Who u trading to sign MArner. U need to clear like 6-7 mill

With the Trade to get Clarkson, I think they have a deal in play but have to wait till the beginning of the season to put Clarkson’s and Horton’s contract on LTIR. They will have 10.55 when they do that, so it’s either a done deal or really close in my opinion

Why didnt they just not sign Ceci and let him walk. Woulda been a perfect dump of Zaitsev... or flip his rights elsewhere the next day...

Think has been shown the Leaf don't have the cap for a 5m even a 1m Dman with a signed Marner. And a delayed in a signed Marner raises the AAV even higher. Trading 2.4m Hyman doesn't save that much cap.
No I wouldn't sign Gardiner for five years. By the way, Marner isn't a hold out even he isn't signed by the Leafs by October. Marner is free to sign with any teams, in any league.

I believe the Sens had already "promised" to resign Ceci, other wise he would have been a UFA. Sens and Leafs couldn't go back on their word. You had to guaranteed his contract in order to keep his rights and therefore to flip his rights. Leafs still need a Dman to play so it's not all bad for the Leafs.

His qualifying offer was essentially the same thing as the contract he was offered. The Leafs weren't able to elect arbitration so it was either sign him or he took his qualifying offer. I imagine they want him coming in confident that the team wants to give him a fair chance so they gave him an honest contract. He could be traded in season.

The only way Gardiner signs in TO is if no one is offering him term because they are scared about his back. If that is the case, I can see him deciding to sign a 1 year cheap deal to take a run at the cup and rebuild his value so he can get a bigger deal next year. A long term deal with TO is out of the question and isn't going to happen.

you arent allowed to do that anymore, 35% is the most a salary can increase and decrease from the following year. 7 to 3.5m exceeds that.

Like I said up top, Ceci and Hyman are the obvious choices to clear cap but 8-10 is the max they'll need and in this case there is already 7.

The whole point here is to show that they do have the space. They can open up another 1.5 just by sending Mikheyev down and waiving Gauthier. And I doubt they're done trading.

I offered 7 years to keep the hit low because at 5M, there are very few options out there that will have the same impact during the Cup window that Gardiner will have and none that can be acquired only with cap space.

A week ago would you say a deal like this was more or less likely than the Leafs acquiring Clarkson in a trade?

I believe Gardiner wants to play for the Leafs or he would have signed elsewhere already. Is it likely? Probably not but a scenario like this works for both sides and while the fanbase may not like it, Gardiner at 5M offers huge value considering their Cup window and compared to Ceci at 4.5 as well.

Sending down minimum contracts doesn't really save money, you still have to replace those guys with similar money. You're right it could a trade like Johansson or Kapanen that creates cap space
My opinion this year is not a Cup window for the Leafs. Missing too much on defence this year.

I'm sure the Leafs don't mind Ceci's contract since it expires next summer. It's subjective I know but I would rather have Ceci for one year than Zaitsev or even Gardiner on a multi year.

Explain Tavares contract then. It's 50%

If this year wasn't part of their Cup window they wouldn't be making all the moves they're making and bring in guys like Barrie and Muzzin, not to mention Tavares. They are going for it as long as they have both Tavares and Matthews.

I left this roster one short for Marner. They could run at 20 for as long as it took to trade salary and use the 1.5-2.5M in cap space in the meantime.

Well that is where I disagree completely, I don't think Gardiner is worth 5 million on a long term contract. I'd pay him 3.5 million on a long term deal because I don't think he's going to escape the early 30's decline. If he loses a step, he's barely an NHLer, he has little to know physicality and is very weak along the boards.

year to year you cant change more than 35%, he doent have a 50% drop from one season to the next. You are missing the point, in the middle of the contract you cant jump down from 7m to 3.5m you have to do it gradually. The way its structured is just not in conformance of the CBA, I know its minor and all but you can still have the end result being the same, 7m year 1. 3.5m by the end

Muzzin was traded for two year run...Think the Leafs are OK with his expiring 4m contract. Barrie, the Leafs needed a RHD. You could argue Kerfoot and Kadri and close in value so the Leaf got a 50% retained Barrie for Rosen and a third. Leafs take that all day long. Tavares is here for 6 more years, Matthews and Nylander 5, the window is hardly closing.

I just don't think the Leafs are good this year as last year, so I don't think they are as much contenders as last year. Last year 100 points...Montreal ninth in the conference with 96 points.

Got it. Easy fix. Move a mill from year three to four and it's gold.

yeah i know it was semantics, but thats just the year to year thing that I think is a little silly, you can still have the same cap hit aav just start at 7, increase a bit and slowly decrease to get down to 3.5m.

I agree they're weaker on paper and management has to see it as well which is why I doubt they're done. The window is wide open which is why they have to get creative to maximize it year after year.

Of any move they can currently make without moving Kapanen or Johnsson, adding Gardiner at whatever term will have the greatest impact.

I like your frugality but referring to him as barely an nhler is a little extreme. No D is perfect and his strengths far outway his flaws.

I kinda think the Leafs had good off season. Clearing Marleau and Zaitsev's long term cap. The Avs trade, two NHLers for one. But with pay increases to Kapanen, Johnson, Matthews and I presume Marner something has to give cap wise and it might be the defence that takes a hit in quality. They have signed lots of bottom end players, can a couple step and be NHL competent all season long?

For now, yes. But long term I have zero faith in Gardiner keeping his value. If he wants term go get it somewhere else, if he isn't getting it anywhere else. Then I'll happily make him fit once Marner signs and then let him rebuild his value. But only with a cheap 1 year contract.

I think they had a marvelous off season. Line by line they're better up front but they're still one top 4 D away from being balanced.