I'm gonna be 55 in 2 weeks. I'm in win now mode. I know great players are not just going to fall into Islanders lap. I'm just a little more willing to give up something to get something, I guess.

Like we’ve both said, none of these guys are really worth what they’re making…it’s insane. People who have real jobs, people who do the kind of stuff that should make millions live month-to-month, some week-to-week

Yeah, you can’t just “cut” a guy in hockey like you can in football. It’s why guys like Lamar Jackson want guaranteed contracts. When it came to Lee, I think everyone knew it was too long. I’m still holding out the hope he was playing hurt the last 6 weeks, he still scored 29 goals this season. It was a necessary evil, in my mind, to pay him. At least it isn’t like a Ladd (underperformed) or a Clarkson (mostly injury induced) situation where the money was never earned.

The problem is when you have like 4 or 5 of those types of contracts on your books well, therein lies the rub. Guys got paid for those 2 runs to the ECF. They weren’t “old” per se, they were always slower and streakier than what would be ideal, and they also performed best in the playoffs. Now, that’s kinda biting us in the ass a bit and that’s why you’re gonna see most of the same guys here next season.
- potvin05

I thought at the time there were rumors it was between the Habs and the Islanders for Lee. I just would have held the line at 5 years for Lee and if another team bets that fine. Lee is a great guy and teammate, but 7 years is a lot. Same for the Ladd deal. Funny Lou hated giving Bo his deal. Hopefully this deal does not bite the Islanders.

I thought at the time there were rumors it was between the Habs and the Islanders for Lee. I just would have held the line at 5 years for Lee and if another team bets that fine. Lee is a great guy and teammate, but 7 years is a lot. Same for the Ladd deal. Funny Lou hated giving Bo his deal. Hopefully this deal does not bite the Islanders.
- ses111

The Habs offered Lee 9 million per. Not sure what term.

But Lee opted to stay with the Isles instead.

I'm gonna be 55 in 2 weeks. I'm in win now mode. I know great players are not just going to fall into Islanders lap. I'm just a little more willing to give up something to get something, I guess.
- chazpet

Wow! You are really OLD! Well, since I will forget in 2 weeks, let me just say...

The Habs offered Lee 9 million per. Not sure what term.

But Lee opted to stay with the Isles instead.
- Wildschwein

Yeah, but did he say, "No do-overs?"

The Habs offered Lee 9 million per. Not sure what term.

But Lee opted to stay with the Isles instead.
- Wildschwein

9 million?

The Habs offered Lee 9 million per. Not sure what term.

But Lee opted to stay with the Isles instead.
- Wildschwein

Weird how I have no recollection of this. Absolutely not saying it didn’t happen but I would have to assume it would be a shorter term contract with that salary. Wow Lee at 9 million.

Weird how I have no recollection of this. Absolutely not saying it didn’t happen but I would have to assume it would be a shorter term contract with that salary. Wow Lee at 9 million.
- Cptmjl

I know it was down to the Isles and Habs. Even 9 mill on a shorter deal is still amazing.

I'm gonna be 55 in 2 weeks. I'm in win now mode. I know great players are not just going to fall into Islanders lap. I'm just a little more willing to give up something to get something, I guess.
- chazpet

Whippersnapper

Wow Keaner’s Cat coming out on fire in the second!

This leafs/Cats game is great. I'd hate to be a leafs player if they lose this one. The Toronto press will be all over them.

This leafs/Cats game is great. I'd hate to be a leafs player if they lose this one. The Toronto press will be all over them.
- JimmyP

Have to wonder if the Leafs are just happy they won a series.

Have to wonder if the Leafs are just happy they won a series.
- ses111

Yes that’s it

Have to wonder if the Leafs are just happy they won a series.
- ses111

Oh no, they are squeezing their sticks.

It's not over but the Canadian media will be ripping them apart.

Oh no, they are squeezing their sticks.

It's not over but the Canadian media will be ripping them apart.
- JimmyP

I remember when the Islanders finally won a round when beating Florida and then did not show much the next series. That Islanders team not have close to the talent this Leaf team has though.

Weird how I have no recollection of this. Absolutely not saying it didn’t happen but I would have to assume it would be a shorter term contract with that salary. Wow Lee at 9 million.
- Cptmjl

I believe it was Portzline of the Athletic that was reporting 9. Apparently Bergevin offered him that much per, but Lee opted to stay for 7. Word was he would've signed with the Isles right away, but he was waiting till after Panarin signed so that the Isles would have as much wiggle room as possible.

Personally, I think the story is legit. Lee strikes me as exactly that kind of guy.

I believe it was Portzline of the Athletic that was reporting 9. Apparently Bergevin offered him that much per, but Lee opted to stay for 7. Word was he would've signed with the Isles right away, but he was waiting till after Panarin signed so that the Isles would have as much wiggle room as possible.

Personally, I think the story is legit. Lee strikes me as exactly that kind of guy.
- Wildschwein

Gotcha now that you’re mentioning it sounds vaguely familiar.

So if Calgary had called Islanders last summer and said hey Lou, Tkachuk wants to be traded and he wouldn't mind the island. You wouldn't give up Dobson in that deal?? I'm just asking.
- chazpet

Dobson would have been a Flame. I have wanted Tkachuk for years. I would not even think twice.

Hockey has the hard Cap, and you really need to be careful with these contracts. Teams like the Islanders are in a tough spot now because they overpaid on players that are not top 6.
- ses111

The cap is not the problem. The problem is the willingness to give a contract that you know has two or three bad years built in. I blame the GM's for giving into this.

Contracts should be 3, 5, and in the rare case 7 years.

If GM's stop giving out stupid contracts, things level out. Teams would keep players of value longer instead of losing them.

Former Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is rumored as a leading candidate to replace Lamoriello with proven head coaches, including Peter Laviolette, who won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and led the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Any thoughts if this were to happen?

I remember when the Islanders finally won a round when beating Florida and then did not show much the next series. That Islanders team not have close to the talent this Leaf team has though.
- ses111

No, but we had the same captain.

Former Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is rumored as a leading candidate to replace Lamoriello with proven head coaches, including Peter Laviolette, who won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and led the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Any thoughts if this were to happen?
- Nfdbulldawg

Despite the bold, I don't understand this. What has Treliving accomplished? Since Calgary last won a Cup in 1989, Lou has won 3. And are you suggesting bringing back Laviolette??? Is he really an improvement on Lambert? He accomplished very little with Ovechkin and the Caps.

Former Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving is rumored as a leading candidate to replace Lamoriello with proven head coaches, including Peter Laviolette, who won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and led the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Any thoughts if this were to happen?
- Nfdbulldawg

Very… “meh”.

Treliving is pretty decent on the trade and draft front. Not so hot when it comes to hiring coaches.

The cap is not the problem. The problem is the willingness to give a contract that you know has two or three bad years built in. I blame the GM's for giving into this.

Contracts should be 3, 5, and in the rare case 7 years.

If GM's stop giving out stupid contracts, things level out. Teams would keep players of value longer instead of losing them.
- Nfdbulldawg

It only takes one rogue GM though. 7 year contracts for grinding type players like Lee are brutal. 7 year contracts should be for the highly skilled players that will most likely not break down a few years into the contract. The contracts for JT, Panarin, and Barzal are understandable. They generate offense.