My newfie buddy brought me a bottle home one time. He insisted I crack it open with him. Drank half of it and was hanging half naked from the chandelier wearing a war helmet, holding a cat in one hand and a cowbell in the other.
- Phenom

You can't hold your cheap imported rum. Not the first who couldn't. Wonder if the cat recovered?

You can't hold your cheap imported rum. Not the first who couldn't. Wonder if the cat recovered?
- Woderwick

Mentally? No.

Mentally? No.
- daeth

That's what I figured.

You can't hold your cheap imported rum. Not the first who couldn't. Wonder if the cat recovered?
- Woderwick

I dunno man. Screech was not like anything I had before.....different kinda bender. Not that I was a huge boozer by any means, but enough of one to know the difference.

As for the cat, I never found out what became of it.

2 X 5 will cost the Leafs in the long run..In 2 yrs time he's get'n 8per especially if leafs are headed up....Hope the Leafs get him long term this summer...
- Fruitcakenipple

Agreed. Look at Subban. Habs bridged him to save short term and got butt plugged for it.

Mike:

With all due respect, why is it that when you talk about the possibility of Stamkos coming to Toronto (or to Canada in general), you almost never take into account that there is no State Income Tax in Florida, but there is a hefty 13.16% Provincial Income Tax in Ontario for incomes in excess of $200,000 per year?

Many journalists covering this story--not you in particular, Mike--presume that $10 million per year in Toronto would be $1.5 million per year better than the $8.5 million per year that was unofficially reported as the Lightning's opening offer to Stamkos recently, when that is not even close to being the case:

Not taking Federal Income Taxes into account, if indeed NHL players pay State/Provincial Income Taxes only in the state/province in which their employer resides and where their pay checks are issued, taking the 13.16% Provincial Income Tax in Ontario into account, $10 million per year in Toronto equals $8.684 million per year in Tampa Bay. And, since, as Red Green says, "Everything in Canada leans slightly to the left," I'm guessing also that the Federal Tax code in the US is perhaps easier on millionaires who give to charities than the Federal Tax code in Canada is--especially since the Bush Tax Cuts for the ultra-rich were signed into law by President Obama. There are plenty of tax shelters for millionaires in the US.

All that aside, some reporters also presume that Steven Stamkos _surely_ wants to make as much money as possible (because that is what they would do if they were him), but that might not be the case at all. Stamkos has been quite open about his desire to stay in Tampa Bay and show much he loves playing here, while many in the sports media presume that Stamkos is secretly angry at Jon Cooper because he does not get to play Center all of the time. The leading lights of the media so ignore the possibility that Steven Stamkos might even take a home-town discount in order to help the very talented Lightning, for whom he wears the "C", stay intact, as much as possible, in order to make several more runs at the Stanley Cup.

Or, on another note, it might even be that the Lightning have already let Steven Stamkos know that they can't afford him in the long run, but that they want him to stay for the rest of the year in order to make another run at the Stanley Cup with him on the team. As long as the negotiations are not subject to media scrutiny--a brilliant move by both Stamkos and Yzerman--nobody else knows for sure. But, the Canadian media--especially TSN--will continue to be biased toward Canadian teams, especially Toronto and Montreal.

I might be wrong, because I don't know anything more than anyone else about what is going on secretly in the negotiations, but my gut feeling is that Steven Stamkos will sign an extension in the off-season, after the Lightning move some big contracts and trade Jonathan Drouin. Don't underestimate Steve Yzerman's savvy when it comes to dealing with tough situations. This contract negotiation didn't catch him by surprise, and having too many good players is almost always a _good_ problem to have. Mr. Yzerman and Al Murray have done an outstanding job of building a stacked hockey team built for the long-haul; rumors that the Lightning are somehow "doomed" because of the Salary cap and the declining Canadian dollar are greatly exaggerated.
- TommyRitas

You sure have a lot of doubt and a lot to say for a guy who admits to knowing nothing more than anyone else. You covered every scenario that is positive in tone for Tampa and completely ignored anyy scenario that may not benefit the Bolts.

Also one other key fact to remember that you and so many others either forget, dismiss or flat out ignore. For reasons I don't quite understand. That fact is this. Tampa is barely holding onto the last and final playoff spot. Yes I know what they did last year but this isn't last year anymore.

My newfie buddy brought me a bottle home one time. He insisted I crack it open with him. Drank half of it and was hanging half naked from the chandelier wearing a war helmet, holding a cat in one hand and a cowbell in the other.
- Phenom

One hand holding the chandelier. One holding a cat. One holding a cowbell. Hmm. ..something isn't adding up. Like what your 4th hand was doing.

Trading Lupul now and retaining that much salary for that much longer is about as pointless as reading something written by Howard Berger!!!

Trading Lupul now and retaining that much salary for that much longer is about as pointless as reading something written by Howard Berger!!!
- kayakerjack

Agreed. Just ride his contract out. We don't need the cap space. Like..at all.

Agreed. Just ride his contract out. We don't need the cap space. Like..at all.
- systemtool

The best thing to do to Loops is play him top 6 LW. Tons of minutes. Because,then 1 of 2 things will happen:

1. He will get back to producing like days of old, find his form and make himself tradeable

Or

2. That many minutes will take its toll and he will land back on the IR.

Win win either way. What doesn't work is playing him on the 4th line

Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos
- hunglikeapuck

I'm honestly exhausted with the chatter. Sign in Tampa or waive your NTC, but get on with it.

Really, good things don't happen to Toronto all that often. So, even though I obviously want Stammer here, what I don't want is to keep talking about it until July.

Steven Stamkos
- hunglikeapuck

Carey Price

I'm honestly exhausted with the chatter. Sign in Tampa or waive your NTC, but get on with it.

Really, good things don't happen to Toronto all that often. So, even though I obviously want Stammer here, what I don't want is to keep talking about it until July.
- WingmanWillie

if stamkos doesn't sign in Toronto we can just turn our attention to the other 91.


But it's the fans fault

My newfie buddy brought me a bottle home one time. He insisted I crack it open with him. Drank half of it and was hanging half naked from the chandelier wearing a war helmet, holding a cat in one hand and a cowbell in the other.
- Phenom

You're not the first to try and re-enact a Miley Cyrus video, and I'm sure that you won't be the last...

morning fellas

Agreed. Just ride his contract out. We don't need the cap space. Like..at all.
- systemtool

exactly.

and he's likely to get the Robidas treatment if continues to be injured more than available to play.

I suspect we will hear that Lupul requires surgery shortly - I believe he opted to re-hab his knee issue last year... rather than surgery. Of course Lou wouldn't announce or allow him to announce that until after the trade deadline.

If Lou moves Lupul -which I doubt he won't be retaining salary - or if so - very little.

Lupul will be LITR in the same fashion Robidas is currently - unofficially. If the Leafs need CAP, he'll got officially LITR.

So Stamkos to the Habs?

I'd quit hockeying.

So Stamkos to the Habs?

I'd quit hockeying.
- annoyed

Hockeying would need to quit salary capping for that to happen.

exactly.

and he's likely to get the Robidas treatment if continues to be injured more than available to play.

I suspect we will hear that Lupul requires surgery shortly - I believe he opted to re-hab his knee issue last year... rather than surgery. Of course Lou wouldn't announce or allow him to announce that until after the trade deadline.

If Lou moves Lupul -which I doubt he won't be retaining salary - or if so - very little.

Lupul will be LITR in the same fashion Robidas is currently - unofficially. If the Leafs need CAP, he'll got officially LITR.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Hockeying would need to quit salary capping for that to happen.
- systemtool

Oh goodie

if stamkos doesn't sign in Toronto we can just turn our attention to the other 91.


But it's the fans fault
- burn

I love that stuff. The media does nothing but talk about Stamkos... then blames the fans. I find it genuniely interesting the lengths they will go to creating plausible scenarios why Stamkos would want to go to the Habs, or Vancouver or Buffalo. Brooks even creates his own version of the universe "Tavares to Toronto MAYBE" because he's unhappy with the Islanders. All nonsense. Why in the world would Brooks come up with this nonsense now - simply - to try to distract from the Stamkos situation - make himself appear "in the know"... pure and utter speculation.

Media rips on Kessel incessantly for about two years - blames the fans for running him out of town. Note to media... it wasn't the fans following Kessel on his morning run to the hot-dog stand. It wasn't the fans trying to call Reimer's mother. It wasn't the fans asking Burke those dumb (I would like to use another word) questions.

The problem in Toronto is that the media "are fans" - and some of the most delusional ones. That's how you end up with the "Howard Berger's of the world". They try to convince everyone that they are still relevant (they aren't) by making increasingly absurd comments.

So Stamkos to the Habs?

I'd quit hockeying.
- annoyed

Habs are getting a special John Scott All-Star game avoidance CAP compensation... which is 10M free money against the CAP... because of the "distinct society clause"...

there... that should cover it.

and they win the lottery.

I'm honestly exhausted with the chatter. Sign in Tampa or waive your NTC, but get on with it.

Really, good things don't happen to Toronto all that often. So, even though I obviously want Stammer here, what I don't want is to keep talking about it until July.
- WingmanWillie

I guess I would be happier if the rumors were him coming to Montreal but yeah, his name is barf inducing at this point.

Carey Price
- systemtool

Woah