2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Discussion

[cabber24]

A doctor's note would suffice but I doubt he goes along with that. I would bet money he will be on cap next season. No one wants him, he has NMC too.

 

[bustaheims]

The only way I see Marleau off our cap is gets paid his signing bonus, gets traded and retires.

My understanding....Retiring does not take him off the Cap. Signed a 35+ contract.

That's why trading him is the step before that.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Marleau wants to play next season, so he's not going anywhere. Even on the off-chance he'd accept a trade back to San Jose they won't have the cap space even at a 50% discount.

 

[leafsjunkie]

Marleau wants to play next season, so he's not going anywhere. Even on the off-chance he'd accept a trade back to San Jose they won't have the cap space even at a 50% discount.

Why do you need to bring down my Friday, hrmph.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Marleau wants to play next season, so he's not going anywhere. Even on the off-chance he'd accept a trade back to San Jose they won't have the cap space even at a 50% discount.

What are the rules about a buyout in this situation? Say the Leafs pay his signing bonus on July 1st, then trade him to Ottawa or whoever needs to get to the cap floor. They buy out the remaining small salary but take the cap hit. Marleau is then a UFA and signs a one year $1 million contract with San Jose or Toronto or whoever.

I know the league would be looking at the situation closely after Orpik last year, but is it possible?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What are the rules about a buyout in this situation? Say the Leafs pay his signing bonus on July 1st, then trade him to Ottawa or whoever needs to get to the cap floor. They buy out the remaining small salary but take the cap hit. Marleau is then a UFA and signs a one year $1 million contract with San Jose or Toronto or whoever.

I know the league would be looking at the situation closely after Orpik last year, but is it possible?

The buyout window closes on June 30th though, so if the Leafs did something like this then they would need to trade Marleau to a team before that date and that team would need to eat his July 1st signing bonus in their buyout. So it's possible, but it's a lot more pricey than if the Leafs were able to eat the buyout.

There is a second buyout window that opens after July 1st for teams with arbitration filings but only players on a teams reserve list as of the trade deadline are eligible to be bought out during that, so that wouldn't help in this situation.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd also say that just because Washington got away with blatant cap circumvention doesn't mean we will. For all we know the league warned everyone afterward that that wouldn't fly going forward.

 

[bustaheims]

What are the rules about a buyout in this situation? Say the Leafs pay his signing bonus on July 1st, then trade him to Ottawa or whoever needs to get to the cap floor. They buy out the remaining small salary but take the cap hit. Marleau is then a UFA and signs a one year $1 million contract with San Jose or Toronto or whoever.

I know the league would be looking at the situation closely after Orpik last year, but is it possible?

A buyout would save the team some money on the base salary (roughly $417K total savings, but the also spreads the payout for the remaining ~$833K over two years - so, spend less this season, but spend more next, though, again, not in meaningful amounts), but won't impact the cap at all - so, as CtB points out, with the timing of the window, and the fact the team would still have to carry the full weight of the cap hit, it probably has a negative impact on the trade from the Leafs' perspective. It's better for Marleau, but it doesn't help any of the teams involved in the trade in a meaningful way.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd also say that just because Washington got away with blatant cap circumvention doesn't mean we will. For all we know the league warned everyone afterward that that wouldn't fly going forward.

Yup. It would basically guarantee Marleau doesn't play for the Leafs next season - which, I'm fully on board with. The options here are really keep Marleau at his full cap hit, or not have Marleau on the roster.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

What are the rules about a buyout in this situation? Say the Leafs pay his signing bonus on July 1st, then trade him to Ottawa or whoever needs to get to the cap floor. They buy out the remaining small salary but take the cap hit. Marleau is then a UFA and signs a one year $1 million contract with San Jose or Toronto or whoever.

I know the league would be looking at the situation closely after Orpik last year, but is it possible?

The buyout window closes on June 30th though, so if the Leafs did something like this then they would need to trade Marleau to a team before that date and that team would need to eat his July 1st signing bonus in their buyout. So it's possible, but it's a lot more pricey than if the Leafs were able to eat the buyout.

There is a second buyout window that opens after July 1st for teams with arbitration filings but only players on a teams reserve list as of the trade deadline are eligible to be bought out during that, so that wouldn't help in this situation.

Ah, I didn't realize the second buyout window had the reserve list restriction. That puts a damper on the trade and buyout option as teams like Ottawa would want a big premium to take him before the July 1st bonus is paid.

 

[Highlander]

I think we make Marleau the highest paid mascot in history, at least he won't be hitting on the Usherettes.

 

[Bender]

I'd also say that just because Washington got away with blatant cap circumvention doesn't mean we will. For all we know the league warned everyone afterward that that wouldn't fly going forward.

Yup. It would basically guarantee Marleau doesn't play for the Leafs next season - which, I'm fully on board with. The options here are really keep Marleau at his full cap hit, or not have Marleau on the roster.

The Marleau/Zaitsev deals really put the Leafs in cap hell for next year considering what they bring right now could be had for... what, $5M?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Marleau/Zaitsev deals really put the Leafs in cap hell for next year considering what they bring right now could be had for... what, $5M?

That could be about what they'd get on the open market right now, but I'd even argue they could be effectively replaced with guys on ELCs/sub-$1mil cap hits.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm generally fine with whatever pans out. It's cap hell for a year and then we move on. Should still be a playoff team with the progression of the big-3 + Tavares. It opens up possibilities for some Marlies to come up, including a full-time promotion for Moore and probably Rosen.

There will probably be some cheap FA signings as well. (though the Russian/Finn signings might already be that.)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm generally fine with whatever pans out. It's cap hell for a year and then we move on. Should still be a playoff team with the progression of the big-3 + Tavares. It opens up possibilities for some Marlies to come up, including a full-time promotion for Moore and probably Rosen.

There will probably be some cheap FA signings as well. (though the Russian/Finn signings might already be that.)

There's a lot of doom and gloom but Nylander going from half a season of 3rd line production to a full season of even 17/18-Nylander production would be a huge boost for the team. And if he takes another step forward like we all think he can then that'll be even better.

 

[Frank E]

I'm generally fine with whatever pans out. It's cap hell for a year and then we move on. Should still be a playoff team with the progression of the big-3 + Tavares. It opens up possibilities for some Marlies to come up, including a full-time promotion for Moore and probably Rosen.

There will probably be some cheap FA signings as well. (though the Russian/Finn signings might already be that.)

There's a lot of doom and gloom but Nylander going from half a season of 3rd line production to a full season of even 17/18-Nylander production would be a huge boost for the team. And if he takes another step forward like we all think he can then that'll be even better.

I haven't been keeping up to date, but does anyone think they can bring Kadri back next season?

Because I sure don't.

 

[bustaheims]

I haven't been keeping up to date, but does anyone think they can bring Kadri back next season?

Because I sure don't.

I think they can. Obviously, his playoff blow-ups are no good, but, they don't have enough depth down the middle to move on from him so easily.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm generally fine with whatever pans out. It's cap hell for a year and then we move on. Should still be a playoff team with the progression of the big-3 + Tavares. It opens up possibilities for some Marlies to come up, including a full-time promotion for Moore and probably Rosen.

There will probably be some cheap FA signings as well. (though the Russian/Finn signings might already be that.)

There's a lot of doom and gloom but Nylander going from half a season of 3rd line production to a full season of even 17/18-Nylander production would be a huge boost for the team. And if he takes another step forward like we all think he can then that'll be even better.

I haven't been keeping up to date, but does anyone think they can bring Kadri back next season?

Because I sure don't.

I think Johnsson or Kapanen will be gone before him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Unless they get a damn good defenceman for him I doubt Kadri goes anywhere.

 

[herman]

I had a weird dream where Marleau got traded for Kessel, and the line of Nylander - Kadri - Kessel put up 96 goals.