I put Topi on the table and then just run down the list of best available/best (UFAs, RFAs and term). ROR is the one guy on your list I don’t go after.

SJ hasn’t given permission to talk to Meier. Obviously that could change.
- Canada Cup

Which tells you that they want a lot for Timo. They'll wait for the offer to hit their magic threshold before allowing that.

I'd hang on to Knies too but I think he's the only guy good enough to land Meier.

I'm no different on RoR except I don't rule him out if my medical team says no worries and RoR's agent tells me his A game is still there. But aside from him ...Horvat, Kane, Bertuzzi maybe, Tarasenko, Toews, Barbashev ....

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 miss feudalism too, Prince.

You pay someone what you think they are going to produce based on an assessment of past performance. If that player is a “team player” he will negotiate and sign a contract before he reaches free agency when he can negotiate with more teams and presumably make more money. You don’t give up your “team player card” by refusing to hand over $16-20M to your employer.

For the record, those guys won jack-poop.
- Atomic Wedgie

Those guys, in 1976, may have been the second best team in the NHL. If it wasn't for the greatness of the Montreal Canadians in the later half of the 70's, that team would have won a Cup. When you see the Hall of Fame lineup of that Habs team, as a Leafs fan, I hated them.....but knew and respected how great they were. Leafs lost in later rounds to the Habs, but they gave them a game. I witnessed that live, as I was in both buildings, for 10 years of regular season games and playoffs between the Leafs in Habs. Today's hockey is a pale shadow of the greatness of a once fiercely contested game.

Those guys, in 1976, may have been the second best team in the NHL. If it wasn't for the greatness of the Montreal Canadians in the later half of the 70's, that team would have won a Cup. When you see the Hall of Fame lineup of that Habs team, as a Leafs fan, I hated them.....but knew and respected how great they were. Leafs lost in later rounds to the Habs, but they gave them a game. I witnessed that live, as I was in both buildings, for 10 years of regular season games and playoffs between the Leafs in Habs. Today's hockey is a pale shadow of the greatness of a once fiercely contested game.
- PrinceLH

The game is 100X better than it was back then.

The skills today are so far superior. Yes, the equipment back then was crap, but the conditioning and skills development today make it a far more exciting game.

Remember Lafleur breaking down the wing, stepping over the blueline, and slapping one in the far corner?

He wouldn't score today on that move - not even once.

Take a look at film from the 1970s - players can barely skate. The pace is incredibly slow. There's little creativity. There's far less hitting than people think there was.

But yes, there was fighting. So hooray.

I miss feudalism too, Prince.

You pay someone what you think they are going to produce based on an assessment of past performance. If that player is a “team player” he will negotiate and sign a contract before he reaches free agency when he can negotiate with more teams and presumably make more money. You don’t give up your “team player card” by refusing to hand over $16-20M to your employer.
- Canada Cup

Boston and their players understand this. They get a better deal, because they have the will to win. They give up some of their monetary gains, to ensure success going forward. It breeds a certain mentality that says it's not all about the money, it's about being to look back at your playing career and seeing a high level of success. Let's see if the brat pack see's it that way. I'm guessing not.

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

We’re not a contender this year because of last years playoffs. It’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s close.

I can’t remember if the same thing was said about the caps all those years but somehow I doubt it.

Which tells you that they want a lot for Timo. They'll wait for the offer to hit their magic threshold before allowing that.

I'd hang on to Knies too but I think he's the only guy good enough to land Meier.

I'm no different on RoR except I don't rule him out if my medical team says no worries and RoR's agent tells me his A game is still there. But aside from him ...Horvat, Kane, Bertuzzi maybe, Tarasenko, Toews, Barbashev ....
- The Law

Meier needs to be qualified at 10 mil.

Which tells you that they want a lot for Timo. They'll wait for the offer to hit their magic threshold before allowing that.

I'd hang on to Knies too but I think he's the only guy good enough to land Meier.

I'm no different on RoR except I don't rule him out if my medical team says no worries and RoR's agent tells me his A game is still there. But aside from him ...Horvat, Kane, Bertuzzi maybe, Tarasenko, Toews, Barbashev ....
- The Law

As far as I understand, ROR’s injury isn’t an ongoing thing that has hampered his play all season. He broke a bone in his foot in a game against the Wild. The docs might say he’s fully back to the B game he’s played all year, despite what his agent says.

We’re not a contender this year because of last years playoffs. It’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s close.

I can’t remember if the same thing was said about the caps all those years but somehow I doubt it.
- shack67

I ate yesterday. I’m good

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.
- PrinceLH

This has nothing to do with what I said.

5 teams have won the cup since the first 10M player was signed.

5 teams.

The game is 100X better than it was back then.

The skills today are so far superior. Yes, the equipment back then was crap, but the conditioning and skills development today make it a far more exciting game.

Remember Lafleur breaking down the wing, stepping over the blueline, and slapping one in the far corner?

He wouldn't score today on that move - not even once.

Take a look at film from the 1970s - players can barely skate. The pace is incredibly slow. There's little creativity. There's far less hitting than people think there was.

But yes, there was fighting. So hooray.
- Atomic Wedgie

The skill today might be greater. The equipment may be much better. Genetically, humans are bigger and stronger. What's missing in today's game is the competitive will to win. It's about big dollar contract and mercenary negotiating for top dollar. In yester-year, it was about doing everything legal, and illegal to win. Players would hit you to hurt you. Intimidation was rampant and hatred for your opponent was on display. Watching what the Philadelphia Flyers did to Moscow Red Army on a Sunday Afternoon in Philly tells you all you need to know on how to win, over an opponent that was in better shape and at a higher skill level. The Habs outplayed that same team on a New Years Eve night and had to settle for a 3 - 3 draw, that many said was the greatest game ever played. I can't dispute that, but it was skill against skill and the result was a tie. Philly bludgeoned Red Army to the point of them quitting and going home. They came back, because they wouldn't get paid and I'm sure the Soviet Government had their say to the players. I still remember Eddy Van-Impe almost killing a Soviet Player with a body check after the Flyers had their way in the corners. That was hockey....it was North American hockey. Exciting, brutal, breathtaking. What we have now is the ice-capades today. Ticky tack penalties, passionless games. No thanks, I'll take the old school 7 days a week and twice on Sunday, especially when it's Red Army in Philly.

Boston and their players understand this. They get a better deal, because they have the will to win. They give up some of their monetary gains, to ensure success going forward. It breeds a certain mentality that says it's not all about the money, it's about being to look back at your playing career and seeing a high level of success. Let's see if the brat pack see's it that way. I'm guessing not.
- PrinceLH

If Pasta signs for more than 10 million you going to come and admit you were wrong?

For the record, those guys won jack-poop.
- Atomic Wedgie

They weren’t even expected to either, except by leafs fans. The Habs and Islanders wiped the floor with them.

I’ll take our current team any day. I remember us getting beaten so bad in those days that the cbc would switch to another game.

If Pasta signs for more than 10 million you going to come and admit you were wrong?
- Aaron_85

If Pasta signs for more than $11M, it won't be with the Bruins.

Boston and their players understand this. They get a better deal, because they have the will to win. They give up some of their monetary gains, to ensure success going forward. It breeds a certain mentality that says it's not all about the money, it's about being to look back at your playing career and seeing a high level of success. Let's see if the brat pack see's it that way. I'm guessing not.
- PrinceLH

This narrative with the B's taking less is exaggerated. McAvoy got paid. Pasta blew up offensively after he signed. He's getting paid Marner/Panarin money this summer. Bergeron got paid a lot (and I think he held out) when he was young. His contract was complicated by some big health issues and people questioned why the B's gave him all that money at first.

The real magic with Marchand and Bergeron is how they keep getting better after they turned 30.

Boston and their players understand this. They get a better deal, because they have the will to win. They give up some of their monetary gains, to ensure success going forward. It breeds a certain mentality that says it's not all about the money, it's about being to look back at your playing career and seeing a high level of success. Let's see if the brat pack see's it that way. I'm guessing not.
- PrinceLH

Bergeron was on the verge of not playing this year, he has a full career of earnings.

These were 20 year old kids who wanted to make some money in case they get injured.

Pasta signed and then broke out, same with Marchand.

Zacha just signed a whopping contract for a 3rd line player...did he not get the memo?

They weren’t even expected to either, except by leafs fans. The Habs and Islanders wiped the floor with them.

I’ll take our current team any day. I remember us getting beaten so bad in those days that the cbc would switch to another game.
- shack67

The Islanders were an 80's dynasty. Leafs defeated them in playoff games in the 70's.

Bergeron was on the verge of not playing this year, he has a full career of earnings.

These were 20 year old kids who wanted to make some money in case they get injured.

Pasta signed and then broke out, same with Marchand.

Zacha just signed a whopping contract for a 3rd line player...did he not get the memo?
- Santo_44

Look at the standings and get back to me at the end of the playoffs.

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.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ya it hasnt been 50 years.
Late 90s and early 2000 they had quite a bit of talent.

Look at the standings and get back to me at the end of the playoffs.
- PrinceLH

I don't think you even know the point you are trying to make

We’re not a contender this year because of last years playoffs. It’s not the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s close.

I can’t remember if the same thing was said about the caps all those years but somehow I doubt it.
- shack67

It was.
Until they made it past the first round

Meier needs to be qualified at 10 mil.
- shack67

Yes, but that's not what we were talkin' about Shacksy. My point is that given how good he is and contractual situation he'll be signed by the Sharks or traded to a team that wants (and can afford to pay the contract and the compensation) to lock him up.

Meier will probably do a Tkachuk ...angle a new home via a trade and sign an extension with that new team for a number like 8 x 9.5. That's my guess.

This narrative with the B's taking less is exaggerated. McAvoy got paid. Pasta blew up offensively after he signed. He's getting paid Marner/Panarin money this summer. Bergeron got paid a lot (and I think he held out) when he was young. His contract was complicated by some big health issues and people questioned why the B's gave him all that money at first.

The real magic with Marchand and Bergeron is how they keep getting better after they turned 30.
- The Law

Chemistry. I also saw many decent players leave Boston for bigger money. Where are they now?

This has nothing to do with what I said.

5 teams have won the cup since the first 10M player was signed.

5 teams.
- Santo_44

Any of them have a 10m dollar player on them?

If Pasta signs for more than 10 million you going to come and admit you were wrong?
- Aaron_85

Pasta better sign for 13m....just to raise the Bs cap.
But i think he will leave some money on the table.....maybe not a lot...but some