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2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

Guru Tugginmypuddah said:
Officially. In reality it seems that's not the case. Those 12:01 deals on July 1 suggest otherwise.
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Sure. There's definitely some covert discussions that take place. Teams and agents find ways to determine what a player is looking for in terms of length and dollar value, what teams they might be interested in signing with, etc. It's more that direct negotiations can't take place legally (and the league is supposedly looking to crackdown on teams skirting the rules this summer). It's also worth noting that players can start talking to other teams once the clock strikes midnight on June 30, but can't sign until noon on July 1st. A lot happens in that period, and the finer details usually get worked out after the player has agreed to sign with a team - which is why it's often a couple days before signings become official.
 
bustaheims said:
He's only eligible for the 8th year if he signs before the UFA market opens - so June 30th or earlier.
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In that case, I’d see if his agent could establish his “market value” by the means discussed in the last few posts before the 30th June deadline and if he offered that $1m per year discount I’d pay him for that discount with the extra year.

If you know what I mean.
 
As much as I think our core 4 are overpaid, I do think with the cap going up that we'd best keep Mitch around. I know people are saying he's inconsistent in the playoffs, and he is. But you have to wonder if we could actually deploy that money better for depth when it's obvious to me that getting JT's $11m off the books is way more valuable than giving Marner a $3m raise.
 
I've liked Tavares. He's still got some ability left. But I don't know if I would re-sign him.
Price, term and circumstances have to be 'right'
It is complicated by Minten - who might need more development time and whoever they bring in to help at center.
If they bring in a 2nd line center with term and re-sign Tavares, where is Minten going to play? 4th line? Or asset traded to get 2nd line center?
If Marner walks, you might need to hang on to Tavares.
With Marner unsigned, it makes it tough to plan the roster going into the trade deadline.
It seems more complicated going into the deadline this year.
 
cw said:
I've liked Tavares. He's still got some ability left. But I don't know if I would re-sign him.
Price, term and circumstances have to be 'right'
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Kypreos made a good point today drawing a comparison to Tampa's situation with Stamkos last year. They made the seemingly baffling decision to let him walk but then turned around and put that money towards signing Jake Guentzel instead. Hard to look at how each of those players are performing right now and say they made anything but the right call there, sentimental feelings aside.

So not saying the Leafs have to go that direction for sure but spending big money and even some term on a soon-to-be 35 year old can't be done lightly.
 
cabber24 said:
The season's over if he's done, excellent news. How can we fit Jankrok's salary to get him on the ice?
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Jarnkrok (soon) and Hakanpaa (maybe never) can both be activated off LTIR without much cap issues. The team would just need to get the roster to 23 players and they'd be under. Post deadline, assuming no moves, they could even carry 24 players and be under the cap.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Ok but is this a normal "day-to-day" or an Auston Matthews "day-to-day"?
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Maybe it is a "how do we get him healthy for the playoffs?" 'day-to-day'

It didn't seem too bad but with his injury history, they won't be rushing him back.

A spot opens up to help them decide what useful depth they've got for the playoffs.

If they're ever going to use Hakanpaa (probably doubtful unless the strategy was to save him for the playoffs), he has to play himself into game shape.
 
In a prior post I said that after the 4 Nations tournament, there will be certain participants taking things to a new level and playing with more purpose. I.e. an inflection point in their career trajectory.

Over the past several years, I haven't been the biggest supporter of Marner.... but the way he played in the finals for Canada, and then the game against the Bruins last night, I detect something has changed with him. That move he made in OT to score in the Bruins game was clutch leadership, and in flow. He glided in easy and completely undressed one of the top goalies in the NHL.

Marner was already playing well this season, but his pace pulled back a little in 2025. Yet it looks and feels a level above that now.

Definitely the proof will come in the playoffs and a handful of games are not enough to make a determination. And 3 on 3 is not playoff hockey. So this could be me being an over hopeful Leaf fan.

But if we see Marner come up big in the playoffs with clutch leadership.... i think it was February 2025 when that inflection emerged. It's sweet to watch.
 
cw said:
I've liked Tavares. He's still got some ability left. But I don't know if I would re-sign him.
Price, term and circumstances have to be 'right'
It is complicated by Minten - who might need more development time and whoever they bring in to help at center.
If they bring in a 2nd line center with term and re-sign Tavares, where is Minten going to play? 4th line? Or asset traded to get 2nd line center?
If Marner walks, you might need to hang on to Tavares.
With Marner unsigned, it makes it tough to plan the roster going into the trade deadline.
It seems more complicated going into the deadline this year.
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I think Minten needs more cooking time personally. I don't know if he has an offensive future in the league but I think his timeline fits perfectly fine with another year or two of Tavares at centre with a transition to the wing.
 
cw said:
I've liked Tavares. He's still got some ability left. But I don't know if I would re-sign him.
Price, term and circumstances have to be 'right'
It is complicated by Minten - who might need more development time and whoever they bring in to help at center.
If they bring in a 2nd line center with term and re-sign Tavares, where is Minten going to play? 4th line? Or asset traded to get 2nd line center?
If Marner walks, you might need to hang on to Tavares.
With Marner unsigned, it makes it tough to plan the roster going into the trade deadline.
It seems more complicated going into the deadline this year.
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I don't know if I'd consider Tavares' and Minten's Leafs future to be so directly linked. Minten likely tops out as a 3rd line C. Tavares is more likely to end up as a 2nd line W on his next contract.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Jarnkrok (soon) and Hakanpaa (maybe never) can both be activated off LTIR without much cap issues. The team would just need to get the roster to 23 players and they'd be under. Post deadline, assuming no moves, they could even carry 24 players and be under the cap.
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After reading the article on him in The Athletic, I'm pretty sure Hakanpaa is done for the year. No one wants to admit it, but he's still not healthy enough to play or even practice consistently. Two games is likely all the Leafs will get out of him.
 
I agree with what others have stated here. Marner should be resigned. $3mil’ish
more for him is easier to digest and then use the 11 mil from JT…or offer JT
at most $4 x 2 or maybe 3. Still have 8 to get a centre using some of the increased Cap.
 
bustaheims said:
After reading the article on him in The Athletic, I'm pretty sure Hakanpaa is done for the year. No one wants to admit it, but he's still not healthy enough to play or even practice consistently. Two games is likely all the Leafs will get out of him.
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Yeah, I dunno it's a weird one. I mean I'm definitely leaning toward him being done-done too but hard to say that while he's still practicing at least somewhat regularly. Eventually you'd think they'll just have to call it.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Yeah, I dunno it's a weird one. I mean I'm definitely leaning toward him being done-done too but hard to say that while he's still practicing at least somewhat regularly. Eventually you'd think they'll just have to call it.
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Klingberg got a goal and an assist the other night so there is always hope. But maybe not this season with the Leafs.
 
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