Rumor: Multiple teams interested in Justin Brazeau (UPDATE: signs 2 year AHL deal with the Marlies)

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Here's how this works: There's a handshake agreement that he will get a two-way contract once the Leafs clear a few contract spots. In the meantime, he gets $60K for waiting.

There's no way another team didn't offer him an ELC, but with this he will end up getting $60K more than he would have on a standard ELC and get to play in Toronto, which is likely what he wanted.

That said, it's a bit of an odd decision careerwise because the Leafs are loaded at RW.
Things change, he’s at least 2-3 years away from the NHL, cheap, young 4th liners are valuable, even more so at 6’6.

I don’t think he’s a guarantee for an NHL contract.
 

sxvnert

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Nov 23, 2015
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AHL contract allows him to bail anytime he wants after using the leafs resources and feels like a legit nhl'er. No downside from the players perspective while the leafs have a few years to convince him to sign longer term is hes worthy.
 

Booba

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Jun 20, 2005
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Here's how this works: There's a handshake agreement that he will get a two-way contract once the Leafs clear a few contract spots. In the meantime, he gets $60K for waiting.

There's no way another team didn't offer him an ELC, but with this he will end up getting $60K more than he would have on a standard ELC and get to play in Toronto, which is likely what he wanted.

That said, it's a bit of an odd decision careerwise because the Leafs are loaded at RW.

The Marlies have a tough roster to crack though.

Last offseason, the Marlies signed three high-profile CHL UFAs (Matt Bradley, Hudson Elynuik and Giorgio Estephan) to AHL contracts and, so far this season, they've played a total of 9 AHL games.

By the way, it's not a contract spot issue because Brazeau's contract would have only started on July 1st.
 
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SeaOfBlue

The Passion That Unites Us All
Aug 1, 2013
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The Marlies have a tough roster to crack though.

Last offseason, the Marlies signed three high-profile CHL UFAs (Matt Bradley, Hudson Elynuik and Giorgio Estephan) to AHL contracts and, so far this season, they've played a total of 9 AHL games.

By the way, it's not a contract spot issue because Brazeau only starts on July 1st.

The Marlies are going to have a spot for him if he earns it. It may only be on the 4th line, but that just means he'll learn a strong defensive game first before getting the offensive opportunities. Plus, it likely means he'll play with someone like McGregor, who is a lot better offensively than many of the guys we've been using on the 4th line in recent years, so maybe he could still put up a decent point total.

Bradley, Estephan and Elynuik have been solid in the ECHL, but not anything that really shows that they should be full time AHLers right now. Elynuik, due to injury, is playing as one for us right now, and next year (if he decides to come back), he could easily find himself in a 4th line or rotational role on the LW. I think the number 1 factor that will determine whether those guys will make it is if they can PK. We'll have much better offensive guys than them, so they won't get many offensive opportunities, but if they can PK and be versatile, then I think there will be plenty of opportunities to make the Marlies' bottom 6 next year.
 
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Yog S'loth

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Sep 7, 2005
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It's interesting. You'd think this would have to come with a handshake deal for an ELC after July 1... but Toronto is actually not playing with tons of room on the contract front.

I make it 43 contracts on July 1. That doesn't include the 4 NHL level UFAs they have that they'll certainly want to re-sign or replace, plus any other draft picks of theirs they may want to sign from prior drafts or the upcoming one. Now, they could clear some space by not qualifying some of their minor-league RFAs, which seems likely. (Unless they absolutely must have the third-best Subban or that backup goalie in the ECHL) Barely enough room, but room. I really wonder why the player would go this route instead of an actual ELC. *Somebody* had to be offering a three-year ELC.
 

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