Hey BD, I have watched all the naysayers on you, but I must say this is one of the best blogs I have read on the whole JT saga, I hope you keep up this kind of writing, as far as the rumor stuff, leave that to Ek, we all know as I'm sure you do that Lou says nothing and will not allow staff to either, so we move on, from here, with (hopefully) or without JT.
- Sec111

Much thanks!


If he goes... it’s not the end of the world... though some will react or pose that it is. But that is a piece I hope not to write.

Much thanks!


If he goes... it’s not the end of the world... though some will react or pose that it is. But that is a piece I hope not to write.
- B.D. Gallof

It's not the end but it's a huge step backwards. JT as first line center and Barzal as second is tremendous. You can choose among the other guys or a UFA to fill the If you move Barzal up.. the team is very weak up the middle.

It's not the end but it's a huge step backwards. JT as first line center and Barzal as second is tremendous. You can choose among the other guys or a UFA to fill the If you move Barzal up.. the team is very weak up the middle.
- niteislander

Yes... requires a “retooling” but wouldn’t require a rebuild. And opens up cap room.

Anyone else here about the 9 year possibility for JT's services...? Leafs sign him to 1 year 15 million max deal on July 1rst, then extend him 8 years 80 million on July 2nd for a total of 95 million over 9 years...! Would that be accepted by the league?

B.D. Gallof: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
- B.D. Gallof

I’m back in action!

Thanks B.D.

Hey BD, I have watched all the naysayers on you, but I must say this is one of the best blogs I have read on the whole JT saga, I hope you keep up this kind of writing, as far as the rumor stuff, leave that to Ek, we all know as I'm sure you do that Lou says nothing and will not allow staff to either, so we move on, from here, with (hopefully) or without JT.
- Sec111

Jesus did you put your kneepads on first

Anyone else here about the 9 year possibility for JT's services...? Leafs sign him to 1 year 15 million max deal on July 1rst, then extend him 8 years 80 million on July 2nd for a total of 95 million over 9 years...! Would that be accepted by the league?
- Wario

No.

Can’t offer him that 2nd contract until Jan 1, 2019, apparently.

Even later than that apperently. Here's the llink:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...n-tavares-get-nine-years/
Sorry Maple Laughs...!

I’m back in action!

Thanks B.D.
- Atomic Wedgie

Even later than that apperently. Here's the llink:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...n-tavares-get-nine-years/
Sorry Maple Laughs...!
- Wario

I'm not worried.

League office is afraid of our GM Lou Lamoriello - guy can basically do whatever he wants. He'll find a way around the rues.

Sorry Fishsticks fans!

I'm not worried.

League office is afraid of our GM Lou Lamoriello - guy can basically do whatever he wants. He'll find a way around the rues.

Sorry Fishsticks fans!
- Atomic Wedgie

Glad to see you're happy with a Lou type GM, but in the end, only 1 team has the real Lou at the helm...!

Glad to see you're happy with a Lou type GM, but in the end, only 1 team has the real Lou at the helm...!
- Wario

No.

Can’t offer him that 2nd contract until Jan 1, 2019, apparently.
- Atomic Wedgie

And if you wanted to give him 8 years after the one year deal you have to wait until after next year’s trade deadline – only 7 years from January 1st to the deadline.

And if you wanted to give him 8 years after the one year deal you have to wait until after next year’s trade deadline – only 7 years from January 1st to the deadline.
- Isles_since_6

Just my opinion, but I don’t think the 8th year is that big a deal.

He can still sign a contract after a 7 year deal and get the same amount of money. Hell, 7 years may be to his favour, as it means he signs his next contract at 34, not 35.

I have no idea what he is thinking, but my guess is other factors like lifestyle, quality of team would be a much higher priority.

I’m back in action!

Thanks B.D.
- Atomic Wedgie

You spelled "H.C." incorrectly.

I remember when zach parise left. It was terrible because he said all the right things all the way up to it and then just left.

You spelled "H.C." incorrectly.
- hscesq

you've used the banhammer again

Jack Johnson to the Pens 5 years. Metro is a thunderdome

I remember when zach parise left. It was terrible because he said all the right things all the way up to it and then just left.
- Shampoo

I agree but it was also a twofer deal with him and Suter signing with the Wild. Also remember the LeBron James saga was a threefer when he signed with Miami. It is hard to fathom what goes on behind closed doors with owners, sports agencies and players. Crosby is a close friend with the cap clearing in PITT or Ilya as his RW in LA could be a possibility if you're wildly speculating.

One has to believe JT has already seen the changes in Isles mgt with Lou and Trotz signed to a 20 million dollar deal. He has to feel he drove a lot of this. Likewise the Isles 8 yr deal will not only make him the highest paid Islander and UFA in history but sign him on to the next phase of a rebuild. He has endured 9 yrs of the previous ownership rebuild but case is the organization has still paid him over 30 million on his previous deals, so nothing to sneeze at in terms of the loyalty he has to the team and fans.

It is a business and of course no JT leaves 88 million plus for the owners to spend on the franchise etc. It is a business but I can understand it is no easy choice for him to make.

I am pretty sure it was a little more than the Tavares saga that got Snow fired; just saying. Islanders can't afford to lose JT this off season. We have already taken a HUGE hit with the lose of Noel. There is little hope that he can be replaced with a competent writer. The Islanders hire the Stanley Cup winning coach, Barry Trotz, and the new guy's writing about the Wizard of Oz! We're not the Kansas City Scouts, Toto! It's nice that they hired someone with special needs, but Ek should have put him where he'd feel more comfortable, like the Rangers!

Miss you Noel, you too Dan!

I am pretty sure it was a little more than the Tavares saga that got Snow fired; just saying. Islanders can't afford to lose JT this off season. We have already taken a HUGE hit with the lose of Noel. There is little hope that he can be replaced with a competent writer. The Islanders hire the Stanley Cup winning coach, Barry Trotz, and the new guy's writing about the Wizard of Oz! We're not the Kansas City Scouts, Toto! It's nice that they hired someone with special needs, but Ek should have put him where he'd feel more comfortable, like the Rangers!

Miss you Noel, you too Dan!
- temmer29

Ban coming in 3...2...

Ban coming in 3...2...
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

I can’t see any mod actually make sense out of it

The is my biggest knock on JT if he leaves. That he leaves the fans with nothing. It would make him no better then any of these other greedy selfish players. He knows he has everyone by the balls. If he leaves everything that he stated about wanting to win here and that this a great place to be would all be bullsh!t. I would loose all respect for him. I would then hope he has little or no success moving forward. I would look for the Islanders to bury him and his new team every chance they could get.

Just my opinion, but I don’t think the 8th year is that big a deal.

He can still sign a contract after a 7 year deal and get the same amount of money. Hell, 7 years may be to his favour, as it means he signs his next contract at 34, not 35.

I have no idea what he is thinking, but my guess is other factors like lifestyle, quality of team would be a much higher priority.
- Atomic Wedgie

Any agent that tells his client to leave 70+ mil on the table and to play for even a few months before he can negotiate an extension (just to get that money back on the extension) is a fool imo.

For what, an extra 3-4 mil in year one? 70+ mil he’ll never see if he suffers a career ending injury? All it takes is one massive shot to the head and he’d never get that money. That’s a hell of a gamble to get back into the same position he’s in now.

The leafs offering him a max one year deal was so they could give him less on the following extension to fit their rfa’s under the cap right? So why would he take that gamble just to make essentially what the Isles can offer him right now? He’d risk 70 mil to play in Toronto? Really? I think he'd tell them to offer him the same amount of money as the Isles over 7 years now, no one year deal.


**edit - if you're saying he'd just take the 7 year deal from the leafs over 8 from the isles, if the money is close then sure, I could see that. It's the one year deal and wait for the term on the extension I think is foolish.

Any agent that tells his client to leave 70+ mil on the table and to play for even a few months before he can negotiate an extension (just to get that money back on the extension) is a fool imo.

For what, an extra 3-4 mil in year one? 70+ mil he’ll never see if he suffers a career ending injury? All it takes is one massive shot to the head and he’d never get that money. That’s a hell of a gamble to get back into the same position he’s in now.

The leafs offering him a max one year deal was so they could give him less on the following extension to fit their rfa’s under the cap right? So why would he take that gamble just to make essentially what the Isles can offer him right now? He’d risk 70 mil to play in Toronto? Really? I think he'd tell them to offer him the same amount of money as the Isles over 7 years now, no one year deal.


**edit - if you're saying he'd just take the 7 year deal from the leafs over 8 from the isles, if the money is close then sure, I could see that. It's the one year deal and wait for the term on the extension I think is foolish.
- Isles_since_6

Let's all remember the Vanek saga. He passed on Snow's 7 year 49 million offer to only end up signing a 3 year 18 million deal in Minnesota. I truely don't see history repeating itself. If the Isles offer more term and more money, he'll take it.