Cool story but I didn't use that word.
- Scabeh

Before the Cap there were plenty of $10m players. There were people like Bobby Holik making $9.5 long term to be a shutdown second line centre. Didn't Parise and Suter make that kind of coin on 10 year deals? What did Shea Weber make on his 14 year deal?

Before the Cap there were plenty of $10m players. There were people like Bobby Holik making $9.5 long term to be a shutdown second line centre. Didn't Parise and Suter make that kind of coin on 10 year deals? What did Shea Weber make on his 14 year deal?
- PrinceLH

Yeah the right term was 10M Cap hit.

Federov was paid 10M a season as well.

Salaries didn't matter as much back then.... well except if you had no money.

The caviat being, that most hockey analyst and talking head say is "IF they can make it out of the 1st round, they are definitely cup contenders"

IF
- Fakepartofme

There’s no if man. Most of the talking heads and analysts are paid to stir the pot and there’s no better way to do that than to knock the leafs.

Ever is a strong word when 10 years ago there were no such thing as a 10M player....
- Santo_44

In the late 90's and early 2000's there were several

Yeah the right term was 10M Cap hit.

Federov was paid 10M a season as well.

Salaries didn't matter as much back then.... well except if you had no money.
- Scabeh

Fedorov got 14m one season
Didnt sakic get 16m one year as well?
I seem to recall something like that

There’s no if man. Most of the talking heads and analysts are paid to stir the pot and there’s no better way to do that than to knock the leafs.
- shack67

Ok

The caviat being, that most hockey analyst and talking head say is "IF they can make it out of the 1st round, they are definitely cup contenders"

IF
- Fakepartofme

Nope. They were listed as one of four or so teams with a legitimate shot. Unfortunately, TBL was another.

Toronto, TBL, Boston and Carolina will all be considered contenders this year.

As they sit, have the leafs not beating both tampa and boston this year?
The cap restricts many teams from taking their "shot".
Also if Dubas takes his shot, it means he will unload the cupboards and if it fails, the next gm wont be able to take a shot for a while.
Then youll be angry at dubas for taking his shot.
- Fakepartofme

I'm watching the most talented group of Leafs players since the 1976 Leafs. That team had character players, to go with their top end talent, Sittler, McDonald, Salming and Turnbull. They had guys like Tiger Williams and Dan Maloney.... The big issue is the top 4 young players, Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Rielly are at the pinnacle of their careers. They have not won a playoff round, because the surround cast is not up to the task. The team has no grinders and bangers. Their defense is soft and small. Why has this not been addressed? You got to break some eggs to make a cake. Leafs were beaten in game 7 because of a 4th line player that was an Ottawa Senator cast off. So where is the scouting and where is the ability to gain a couple of pieces to get you past round 1? An upgrade to the back end is imperative. They must move a smaller skilled defender for a larger skilled defender. That takes asset management and doing what is best to get the core to the next round and beyond.

There’s no if man. Most of the talking heads and analysts are paid to stir the pot and there’s no better way to do that than to knock the leafs.
- shack67

In any sport, to take the team that is 2nd overall with the 2nd best defense and an experienced core in their prime and say they aren't contenders is just PTSD defensive pessimism, a complete cognitive distortion.

How many players on Tampa Bay make over $10M per season? How many in Colorado, before they won it made that amount? St.Louis when they won....how many? We have 3 making more than that and 2 more getting closer. People say the Cap will go up....so it shall....but do does all of the other salaries. We just pay more than most teams do.
- PrinceLH

What the (frank) does the payroll of St. Louis have to do with Matthews contract starting in ‘25-26? You really think he should give up $16-20M just to be a team player?

In any sport, to take the team that is 2nd overall with the 2nd best defense and an experienced core in their prime and say they aren't contenders is just PTSD defensive pessimism, a complete cognitive distortion.
- Zezel

Talk to me about this, after Tampa makes their moves and the Leafs pick up a scrap or two. Talk to me again, when they lose once again because a GM is too timid to make the right moves for success. Talk to me once more when the contract talks begin for Nylander and Matthews after July 1st. You can dismantle this team by losing again this year, when you do have a shot, or you can dismantle it again, when the stars walk, because of lack of success and mercenary contract demands. But looking down this roster, I just don't see the necessary pieces for a successful playoff run.

What the (frank) does the payroll of St. Louis have to do with Matthews contract starting in ‘25-26? You really think he should give up $16-20M just to be a team player?
- Canada Cup

If he doesn't want to be a team player, than why keep him? So we can watch his pretty goals, during the regular season, then his vacation pics, from May 1st on? If he gets that kind of money, for not winning a playoff round, than you can kiss a couple of other key pieces goodbye, when their contracts come due.

I'm watching the most talented group of Leafs players since the 1976 Leafs. That team had character players, to go with their top end talent, Sittler, McDonald, Salming and Turnbull. They had guys like Tiger Williams and Dan Maloney.... The big issue is the top 4 young players, Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Rielly are at the pinnacle of their careers. They have not won a playoff round, because the surround cast is not up to the task. The team has no grinders and bangers. Their defense is soft and small. Why has this not been addressed? You got to break some eggs to make a cake. Leafs were beaten in game 7 because of a 4th line player that was an Ottawa Senator cast off. So where is the scouting and where is the ability to gain a couple of pieces to get you past round 1? An upgrade to the back end is imperative. They must move a smaller skilled defender for a larger skilled defender. That takes asset management and doing what is best to get the core to the next round and beyond.
- PrinceLH

But overall team defense has greatly improved this year and i feel our dmen have also improved and got a little grittier (except morgan).
To me, the team looks different this year and im hoping that "different" carries over to the playoffs.
The TDL hasnt past yet, so many changes could or will occur in the nhl, i wouldnt worry about how this team looks for the playoffs until all that dust settles.

Fedorov got 14m one season
Didnt sakic get 16m one year as well?
I seem to recall something like that
- Fakepartofme

Actually, he got double that.

That was because of the Detroit pizza wars.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.c...tanley-cup-230625970.html

The Carolina Hurricanes were a money-losing team as the franchise moved from Hartford to Raleigh. Estimates were that the team was $25 million in the hole that year.

So what did owner Karmanos do? He put a six-year, $38-million offer sheet on Fedorov, a superstar with the Detroit Red Wings who had been unsigned during a bitter restricted free-agent negotiation with the team.

Oh, and it was a doozy of a contract, according to this 1998 piece by Michael Russo:

Just $12 million of the $38 million is Fedorov's base salary, which will be paid at $2 million per year. He will receive a $14 million signing bonus, which will bump him to $16 million this year, leaving a final $12 million.

But that's the kicker, a scare tactic the Hurricanes hope discourages Detroit owner Mike Ilitch from matching the offer. The $12 million will be paid to Fedorov over the next four years unless the team reaches the conference finals. Then the bonus must be paid in one lump sum.

And since the Red Wings were a hell of a lot closer to making the conference final than Carolina, this was indeed a poison pill Karmanos had Mike Ilitch swallow.

But swallow it he did, and Fedorov made $28 million that season for about 4 months of work. The result was “a league-wide escalation of salaries -- not to mention a breakdown in the restricted free agent system,” according to the Hartford Courant.



Pretty franking funny, actually.

Talk to me about this, after Tampa makes their moves and the Leafs pick up a scrap or two. Talk to me again, when they lose once again because a GM is too timid to make the right moves for success. Talk to me once more when the contract talks begin for Nylander and Matthews after July 1st. You can dismantle this team by losing again this year, when you do have a shot, or you can dismantle it again, when the stars walk, because of lack of success and mercenary contract demands. But looking down this roster, I just don't see the necessary pieces for a successful playoff run.
- PrinceLH

TB has nothing to give.

if you were a blues fan the season they won you would have been saying to fire sale the team. Now you are using them as a model

If he doesn't want to be a team player, than why keep him? So we can watch his pretty goals, during the regular season, then his vacation pics, from May 1st on? If he gets that kind of money, for not winning a playoff round, than you can kiss a couple of other key pieces goodbye, when their contracts come due.
- PrinceLH

I also hate guys who make a lot of money.

I also hate guys who make a lot of money.
- Atomic Wedgie

I hate guys who can't change their perspectives.

TB has nothing to give.

if you were a blues fan the season they won you would have been saying to fire sale the team. Now you are using them as a model
- Santo_44

Not using them as a model. The discussion was about Stanley Cup winning teams, in the Cap era, and none of the Champions had a $10M salaried player on the roster.

Not using them as a model. The discussion was about Stanley Cup winning teams, in the Cap era, and none of the Champions had a $10M salaried player on the roster.
- PrinceLH

Since the first 10M plus player in the cap era 5 teams have won the Stanley cup.

What are the 27 other teams doing wrong? They don't have a 10M player why aren't they winning?

That gets you a few more playoff dates and a crappier draft selection.
- PrinceLH

Ah okay so it's guaranteed cup win or blow it up. Got it. I guess Boston should have blown their team up last year. Tampa too....Carolina should have...Vegas lost in the finals so they should have traded everyone off...

You get paid on results. It isn't about MVP, or Richard trophies....it's about winning! All of this other stuff is just the mashed potatoes beside the striploin. You're paying the $35 bucks for the striploin dinner, not the mashed potatoes on the side.
- PrinceLH

they are paid for the regular season only remember.
yeah, the Leafs need to start winning playoff series, I fully concur.

Since the first 10M plus player in the cap era 5 teams have won the Stanley cup.

What are the 27 other teams doing wrong? They don't have a 10M player why aren't they winning?
- Santo_44

I was going to say something similar. That this idea behind 10M players on rosters means they can't win to me is just a media storyline. Lots of other teams don't have them and fail to win.

TB has nothing to give.

if you were a blues fan the season they won you would have been saying to fire sale the team. Now you are using them as a model
- Santo_44

One thing they have to offer that the Leafs, or most teams can't match, is playing in a state with no income tax. It's why Stamkos can play for $8M a year. That would cost you about $11.5M for the same buying power in Ontario or New York State.

The Blues came into the league in the 67-68 season. They proceeded to go to the finals 4 years in a row, under Scotty Bowman. Like the Buffalo Bills football club, getting there and losing gets you no rings. Of course the 6 new expansion teams played in the Western division and played among themselves until the finals. In the original expansion draft, St. Louis keyed in on Montreal Canadiens drafted players and went on to success, with Glenn Hall and Jaques Plante in goal. Pittsburgh went after many of the Leafs cast offs and did poorly. What I'm trying to say, is St. Louis went through hard times, but they've been to the finals numerous times and won a Cup, since before the the Leafs last went to the finals. It's a ridiculous situation....almost like what happened to the Chicago Cubs and their 106 years between championships. We're past the half way point to that dubious record.

I'm watching the most talented group of Leafs players since the 1976 Leafs. That team had character players, to go with their top end talent, Sittler, McDonald, Salming and Turnbull. They had guys like Tiger Williams and Dan Maloney.... The big issue is the top 4 young players, Matthews, Nylander, Marner and Rielly are at the pinnacle of their careers. They have not won a playoff round, because the surround cast is not up to the task. The team has no grinders and bangers. Their defense is soft and small. Why has this not been addressed? You got to break some eggs to make a cake. Leafs were beaten in game 7 because of a 4th line player that was an Ottawa Senator cast off. So where is the scouting and where is the ability to gain a couple of pieces to get you past round 1? An upgrade to the back end is imperative. They must move a smaller skilled defender for a larger skilled defender. That takes asset management and doing what is best to get the core to the next round and beyond.
- PrinceLH

For the record, those guys won jack-poop.

I was going to say something similar. That this idea behind 10M players on rosters means they can't win to me is just a media storyline. Lots of other teams don't have them and fail to win.
- Aaron_85

For 50 years, Leafs fans have complained that we do not have enough talent.

Now they complain that we have too much talent.

This is why we can't have nice things.