Letang wants to be a Leaf?

[Corn Flake]

I'm very skeptical of this. We all know Rossi said Toronto is Letang's "preferred destination" but that's only if he can't get a deal done in Pittsburgh, and his overwhelming preference is to say in Pittsburgh. This talk of Letang to Toronto is all very premature at this point.

Well, exactly. Letang has no say in where he's traded so the only reason the Penguins would have to trade him to Toronto is if Toronto is where they could get the best possible deal for him. That spells a hefty price tag.

And even then I mean, if I'm a NHL agent and I want to kick up interest in my client? First thing I do is leak a rumour that he wants to come to Toronto. "______ to Toronto" rumours this time of year are pretty cheap.

All true, but the one precedent to look at was Jordan Staal and how he was moved to his preferred destination by the Pens.  The one control Staal had and Letang does as well is over which teams he is willing to sign an extension to.  Any team inquiring would want to know the deal there, so if Letang says he's not signing any extension except with one team, then that pretty much limits the Pens options.

 

[Kin]

All true, but the one precedent to look at was Jordan Staal and how he was moved to his preferred destination by the Pens.  The one control Staal had and Letang does as well is over which teams he is willing to sign an extension to.  Any team inquiring would want to know the deal there, so if Letang says he's not signing any extension except with one team, then that pretty much limits the Pens options.

Yeah, but as I said to Deebo there's a pretty far cry from "My preference is Toronto" to "Toronto is the only team I'd sign an extension with".

 

[Corn Flake]

All true, but the one precedent to look at was Jordan Staal and how he was moved to his preferred destination by the Pens.  The one control Staal had and Letang does as well is over which teams he is willing to sign an extension to.  Any team inquiring would want to know the deal there, so if Letang says he's not signing any extension except with one team, then that pretty much limits the Pens options.

Yeah, but as I said to Deebo there's a pretty far cry from "My preference is Toronto" to "Toronto is the only team I'd sign an extension with".

For sure... and neither statement we have any real awareness has actually been said by Letang.

 

[Deebo]

It can. But it's not the same as a player having a NTC. Saying that a player's preference would be Toronto isn't the same as saying that's the only place he'd go. Even still Jordan Staal didn't come cheap.

All I was saying is that a player, one year away from UFA, has a say in where he is dealt. I didn't mean that Letang has said Toronto is the only place he'd go or that he will come cheap as a result.

 

[Kin]

It can. But it's not the same as a player having a NTC. Saying that a player's preference would be Toronto isn't the same as saying that's the only place he'd go. Even still Jordan Staal didn't come cheap.

All I was saying is that a player, one year away from UFA, has a say in where he is dealt. I didn't mean that Letang has said Toronto is the only place he'd go or that he will come cheap as a result.

Sure. When I said he has no say I was just speaking literally.

 

[jdh1]

Why trade Gardiner for Latang helping Pittsburg out of their cap issues?I'd rather keep Gardiner and use the cap space for front line player.

 

[Deebo]

Why trade Gardiner for Latang helping Pittsburg out of their cap issues?I'd rather keep Gardiner and use the cap space for front line player.

Because Letang is better than Gardiner and we need another top pairing defenseman.

 

[Corn Flake]

Why trade Gardiner for Latang helping Pittsburg out of their cap issues?I'd rather keep Gardiner and use the cap space for front line player.

Because Letang is better than Gardiner and we need another top pairing defenseman.

jdh has a good point though.  If Gardiner could pick up where he left off in the playoffs, he's really really close to being a top pairing d-man himself, along the lines of Letang. 

After thinking about the cost a bit, I don't think this trade will cost the Leafs Gardiner if it happens. Maybe Franson instead.

Letang AND Gardiner on the blue line with Rielly coming up in a year or so?  Wow.

 

[bustaheims]

Because Letang is better than Gardiner and we need another top pairing defenseman.

Sure, but, to be fair, at the same age, Letang wasn't significantly better than Gardiner is now, and it was when he wasn't until he was in his age 23 season (where Gardiner will be in 13/14) that he broke out. Gardiner looked fantastic in the playoffs and there's certainly potential for him to break out in similar fashion this season.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't know if I'd trade for him though. I mean, if he prefers to come to Toronto, then we wait a year and he signs here as a UFA. We'd have to squeeze him under the cap this year, when it is probable that the cap goes up next, substantially if this years profits are any indication.

I don't want to lose any young defensemen on our team, it seems better to wait IMO. If we don't land him, Pittsburgh ended up giving him the money.

 

[Kin]

I don't know if I'd trade for him though. I mean, if he prefers to come to Toronto, then we wait a year and he signs here as a UFA. We'd have to squeeze him under the cap this year, when it is probable that the cap goes up next, substantially if this years profits are any indication.

But, again, that seems to be confusing "prefers" with "will come here at any cost". If he can't work out a deal with Pittsburgh and they want to trade him and his first choice is Toronto that doesn't mean he'd necessarily pass up his second choice.

 

[Champ Kind]

If the Staal trade can be looked at as a bit of a standard, we clearly see that Carolina didn't really give up any integral pieces off their roster.  I love Brandon Sutter, but along with the 8'th overall + Brian Dumoulin (2'nd round pick), it's doable. 

Franson, Percy, and a first round pick?

 

[Kin]

If the Staal trade can be looked at as a bit of a standard, we clearly see that Carolina didn't really give up any integral pieces off their roster.  I love Brandon Sutter, but along with the 8'th overall + Brian Dumoulin (2'nd round pick), it's doable. 

Staal wasn't coming off a Norris nomination though. I think if you really look at the Staal trade you'll see that what Pittsburgh primarily got was a top 10 pick and, in Sutter, a guy who kind of had the potential to legitimately replace what he gave the Penguins. If we really use that standard I think it would have to include Gardiner/Rielly as a potential Letang replacement and then something equal to or better than a top 10 pick and a B- prospect.

 

[Jalili]

If the Staal trade can be looked at as a bit of a standard, we clearly see that Carolina didn't really give up any integral pieces off their roster.  I love Brandon Sutter, but along with the 8'th overall + Brian Dumoulin (2'nd round pick), it's doable. 

Franson, Percy, and a first round pick?

The value was lower for Staal because he made it abundantly clear that the only team he'd be signing with a year down the road was Carolina.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't know if I'd trade for him though. I mean, if he prefers to come to Toronto, then we wait a year and he signs here as a UFA. We'd have to squeeze him under the cap this year, when it is probable that the cap goes up next, substantially if this years profits are any indication.

But, again, that seems to be confusing "prefers" with "will come here at any cost". If he can't work out a deal with Pittsburgh and they want to trade him and his first choice is Toronto that doesn't mean he'd necessarily pass up his second choice.

Of course not. All I'm saying is that if he wants to come to Toronto bad enough, he'll make it happen. It's only my opinion of a deal for him, not being worth the asset cost. Nonis could like him enough to go out and do that, but I wouldn't.

I really have no idea whether we're his first choice, or just another on the list, but I would be willing to gamble on his interest that he may come, rather than giving up somebody like Gardiner or Rielly.

He'd be a nice piece to have, that's one thing for sure in this tidbit.

 

[Kin]

Of course not. All I'm saying is that if he wants to come to Toronto bad enough, he'll make it happen.

Yeah, I think that's reading way too much into what was said though. All we should really take from that report is that the option's there. Now, not thinking Letang is worth the asset cost is one thing and perfectly valid but I think that realistically closes the door on him.

Also, for what it's worth I don't think the cap thing matters too much. The Leafs have a lot of cap space right now and while the cap will probably go up next year they also will have to re-sign Phaneuf, Kessel, Reimer and maybe Bernier so I don't think it matters when they add him.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Of course not. All I'm saying is that if he wants to come to Toronto bad enough, he'll make it happen.

Yeah, I think that's reading way too much into what was said though. All we should really take from that report is that the option's there. Now, not thinking Letang is worth the asset cost is one thing and perfectly valid but I think that realistically closes the door on him.

Probably, how many times have we heard Toronto's name come up in any difficult negotiations? I'm simply just saying that I'd be calling his bluff, if it is one, rather than getting all excited about Letang actually coming to Toronto. How I do that, is wondering if the asset cost is worth it and I don't think it is, but I'd have a contract here waiting if he became a UFA for sure.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Also, for what it's worth I don't think the cap thing matters too much. The Leafs have a lot of cap space right now and while the cap will probably go up next year they also will have to re-sign Phaneuf, Kessel, Reimer and maybe Bernier so I don't think it matters when they add him.

I think their will be more wiggle room next season though. Maybe having a goalie you could move, Phaneuf taking less on a longer term deal ect... The only one that I think is going to get really paid next season is Kessel. But your point stands, I hadn't taken everything into account.

 

[Kin]

I'm simply just saying that I'd be calling his bluff, if it is one, rather than getting all excited about Letang actually coming to Toronto.

Like I said, I don't think there is a bluff here and either way I think the Leafs would be able to find out relatively quickly if Letang was willing to sign elsewhere if he got traded. Again though, not liking the cost is fair I just think that realistically if the team wants to add a player like Letang who, again, was in the Norris running there is sort of an immediacy they'd need to jump on.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Again though, not liking the cost is fair I just think that realistically if the team wants to add a player like Letang who, again, was in the Norris running there is sort of an immediacy they'd need to jump on.

Yeah, you're probably right about that. I don't think he'd wait two seasons anyway, who knows, other than Kris Letang?