OK, here's another thing that sports fans need to come to grips with:

I don't give a flying crap what he said in the presser, because what athletes say to the media has absolutely no relation to reality.

3 months earlier, Tavares had said he wanted to stay on Long Island.

Every player ever has said that he loves the city, the fans are the greatest, he really thinks he has a chance to win here, management said all the right things, they are totally committed to winning, he respects the coach, he wants to end his career here.

As for the Calder Cup win, the best guy on the franking roster was Johnsson - a classic 2/3 forward:

https://theahl.com/stats/roster/335/60
- Atomic Wedgie

Guys are scripted when they show up in the front of the media, they have a whole team preparing them for these things.

Did the Rangers ever forgive you guys for stealing Gomaids?
- Atomic Wedgie

fixed and no, still no cure

OMG....Wedgie thinks Gomaids = Matthews, what a moran!

Guys are scripted when they show up in the front of the media, they have a whole team preparing them for these things.
- Symba007

and Tavares isn't very much like Avery as in 'improvisation'

fixed and no, still no cure
- Symba007

I remember actually feeling sorry for the poor bastard.

IIRC, he was a pretty good guy about it, no?

Because he hates Toronto!!! He desperately wants to sign with his hometown team who hasn't made the playoffs in 8 years, has the lowest operational budget in the NHl and can never win and may moev to Houston.


Seriously buddy. Leafs will have a year to offer Matthews a massive deal. He won't be able to turn it down. How many do?


Well said Roger!! I love how the haters want Matthews to leave. Sorry folks. Matthews will retire a leaf. He will go down as the greatest Leaf of all time!! IMO

Tavres and Matthews will be in polar opposite siruation when he's UFA.
- RogerRoeper

I remember actually feeling sorry for the poor bastard.

IIRC, he was a pretty good guy about it, no?
- Atomic Wedgie

he was a real pro, never complained. He was getting his money no matter what but still, he was coming to a poopty team

you fail to understand that the statement:

"Coyotes might offer a 7y x 14.34mln AAV offersheet to Matthews if he hits the RFA market"

is not the same as

"Matthews is looking to sign a contract with the Coyotes whenever he gets the chance to do so".
- MaximusAurelius

that's four yes count them four 1st ronder if he'd signed with the Coyotes to the Leafs.

that's four yes count them four 1st ronder if he'd signed with the Coyotes to the Leafs.
- dmnted

would have still been worth it for the Coyotes probably.

I'm not a Stamkos-whisperer, but I think the main reason he didn't sign with Toronto is inertia. It had nothing to do with the Leaf's culture or their status on the contender scale. I think in a perfect world, he would have signed up north. But, Stamkos was drafted by Tampa and cut his teeth as an adult and a pro player in Tampa. Familiarity is underrated. Sure, the beaches are nice, the tax situation is nice, but you go to the dance with who brought you. The Leafs had an uphill climb to sign him under any circumstance.

Back to the Leafs defense, there are no bargains with elite d-men. Which, frankly, the Leafs need. All this talk about finding bargains is whimsy. You won't find bargains in that regard. The Leafs NEED an elite anchor on D. None of the speculated targets (Risto, Pietrangelo, etc) are the medicine. Sure, Pietrangelo is an upgrade, but is he the answer? Probably not.

Let's get stupid for a second. Humor me.

Hedman to Leafs

Rielly, Marner, Matthews' mustache, and a 1st to Tampa.

Takers?

Muzzin - Kerfoot - Johnsson aren't great contracts.
And the Matthews contract is the most player-friendly contract ever signed in NHL in salary cap era.
That's a friggin brutal contract considering the fact that Matthews gets a top-dollar (AAV) contract while not giving up any of his UFA years.
By far the Matthews contract is worst of Dubas' negotiating - and it confirms a trend that he is not great (yet?) at getting team-friendly deals for younger players.
- MaximusAurelius

No, Marner's is easily the worst.

Potential to win a SC with your hometown team, while playing for one of the best coaches in the league, while signing a 77mln USD contract?

You are really kidding yourself if you think that a ppt presentation by Dubas had any gamechanging impact on Tavares' decision.

(please remind me - did you share a photo of a younger Tavares sleeping under Leafs bedsheets, or did he share a picture of a poster of Dubas on his wall?)
- MaximusAurelius

Right?! It's not like Tavares has specifically said that it did or anything.

Oh wait! He totally (frank)ing did.

I'm not a Stamkos-whisperer, but I think the main reason he didn't sign with Toronto is inertia. It had nothing to do with the Leaf's culture or their status on the contender scale. I think in a perfect world, he would have signed up north. But, Stamkos was drafted by Tampa and cut his teeth as an adult and a pro player in Tampa. Familiarity is underrated. Sure, the beaches are nice, the tax situation is nice, but you go to the dance with who brought you. The Leafs had an uphill climb to sign him under any circumstance.

Back to the Leafs defense, there are no bargains with elite d-men. Which, frankly, the Leafs need. All this talk about finding bargains is whimsy. You won't find bargains in that regard. The Leafs NEED an elite anchor on D. None of the speculated targets (Risto, Pietrangelo, etc) are the medicine. Sure, Pietrangelo is an upgrade, but is he the answer? Probably not.

Let's get stupid for a second. Humor me.

Hedman to Leafs

Rielly, Marner, Matthews' mustache, and a 1st to Tampa.

Takers?
- GalacticStone

I don't think you'll find many takers.

Despite how awesome Hedman is.

Lou's great leadership is why Leo Komorov agreed to sign a 4 year, 3 million per deal at age 32.

Pietrangelo at 10mlnAAV+
Krug at 6.25mlnAAV+
Vatanen a 5mln AAV+
Tanev at 5mln AAV+
Gudas?
Dillon?
Polak?

take your pick..

to me personally - looking at the salary cap implications, I would almost prefer Krug over Pietrangelo (depending on the AAV difference between both contracts).
I like Krug's play - I could see a Rielly - Krug pairing working. (Krug isn't your typical defensive d-man at all, but he would fit Leafs playing style well, good in exiting the d-zone, he's quite aggressive and great on the PP). He's basically a better Jake Gardiner. (which means without the huge defensive flaws, although not great in his own zone + he can actually produce on a PP).

I think Pietrangelo might sign with Sabres / Colorado for a 11mln AAV/7y contract -- playing with Dahlin or Girard.
Hard for Leafs to beat such an offer.

Alternatively, he could join Detroit (Yzerman) / Florida (taxes!!! and weather).

I see Leafs as the 5th option - still very realistic, but hard for the Leafs to beat out those teams on the pure financials.

So I'm all for adding Krug as an alternative to Pietrangelo.
- MaximusAurelius

I think guys like Dillon and Gudas will have to sign for cheaper 1 year deals if they want to maximize their dollars.

Teams won't have the willingness to spend on 4/5 D in FA.

I'm all in on Petro.

Krug? 6x6 and I'd do it.

I like Risto and I could see the Leafs trading for him. If the free buyout is given to teams then Buff can add Okposo and then retain cap on Risto.

I'm not a Stamkos-whisperer, but I think the main reason he didn't sign with Toronto is inertia. It had nothing to do with the Leaf's culture or their status on the contender scale. I think in a perfect world, he would have signed up north. But, Stamkos was drafted by Tampa and cut his teeth as an adult and a pro player in Tampa. Familiarity is underrated. Sure, the beaches are nice, the tax situation is nice, but you go to the dance with who brought you. The Leafs had an uphill climb to sign him under any circumstance.

Back to the Leafs defense, there are no bargains with elite d-men. Which, frankly, the Leafs need. All this talk about finding bargains is whimsy. You won't find bargains in that regard. The Leafs NEED an elite anchor on D. None of the speculated targets (Risto, Pietrangelo, etc) are the medicine. Sure, Pietrangelo is an upgrade, but is he the answer? Probably not.

Let's get stupid for a second. Humor me.

Hedman to Leafs

Rielly, Marner, Matthews' mustache, and a 1st to Tampa.

Takers?
- GalacticStone

for me it would be a 1:1 marner for hedman

I think guys like Dillon and Gudas will have to sign for cheaper 1 year deals if they want to maximize their dollars.

Teams won't have the willingness to spend on 4/5 D in FA.

I'm all in on Petro.

Krug? 6x6 and I'd do it.

I like Risto and I could see the Leafs trading for him. If the free buyout is given to teams then Buff can add Okposo and then retain cap on Risto.
- Santo_44

Not if the Habs offer him 7!! MOUHAHAHAH

for me it would be a 1:1 marner for hedman
- dmnted

I don't think you'd find many takers on Tampa's side for this one either.

for me it would be a 1:1 marner for hedman
- dmnted

Scoring wingers are not as rare as elite RHD.

Hedman solves your D problems. He can make any partner look good. poop, he made Dotchin look decent.

But yeah, I get it. It's a big ask.

I don't think you'd find many takers on Tampa's side for this one either.
- Scabeh

TBH, I wouldn't take it either. Hedman is a generational talent. Tampa is lucky AF to have him, especially at his cap-hit.

I think guys like Dillon and Gudas will have to sign for cheaper 1 year deals if they want to maximize their dollars.

Teams won't have the willingness to spend on 4/5 D in FA.

I'm all in on Petro.

Krug? 6x6 and I'd do it.

I like Risto and I could see the Leafs trading for him. If the free buyout is given to teams then Buff can add Okposo and then retain cap on Risto.
- Santo_44

I wish Tampa would bring back Gudas. He's better than Coburn, Bogosian, and Schenn.

I wish Tampa would bring back Gudas. He's better than Coburn, Bogosian, and Schenn.
- GalacticStone

The problem is in a normal year he would cost 2.5-3 million...Not worth it for a depth D.

A team with actual dollars to spend could nab him for one year at 1-2 million.

Not if the Habs offer him 7!! MOUHAHAHAH
- Scabeh

We all know he will be a Bruin again

The problem is in a normal year he would cost 2.5-3 million...Not worth it for a depth D.

A team with actual dollars to spend could nab him for one year at 1-2 million.
- Santo_44

True. Can't argue with that. But, we are paying Coburn 1.7 per and Bogo 1.3 per. Dump both of them and you have a Gudas.

We all know he will be a Bruin again
- Santo_44

Most likely yes.