100 percent accurate post.
I do believe the leafs did it on purpose to an extent. Setting that standard helps leverage the advantage they have over most of the league.
I would agree the leafs benefit if they had kept their cap hits down. If one team is paying all bonuses at below market price then yeah their cap space goes way farther.
Im just not sure how the Leafs can leverage their position now that they're maxed out on the cap, paying the most to their top talent, and paying it fastest.
Even if a cheap team like Ottawa loses a star like Tkachuk because they can't pay a bonus.... Does that benefit the leafs? Putting this pressure on other teams only helps the leafs if it benefits them directly.
To me it looks like they gave it to:
Tavares successfully to beat out other bidders.
To Matthews without a direct beneficial return.
Then Nylander and Marner both said yep Well take it too.
Now it looks like point tkachuk Rantanen Laine are making the same arguments and all other GMs are saying no.
In this environment Chabot's contract is a steal. Even if Roenick disagrees.