I guess the question we as Leafs fans have to ask is "What would they have done if Ceci walked away?"

It's great to have $4.5 million to spend, but was there anything on the market out there that was better than Ceci?

I'm honestly asking - I don't remember what was in the defenceman store on July 1st.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think it's just phrasing, but to be nitpicky, Ceci had no ability to walk-away. The team had the ability to walk away from the abitration award if it was in excess of $4.39m (I thought it was $4.8m but was incorrect).

But I don't think there was _anything_ available on the right side that you would have put in your top 4. It's sad when Ceci is the best option available, but he was. Certainly at that dollar figure (I note here that at the time, the thought was that Gardiner wasn't coming in lower than $5.5m).

I need a bigger TV.
- Scabeh

We have a 50" 1080p TV. I could also use a bigger TV.

I think it's just phrasing, but to be nitpicky, Ceci had no ability to walk-away. The team had the ability to walk away from the abitration award if it was in excess of $4.39m (I thought it was $4.8m but was incorrect).

But I don't think there was _anything_ available on the right side that you would have put in your top 4. It's sad when Ceci is the best option available, but he was. Certainly at that dollar figure (I note here that at the time, the thought was that Gardiner wasn't coming in lower than $5.5m).
- Monkeypunk

Poor writing on my part.

What I meant was "if Ceci was shown the door, and Leafs fans rejoiced as we watched him walk to free agency?"

I'm kind of hoping for a quick turnaround for Dubnyk.. I need him to do better for my fantasy team
- PatC80

Good luck, with that team I find it hard to believe it will happen.

We have a 50" 1080p TV. I could also use a bigger TV.
- TheMussel

We have a 55" 4K tv, and my youngest daughter prefers watching stuff on her phone.

These damn kids today...

I guess the question we as Leafs fans have to ask is "What would they have done if Ceci walked away?"

It's great to have $4.5 million to spend, but was there anything on the market out there that was better than Ceci?

I'm honestly asking - I don't remember what was in the defenceman store on July 1st.
- Atomic Wedgie

It was a little more complex that just what was available. Leafs wanted a RHD, having only Barrie as a RHD (both deals were made on July 1, I believe)

Leafs could have traded for Faulk, but I doubt Carolina would have accepted Zaitsev back. I'm sure a three way deal was explored. My guess is the ask was to high on most players to do a different deal. What is interesting is I've heard Holland would like to move Larsson - he may have been available - not sure of the price. Pretty sure Oilers lose him in the expansion draft if he isn't moved before.

We have a 50" 1080p TV. I could also use a bigger TV.
- TheMussel

I still have my old 42" 1080 TV that I bought when I finished school 10 years ago.

It's still working perfectly fine and I have no real reason to replace it. It really was a great purchase.... told myself I wouldn't buy a new TV until that one broke down.


....


I'm still waiting....

I know, but those weren't circumstances where the team set-it-up so they could and would 100% walk away
- RogerRoeper

Using those circumstances, no one has. But at the same the it's not exactly a scenario that's apt to be common. You need a player who is a qualified RFA with arbitration rights who is already overpaid that someone trades for.

Even the precondition of having an overpaid qualified RFA is unusual - because a team could have just walked away and not qualified the player to begin with.

Honestly - and it's my opinion on the matter - once a player is perceived to be overpaid by the majority of the players and agents in the league, if a team walks away from subsequent additional overpayment to that player, I think it's probably not frowned upon.

To the case you and Bingo have noted - it's plausible the NHLPA would take umbrage, and could voice frustration, but it is perfectly within the CBA.

I still have my old 42" 1080 TV that I bought when I finished school 10 years ago.

It's still working perfectly fine and I have no real reason to replace it. It really was a great purchase.... told myself I wouldn't buy a new TV until that one broke down.


....


I'm still waiting....
- Scabeh

I gave my old 40 inch phillips that works perfectly to my parents

Charity can be very fulfilling

Cap going up was a big part of why Karmanos finally sold.

It's pretty similar, actually.

Melnyk bought the Senators for only $92 million and in the next couple years the salary cap will likely be approaching that number. It's getting far more expensive to pay players so Melnyk, like Karmanos did, is now neglecting the team by paying the bare minimum and not filling front office vacancies. Attendance is starting to suffer as a result while everyone loses faith in the team.

Eventually it's just going to compound itself until he cannot afford to ice a team anymore, which seems to be approaching quickly, and he has to sell or fold.
- BINGO!

When Melnyk sells the team. I hope they move to Quebec... The Nordiques need to make a comeback.. I sincerely hope Ottawa doesn't relocate to North Dakota.

Good luck, with that team I find it hard to believe it will happen.
- Archaic

Thanks for the support

I gave my old 40 inch phillips that works perfectly to my parents

Charity can be very fulfilling
- TheMussel

I actually bought my parents a TV 5 years ago because they still had their old CRT TV and it was driving me and my brother nuts.

To this day, everytime I sit next to my dad to watch hockey, he tells me how he likes the TV and thanks me.

Because he's used properly. In Toronto he'd just play far too much.
- RogerRoeper

Playing with either Fleury or Pesce has helped too, but yeah. Under 18 minutes per night and generally hasn't had to deal with the real tough matchups.

That and if he does end up having to be on for a D zone draw, it's usually J.Staal taking the draw so you know he'll have support.

They just let him play his game. Brind'amour's philosophy is to not criticize mistakes so long as they're made as a result of being aggressive, so it's a pretty good fit.

Playing with either Fleury or Pesce has helped too, but yeah. Under 18 minutes per night and generally hasn't had to deal with the real tough matchups.

That and if he does end up having to be on for a D zone draw, it's usually J.Staal taking the draw so you know he'll have support.

They just let him play his game. Brind'amour's philosophy is to not criticize mistakes so long as they're made as a result of being aggressive, so it's a pretty good fit.
- BINGO!

I still don't see how "Gardiner" and "aggressive" fit in the same sentence..

When Melnyk sells the team. I hope they move to Quebec... The Nordiques need to make a comeback.. I sincerely hope Ottawa doesn't relocate to North Dakota.
- PatC80

Ottawa is twice as large as Quebec City. While I would like to see a successful franchise in Quebec, I wouldn't want to see Ottawa lose theirs. I'd like to see a better situated arena and an owner who cares about the team.

I would also like them to always be worse than us, but draft lower. Is that so wrong?

I still don't see how "Gardiner" and "aggressive" fit in the same sentence..
- PatC80

Gardiner was pretty aggressive in his passing attemps that kept being intercepted by the other team?

I actually bought my parents a TV 5 years ago because they still had their old CRT TV and it was driving me and my brother nuts.

To this day, everytime I sit next to my dad to watch hockey, he tells me how he likes the TV and thanks me.
- Scabeh

But you're watching the Habs, so he's probably being sarcastic.

Because he's used properly. In Toronto he'd just play far too much.
- RogerRoeper

Also, In Carolina he is routinely playing the other teams 3rd and 4th lines. Much easier for him to contend with. In Toronto he routinely matched against the oppositions 1st or 2nd lines. A BIG difference. Especially with a guy not great in his own end.

But you're watching the Habs, so he's probably being sarcastic.


- Monkeypunk

Nah, despite him whining about the team not being "as good as when he was younger" and complaining that we're not drafting enough french guys, he's still a die hard fan.

It just took me about 3 hours to convince him that Cole Caufield was a better pick than Raphaël Lavoie in the latest draft.

I actually bought my parents a TV 5 years ago because they still had their old CRT TV and it was driving me and my brother nuts.

To this day, everytime I sit next to my dad to watch hockey, he tells me how he likes the TV and thanks me.
- Scabeh

My parents have always been ambivalent or against technology trends and have said for a lifetime that "we don't need a big screen tv, those things are monstrosities"

Now at age 70+, I gave them the 40" TV to replace the 30" samsung lcd from the days of yore and when I ask them how it's working out for them I get a sheepish "it's pretty good"

zaistev was on the ice for 8 shot attempts for and 31 against last night against vegas.

i might stop complaining about ceci.

Ottawa is twice as large as Quebec City. While I would like to see a successful franchise in Quebec, I wouldn't want to see Ottawa lose theirs. I'd like to see a better situated arena and an owner who cares about the team.

I would also like them to always be worse than us, but draft lower. Is that so wrong?
- Monkeypunk

If that is scientifically possible, I would also like that.

Quebec City still has a need for a sports team.. I don't think the NHL should explore what type of hockey market there in Bismarck, North Dakota or Boise, Idaho.

When Melnyk sells the team. I hope they move to Quebec... The Nordiques need to make a comeback.. I sincerely hope Ottawa doesn't relocate to North Dakota.
- PatC80

quebec city has an empty building just sitting there.

always seemed to make more sense to me to do that; rather than build a 2nd building in downtown ottawa.

Using those circumstances, no one has. But at the same the it's not exactly a scenario that's apt to be common. You need a player who is a qualified RFA with arbitration rights who is already overpaid that someone trades for.

Even the precondition of having an overpaid qualified RFA is unusual - because a team could have just walked away and not qualified the player to begin with.

Honestly - and it's my opinion on the matter - once a player is perceived to be overpaid by the majority of the players and agents in the league, if a team walks away from subsequent additional overpayment to that player, I think it's probably not frowned upon.

To the case you and Bingo have noted - it's plausible the NHLPA would take umbrage, and could voice frustration, but it is perfectly within the CBA.
- Monkeypunk

If I'm an NHL player looking for a new contract, I'd be thrilled that Ceci was cut loose, because it frees up $4.5 million of cap money to be spent on another player.

Gardiner was pretty aggressive in his passing attemps that kept being intercepted by the other team?
- Scabeh

Nope, still doesn't work.. Cause you're just lying, you liar.