I can see where you are coming from with your contract comparisons. We also don't need to go in depth about FLA taxes blah blah blah.

I don't think you can compare Point's 6.75 as an RFA with no leverage that was signed as a bridge at 23 years old to JT's 11 that was signed during this first crack at UFA status at 28 years old. His newer contract at 9.5 is more of a comparable in my opinion.

I'm not saying you're wrong AT ALL. But he did sign that $9.5M deal which is $1.5M less than JT's deal from years ago. The whole Taxes thing isn't False...it's just a bit over played in my mind. It's not like the Panthers/Predators/Stars/Knights/Kraken (but too soon to know) are getting these discounts. We bring up the tax situation just for the Lighting, and in my opinion it's A.) because they're a good team, but B.) They were able to get a 6x Norris Trophy candidate on a long term deal that is basically what Rielly signed for this upcoming year.

I'd argue that FLA did get a discount with Ekblad at 7.5, but that's really the only example I could come up with that has any relevance.

Does Hedman get that same contract that he has now if he's signing it this offseason (same time as Reilly's extension)? After seeing Point and Vas get 9.5? Maybe, maybe not. He's 4 years into his current contract right now, which obviously has incredible value. Reilly may not get the Norris nods, nor is he the same defender as Hedman, but at 7.5 he's a good bet.

It's all about timing. Hedman and Stamkos have been around forever and are only team friendly deals now. Were they team friendly at the time they were signed? Point was coming into his own when he signed his 6.75 deal and Vas was starting to become a monster while he was still being paid around 3. Combine that with your two cornerstone pieces being locked in already on good contracts and you've got yourself a contender with money to spend.

The taxes are massive. TOR players lose almost 50% to tax. That is insane.

But, that's not to say TML didn't "lose" the negotiations. They gave each player the exact length they wanted, and every penny available. -- Except Rielly-- TOR looks to have succeeded on that one.

Something to keep in mind too. EDM and McDavid set a new standard with first contracts after their ELC. I understand he's on a whole other level than the overwhelming majority of the league, but what young skilled player isn't thinking to themselves "why can't I get a higher pay day now rather than taking a bridge" after seeing McDavid do that?

I love Yzerman but he definitely took advantage of the Tampa no tax in keeping his core players locked up for cheaper AAVs. Also, Kyle Clifford and Joey Anderson are not NHL calibre players. I can't see Marchment getting 5 mil. 4 maybe. Jack might get 5 but not from Toronto. Oilers maybe.

I hear ya. I guess I just think Stamkos could have got more on the open market if he wanted to. Is the two years between Stamkos and Tavares really $2.5M per year? I get that Kuch and Point were RFA's, but so were Marner/Matthews/Nylander. Right? Kuch comes off a 100 point season as an RFA and signs a $9.5M contract WITH TERM. Marner comes off a 96 point season as an RFA and signs a $10.9M contract that walks him to UFA.

I can't speak to Canadian taxes truly at all, but the tax situation really isn't that big of a deal. Every player pays taxes in the state the game is played. So, yes for 41 games there's a difference, but there are a lot of twists/turns this goes. If taxes were THAT big of a deal...why would anyone play in Canada?

It's even worse in Montreal.

Yikes!

This made me laugh. LOL

https://www.tsn.ca/mason-marchment-florida-panthers-lower-body-injury-status-games-3-and-4-1.1802245

Not that Marchment is injured. I just wasn't aware Florida was still playing Washington.

Yup, you're absolutely right, AM/MM/WN were all RFAs at the time of their new contracts. I would say the term was fine with Marner and Nylander at 6 years, it isn't awful. Would I have liked 8? Of course, but it's really not that bad. In my opinion they are both earning every penny.

Matthews at 5 years wasn't the best decision. Dubas could and should have done better. There was rumors about the relationship between MM and AM with Babcock which drove the price up, but who knows if that is actually accurate. It was also up to Dubas to temper those expectations.

Yikes! again. They need him back.

Ha! I didn't even catch that!

I'm hopeful for TOR that these guys understand what Shanny was saying all those years ago...now. They've made their money. When it comes time to Extend...pull a Tom Brady. Take slightly less money a chance to win. I'm actually hoping Toews/Kane understand this too. But that's for another day!

It's interesting how Kane, Toews, Keith and Seabrook got their big paydays after they won 3 Cups. The Leafs core guys got paid before they won anything and they still haven't. Keith played most of his career on a bargain contract.

This is exactly what my hope would be. You've made your money, that's great I'm happy for you. Now take an 8 year deal at 9-9.5. You're not going to be in the poor house, and the team can spend the little extra elsewhere. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it will be a reality. Especially if Matthews continues to score 60.

Good chat, these types of conversations that don't involve slinging insults or what have you don't happen on here very often.

Keith also signed at a time when 13 year deals were accepted, which helps keep the AAV down. But we're splitting hairs at this point.

I always thought Keith should've fired his agent when he signed that deal. What a steal that contract was for Chicago.

Keith's deal is illegal now for a reason though, right? You bring up an excellent point though. From a pure Cap Perspective...would the Hawks have won 3 cups without those "illegal" contracts of Keith/Hossa. Hossa's $8M salary vs $5.25M cap hit. Keith's $8M vs $5.5M cap hit. All while Toews/Kane were making $6.3M.

Let's not forget Hossa's too!

It opened up a can of worms the NHL can't close now.i mean Tampa basically copied them with their cap shenanigans. Remember when Bettman nixed the 15 year Kovalchuk contract? Everyone tries to circumvent the cap now. Some are just better at it.

I'm still bitter Ken Holland lowballed Hossa so he could earmark 3 mil for Jiri Hudler. Tallon smartly signed Hossa's BFF Kopecky so he could get Hossa.

100% Kuch on LTIR too... I actually think teams are going to get even more obvious about it too. What's stopping CHI or DET (teams with cap, but still make money) from signing Campbel to a 2 year deal and trading him to TOR 50% retained...almost...immediately?

Interesting concept, although I'm sure there's a random clause somewhere that forbids it.

I don't think you're allowed to do that. For 1 calendar year maybe?