25-30 goal kappanen won’t take anything less than 4 million

With Nylander in the lineup, he will be on the 3rd line with reduced ice time and no PP time. His numbers will go down, and if they don't trade him for cheaper assets and keep Brown.

Yes agreed. Very good point. This is assuming nylander resigns. Without nylander though, Kap gets 30. I still think Kap will get at least 20, and that will be closer to 3 million rather than 2.

they can also just sign him to a 1 year show me deal and wait for the Marleau contract to expire

Ya that’s a good call

I could see Marner getting $9 million AAV over a max term contract, but he won't go into double-digits, even if he hits 100 points this season. A lot of pressure will come from Colorado and how much they look up Mikko Rantanen for. To this point, centers have always made more than wingers, so it would make financial sense to lock up Matthews first and then deal with Marner and perhaps Nylander, if he's still sitting on the sidelines twiddling his thumbs. I think Marner settles for $8.5 million over 8 years - you can call that a hometown discount, but I think that's highly fair and he loves playing in Toronto.

Depends on how the negotiations go. He's on the final year of his ELC and he's only now producing like a front line forward. Its really not a stretch to ask him to give a 1 year show me deal to set his market. It could help him get a longer term with a higher cap hit if he produces even more next season.

Not sure if you saw it up there but that's exactly what I did for him. 1 year 1.5 and then maybe a 4 year 4.5 - 5.5 million dollar deal depending on other needs and stuff.

Well, so much for the doomsayers. One additional point: It shows that Dubas has the advantage: he can take this projection, put it under Nylander's nose and say," Or, I could trade you, take that $7.5M and make a lot of other people happy by paying other people more money. Which do you think I should do?"

Agreed 8.5 mil will be a hometown discount

I think you know where my thoughts on that lie, I am just doing an exercise on what if he gets more.

That defense makes me suicidal

yeah I saw that and I think thats something both parties would do.... no reason to give him too much money when you don't have to

I don't like that negotiation style. Personally I would sit down with Nylander and say, I understand exactly why he is being strong. In a perfect world, I'd give him whatever he wanted but since we are in a salary cap world, we have to try to fit everyone. One things for sure, I don't want to trade Nylander, period. I would make that very clear, to the point I would say that I am very okay with losing this year over trading him. And if he does give us a bit of a discount, I would do everything I could to ensure he had confidence in me that I wouldn't trade him unless its what he wants.

Nylander isn't a problem, and treating him like a brat who wants more ice cream (not saying that is what you are doing, but many on here have this mindset), will only cause problems down the road. Take the high road, be a team players want to play for because we treat them with respect and loyalty (within reason).

Go to bed, we all know you hate the Leafs and everything to do with them and their fan base.

I can respect a team if I want to. That is a scary good offense, and Freddy is solid. But still, that defense really isn’t good. That right side consists of: two Russians who are not very good, proven again and again by their play. And on the third pair, a rookie who really won’t be ready until the year after. The left side isn’t bad, but it’s not amazing either, like it’d have to be to make up for the right side.

Marner will look to some major RFA wingers this summer for comps in not only Rantanen but also Laine. A lot of the TSN guys thought Laine could get Eichel money, which scares me, especially since Rantanen has outplayed both Marner and Laine in the last year and a quarter.

Edit: Aho (Canes) is another big winger RFA as well and will be getting a large deal

Aw, rats, another more sensible, more mature response than mine. And I was having SUCH a good day.

I don't see Kap accepting a 1 year deal though especially if TOR doesn't make it to the Eastern Conf Finals. Also agree Kap will at least get $3M x 3.

Thank you for some constructive feedback.

I won't disgree that the defence isn't optimal, however, its really just a one year issue that could surprise or be the liability that everyone thinks it'll be.

But there are some in season moves that could be made dependent on how things shake out. I remember a time when TO started the season with two young Europeans on the defence that was headlined by Karpotsev and Yuschkevich and everyone said their defence was terrible and the Leafs wouldn't do a thing. Then out of nowhere, Tomas Kaberle was really good and Danny Markov was beyond serviceable.

Zaitsev is not a bad player, anyone who has watched the Leafs this year has watched Zaitsev really improve his play away from the puck. He isn't at all flashy but he's solid, protects the front of the net and isn't often out of position. On top of that, he's bailing out Gardiner often and that never really gets noticed or mentioned, it just is written up as another strike against Gardiner, regardless of if it ends in a goal or not. (Just to be clear, Zaitsev preventing goals is a very good thing)

Ozhiganov has been up and down. He's a bit of a wild man out there but skates very well and generally is good at getting the puck up the ice.

As for the rookies, Borgman has proven to be at the very least not the worst as a bottom pair guy.

As for Liljegren, I am hesitant to say what he'll be next season, after a less than terrific start to the season, he's really been picking it up for the Marlies and is playing a lot of tough minutes as a 19 year old. Who knows how a full year as one of the go to guys on the farm will affect his progress, is it really that much of a stretch to think he can gain a lot of confidence and take his game to a new level?

Don't feel bad bro, it takes an effort to not sarcastically bash everything that is rude and insolent on here. I have not always been the way I am, I just got really sick of hearing people be rude to others. It adds nothing so I am trying hard to set a different tone in all aspects of my life. Hopefully it can spread to others. Just smile at the next person who walk past on the street, its the best, just lights up peoples days.

To be honest, I think there are 2 scenarios with Kap.

Either he's going to want more than 3 which TO won't be able to pay (operating under Nylander being resigned) or he'll do a 1 year show me contract in the hopes of cashing in with longer term and higher cap hi after Marleau retires.

Marner is on track to cash in no doubt and Nylander is not. Let's say Nylander gets $7M or $7.5M for 3 years which is a number i think both sides would agree with and allows Nylander to get a big raise in 3 years at the peak of his career (25 years old) if he continues the upward trend. Marner because of his play so far, will get $8.5M or more but I honestly can't see Matthews getting more then $10.5M. That being said, it's a pretty safe bet to say any way you mix the pot between those 3, there will be $26.5M minimum committed to the 3. Then you have Kap who will get $3M or more..so those 4 is $30M roughly. Too bad Marleau has another year (19/20) otherwise it's pretty straight forward and nylander would be signed.

That said, players want to get paid and they should based on team revenues...professional careers are on average pretty short and these guys, most not highly educated, use 10 years of hockey to create a living for themselves for 40 years plus and $3M a year minus 15% to your agent and 40% to taxes isn't what most fans realize in otherwords, they need to manage their money carefully. It's not selfish even though us fans emotionally think so for a player to chase the dollars versus 'loyalty' to a team.

Or Kap gets a 'soft' offer for a3 year bridge for $3M+ a year by someone else. Even if he's a RFA, closed door talks happen through 'friends' all the time.

see I disagreee .....and lets say it goes to arbitration he still wont get 3 million .....I think its possible to give him a 1 year show me deal and if he plays well next year sign him fora long term deal....