This is also easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but in July 2017 when Lou Lamoriello was still the Leafs GM, he failed at getting William Nylander to sign an extension since he was eligible to do that and 1 year away from being an RFA. If that happens who knows how things go for Dubas with Matthews and Marner contracts.
Yes true. But Lou probably assessed it as a bogus negotiation and just backed off given demands. TO is a tough market for Lou to works his magic. We can't blame da players as they all know TO is the NHL's money bank. No other team even comes close to da cash flow of our Leafs. So we will always have a difficult time in a CAP world. And every GM TO has ever had will tell you privately that it creates issues on almost every negotiation. Unless you are like a Ballard who frankly did not give a cr*p. He hoarded da cash himself. It is why we spend 110M+ in real cash with a 81.5M CAP. We have to do whatever we can do play on legal edges of CBA. Our Leafs could spend 200M on payroll and be fine. But of course no one else in league could. So this issue will always be with us.
Yes it would have been great had Lou Lam signed Nylander a year prior and not left it to Dubas to mess up which led to the other issues down the road. Signing Matthews before Marner is still the greatest error in that whole contract mess.
This was not an error. This was how it had to be done, to prevent Matthews from reaching offer-sheet eligibility.
What about the fact that Marner waited to negotiate his new contract after the 2018-19 season.
Yes, he didn't want to negotiate in season. He was willing to sign before the season started but Dubas declined the offer.
exactly. thats how u cripple a franchise. by givin those mid teir guys max money.
Look at what happened when Lou Lamoriello was the Leafs GM and gave Patrick Marleau 3 years with a $6.25 million AAV.
