I suppose. Even then, all are that lower level of "star." Aside from Lindros or Gretzky moving around for money and prestige, it's hard to see the best players of their time moving...except Matthews who will go to the perennial poor and poopty Coyotes.

I guess I forgot Panarin. He might actually be the best one of the lot in terms of elite talent moving.
- AdamFrench

To me I think of star as having at least an all-star appearance, not that the All-Star Weekend means anything other than, "oh hey, people seem to think I'm a big deal".

Pretty sure both played in at least an all-star game or two.

So Nylander gets the bonus because he couldn’t make the team right away after being drafted and Mack could? There are considerations that need to be made when negotiating. Everyone and their dog knew who the better player was. No way I give Willie the same cap % but that’s just me. Anyways…GO LEAFS GO
- Garnie

First overall players typically start on the team right away, regardless if they are ready (See Lafrieniere). Nylander out produced MacKinnon in their contact year, thast obvious. MacKinnon wasnt very good before he go his contract, it wasnt some massive discount he took.

Its funny when people say he took a discount, its simply not true.

Kristen Shilton
@kristen_shilton
·
8m
Jon Cooper on Toronto's playoff vibe and encouraging players to avoid it:

"We love the fact that the city is embracing it, because it's good for our sport. But it's like I tell our guys, you want to get on social media and you want to enjoy all this stuff, do it at the parade."

Is Jonny Pooper telling us to Plan the Parade?

In the past 20 years? Kovalchuk and Tavares? Chara maybe, but he wasn't really a "star" at the time, just a budding one.
- AdamFrench

2 words: “andy (frank)ing wozniewski”

To me I think of star as having at least an all-star appearance, not that the All-Star Weekend means anything other than, "oh hey, people seem to think I'm a big deal".

Pretty sure both played in at least an all-star game or two.
- gravyface

All star means nothing based on how it is currently setup. So many players left off due to needing 1 player for each team.

But if we go with that criteria, I guess we can add Komarov to the stars list of players who left their teams

2 words: “andy (frank)ing wozniewski”
- Skalapy

Technically not words.

So Nylander gets the bonus because he couldn’t make the team right away after being drafted and Mack could? There are considerations that need to be made when negotiating. Everyone and their dog knew who the better player was. No way I give Willie the same cap % but that’s just me. Anyways…GO LEAFS GO
- Garnie

But you could say that about almost every contract in the NHL compared to MacKinnon.

Maybe MacKinnon is the outlier ....not Willie.

Wait for 2 or 3 years when people are getting more than McJesus. Minds will blow.

In the past 20 years? Kovalchuk and Tavares? Chara maybe, but he wasn't really a "star" at the time, just a budding one.
- AdamFrench

The guy who is better than Matthews.........Laine.

Every line is a scoring threat, but we'll have to weather the physical storm that TBL is going to unleash. Gotta play at top-gear tempo out of the gate to counter that.

The what-if factor is going to be what kind of a game are the zebras going to call: regular season (maybe even pre-season?) like last game, or just naaaah...
- gravyface

I heard that Tampa is actually going to try this time. We’re screwed

Bunting is back, lineup looks decent.

Leafs projected lineup:

Bunting — Matthews — Marner
Mikheyev — Tavares — Kerfoot
Nylander — Kampf — Engvall
Kase — Blackwell — Simmonds

Rielly — Lyubushkin
Muzzin — Brodie
Giordano — Liljegren

Campbell
- Archaic

👍👍

I think Holl is a useful 7D, like an upgraded Marincin. Would he be happy in that role? Probably not, but who knows.

The other factor is age: our D core is getting up there. We have Rielly/Laboosh, bunch of old guys, and then 2 young guys.

How healthy/effective Muzzin/Brodie/Gio remain will factor into what happens with Holl, who's 30 himself (kind of surprised me actually).
- gravyface

Maybe Sandin steps into a full time role and the Leafs re-sign Boosh.

We'll have Rielly, Boosh, Muzzin, Liljegren, Sandin and Brodie still.

First overall players typically start on the team right away, regardless if they are ready (See Lafrieniere). Nylander out produced MacKinnon in their contact year, thast obvious. MacKinnon wasnt very good before he go his contract, it wasnt some massive discount he took.

Its funny when people say he took a discount, its simply not true.
- Archaic

Except that we don't know that he didn't leave money on the table by not negotiating harder - I am convinced the potential that was seen in him before he signed that deal would have warranted a bigger pay day than the one he got if he chose to play hard ball but that's just my opinion.

None of it really matters - Bill Ny's contact is good/great value for money and that's the important part!

GLG!

Maybe Sandin steps into a full time role and the Leafs re-sign Boosh.

We'll have Rielly, Boosh, Muzzin, Liljegren, Sandin and Brodie still.
- PatC80

Resign Gio on the cheap, resign Boosh. Trade Sandin in a deal for Chychrun, trade Muzzin.

After winning the cup of course. 👍

Was that Will Smith?
- AdamFrench

I think so.

Who the hell eats sushi before a hockey game anyway?

I think so.
- zazzle

Chapelle

Who the hell eats sushi before a hockey game anyway?
- Scabeh

He stopped for gas

Who the hell eats sushi before a hockey game anyway?
- Scabeh

PPG players who people feel are overpaid?

He stopped for gas
- Canada Cup

Gas station sushi.

Is that actually a thing?

And why is it legal?

But you could say that about almost every contract in the NHL compared to MacKinnon.

Maybe MacKinnon is the outlier ....not Willie.

Wait for 2 or 3 years when people are getting more than McJesus. Minds will blow.
- The Law

I use Mack because him and Willie are almost the same age. Mack had played almost 200 more games by the time Willie played his 1st full season. I’m reading that Mack wasn’t as good ( stats wise ) obviously when he’s playing in the same league 2-3 years before others…other things factor in also, usage - linemates etc etc.
Those are the things I would have been using if I was GM, I like Dubas but some things I would have done differently as we all would have I’m sure.

-Love McGarnicle

Chapelle
- Canada Cup

the guy running up to Chapelle

PPG players who people feel are overpaid?
- Dozzer

In comparison

THEYRE ALL OVERPAID!!!

especially when I look at my pay check

Gas station sushi.

Is that actually a thing?

And why is it legal?
- Scabeh

Cause it's not real sushi, it's Alaskan Pollock.

He stopped for gas
- Canada Cup

he had a bowl of chili as well!!!!

Resign Gio on the cheap, resign Boosh. Trade Sandin in a deal for Chychrun, trade Muzzin.

After winning the cup of course. 👍
- joel878

You had me until you wanted to trade Sandin. We need low cost players. He's just going to get better. Id be all for trading for Chychrun, but not sure it makes sense anymore.