Unfortunately you didn't back that claim up the way I did. So basically mine is etched in stone.
- weirdoh

1st try of the morning, mine was legit

I still can't see on my screen if that's his hair or he's got shades on the top of his head.
- weirdoh

- burn

makes sense now

Point is to stop teams from trying to tank. It sucks that we're the ones who ranked the season this was implemented but whatever.

IMO they should add a rule that stops teams from participating in the top-3 lottery if they draft in one of those spots the previous year or so.
- Feeling Glucky?

I have no idea why tanking is all of a sudden immoral when for the previous 30 years it was fine for the American teams to do

it's sell known that he wanted to retire in russia. that's fair
- daeth

So do they just get to walk away from that cap circumventing contract?

I have no idea why tanking is all of a sudden immoral when for the previous 30 years it was fine for the American teams to do
- walshyleafsfan

with how close the standings are these days it really makes sense to have it like it is now imo. Is Toronto really that much worse than a Vancouver for example? Evening the odds makes sense.

Does it ever suck that they implemented it this year though lol. If the Leafs tanked like this last year they'd have Eichel or McDavid.

@JeffMarek: "I think I am done playing in the NHL", Pavel Datsyuk to leave Detroit after playoffs freep.com/story/sports/c…



- burn

Caphit still counts...

So do they just get to walk away from that cap circumventing contract?
- walshyleafsfan

Datsyuk never had one. And his current one was signed after age 35 so they carry his $7.5m cap hit next year too

Datsyuk never had one. And his current one was signed after age 35 so they carry his $7.5m cap hit next year too
- lumlums

bet they sign stamkos

Datsyuk never had one. And his current one was signed after age 35 so they carry his $7.5m cap hit next year too
- lumlums

Probably gets traded to AZ.

Will cost zero in actual salaty.

So do they just get to walk away from that cap circumventing contract?
- walshyleafsfan

His contract wasn't cap circumventing. He signed a 3 year deal at 36, one year left. Because he was over 35 his cap hit stays.

I think they'll be able to find a way to rid it if he left (ie savard and pronger trades )

I have no idea why tanking is all of a sudden immoral when for the previous 30 years it was fine for the American teams to do
- walshyleafsfan

Because leafs.

Because leafs.
- burn

Edmonton actually

bet they sign stamkos


- daeth

Shut up.

bet they sign stamkos


- daeth

Edmonton actually
- daeth

Nope, no one said boo about them "tanking".


They changed the lotto rules cause them though

SabresBuzz ‏@SabresBuzz 2h2 hours ago
I hope the Leafs enjoy selecting 4th overall. Good luck winning three lotteries. 30th place in over rated....
- nbboy

Not sure, but is he indirectly saying that Eichel is over rated?

Nope, no one said boo about them "tanking".


They changed the lotto rules cause them though
- burn

well i sure did at least

Yeah 11th place is a drag.
- Zezel

His contract wasn't cap circumventing. He signed a 3 year deal at 36, one year left. Because he was over 35 his cap hit stays.

I think they'll be able to find a way to rid it if he left (ie savard and pronger trades )
- burn

I think they pay a little more; both those contracts were ltir.

Still seems movable.

Looks like Chicago is going to be hit with a 2.5M bonus penalty next year; re panarin bonuses.

I think they pay a little more; both those contracts were ltir.

Still seems movable.
- Tumbleweed

If datsyuk leaves he doesn't get paid, so a team wanting to reach the floor can pick him up and not have to pay a penny.


Edit: which is all what happened with those contracts as well (team picks up cap hit, pays no money )

If datsyuk leaves he doesn't get paid, so a team wanting to reach the floor can pick him up and not have to pay a penny.
- burn

Can't wait to see the great Pavel Datsyuk and Chris Pronger together on the ice in Arizona.

Can't wait to see the great Pavel Datsyuk and Chris Pronger together on the ice in Arizona.
- smellmyfinger

Hard to chose which jersey they'll take to the hall.

Its premature to know atm.. i dont think it would be a throw away year though.

i) babs doesnt coach to lose, except for lastnight. I guarentee he's pissed that his all time coaching record took a huge hit this season. He is a winner and wants to win and will not partake in another season like this one.

ii) the leafs brass know that they are actually quite a bit better than their record shows. To take a huge gamble and "tank" again doesnt help anyone. It burns a year of all contracts and that hurts especially for the young kids. They already (maybe foolishly) burned Nylanders first year so they aren't going to willingly do that again.

iii) this season was all about figuring out what they had with this team, and now they know. They know that Kadri can be a good #2C. They know Gards can handle a top 4 role. They know they need better goaltending. They learned their weaknesses and how to correct them.

iiii) they dont need another top 5 pick in next years draft. The Leafs already have one of the best prospect pools in the league. Sure it would be nice, but not at the expense of hindering the development of their young players. They have a team in place that have a proven record of drafting well so that'll be key going forward. They won't trade picks because thats how you keep the prospect pool strong.

iiiii) Im going to let you guys in on a secret. Most Leafs fans aren't as happy about losing as some in here. We all knew this season was going to be rough because of the changing of the guard. We knew we had to trade away the core and needed a good pick in this draft and for that reason we embraced the tank. But hardly anyone is saying "30th place? Thats was fun i cant wait to do that again" which makes me wonder exactly how many of you need a psych evaluation. Believe it or not the organization is in the business of making money. Strangly enough the tank probably helped business because it spurred investor confidence. People are excited about the direction of the club and want to buy jerseys and tickets now. Another year of tanking would turn people off.

No one knows who'll be a Leaf next year. I believe shanny and Co. want to sign Stamkos. But Stamkos isnt going to waste a year of his life and career losing. Sure he can still be a fan favourite if they suck, but thats not what he wants. To say we need one more year of losing is borderline moronic. There is little to gain and far too much to lose from tanking again. Im not saying they'll be contenders next season, or even make the playoffs. But they need to at least try. It would go against every moral fiber of being a Toronto Maple Leaf. They set the bar of expectations extremely low because that was the smart thing to do. But some fans took it far too literal (pain etc) and full on believe the Leafs will be bad for many more years to come. So in conclusion, the fans that enjoy losing and think by losing again next year is the right thing to do, may i suggest try to find the passion to want to win again. Because if you don't you shouldn't consider yourself a fan.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Wow, that's a nice, long, well thought out post. If I tried to write something that long I would have to do it off line, considering this site would freeze and have to be refreshed by the time I got to the third paragraph, losing everything of course.

I agree they won't be intentionally tanking this year, Rogers will be placing a considerable amount of pressure on management to speed things up. Those television ratings were catastrophic this year, so I expect them to go hard for Stamkos, to help firm up that situation.

Hard core fans should be happy though, that ownership, for the first time I can remember, took the pressure off management for a year, and let them start the re build properly.