So Carolina, who has built a pretty good sustainable playoff team is going to bring in a guy that hasn't played one minute for them and make him the highest player on the team? Maybe the league? I have doubts.
- aminnes

Not Carolina.

Nashville.

They could.

If they so wished.

Which they might not.

Who do you expect to get with those four 1st round picks if a team like Nashville makes the offer sheet?

Leafs are a worse team if they let him go for the draft picks.
- JohnFergusonJr

he isn't walking unless some team ponies up 12M+ a year.

At that point, you have to walk, and good riddance.

yeah but it isn't like Marner is accepting a 6 -8 year deal for line 9M anyway, so it won't matter.

Hey if someone wants to throw 14M at him for 8 years, I guess the Leafs walk away, take the draft picks and cap space and try to bolster the defense.

Overpaying long term, AND giving up high end draft picks doesn't seem like a great idea. I am guessing there are no offers like that.

I don't even think he wants to leave. This is his team playing negotiating games.

Dubas and Shanahan have pretty much mapped out what their decision will be in any scenario. All they need to do is sit back and wait.
- Aetherial

The latest is that the Leafs offered 10x8. Mitch likes the dollar but wants 6 years at 10 million. I'm guessing if they want him for 8 he wants 10.5-11 per. I don't mind 10x6. He won't be offer sheeted.

When did they change that rule? That doesn't seem right.
- JohnFergusonJr

Believe it or not, they never changed it.

It's been in the CBA the whole time.

It's just nobody ever bothered to read it.

True story.

we can only hope that this happens as soon as possible...

I fear Dubas paying another GM to take Zaitsev's contract (under the guise of him being unhappy) JUST to free up dollars for Gardiner.

If that comes to pass that immediately takes Dubas into JFJ territory in mind...
- BorjeFan4Ever

We'll see. I doubt it.

I know we need the cap relief, but frankly Zaitsev isn't awful, he's simply overpaid. He also played to his value in the playoffs and the end of the season. If no one is willing to trade for him except under the auspices that it's a cap dump, simply don't trade him and let him work up his value.

Unlike Marleau, Zaitsev isn't a liability in both the cap and on the ice.

But to be clear: It's a REALLY long way to go to get into JFJ territory. He has to pass through levels of Burke, Nonis, Stellick and Imlach v2 before you get to JFJ territory.

or they could just sign duchene and not give up the 4 1sts.

i don't see a market for turris at all.
- Tumbleweed

Duchene isn't as good. He's not even close. And they've tried to add guys like that (Turris) before and they didn't put up the numbers they needed or expected.

Remember, Nashville plays defensively and Marner fits that system while scoring 90 points at 21/22 years old. Duchene has cracked 70 just once and not known for back checking either.

We'll see. I doubt it.

I know we need the cap relief, but frankly Zaitsev isn't awful, he's simply overpaid. He also played to his value in the playoffs and the end of the season. If no one is willing to trade for him except under the auspices that it's a cap dump, simply don't trade him and let him work up his value.

Unlike Marleau, Zaitsev isn't a liability in both the cap and on the ice.

But to be clear: It's a REALLY long way to go to get into JFJ territory. He has to pass through levels of Burke, Nonis, Stellick and Imlach v2 before you get to JFJ territory.
- Monkeypunk

By July 5th, Zaitsev is probably a bargain.

he isn't walking unless some team ponies up 12M+ a year.

At that point, you have to walk, and good riddance.
- Aetherial

That's kind of my point though. Because if the Leafs are offering him 9 and he wants Matthews' deal of 11.6 for 5 years and if he can get that from somebody else, the Leafs have to match it. Especially if it's from a team where those 1st round picks are basically 25th or worse every year.

We'll see. I doubt it.

I know we need the cap relief, but frankly Zaitsev isn't awful, he's simply overpaid. He also played to his value in the playoffs and the end of the season. If no one is willing to trade for him except under the auspices that it's a cap dump, simply don't trade him and let him work up his value.

Unlike Marleau, Zaitsev isn't a liability in both the cap and on the ice.

But to be clear: It's a REALLY long way to go to get into JFJ territory. He has to pass through levels of Burke, Nonis, Stellick and Imlach v2 before you get to JFJ territory.
- Monkeypunk

Yep. I’ve changed my tune on Z a bit...contracts are going up like crazy especially for D.

Having Z in 2-3 years is going to be just right for what he brings.

I’d still want to trade him for a better fit but it has to make sense.

By July 5th, Zaitsev is probably a bargain.
- Atomic Wedgie

Myers is going to get 8 million and Gards is going to get 7-7.5...

Like I said, if buddy will dump 70 million into a league that folded 10 minutes later, why wouldn't he invest that into a player he deemed untouchable, especially after their playoff run last year? He bought that team to change it and build it, not to give up on it after a year.
- JohnFergusonJr

Because they're a budget team. They had net operating losses of $4 M on $109 M in revenues last year. When have they spent to the cap? What moves have they made to bring in high priced talent? You don't accumulate $1 Billion in net worth by being dumb about money. He got burned on the AAF deal. My point is, he's going to be extra cautious about losing money on the Canes now because of that.
I feel like you're unnecessarily arguing against the point that Aho is a viable offer sheet target and that the Leafs could make life difficult for Carolina to match.

Believe it or not, they never changed it.

It's been in the CBA the whole time.

It's just nobody ever bothered to read it.

True story.
- Atomic Wedgie

The offer sheet flood of 2019 forced them to do so...

Zeitsev would be fine as a 6-7 on a championship team. 4 million is too much for that.

yeah but it isn't like Marner is accepting a 6 -8 year deal for line 9M anyway, so it won't matter.

Hey if someone wants to throw 14M at him for 8 years, I guess the Leafs walk away, take the draft picks and cap space and try to bolster the defense.

Overpaying long term, AND giving up high end draft picks doesn't seem like a great idea. I am guessing there are no offers like that.

I don't even think he wants to leave. This is his team playing negotiating games.

Dubas and Shanahan have pretty much mapped out what their decision will be in any scenario. All they need to do is sit back and wait.
- Aetherial

That’s not fair because the fans want it to be done NOW.

yeah but it isn't like Marner is accepting a 6 -8 year deal for line 9M anyway, so it won't matter.

Hey if someone wants to throw 14M at him for 8 years, I guess the Leafs walk away, take the draft picks and cap space and try to bolster the defense.

Overpaying long term, AND giving up high end draft picks doesn't seem like a great idea. I am guessing there are no offers like that.

I don't even think he wants to leave. This is his team playing negotiating games.

Dubas and Shanahan have pretty much mapped out what their decision will be in any scenario. All they need to do is sit back and wait.
- Aetherial

I don't see a scenario where a team can do anything that scares the Leafs away, that MM accepts, and that doesn't (frank) them up going fwd.

I don't see a scenario where a team can do anything that scares the Leafs away, that MM accepts, and that doesn't (frank) them up going fwd.
- The Law

Hurricanes offer 12x7

Myers is going to get 8 million and Gards is going to get 7-7.5...
- Santo_44

Yuck.

Yuck.
- gergeswillems

Sadly it’s the market...

Sadly it’s the market...
- Santo_44

Thanks Tucker Karlsson!

Hurricanes offer 12x7
- AdamFrench

Take the picks and offer 9x7 to aho .. done!

Take the picks and offer 9x7 to aho .. done!
- Puck-us-all

Still rather have Marner.

Take the picks and offer 9x7 to aho .. done!
- Puck-us-all

That would be franking glorious.

I wonder if Nucks fans will chirp when the Leafs pay less for Marner than Myers+Loungo

Duchene isn't as good. He's not even close. And they've tried to add guys like that (Turris) before and they didn't put up the numbers they needed or expected.

Remember, Nashville plays defensively and Marner fits that system while scoring 90 points at 21/22 years old. Duchene has cracked 70 just once and not known for back checking either.
- JohnFergusonJr

Darren Dreger‏Verified account @DarrenDreger 1h2 hours ago
I’m going to be careful not throw out specific teams, mostly because I’m not sure if it’s ture. It was thrown at me by an agent and an NHL executive today that Nashville and the Predators are 2 of the multiple teams that have reached out to Marner.