seems like that marriage has been on par with anna nicole smith so far...money and drama
- Peter Richards

- PT21

lol...where have you been sir

Can’t wait for tomorrow, nothing better than being 0-0. Sucks Risto is out but glad it’s not him and Ellis. I’m Expecting big things from the Provy Ellis pair

some of the players mentioned though are easy franchise players. some of the new kids getting them are not. but just my opinion. Guess they all have one thing in common...they were bottom feeders and got a franchise player. i viewed the others mentioned as the deals made before the new rules went into effect. the percentages of the cap are interesting. back then as well the cap was rising quick, similar to when the new kids were signed. now it seems like more young players are holding out though.
- Peter Richards

To invest that much in a player you basically have to consider them a franchise player.

Marner is easily franchise level in terms of talent and production. Nylander's also near the top of the league in terms of raw talent and his production has matched his salary the past couple of seasons. Auston Matthews is underpaid.

It's just odd that the Sens would consider Tkachuk that kind of guy. I get the intangibles and marketing angle and all that... but the guy just isn't that talented.

big difference is, most of those guys produced before the contract was given out
- bradster

Toronto's guys all produced before they got paid, too.

Brady Tkachuk on the other hand...

Toronto's guys all produced before they got paid, too.

Brady Tkachuk on the other hand...
- Tomahawk

20 goal 20 apple guy... $8M please

Can’t wait for tomorrow, nothing better than being 0-0. Sucks Risto is out but glad it’s not him and Ellis. I’m Expecting big things from the Provy Ellis pair
- ClaudeFather

AGREE, HERE WE GO...

Rangers got clobbered, Pens waxed Tampa, its all new and no one has been awarded best team just yet

To invest that much in a player you basically have to consider them a franchise player.

Marner is easily franchise level in terms of talent and production. Nylander's also near the top of the league in terms of raw talent and his production has matched his salary the past couple of seasons. Auston Matthews is underpaid.

It's just odd that the Sens would consider Tkachuk that kind of guy. I get the intangibles and marketing angle and all that... but the guy just isn't that talented.
- Tomahawk

may have to also overpay to get a player to stay in ottawa that long

Toronto's guys all produced before they got paid, too.

Brady Tkachuk on the other hand...
- Tomahawk

And now I’d argue the team is worse off for paying them what they did. You have half your cap in 4 guys and can’t get out of the first round. They do well in the reg season but disappear playoff time. Further, it stops the team from being able to put a quality d Corp around them. Part of the undoing of Andersen was the fact that he had to play so much because they couldn’t afford a proper backup.

aww man, just realized the swami missed on that over. tough luck swami.

Toronto's guys all produced before they got paid, too.

Brady Tkachuk on the other hand...
- Tomahawk

Id argue marner didn't, was paid like the top F, but didn't produce it at the time. Eichel definately didnt earn his $10M when he signed his deal. Was based on potential.

And now I’d argue the team is worse off for paying them what they did. You have half your cap in 4 guys and can’t get out of the first round. They do well in the reg season but disappear playoff time. Further, it stops the team from being able to put a quality d Corp around them. Part of the undoing of Andersen was the fact that he had to play so much because they couldn’t afford a proper backup.
- Hextall271

If the leafs get bounced in the first round again. Changes are coming... could be marner, dubas, or both. The biggest mistake was signing tavares to that contract. The other guys are worth it now. Especially nylander

And now I’d argue the team is worse off for paying them what they did. You have half your cap in 4 guys and can’t get out of the first round. They do well in the reg season but disappear playoff time. Further, it stops the team from being able to put a quality d Corp around them. Part of the undoing of Andersen was the fact that he had to play so much because they couldn’t afford a proper backup.
- Hextall271

I don't have a problem w/ the contracts they gave to the young guys. John Tavares was maybe gilding the lily, but he also takes so much pressure off of Matthews and brings a lot of intangibles.

They were pretty great last season and basically just ran into Carey Price beast mode. Andersen ran into injury problems but Campbell really took the ball and ran with it.

I'm a huge Jack Campbell fan after watching the Amazon Prime series.

Enjoyed listening to Ellis today. Has the right attitude.

If the leafs get bounced in the first round again. Changes are coming... could be marner, dubas, or both. The biggest mistake was signing tavares to that contract. The other guys are worth it now. Especially nylander
- bradster

I just hope matthews does the same to them and straight walks when he hits ufa.

I don't have a problem w/ the contracts they gave to the young guys. John Tavares was maybe gilding the lily, but he also takes so much pressure off of Matthews and brings a lot of intangibles.

They were pretty great last season and basically just ran into Carey Price beast mode. Andersen ran into injury problems but Campbell really took the ball and ran with it.

I'm a huge Jack Campbell fan after watching the Amazon Prime series.
- Tomahawk

Interesting. Just seems like you’re a maple leafs fan in general.

I don't have a problem w/ the contracts they gave to the young guys. John Tavares was maybe gilding the lily, but he also takes so much pressure off of Matthews and brings a lot of intangibles.

They were pretty great last season and basically just ran into Carey Price beast mode. Andersen ran into injury problems but Campbell really took the ball and ran with it.

I'm a huge Jack Campbell fan after watching the Amazon Prime series.
- Tomahawk

I like Campbell too. I am not sure he’s the guy to get them over the hump. Andersen was always good imo. They just never supported him with a strong d or defensive play come playoffs. While price played well, they had that series won and blew it. I think last year was their shot to at east make the semis with that bad division. As of now, they are a reg season team who will continue to struggle come playoffs with too much money invested in a forward Corp that can’t get it done. It’s also why they can’t bring in any real impact forwards to help. They have ti go on the cheap. With vets. Spezza simmer and last year joe t. They’re now back in a div with Tampa and Boston and I see another first round loss.

Interesting. Just seems like you’re a maple leafs fan in general.
- Peter Richards

Not really. Even my Marner obsession is more meme/joke than anything.

AGREE, HERE WE GO...

Rangers got clobbered, Pens waxed Tampa, its all new and no one has been awarded best team just yet
- wcorvette

Exactly , write our own story!

Not really. Even my Marner obsession is more meme/joke than anything.
- Tomahawk

Shhhh... you're ruining my vision of you....

I like Campbell too. I am not sure he’s the guy to get them over the hump. Andersen was always good imo. They just never supported him with a strong d or defensive play come playoffs. While price played well, they had that series won and blew it. I think last year was their shot to at east make the semis with that bad division. As of now, they are a reg season team who will continue to struggle come playoffs with too much money invested in a forward Corp that can’t get it done. It’s also why they can’t bring in any real impact forwards to help. They have ti go on the cheap. With vets. Spezza simmer and last year joe t. They’re now back in a div with Tampa and Boston and I see another first round loss.
- Hextall271

To be fair, Wash, Detroit and Tampa were all labeled the same before they broke through.

I have a feeling the Leafs are going to be OK. They did spend a lot of money on the blueline (Muzzin, Brodie), and they have some pretty nice young D trickling in. If they can get Rielly locked up, they should have a nice blueline. They were pretty damned good defensively last season as a team.

Mrazek was an interesting add. Kinda surprised they went 3-years on him. He's pretty strong insurance in case Campbell falters.

Shhhh... you're ruining my vision of you....

- FlyersGrace

Exactly , write our own story!
- ClaudeFather

How long before we can say the Flyers suck? Can we do it in the first period?

To be fair, Wash, Detroit and Tampa were all labeled the same before they broke through.

I have a feeling the Leafs are going to be OK. They did spend a lot of money on the blueline (Muzzin, Brodie), and they have some pretty nice young D trickling in. If they can get Rielly locked up, they should have a nice blueline. They were pretty damned good defensively last season as a team.

Mrazek was an interesting add. Kinda surprised they went 3-years on him. He's pretty strong insurance in case Campbell falters.
- Tomahawk

Mrazek is crazy inconsistent as we know. If I were then I’d trade nylander ASAP to invest more in the d Corp. I don’t think those teams were structured so poorly however. 40 mil in 4 forwards with the cap how it is is asking for trouble. Further. The game they play is run and fun with a view to our scoring you. The playoffs are not played that way and they can’t adjust. I think last year was their best shot and some major changes need to come soon or their window will be closed. The Tavares signing hasn’t worked out at all and they’re hamstrung unless they re structure.

How long before we can say the Flyers suck? Can we do it in the first period?
- MJL

It will take a couple of shifts lol