Sanderson practicing on the the right side for the game tonight, since there arne't a lot of RHD at camp.

Likely 0 chance that would be seen outside this tourney, but would be funny if he was put there to start the season, so suddenly the big gap would be on the LHD going forward.
- david22

Like they say, you never know until you try it. It's like Stutzle, if not for injuries who knows if he ever plays at center last year!

Working on the new blog as we speak!

Yes...but to be honest, none of those players are Matthews.

The contracts the Sens are giving out are market appropriate but they also prevent what happened with Stone.

Dubas made the mistake of not making Matthew's deal 7 or 8 years. Should have stood his ground.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Giving out 6-8 year deals to 21-23 year old players is completly fine these days; and in many circumstances much better than a 28-30 year old player. With that said giving it to the RIGHT players is the key

Giving out 6-8 year deals to 21-23 year old players is completly fine these days; and in many circumstances much better than a 28-30 year old player. With that said giving it to the RIGHT players is the key
- AlfieisKing

Yes absolutely!

Once, I have info on the Sens prospect challenge TV viewing, most like on the Sens Youtube channel, I will be posting my new blog on Friday morning.

Sens game at 330pm!

Once, I have info on the Sens prospect challenge TV viewing, most like on the Sens Youtube channel, I will be posting my new blog on Friday morning.

Sens game at 330pm!
- Kevin Francis

From Hockey Rumors on NHL revenues and cap:

Daly, who reported a league-record in revenue for this past season, the first time its surpassed $5BN. With the unprecedented revenue last season, one which was still impacted by COVID-19, Daly said that if they see the same kind of excess revenue this season, the timeline for a significant cap increase could come sooner than expected. Ultimately, Daly still believes that based on their current projections for 2022-23, that increase may have to wait another year.

Recent signings by Dorion represent incredible value on future cap that will be 15% to 18% higher than it is today.

Connor McDavid set the salary trend of the current wave of young guys getting max deals. His last deal was for 15.2% of team cap ($12.5m). Leafs will need to pay Matthews the reported $15m that the NHLPA is hoping to see.

Dorion will be accused of having stolen money from his young stars futures.

From Hockey Rumors on NHL revenues and cap:

Daly, who reported a league-record in revenue for this past season, the first time its surpassed $5BN. With the unprecedented revenue last season, one which was still impacted by COVID-19, Daly said that if they see the same kind of excess revenue this season, the timeline for a significant cap increase could come sooner than expected. Ultimately, Daly still believes that based on their current projections for 2022-23, that increase may have to wait another year.

Recent signings by Dorion represent incredible value on future cap that will be 15% to 18% higher than it is today.

Connor McDavid set the salary trend of the current wave of young guys getting max deals. His last deal was for 15.2% of team cap ($12.5m). Leafs will need to pay Matthews the reported $15m that the NHLPA is hoping to see.

Dorion will be accused of having stolen money from his young stars futures.
- spatso

I doubt he'll be accused of that spats lol but your point is well taken. Matthews' deal was structured shorter than McDavid's to get him to FA ASAP. We will see what will happen when it comes time to re-sign him, but everything points towards getting the most money. It'll be interesting when all is said and done which of McDavid and Matthews will have earned the most end of career, as those two will drive the upper end of contract negotiations for years to come, and likely inform how agents approach negotiating and structuring contracts across the league.

I doubt he'll be accused of that spats lol but your point is well taken. Matthews' deal was structured shorter than McDavid's to get him to FA ASAP. We will see what will happen when it comes time to re-sign him, but everything points towards getting the most money. It'll be interesting when all is said and done which of McDavid and Matthews will have earned the most end of career, as those two will drive the upper end of contract negotiations for years to come, and likely inform how agents approach negotiating and structuring contracts across the league.
- Bartacus

It is always a challenge. Stanley Cup winners have depth at forward and on defence and they have consistent reliable goaltending. Winners are able to create a mix that combines veteran players with elite young players in their prime (age 24-28).

In the past, teams would overpay to keep veterans on long term deals. They would keep to their cap limits by trying to keep the young guys down through bridge deals and short term accommodations.

All this has changed and will change even more dramatically over the next 24 months. Teams need to learn to let the 29 year old walk away rather than overpay. As priority shifts to the young stars there will be lots of UfAs searching for a contract and a chance to play for the cup.

From Hockey Rumors on NHL revenues and cap:

Daly, who reported a league-record in revenue for this past season, the first time its surpassed $5BN. With the unprecedented revenue last season, one which was still impacted by COVID-19, Daly said that if they see the same kind of excess revenue this season, the timeline for a significant cap increase could come sooner than expected. Ultimately, Daly still believes that based on their current projections for 2022-23, that increase may have to wait another year.

Recent signings by Dorion represent incredible value on future cap that will be 15% to 18% higher than it is today.

Connor McDavid set the salary trend of the current wave of young guys getting max deals. His last deal was for 15.2% of team cap ($12.5m). Leafs will need to pay Matthews the reported $15m that the NHLPA is hoping to see.

Dorion will be accused of having stolen money from his young stars futures.
- spatso

They'll also have a $5M bump in 2024/25, when they're finished with the bulk of their buyout/retained salary payments. The biggest "hurdle" season right now would be next year, when Stutzle's raise takes effect, any new deal for Zub would take effect, and all of DeBrincat, Pinto, and Brannstrom will need a new contract. That said, they'll free up $10M in expiring UFA players in Hamonic, Talbot, Watson, Motte, and Holden... most of which could be replaced with players on ELC/affordable RFA contracts (e.g. Thomson, Sogaard, Greig, Bernard-Docker, Kastelic). Plus, they're still operating with $5M of cap space in 2022/23, so they should be able to accommodate those contracts... assuming they want to retain everyone.

Other stuff coming off the books too.
Phanoef
Murray
White...will be a while (I woulda kept him oh well)

Zub is gonna be expensive. Every person in this city keeps calling him our #2 D man. Top pair get paid.

I think Mathews and McDavid may look back and say...."wow...Sidney took less and has WAY more rings".

Other stuff coming off the books too.
Phanoef
Murray
White...will be a while (I woulda kept him oh well)

Zub is gonna be expensive. Every person in this city keeps calling him our #2 D man. Top pair get paid.

I think Mathews and McDavid may look back and say...."wow...Sidney took less and has WAY more rings".
- Octavarium

Zub is a curious case, he may want 6-7 million a yr with term if he is indeed looked at as a #2 (also the Russian factor) especially if his offensive numbers go up now given our top 6 and I doubt Dorion will want to give more than 4-5 mil. for 3 or 4 yrs, so he may be a cap casualty when our young lads are actually ready/given the chance to prove they can play. He will be turning 28 at the start of next season and a free agent looking to cash in. Our defense has so many questions going into this yr due to the failure to play the youngins last yr.

Chabot-Thompson
Sanderson-Zub

Most likely to be our starting top 4

Other stuff coming off the books too.
Phanoef
Murray
White...will be a while (I woulda kept him oh well)

Zub is gonna be expensive. Every person in this city keeps calling him our #2 D man. Top pair get paid.

I think Mathews and McDavid may look back and say...."wow...Sidney took less and has WAY more rings".
- Octavarium

TB/PIT/COL have the right idea in terms of star players setting an internal cap of $8.0M-$9.5M (or 10-12% of a ~$80M cap). Player-wise that includes literally all of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang, MacKinnon, Rantanen, Makar, Landeskog, Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman & Vasilevsky. Now, it's likely that MacKinnon will break from that $-value range a bit, but Sakic is also a very shrewd GM. He might yield up to 12% of a projected $90M-$100M cap, but I'm not sure he'd go much higher (e.g. like the $15M being speculated).

The word is out... winning a Stanley Cup means everyone leaving a bit of money on the table to ensure the team can remain balanced & competitive.