I like him too under 1.5 mil , over that no thanks
- VANTEL

I think that is fair.

I hope Hutton has a better year. At least to the point where he has enough value that they can trade him for a 5th rounder.
- manvanfan

Free 5th rounder... cant complain but I bet they might be able to do a bit better like a 4rth(3rd depending on contract) or a forward prospect for depth etc.

Might be an idea for EP to get double duty.
Not much else for playmaking. Triggers we kind of have but no point threat. EP could switch back to F after starting on the PP1 point.
- Nighthawk

Lippy is a good play maker. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the 2nd unit if he isn't sent to Utica. He played better than some of our full time depth when the injuries got out of hand and still has a bit of upside.

A PP with the likes of Gagner, Gaudette and Lippy, backed by Hutton/Stetcher etc should only see 30 seconds per PP and that would be generous.

They are not chasing success this season so why not get on board with that? One more top 10 pick seems like the desire. I'm on board with it and then replace JB with a GM capable of building around a promising foundation of talented young players without squandering it.... I've been preaching that since he was hired. Draft until we shed the Sedins and then move to a GM who isnt a one trick pony(drafting). Things are behind no doubt but I can see the process.
- boonerbuck

What do you mean "things are behind". Where should the process be at? Blame the draft lottery for not letting them draft higher then 5?

Teams have missed the playoffs 8 out of 10 years and now they look like contenders. Van's missed the playoffs 4 out of 5.

Curious case of who is going to turn out to be the best?
Baertschi 66 games 28 points (all in Calgary). 69 games 28 points in Van.
Goldobin 69 games 19 points.
Leipsic 64 games 25 points.

What do you mean "things are behind". Where should the process be at? Blame the draft lottery for not letting them draft higher then 5?

Teams have missed the playoffs 8 out of 10 years and now they look like contenders. Van's missed the playoffs 4 out of 5.
- manvanfan

A few things that were in JB's control slowed it down a bit. I'm talking steps that put the process behind a little... not a Lefty narrative or anything. Picking at 6 could have helped with a top 6 player instead of JV which will be decent player but... and acquiring more picks could have given this team more to work with even though he kept all his 1st round picks... unlike his counterparts he's always compared to.

You should know by now where I stand on all that. I laugh at the grass is greener crowd. They jump team to team every season with their model rebuilds. If they had any credibility, they would stick with pointing at the same team as the model every year instead of constantly flipping and flopping as those team make mistakes along the way... imagine if the "idiot" GM had that option in Van... grab the controller and press reset more or less after his mistakes.

Isn't the rule all line ups have to have LE and SG in them?
Replace Dahlen in the opening day line up with LE and I don't have any problem with that roster. LE is bound to get injuried, Dahlen will get his chance.
- manvanfan

Gagner and his contract will be buried in the minors. With the cap going up, so will the dollar figure, for how much of it goes towards the cap hit.
Last season, 1.025 million could be buried in minors, so it should get close to about 1.1 this season.

A few things that were in JB's control slowed it down a bit. I'm talking steps that put the process behind a little... not a Lefty narrative or anything. Picking at 6 could have helped with a top 6 player instead of JV which will be decent player but... and acquiring more picks could have given this team more to work with even though he kept all his 1st round picks... unlike his counterparts he's always compared to.

You should know by now where I stand on all that. I laugh at the grass is greener crowd. They jump team to team every season with their model rebuilds. If they had any credibility, they would stick with pointing at the same team as the model every year instead of constantly flipping and flopping as those team make mistakes along the way... imagine if the "idiot" GM had that option in Van... grab the controller and press reset more or less after his mistakes.

- boonerbuck

Other than the JV and OJ picks, and the contract of LE, I think he's done a decent job as GM. He just isn't the GM that's going to take us to the promised land. That's fine, most GMs are given about 5 years before they're fired anyways.

A few things that were in JB's control slowed it down a bit. I'm talking steps that put the process behind a little... not a Lefty narrative or anything. Picking at 6 could have helped with a top 6 player instead of JV which will be decent player but... and acquiring more picks could have given this team more to work with even though he kept all his 1st round picks... unlike his counterparts he's always compared to.

You should know by now where I stand on all that. I laugh at the grass is greener crowd. They jump team to team every season with their model rebuilds. If they had any credibility, they would stick with pointing at the same team as the model every year instead of constantly flipping and flopping as those team make mistakes along the way... imagine if the "idiot" GM had that option in Van... grab the controller and press reset more or less after his mistakes.

- boonerbuck

Each team is so different from when they started, to who they started and ended with. A province writer compared Shanahan to Linden. Two totally different situations.

Some people just don't see the middle ground. Either wearing sunglasses or it's total darkness. JB clearly isn't perfect, no GM is. We as fans can see that there are talented hockey players coming. Might be one a year or two in one year. They are going to help Bo and Brock. Until they get here, Van needs players (poopty signings like LE, Gagner) to allow complimentary players develop. I don't really care how many picks Van has as long as they get the players they want. There is only so much room on the roster.

From 2010- 2016 Leafs had 53 picks. Pretty much 5 players in that time made the NHL. 4 first round picks and 1 6th.

Gagner and his contract will be buried in the minors. With the cap going up, so will the dollar figure, for how much of it goes towards the cap hit.
Last season, 1.025 million could be buried in minors, so it should get close to about 1.1 this season.
- Reubenkincade

I thought it was going to 1.045 this season. Gagner is still a productive player that Van doesn't have a replacement for.

Edit: No, I was wrong.

What is a Buried Contract?
Teams do not receive full cap relief when a player on a one-way NHL contract is reassigned to the American Hockey League, or is loaned to a team in another professional league.
The players salary cap hit, minus the sum of the minimum NHL salary for the respective season and $375,000, still counts towards the team’s salary cap total.
The cap hit relief is therefore equal to the minimum salary of the respective season + $375,000:
2014-15: $550,000 + $375,000 = $925,000
2015-16: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000
2016-17: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000
2017-18: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000
2018-19: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000
2019-20: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000
2020-21: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000
2021-22: $750,000 + $375,000 = $1,125,000

There was talk a few days ago that Chicago was looking into Gagner. Unpopular opinion but if Hughes does make this team Seabrook would be a solid partner for him. Trade Del Zotto+Gagner for Seabrook+.
Would also make the Tanev trade easier.

There was talk a few days ago that Chicago was looking into Gagner. Unpopular opinion but if Hughes does make this team Seabrook would be a solid partner for him. Trade Del Zotto+Gagner for Seabrook+.
Would also make the Tanev trade easier.
- phyllee

A Chicago writer had Seabrook on the 3rd pairing. Where would Stecher play then?

Other than the JV and OJ picks, and the contract of LE, I think he's done a decent job as GM. He just isn't the GM that's going to take us to the promised land. That's fine, most GMs are given about 5 years before they're fired anyways.
- DariusKnight

Exactly how I always felt.

A Chicago writer had Seabrook on the 3rd pairing. Where would Stecher play then?
- manvanfan

Chicago's 3rd pairing.

A Chicago writer had Seabrook on the 3rd pairing. Where would Stecher play then?
- manvanfan

If Seabrook is on their 3rd pairing im very curious to see who they have ranked above him other then Keith

If Seabrook is on their 3rd pairing im very curious to see who they have ranked above him other then Keith
- phyllee

I don't remember the line up exactly but I know Forsling, Manning, Murphy, Keith were the top 4.

I thought it was going to 1.045 this season. Gagner is still a productive player that Van doesn't have a replacement for.

Edit: No, I was wrong.

What is a Buried Contract?
Teams do not receive full cap relief when a player on a one-way NHL contract is reassigned to the American Hockey League, or is loaned to a team in another professional league.
The players salary cap hit, minus the sum of the minimum NHL salary for the respective season and $375,000, still counts towards the team’s salary cap total.
The cap hit relief is therefore equal to the minimum salary of the respective season + $375,000:
2014-15: $550,000 + $375,000 = $925,000
2015-16: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000
2016-17: $575,000 + $375,000 = $950,000
2017-18: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000
2018-19: $650,000 + $375,000 = $1,025,000
2019-20: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000
2020-21: $700,000 + $375,000 = $1,075,000
2021-22: $750,000 + $375,000 = $1,125,000
- manvanfan

Wasn't sure how they figured out that info, thought it was based on a percentage.
Where did you find that info? Thx

Exactly how I always felt.
- boonerbuck

How do you feel now?

How do you feel now?
- LeftCoaster

I feel like if you are going through a personality crisis. What's tomorrow's avatar going to look like?

Chicago's 3rd pairing.

- boonerbuck

Gagner + Stecher, Goldy for Seabrook, Artur Kayumov, Ian Mitchell, 2nd

I feel like if you are going through a personality crisis. What's tomorrow's avatar going to look like?

- boonerbuck

I get a kick outta teasing and testing some patience around here. I'm actually not this big of an bumhole in person.

Wasn't sure how they figured out that info, thought it was based on a percentage.
Where did you find that info? Thx
- Reubenkincade

I thought it went up every year too. That was in FAQ on capfriendly.

I thought it went up every year too. That was in FAQ on capfriendly.
- manvanfan

FAQ is the only part of capfriendly I always forget to look through. Thx.

I get a kick outta teasing and testing some patience around here. I'm actually not this big of an bumhole in person.
- LeftCoaster

Without guys like you... what ever would I do around here?

Without guys like you... what ever would I do around here?

- boonerbuck

You keep me honest, I respect that

#Bertuzzi