Id prefer if TOR targeted Hamilton over Pesce.
Lilgren + Johnsson + something <> Hamilton?

Marleau is moveable if he wants to be move. Which I don't think he does.

Marleau is pretty much done and the Leafs are pretty good with getting guys to go away (Robidas Island). If they agreed with him that he was not going to be in the plans next season I'm sure he would waive immediately and retire while still getting paid

I personally like the cost certainty on Pesce and and he's better defensivley than Hamilton. Wouldn't mind either though... I think the either way CAR wants Johnsson/Kapanen to be involved for either player

Pretty sure Marleau wants a Cup before he retires. I don't think he wants to just mail it in. You can't give a potential Hall of Famer the Jared Cowen Treatment.

You make a valid point on the cost certainty of Pesce (to be honest i forgot his cap hit was 4mil!! what a steal!)

Only way Marleau gets traded is if he retires, and then it's a cap move only. But what is with the trading of Hossa's contract? If he stays on LTIR, it kinda meaningless.

I respect Marleau but at the end of the day if you can't keep up and play than sorry, its a results based business. I think from his perspective too, he wouldn't want to be around knowing he was an anchor on the ice and on the cap. Even if he did stay and the Leafs made a run at the cup I don't think he has much left in the tank to keep up ...

If you force Marleau to retire, what does that say to other Free Agents looking to sign in the Off season?

ARI is a much smaller club who doesn't have the financial capacity of TOR. Even though it doesn't affect their cap, paying out money is much more difficult for small teams... that's why they insiders and media members always talk about why owners of smaller markets (Carolina, Arizona, Ottawa, etc) don't spend to the cap - Toronto can handle paying out Hossa for 2 years much easier than ARI

It's tough too because Marleau is a great guy in the room and the rest of the team loves him. Would be nice if he could still be around in someway without costing so much on the cap. Either as a consultant, coach, or still a player if they could somehow get his cap hit down by trading him then retiring and signing for one mil or whatever. But that's cap circumvention. somehow give marleau the orpik treatment would be nice. Not likely possible tho.

Its not really "forcing" him this scenario only works out if he agrees to it of course. But its obvious to everybody and I'm sure to himself, that he's really dropping off and he wouldn't benefit staying on the team

Don't know why you think the Leafs mistreated Cowan. They told him very early they were going to release him and said he was free to make a deal with any team. Cowan later said he was "unfit" and the league decided. Certainly the Leafs didn't mistreat him.
Marleau certainly wants a Cup. Marleau has the choice if he wants to continue playing or retire. How is the Leafs mistreating him?

I'm 100% on board for after his contract expires next summer he joined as a consultant or assistant coach or whatever - but for now a Clarkson type deal may be beneficial IF he's on board with it

You can't force Marleau to retire. But you can leave him off the 23 man roster and then the Leafs would still be responsible for 6.5m cap hit. So if Marleau doesn't retire, the Leafs would be better off cap wise if was on the 23 man roster and playing well enough to 4th/5th line forward. Cap wise I'm sure the Leafs wish Marleau retires so his cap can traded. It's pretty simple really, but so many think the Leafs have a conspiracy against Marleau.

Yeah, he's fallen off like most players do at that age. He's not the first players to not be worth the money he's making on the back end of his deal. Do you think Backes is going to retire from Boston to "help them out"? Not a chance.

The facts are that he loves playing the game, he's like a father to all the kids in the TML room, and this is his best opportunity to him a cup and create a legacy for his career.

Did I say the leafs mistreated him? I'm confused

Tell me, how much money is Arizona (the actual team) is paying Hossa. If he's on LTIR the insurance company is paying all or most of Hossa remaining money, which actually is very small due to the front loaded nature of the contract. And certainly the Leaf don't want Hossa contract. There is the danger that he is deemed "fit", and the team that owns the contract is responsible for the 5.25m cap hit. That's the reason the Hawks traded him. Arizona can afford the unpaid cap hit, cap wise, but the Hawks probably can't.

You wrote " You can't give a potential Hall of Famer the Jared Cowen Treatment." Now I'm confused.

Arizona isn't paying Hossa. They would have to pay Marleau. And Marleau has a full NMC...sooooooo no.

Yeah? They didn't want him, so they got rid of him.

There big difference between Cowan (and most players) and a player who is has NMC and on plus 35 contract. Really has nothing to with Marleau's HOF status. Next year Marleau is still good enough to be on NHL roster, but Leafs are definitely crossing their fingers that he does retire so his cap hit can be traded. IMO the Leaf wouldn't have made the Muzzin trade unless they knew Marleau was retiring.

It's not really a scenario designed to help just the Leafs... if he agrees to retire than everyone wins- its all about how Patty feels... I don't see why he would have an issue if he feels like he can't keep up anymore - Plus a BIG part of this will be how the Leafs do this year... if they bow out in the first round how confident is he really gonna be that they will win the cup the year after with him on the team following 3 straight first round exits

who is paying Hossa? CapFriendly has his contract on Arizona's books

So is Nathan Horton's Insurance company paying the bulk of his contract? Hossa also opened up about his skin condition that is career ending