I was listening to Sirius NHL network radio yesterday, The discussion was about the top RFA forwards to be resigned this year... Mathews, Marner, Laine, Point. They were saying no one wants to be the first to sign. They all want to wait to see what their contemporaries will get. Should be an interesting summer.
- boilermaker100

It was on Sportsnet this last week, discussions with Matthews camp have already begun and they’re fine signing ahead of Marner. McDavid will be Matthews #1 comparable, Matthews will then be the benchmark for the others

Nobody wants Dougie Hamilton. I don’t think his own brother even liked playing with him. Locker room cancer and magically, once he was traded both Boston and Calgary were better teams. Plus don’t the Hawks have enough defence man that aren’t physical and can’t play D? He’s Gus with a bad attitude and a $5.7 million AAV

He is going to want at the very least the same as Eichel.
- Elbows15

Agreed, Matthews will want more thanEichel and closer to McDavid but clearly not as much. Wouldn’t surprise me if he takes $11MM so he’s at the same level as Tavares and then maybe Marner coms in at $10.5MM.

I don’t buy all of this talk on Sportsnet about guys taking LESS money on the shorter term deals. Maybe for certain guys, but not the studs like Marner, Matthews, Laine, etc

One more thing some of you may or may not be considering as part of offer sheeting a player - they have to actually sign the offer sheet for the team to have to fight it. If Matthews or Marner don’t sign it (I don’t think they would. I think they want to be Leafs for life) then the offer sheet is null and void

Four #1 picks for an offer sheet for Matthews, I think.

Won’t happen.
- StLBravesFan

For a guaranteed star? If the Hawks weren't in a position to be a lottery pick it would be a great move to give Matthews an offer sheet. 4 possibles for a guarantee? It's a no brainer!

Nobody wants Dougie Hamilton. I don’t think his own brother even liked playing with him. Locker room cancer and magically, once he was traded both Boston and Calgary were better teams. Plus don’t the Hawks have enough defence man that aren’t physical and can’t play D? He’s Gus with a bad attitude and a $5.7 million AAV
- Doc1200

I agree he's a big non phsical guy but from what I have read he's not a dressing room cancer which suggests he causes problems, he's a guy who doesn't get involved with his teammates socially. Seems his interests are beyond playing video games. It's a shame that anyone who has different interests or is more intellegent is viewed with suspicion.

For a guaranteed star? If the Hawks weren't in a position to be a lottery pick it would be a great move to give Matthews an offer sheet. 4 possibles for a guarantee? It's a no brainer!
- paulr

That’s only if Matthews signs the offersheet and the Leafs don’t match it. Personally, I think it doesn’t make sense to even consider such an idea. The Leafs likely ditch Zaitsev and MAYBE Kadri or Johnsson and then they’re fine for a little while longer. They probably play Sandin and Liljegren next season to ease the salary cap burden

If you capfriendly the Leafs don’t forget to move Horton to LTIR

That’s only if Matthews signs the offersheet and the Leafs don’t match it. Personally, I think it doesn’t make sense to even consider such an idea. The Leafs likely ditch Zaitsev and MAYBE Kadri or Johnsson and then they’re fine for a little while longer. They probably play Sandin and Liljegren next season to ease the salary cap burden

If you capfriendly the Leafs don’t forget to move Horton to LTIR
- WSCTeton17

Which team is taking Zaitsev at 4.5M. He is terrible. Johnsson make league minimum. Next?

That’s only if Matthews signs the offersheet and the Leafs don’t match it. Personally, I think it doesn’t make sense to even consider such an idea. The Leafs likely ditch Zaitsev and MAYBE Kadri or Johnsson and then they’re fine for a little while longer. They probably play Sandin and Liljegren next season to ease the salary cap burden

If you capfriendly the Leafs don’t forget to move Horton to LTIR
- WSCTeton17

And if he doesn't sign or the Leafs match what is the harm to the Hawks?

The Leafs are in a cap crunch. If the Hawks offer more than the Leafs why wouldn't Matthews sign? If both Matthews and Marner were offer sheeted and both signed, the Leafs may not be able to keep both.

And if he doesn't sign or the Leafs match what is the harm to the Hawks?

The Leafs are in a cap crunch. If the Hawks offer more than the Leafs why wouldn't Matthews sign? If both Matthews and Marner were offer sheeted and both signed, the Leafs may not be able to keep both.
- paulr

I bet Lou and the Islanders are waiting to offer sheet one of them to maximum dollars.

Saad as bad a contract as Lucic?

Great one!


- tazer_and_diet

Where did I say it was as bad? I just said it was bad. And it is. He's on pace for 45 points this season.

The Oilers cannot afford a 6 million dollar 45 point forward unless a contract like Lucic goes the other way. Plain and simple.

Nobody wants Dougie Hamilton. I don’t think his own brother even liked playing with him. Locker room cancer and magically, once he was traded both Boston and Calgary were better teams. Plus don’t the Hawks have enough defence man that aren’t physical and can’t play D? He’s Gus with a bad attitude and a $5.7 million AAV
- Doc1200

Honestly, the reason I put Saad for Hamilton straight up is I didn't want to put much thought into ot because I don't want Hamilton on the Hawks.

I only included him in this blog is because someone on the board suggested him as a target.

I've heard things as well. Not necessarily a cancer but not a fit in most locker rooms.

sure a 25-26 year old Saad with two years remaining for a 30 year old bum with 4 years left at 6 mil per cap hit....what a deal


oh yeah stanbow gonna send his young future 35- 40 goal per season, pt a game for klefboom...
- bogiedoc

Thus why I said I don't see a fit for a trade smart guy

I bet Lou and the Islanders are waiting to offer sheet one of them to maximum dollars.
- scott.jackson

I can see this happening.

All of Leafs nation will be puddles if it does.

I’ve done the projections on capfriendly. The cap is so much higher than what it was when Chicago had cap problems. Chevy has done a tremendous job as GM in WPG, much better than Stan and honestly much better than I initially thought he would. Myers, Kulikov, Little, and Perreault will likely all go prior to next season. These players will not fetch a ton in return, but they have nothing to do with Tampa’s situation. With the exception of Callahan, all of their players hold a fair bit of value
- WSCTeton17

The value won't be as fair you think. The cap has gone up. That much is true. So have salaries. Better perspective is to view cap hits as a percentage of the cap. That has stayed fairly consistent.

The value won't be a reflection of the talents of the players involved. TB is at ~73M for 16 players next season. With only 4 D-men under contract. Sure they can move some guys but its going to hurt their depth and I am going to guess the returns on players moved is gonna be pretty meh.

Tyler, I know you or someone on the board was saying that the Hawks have been scouting the Bruins. Do you think Saad would be a good fit with Bostons style of play? I do.

If so, what do you see the possible return being?

One more thing some of you may or may not be considering as part of offer sheeting a player - they have to actually sign the offer sheet for the team to have to fight it. If Matthews or Marner don’t sign it (I don’t think they would. I think they want to be Leafs for life) then the offer sheet is null and void
- WSCTeton17

FFS. We're fans of an O6 franchise. We all know an offer sheet has to be signed. Come on.

The value won't be as fair you think. The cap has gone up. That much is true. So have salaries. Better perspective is to view cap hits as a percentage of the cap. That has stayed fairly consistent.

The value won't be a reflection of the talents of the players involved. TB is at ~73M for 16 players next season. With only 4 D-men under contract. Sure they can move some guys but its going to hurt their depth and I am going to guess the returns on players moved is gonna be pretty meh.
- Elbows15

Totally agree Elbows.

GM'S obvious know when other teams are in cap trouble and at that point they look to fleece that team. Happened to the Hawks for 6 straight years. Guys like Kilorn, Pavlat, and Johnsons values are now decreased because TB aren't driving the bus on those deals.

Tyler, I know you or someone on the board was saying that the Hawks have been scouting the Bruins. Do you think Saad would be a good fit with Bostons style of play? I do.

If so, what do you see the possible return being?
- scott.jackson

I would take Urho Vaakainein off their hands and a 1st lol

EDIT: Urho was partnered with Jokesonyou at the last WJHC in some of the games I saw. I think. Those Finnish names get confusing after a bit. lol

I can see this happening.

All of Leafs nation will be puddles if it does.
- Justin Lowe

I'd love to hear the sports call in talk shows if it were to happen.

Totally agree Elbows.

GM'S obvious know when other teams are in cap trouble and at that point they look to fleece that team. Happened to the Hawks for 6 straight years. Guys like Kilorn, Pavlat, and Johnsons values are now decreased because TB aren't driving the bus on those deals.
- scott.jackson

And Callahan is going to cost a premium to take him. Which further hurts their depth. What I think the poster is missing is that TB really won't be in a position to take back much in the way of cap hits at all. That will further diminish their value.

At the very least they are going to need 1 proven D-man to replace the 3 that are UFA. Losing Stralman is going to hurt. A lot. And he isn't going to be easy to replace.

I'd love to hear the sports call in talk shows if it were to happen.
- paulr

Bob McCown would be able to do a 5 day show just on that topic alone. Lol

I can see this happening.

All of Leafs nation will be puddles if it does.
- Justin Lowe

What I would love to see is the Islanders beating the leafs in the playoffs . Oh god that would be to good . Signing Tavares was their 1st mistake ,put them straight into cap hell ..lol love it ..

Well, forward help is kinda a stretch with Callahan but its only one year so I will play along.

Callahan, Raddysh/ Katchouk and a 1st. would be my ask. Or they can keep the 1st and throw in Cirelli.
- Elbows15

I question if TB would give up Raddysh and a 1st just to get rid of Callahan's $5.8M. Obviously they need to shed some cap but just a stiff price to pay.

It would be cool to reunite the DeBrincat-Strome-Raddysh line from Erie a few years ago.

I question if TB would give up Raddysh and a 1st just to get rid of Callahan's $5.8M. Obviously they need to shed some cap but just a stiff price to pay.

It would be cool to reunite the DeBrincat-Strome-Raddysh line from Erie a few years ago.
- EbonyRaptor

Bickell cost TT. That is with TT playing more than a season in the NHL and having a modest level of success. Raddysh is still a prospect, Callahan is going to cost them. He is basically a 5.8M 4C at this point.

It wouldn't even be about the Otter line for me.