Aaltonen returning to KHL next season.

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I?m a little disappointed because outside of the face off circle I really liked his game. His line almost never gave up chances against in the AHL and he was a big part of its defensive conscience.

Unfortunately Babs demands faceoff ability from his fourth line pivot and that was never something Aaltonen excelled at even in the KHL.

If the Leafs weren?t so stacked at wing I think he?d be a very competent bottom six winger.

 

[ZBBM]

More money and a bigger role, no doubt.  I would have liked to have seen get a few games with the Leafs.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

More money and a bigger role, no doubt.  I would have liked to have seen get a few games with the Leafs.

Absolutely, he can be a star in the KHL.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Huge meh.

 

[Frank E]

It makes too much sense for these guys that aren't guaranteed a roster spot, and especially at his age.  He can bank some money and make the most of the next five years.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It makes too much sense for these guys that aren't guaranteed a roster spot, and especially at his age.  He can bank some money and make the most of the next five years.

He only made $70,000 this season (plus a cool $92,500 signing bonus). He could have made, what 8-10x that overseas probably? Maybe even a lot more. That's pretty nuts.

 

[Coco-puffs]

It makes too much sense for these guys that aren't guaranteed a roster spot, and especially at his age.  He can bank some money and make the most of the next five years.

He only made $70,000 this season (plus a cool $92,500 signing bonus). He could have made, what 8-10x that overseas probably? Maybe even a lot more. That's pretty nuts.

The interesting thing is, they could sign him to a 1-way contract now and he'd be well paid even if he's sent back down to the Marlies.  I'm really only dissapointed because we don't have much (if any) organizational depth at center:

Matthews
Kadri
Nylander*
Lindholm
Gauthier
Brooks
Mueller**
Greening**
Bradley**

*Will Babcock let him play C?
** AHL Contracts

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The interesting thing is, they could sign him to a 1-way contract now and he'd be well paid even if he's sent back down to the Marlies.

For sure, but it must leave a sour taste in your mouth. Imagine a guy like Rosen who could be stuck in the AHL making that kind of money for 2 straight seasons.

 

[herman]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2018/06/22/kyle-dubas-on-drafting-25th-in-the-2018-nhl-draft-its-a-lively-and-fluid-situation-its-tough-to-predict-right-now/

Miro Aaltonen is heading back to Europe. That?s a tough loss, obviously, and tough to compete, maybe. Does this put an extra incentive for Frederik Gauthier or even drafting a center moving forward?

Dubas: If we draft a center tomorrow, we can?t count on him, certainly. If anything, it creates some incentive for our internal people. It?s another depth spot that opens up for us, and we had kind of counted on Miro challenging for a spot on the Maple Leafs next year for sure. He was great for the Marlies. We appreciate his efforts. I don?t begrudge his decision whatsoever. I think it makes our situation more lucrative for both centers and wingers in free agency that are maybe looking at our situation, so that will help us as we come into July 1st. That will increase our focus on that on July 1st, as well.

Was that a hockey decision or a personal decision for him to go back?

Dubas: What we were told by Miro and his people is that he wanted to be featured on the number-one scoring line in the KHL, and I don?t begrudge that. That was his decision that was relayed to us via his agent and himself. We appreciate his efforts and what he did with the Marlies, and wish him well.

 

[Kin]

Sometimes I genuinely wonder how the NHL would do against real competition. The KHL provided that for a while but it's still a bit of a mess. A European Superleague, on the other hand, would really make for an interesting go of it.

 

[Highlander]

My Aaltonater broke :'(

 

[Bonsixx]

Gretzky's records are safe for another year.