FA/Trade Thread 14-15 Season V.22, 1 Days to TDD, Anything is possible.

[SprDaVE]

Simmons actually explained that tweet on TSN Drive last night, if one listens to his explanation. It is more cloudy than a sure thing. He was just speculating based on information he was told.

Here is what he Simmons said about his tweet.

http://www.tsn.ca/radio/tsn-drive-with-dave-naylor-hour-2-1.217134

It's pretty well known Hunter is a big supporter of Kadri. Management loves Kadri. He'll be here for awhile it looks like. Not untouchable but likely given another year or two as the 'top' center instead of Bozak. Good way to really gauge his value.

 

[pspot]

Cox is just saying they can use that space when needed to sign a few good players like the Isles did. In other words, the cap space isn't useless or something like that.

or is he suggesting that the are one or two players away from being a playoff team

which is exactly what they thought last off season before they signed all the guys they've just gotten rid of with the same core that is still here today

we've seen this story before which is why i'm anxiously awaiting the next move

 

[p.l.f.]

How does he feel about JVR or Gardiner ?

 

[Leaf Army]

Cox knows better then to suggest that the cap space will be used to add another big salary.

He does? Isn't Cox the one who campaigned pretty hard for us to throw a gigantic contract at Bryzgalov four or five years ago?

Actually though I'm all for using the cap space on another big salary. But it better be on a player a lot better than Nick Leddy.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Phaneuff...

The trade allows us to eat some of Phaneuff's salary for trade. Teams will look at Phaneuff at $5.5M/yr, some maybe even value him at $6M per yer?

Nonnis may have to move Phaneuff and Bozak to slow down any late season surge.

 

[Swayze*]

How does he feel about JVR or Gardiner ?

trade gards if at all possible

 

[nuck]

This is PURE speculation. But if the Leafs are intent on moving out more high priced contracts (Lupul, Bozak, Dion, Phil), then the cap savings they are getting from Horton is negligible. Now, we all know that we're looking for picks and prospects. But could a team currently in cap hell (LA, Boston, just as an example) be willing to move some serviceable players to the Leafs in return for Horton's cap relief? Perhaps a couple of shorter term deals that add up to 4 or 5 mil?

Hortons cap relief is only useful if you have a similar disaster contact to unload. If you already have servicable players on short term deals then you keep them yourself or trade them for minimal return and dont eat that huge salary coming back. Thats why the Jackets made the deal. They had no other option. Horton is a $5m tax with zero return. He only has value if you are unloading something very bad and can afford to flush $30m for the uninsured ir. Clarkson was unmovable without retaining salary but Horton is just unmovable.

 

[JCole]

The trade allows us to eat some of Phaneuff's salary for trade. Teams will look at Phaneuff at $5.5M/yr, some maybe even value him at $6M per yer?

Nonnis may have to move Phaneuff and Bozak to slow down any late season surge.

A fan of the double consonant?

 

[Kurisu]

We got out of a bad contract and we want to spend that money on something else. Geesh, just stay away and save the cap space.

 

[Kurisu]

The trade allows us to eat some of Phaneuff's salary for trade. Teams will look at Phaneuff at $5.5M/yr, some maybe even value him at $6M per yer?

Nonnis may have to move Phaneuff and Bozak to slow down any late season surge.

Why would the Leafs want to have his cap hit for 6 years. I'm sure the Leafs would rather take another team's contract with shorter term than absorb Phaneuf's cap hit.

 

[Sonny21]

We got out of a bad contract and we want to spend that money on something else. Geesh, just stay away and save the cap space.

It's amazing

 

[Daisy Jane]

It's amazing

lol it's crazy.

we can save the capspace. (weird concept I know)

 

[Reddaye]

I don't think they should be in any hurry to fill every dollar of cap space they have. If the plan is to "rebuild" or "retool" then use the money to bring in players like Santorelli and Winnik who are quality players. Put them on cheap, one year try out deals and flip them at the deadline for assets. Some of them you could sign again if they fit what the team is looking to build. Daniel Winnik said himself that playing in Toronto made him a more valuable player. There will be players interested.

Looking ahead you need to remember that Rielly will eventually come up for extension. What if he explodes and becomes a dynamite player? If we have the cap space there's no need for bridge deals, you can offer him a solid contract and lock him up.

Save the bulk of the cap space for young assets that will become core pieces in four-five years time. Your #1C, your #1Dman, your #2Dman, goalie, etc. Identify where the money can best be spent, and lock up your young core assets.

No need to just piss it all away trying to plug holes. That hasn't worked for us in the past. It's time to get smart and utilize cap space intelligently.

 

[I Believe]

Not being cap maxed is a good thing. We don't have to be right at the cap every single year.

Getting rid of Clarkson is like finding an unexpected $50 in your pocket. It's nice, but shouldn't change our overall plan.

 

[Oskar The Groucho]

What people dont understand is that we need to be close to the cap for Horton LITR to be utilized

 

[ACC1224]

We got out of a bad contract and we want to spend that money on something else. Geesh, just stay away and save the cap space.

They'll need it for Stamkos in 2 years, all part of the plan.

 

[Sonny21]

What people dont understand is that we need to be close to the cap for Horton LITR to be utilized

Why does it matter if his LTIR is utilized or not if we don't need the cap space?

That's just silly, to spend to cap just to save cap space?

 

[Jack Bauer]

What people dont understand is that we need to be close to the cap for Horton LITR to be utilized

People understand that it's just not very relevant. Whether it's $5.3 counting towards a non-cap team or allowing us to get to the cap as a $5.3 mil exemption it's still better then deploying Clarkson for that cap space.

People have complained for a decade about us being in 'cap hell' and yesterday we got rid of that label.

 

[ACC1224]

What people dont understand is that we need to be close to the cap for Horton LITR to be utilized

I don't understand. What difference does it make?

 

[Vexed]

Spending to the cap or not for us doesn't really matter. Its contract terms that are essential to keep low over the next little bit

 

[Vexed]

I don't understand. What difference does it make?

It only really matters in the context that his contract can help us near the cap or can help us hit the floor if we really go on a salary purge. It doesn't really matter in any other sense

 

[Kurisu]

If the Leafs have to spend the cap space, overpay a free agent but keep the term short. (2 years).

 

[613Leafer]

What people dont understand is that we need to be close to the cap for Horton LITR to be utilized

Clarkson has 5 more years on his deal after this one. I suspect that we'll be spending within 5.25M of the cap within 18-24 months, and definitely before those 5 years are up.

We can retain salary on guys like Lupul/Phaneuf to maximize trade returns, and then we may need to overpay secondary players (though on shorter deals and not overpaid by as much as Clarkson) in order to bring in a half decent veteran presence during a rebuild.

Florida for example had Bergenheim, Upshall, Fleishmann, Jovanoski, Kopecky, etc signed in free agency, all slightly overpaid, but none on 5+ year deals. They also acquired some very solid players on bad contracts such as Campbell/Luongo to help them through a rebuild.

The Leafs aren't a low budget team, we can afford to spend near the cap during a rebuild. We just need to make sure we're avoiding the ridiculously risky 5-7 year 5M+ types of contracts for secondary players, and aim more for the 2-4 year ones at lower caphits.

 

[Budsfan]

Maple Leafs Monetary Might Used To Clear Clarkson Contract; Rumor Update

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Mike...lear-Clarkson-Contract-Rumor-Update/120/66762

TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Blue Jackets were looking to make the swap as part of a larger trade that included a young defensive prospect playing with the AHL Toronto Marlies, but that Leafs GM Dave Nonis and Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen finally agreed on the 1-for-1 swap on Thursday afternoon.

 

[Vexed]

Clarkson has 5 more years on his deal after this one. I suspect that we'll be spending within 5.25M of the cap within 18-24 months, and definitely before those 5 years are up.

We can retain salary on guys like Lupul/Phaneuf to maximize trade returns, and then we may need to overpay secondary players (though on shorter deals and not overpaid by as much as Clarkson) in order to bring in a half decent veteran presence during a rebuild.

Florida for example had Bergenheim, Upshall, Fleishmann, Jovanoski, Kopecky, etc signed in free agency, all slightly overpaid, but none on 5+ year deals. They also acquired some very solid players on bad contracts such as Campbell/Luongo to help them through a rebuild.

The Leafs aren't a low budget team, we can afford to spend near the cap during a rebuild. We just need to make sure we're avoiding the ridiculously risky 5-7 year 5M+ types of contracts for secondary players, and aim more for the 2-4 year ones at lower caphits.

This. Not utilizing the cap we can spend to is bad management. Every argument I've heard against it is more of a fear of term and not dollars themselves