I have doubts about Marner lifting his NMC. In that line of thought, then Marner would stay on the Leafs roster and play out his year to either be extended or goes to UFA at the end of the year.
On that note... You can't buy-out Tavares since he's only going to save you 600K$.
You need to look at possibilities with him, who also would not be expected to lift the NMC, but try to convince him in a respectful way to do so in order to pass the torch to Matthews as Captain. If he does then he'll want to play somewhere he considered as a UFA back in the day, so ask him where would he want to go to turn the page.
Once he's gone, you have some room to play with, but first off, Defense..
Sign DeMelo, I indicated 3 years at 5.5M$/yr, now some may say he'll want more. Could be, there are two lines of thought here.
He can accept that deal knowing the team still has Matthews, Nylander and Marner at the front, he'll be with Reilly and suddenly the team actually goes up and are better built for the series defensively.
Or he wants 7M$/year which would impact the Stamkos deal in which either Stamkos would accept to play for Toronto with a possible chance at the cup for less salary, or you go for my other options at the bottom here and move up Knies and Dewar to 2nd and 3rd line.
Stamkos.. Hey, why not try to bring him in and ask him if he rather stay in Tampa and may win a cup, or come in into an actual contending team from his home and see how he can help them raise the cup here and be a respected hometown hero.
If that doesn't pan out, you have a few lower cap hit options that could work such as these guys who would complete the team on third lines.
Option 1: Dakota Joshua - Offer = 4.5M$/yr X 4
Option 2: Anthony Duclair - Offer = 2.5M$/yr X 2
Option 3: Warren Foegele - Offer 3.5M$/yr X3
*note I think Bertuzzi is going to command form 7 to 8M$/ yr for at least 5yrs in his UFA hence why I would rather let him go. if he wants 6M$yr/X2 then I do keep him and forget the Stamkos deal.
Domi, he actually was very good this year and while he had said he was glad to sign in Montreal back in the day, his heart as always been with the Leafs. To play for his dad's old team.. Gotta be a good feeling. He should sign at 4X4 to stay and be the second center for the Leafs.
I sign back Liljegren, Dewar, Robertson, hopefully those numbers would match up. Roberston would be a type of bridge deal where he can get more in three years.
The big if here would be the Askarov trade. There are talks that NASH want to keep Saros long term, so would they move Askarov for a first round pick and some good high potential prospects? Maybe Tavares could be something they'd want so his deal could be to NASH?
That's a HUGE if... I don't even know if the discussion with Saros would impact Askarov or not.. If he ain't tradeable I have these options as well:
INTERNAL OPTIONS:
Option 1: Hildeby - He's put up good numbers, could be a good backup to Woll.
OPtion 2: Akhtiamov - I don't know if he's available to come into the NHL as of next year but he'd be a great option for the Leafs.
EXTERNAL OPTIONS:
Option 3: Cam Tablot - Proven worth, older but can play, contract could be 2M/yr X 1yr
Option 4: Laurent Brossoit - Able to play games, would most likely go to TO than stay in WIN for 2M$/yr X3
Option 5: Anthony Stolarz - Would mostly stay in FLA, but I'd offer the 2M$/yr X3
I'm assuming they may get a late 1st round pick, but mostly may need to pay by reducing the incoming deal.. SO I chose to put 2X 2nd round picks, would add a prospect or two to the deal. If the trading team are close to cap, we may see a player coming back at around 4 to 5M$/yr deal for 1 one (this year), But Leafs couldn't take on more than that since they need cap space.
Selected ARZ but this is just to take off Tavares for now; he could go to a few teams that could accommodate him.. 'xcept the NYI .. definitely would not want to be there after he left them high and fry at UFA! LOL!
For some reason, I would've though Askarov would be the goalie they sign long term. But it seems they want to stick with Saros for more years.. So, assuming this is actually real, NASH fans hold your horses, it's just something of a WHAT IF situation.. I'm not saying the hearsay is real or not..
Giving NASH some good prospects here, but in return you get a Goalie that's been seen as a future no 1 and most able to play sooner than later. As a back-up he'd be one hell of an option for TOR.
Suggesting Toronto is an actual cup contending team and Tampa Bay isn't is pretty far fetched. Thinking teams are going to give up assets for one year of Tavares with no retention is an even bigger stretch.
As I said.. I don't see it either, but there are talks about not him being the franchise's future and would move him to get someone.. This is not an official rumor or validated by multiple sources..
Quoting: themostleaf33
You could probably throw Cowan at the preds and they wouldn't move Askarov.
Tavares has a NMC and he isn't gonna waive.
I'm guessing you didn't read for Tavares... I know he's got one, but all players can be talked into it when they reach the end of their career.
Tavares didn't waive his NMC in his last season as an Islander, he won't for Toronto. Only team I could see is the Islanders but I and probably the entire organization want nothing to do with him
Suggesting Toronto is an actual cup contending team and Tampa Bay isn't is pretty far fetched. Thinking teams are going to give up assets for one year of Tavares with no retention is an even bigger stretch.
Even as a Habs fan I'm not blind. Toronto have most f what it takes, but need Defense. Tampa Bay is on the declining end and worse off, they have nothing for the future except one or two players in the AHL.
Tavares didn't waive his NMC in his last season as an Islander, he won't for Toronto. Only team I could see is the Islanders but I and probably the entire organization want nothing to do with him
He won't for NYI, and I do indicates that, but I guess you didn't read that. He's at the end of his career, read the description about him, if there is one player that can be talked into waiving it's him at this point. Marner would most likely pull a Tavares and not waive and move to UFA if he's really pissed off, but given Tavares' age and time plus criticism about his no-show as a Captain and that he fails again and again, it's time for him to move on and let Matthews have a go at it.
Even as a Habs fan I'm not blind. Toronto have most f what it takes, but need Defense. Tampa Bay is on the declining end and worse off, they have nothing for the future except one or two players in the AHL.
You signed Stamkos for 1 year. It doesn't matter what T Bay has for the future, only what they have for next year. And Toronto still has the same key players that have proved over and over again that they cannot get it done in the play offs.
He won't for NYI, and I do indicates that, but I guess you didn't read that. He's at the end of his career, read the description about him, if there is one player that can be talked into waiving it's him at this point. Marner would most likely pull a Tavares and not waive and move to UFA if he's really pissed off, but given Tavares' age and time plus criticism about his no-show as a Captain and that he fails again and again, it's time for him to move on and let Matthews have a go at it.
I did, but realize this
He is from Toronto living a childhood dream
His wife is from there
He just had 2 kids
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