Clarkson for horton

[hockeyfan1]

Horton "happy" (and hopes to play again)...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-horton-im-healthy-and-im-happy/

 

[moon111]

He needs 3-4 vertebrae fused together?  Yeah he's done.

 

[Fanatic]

He needs 3-4 vertebrae fused together?  Yeah he's done.

I agree. I think it is likely that he needs to be careful of what he says. If he ever indicated something to the effect of "I am done and will never be able to play again" he might not be able to continue to collect his salary. I read somewhere that if he has the surgery now it would save him the pain he is in every day, but also spell the end of his career and that he cannot afford for that to happen. If he wants to continue to collect that big paycheque then he needs to carry on the idea that he is recovering and may play again.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I agree. I think it is likely that he needs to be careful of what he says. If he ever indicated something to the effect of "I am done and will never be able to play again" he might not be able to continue to collect his salary. I read somewhere that if he has the surgery now it would save him the pain he is in every day, but also spell the end of his career and that he cannot afford for that to happen. If he wants to continue to collect that big paycheque then he needs to carry on the idea that he is recovering and may play again.

The whole Pronger situation shows these guys can more or less say and do whatever they want as long as they don't officially sign their retirement papers. The league isn't going to take a hard stance against people in this position.

 

[rdowdall]

If he ever did come back and was able to play at a high level, then the Leafs probably could trade him.  However if he came back and was a shell of his former self, well then the Leafs traded Clarkson for Clarkson.

 

[Joe S.]

I honestly think there's 0% chance of him playing in the nhl again.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

What are the comparative remaining contractuals of Horton and Clarkson?

Also, is there any value we could get in a team jettisoning a bad contract and giving us a pick to get Horton and therefore cap relief (kind of what we did) or in that situation could we get a bad contract back plus pick for even just a below average prospect?

 

[Kin]

What are the comparative remaining contractuals of Horton and Clarkson?

They're essentially identical. 5 years at a 5.25 cap hit left for Clarkson, 5 years and a 5.3 cap hit for Horton. There's really no difference in how they're paid out either. Both contracts dip to around 4.5 and 3.5 for the last two years.

Also, is there any value we could get in a team jettisoning a bad contract and giving us a pick to get Horton and therefore cap relief (kind of what we did) or in that situation could we get a bad contract back plus pick for even just a below average prospect?

I don't think that would have any real appeal to the Leafs. For what came back to the Leafs to have even marginal value the other team would have to be dumping a contract that's almost as equally bad as Clarkson's and at that point the Leafs don't want that sort of thing on their books.

 

[Fanatic]

I honestly think there's 0% chance of him playing in the nhl again.

Agreed. What I have read suggests that he would be doing really well just to live a day at home without pain. Of course he would like to play again, but it is over.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I honestly think there's 0% chance of him playing in the nhl again.

Agreed. What I have read suggests that he would be doing really well just to live a day at home without pain. Of course he would like to play again, but it is over.

I pretty much assumed that the point of him saying that he's hopeful of coming back is so that he doesn't have to officially retire before the end of his deal, to both his own financial benefit and to the Leafs' cap situation.  Wouldn't it cost both him and the Leafs each in their own ways if he retired early?

 

[bustaheims]

I pretty much assumed that the point of him saying that he's hopeful of coming back is so that he doesn't have to officially retire before the end of his deal, to both his own financial benefit and to the Leafs' cap situation.  Wouldn't it cost both him and the Leafs each in their own ways if he retired early?

No, if he retires, since he's not on a 35+ contract, the Leafs would be free and clear. It would actually help their cap situation in some ways. Horton still counts against the cap in the summer and the LTIR space he creates during the season can't be used to cover performance bonuses.