Some of your numbers are good but seriously, on what planet is Matthews worth almost twice as much as Marner?

Seeing as this thread is looking 2 years into the future, predictions are always tough to make. For starters, I like your top forward line and I think/hope we will see that in future season. Next, I do not believe the Leafs will re-sign JVR. Clearly, you can see from the depth we've built up, his production may never be replaceable, but there are alternative options that give you more speed, grit and defence. Grundstrom and Johnsson are perfect examples are players that can play with speed, skill and grit for a top-9 that can help this team succeed for a full 82-game season and beyond, into playoffs.

If Zaitsev gets traded (which would be a low sell for Leafs at this point), it would be a defenceman of similar salary who has also underperformed. A 1-for-1 deal for a D like Hamonic, Severson, Klefbom all come to mind. I don't think Leafs get any value from a trade other receiving an underperformer D back in hopes that a fresh start might offer a turnaround. One defenceman this might apply most to is Brent Seabrook. It's obviously tremendous speculation but a deal like Zaitsev and Martin for Seabrook plus a swapping of 2018 1st rounders (so Leafs would draft 7th) could be interesting.

Finally, Doughty. My feeling is that one way or another he will remain in California. Whether that means re-signing in LA or signing with the Sharks or Ducks is unclear, but regardless, he will get between $9 and $11 million AAV.

If Zaitsev is worth a first and a third to NJD, why trade him? He has better term than Hamonic. I think you're under paid some of the RFAs, just to fit JVR on the team.

Thanks! And I know what you mean, but those are the perks of being a Top 10 (Top 5?) player in the league. I do think there will be some hard negotiations with Lou to see if they can get that value closer to 10 million but at the end of the day, whatever he asks for, he will get it.



Hey, I get your point on JVR but I think they may sign him rather than let him walk for nothing (even though we got him for nothing in Luke Schenn) and If we win a cup within the next 3-4 years, they may trade him afterwards. I don't see anybody on this roster that can score as well as him aside from Matthews and 30+ goals is really hard to replace. I actually proposed the same trade you did for Seabrook in a previous post but then I got to thinking, if we are going to sign someone for 6-7 years at 6 million, and trade Zaitsev away, why not just trade him for picks and have our choice of defensemen. If we can lure a doughty here, its worth more than the first round pick IMO. Last, I am really hoping the Knights destroy the LA kings and next season is crappy for them. Make him want to leave and he would have a chance at a cup for at least the next 5 years with this line up.



Zaitsev in my opinion is worth a late (20-30 overall) first rounder just on the basis he is a right hand shot, young and plays 20 minutes a game. The leafs need more defensive players on the back end. We have loads of offence but not one person (maybe aside from Rielly) who we can look at and say, they can shut down a McDavid or a Crosby or quite frankly any top 50 forward in the NHL. Hamonic provides them with someone who can play those tough minutes. Sign doughty as well and you have the makings of a defensive core that can play defence really well. Last, I don't think I really underpaid any of them. Kapenen has played 55 games in the NHL and has 10 points. Johnsson has 9 games and 3 points. I think I am kind of over paying them based solely on the potential they have. Plus they are very short term contracts so they would get a raise (if they prove they are worth it) when time comes (two years).

I seriously doubt that the Salary Cap is going to increase by 8 million next year, There's absolutely no way the Leafs can afford to resign Van Riemsdyk plus Doughty and still have enough to resign both Marner, Nylander and Matthews both Marner and Nylander get closer to $7 million per then your $6 million per. Besides one of either Marner or Nylander will need to go bye bye as you will need to resign Kapanen and other RFAs down the road.

I love him too but he's not even top 20 yet.

Title literally says Two years so as many are projecting, goes to 80 million this year and another 3 million the year after, and no, Marner and Nylander will get closer to 6 million than 7 million. Gaudreau, Pasternak, Mackinnon Scheifelie in that order make 6.75, 6.67, 6.3, 6.125. Marner and Nylander are not better than any of them yet so why would they deserve more? And down the road, cap space will open up and salary cap will increase. If you can sign the core long term, inflation of salary cap will outweigh the amount the role player's salaries increase by.

Your comparables are good and you can throw Matthews into that group as well.