YUP. Although a little less in cap hit..

I'm operating on Nylander not getting much of a signing bonus in year 1, which increases the cap hit this year but lowers it in each year after. Nylander gets more money but TO has a cap hit under 7. The contract will be a steal though, he'll score 80+ points with Matthews when they are healthy and up to speed.

Five stars for optimism. In NYlander's camp, 7.5 is a non-starter, and I'd argue they'd want the extra year of financial insurance after missing 25% of the 2018 salary, along with a NMC for anything under 8M.

It's like the ****ing Pacioretty and Karlsson trades were: they consumed so much time and energy. Once the Nylander issue is resolved, what will enquiring minds have to talk about?

So 7.25 for 8 years? I'd love the extra year.

Panarin, arguably the best free agent this coming off season

Is that arguable?

Not with me, but someone will find an argument which is why it will be talked about so much. Does Columbus let him walk for nothing? Is he worth $9M, $9.5M, $10M, $10.5m a year....lots to talk about!

Some dummy will give him 10+ mill. He's a fantastic played but wingers shouldn't make over 9 mill in my opinion. Perhaps if they are 60 goal scorers maybe.

Nylander isn’t signing for anything starting with a 7. Toronto is going to wind up trading him. They might want a top 4 RHD but you don’t always get what you want.

I agree and there's the argument; $9.5M I'm okay with though. Kane set the pace on that one a few years ago at $10.5M.

Problem for Dubas is, he has to win this one to prevent getting skinned when Marner and Matthews' agent come to negotiate. If he doesnt absolutely clean up in terms of the return, he has to make the player sit for a year. The optics of doing otherwise are disastrous.

The sit him

TOTALLY!!!!

That’s one view but not necessarily true. Obviously Toronto views Matthews more valuable than Nylander and probably view Marner more valuable too.

Nobody knows what talks if any Dubas has had with other teams. The latest reports indicate Toronto is finally considering trading Nylander. The ideal return would be a Pesce type. The problem is GM’s are so reluctant to trade young top 4 D, especially if they’re signed to a good contract like Pesce.

If Toronto is shopping Nylander other teams know Toronto almost has to trade him. That will factor into talks. Look at how bad the Hall trade was. I’m not saying Toronto will get fleeeced to that extent but the expectations of fans are rarely realized.

Pesce is not worth Nylander that is a bad trade.

If by "Pesce type" you mean "like Brett Pesce, only with some offensive ability," I agree. Problem is, they are few on the ground . . . er, ice. Some have suggested Josh Manson. I'm a Ducks and Manson fan, but Manson for Nylander isn't fair. (Also, Anaheim doesn't need yet another right-handed forward.) Ryan Ellis is a thought, but next year's salary bump is off-putting and who knows if Nashville is interested in breaking up its top 4? There are some obscure possibilities of packages from Arizona or Dallas, but I agree with my colleagues who say that the best think to do is sign him or sit him. Maybe a year's cooling off period will focus his mind. (I was going to put in the author's reference there, but I forgot who said "Nothing focuses the mind like the prospect of being hanged in the morning.")

What are the Matthews and Marner contracts likely to look like in your view?

Under $7.5 for 7-8 years on Nylander is a good deal -- not amazing -- but good for the Leafs, in my view.

The question I have is how does Dubas get a bit of salary balance between the F, D, and G on this team? Andersen is sorted on a fantastic contract. But can the Leafs afford to have a major overweight salary % in the forward group?

My gut tells me that Nylander somehow ends up in CAR or BUF for next season. Not meaning to be a sh1t disturber, I just see Dubas making a move to improve the Top 3 D group.

I think everyone that gets mad at Leaf fans for thinking Nylander are insane for thinking Nylander is worth a potential #1 defenceman aren't necessarily wrong in thinking that Nylander won't get that sort of piece.

There are less top end defenceman than top end forwards. That doesn't mean that top end forwards are worth less than another top end play however. This is why I am so strongly against trading Nylander. He's a top end play and if you can't get one in return you just don't trade him. Because if the best you can do is Pesce, you are walking away with an inferior player.

If you aren't getting a potential #1 defenceman, you don't trade Nylander. As for the salary, I think they are fine. Give Nylander a fair deal and get Marner for 8.5 and then Matthews for 12. Then everyone else fits or gets traded and replaced with Marlies.

$8.5M for Marner will be a great contract for Dubas to ink.

I'd counter with a fair contract.

I wonder if Nylander see's himself as a center and not as a RW. And even though he has no problem playing RW, he wants to be paid as a center.

Once Nylander, is signed by the Leafs, then all the inquiring minds on CapFriendly will be trading him. Why? Because the only reason the Leafs signed him is so they can trade him for cap relief. Then the discussion will be the trade and how much money Matthews, Marner and Kapanen (the new Nylander) will make.

Oh, God, you're probably right. And I bet noise about the 2020 election will start up soon, too.