it had to be said

I am not sure you are correct. Why? Because the pandemic has wrecked so many teams operational finances. Perhaps he'd be interested in a short term heavily bonus style contract. Does anyone think there will be a normal season this winter? I don't, how do teams pay bonuses in that case? Some teams will refuse to give bonuses because they just can't afford it while they have zero ticket revenues. TO doesn't have that problem, maybe they can say to Pietrangelo that we will give him a handsome 2 year deal with Max bonus money, then he can find a long term home once the economics are better. A lot of guys may look at that. Over half the teams in the league are looking to go below the salary cap next year. Money is scarce.

IMO we could be looking at a flat cap with maybe a 1-2 mil increase for the next 4-5 years.

A 2 year deal? No chance he would just go to Colorado for that.
Pietrangelo doesnt really solve problems for Toronto, he takes them from 2 spot and puts them in another. If these playoffs have proven anything its that depth wins

Jeremy Rutherford said Petro camp asked Blues for 9.25M for 8 Years.

Maybe, but until fans can go to a game, revenue is a problem and that will make the market tight. No one seems to realize that.b

These playoffs prove that the play ins were a crapshoot and eventually it balanced out. Tampa and Dallas are two teams people expected to go deep.

Of course depth is key and TO does have it but needs to make some changes in the periphery. But what I ask you is, how do teams pay the bills without ticket sales? Because that is what's happening and very well could be a reality this winter as well. Who will have money to spend on free agents?

Ledge you've missed the point yet again - is Colorado interested in Signing AP? I can't see why, it'll mess up their cap situation for a very long time, they will have Makar, Gabriel, McKinnon, Kadri, and others that will need new deals and not small deals before Pietrangelo is off the books - the point is 80% of the team's out there do not have the pocket book to hand out max signing bonuses - to a player that bonus is guaranteed money, a structured contract that pays 8 million each year is not guaranteed

100 percent, majority of teams are gate driven and suite sales. No fans for an extended period of time could cripple a lot of teams. The one saving grace is the NHL has a new television deal that could save everyone.

I'm not referring to teams being able to pay. That's why I dont expect teams like ARI, FLA, and even PIT to be in on him. However just about every Canadian market can afford to go in on him. Some of those teams can do it without completely butchering their depth like Toronto.

A **** ton of people on HF Boards think Colorado will go for him (I genuinely disagree with them because it's stupid).

In this economy? Good luck.

VGK can give him max term and they have an advantage with no state income tax.

closest AP will get to signing with Toronto is if Buffalo wants to throw bags of money at him.

Your reasoning is sound, but also plays against Toronto signing AP. Because money is scarce and teams can't afford to spend to the cap, who is Toronto going to move to make cap space? Teams won't want to trade picks (which translates into cheap contracts over next few years) and with the cap not going up, teams will want to trade dollar for dollar on the cap. Realistically Toronto still needs to free up 9 - 10 million of cap to sign AP and replacements for bodies moving out. What team or combination of teams will eat 10 million in cap space?

There running out of cap space - totally believe Vegas can get him, but they have alot to move if they intend to sign both AP and Lehner

Kerfoot 3.5 AAV 2.6 salary
Johnsson same as Kerfoot
Nylander same story
Marner same story

All of TO contracts that they signed are owed significantly less than the AAV cap hit

More like 6 million but then if my reasoning is sound, how does Johnsson, who's salary is less than his cap hit, or Andersen who is owed only 1 million won't be attractive to budget teams? Can you find someone better than Johnsson right now? Probably. Can you find someone like him for less than 3 million? Unlikely, unless it's an FA who really gets pinched in this market but even then, I am not sure you can get a 40 point fast depth forward for less than 3 million. Or move assets. Same with Andersen, Arizona is legit telling players their checks are in the mail, the look like cutting costs will he everything. Andersen would be a above average starting goalie on a bargain contract for next year. I just think most people are completely underestimating what this economic situation is going to do to the off season. Some teams are going to get hurt bad, others may be able to take advantage while most I think will do not much apart from small moves here and there.

Specifically to TO's situation, I would he patient. I'd offer Pietrangelo something we can live with but not go over the top, let someone else do that. Maybe not even offer more than 2 years term and just wait. If the market stagnates we may be able to then pursue Tanev for a short term stop gap and hope the younger guys take steps. It would allow us to keep depth up front and improve our top 4.