My best guess at our off-season adds

Hoffman
Fowler
Eaves/Stalberg
Riley Nash
depth d with speed (bartkowski?)

So because he gets endorsements the Leafs dont have to abide by the cap? Im confused.
- ImThatGuy

I don't see the Leafs on there.

http://opendorse.com/blog/top-12-nhl-endorsers/

a bunch of water that goes over a cliff and cheerios
- IndianaSabresFan

How about a young roster that looks like it is on the upswing in terms of talent?
An aggressive GM who is actively looking to make his roster better?
A coach who is a former player and former Stanley Cup winning head coach?
A city/region with a really strong fan base?
An owner who isn't afraid to open the checkbook to support his players/employees and by all accounts sounds like a pretty decent guy (other than, ya know fracking or whatever) ?

Not every team has all of those things and I'd say there aren't many who have that whole combo of things.

Rocco Grimaldi to the Avs for G Reto Berra
- Pegullaville

Ill take it

Yeah but he'll take an asswhoopin on the exchange rate
- 22sabresQ

Why? He gets paid in American dollars and then pays for everything in Toronto with a higher valued dollar. It makes even more sense with him to go to Toronto. The only problem would be the taxes but, from what I know, the taxes are based on what state/providence/country you play in for that game so it'd only be 41 games that he's paying TO taxes. Still a lot, but not the whole 82.

How about a young roster that looks like it is on the upswing in terms of talent?
An aggressive GM who is actively looking to make his roster better?
A coach who is a former player and former Stanley Cup winning head coach?
A city/region with a really strong fan base?
An owner who isn't afraid to open the checkbook to support his players/employees and by all accounts sounds like a pretty decent guy (other than, ya know fracking or whatever) ?

Not every team has all of those things and I'd say there aren't many who have that whole combo of things.
- Phatjohnsn

You basically just described Pittsburgh, NYI, Montreal. Take one of those things away and you've got another 5 teams. I'm not saying there isn't a chance but really this is sellers choice and he'll choose based on what he wants. I hope we get him I just don't see it.

Edit: I'm not sure on the playing status of the head coaches there or if they've won cups but I'm also in the side that thinks Bylsma didn't do diddly to win that cup, he had malkin and Crosby. Said coach was also run out of town. So I stand by my statements.

I know people are not high on yak..but if this 3rd asking price is real...
We had 4 3rds..IF you can turn 2 into vesey and yak im not complaining
- yen6d1

I thought about that, but no way Murray does that. (I sort of want him to, but Yak would be 3rd line player, I think there will be issues with him there).

But at $2.5m (his last year of contract), not much to lose.

You basically just described Pittsburgh, NYI, Montreal. Take one of those things away and you've got another 5 teams. I'm not saying there isn't a chance but really this is sellers choice and he'll choose based on what he wants. I hope we get him I just don't see it.
- Zschalberg

Are any of them in serious contention?

I guess I thought you were saying we have nothing to offer them but I see more what you mean now. If your point was that we really have no better shot than anyone else, I agree. I don't think we're a lock at all for Stamkos. Maybe the idea of being close enough to Toronto without being there is what puts us > PIT, NYI, MTL though.

Edit reply: Yeah, not saying Bylsma is a huge draw but its a guy who understands the hockey life as a player and has experienced winning as a coach. It isn't a thing to you and me but maybe to him because his current coach doesn't possess that? I don't know.

What?!?!

THIS IS MADNESS!!!
- JVince11

Why are you so saucy Vince

I thought about that, but no way Murray does that. (I sort of want him to, but Yak would be 3rd line player, I think there will be issues with him there).

But at $2.5m (his last year of contract), not much to lose.
- Lilroot9

Not if you do the 3rd line as a scoring line and not as a checking line. I've said for years that rolling 3 scoring lines is way more effective than 2 scoring and 2 checking. If you have the players for it, of course. Foligno, Gionta, Larsson, Girgensons aren't the 3rd line players that can pull that off. Ennis, O'Reilly, and players like that are.

"O'Reilly can't play on the 3rd line"

But he can if you have 2 other good centers and you give the 3 lines pretty equal minutes. If you somehow get Stamkos it's the best way to do it IMO.

So what is going to be the bigger free agent mistake: giving huge money to Lucic or huge money to Okposo?

So what is going to be the bigger free agent mistake: giving huge money to Lucic or huge money to Okposo?
- Slump Buster

Yes.

How about a young roster that looks like it is on the upswing in terms of talent?
An aggressive GM who is actively looking to make his roster better?
A coach who is a former player and former Stanley Cup winning head coach?
A city/region with a really strong fan base?
An owner who isn't afraid to open the checkbook to support his players/employees and by all accounts sounds like a pretty decent guy (other than, ya know fracking or whatever) ?

Not every team has all of those things and I'd say there aren't many who have that whole combo of things.
- Phatjohnsn

i was taking it as he meant outside of the team since he did say well you could say the team

Are any of them in serious contention?

I guess I thought you were saying we have nothing to offer them but I see more what you mean now. If your point was that we really have no better shot than anyone else, I agree. I don't think we're a lock at all for Stamkos. Maybe the idea of being close enough to Toronto without being there is what puts us > PIT, NYI, MTL though.

Edit reply: Yeah, not saying Bylsma is a huge draw but its a guy who understands the hockey life as a player and has experienced winning as a coach. It isn't a thing to you and me but maybe to him because his current coach doesn't possess that? I don't know.
- Phatjohnsn

We have stuff to offer, just nothing special. Nothing that makes us the premier destination.

From what I've seen those 3 are at least at the table. We'll see what happens. If he does go to Toronto I'm through with hockey for a while. Not going to watch Toronto be good.

Yes.
- Phatjohnsn

this

We have stuff to offer, just nothing special. Nothing that makes us the premier destination.

From what I've seen those 3 are at least at the table. We'll see what happens. If he does go to Toronto I'm through with hockey for a while. Not going to watch Toronto be good.
- Zschalberg

Talk this side of the border has heated up re: stamkos. Im like 95% sure hes coming here so....nice knowing you i guess

i was taking it as he meant outside of the team since he did say well you could say the team
- IndianaSabresFan

Got ya.

Soooo HarborCenter and Canalside?

:-(

We have stuff to offer, just nothing special. Nothing that makes us the premier destination.

From what I've seen those 3 are at least at the table. We'll see what happens. If he does go to Toronto I'm through with hockey for a while. Not going to watch Toronto be good.
- Zschalberg

They'll find a way to botch it... they always do

Did someone put Vince in the corner

Talk this side of the border has heated up re: stamkos. Im like 95% sure hes coming here so....nice knowing you i guess
- Sabresfan-365

Hey, cut that out.

We have stuff to offer, just nothing special. Nothing that makes us the premier destination.

From what I've seen those 3 are at least at the table. We'll see what happens. If he does go to Toronto I'm through with hockey for a while. Not going to watch Toronto be good.
- Zschalberg

i dont know that him going to toronto automatically makes them any better... how where they when they had kessel? still missed the playoffs. does stamkos bring a ton more than kessel did to the table?

i was taking it as he meant outside of the team since he did say well you could say the team
- IndianaSabresFan

I'm saying the team is great but it's nothing special. You have Eichel. Great. He's a center and probably won't play with him. And if that's the big draw other places have similar, if not better players. Pittsburgh has Crosby. NYI has Tavares. Eichel's great but it's not like he's Gretzky and Stamkos is going to bust down the door to play with him. Other than him what do we have? O'Reilly, Sam, Kane who hasn't done much, Moulson, Ennis. Defense is Ristolainen and friends. Goalie hasn't played a full season in a while. This is trying to get Adam Banks to come to the Ducks. Yeah the team ends up winning but it's because of him. Had he sat out they would have been out in the first round.

How has this not been mentioned yet?


Shawn Stepner ✔ @StepnerWKBW
I'm told #Sabres are working on a potential trade with #Ducks. Told they've been talking "for a long time." #NHLDraft
2:37 PM - 23 Jun 2016

Got ya.

Soooo HarborCenter and Canalside?

:-(
- Phatjohnsn

other cities have comparable things and typically more of them. they may not be the same but they are similar..

I don't see the Leafs on there.

http://opendorse.com/blog/top-12-nhl-endorsers/
- cabin

I don't see any bona fide superstars on the Leafs either. If Stamkos goes there, he will be.

I also doubt he's scared of the "media pressure".