JT is just too good an asset to pass up acquiring in his prime for nothing but cap space. An elite, first overall pick centre, a unicorn. If you can acquire assets like that without trading anything you just do it and sort it out later. It's like saying I won't pick up this free bag of gold because I don't want that many precious metals in my portfolio.
- Zezel

It's not a free asset. That's a misnomer.

You can easily make the argument that it has already cost you a first round pick.

Plenty of teams need a #1C, the Leafs weren't projected to be one for at least a decade. Now they might need one in 5.

I have my own well documented issues with what the Leafs did with their roster. The cap hit IMO is fine for Matthews, but by the time it's a bargain it will be set to expire.
- golfingsince

Dont know the exact terms but cant the Leafs trade him if he doesn't resign?

It's not a free asset. That's a misnomer.

You can easily make the argument that it has already cost you a first round pick.

Plenty of teams need a #1C, the Leafs weren't projected to be one for at least a decade. Now they might need one in 5.
- golfingsince

It's not a free asset. That's a misnomer.

You can easily make the argument that it has already cost you a first round pick.

Plenty of teams need a #1C, the Leafs weren't projected to be one for at least a decade. Now they might need one in 5.
- golfingsince

True, it cost cap space, and picks and some depth have to be tossed to make room. I still think if you can sign the biggest FA in ages it's worth it. You win with elite talent and strength down the middle. I'd rather have that elite core in place and work the rest around it.

Dont know the exact terms but cant the Leafs trade him if he doesn't resign?
- Tee-Dot

He has a NMC in his last year, I think he has no restrictions aside from that though.

He has a NMC in his last year, I think he has no restrictions aside from that though.
- golfingsince

For a guy who hates the leafs you sure waste a lot of time on them.

True, it cost cap space, and picks and some depth have to be tossed to make room. I still think if you can sign the biggest FA in ages it's worth it. You win with elite talent and strength down the middle. I'd rather have that elite core in place and work the rest around it.
- Zezel

I guess.

JT is 29 when the season starts, so I wouldn't really expect him to improve......especially without Marner.

I would have spent/saved the money for elsewhere.

Nylander is the better player. And significantly younger than Kadri. And I like Kadri and Brown.
- Zezel

2 good cheap players gone in favor of one more expensive and at this point overrated player.

The thing is also that, although the Leafs may lose AM in five years, for the next five years they will have the most vicious one-two punch down the middle in the league, and that's rad.

I guess.

JT is 29 when the season starts, so I wouldn't really expect him to improve......especially without Marner.

I would have spent/saved the money for elsewhere.
- golfingsince

Sure you would have.

For a guy who hates the leafs you sure waste a lot of time on them.
- shack67

Maybe I just like hockey. It's a really big contract, so knowing the details is interesting. It's a market setting deal.

The thing is also that, although the Leafs may lose AM in five years, for the next five years they will have the most vicious one-two punch down the middle in the league, and that's rad.
- Zezel

But it’s the Leafs so it’s bad.

Sure you would have.
- shack67

My position hasn't changed since before he was signed.

2 good cheap players gone in favor of one more expensive and at this point overrated player.
- LeafnsNxt2Godlyns

Better player, better value in the long run, just entering his prime. Nylander matched Kadri's career high in his first full season. He will likely score more points this season than Kadri ever will in a season. And at this point Nylander is very underrated, perhaps the most underrated player in the league.

Maybe I just like hockey. It's a really big contract, so knowing the details is interesting. It's a market setting deal.
- golfingsince

Man I see you mocking leafs fans in other threads all the time so don’t tell me you’re here to talk hockey. I’m too old of a cat to be clawed by a kitten.

Dubas signing JT was the mistake. You already had 3 C's, 2 for sure.

That's what drove up Matthews price and also changed the Leafs from a team with a pile of cap space to a team without any. JT's one hell of a player, so it's not about that. They just didn't need to add elite talent to the forward ranks, at least not at that cost.

Signing JT was a step backwards imo, but if they win even 1 cup it will be worth it and forgotten. I just think they've sacrificed depth and flexibility although there are still a few high end talents on the cusp of graduating.
- golfingsince

it probably did drive up matthews price but the the jt signing is irrelevant in regards to what had to happen this off season, what was done was done. moves had to happen and instead of keeping the value friendly contracts they chose to move them in favor of keeping nylander, the guy who held out for half a season. i would rather have kadri and brown for nylander's cap hit than nylander.

My position hasn't changed since before he was signed.
- golfingsince

Because it was the Leafs who signed him. That’s why you didn’t like it. You hate the leafs and their fans so stop trying to sound like you’re not biased against them.

Man I see you mocking leafs fans in other threads all the time so don’t tell me you’re here to talk hockey. I’m too old of a cat to be clawed by a kitten.
- shack67

I think i've brought up some valid points, wether you agree with them or not.

I've always defended the Nylander deal, said it was a bargain.

Nobody wants to claw that old wussy anyways.

Because it was the Leafs who signed him. That’s why you didn’t like it. You hate the leafs and their fans so stop trying to sound like you’re not biased against them.
- shack67

I have some pretty elaborate traps set around my house that will only capture leaf fans.

Signing a superstar 50 goal PPG player was a mistake?

Dude, use logic. Don’t be one of those guys who hate on the Leafs so much they will say anything to prove to themselves that they suck.
- Santo_44

Not sure what you guys are arguing about but my man jt has never scored 50 goals.
Close.

It's not a free asset. That's a misnomer.

You can easily make the argument that it has already cost you a first round pick.

Plenty of teams need a #1C, the Leafs weren't projected to be one for at least a decade. Now they might need one in 5.
- golfingsince

Mcjesus in 7.

I have some pretty elaborate traps set around my house that will only capture leaf fans.
- golfingsince

I always like how they personalize it. I'm a leaf fan victim card

True, it cost cap space, and picks and some depth have to be tossed to make room. I still think if you can sign the biggest FA in ages it's worth it. You win with elite talent and strength down the middle. I'd rather have that elite core in place and work the rest around it.
- Zezel

Its worth it short term for sure.
We'll see how my man jt does in years 5-7.

I think i've brought up some valid points, wether you agree with them or not.

I've always defended the Nylander deal, said it was a bargain.

Nobody wants to claw that old wussy anyways.
- golfingsince

But they’re fake points. One look at your avi shows your opinion of the leafs. You come here and try to pretend otherwise. Then you spew totally different takes in other threads.
Everything you say here is biased crap that you try to disguise as reasonable hockey talk.

Not sure what you guys are arguing about but my man jt has never scored 50 goals.
Close.
- Fakepartofme

It was close enough to make the point.

He didn’t get the milestone.