The idiot in Edm screwed the market when he gave Hall, Eberle and RNH matching contracts while they were still collecting #1 picks.

Or if the Hawks had to pay Keith was he was worth during those years.
- Elbows15

Kind of like Bowman this year, Hamilton, Nurse, Werenski signing soon after and right around the same coin.

I'm sure McAvoy was like (frank) yea and the Bruins FO saying, (frank)ing Bowman.

Kind of like Bowman this year, Hamilton, Nurse, Werenski signing soon after and right around the same coin.

I'm sure McAvoy was like (frank) yea and the Bruins FO saying, (frank)ing Bowman.
- BetweenTheDots

I don’t think so, I’m guessing most of the above negotiations, if not all, were already well in the works before Jones signed. You would think that Bowman did his due diligence and checked in on Hamilton, and then was told what the number was that he had to beat.

Keith without the illegal deal would have meant somebody good possibly himself would not have been on the team.
- rpeters01

Keith's deal met the CBA standards at the time and was approved by the league.

the "lottery" team seems to be thrown out way too easily vs what it actually means. The idea is to keep teams from intentionally tanking to be assured of getting the 1st overall pick. Trying to keep competitive balance. A team finishing 9th in the conference and having a 1% shot of "winning" said lottery is almost a sure thing of NOT happening.

I don't disagree with you and be careful about the dreaded "hype machine" as many on here, or used to be on here, don't believe in that.....


I do agree with you.....I just think the Jones trade was overblown by 90% of this board. Nobody here is smarter than somebody currently employed in hockey ops because if that was the case...said person would be employed IMO....I am not worried one bit that Adam Boqvist will haunt this franchise for however long he stays in the NHL....i don't wish the kid any ill will, but he didn't do much for me and I would rather have a 26 yr old proven asset about to enter his prime than hitching my wagon to a kid who's jury is still out....and if not likely NEVER sniffs his ceiling, than bowman did an excellent job selling high.....didn't give up a Lankinen, Dach, DeBrincat, Reichel, Beaudin, Mitchell, and so on.

I hope LBR sees my post because if anyone has access to a long sample size of players drafted in each slot in the 1st round over the last 14 years, it's likely her.....I would love to see how each generic group lines up....f, d, g over the course of that time frame.....I can see the flip side of people arguing team needs, organizational development (good and bad) etc....but it would be fascinating to see that breakdown as some of the variables would be eliminated with the law averages (good draft years cancel out weak ones, etc....and what team over the last 14+ years has truly developed the most 1st roudn picks who have had LT success in the NHL)........this would be a fun project to kill the dead time before training camp starts.
- SteveRain

While I hated to see Boqvist go in the Jones trade, one thing that made it palatable was knowing that the D prospect pipeline is still pretty good even when you go deeper past Kalynuk, Mitchell, and Beaudin.

Of that next group, Kaiser is the most exciting as far as potential to be a top 4 candidate. Even if he doesn't hit that water level, a solid 3rd pair is also most welcome.

There's also Phillips and Vlasic with the former being more well rounded while the latter could be the shutdown defender that Murphy is in the role of now.

Regula is there but he's lost some luster, IMO, and is no better than Krys or Galvas. At least one of them could make the team in the 5/6/7 spot.

Then there are Allan and Del Mastro from the recent draft class but they're both in the strictly defensive defenseman mold.

That's not what happened and you know it. Columbus said we're not giving him away and Stan said I'm not giving up anything without a long term deal. It was all done at once. Pretty obvious Stan did not over pay dollar wise quit whining already.
- rpeters01

It is exactly what happened. No one else was interested in Jones at those prices. The deal wasn't signed until a week after the trade.

Its a huge overpay and I will type whatever I want whenever I want. Don't like it. Don't read it or respond.

Kind of like Bowman this year, Hamilton, Nurse, Werenski signing soon after and right around the same coin.

I'm sure McAvoy was like (frank) yea and the Bruins FO saying, (frank)ing Bowman.
- BetweenTheDots

Yep. He set the market. I am a huge fan of Werenski and he is not worth that deal and Nurse's is ridiculous.

It is exactly what happened. No one else was interested in Jones at those prices. The deal wasn't signed until a week after the trade.

Its a huge overpay and I will type whatever I want whenever I want. Don't like it. Don't read it or respond.
- Elbows15

Deal was leaked as soon as the trade happened. Deal couldn’t become official because new league year didn’t start.

Price was steep. Deal was part of it.

Is what it is.

I don’t think so, I’m guessing most of the above negotiations, if not all, were already well in the works before Jones signed. You would think that Bowman did his due diligence and checked in on Hamilton, and then was told what the number was that he had to beat.
- Angotti

They may have been in the works but Jones' deal definitely influenced those AAV. Its how it works.

While I hated to see Boqvist go in the Jones trade, one thing that made it palatable was knowing that the D prospect pipeline is still pretty good even when you go deeper past Kalynuk, Mitchell, and Beaudin.

Of that next group, Kaiser is the most exciting as far as potential to be a top 4 candidate. Even if he doesn't hit that water level, a solid 3rd pair is also most welcome.

There's also Phillips and Vlasic with the former being more well rounded while the latter could be the shutdown defender that Murphy is in the role of now.

Regula is there but he's lost some luster, IMO, and is no better than Krys or Galvas. At least one of them could make the team in the 5/6/7 spot.

Then there are Allan and Del Mastro from the recent draft class but they're both in the strictly defensive defenseman mold.
- Theo Fox

I like Kalynuk a lot. He was impressive last year.

Keith's deal met the CBA standards at the time and was approved by the league.
- DarthKane

They closed the loophole it was kind of a moving target and I was being facetious.

I do want to see a breakdown since 2007, by 1st round slot on the average player drafted in each slot, their production and how long their careers lasted in the nHL.



That's my point.....a 1st round pick is a risk unless you get a consensus #1 in McDavid or Crosby........I am not anti draft pick for buildlng a team but I am also not going to sit here and whine assuming everyone this franchises picks will be some important part of the future because that's 100% false.
- SteveRain

Here's something for you to chew on - do you know how many playoff series these recent "franchise changing" top draft picks have won since they entered the league - McDavid, Draisaitl, Mathews, Marner, Eichel, Ekblad - a grand total of ONE!

Who gives a flying f$ck about their stats in the regular season when they can't push their team beyond just participating in a playoff series.

And do you know the NHL player with the 3rd highest point total in the last 5 years. He sits behind only McDavid and Draisaitl - that annoying little pr$ck Brad Marchand, Drafted 71st overall.

To your point - drafting in the first couple of spots is enticing and creates hope for better times. But a team better find a way to develop those players as part of a bigger team development plan and also find NHL'ers with picks at #40 or #75 etc. And thats on a team's scouts and the GM. Just look back at the 2014 draft - NHL GM's decided Sonny Milano, Brendan Perlini, Nick Schmaltz, Michael Dal Colle and others were going to be better players than David Pastrnak. Hasn't worked out that way.

It is exactly what happened. No one else was interested in Jones at those prices. The deal wasn't signed until a week after the trade.

Its a huge overpay and I will type whatever I want whenever I want. Don't like it. Don't read it or respond.
- Elbows15

Like my wife you're wrong and I'm right.

Deal was leaked as soon as the trade happened. Deal couldn’t become official because new league year didn’t start.

Price was steep. Deal was part of it.

Is what it is.
- SteveRain

Doesn't change the fact that Bowman bid against himself. We will see. Best we can hope for is he lives up 70% of the contract for at least part of it. The back half will be ugly.

Here's something for you to chew on - do you know how many playoff series these recent "franchise changing" top draft picks have won since they entered the league - McDavid, Draisaitl, Mathews, Marner, Eichel, Ekblad - a grand total of ONE!

Who gives a flying f$ck about their stats in the regular season when they can't push their team beyond just participating in a playoff series.

And do you know the NHL player with the 3rd highest point total in the last 5 years. He sits behind only McDavid and Draisaitl - that annoying little pr$ck Brad Marchand, Drafted 71st overall.

To your point - drafting in the first couple of spots is enticing and creates hope for better times. But a team better find a way to develop those players as part of a bigger team development plan and also find NHL'ers with picks at #40 or #75 etc. And thats on a team's scouts and the GM. Just look back at the 2014 draft - NHL GM's decided Sonny Milano, Brendan Perlini, Nick Schmaltz, Michael Dal Colle and others were going to be better players than David Pastrnak. Hasn't worked out that way.
- RickJ

100%. I know some guys make excuses or point out defenses for a guy like marner but like you…..put up or shut up time comes in the playoffs.

The other issue with some of those guys you listed and rightfully pointed out earlier is no bridge deal. So these guys are getting massive money, early, and best carry their teams produce in the playoffs or else they are fd. Support won’t be there with cap crunch.

Btw….love the leafs cap friendly site and laughing my ass off. Not only cap hell but refusing to shake it up a little. Love it.

Great point on 2014 draft….and teams developing them.

Doesn't change the fact that Bowman bid against himself. We will see. Best we can hope for is he lives up 70% of the contract for at least part of it. The back half will be ugly.
- Elbows15

Let’s hope he rebounds and doesn’t plummet as quickly as those graphs predict. Trying to remain optimistic about it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Let’s hope he rebounds and doesn’t plummet as quickly as those graphs predict. Trying to remain optimistic about it. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- SteveRain

It really comes down to 1 question, are we a better team with Seth Jones or without? Stan made this team significantly better, hate to say it because i am a big fan of Keith's, by trading for a younger player in the wee stages of his prime who's going to chew up 25 minutes a night and be hard to play against.

And there isn't many guys out there who can put Tom Wilson on his ass.

100%. I know some guys make excuses or point out defenses for a guy like marner but like you…..put up or shut up time comes in the playoffs.

The other issue with some of those guys you listed and rightfully pointed out earlier is no bridge deal. So these guys are getting massive money, early, and best carry their teams produce in the playoffs or else they are fd. Support won’t be there with cap crunch.

Btw….love the leafs cap friendly site and laughing my ass off. Not only cap hell but refusing to shake it up a little. Love it.

Great point on 2014 draft….and teams developing them.
- SteveRain

We really shouldn't be laughing at the Maple Leafs but it really is too hard to resist.

From their jersey and refreshment sales at home games they could fund the annual deficits of teams like Florida, Arizona and New Jersey. But they can't figure out a way to put a winner on the ice.

We really shouldn't be laughing at the Maple Leafs but it really is too hard to resist.

From their jersey and refreshment sales at home games they could fund the annual deficits of teams like Florida, Arizona and New Jersey. But they can't figure out a way to put a winner on the ice.
- RickJ

The fact that they make so much money is the reason they aren’t motivated to win. You Steve and I could play on a line and the team would make a fortune on sales of our jerseys and bobble head dolls.

It really comes down to 1 question, are we a better team with Seth Jones or without? Stan made this team significantly better, hate to say it because i am a big fan of Keith's, by trading for a younger player in the wee stages of his prime who's going to chew up 25 minutes a night and be hard to play against.

And there isn't many guys out there who can put Tom Wilson on his ass.
- BetweenTheDots

Totally worth the cap hit for those two games a year

That suggests we need a Norris Trophy winner as his partner.
- rpeters01

Or more accurately, that he might enable his partner to become a Norris Trophy winner.

Signing Ovi at 35 years old 5 years for $9.5 million per is not going to age well.
- BetweenTheDots

Not sure about that. Most of what he does is post up and rip rockets. I'm thinking he can do that for 5 more years.

While I hated to see Boqvist go in the Jones trade, one thing that made it palatable was knowing that the D prospect pipeline is still pretty good even when you go deeper past Kalynuk, Mitchell, and Beaudin.

Of that next group, Kaiser is the most exciting as far as potential to be a top 4 candidate. Even if he doesn't hit that water level, a solid 3rd pair is also most welcome.

There's also Phillips and Vlasic with the former being more well rounded while the latter could be the shutdown defender that Murphy is in the role of now.

Regula is there but he's lost some luster, IMO, and is no better than Krys or Galvas. At least one of them could make the team in the 5/6/7 spot.

Then there are Allan and Del Mastro from the recent draft class but they're both in the strictly defensive defenseman mold.
- Theo Fox

I hated seeing Boqvist, the 2021 1st round pick, 2022 1st round pick and the 2021 2nd round pick go. Almost as much as I hate the $9.5 million X 8 years extension.

Or more accurately, that he might enable his partner to become a Norris Trophy winner.
- Ogilthorpe2

When Stan gets Subban for '23's #1 and Dach.

What a game with the children of the corn

Deal was leaked as soon as the trade happened. Deal couldn’t become official because new league year didn’t start.

Price was steep. Deal was part of it.

Is what it is.
- SteveRain

Yes, And big 4 directional skating top pair right handed defenseman that actually play solid all around game are hardly on the market.
A GM decides when they come on market if their team's current need / pipeline is in need, and goes from there to get in the discussions.

I just go back to how exceptionally solid Jones looked before getting selected.
I don't the he lacks offensively ability.
It is tough to try a gauge the contract before you see the on ice results to the team.