TORONTO (Aug. 28) -- Darcy Tucker has made clear on several occasions a desire to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the balance of his career. The popular left-winger reiterated that stance to yours truly during an informal conversation we had today at Lakeshore Arena in Etobicoke, where a number of NHL and AHL players are conducting pre-training camp workouts. Though the hockey-crazed environment in this city tends to wear on him as the season progresses, Darcy revels in playing for the most popular sports team in town, and he has no particular yearning to change jerseys.
Tucker, however, is also a realist. As such, he understands that the Leafs may not be in a position to retain him as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Several factors are at work here -- primarily the bottom-of-the-barrel salary Tucker has played for in recent years, and will again this season. He might be the NHL's best bargain: a 28-goal shooter, still only 31 years of age, making a paltry $1,596,000. If he enjoys another banner season in 2006-07, Tucker will be seeking almost triple that figure, and there won't be any shortage of teams lining up for his services. It will mark his initial foray into the free agent market, and Darcy looks forward to it. "I've got a bit of catching up to do," he winked, in reference to his comparatively meager stipend of recent years.
With $18,450,000 already committed in 2007-08 to four players on the blueline (Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill) -- and with a club option on Mats Sundin for a further $7,600,000 -- it is entirely conceivable the Leafs may not be able to take on another marquee contract. Especially given the possibility that lesser-paid players like Andrew Raycroft ($1.8 million) and Alexei Ponikarovsky ($725,000) could be seeking profound raises in years to come. And, the salary cap figure is not expected to jump, like it did this summer. "I'm sort of in a Catch-22, I guess," Tucker said today. "If I match or improve my numbers from last season, I could price myself out of Toronto. I'd like to stay here, but I've been a pretty good bargain to this point, and free agency in my prime years is something I've worked hard for."
Tucker's agent, Carlos Sosa, acknowledges that he's entered into preliminary discussions on a contract extension with Leafs' GM John Ferguson. Problem is, there isn't anything the two sides can do this season, which is significant. The Leafs are within $3 million of the salary ceiling, and Ferguson wants to maintain a bit of financial cushion for roster amendments closer to the trade deadline. So, any negotiating would pertain to next summer, when the Leafs are already bogged down.
What it means is that Tucker's future in Toronto could well hinge on the long-range plan Ferguson has for Sundin. I've emphasized on a number of occasions that unless the Leafs are vastly improved at the beginning of next March, they will try and peddle the option year of Sundin's contract, for the Big Swede will be turn 37 during February of the 2007-08 season. Sundin came off his Olympics gold medal last winter looking 10 years younger, but it's almost certain the Leafs will refuse to pay him $7,600,000 beyond the coming season. They will either have to renegotiate a smaller figure (with an additional year or two added), or unload him altogether. That would free up cap space to entertain overtures from Tucker.
If Darcy comes in with a goal total close to 30 once again, what might be a fair salary for him? He tied for 53rd in goals scored last season (28) with Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit), Marc Savard (Atlanta, now with Boston), Mark Recchi (Carolina), Alexei Yashin (N.Y. Islanders), Jason Blake (N.Y. Islanders), Joffrey Lupul (Anaheim, now with Edmonton), and Florida's young star, Nathan Horton. Yashin's salary is way out of whack at $7,600,000, so he isn't a fair comparable. But, Savard ($5,000,000), and Datsyuk ($3,900,000) are in the right ballpark. Tucker's 61 points tied him with Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis, who pulled in $6 million. Pavol Demitra racked up 62 points in Los Angeles and made $4,500,000. So, any way you slice it, another good performance by Tucker will put him in a solid financial position, with many suitors for his signature.
Can the Leafs be among those suitors? Only time will tell, though Darcy, himself, isn't entirely convinced.
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