Phil Kessel

[Derk]

I just heard on the FAN this morning that the Leafs have $10M in cap space to split among four RFAs (Kadri, Franson, Gunnarson and Fraser). Would an extension to Kessel or Phaneuf in this off season not increase their cap hit for this season as well? If so, they may have to wait until later in the season or after the season when the increase would not put them over the cap.

Feel free to correct if I am mistaken - this is just off the top of my head.

 

[Peter D.]

I just heard on the FAN this morning that the Leafs have $10M in cap space to split among four RFAs (Kadri, Franson, Gunnarson and Fraser). Would an extension to Kessel or Phaneuf in this off season not increase their cap hit for this season as well? If so, they may have to wait until later in the season or after the season when the increase would not put them over the cap.

Feel free to correct if I am mistaken - this is just off the top of my head.

Their new contracts wouldn't kick in until next year.

And by then the cap will go up, which should cover their raises quite easily.

 

[Corn Flake]

i think it's a lock at this point that Kessel signs an extension.  assuming he keeps playing the way he has been the last two seasons, i'm guessing he'll sign before Christmas.  7 - 8 years, for at least $7M a season.

I think so too. With the Clarkson signing we know the Leafs aren't going to restrict players to 5 year deals, so it will be 8 years for sure.. just a matter of time I think.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I just heard on the FAN this morning that the Leafs have $10M in cap space to split among four RFAs (Kadri, Franson, Gunnarson and Fraser). Would an extension to Kessel or Phaneuf in this off season not increase their cap hit for this season as well? If so, they may have to wait until later in the season or after the season when the increase would not put them over the cap.

Feel free to correct if I am mistaken - this is just off the top of my head.

Their new contracts wouldn't kick in until next year.

And by then the cap will go up, which should cover their raises quite easily.

And some buyout/trade money will come off the books.

 

[Zee]

I just heard on the FAN this morning that the Leafs have $10M in cap space to split among four RFAs (Kadri, Franson, Gunnarson and Fraser). Would an extension to Kessel or Phaneuf in this off season not increase their cap hit for this season as well? If so, they may have to wait until later in the season or after the season when the increase would not put them over the cap.

Feel free to correct if I am mistaken - this is just off the top of my head.

Their new contracts wouldn't kick in until next year.

And by then the cap will go up, which should cover their raises quite easily.

And some buyout/trade money will come off the books.

Yep an additional $2.5M comes off the books for : Tucker, Armstrong and retained salaries of Frattin and Scrivens.

 

[Derk]

Perfect. I figured that next year would be no problem, but the upcoming season would be a challenge for extensions, but it seems all they need to worry about are their RFAs.

 

[Zee]

Perfect. I figured that next year would be no problem, but the upcoming season would be a challenge for extensions, but it seems all they need to worry about are their RFAs.

Next season UFAs are : Kessel, Bolland, Kulemin, McClement, Phaneuf
RFAs: Colborne, Gardiner, Reimer, Brennan

I

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Perfect. I figured that next year would be no problem, but the upcoming season would be a challenge for extensions, but it seems all they need to worry about are their RFAs.

Next season UFAs are : Kessel, Bolland, Kulemin, McClement, Phaneuf
RFAs: Colborne, Gardiner, Reimer, Brennan

I

If Gunnarsson and Fraser make it to Arbitration would they not be UFA's next year or is that just an old clause, or a misunderstanding on my part.

 

[bustaheims]

If Gunnarsson and Fraser make it to Arbitration would they not be UFA's next year or is that just an old clause, or a misunderstanding on my part.

Whether or not they make to arbitration will have absolutely no impact on their UFA status. That's based on age and accrued seasons. If they were eligible to be UFAs next summer, they will be if they're not under contract, regardless of how they got their last contract.

 

[louisstamos]

If Gunnarsson and Fraser make it to Arbitration would they not be UFA's next year or is that just an old clause, or a misunderstanding on my part.

Whether or not they make to arbitration will have absolutely no impact on their UFA status. That's based on age and accrued seasons. If they were eligible to be UFAs next summer, they will be if they're not under contract, regardless of how they got their last contract.

That being said, since an arbiter can only dish out 1-year contracts, and both Gunnarsson and Fraser are 26, I believe they would both be eligible to be UFAs next year (at 27) 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

If Gunnarsson and Fraser make it to Arbitration would they not be UFA's next year or is that just an old clause, or a misunderstanding on my part.

Whether or not they make to arbitration will have absolutely no impact on their UFA status. That's based on age and accrued seasons. If they were eligible to be UFAs next summer, they will be if they're not under contract, regardless of how they got their last contract.

Hmm, I thought I heard something about going to arbitration effecting the UFA status. I believe it was surrounding Luongo's a few years ago. I could be completely out of it.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I think the Leafs can choose a 2 year deal or a 1 year deal.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I believe this is what I was talking about...

(b) If a Club has elected to arbitrate a two-year SPC and the award issued is for
$3,500,000 or more per annum, then the Club may, within forty-eight (48) hours after the award
of the Salary Arbitrator is issued (or, if a Club has any other Player still eligible for salary
arbitration at that time and for whom a decision has not been rendered by a Salary Arbitrator at
that time, and the Club still has a walk-away right available to it in such League Year pursuant to
paragraph (c) below, forty-eight (48) hours after the award of the Salary Arbitrator for such other
Player is issued or that salary arbitration case is settled), notify the Player or his Certified Agent,
if any, the NHLPA and the NHL in writing, in accordance with Exhibit 3 hereof, that it does not
intend to tender to the Player a two-year SPC based on the award as determined by the Salary
Arbitrator. Upon receipt of that notice, the Player and the Club shall enter into a one-year SPC
providing for the compensation set forth in the award and the Player will automatically be
deemed to be an Unrestricted Free Agent at the conclusion of that one-year SPC, subject to the
provisions of paragraph (c) below.[/i]

I may be simplifying it, but I read that as "If the player is awarded two years and the team says we're only giving you one, said player automatically becomes UFA at the end of the one year"

 

[bustaheims]

I may be simplifying it, but I read that as "If the player is awarded two years and the team says we're only giving you one, said player automatically becomes UFA at the end of the one year"

Not exactly. That's only in very specific cases where the team elects a 2 year arbitration settlement, the contract value comes in at $3.5M or more and the team chooses to exercise their right to walk away for the decision. In that specific scenario, the player is awarded a one year and become a UFA at the end of it.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I may be simplifying it, but I read that as "If the player is awarded two years and the team says we're only giving you one, said player automatically becomes UFA at the end of the one year"

Not exactly. That's only in very specific cases where the team elects a 2 year arbitration settlement, the contract value comes in at $3.5M or more and the team chooses to exercise their right to walk away for the decision. In that specific scenario, the player is awarded a one year and become a UFA at the end of it.

Okay, that makes sense..sorta..

 

[bustaheims]

Okay, that makes sense..sorta..

Realistically, it's not going to be an issue. It's unlikely the Leafs go for a 2 year settlement with Fraser, nor should he end up with an award anywhere near $3.5M - and, if he gets that or more, the Leafs should walk away immediately. With Gunnarsson . . . my guess is the team won't go for a 2 year settlement there, either, and he's not likely to get that big a settlement, but, even if he did, unless it was an absurd amount, the Leafs would be unlikely to walk away.