Nonis using depth to go shopping....

[Kin]

I agree, I think the NBA sets a good precedent here, the main difference being that NBA stars are relatively more important to their teams, so we won't see many, if any, NHL stars get the maximum annual salary.

No, probably not. Although I think it'll be interesting the next time a player of a Stamkos/Crosby/Ovechkin sort of calibre has to negotiate a deal for themselves and can't sign a 10 or 12 year deal. They probably won't get the 20% max but I'd be shocked if there wasn't a little more separation than there's been between them and the guys a notch below.

 

[drummond]

As far as Kessel signing is concerned I honestly believe that this year?s playoffs experience and the fact that the team is on the right track may be a huge factor. Should the Leafs win a round the city will go crazy. As a player you have to love it. The winning is sweet and you can clearly see the relaxed atmosphere around the Leafs which further translates into better play. Everyrbody is so excited, players included. This is a great mix. Unless the Leafs offer something really terrible I do not see a reason why Kessel would not sign.

 

[cw]

... The above are very common reasons why UFAs move on to other destinations. Paranoia has nothing to do with it.

However, all of these arguments are balanced by the fact that these days, it seems, most top UFAs seem to stay put when their current team has strong financial resources and wants to keep them.

Many do but a number do not.

Often, this is offset some by the UFA being traded to a destination where he's willing to re-sign - helped in part by the various limited no-trade/no-movement clauses.

Some teams are cashing in on older talent for a rebuild.

Kovalchuk & Hossa strike me as a couple of examples where their team would have preferred they hang around but they had to move them rather than lose them for nothing. If you look over the trade history or UFA history since the lockout, you'll see plenty of examples.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

... The above are very common reasons why UFAs move on to other destinations. Paranoia has nothing to do with it.

However, all of these arguments are balanced by the fact that these days, it seems, most top UFAs seem to stay put when their current team has strong financial resources and wants to keep them.

Many do but a number do not.

Often, this is offset some by the UFA being traded to a destination where he's willing to re-sign - helped in part by the various limited no-trade/no-movement clauses.

Some teams are cashing in on older talent for a rebuild.

Kovalchuk & Hossa strike me as a couple of examples where their team would have preferred they hang around but they had to move them rather than lose them for nothing. If you look over the trade history or UFA history since the lockout, you'll see plenty of examples.

Doesn't that just reinforce what princedpw said, that most top UFAs re-sign?  Obviously it won't be 100% of them, but it still seems like the vast majority do re-sign.

 

[cw]

Maybe he'll sign in Florida because he's American!

He's from Madison, WI. He played high school hockey there and then for the University of Minnesota. Minnesota is a relative hockey hotbed within the US. So he could get to within a 4 hour drive from home by joining past US teammates Parise & Suter in MN. Or he could get within a couple of driving hours of home in Chicago. Both of those look like they'll still be contenders as of the summer of 2014. He has 22 US destinations to consider assuming Boston wouldn't be on his list.

 

[Zee]

I'm glad the Leafs aren't playing until Thursday because now we can focus on imaginary trades leading up to Wednesday.  No big names to Leafs!  (Z4)

 

[cw]

... The above are very common reasons why UFAs move on to other destinations. Paranoia has nothing to do with it.

However, all of these arguments are balanced by the fact that these days, it seems, most top UFAs seem to stay put when their current team has strong financial resources and wants to keep them.

Many do but a number do not.

Often, this is offset some by the UFA being traded to a destination where he's willing to re-sign - helped in part by the various limited no-trade/no-movement clauses.

Some teams are cashing in on older talent for a rebuild.

Kovalchuk & Hossa strike me as a couple of examples where their team would have preferred they hang around but they had to move them rather than lose them for nothing. If you look over the trade history or UFA history since the lockout, you'll see plenty of examples.

Doesn't that just reinforce what princedpw said, that most top UFAs re-sign?  Obviously it won't be 100% of them, but it still seems like the vast majority do re-sign.

I'm not so sure. How many players like Sundin, Yzerman & Sakic are there who spend most of their career in one NHL city? It strikes as far more the exception than the rule.

And again, a number re-sign AFTER they've been traded to a team on "their list". You don't find many with the Islanders or Panthers as preferred destinations on those "lists" for example because they don't typically represent a good chance to win a Cup/play with great players.

That's part of the problem for Nonis. Even though the Leafs are likely to make the playoffs this year, their longer term doesn't look that rosy because there is no #1 franchise center, no #1 stud dman and no #1 franchise goalie - and a very questionable path for them to get acquired because of the stingy UFA market and the team is too good to expect drafting within the top 3 or so to snag one. Nonis has taken over but he's headed towards riding out Burke's retooling direction - which has a lesser chance of Cup success without gathering a core of elite franchise talent. Nonis' direction requires a lot more luck to succeed. Fans might ignore that or hope for the best but a NHL player knows far better what's up and who has a good chance of success.

If I'm Kessel and I want to win a Cup any time soon, I would not re-sign in Toronto because the chances are better in many other destinations. At the very least, he could find a team with a decent franchise center for him to play with a heck of a lot easier than the Leafs will have acquiring one for him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Maybe he'll sign in Florida because he's American!

He's from Madison, WI. He played high school hockey there and then for the University of Minnesota. Minnesota is a relative hockey hotbed within the US. So he could get to within a 4 hour drive from home by joining past US teammates Parise & Suter in MN. Or he could get within a couple of driving hours of home in Chicago. Both of those look like they'll still be contenders as of the summer of 2014. He has 22 US destinations to consider assuming Boston wouldn't be on his list.

Don't see Chicago having either the need for him or the available cap space. Minnesota on the other hand would be a pretty serious threat for him to sign with. I was going to say that they wouldn't have the cap space either after the Parise and Suter signings, but Heatley is off the books next summer and they could easily just offer Kessel his $7.5mil. That would be just under $30mil invested in four players long-term though, and that might not be a very smart idea.

 

[Zee]

Dave Nonis is addressing the media in 10 minutes, have no idea what this is about.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Dave Nonis is addressing the media in 10 minutes, have no idea what this is about.

It'll just be to update the media on the nothing going on right now.

 

[dappleganger]

Dave Nonis is addressing the media in 10 minutes, have no idea what this is about.

It'll just be to update the media on the nothing going on right now.

Kadri re-signing.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Dave Nonis is addressing the media in 10 minutes, have no idea what this is about.

It'll just be to update the media on the nothing going on right now.

Kadri re-signing.

No, I wasn't joking:

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590 4m
Nonis says not much is happening in trade talks right now but he's sure that'll pick up in the next little while.

 

[TML fan]

Maybe he'll sign in Florida because he's American!

He's from Madison, WI. He played high school hockey there and then for the University of Minnesota. Minnesota is a relative hockey hotbed within the US. So he could get to within a 4 hour drive from home by joining past US teammates Parise & Suter in MN. Or he could get within a couple of driving hours of home in Chicago. Both of those look like they'll still be contenders as of the summer of 2014. He has 22 US destinations to consider assuming Boston wouldn't be on his list.

Or he could just fly from Toronto and be home in just over 2 hours...

 

[Zee]

A press conference about nothing!  Right from the Brian Burke handbook.

 

[Corn Flake]

A press conference about nothing!  Right from the Brian Burke handbook.

He probably has been asked about 300 times for interviews today/tomorrow to talk about what he's going to do.  This kills 300 birds with one.. press conference.

 

[cw]

Maybe he'll sign in Florida because he's American!

He's from Madison, WI. He played high school hockey there and then for the University of Minnesota. Minnesota is a relative hockey hotbed within the US. So he could get to within a 4 hour drive from home by joining past US teammates Parise & Suter in MN. Or he could get within a couple of driving hours of home in Chicago. Both of those look like they'll still be contenders as of the summer of 2014. He has 22 US destinations to consider assuming Boston wouldn't be on his list.

Or he could just fly from Toronto and be home in just over 2 hours...

Well sure. That applies to all players. But we still hear of players wanting to play closer to "home".

How does that help his family and friends come to see him play or visit him? Is getting their passports in order, booking Toronto hotels and round trip flights sound convenient?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

He did say that if he was going to move pending UFAs or guys with one year left on their contracts it wouldn't be for draft picks or prospects, but rather in a hockey trade.

That's not exactly surprising, but it's a notable tidbit for those that wanted Bozak, MacArthur, and others sold off.

 

[Kin]

Well sure. That applies to all players. But we still hear of players wanting to play closer to "home".

We certainly hear it enough when people talk about prospective UFA's wanting to play for the Leafs anyway.

 

[bustaheims]

markhmasters: Nonis on trade talk: 'The calls have picked up but its been relatively slow so far'

markhmasters: Nonis on difference bt this deadline & past years: 'We're not trying to necessarily sell off players for future assets'

markhmasters: Nonis: 'I wouldn't say we wouldn't move some players that have a year left or are UFAs but we wouldn't move them for draft picks'

markhmasters: Nonis: 'I would prefer a hockey trade where we're giving up some assets & getting assets back. Difficult to find that right now.'

markhmasters: Nonis says rental market hasn't defined itself yet bc not many mid-range, depth guys moved; 'as of yet we have very little to choose from'

markhmasters: Nonis on potentially adding a goalie: 'It's not a priority'

markhmasters: Nonis: 'Even if we brought another goaltender in, James has done a good job to show us he can play at a high level'

markhmasters: Would Nonis be disappointed if he didn't make a deal? 'I wouldn't be disappointed at all'

markhmasters: Nonis: 'A lot of teams are saying the same thing right now, it's not a year where there's a lot of players available'

markhmasters: Nonis on trade market: 'Some players it would be a reach just to say that they can help you'

markhmasters: Nonis notes so many teams still in playoff race & 'even some that aren't are happy w/ a lot of their young players'

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

He did say that if he was going to move pending UFAs or guys with one year left on their contracts it wouldn't be for draft picks or prospects, but rather in a hockey trade.

That's not exactly surprising, but it's a notable tidbit for those that wanted Bozak, MacArthur, and others sold off.

Yeah, we need the depth for the playoffs, so he can't very well act like he's still acquiring the picks and prospects first and foremost for building purposes. I mean he could if he had the players to take over already in the system, but I don't think that is the case right now with this team.

I can't see Bozak going, unless they absolutely know what he wants in a contract, but I can see MacArthur going in a hockey deal for a top 4 defenseman. That would make a lot of sense.