Exactly what I said in my original comment. Teams like the Pens and the Blackhawks have gotten a much bigger bang for their bucks than teams like the leafs or Rangers. I'm just saying a few teams have managed to get a lot of talent under good contracts and some teams have a lot of average guys on bad contracts. Like I said it all depends on if you spend your money wisely or foolishly.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2013/14 Season
- Thread starter Ironhead
- Start date
Teams like like Washington and Pittsburg are better teams, Kessel on those team would be better. Without Kessel the Leafs would be much worse, so he is doing his job, leading his team in the offensive and that's what he's getting paid to do. $8 million vs $12 million is a big jump.
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They apparently don't think so and that is what really counts.
It often the intangibles that make the difference. How many points dod other members get because he draws the opponent best to him. that's mot on any stat sheet.Te top five front lone player are locked in for five years+ and that's not a bad thing,
No it's not a bad thing as long as you save enough cap space to fill out the rest of your squad. For example the Hawks have done a great job at getting several very talented guys like Kane, Sharp, Toews, Keith all signed to club friendly contracts and still have money to put together a strong supporting cast that's why teams like the Hawks, Pens, Kings are successful year after year they spend their cap money better than the rest of the league. Which was my original point.
The Leafs are not the Penguins or Black Hawks. They did not try to finish last(although high-insight says maybe they should have tanked some years).
Some contracts do not look good today, this season, but as the Cap goes up and certain players come off the Leafs payroll they will have more money to spend on FAs.
The NHL needs a couple new rules on drafts.
1. No team will be allowed two number one picks in a row(consecutive seasons) via the lottery.
2. No team can pick top five three years in a row via the lottery.
There needs to be some kind of motivation to improve via other means other then waiting for the draft homerun.
When was the last time the NYI or Nashville or Edmonton, etc were a legit threat ?
For those TERB members who would say 'what about the Leafs ?' I answer the Leafs have not been idly trying to finish last nor have they got that many lottery picks over the past few years.
Some contracts do not look good today, this season, but as the Cap goes up and certain players come off the Leafs payroll they will have more money to spend on FAs.
The NHL needs a couple new rules on drafts.
1. No team will be allowed two number one picks in a row(consecutive seasons) via the lottery.
2. No team can pick top five three years in a row via the lottery.
There needs to be some kind of motivation to improve via other means other then waiting for the draft homerun.
When was the last time the NYI or Nashville or Edmonton, etc were a legit threat ?
For those TERB members who would say 'what about the Leafs ?' I answer the Leafs have not been idly trying to finish last nor have they got that many lottery picks over the past few years.
Yes, the cap is going to go up over the next few years but so will players asking prices. Going to be interesting for the Leafs over the next couple of years, guys like Kadri, Bernier and a few others will be FA's and need to be re signed not to mention Phaneuf. I would thing a lot of the guys the leafs want to keep will probably be seeking large pay increases.
You mentioned Clarkson as an example of an overpaid player, my response was maybe as early as next season it may not look so bad.
With a 70 mil Salary Cap next season, at the least, even signing Phaneuf for 6.5 - 7 mil does not sound as bad as it did. I would prefer a lesser $ amount.
Kadri, Bernier both have one more season.
Kadri I think they will be able to get him at a reasonable rate.
Bernier is the one the Leafs may have to open the vault for. I would not mind that as long as it is reasonable.
Bolland also has to be resigned, or replaced by this summer.
TSN reporting Phaneuf and Leafs very close to agreeing on a 7 year $49 million extension.
Don't think he is worth that but where are you going to find a replacement that is affordable? I would rather see a shorter term but you gotta get the deal done.
Boland does need to be resigned this team needs his leadership.
I like Phaneuf. I think he got a bad rap(no fault of his own) and has been overused a bit which enforced that belief that is out there that he is not good, but I am also not delusional in that if the Leafs could get Shea Weber and only have one of them .... bye Dion.
I agree that Phaneuf is much more effective when playing under 17 min which is why I don't think he is worth what he will get. Having said that, who else do you have that can log the heavy minutes effectively?
Unless you can pick up a Weber(not likely), you gotta make sure you keep him.
You know what guys and gals, I actually like how the Leafs are playing lately.
Okay, okay, they are not exactly winning, but they are not exactly losing either.
They are in every game, every night.
They are being consistent, for crying out loud. Aren't you a little surprised? I'm a little surprised. Before they would play well, this group, then have off games, then rebound. Lately, just an even effort.
I kind of like Kadri's game more. He's still learning, but he seems to be able to make a couple of good defensive plays in a game. He still does a bad defensive play, but that is something to learn.
The key to the recent consistency seems to stem from the defense playing better. Franson has picked up his game. Ranger, he's finally using body and taking people out. He's not killing anyone out there, but just get in the way take the body, a bump along the boards.
The next game will be the outdoor game, and that will be a strange game because of the extreme cold. Bernie probably get the start again.
Okay, okay, they are not exactly winning, but they are not exactly losing either.
They are in every game, every night.
They are being consistent, for crying out loud. Aren't you a little surprised? I'm a little surprised. Before they would play well, this group, then have off games, then rebound. Lately, just an even effort.
I kind of like Kadri's game more. He's still learning, but he seems to be able to make a couple of good defensive plays in a game. He still does a bad defensive play, but that is something to learn.
The key to the recent consistency seems to stem from the defense playing better. Franson has picked up his game. Ranger, he's finally using body and taking people out. He's not killing anyone out there, but just get in the way take the body, a bump along the boards.
The next game will be the outdoor game, and that will be a strange game because of the extreme cold. Bernie probably get the start again.
I find they play with a lot more confidence when Bozak is around. You can see this on Kessel a lot. I don't know, maybe he's the real captain. But when he's around they play with more confidence. Franson has been solid. Ranger has been not disastrous. Lupul is always dangerous. It's just a matter of keeping their confidence up When Bolland returns watch out. But Coach fucks things up. Holland on 4th. line? Are you kidding me.
Phaneuf is easily top three defense men in the league. Problem is he plays in Toronto. Every mistake is magnified x10000000.
He ain't going anywhere. The money he wants seems a lot under this season's cap but 2-3 years from now he will be underpaid. He will be a Leaf for a log time. I think he would play better without the C.
