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Bullfrog said:It's really going to be a while before we see someone this talented on the Leafs again, isn't it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXGmLaTSQU
LuncheonMeat said:Bullfrog said:It's really going to be a while before we see someone this talented on the Leafs again, isn't it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXGmLaTSQU
That's a nice compilation. I'll never get tired of watching that goal against NJ where he undresses most of the team.
Bullfrog said:It's really going to be a while before we see someone this talented on the Leafs again, isn't it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXGmLaTSQU
herman said:An ode to Phil: http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/07/06/phil-in-the-pits/
Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Nik the Trik said:Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Well, it's already less than 1.7% of the cap right now so unless you think there's a legitimate chance that the cap shrinks between now and then I don't really think there's a "probably" there.
But also I don't really think there's a chance that eating Kessel's money will have any kind of effect on building the team. If you look at the Chicago or LA models there was a pretty decent gap between when the teams got competitive and when the teams were pressed up against the cap. Having good young players on manageable contracts means you'll have room to pay 4th liners. Where teams get sticky is when you have to start paying your franchise players market rates but that's probably more than 7 years away in the Leafs case.
Frank E said:I'm getting more nervous about banking on not paying RFAs big bucks until they're 24. Brendan Saad just got paid $6mil at age 22.
This trend is a little bit alarming compared to the way things were a few years ago.
Nik the Trik said:Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Well, it's already less than 1.7% of the cap right now so unless you think there's a legitimate chance that the cap shrinks between now and then I don't really think there's a "probably" there.
But also I don't really think there's a chance that eating Kessel's money will have any kind of effect on building the team. If you look at the Chicago or LA models there was a pretty decent gap between when the teams got competitive and when the teams were pressed up against the cap. Having good young players on manageable contracts means you'll have room to pay 4th liners. Where teams get sticky is when you have to start paying your franchise players market rates but that's probably more than 7 years away in the Leafs case.
mr grieves said:Nik the Trik said:Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Well, it's already less than 1.7% of the cap right now so unless you think there's a legitimate chance that the cap shrinks between now and then I don't really think there's a "probably" there.
But also I don't really think there's a chance that eating Kessel's money will have any kind of effect on building the team. If you look at the Chicago or LA models there was a pretty decent gap between when the teams got competitive and when the teams were pressed up against the cap. Having good young players on manageable contracts means you'll have room to pay 4th liners. Where teams get sticky is when you have to start paying your franchise players market rates but that's probably more than 7 years away in the Leafs case.
Was listening to the Mirtle-Siegel podcast today. It was pointed out that they've still got the Gunnarsson salary retention on the books for another season. It's a very small amount, but it eats another one of the three salaries they're allowed to retain.
So, that leaves one (until next season), and they've still got Lupul, Bozak, and Phaneuf to unload. They're older than Kessel, not as good, and on worse contracts. So, hard to believe trading partners won't expect those to be retained.
mr grieves said:Nik the Trik said:Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Well, it's already less than 1.7% of the cap right now so unless you think there's a legitimate chance that the cap shrinks between now and then I don't really think there's a "probably" there.
But also I don't really think there's a chance that eating Kessel's money will have any kind of effect on building the team. If you look at the Chicago or LA models there was a pretty decent gap between when the teams got competitive and when the teams were pressed up against the cap. Having good young players on manageable contracts means you'll have room to pay 4th liners. Where teams get sticky is when you have to start paying your franchise players market rates but that's probably more than 7 years away in the Leafs case.
Was listening to the Mirtle-Siegel podcast today. It was pointed out that they've still got the Gunnarsson salary retention on the books for another season. It's a very small amount, but it eats another one of the three salaries they're allowed to retain.
So, that leaves one (until next season), and they've still got Lupul, Bozak, and Phaneuf to unload. They're older than Kessel, not as good, and on worse contracts. So, hard to believe trading partners won't expect those to be retained.
Puerto Rico Suave said:They sold at extreme low on Kessel. I would rather they had either looked for a trade that didn't involve eating cap space or else just kept him for another year. I doubt his value will be worse next summer. And I don't give much credit to the notion that Kessel hurts the tank next year since even finishing dead means only a 50/50 chance of getting a top 3 pick and the higher ranked teams have better opportunities to move up in the draft.
I guess you could argue that he'll poison the team or something if he stays, but in my opinion he can't drop much lower than his performance last year.
CarltonTheBear said:Ah man guys The Onion really nailed this article on Kapanen/Kessel today:
Kasperi Kapanen has already bettered one of Phil Kessel?s Maple Leafs streaks.
The youngster consented to a mass media gathering outside the dressing room at the MasterCard Centre, back to the wall and no escape route. In those few times Kessel was compelled to talk at the practice rink, it was always inside at his stall, one eye on the sanctity of the player lounge.
Not that this matters to those who value scoring goals ahead of sound bytes. That differential will stay in Kessel?s favour for some time in the wake of the six-player, multi-draft-pick trade with Pittsburgh.
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/07/07/leafs-prospect-kapanen-outdoes-kessel-already
Frank E said:Nik the Trik said:Puerto Rico Suave said:I know it's probably less than 2% of the cap by the time we're competitive but it could still be the difference between signing a high-end 4th liner vs going with an AHL org guy.
Well, it's already less than 1.7% of the cap right now so unless you think there's a legitimate chance that the cap shrinks between now and then I don't really think there's a "probably" there.
But also I don't really think there's a chance that eating Kessel's money will have any kind of effect on building the team. If you look at the Chicago or LA models there was a pretty decent gap between when the teams got competitive and when the teams were pressed up against the cap. Having good young players on manageable contracts means you'll have room to pay 4th liners. Where teams get sticky is when you have to start paying your franchise players market rates but that's probably more than 7 years away in the Leafs case.
I'm getting more nervous about banking on not paying RFAs big bucks until they're 24. Brendan Saad just got paid $6mil at age 22.
This trend is a little bit alarming compared to the way things were a few years ago.
Michael said:Puerto Rico Suave said:They sold at extreme low on Kessel. I would rather they had either looked for a trade that didn't involve eating cap space or else just kept him for another year. I doubt his value will be worse next summer. And I don't give much credit to the notion that Kessel hurts the tank next year since even finishing dead means only a 50/50 chance of getting a top 3 pick and the higher ranked teams have better opportunities to move up in the draft.
I guess you could argue that he'll poison the team or something if he stays, but in my opinion he can't drop much lower than his performance last year.
Whether you or I argue that he would poison the team is sort of irrelevant at this point. In analyzing this trade you have to accept that Shanahan did not want him and obviously Babcock did not want him around either. On top of that, it appears that they really only had one serious trading partner to work with.
You can dislike the trade all you want, but saying that they should have got more for him is ignoring the realities of this situation. They wanted Kessel gone and not a lot of teams were looking to add an $8 million player.