Confirmed Signing with Link: [CAR] Justin Williams signs with the Hurricanes (1 year, $700K + $1.3M in possible bonuses)

[Ledge And Dairy]

Like LeBrun, I the no Carolina has the inside track, but I am also happy the Leafs are one of a few teams bidding for his services. The Leafs cap hell is something made up on the boards. The Leafs are like a number of teams up against the cap, and have navigated the cap proficiently.

Its not made up you just dont understand it. Yes there are many many teams right up against the cap ceiling. Yes many of those teams including Washington, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Calgary (until recent), Vegas, Arizona, Boston, Philly, Carolina, and a couple others have has to mirco manage their way around injuries and cap space this year. However, Toronto's is clearly the worst, every other team is able to run a 22-23 man roster and stay under the cap when their LTIR players come back from injury (im am not including LTIR players that are out indefinitely). When fully healthy, Toronto is only able to ice a 21 man roster and with 10 players making less than 1M. Thats nearly half the roster. The Leafs have been fortunately unfortunate this year where they almost always have at least 1 core player making above league minimum on LTIR and were able to have a 22 man roster however if the plan is to upgrade or add something has to be moved.
Lets say the Leafs get a fully healthy roater on and go on a 3+ game road trip in like California. If someone gets injured in the first game, then someone is say suspended in the 2nd game keefe has to ice a 19 man roster in the 3rd game. You see the issue?

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Offer him a one year, one way 1 mil deal and if he says no tell him to get f***ed

 

[garyturner3]

I'm not sure why people think this is all that unreasonable. Any time you have the chance for a free asset you should explore it. It's well known the Leafs probably need to trade one of their forwards next year to make room for a d-man so if they have the chance to sign Williams for cheap now, they could flip a guy like Johnsson to make it happen and be in a better cap position to possibly bring in some defensive help at the deadline.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

A d-core with Rielly, Muzzin and Barrie should be enough for the playoffs imo, especially with Toronto's fire power up front. It's a matter of whether or not they execute.

You saw last night that if the idea is to outscore your opponents there are teams significantly better at it. Of the defense you listed only 1 of them is actually reliable in your own zone. Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh (when healthy), Colorado, St. Louis, Winnipeg, Vegas Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton can all keep up in a scoring race. Then there is teams like Carolina, Arizona, and New York (Islanders) that will completely shut down your offense and have enough of their own to score 2-3 goals and win.

 

[spockBokk]

Will just leave this here:

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

You saw last night that if the idea is to outscore your opponents there are teams significantly better at it. Of the defense you listed only 1 of them is actually reliable in your own zone. Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh (when healthy), Colorado, St. Louis, Winnipeg, Vegas Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton can all keep up in a scoring race. Then there is teams like Carolina, Arizona, and New York (Islanders) that will completely shut down your offense and have enough of their own to score 2-3 goals and win.

Significantly? Winning once in like 10 tries doesn't seem "significant"? Blind squirrels still find nuts.

I think there's only one team with better scoring and maybe 5 with better differential and you just listed half the league. Yes, any team can win on any night but your statement seems a touch hyperbolic.

 

[cupcrazyman]

There is no fine, a team cannot ever go above the salary cap. This isnt baseball or basketball. If a team were to sign a contract that wpuld put them above the cap then the league would deem it not legal and veto the contract. If players come off IR (which they must as soon as the league announces them clear for play) and that puts the team over the cap the team is forced to play with a shortened bench (hense Toronto's 21 man roster for nwarly the entire year).

Has this rule been in place since the start of the salary cap ?

 

[cupcrazyman]

It's interesting they'd throw their hat in the ring but reality is, I don't see him signing with the Leafs.

We need help on the blueline, not up front.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Feel Carolina is the overall best fit for him, had it good there.

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[spockBokk]

And there it is:

 

[Morbo]

So? You don't sign a guy to a full-year contract to replace a guy out with an injury.

It's a concussion.

 

[Dustin]

You saw last night that if the idea is to outscore your opponents there are teams significantly better at it. Of the defense you listed only 1 of them is actually reliable in your own zone. Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh (when healthy), Colorado, St. Louis, Winnipeg, Vegas Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton can all keep up in a scoring race. Then there is teams like Carolina, Arizona, and New York (Islanders) that will completely shut down your offense and have enough of their own to score 2-3 goals and win.

If we are going to use one game to prove a point is there really any point to prove? Toronto's differential on the year is 19 which is tied for 6th best in the league and that is with the absolute horrible start they had. Edmonton is -6 and is a lot closer to the bottom then the top. While it remains to be seen if this Leafs team can make the playoffs and if so do damage, suggesting that the Oilers are suddenly better at out scoring your opponent couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

So? You don't sign a guy to a full-year contract to replace a guy out with an injury.

You do if he is an upgrade and as much as I love Moore and I do he is a good player but Williams is a much, much better player even at his age

 

[Empoleon8771]

He's signing in Carolina

 

[MMC]

 

[Syckle78]

I was just thinking earlier toronto would be a good fit while I was reading the other Williams thread.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Its not made up you just dont understand it. Yes there are many many teams right up against the cap ceiling. Yes many of those teams including Washington, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Calgary (until recent), Vegas, Arizona, Boston, Philly, Carolina, and a couple others have has to mirco manage their way around injuries and cap space this year. However, Toronto's is clearly the worst, every other team is able to run a 22-23 man roster and stay under the cap when their LTIR players come back from injury (im am not including LTIR players that are out indefinitely). When fully healthy, Toronto is only able to ice a 21 man roster and with 10 players making less than 1M. Thats nearly half the roster. The Leafs have been fortunately unfortunate this year where they almost always have at least 1 core player making above league minimum on LTIR and were able to have a 22 man roster however if the plan is to upgrade or add something has to be moved.
Lets say the Leafs get a fully healthy roater on and go on a 3+ game road trip in like California. If someone gets injured in the first game, then someone is say suspended in the 2nd game keefe has to ice a 19 man roster in the 3rd game. You see the issue?

No, you don't understand. Certainly, we are up against the cap. We are prepared for any trouble with icing players. The Leafs can use the emergency roster recall to their advantage in the case of contingencies that you mentioned. Toronto will use the CBA to it's advantage. That is why they signed all those players to deals under 800,000. That is being up against the cap like other teams, but certainly no hell that they can't get out of.

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[cyris]

I think Carolina was the obvious choice here.
His family is there, it’s where he most recently played so he has an understanding of the systems they play. And he has even won a cup there.

But that said why would anyone be confused as to why Toronto would make an offer for him. It wouldn’t have cost them any assets and it would have gave them more depth to try to trade a winger for a Dman.

 

[NextYear67]

He's washed up anyway, glad Leafs didn't "get" him

 

[coopooter]

Can he play goalie?

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He's washed up anyway, glad Leafs didn't "get" him

Lmao

 

[cyris]

Lmao

Those grapes were probably sour anyway.....

 

[thekernel]

Washington adding Williams would scare me. Not high on that team, but I could see them rallying around that.

Wut

Washington is like one of two teams that actually look like contenders this year

A half-retired Williams actually doesn't make them any better