Why does CAR need more players for the Checkers? Marleau cost a 1st

And Marleau was a 35+ contract who said he wasn't going to play for anyone but San Jose. His situation and Backes are entirely different.

I think the contracts for Krug and Grizz are high by $0.5m. I'd rather have Halak back, he's been a great fit. Not giving up on Senyshen just to get rid of Backes, he has looked pretty decent in his short NHL stint. He checks to many boxes.

He can EASILY pick 8 teams that can't afford his cap hit and you're left with the same exact situation. Why shouldn't he want to go for a cup? He just saw his previous team get one. And a $4M + $1M is that different. The only reason it's different is because you want it to be different. NOW, if he goes LTIR, that's a different story, but he's not there yet.

Lol its 100% different. The 35+ contract alone makes it different. Any team that traded for Marleau was going to

A. Not have him ever take a shift
B. Even when bought out his entire cap hit counts against the cap.

A team like Toronto had zero leverage in any talks because team knew they needed the space and Marleau was 100% just dead cap to a team that traded for him. If Boston cant find a deal Boaton can easily buyout Backes, save $2 million next year and only cost a million the following year.

Again Marleau and Backes situation are not even close to the same.

Also - This is next year, so it expands to 15 teams. He's played 14 games this season and was benched in the SCF. He seems like a guy who just wants to play. I'll give him a ton of credit, he is trying to to what he needs to do to get in the lineup. He would be playing on most teams, the Bruins need a top6 forward (which he is not) and they have a ton of depth with the bottom six.

If he plays games with the Bruins on his team list, the Bruins could bury him in the minors and make him ride buses until he expands his list.

As already stated, the Leafs needed the space immediately to protect against an offer to Marner, or they would have had one week to clear the space when every team knows what they are doing and prices would have been even hire. They were also forced to move some pretty good talent in addition because of their cap situation.

or as bcarlo likes to add in, they could just ship him to providence and eat his cap through next year and have it fully off their books. plenty of scenarios. although im waiting on him to retire.

This is fair. The Leafs were indeed desperate. BOS not in that same position.

*higher