How do you expect to sign Marner, Matthews and Kapanen next year?

Leafs don't need Tavares and do you really think Lamoriello would want the Leafs to take a look at Kovalchuk after all the hell Kovalchuk put him through in New Jersey?

You're right about Kovalchuk, and the Leafs certainly don't need him. And you're right a about the cap. The Leafs don't have nearly this much cap available for 2018/19 either when performance bonuses are accounted for.

In order to make this work, U’d have to trade Gardiner and Kapanen for picks and players that wont take up much cap space. U could try to add the Marleau contract, and just accept a bad contract for 1 more year from another team (his NMC creates a whole new issue with that too)

To sum this all up, dont expect Tavares in Toronto...

If Tavares is going to cost 12.5, we don't want him. No team can compete with Nashville and Tampa with players making north of 12M a season. Not to mention Pittsburgh.
Salary structure is key. If Tavares wants to win, which woukd be the only reason he would leave New York, then he has to know he isn't getting a McDavid deal.

What's wrong with adding Kovalchuk for a year? I like it.

Bang on Goulet. A few of us have been explaining that the current Leafs management have been signing players to Tampa Bay style contracts to those here who insist on drinking the insanity cool aid that every Leaf contract is going to be comparative to Buffalo and Edmonton who have to overpay players to stay.

Top UFA Stamkos chose to sign an $8.5 MIL long term contract because he wanted to win more than make the maximum amount possible.

Hedman re-signs for $7.8 MIL as Norris candidate dman and star player Kucherov signed a $4.8 MIL bridge deal because they want to win. Drouin was in a dispute and got moved for great assets.

That is how I want the Leafs to treat all their players not named Matthews. Keep a tight salary structure and move any player who doesn't agree.

It should apply to Matthews as well. These guys are going to make a ton of dough regardless, might as well win and be part of a winning culture as well.

It's no surprise that removing Drouin from the equation in Tampa has them back at the top of the standings. A healthy Stamkos doesn't hurt either..