I agree with going for Ritchie, not sure he's a $3 to 4 million player though.
- winsix

I'm not either, but I'm also not sure I care. His type of player isn't exactly on the clearance rack at safeway especially at 24... And fills a desperate need. If that's what it takes, I'm game.

And Ron Popeil.

https://nypost.com/2021/0...omercial-star-dead-at-86/

And my 84 year old mother, who died on Monday.
- Atomic Wedgie

You talked about her on here a few times and the love was obvious. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Ritchie could be a good pick up. Bunting looks to have a bit of a physical edge too.

Now if we lock Engvall away cattle prod him and feed him inly raw meat so he goes all rawr too…
- Roadrunner75

That is entirely on the coach to do. Engvall would be getting lots of slivers on his ass from riding the bench if he played for Trotz. Big guy, skates well, can't score - you better hit or ride the pines.

I agree with going for Ritchie, not sure he's a $3 to 4 million player though.
- winsix

I want Nick Ritchie as well, maybe a 2 yr deal for $5M total, maybe try him with Matthews and Marner.. Could do what Hyman did

That is entirely on the coach to do. Engvall would be getting lots of slivers on his ass from riding the bench if he played for Trotz. Big guy, skates well, can't score - you better hit or ride the pines.
- winsix

He scored at higher clip than Kerfoot at 3x less the cost, at that rate we can just call Kerfoot tree ass.

And Ron Popeil.

https://nypost.com/2021/0...omercial-star-dead-at-86/

And my 84 year old mother, who died on Monday.
- Atomic Wedgie

Sorry for your loss.
But 84, wow good for her.

Remember when Tampa was supposedly in cap hell?

Doing ok.
- Fakepartofme

Sure doing great, over cap, no problem, just get a player or two with significant salary to volunteer to go on LTIR.

Welcome to the new world of Cap AVOIDANCE Loopholes

He scored at higher clip than Kerfoot at 3x less the cost, at that rate we can just call Kerfoot tree ass.
- joel878

No, kerfoot played great the past two playoffs, he be a big hole to fill outside of getting points

That is entirely on the coach to do. Engvall would be getting lots of slivers on his ass from riding the bench if he played for Trotz. Big guy, skates well, can't score - you better hit or ride the pines.
- winsix

Thats the thing. He got back in the playoffs and man Montreal was hating him. MAYBE it finally clicks?! He was pissin them off in front of Price. Drew some penalties. And end of the season started to score some. If they can get him to play with an edge MAYBE he becomes something more.

Sure doing great, over cap, no problem, just get a player or two with significant salary to volunteer to go on LTIR.

Welcome to the new world of Cap AVOIDANCE Loopholes
- winsix

Tampa is awesome at it.
Win a cup...no cap issue
Win another ...no real cap issues.
Go for another cup.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words.

The truth is that she had a long battle with Parkinson’s, and her passing is a mixture of sadness and relief.

Hey, let’s talk about hockey.

Or beer.

Or bbq accessories.

He scored at higher clip than Kerfoot at 3x less the cost, at that rate we can just call Kerfoot tree ass.
- joel878

Kerfoot is probably on the short list of players that Dubas will move out. Maybe Leafs can trade him to Colorado for Kadri (50% of Kadri's salary retained)

I want Nick Ritchie as well, maybe a 2 yr deal for $5M total, maybe try him with Matthews and Marner.. Could do what Hyman did
- PatC80

I'd like him. I have a feeling we're not looking at him and a subsequent feeling that the longer it takes to sign him the more he'd cost anyway.

I wonder what Tyler Bertuzzi would cost to acquire and what AAV he's looking for since he made $3.5m last year.

Thats the thing. He got back in the playoffs and man Montreal was hating him. MAYBE it finally clicks?! He was pissin them off in front of Price. Drew some penalties. And end of the season started to score some. If they can get him to play with an edge MAYBE he becomes something more.
- Roadrunner75

I’ve probably said this too much, but I think he plays timid because every little mistake he has to sit out a period or the rest of that game and the next...then we have to watch Brooks or whatever AHL guy they plug in there. Give him a little room for error and maybe he’d smush a few more guys without worrying about the odd PIM. ( not that I think he really needs to hit more, just needs to stay more engaged at times )

Remember when Tampa was supposedly in cap hell?

Doing ok.
- Fakepartofme

when you loose 10M and acquire LTIR contract

all is peachy

No, kerfoot played great the past two playoffs, he be a big hole to fill outside of getting points
- Fakepartofme

I don't disagree, but I think 3.5 is too much cap space to suck up to be able to hopefully get a few good playoff games every year. Could be doing better with that money.

Tampa is awesome at it.
Win a cup...no cap issue
Win another ...no real cap issues.
Go for another cup.
- Fakepartofme

I was about to write a post about how Bettman might not feel great about a small-market team being a dynasty, but turns out Tampa is the 12th largest TV market in the US:

https://mediatracks.com/r...ielsen-dma-rankings-2020/

That really surprised me. Bigger than Miami.

Buffalo is #52. Wowzers.

Thats the thing. He got back in the playoffs and man Montreal was hating him. MAYBE it finally clicks?! He was pissin them off in front of Price. Drew some penalties. And end of the season started to score some. If they can get him to play with an edge MAYBE he becomes something more.
- Roadrunner75

That's the general frustration - we know what he's capable of, but he needs to do it consistently. He's being paid $1.25m, which is a salary that expects a consistent effort.

I'm a big Engvall guy. He's a smart player - I like the way he controls and retains the puck, particularly in the neutral zone. He's defensively smart, reading plays well. If Engvall can be a 15 goal guy (which is roughly his pace over two years) and play consistently at puck possession and using his size - not even physically - just being there - he's of significant value to the team.

I was about to write a post about how Bettman might not feel great about a small-market team being a dynasty, but turns out Tampa is the 12th largest TV market in the US:

https://mediatracks.com/r...ielsen-dma-rankings-2020/

That really surprised me. Bigger than Miami.

Buffalo is #52. Wowzers.
- Atomic Wedgie

I guess there's small market and then there's non-traditional

That is entirely on the coach to do. Engvall would be getting lots of slivers on his ass from riding the bench if he played for Trotz. Big guy, skates well, can't score - you better hit or ride the pines.
- winsix

Dubas' own words - that he wants to place more emphasis on roles for the 4 lines. He intimated that there would be a checking line so I want to see a line pieced together that can skate, check and defend. I'm not sure what we have that fits that yet.

Clearly the top 2 lines need to produce and that bottom line with Spezza and Simmonds will get leftover OZ starts and not many defensive starts. That 3rd line needs to be good.

(frank) Marner and Matthews getting a new winger. They get a 900k Bunting and better not whine about it. JT and Taveres can get Kerfoot or a Mikheyev and they better produce rather than get bounced around the lineup.

Lots of time left but this team has not gotten any more difficult to play against.

I was about to write a post about how Bettman might not feel great about a small-market team being a dynasty, but turns out Tampa is the 12th largest TV market in the US:

https://mediatracks.com/r...ielsen-dma-rankings-2020/

That really surprised me. Bigger than Miami.

Buffalo is #52. Wowzers.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah, but they're all watching Matlock reruns.

Kerfoot is probably on the short list of players that Dubas will move out. Maybe Leafs can trade him to Colorado for Kadri (50% of Kadri's salary retained)
- winsix

I would do that in a heartbeat, but I doubt Colorado does.

Kerfoot is pure vanilla ice cream to me: I have no strong feelings either way. I would have no problem trading him, but I am skeptical what we get back or replace him with would be better and/or cheaper.

I'd like him. I have a feeling we're not looking at him and a subsequent feeling that the longer it takes to sign him the more he'd cost anyway.

I wonder what Tyler Bertuzzi would cost to acquire and what AAV he's looking for since he made $3.5m last year.
- Monkeypunk

He would be an excellent addition. Unfortunately he is absolutely out of reach. Leafs are in a bad situation with draft picks - only have their first and second (maybe their 7th) next year. The Leafs don't have the assets to get Bertuzzi IMO. The Leafs may be forced to try to get a haul of picks and futures for Rielly. Bertuzzi will command $5M plus a season on his next deal. Mantha got paid, Bertuzzi may be just as good.

He does shy away. Here's the thing - I want to like Kerfoot. I don't, but I want to. Technically I want to like every Leaf, but I've made a more concerted effort with Kerfoot because I had hoped he would be the 3rd line centre we needed who wasn't getting suspended in the playoffs. I like his speed and his vision on the ice, so I am still thinking he has offensive upside - just not as a 3C.

You're right that he is pretty f'n gung-ho at the start of the game, but after he gets pasted, he's pretty gun shy for most of the rest of the game. It's, I believe, why he's targeted - it's effective. It's not dissimilar from our other lightning rods here. Nylander and Marner are harder to hit - if they were easier to hit, teams would also target them more, because once they've been nailed a couple of times, they also shy away from contact situations.

If I could move out his $3.5m salary for a winger who had a physical presence, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
- Monkeypunk

This I agree with.

But then add Engvall and any other player that refuses to hit.

Larry Brooks
@NYP_Brooksie
·
19m
Chytil in at two years for AAV of $2.3M per...
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Only our goalie yet to sign now.
That leaves the Rangers with cap space to trade for ECHL without having to send $$ back. Still not sure if I want him though.