I think you will find this isn't Toronto specific, this will become the new normal.
- justmike

Yeah, except Trouba.

6 years last year is no better than 5 years this year.
He took an extra year so they all could expire at the same time?
Something seems fishy.
- bobbyisno1

Six year deal for Marner would expire one year after Matthews current contract expires. Pretty sure management wants a 7 or 8 year deal. Matthews is by no means a lock to re-sign with the Leafs at the end of his contract.

6 years last year is no better than 5 years this year.
He took an extra year so they all could expire at the same time?
Something seems fishy.
- bobbyisno1

They all want to max out UFA years/dollars; it's pretty standard nowadays.

Bring on the luxury tax so we can stop talking about contacts and cap hits and bonus overages and more about line combos and grit and corsi.

Makes me wonder though: the NHL wanted parity, and in any given season, there is and always has been parity, with a few repeats.

Yeah, the Oilers had a dynasty in the 80s and so did the Canadiens in the 70s, but those eras are long gone and with modern scouting/R&D/fitness levels, etc., it's tough to repeat let alone three-peat.

Does the cap really level the playing field? With a luxury cap and TOR floating the league in an official capacity, I don't think it really changes much. You still need to draft well, you still need to make good trades and signings, you still don't want to trade away all your 1st round picks, etc.

Strictly a matter of betting on himself. Leafs can only offer a 6,7 or 8 year deal or a bridge deal. They will not sign Mitch to a contract that makes him a UFA at the same time as Matthews. (also 4 year deal is a non-starter) Bridge deal would be better for both sides at this point. It will give Marner enough time to figure out that Ferris is a douchebag idiot incompetent imbecile and move on to the next deal.
- winsix

Nice alliteration

Neeeuuuviiiirrrrtttthh

They all want to max out UFA years/dollars; it's pretty standard nowadays.

Bring on the luxury tax so we can stop talking about contacts and cap hits and bonus overages and more about line combos and grit and corsi.

Makes me wonder though: the NHL wanted parity, and in any given season, there is and always has been parity, with a few repeats.

Yeah, the Oilers had a dynasty in the 80s and so did the Canadiens in the 70s, but those eras are long gone and with modern scouting/R&D/fitness levels, etc., it's tough to repeat let alone three-peat.

Does the cap really level the playing field? With a luxury cap and TOR floating the league in an official capacity, I don't think it really changes much. You still need to draft well, you still need to make good trades and signings, you still don't want to trade away all your 1st round picks, etc.
- gravyface

I think the kind of success Pittsburgh and Chicago had puts them as close as a team can be these days to a dynasty

They all want to max out UFA years/dollars; it's pretty standard nowadays.

Bring on the luxury tax so we can stop talking about contacts and cap hits and bonus overages and more about line combos and grit and corsi.

Makes me wonder though: the NHL wanted parity, and in any given season, there is and always has been parity, with a few repeats.

Yeah, the Oilers had a dynasty in the 80s and so did the Canadiens in the 70s, but those eras are long gone and with modern scouting/R&D/fitness levels, etc., it's tough to repeat let alone three-peat.

Does the cap really level the playing field? With a luxury cap and TOR floating the league in an official capacity, I don't think it really changes much. You still need to draft well, you still need to make good trades and signings, you still don't want to trade away all your 1st round picks, etc.
- gravyface

Take five minutes to look at the playoff teams from MLB for the past ten years, and then come back and tell us if you think a luxury tax is good for parity.

If Mitch Marner wants to be that ruthless with a team that reportedly offered him 10 million a season for 8 years which he rejected then I wouldn't want him back in my dressing room anyway. As for his grubby agent Daren Ferris I suspect a lot of prospects will want no part of hiring him due to fear that GM's will avoid drafting kids he's representing. If you're a team drafting anywhere out of the top 10 it's pretty much a crap shoot anyway so why wouldn't you avoid his clients?
- Kayakjack

It's totally weird and greedy and unfair and stuff how a guy would want to sign a contract that's in his best interests, instead of what's in the best interests of Rogers Inc. and Bell.

Neeeuuuviiiirrrrtttthh
- TheMussel

I'm just being totally honest here:

I hope he doesn't make the team, because I don't know how to properly pronounce his name.

Take five minutes to look at the playoff teams from MLB for the past ten years, and then come back and tell us if you think a luxury tax is good for parity.
- Atomic Wedgie

The NHL is not MLB.

How many cups did Quinn win with some of the highest payrolls in the NHL? The NHL playoffs is an entirely different animal than October baseball.

Take five minutes to look at the playoff teams from MLB for the past ten years, and then come back and tell us if you think a luxury tax is good for parity.
- Atomic Wedgie

Who cares about parity? Don't mind welfare to a certain point, that said, if a city cannot reasonably support a team without external pressure to keep salaries down, let them fold or move to more viable markets.

sounds like HB

Take five minutes to look at the playoff teams from MLB for the past ten years, and then come back and tell us if you think a luxury tax is good for parity.
- Atomic Wedgie

Difference is there's no cap in MLB, just luxury tax. NHL would have a cap and a luxury tax.

And small market teams are winning the world series in MLB. Baseball is a sport in which any team can beat another in a 5 or 7 game series.

sounds like HB
- gravyface

Pretty sure he is talking about Polak and Gardiner

Who cares about parity? Don't mind welfare to a certain point, that said, if a city cannot reasonably support a team without external pressure to keep salaries down, let them fold or move to more viable markets.
- winsix

I think it makes the whole league more interesting when every team has a similar capacity to win.

I'm a big fan of the salary cap, despite making salaries as big of a discussion point as performances.

It's totally weird and greedy and unfair and stuff how a guy would want to sign a contract that's in his best interests, instead of what's in the best interests of Rogers Inc. and Bell.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think it makes the whole league more interesting when every team has a similar capacity to win.

I'm a big fan of the salary cap, despite making salaries as big of a discussion point as performances.
- Scabeh

...until you have a pile of good RFAs to sign and it's absolute hell for the fan base.

I'm just being totally honest here:

I hope he doesn't make the team, because I don't know how to properly pronounce his name.
- Atomic Wedgie

Noy-Verth

Who cares about parity? Don't mind welfare to a certain point, that said, if a city cannot reasonably support a team without external pressure to keep salaries down, let them fold or move to more viable markets.
- winsix

Don't get me wrong, as a Leafs fan, I would franking love it if the NHL moved to a luxury tax model. I'd franking love it.

But having said that, I understand why the owners (or at least the small market ones) like it.

As an aside, I can't believe anyone would watch the Premier League. Or the Scottish League. Or the Spanish or Italian leagues...

Noy-Verth
- TheMussel

New-Wirth?!?!?

...until you have a pile of good RFAs to sign and it's absolute hell for the fan base.
- gravyface

Yes, it must be hell to have drafted 2-3 great young players who performed too well too quickly, making their value higher.

Really wouldn't want to be in your situation right now, no sir.

I'm just being totally honest here:

I hope he doesn't make the team, because I don't know how to properly pronounce his name.
- Atomic Wedgie

Noy. Virth.

New-Wirth?!?!?
- Atomic Wedgie

It's just German

The issue with the cap is it punishes you are drafting well, which sucks. Sure, if you sign bad contracts it'll hurt, but Leafs have none. They are signing their high picks and still are running out of $.

The fact the NHL lacks a huge U.S tv contract means the cap won't rise as fast as contracts for palyers.

Noy. Virth.
- gergeswillems

Niw-Virtz?

Forget it, too difficult.

Hutch-in-son.