I like the idea of Thorton as a third line center for the price.
Problem is the defence. Too weak to win, Rielly would have to play 30 mins.

I've been one pumping Marner's tires since before the leafs even drafted him...but $12m @ 6yrs isn't going to happen

The defense is still horrible.

With Marner I would go with a 8milx2 or 11milx8 give or take 500k.
Kappy 3.5x3 give or take 250k he shouldn’t get 4mil.
AJ 3x2 give or take 250k.
Ozi shouldn’t get more than 900k, but I think he is going back to the KHL cause he will get paid more there.

Why should Johnsson take less than Kapanen?

Kappy plays a better 2way game and AJ is unproven. Kappy is a better player and his contract should be longer. AJ is older, Kappy is faster. AJ is better at something though.
This is just my opinion.

Kapanen is more valuable for the team. He can play physical and kill penalties plus its a 1 year deal for Johnsson.

Kapanen would get AT LEAST 4M on the open market, Johnsson AT LEAST 3M, don't know why Leafs fans continuously underpay those two on here.

Avalanche decline taking leafs trash for their high picks, maybe if they were still in a rebuild but as you can see they are competitive now

Marner - $10.5M x 6 years
Johnsson - $3.25M x 4 years
Kapanen - $2.85M x 2 years (debatable 3 years)
Ozhiganov - $875K x 1 year (or he can walk to the KHL if he wants more)



He won't.



Kapanen is just as unproven as Johnsson is. They've both only played 1 season in the league and put up similar numbers. Johnsson gets more money on a longer term deal though for 3 main reasons:
1) Johnsson is older. His next contract will buy out UFA years unless it's a 1 year deal. UFA years are always more expensive so the AAV will go up
2) Johnsson will get more term than Kapanen. Johnsson took his shot and banked on himself last summer by taking a 1 year cheap deal to prove himself. He has. He's not taking another short term deal this summer. 3 years is the minimum he'll get and his AAV will compensate for what both sides project him to be when the deal is done.
3) Johnsson is actually slightly more proven than Kapanen. Both spent a lot of time in the AHL but Johnsson was a more impact player when he helped the Marlies win the Calder Cup and Johnsson was playoff MVP. That shows that he has the capability to be a more impact player. Yes it's the AHL, but it's a stepping stone. Kapanen doesn't have any awards like that.

In the end, Johnsson gets more. Not much but it will be more. See above for reasonable contracts on both of them

You did an amazing job explaining yourself, put aside the money. Kappy is better, in so many ways. He can skate 43km/h, thats faster than mcjesus and you know what they say speed kills.

... you're not suggesting that Kasperi Kapanen is faster than Connor McDavid are you?.. you're nuts if you think that.

Kapanen isn't the far and away better player. He's been extremely streaky and inconsistent this year. It's best for him and the team to take a short term, lower AAV bridge deal to see what he really is before committing long term. Speed isn't the only skill set. Johnsson is a better finisher than Kapanen. They're both fairly reliable defensively. They're closer in skill level than you think.