But he and his agent could argue his potential and his UFA years would be worth more. At 60 points, he's already worth 5-6 million (JVR and Kane got 7 as UFAs). At 80+ points, he's worth a lot more.
- Unholy_Goalie

Sure take the risk but why would the player do that? As you've said it's dumb to take less years because you can be injured and then you get nothing afterwards. MAXIMIZE ALL MONEY.

Can't maximize if you're injured and we can assume, like you do, the leafs are ONLY offering 6.5 so he risks a bridge deal to potentially get more or zero?

I appreciate you entertaining me while I'm at work.

Sure take the risk but why would the player do that? As you've said it's dumb to take less years because you can be injured and then you get nothing afterwards. MAXIMIZE ALL MONEY.

Can't maximize if you're injured and we can assume, like you do, the leafs are ONLY offering 6.5 so he risks a bridge deal to potentially get more or zero?

I appreciate you entertaining me while I'm at work.
- Aaron_85

Why take less if you can negotiate more? Maybe the Leafs cave in and trade a depth player to give him more money. Maybe a team offers him an offer sheet. Just because he wants more doesn't mean he has to take a risk, that's why they negotiate.

But he and his agent could argue his potential and his UFA years would be worth more. At 60 points, he's already worth 5-6 million (JVR and Kane got 7 as UFAs). At 80+ points, he's worth a lot more.
- Unholy_Goalie

Exactly, so for the bridge you’re looking at 5-6, not 6.5. You give higher contract to a guy when you’re buying his UFA years. You blend what he’s worth now to what he projects to be worth later.

Matthews 120pts
Tavares 110pts
Marner 100pts
Nylander 90pts
Kadri 80pts
Drouin 30 points
- Symba007

Fixed

That'd be awesomely unexpected.

What are you going to do if they don't win? Say they deserved it but just got unlucky?
- Unholy_Goalie

Shrug my shoulders and say there's always next year.

Unlike you I understand there's no perfect team that wins. There's no perfect scenario for winners. There's easily 3 - 5 teams a year you can say "I can see them as champions" and only 1 ever does. For whatever reason you seem to think or at least portray the idea that if the team isn't perfect then you don't push ahead or take a risk.

In all estimations, Tampa getting EK would be a risk for a high chance at a stanley cup in the coming season. Beyond that it's iffy.

I don't know, does he?

Seriously man, you are a joke
- Santo_44

Matthews 120pts
Tavares 110pts
Marner 100pts
Nylander 90pts
Kadri 80pts
- Symba007

That's 4 billion points, woo hoo.

Exactly, so for the bridge you’re looking at 5-6, not 6.5. You give higher contract to a guy when you’re buying his UFA years. You blend what he’s worth now to what he projects to be worth later.
- Feeling Glucky?

He can become a UFA at 27 or 7 years of service. If the 22 game season he played counts as a year of service, he could be a UFA with a 4 year deal. That would keep his cap hit low but he could become a UFA. A 5 or 6 year deal is buying 1 or 2 years of UFA years and that raises the cap hit. An 8 year deal could be buying 4 UFA years which makes the cap hit potentially even higher. Depends if that 22 game season counts or not and it depends if he values becoming a UFA sooner rather than later.

Why take less if you can negotiate more? Maybe the Leafs cave in and trade a depth player to give him more money. Maybe a team offers him an offer sheet. Just because he wants more doesn't mean he has to take a risk, that's why they negotiate.
- Unholy_Goalie

Because when you negotiate there's no guarantee. I don't doubt his agent will negotiate because that's what he's paid to do. However it doesn't mean the Leafs will give him more.

It's simple... "Do you want to be here with your friends and win with us?".... "No? You want more money?"...."Ok I hear Arizona is a fun place to be."

False. Tampa Bay is already the better team, better all around, better forwards, better defense, better goaltending and their core players are all in their prime. The only disruption would be getting rid of the players that don't really matter or don't matter as much as Tavares would have mattered. Tampa Bay has just as big a window of opportunity, if not bigger considering their team is basically complete and the Leafs defense still blows.
- Unholy_Goalie

Have we resorted to calling John Tavares a liar now?

First, he was washed up, now he's a liar.. I'm worried about him being a buyout candidate next year..

it should be pretty obvious that longer term would be advantageous for the team... if I'm Nylander I don't bridge longer than 5 (6 years) max.

so ... no I don't want him to be FA at that point - but what I want doesn't really matter, just like what you want to have happen doesn't really factor into any of this.

but I'm sure he'd prefer to sign in a place where he pays less taxes.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Okay, imma gonna say this once, it's not a bridge if it takes him to free agency.

That'd be awesomely unexpected.

What are you going to do if they don't win? Say they deserved it but just got unlucky?
- Unholy_Goalie

If they don't win, we can say it's 52 years and counting.. If they do win.. That would be great.. We'd(well, us Leafs fans.. Not Bruins fans, like you and RJ) celebrate harder than Ovechkin did.

Shrug my shoulders and say there's always next year.

Unlike you I understand there's no perfect team that wins. There's no perfect scenario for winners. There's easily 3 - 5 teams a year you can say "I can see them as champions" and only 1 ever does. For whatever reason you seem to think or at least portray the idea that if the team isn't perfect then you don't push ahead or take a risk.

In all estimations, Tampa getting EK would be a risk for a high chance at a stanley cup in the coming season. Beyond that it's iffy.
- Aaron_85

The better teams usually win and Tampa Bay would easily have one of the best line-ups going into the season with either Tavares or Karlsson. They were already the #1 team in the East last year as it was, adding another elite player would only make that team stronger.

It's not that iffy. They have Stralman, Coburn and Girardi all becoming UFAs. Combine their salaries and drizzle a little extra on top and it pays for Karlsson easily and still gives them Hedman, Sergachev and McDonagh to round out a terrifying top four. Karlsson already has an extension agreed upon with them, the stumbling block is dumping cap space but that's not an impossible feat either.

Have we resorted to calling John Tavares a liar now?

First, he was washed up, now he's a liar.. I'm worried about him being a buyout candidate next year..
- PatC80

Again, PR 101. He'll never say that Tampa Bay is the better team to join once he's joined another team. Just the same way he won't poop on the Islanders even though he probably would in private after they wasted 9 years of his career. But the reality of either situation doesn't change just because he doesn't say it publicly.

What would you do if the leafs won the stanley cup this coming season? Like would you just say "they got lucky for 16 games"?
- Aaron_85

I think he would go out and get a Leafs bedspread and pillow case, and next year when he's 11 he'll hope the Leafs win again.

Okay, imma gonna say this once, it's not a bridge if it takes him to free agency.
- bobbyisno1

Exactly. It's just a gateway to UFA status.

False. Tampa Bay is already the better team, better all around, better forwards, better defense, better goaltending and their core players are all in their prime. The only disruption would be getting rid of the players that don't really matter or don't matter as much as Tavares would have mattered. Tampa Bay has just as big a window of opportunity, if not bigger considering their team is basically complete and the Leafs defense still blows.
- Unholy_Goalie

False, gave up more goals than the Leafs.

The better teams usually win and Tampa Bay would easily have one of the best line-ups going into the season with either Tavares or Karlsson. They were already the #1 team in the East last year as it was, adding another elite player would only make that team stronger.

It's not that iffy. They have Stralman, Coburn and Girardi all becoming UFAs. Combine their salaries and drizzle a little extra on top and it pays for Karlsson easily and still gives them Hedman, Sergachev and McDonagh to round out a terrifying top four. Karlsson already has an extension agreed upon with them, the stumbling block is dumping cap space but that's not an impossible feat either.
- Unholy_Goalie

I forget, who won the Cup this year? Tampa or Nashville? Or was it Winnipeg or Boston?

I forget, who won the Cup this year? Tampa or Nashville? Or was it Winnipeg or Boston?
- PatC80

Pretty sure it was the Habs.

False, gave up more goals than the Leafs.
- bobbyisno1

Norris winner on the blueline, Vezina candidate in net. They're better and you know it.

The better teams usually win and Tampa Bay would easily have one of the best line-ups going into the season with either Tavares or Karlsson. They were already the #1 team in the East last year as it was, adding another elite player would only make that team stronger.

It's not that iffy. They have Stralman, Coburn and Girardi all becoming UFAs. Combine their salaries and drizzle a little extra on top and it pays for Karlsson easily and still gives them Hedman, Sergachev and McDonagh to round out a terrifying top four. Karlsson already has an extension agreed upon with them, the stumbling block is dumping cap space but that's not an impossible feat either.
- Unholy_Goalie

Yup #1 team in the East didn't even make the finals.

I don't really care if they can pay Karlsson a ton of money, it's about the depth of the team, the chemistry and hoping all future picks to fill in the roster pan out. Or you know Karlsson 1. wanting to stay and 2. returns to 100% health. There's no guarantee or else they wouldn't play any of the games.

False, gave up more goals than the Leafs.
- bobbyisno1

See, now you are letting facts distort UG's argument.. Facts have no place here.. It doesn't fit the narrative.

Only Frederik Andersen gets tired and worn down...Vasilievskiy doesn't tire out.

I forget, who won the Cup this year? Tampa or Nashville? Or was it Winnipeg or Boston?
- PatC80

If the 2017-2018 Caps could win...the 2018-2019 Leafs could win...




Nah. Too much optimism. If they can't go 82-0, they might as well tank and rebuild again.

Does the 22 games he played also count towards his years of service? Because to become a UFA you either have to be 27 or have 7 years of service. If that 22 game season counts as a year of service, he could become a UFA 1 year earlier and that would cost more money if you're buying those UFA years in his extension.
- Unholy_Goalie

9 games gets the clock ticking. so we would have used the slide for his 1st two years if we kept it under.

i get what you're saying, but it seems a little too much in the weeds for me.

i take the philosphies:
- reward your top players (don't Richard them around)
- pay your top players the most
- sign young players long-term when you have a young team
- bridge young players when you have a veteran team.

I forget, who won the Cup this year? Tampa or Nashville? Or was it Winnipeg or Boston?
- PatC80

Tampa Bay was leading 3-2. With Tavares or Karlsson, they probably beat the Capitals and win the Cup. That's why Yzerman is trying to get these guys. Just the same way the Leafs would beat the Bruins if they had Tavares.