The Canes may honestly be better off in the long run trading the 1st or 2nd overall for what would likely be an incredibly strong return. The catch: Whoever makes that deal needs to take two of these contracts.
- hereticpride

See, the NHL doesn't think like that, but they should -- yeah, it sucks to move down, but just say they get the top pick or the second pick.

Well, if that stays Eichel or MacDavid, then you've already got Lindholm, and Jordan Staal's locked up for forever and a day

But find a team like Calgary or Toronto or Buffalo -- Buffalo because they've got multiple picks in the first round -- and just move back, but make sure one of those contracts goes with it

Staal arrives at the Leafs practice facility.

"What's that big spot of blood all over the wall?"

"Oh, we told Kessel that you were his new center and his head exploded"
- Jsaquella

Those guys would be cornerstones-at least the last two would be. Gerbe's a solid guy to have, but I wouldn't consider him a cornerstone piece.

If it was me, I'd be shopping the Staals, Skinner, Semin, Ward, Sekera, Liles and Hainsey.

Jesus Christ, Semin has 4 years left on his deal at $7mm.
- Jsaquella

Really blew their load on that one

Yeah we traded Eichel, but now Semin is a Leaf
- Jsaquella

Honestly, theyre not much better of a team and no closer to cap relief if they make the pick and dont move anyone. Its crazy.

He just got locked into the thing you can't do as a manager: Giving NTCs to guys who aren't elite players

If somebody wants to argue that Eric Staal was an elite player when he signed his deal, fine. I won't split hairs on that -- he was a hellacious player when he signed it.

But you can't give Skinner and Jordan Staal NTCs, Ward, Hainsey either, though I guess his is modified. Add Semin to that at 7 per, and woof -- you got some work to do
- AllInForFlyers

Take a look at the rosters of a lot of top teams. Lots of players have NTC's that aren't elite players. Not uncommon in the NHL

Really blew their load on that one
- PhillySportsGuy

Haaaa-YO!

Haaaa-YO!
- Jsaquella

- PhillySportsGuy

and for no good reason, here's Mike Ricci with an odd hat

Take a look at the rosters of a lot of top teams. Lots of players have NTC's that aren't elite players. Not uncommon in the NHL
- MJL

Well, I do take a look at the rosters, but you're missing the point: When you're a bad team with NTCs for high-salaried players who aren't elite, it's crippling.

TSN has a pretty good breakdown on the Leafs core that comes to that same conclusion -- might just not be able to win with Kessel and Phaneuf as your best players, and you gotta get them out of there

Really blew their load on that one
- PhillySportsGuy

busted a nut

and for no good reason, here's Mike Ricci with an odd hat


- Jsaquella

I guess they didn't have adjustable chinstraps back then

Well, I do take a look at the rosters, but you're missing the point: When you're a bad team with NTCs for high-salaried players who aren't elite, it's crippling.
- AllInForFlyers

Those players got high salaries for a reason. At the time they were signed, they were top players. And you aren't going to re-sign those players without some kind of movement clause in most cases. In the case of Eric Staal, he was coming off of a 40 goal 75 point season, and had been the best player of a Cup team. And really, when top players who are highly paid, stop producing. The NTC is the least of a teams worries.

Bottom line, lot's of players who aren't elite, have movement clauses.

busted a nut
- Marc D

You rang?

Those players got high salaries for a reason. At the time they were signed, they were top players. And you aren't going to re-sign those players without some kind of movement clause in most cases. In the case of Eric Staal, he was coming off of a 40 goal 75 point season, and had been the best player of a Cup team. And really, when top players who are highly paid, stop producing. The NTC is the least of a teams worries.
- MJL

Eric Staal might still be a really good player with more support around him. I know he has Semin but Washington cut ties for a reason beyond skill.

The absolute killer is Ward, though -- their defense is so shaky, you can't tell if it's him or the defense, but either way, $6.3 is a hell of a number for a goalie nowadays
- AllInForFlyers

exactly. this is the strategy i find myself in favor of more and more.

...I loved the Pronger trade when they made it, and still love it now. Unfortunate that a freak injury ended his career. I'd make that deal every single time, without hesitation.
- MJL

Hmmm...that's not quite how I remember it, old friend.

Those players got high salaries for a reason. At the time they were signed, they were top players. And you aren't going to re-sign those players without some kind of movement clause in most cases. In the case of Eric Staal, he was coming off of a 40 goal 75 point season, and had been the best player of a Cup team. And really, when top players who are highly paid, stop producing. The NTC is the least of a teams worries.

Bottom line, lot's of players who aren't elite, have movement clauses.
- MJL

And when those players are on teams that are bad, they are crippling -- nobody's saying anything you don't know. Why you want to argue the point is beyond me

Dion Phaneuf's contract is tough. It's worse when he has an NMC

David Clarkson's contract is bad. It's worse when he has an NTC/NMC

So on and so forth. The NTC isn't the least of a bad team's worries. It's the biggest worry, because right now, the Hurricanes can't just trade Eric Staal. They can't just trade Jordan Staal -- if they could even find a taker.

They have to trade them to a team they allow themselves to be traded to -- and you already know this. You know this is a huge problem. You just want to argue for whatever reason that makes sense to you

And when those players are on teams that are bad, they are crippling -- nobody's saying anything you don't know. Why you want to argue the point is beyond me

Dion Phaneuf's contract is tough. It's worse when he has an NMC

David Clarkson's contract is bad. It's worse when he has an NTC/NMC

So on and so forth. The NTC isn't the least of a bad team's worries. It's the biggest worry, because right now, the Hurricanes can't just trade Eric Staal. They can't just trade Jordan Staal -- if they could even find a taker.

They have to trade them to a team they allow themselves to be traded to -- and you already know this. You know this is a huge problem. You just want to argue for whatever reason that makes sense to you
- AllInForFlyers

This is a team that has made the playoffs twice in the past decade. It's more than fair to question the GM who assembled the team. Anyone can point out that big contracts were given to players who had shown they could produce and be good players, but at the same time, they largely haven't worked out as a team.

Regardless of whether the players were good when they signed their deals, the fact is the deals have not worked out. Every GM has a deal or two he'd like to forget. How much money was dumped by GMs in CBOs and even regular buyouts the past two summers?

Carolina has a $66mm payroll and has yet to win a game. Defending their contract choices is kind of Quixotic to say the least

Edmonton vs the West: 0-4-1
Edmonton vs the East: 4-0

Is Samuel Morin skating with the Flyers?

This is a team that has made the playoffs twice in the past decade. It's more than fair to question the GM who assembled the team. Anyone can point out that big contracts were given to players who had shown they could produce and be good players, but at the same time, they largely haven't worked out as a team.

Regardless of whether the players were good when they signed their deals, the fact is the deals have not worked out. Every GM has a deal or two he'd like to forget. How much money was dumped by GMs in CBOs and even regular buyouts the past two summers?

Carolina has a $66mm payroll and has yet to win a game. Defending their contract choices is kind of Quixotic to say the least
- Jsaquella

Trust me, if Ron Hextall came out tomorrow and said the Flyers will never give another NTC/NMC under his watch, and one of us questioned it, the hoops-jumping from tonight to tomorrow would be Olympian in nature

Is Samuel Morin skating with the Flyers?
- SuperSchennBros

He did on Sunday.

Trust me, if Ron Hextall came out tomorrow and said the Flyers will never give another NTC/NMC under his watch, and one of us questioned it, the hoops-jumping from tonight to tomorrow would be Olympian in nature
- AllInForFlyers

In a bit of irony, dropping fuel prices are what's killing the Canadian dollar, which in turn is very bad news for the NHL.
- Tomahawk

interesting. i hadn't made the connection. i choose low gas prices. (frank) the nhl.