1000 minutes) in points per 60

Johannson is 120th in that time span, rotating having Backstrom or Kuznetsov as his centers

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."
- yzermaneely

Yeah, especially since there was so many FA defensemen available.

The worst part is that "maximum number of transactons and plans" rule BS4U, that the teams have to follow.

Now the Leafs aren't allowed to do anything else until next summer.

The real story is keeping a 30 yo Oshie over Johansson

Johansson is not better than Kuznetsov.

Come on now.

From 14-17 Kuznetsov is 40th among forwards (min 1000 minutes) in points per 60

Johannson is 120th in that time span, rotating having Backstrom or Kuznetsov as his centers
- sbroads24

I didn't say that Johansson is a better player. I said that he is arguably more effective overall, and when you factor in the value of a $4.5 vs an $8 cap hit and the fact that Kuznetsov doesn't play defense.

"We need defense! Let's get a 38-year-old forward! Hey, while we're at it, lock him up well into his forties."
- yzermaneely

I knew Leaf fans were coming after this comment hard
Just remember Ducks wanted him also -

Kuznetsov > Jo

but 8/62.4 seems like a lot for a guy coming off a 59 pt season and the Jo return is pitiful. Still, this contract isn't as bad as Oshie's.