Can we change the title? Phil's not available, and he's not going anywhere.. He likes it here. He's comfortable here, he's not the kind of guy to change his surroundings especially with the friends he's made in Toronto.
A 1 million dollar reduction in Phaneufs salary and a 1 million raise for Kessel would counteract the affects and leave us in a strong position financially.
This would be absolutely ideal, but I have a feeling it won't be that easy. Here's hoping we can re-sign both these guys for around those values long-term.
I think and hope Phaneuf will get the same deal as the one he have now. No raise and no cut, after all he was overpaid before but have stepped up his game this season. And he is also the captain, that is worth a little extra. So 6 years, $6.5m p/y. And it is not such a big deal to overpay a little for top d-man.
I'd want to see him get a Brent Burns type deal. 5.5-5.9 for 6 years would be good.
This is the kind of hindrance and mistake that the Leafs continually repeat over and over and over and over and over...
"Oh. It's just an extra million! We're rich. It's okay that you confused 'negotiation' for 'give-away free money', Mr. Phaneuf. Almost every other player does it, too. Enjoy the extra money not correlated to performance, Mr. Phaneuf!"
Signing players to bargain deals that are apart of your core and who presumably want to be in Toronto IS the goal. No more obfuscation.
What I meant was that overpaying for a guy who do the business at both ends of the ice for 25+ minutes per game is not the end of the world. It is overpaying for a grinder or a *cough cough* one way snipper is what hurt a franchise imo.
This is the kind of hindrance and mistake that the Leafs continually repeat over and over and over and over and over...
"Oh. It's just an extra million! We're rich. It's okay that you confused 'negotiation' for 'give-away free money', Mr. Phaneuf. Almost every other player does it, too. Enjoy the extra money not correlated to performance, Mr. Phaneuf!"
Signing players to bargain deals that are apart of your core and who presumably want to be in Toronto IS the goal. No more obfuscation.
It's the goal doesn't mean it's the case of reality. Detroit an organization that prides themselves that players will take discounts to play there had to resort and started the trend of circumventing the cap to keep it's best players intact. Your dealing with peoples livelihood here my dear friend it's easy to say what you say but it's not as simple as that, the lockout is proof players want to get payed no different then you and I with our own jobs. Would you take a pay cut to stay at your job?
The cap is at 64 million next year if your team has CAP issues at 60 million + your mistakes aren't at the money given to your best players That's where the money should be going. The Leafs are actually one of the few teams that have managed there cap properly with the allowance of fixing mistakes by being none committed to those stupid long term deals if you care to notice. There's not one player out there they lost out in due to the cap nor have they've been forced to lose a player due to the cap. Where this notion of continued mistakes on the cap comes from isn't true... Just because Burke's UFA signings didn't pan out on the ice doesn't = cap problems there 2 different things.
Phaneuf should be payed period same with Kessel. They're 2 of the teams best players young enough to be here long term... If you don't pay them then who will you pay and what will the cost be in replacing them cause if the thought is prospects and picks in return will be a guaranteed replacement you got another thing coming.
i still really want chris stewart, i think his physicality and presence in the top six would be great!
To st. Louis: Liles or macarthur
to toronto
stewart
[i]stewart continues to struggle...[/i]
to colorado grabovski
to toronto:
Stastny
initially you were giving up way too much for stastny. Stastny's game has regressed over the years. I`d actually prefer to keep grabo over stastny, but i`ll play along...
to pittsburghnikolai kulemin
jerry d'amigo
to toronto: Eric tangradi
scott harrington/oli maata
1st 2013
pittsburgh will need to pay dearly for kulemin. Everyone knows the great chemistry kulemin and malkin have.
Stewart and Stastny reunite, they used to have amazing chemistry!
I don't want a 6.6million dollar 2nd line center on the decline while we have bozak as our first line center. Statsny is not what we need and I don't get why so many ppl on this board have a fascination with him. Grabovski's 5.5 isn't a sweet heart deal yet your willing to trade him in exchange for a guy on the decline who will net 5-8 more points a year than grabovski(if he doesn't continue his decline) would and is less defensively responsible while making 1.1 million more than grabo. Sound logic here.
Bozak is developing into a pretty good player, he might not have 1st line talent, but he's been lights out on the face-offs, and on the forecheck. He's been a poor mans Bergeron so far.
Kadri - has been fantastic in his first real opportunity.
Grabovski - hasn't been bad enough to warrant any trade talk either.
Right now I'd say we're in a very good spot, and should've be considering any trades, and definitely no trades that would mean trading our youth for a 30+ Brad Richards.
Long run, we might see this evolve:
1st) Kadri
2nd) Grabovski
3rd) Bozak
Either way our depth at C, isn't nearly as bad as some are leading to believe.
Stewart have nice size, speed and offensive skills but from what Blues fans say he struggle to fit in to the way St Louis plays. He is more of a run and gun guy so he struggle to adept to the team even do they say he have looked better this season.
Can we trade for ROR and offer sheet OEL in the off season?
That would be perfect and both are in the realm of possibility.
Trade for ROR possible.
Offersheet OEL - no thanks. Haven't the Leafs learned about giving away multiple 1sts? Just keep drafting, UFA signing, and trade players if the opportunities present (ie. JVR for Schenn).
That's where the money should be going. The Leafs are actually one of the few teams that have managed there cap properly with the allowance of fixing mistakes by being none committed to those stupid long term deals if you care to notice. There's not one player out there they lost out in due to the cap nor have they've been forced to lose a player due to the cap. Where this notion of continued mistakes on the cap comes from isn't true... Just because Burke's UFA signings didn't pan out on the ice doesn't = cap problems there 2 different things.
