Leafs sign Kadri and Rielly to 6-year contacts

[Highlander]

Of course their is Murry P and Dubas and Shanahan but Lou pulls the trigger as GM, you gotta give him the credit as that is his role title.

 

[Kin]

Well, when I'm wrong I'm wrong. I didn't think either guy could be signed long term at those prices but here we are.

I love the Rielly deal and I think the Kadri deal will grow on me. I love Kadri the player but I still think this team needs to move out a high value asset for a good return to broaden the base of 1st/2nd round type prospects the team is bringing in. 

 

[Bonsixx]

Well, when I'm wrong I'm wrong. I didn't think either guy could be signed long term at those prices but here we are.

I love the Rielly deal and I think the Kadri deal will grow on me. I love Kadri the player but I still think this team needs to move out a high value asset for a good return to broaden the base of 1st/2nd round type prospects the team is bringing in.

I just see the Kadri deal as the Leafs finally locking up one of their own high draft picks for his prime years. Finally.

And to be fair, his underlying numbers suggest there are likely better performances ahead, but this contract isn't even unreasonable if he's peaked already. And he's still only 31 when it expires, so this is hardly locking up an old guy.

If you can't tell, I love the deal. Infatuated with the Rielly deal, as well, but no need to elaborate on that one.

 

[McGarnagle]

While the deals are really impressive, what I like most about these deals is that it starts to cast Toronto in the light of a preferred destination - which is a 180 degree turn from the last few management teams.

The leafs can still get assets from JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner if they choose to go that route. At his age, Kadri for 4.5 is a no-brainer to keep around.

 

[herman]

My guess was 4.75-5 for Rielly over 7 and Kadri traded after another bridge deal to net those higher picks, but I can't complain about how the deals shake out. Homegrown talent!

 

[Tigger]

While the deals are really impressive, what I like most about these deals is that it starts to cast Toronto in the light of a preferred destination - which is a 180 degree turn from the last few management teams.

The leafs can still get assets from JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner if they choose to go that route. At his age, Kadri for 4.5 is a no-brainer to keep around.

Anything is possible but I really doubt they're trading Gardiner.

 

[Captain Canuck]

Awesome job by Leafs management with these contracts! I have no doubt we will get great value out of these deals. A few of the building blocks are starting to fall into place.

 

[Al14]

While the deals are really impressive, what I like most about these deals is that it starts to cast Toronto in the light of a preferred destination - which is a 180 degree turn from the last few management teams.

The leafs can still get assets from JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner if they choose to go that route. At his age, Kadri for 4.5 is a no-brainer to keep around.

The Kadri deal is also of benefit if they decide to trade him for a proven D man! 

 

[Zee]

While the deals are really impressive, what I like most about these deals is that it starts to cast Toronto in the light of a preferred destination - which is a 180 degree turn from the last few management teams.

The leafs can still get assets from JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner if they choose to go that route. At his age, Kadri for 4.5 is a no-brainer to keep around.

The Kadri deal is also of benefit if they decide to trade him for a proven D man! 

That is totally an option given his age and salary.  It's a reasonable deal at today's NHL prices so it's a very movable contract if they ever decide to go that route.

 

[Bonsixx]

While the deals are really impressive, what I like most about these deals is that it starts to cast Toronto in the light of a preferred destination - which is a 180 degree turn from the last few management teams.

The leafs can still get assets from JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner if they choose to go that route. At his age, Kadri for 4.5 is a no-brainer to keep around.

The Kadri deal is also of benefit if they decide to trade him for a proven D man! 

That is totally an option given his age and salary.  It's a reasonable deal at today's NHL prices so it's a very movable contract if they ever decide to go that route.

I'm not sure why they'd trade JVR at this point either, honestly. And if (when) they don't get Matthews, I imagine Bozak will stick around at least another year.

 

[herman]

JvR is a win now player, at or near his peak, with a very attractive salary vs production ratio. He is more valuable as a trade chip than a roster spot. A) he scores and goals will win games that b) will push us down the draft ranking.

Trading him for a high potential prospect and good picks aligns the development curves of our resources with the team's prime.

This is less the case for Gardiner as defensemen develop slower and fills a position lacking organizational depth (top-pairing capable).

Kadri got to stay because he played his way into management's good graces even without box stat production. He and Rielly are homegrown and pre-Shanahan picks, which could serve as motivation to other previous-regime picks who thought their days were automatically numbered after seeing so many of their draft peers moved (Biggs, Verhaghe, etc.). Current management also projects him to be an elite two-way second liner Swiss Army knife centre, rather than placing the 1C burden on him.

 

[bustaheims]

And if (when) they don't get Matthews, I imagine Bozak will stick around at least another year.

I don't think Matthews is goign to have any real impact on whether or not the team moves Bozak. They have Kadri and Nylander for the top 2 lines, and Laich, Gauthier, and cheap UFA options for the 3rd and 4th lines. The thing that will really determine whether or not Bozak gets moved is whether or not the Leafs receive any reasonable offers on him.

 

[Kin]

I don't think Matthews is goign to have any real impact on whether or not the team moves Bozak. They have Kadri and Nylander for the top 2 lines, and Laich, Gauthier, and cheap UFA options for the 3rd and 4th lines. The thing that will really determine whether or not Bozak gets moved is whether or not the Leafs receive any reasonable offers on him.

By reasonable offer do you mean there's a certain threshold value wise someone would need to meet in terms of return or do you just mean someone willing to take on the contract without salary being retained/bad money coming the other way?

 

[bustaheims]

By reasonable offer do you mean there's a certain threshold value wise someone would need to meet in terms of return or do you just mean someone willing to take on the contract without salary being retained/bad money coming the other way?

Both. I don't think they'd give him away for a 7th round pick, for instance. I don't that threshold is unreasonably high, though. I'm thinking 2nd round pick territory.

And, yeah, no retention, no seriously bad contract coming back. A similar contract might be acceptable, if it were for a defenceman, for instance.

 

[Kin]

Both. I don't think they'd give him away for a 7th round pick, for instance. I don't that threshold is unreasonably high, though. I'm thinking 2nd round pick territory.

And, yeah, no retention, no seriously bad contract coming back. A similar contract might be acceptable, if it were for a defenceman, for instance.

Yeah, it's a weird situation. The reason I asked is that Bozak's value/worth has been so contentious oveer the years and before the season I probably would have been in a camp that would have taken nothing for him just to get the contract off the books. I suppose I still would if that's what was out there, I don't really see how he fits on the team going forward now that Kadri is re-signed, but it seems hard to imagine that would be the case.

He seems like a pretty safe bet to be a 45-50 point center who can win draws in a healthy year. Maybe I'm nuts but to me he should have some concrete value. 

 

[Redleaf]

JvR is a win now player, at or near his peak, with a very attractive salary vs production ratio. He is more valuable as a trade chip than a roster spot. A) he scores and goals will win games that b) will push us down the draft ranking.

Trading him for a high potential prospect and good picks aligns the development curves of our resources with the team's prime.

This is less the case for Gardiner as defensemen develop slower and fills a position lacking organizational depth (top-pairing capable).

Kadri got to stay because he played his way into management's good graces even without box stat production. He and Rielly are homegrown and pre-Shanahan picks, which could serve as motivation to other previous-regime picks who thought their days were automatically numbered after seeing so many of their draft peers moved (Biggs, Verhaghe, etc.). Current management also projects him to be an elite two-way second liner Swiss Army knife centre, rather than placing the 1C burden on him.

Didn't I read somewhere that Lou like his teams 1/3 rookies (Nylander/Marner/Hyman), 1/3 middle of the pack (Kadri/Gardiner/Rielly) & 1/3 veterans (JVR/Bozak/Komorov), or something like that?

Regardless of the rebuild, I'm sure he doesn't want his team to be 95% rookies next season. That would imply most of the older guys that they wanted to trade for prospects & picks have already been dealt.

 

[Frank E]

Both. I don't think they'd give him away for a 7th round pick, for instance. I don't that threshold is unreasonably high, though. I'm thinking 2nd round pick territory.

And, yeah, no retention, no seriously bad contract coming back. A similar contract might be acceptable, if it were for a defenceman, for instance.

Yeah, it's a weird situation. The reason I asked is that Bozak's value/worth has been so contentious oveer the years and before the season I probably would have been in a camp that would have taken nothing for him just to get the contract off the books. I suppose I still would if that's what was out there, I don't really see how he fits on the team going forward now that Kadri is re-signed, but it seems hard to imagine that would be the case.

He seems like a pretty safe bet to be a 45-50 point center who can win draws in a healthy year. Maybe I'm nuts but to me he should have some concrete value.

I think Bozak was thought to be the beneficiary of the "Hoglund Effect" by centering Kessel.  I think that's why no one could pin down his value last summer.

I think he sort of dispelled that this year, and he looks to be well worth his AAV.  This makes me think that he'll be more interesting to other teams this summer, and especially since he has one less year remaining on his deal.

 

[cabber24]

Both. I don't think they'd give him away for a 7th round pick, for instance. I don't that threshold is unreasonably high, though. I'm thinking 2nd round pick territory.

And, yeah, no retention, no seriously bad contract coming back. A similar contract might be acceptable, if it were for a defenceman, for instance.

Yeah, it's a weird situation. The reason I asked is that Bozak's value/worth has been so contentious oveer the years and before the season I probably would have been in a camp that would have taken nothing for him just to get the contract off the books. I suppose I still would if that's what was out there, I don't really see how he fits on the team going forward now that Kadri is re-signed, but it seems hard to imagine that would be the case.

He seems like a pretty safe bet to be a 45-50 point center who can win draws in a healthy year. Maybe I'm nuts but to me he should have some concrete value.

He seems to be another whipping boy because he was miscast on a team that had no depth. Not his fault he was casted as a first line center. I agree we don't want him to be that anymore but that doesn't mean he's of no value to us or anyone else. His contract isn't horrendous. I think he could evolve into a solid 3rd line center.

 

[Al14]

Both. I don't think they'd give him away for a 7th round pick, for instance. I don't that threshold is unreasonably high, though. I'm thinking 2nd round pick territory.

And, yeah, no retention, no seriously bad contract coming back. A similar contract might be acceptable, if it were for a defenceman, for instance.

Yeah, it's a weird situation. The reason I asked is that Bozak's value/worth has been so contentious oveer the years and before the season I probably would have been in a camp that would have taken nothing for him just to get the contract off the books. I suppose I still would if that's what was out there, I don't really see how he fits on the team going forward now that Kadri is re-signed, but it seems hard to imagine that would be the case.

He seems like a pretty safe bet to be a 45-50 point center who can win draws in a healthy year. Maybe I'm nuts but to me he should have some concrete value.

He seems to be another whipping boy because he was miscast on a team that had no depth. Not his fault he was casted as a first line center. I agree we don't want him to be that anymore but that doesn't mean he's of no value to us or anyone else. His contract isn't horrendous. I think he could evolve into a solid 3rd line center.

I think he can play 2nd line centre in a pinch too.  Some fans seem to forget that he's also decent as a penalty killer, and, he can score goals on the breakaway and the shootout.

I can see another team coveting him for his face off abilities, and, his shootout scoring abilities alone.

As for Kadri, if he were to be traded, I'd expect it to be in a package for a top 4 Dman.

 

[bustaheims]

I think he can play 2nd line centre in a pinch too.  Some fans seem to forget that he's also decent as a penalty killer, and, he can score goals on the breakaway and the shootout.

I can see another team coveting him for his face off abilities, and, his shootout scoring abilities alone.

No one's ignoring that, because it's just not true. His role on the PK for the past couple years has been to win the faceoff and get of the ice ASAP. He averaged 12 seconds of PK time per game this season, and 41 seconds per game last season. The broadcasters and such haven't caught up to the facts yet - his coaches don't use him on the PK anymore, because he's not very good at it.