Sportsnet: Leafs have 18.45 million in cap room this offseason

[rent free]

Without JVRs 36 goals?

Yup.

 

[Rorschach]

Leafs need to target a top pair dman, not a first line center.

 

[Mr Positive]

seems like they should do what people were saying the Canucks were planning. Just give league max to Carlson for one year, and then later on re-sign him to a reasonable deal.

 

[Dragao6]

Ive said it before....u go for whatever star comes up first as nothing is guaranteed. If we can sign JT we do it as big D next season is not guaranteed. Tell you one thing though adding JT to thia team would increase chances of a top D wanting to come here.

id love JT and doughty but doubt either happen but realistically i would go tavares then OEL as his contract is more reasonable.

Trade gardiner for a rhd...marleau horton will be gone by then

Gardiner for trouba??? Winnipegs situation will also be very onteresting in next 2 years

 

[Man Bear Pig]

They should offer Thornton 1 year 10m

If the space is there, why not? Its not my money.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

If the space is there, why not? Its not my money.

And we get the comfort of knowing that beard has finally been shaven clean.

I often imagine that thing on my face (not really actually) and how wonderful it would be to sheer it right off.

Ahhhh my face can breathe again and I look so young!

But yeah Thornton is a really interesting idea for a one year deal.

I'm not on the Tavares train though. He's great, but he's not double digits great at this stage of his career which is probably his prime for only a few more years and he'll get a max term contract.

I hope the Leafs continue to be patient and smart about the future personally, and I think they will.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

And we get the comfort of knowing that beard has finally been shaven clean.

I often imagine that thing on my face (not really actually) and how wonderful it would be to sheer it right off.

Ahhhh my face can breathe again and I look so young!

But yeah Thornton is a really interesting idea for a one year deal.

I'm not on the Tavares train though. He's great, but he's not double digits great at this stage of his career which is probably his prime for only a few more years and he'll get a max term contract.

I hope the Leafs continue to be patient and smart about the future personally, and I think they will.

I'm also not buying in on Tavares. His cap hit will be that of a top ten player, which I dont think he is.

 

[Boutette]

It laughable that people here only think the Cap is only used most effectively in vastly overpaying UFAs. There's a hell of a lot more things it can be used to improve the franchise.

 

[Ori]

Not including RFAs of course, specifically Nylander who will likely cost at least 4 million+, but could they make a move since the cap hell is coming in 2019-20?

They need the cap. though for future.

 

[MyBudJT]

Thornton, Rick Nash, Spezza, Vanek, Filppula, Kunitz, Jack Johnson, Green, Hamhuis, Cole, Sbisa, Beagle, Brodziak, Re-signing Plekanec and/or Komarov, Trade for Orpik + to alleviate money for Washington to fit Carlson. All of these players make sense on a healthy one year deal.

Carlson or Tavares aren't going to sign for less than 7-8 years. The Leafs will still be interested , but they're not going to sign for a 1 year deal with a handshake agreement it's too risky. I can also see them targeting Kovalchuk, but I don't see him accepting a one year term either.

What would Washington offer for us taking Orpik?

 

[MyBudJT]

Why would Matthews sign for 10 and Marner for 6.5 if they progress like they have?

Marner should get a bit more, but market value for Matthews should be about 10 million. People are quick to point out Eichel's contract, but just becasue Eichel is overpaid doesnt' mean the Leafs need to overpay Matthews.

 

[jaric1862]

Leafs need to target a top pair dman, not a first line center.

Which top pair D is there realistically to target??

 

[varano]

They would need about 80% of that ear marked for the three RFA's.

I guess you could sign someone for one year but big name free agents look for security in UFA years.

 

[Walshy7]

Luckily only 1 RFA matters this off season , the other still have a year

but unless we sign a UFA to a 1 year contract then yes the other 2 RFA's will matter. Sign all 3 this off season and have their costs built in before you go UFA hunting. If we know fir a fact Matthews will cost $11M next season that will help us decide whether we can afford a tavares for example. Lets say we sign Tavares for $11M and assume matthews will take the same, next season he scores 45 goals 90 points (very possible) im not sure $11M is possible anymore. Matthews, Nylander and marner are far more important locked up than any UFA would ever be

 

[ToneDog]

Leafs need to target a top pair dman, not a first line center.

Who doesn't need a second #1C ?? You don't pass on Tavares unless you acquire a top pair dman first and even then only if you can't make the cap work. Otherwise you sign Tavares and fill in remaining needs before the next season starts.

 

[ToneDog]

Which top pair D is there realistically to target??

And what will he cost you in a trade unless it Carlson via UFA?

 

[ToneDog]

It laughable that people here only think the Cap is only used most effectively in vastly overpaying UFAs. There's a hell of a lot more things it can be used to improve the franchise.

Who is using the cap to overpay UFAs and how do you suggest Leafs use it more effectively ?

 

[BLNY]

nylander + tavares contracts

ONE year window. With Marner, Matthews, Nylander and the need to fill out a defensive unit for 19-20, signing Tavares isn't realistic in my opinion.

 

[ToneDog]

I'm also not buying in on Tavares. His cap hit will be that of a top ten player, which I dont think he is.

JT may not be top 10 but he sure is top 20 and worth what the Leafs would pay him. We are within striking distance of winning the Cup and you strike when the iron is hot. I recall Babs saying that they were not in a position to go after a big fish a couple of years ago. Well things have changed since and they are now.

 

[3rdLiner]

JT may not be top 10 but he sure is top 20 and worth what the Leafs would pay him. We are within striking distance of winning the Cup and you strike when the iron is hot. I recall Babs saying that they were not in a position to go after a big fish a couple of years ago. Well things have changed since and they are now.

JT is going to be a big time deal. I dont know if you can afford JT and both of Marner/Nylander, JT is probably earmarked at 10M to start.

 

[ToneDog]

JT is going to be a big time deal. I dont know if you can afford JT and both of Marner/Nylander, JT is probably earmarked at 10M to start.

There is cap room for JT at $10m and if there isn't you make it work IMO.

 

[Critical13]

JT will sign in NY again anyways.

 

[LeafFever]

Before any Leafs fan says it, John Carlson is returning.

Who says Leaf fans want him?

 

[Erndog]

Without JVRs 36 goals?

Preds managed alright this year without James Neal and his 25-30 goals.

 

[Advanced stats]

I'm not saying the Leafs will sign Tavares but to suggest that the Leafs cannot sign him long term is not really accurate. The answer is it depends on a lot of factors.

1) What $ value can the Leafs get the big three signed and are they willing to accept a little bit less if they signed Tavares?
2) If Tavares decides to move from NYI, will he be willing to accept a little bit less to increase his chances at a cup?
3) What will the cap be in 19-20? The suggestion is that the cap will be 80 next year and 82 the following year.
4) Where do the Leafs want to spend their $? D? Tavares? Other?

Here is an example of a roster that includes Tavares and the big 3 in 19-20. There are a lot of assumptions in this but I don't think it is out of the question. I don't believe this will happen but it's not completely out of the question. The example below assumes Marleau stays in his last year of his deal.

Free Agent Signings

UFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Gardiner, Jake	5	$6,000,000
Tavares, John	6	$10,000,000

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

RFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Aaltonen, Miro	2	$800,000
Borgman, Andreas	2	$900,000
Carrick, Connor	2	$750,000
Johnsson, Andreas	2	$1,000,000
Kapanen, Kasperi	2	$1,250,000
Marner, Mitchell	7	$7,000,000
Matthews, Auston	8	$10,000,000
Nylander, William	8	$6,500,000
Sparks, Garret	2	$850,000

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Trades (After the Leafs give the 19-20 signing bonus of $1M making his salary 1,5M for that year)

TOR

1. 2020 7th round pick (ARI)

ARI

1. Martin, M.
2. 2020 7th round pick (TOR)

Buyouts

• Mikhail Grabovski: $0

Retained Salary Transactions

• Phil Kessel: $1,200,000 (%15)

LTIR

• Nathan Horton was placed on LTIR for an assumed full cap relief of $5,300,000

Draft Picks

DRAFT YEAR	ROUND 1	ROUND 2	ROUND 3	ROUND 4	ROUND 5	ROUND 6	ROUND 7
2020
2021
2022

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

ROSTER

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
23	$82,000,000	$80,024,166	$602,500	$1,975,834

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Hyman, Zach $2,250,000 LW NTC UFA - 2	Matthews, Auston $10,000,000 C RFA	Nylander, William $6,500,000 RW, C RFA
Marleau, Patrick $6,250,000 LW, C NMC UFA - 1	Tavares, John $10,000,000 C UFA	Brown, Connor $2,100,000 RW RFA - 1
Johnsson, Andreas $1,000,000 LW RFA	Kadri, Nazem $4,500,000 C NTC UFA - 3	Marner, Mitchell $7,000,000 RW RFA
Grundström, Carl $925,000 LW RFA - 1	Aaltonen, Miro $800,000 C, LW, RW RFA	Kapanen, Kasperi $1,250,000 RW RFA
Marchment, Mason $767,500 LW RFA - 1		Timashov, Dmytro $693,333 LW RFA - 1

[THEAD] [/THEAD]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Rielly, Morgan $5,000,000 D UFA - 3	Zaitsev, Nikita $4,500,000 D NTC UFA - 5	Andersen, Frederik $5,000,000 NTC UFA - 2
Dermott, Travis $863,333 D RFA - 1	Gardiner, Jake $6,000,000 D UFA	Sparks, Garret $850,000 RFA
Borgman, Andreas $900,000 D RFA	Carrick, Connor $750,000 D RFA
Liljegren, Timothy $925,000 D RFA - 1

[THEAD] [/THEAD]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Quoted for truth. This guy knows.

It's not to say we're signing Tavares, but it could all easily work.

This fellow also has 2m to spare to shore up the bottom pairing, 4c or backup goalie.

If tavares wants to play in toronto badly enough, he'll be here.