Explain your scandalous avatar sir.
- Wildschwein

She is so trashy hot, like the trashiest

from the music video "I sit on acid, by lords of acid" I could watch that video for hours.

Well this is rather embarassing ....perhaps I need to do better myself
- RatedR80

I don't agree that this is Win-Now for the Leafs. Muzzin is a good move, because Gardiner is a UFA next year, and Muzzin is cheaper and is signed into next year. Muzzin helps now, and replaces Gardiner for next season. It's a smart hockey play that plays into the ability to maximize cap space this year and adds to their chances. But, like Edmonton's young core, the team is still very young, and is still getting better.

The Leafs have a good team, and they have been run well. The players have been given time to develop and grow without being rushed. They have, in many cases, had a chance to learn the system and develop skills and adapt with the Marlies. I don't think the Oilers have drafted that well outside of the first round, and from our previous conversations in here, I don't think the players are given the development time they need.

As Zezel noted, they also have had the fortune of getting a good goalie. I don't know if Talbot regains form. I never thought he was elite, but I thought he was an above average goalie. I'm not sold on Koskinen, yet, either, but time will tell.

Pushing the doom and gloom of the Oilers aside for a second, they have been without Klefbom since Dec. 11. Their record since he went down is 6-12-1. He's back on Saturday. Nurse is 23 and getting better. Draisaitl is 23; Puljujarvi is only 20. And they have Connor (frank)ing McDavid.

I, personally, may not really like Russell or Larsson that much - but they have value however you slice it.

Honestly, if they could find a way to dump salary - even if they retain salary - and get a reliable goalie, it would turn them around completely. There are UFA options coming up - Bobrovsky, Varlamov . . .on the lesser end, you have Elliot, Lehner, Howard.
- Monkeypunk

Future Oiler GM

I told you all Chia sucks !!!! Bring back Mac-T
- Iggysdff

Fuk that bring back Iggybff

Sean, this was an awesome article. Very accurate imo. I agree that ghe Leafs made a great trade in acquiring Muzzin. I understand they may hold onto their existing cap space for Marner/Matthews bonuses so they don’t roll into next year; a very savvy GM move obviously. My favorite part was when you touched on the cap. You didn’t delve into great detail but you’re absolutely right. They’re not in a cap crunch and when they come close they’ll get futures and RFAs in return. It’s a good problem to have and they earned it through all of their turmoil.

I got into some big discussions this past weekend with Hawk fans who seemed incredibly bitter and thought the Leafs, Jets, and Bolts will have the same cap hell that they experienced. This won’t happen for several reasons (IMO): 1) Toews was MVP and that bonus didn’t do them any favors the following season 2) the Hawks put themselves in cap hell when they signed Hossa and instantly put him on IR. It worked, they won the cup and then had to liquidate 3) in general, salaries have gone up by what 25%? But the cap has gone up by closer to 40% since that first cup. There’s a huge gap. 4) the players the Hawks were trading hadn’t had breakout seasons yet. I think the only guys to hit even the 40 point barrier were Versteeg and Brouwer?? Whereas these other teams have all of these players who are already playing at or near a top 6 level

Like I said, solid article. I’m glad you wrote it and I hope a lot of the fans from other teams read it and gain a little perspective on what’s to come

Sean, this was an awesome article. Very accurate imo. I agree that ghe Leafs made a great trade in acquiring Muzzin. I understand they may hold onto their existing cap space for Marner/Matthews bonuses so they don’t roll into next year; a very savvy GM move obviously. My favorite part was when you touched on the cap. You didn’t delve into great detail but you’re absolutely right. They’re not in a cap crunch and when they come close they’ll get futures and RFAs in return. It’s a good problem to have and they earned it through all of their turmoil.

I got into some big discussions this past weekend with Hawk fans who seemed incredibly bitter and thought the Leafs, Jets, and Bolts will have the same cap hell that they experienced. This won’t happen for several reasons (IMO): 1) Toews was MVP and that bonus didn’t do them any favors the following season 2) the Hawks put themselves in cap hell when they signed Hossa and instantly put him on IR. It worked, they won the cup and then had to liquidate 3) in general, salaries have gone up by what 25%? But the cap has gone up by closer to 40% since that first cup. There’s a huge gap. 4) the players the Hawks were trading hadn’t had breakout seasons yet. I think the only guys to hit even the 40 point barrier were Versteeg and Brouwer?? Whereas these other teams have all of these players who are already playing at or near a top 6 level

Like I said, solid article. I’m glad you wrote it and I hope a lot of the fans from other teams read it and gain a little perspective on what’s to come
- WSCTeton17

Gonna have to disagree with your reasons as to why TOR won't have the cap hell CHI had because some of it is factually wrong, but I agree that it's not some in-built guarantee that they'll collapse due to cap issues

1) Build up a strong scouting dept... hold the accountable
2) Hold on to your picks and trade exp. contracts for whatever you can get if the player is not in your future plans
3) Pay close attention to your farm system from the Coach on down to the popcorn vendors
4) Get some good, serviceable, veterans to teach the young'uns as they come up. Cup experience a plus
5) Don't even THINK about trading picks until you get near contention... and it had better be a really good deal for you beyond just THIS season
6) Don't go UFA crazy. Have a cup of tea and relax on Jul 1st. Look for mid-tier bargains. If none present themselves, oh well.

Toronto has done this. Tampa has done this. Detroit, for ages, wrote the book on this (which they, apparently, need to reread). Panic moves are a clear sign of a broken organization, no matter how it is spun.

Muzzin was a smart move.
McDonagh was a smart move.
Karlsson was a smart move.

Ryan Mcdonagh was a smart move?

It is impossible to compare anything to Tampa Bay. It really is BS, the fact that they dont have to pay state income taxes. It breaks the parity of a salary capped sport. Crosby was paid 8.7 7 years before Stamkos got 8.5, as the salary cap consistantly went up. Kucherov only at 9.5, its a joke. Any other team would have had to pay 10+ for both those players.

Fuk that bring back Iggybff
- K-man25

Don't like the Chinese knock off version ?

Explain your scandalous avatar sir.
- Wildschwein

Define scandalous.

I'd hope that we could offload one of Sekera and/or Lucic's contracts this summer. Problem is, how...

I don't mind keeping Russell at this point.

Sean, this was an awesome article. Very accurate imo. I agree that ghe Leafs made a great trade in acquiring Muzzin. I understand they may hold onto their existing cap space for Marner/Matthews bonuses so they don’t roll into next year; a very savvy GM move obviously. My favorite part was when you touched on the cap. You didn’t delve into great detail but you’re absolutely right. They’re not in a cap crunch and when they come close they’ll get futures and RFAs in return. It’s a good problem to have and they earned it through all of their turmoil.

I got into some big discussions this past weekend with Hawk fans who seemed incredibly bitter and thought the Leafs, Jets, and Bolts will have the same cap hell that they experienced. This won’t happen for several reasons (IMO): 1) Toews was MVP and that bonus didn’t do them any favors the following season 2) the Hawks put themselves in cap hell when they signed Hossa and instantly put him on IR. It worked, they won the cup and then had to liquidate 3) in general, salaries have gone up by what 25%? But the cap has gone up by closer to 40% since that first cup. There’s a huge gap. 4) the players the Hawks were trading hadn’t had breakout seasons yet. I think the only guys to hit even the 40 point barrier were Versteeg and Brouwer?? Whereas these other teams have all of these players who are already playing at or near a top 6 level

Like I said, solid article. I’m glad you wrote it and I hope a lot of the fans from other teams read it and gain a little perspective on what’s to come
- WSCTeton17

People are over reacting to the leafs cap situation. All good teams that continue to develop players will have to deal with cap issues. The question will be if the Marner, Matthews, Tavares and who ever else they choose to pay will continue to perform at the same level or at least close to it.

The Hawks won while being in suppose cap hell, so did the kings, and the Pens. The problem with the hawks isn't just the cap, it's that their core is a shadow of it's former self. Toews is doing better this year, but has not been great the previous 2. Keith is no longer a Norris trophy candidate, Seabrook looks like a bottom pairing defensemen most nights, and Crawford is hurt. The Kings have the same issue, Brown and Carter aren't what they use to be, Kopitar production the last couple of years has been like a yo yo, and they are blowing money on Phaneuf.

The Pens continue to stick around for the complete opposite, in that their core of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang, continue to produce. The Oilers issue isn't that they have a ton of cap space in McDavid and Draisaitl. It's that they are paying Lucic, Russell and Talbot 14 million, when on good amount of nights they play like they don't even belong on an NHL team.

People are over reacting to the leafs cap situation. All good teams that continue to develop players will have to deal with cap issues. The question will be if the Marner, Matthews, Tavares and who ever else they choose to pay will continue to perform at the same level or at least close to it.

The Hawks won while being in suppose cap hell, so did the kings, and the Pens. The problem with the hawks isn't just the cap, it's that their core is a shadow of it's former self. Toews is doing better this year, but has not been great the previous 2. Keith is no longer a Norris trophy candidate, Seabrook looks like a bottom pairing defensemen most nights, and Crawford is hurt. The Kings have the same issue, Brown and Carter aren't what they use to be, Kopitar production the last couple of years has been like a yo yo, and they are blowing money on Phaneuf.

The Pens continue to stick around for the complete opposite, in that their core of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang, continue to produce. The Oilers issue isn't that they have a ton of cap space in McDavid and Draisaitl. It's that they are paying Lucic, Russell and Talbot 14 million, when on good amount of nights they play like they don't even belong on an NHL team.
- VT001

I agree for the most part, however, I don't with the Russell portion. He has really made that 4 million not look as bad as it is so far into this season. Sure it'd be awesome if his cap hit was 1m lower, but it is what it is at this point. In fact, I'd even say I'm fine with it. But the Lucic, Spooner, and Manning contracts are horrid. Talbot will be off the hook this offseason so it ain't that big of a deal.

I think what makes or breaks the Leafs is gonna be the Marner/Matthews signings. This is going to be a big test for Dubas and everyone will be watching. What they do with those two will either open up doors or close some. So it really isn't an implication in terms of cap space, but rather that of management.

People are over reacting to the leafs cap situation. All good teams that continue to develop players will have to deal with cap issues. The question will be if the Marner, Matthews, Tavares and who ever else they choose to pay will continue to perform at the same level or at least close to it.

The Hawks won while being in suppose cap hell, so did the kings, and the Pens. The problem with the hawks isn't just the cap, it's that their core is a shadow of it's former self. Toews is doing better this year, but has not been great the previous 2. Keith is no longer a Norris trophy candidate, Seabrook looks like a bottom pairing defensemen most nights, and Crawford is hurt. The Kings have the same issue, Brown and Carter aren't what they use to be, Kopitar production the last couple of years has been like a yo yo, and they are blowing money on Phaneuf.

The Pens continue to stick around for the complete opposite, in that their core of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang, continue to produce. The Oilers issue isn't that they have a ton of cap space in McDavid and Draisaitl. It's that they are paying Lucic, Russell and Talbot 14 million, when on good amount of nights they play like they don't even belong on an NHL team.
- VT001

for those guys, its more of an age-related decline. Keith is 35, Seabrook is 33. Even for defensemen, they are on the backend of their playing careers. Even if Hossa didn't have medical issues, he would be 40. Depth is where the hawks are lacking.

Define scandalous.
- EdmHockeyMan

In Schwein speak, scandalous is defined as “eminently fappable”.

In Schwein speak, scandalous is defined as “eminently fappable”.
- Wildschwein

She's in my spank bank

for those guys, its more of an age-related decline. Keith is 35, Seabrook is 33. Even for defensemen, they are on the backend of their playing careers. Even if Hossa didn't have medical issues, he would be 40. Depth is where the hawks are lacking.
- DeflatedPucks

Ya I think going forward teams are going to see whats going on with these teams and the big 8 year tickets aren't going to be going to guys in their 30s. The game is younger and faster every year, the guys at the top of the league in production keep getting younger.

It's hard to bank on a guy with an 8 year contract having his cap hit % of the total cap be down considerably by the last few years of their deals, when they're not producing as much.

In Schwein speak, scandalous is defined as “eminently fappable”.
- Wildschwein

Understood.

My offseason wishlist: Get Artemi Panarin if he is available.

If we can unload Sekera or Lucic and open up some cap space, it could actually be possible.

A man can dream.

My offseason wishlist: Get Artemi Panarin if he is available.

If we can unload Sekera or Lucic and open up some cap space, it could actually be possible.

A man can dream.
- EdmHockeyMan

Yes you can certainly dream....they are free I’m told

I agree for the most part, however, I don't with the Russell portion. He has really made that 4 million not look as bad as it is so far into this season. Sure it'd be awesome if his cap hit was 1m lower, but it is what it is at this point. In fact, I'd even say I'm fine with it. But the Lucic, Spooner, and Manning contracts are horrid. Talbot will be off the hook this offseason so it ain't that big of a deal.

I think what makes or breaks the Leafs is gonna be the Marner/Matthews signings. This is going to be a big test for Dubas and everyone will be watching. What they do with those two will either open up doors or close some. So it really isn't an implication in terms of cap space, but rather that of management.
- EdmHockeyMan

Not so fast. Cervelli is reporting that extension talks between Edmonton and Talbot are in the works. Nothing imminent but the door has been opened.

Because Oilers gonna Oiler.

Not so fast. Cervelli is reporting that extension talks between Edmonton and Talbot are in the works. Nothing imminent but the door has been opened.

Because Oilers gonna Oiler.
- wreckage

I caught that too and I thought to myself there is no way they would resign him unless it was a cheap deal....but like you said.....Oilers will do Oiler things

Spector is reporting that Klefbom might have suffered a set back during practice....he took a stick off of his injured hand and was limited to no contact for the rest of practice.....this seems about right...we will see what happens on Friday during practice

Lucic-McDavid-Rattie
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Khaira-RNH-Kassian
Cave-Brodziak-Puljujarvi
Malone (flight delayed)

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Manning-Benning
Sekara/Gravel-Petrovic

Lineups at practice....the look of joy on my face when I seen Lucic on the top line....things are changing already 👍

Lucic-McDavid-Rattie
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Khaira-RNH-Kassian
Cave-Brodziak-Puljujarvi
Malone (flight delayed)

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Manning-Benning
Sekara/Gravel-Petrovic

Lineups at practice....the look of joy on my face when I seen Lucic on the top line....things are changing already 👍
- RatedR80

More of the same, I see. Hitch can butter the media up with words all he wants, but his choices seem to contradict his words.

Lucic-McDavid-Rattie
Rieder-Draisaitl-Chiasson
Khaira-RNH-Kassian
Cave-Brodziak-Puljujarvi
Malone (flight delayed)

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Russell
Manning-Benning
Sekara/Gravel-Petrovic

Lineups at practice....the look of joy on my face when I seen Lucic on the top line....things are changing already 👍
- RatedR80

Dont matter those lines will last all of 5 mins in to the game