Dreger: JVR looking for 6x6 to stay with Leafs

[rent free]

Leafs should jump on this. With the cap going up, it's gonna be smart having a top-6 forward at 6x6.

 

[Nizdizzle]

If that's true, gotta think Leafs resign him. Probably the most underated Leaf. Good for 25-30 goals every year, and is a staple one of the best powerplays in the league. Sure, he has some defensive issues, but that's not what you pay him for.

Would definitely be happy to see JVR back at that price. Since he is looking for 6x6, wonder if Lou can haggle him down any and make it an absolute steal.

 

[ToneBone03]

I'd have no qualms giving JVR that contract. He's good for 25+ goals and is one of the best players in the league within five feet of the net. His hand-eye coordination is through the roof.

 

[wej20]

How many of those look like good deals ~2 years in? It's a risky age to give 6 year deals of top line money to a guy.

Leafs would be almost guaranteed to be overpaying JVR for ~3-4 years of the contract. Keep in mind the only thing he brings to the table is offence. He's quite bad defensively 5 on 5, doesn't play the PK, doesn't bring a punishing physical game, etc. So the likely decline of his offence in his early 30s is a big detriment to his value to a team.

If he doesn't bring a punishing physical game then that should help his longevity. I'd expect him to continue to put up 30 goals 60 points for the first four years of that deal, and by the time of the final 2 years the cap will probably have gone up considerably.

 

[tony d]

Might be a bit much given the players Toronto got to sign. 5 yrs. at 5 million is what I'd give him if I was Toronto.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I think the ask is fair, but i worry how will JvR look past his 30's. He's not exactly a speedster out there and sometimes when i watch the Leafs play some nights he looks ineffective 5 on 5.

Guy is still one of the best in deflections and stuff like that, but if he regresses his ice time might drop down considerably because there's always someone who can do a better job 5 on 5. He's not exactly the type of player you want in your bottom 6 in a defensive role, so his play has to be at a top 6 level. Otherwise you're looking at just a net front specialist.

But yeah depends on how the Leafs cap situation looks moving forward. If they have plenty of space then i'd say go for it. If the JvR deal is bringing them right up there, then i'd look elsewhere.

 

[Starat327]

Seems like an extremely fair (if not borderline team-friendly) contract for what JVR does. Ultimately it'll depend on how well he holds up at the tail end of the deal, but based off performance and short-term expected - definitely a decent deal, if that really is the ask.

 

[Advanced stats]

If that's his opening ask, I can see them meeting at 6 years, 5.25 million or something. It's definitely workable, and Toronto would be stupid not to try and make it work.
JVR has been clutch for us this year and really developed.

Keep JVR, move on from Bozak and Komarov.

 

[Luck 6]

Yup, it really doesn't seem unreasonable whatsoever. But still, I wonder if the Leafs should walk from this or at least tried to secure him at less term. This takes him to 35 years old, there's no doubt he'll be a bit of an anchor at that age towards the end of the contract. At that time their young core will be in their prime years trying to compete for a cup, would they prefer to invest that money either on slightly younger UFA forwards, the blue line, etc. I'd probably rather give him 3 years at 7mil or something like that to be honest, or 4 years at 6.5mil (less of course if possible, but comparative to the asking price).

 

[SeidoN]

money sounds fine for like 4 years. not sure id pay that for 6.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

that has to be doable that is extremely reasonable

 

[justafan22]

I don't like the 6 years, but the cap hit is fine for his production.

I would rather go 4 x 7 or 5 x 6-6.5 than 6 x 6.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Ryan Callahan 6 x 5.8
Brandon Dubinsky 6 x 5.85
Kyle Okposo 7 x 6
Milan Lucic 7 x 6
Loui Eriksson 6 x 6

Doesn't sound like too high of a number in comparison.

except that he is better than every player you listed so it's kind of a bargain

 

[Oddbob]

6x6 is perfectly fair for JVR in my opinion. We just paid Tatar 5.3X5 and he scores less, nothing special on defense and has no physicality to speak of.

 

[Morgs]

I'd love that, and I've always wanted to bring JVR back on a long-term deal. If this is real, it's less than I thought it would cost.

It just scares me thinking about the 2019-20 season when Marleau/Martin are making 8.75M combined, Gardiner is a UFA, Willy is two years into a new contract, and Marner/Matthews are just starting theirs. Of course this is assuming we haven't traded/signed new expensive players.

 

[Trapper]

Before you sign JVR you need to consider the following:
1. Marleau 2 more years at 6.25
2. Contracts to Matthews/Marner/Nylander
3. UFA D crop in 2019
4. If the Leafs sign JVR and maybe even Komarov, where do players like Leivo/Kapanen/Johnsson/Grundstrom fit. For some waiver exempt is running out.
5. If you sign JVR, does it include a no trade clause? Partial?
6. Will you have to protect him over another player in the event of Seattle? expansion?
7. Gardiner UFA the following year.

These things are important.

 

[93gilmour93]

More then fair for JVR

 

[Fogelhund]

Four or five year term, a dollar value that starts with a 5, without a restrictive NMC/NTC...and you'd have to do it. It isn't a bad starting ask.

 

[shortfuze]

Before you sign JVR you need to consider the following:
1. Marleau 2 more years at 6.25
2. Contracts to Matthews/Marner/Nylander
3. UFA D crop in 2019
4. If the Leafs sign JVR and maybe even Komarov, where do players like Leivo/Kapanen/Johnsson/Grundstrom fit. For some waiver exempt is running out.
5. If you sign JVR, does it include a no trade clause? Partial?
6. Will you have to protect him over another player in the event of Seattle? expansion?
7. Gardiner UFA the following year.

These things are important.

understandable on all that. I think the best solution is to sign him now. If you have to move him down the road you do it. It’s good to keep him (they could obviously use him) and use him as a trade chip down the road.

 

[Trapper]

understandable on all that. I think the best solution is to sign him now. If you have to move him down the road you do it. It’s good to keep him (they could obviously use him) and use him as a trade chip down the road.

It's much better than letting him walk for nothing.
My main concern then becomes the ability to move him to another team if the need arises.
6 x 6 is good if there is an out.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

For a player who isn't fantastic on the back check or the fore-check (Has many flaws to his game in general) and for someone who scores by deflections and rebounds in front of the net, I don't think he will get that much money or that length of a contract. It seems like whenever a player states he wants to stay he ends up getting traded/dealt elsewhere. I feel he wont be in the long term plans, along with Bozak, Komarov and gardiner.

 

[Hunter368]

6x6 is a fair deal compared to the market, real important to the Leafs is keeping no trade restrictions off the contract if they sign him. So they can trade him at a later date if required

 

[garyturner3]

If this is true, I'm very surprised he's not asking for more as a starting point. He must really want to stay in TO. 6x6 should not be considered an overpayment in anybody's books for a player like JVR. He'd easily get at least that on the open market. Still, I don't think I'd want to lock him into that contract given that most players are due for some big declines once they hit 30 and I don't expect JVR to be any different. But...if this is just his starting offer, maybe he'd be willing come down to a 4 year deal. I'd be all over that.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

hmmm I get he wants that but I don't like Leafs giving him it

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

Fair ask, still would make me hesitant to give him that though

I would prefer one to come down, shorter term or lower cap hit. The combo of the two kind of makes me flinch