Murray placed on LTIR. Leafs *should* be able to find a suitor for Nylander and clear his cap. Then use some of those assets and include Brodie in a deal as a “cap dump” for Karlsson.

Leafs might actually be able to pull it off.
- drummer829

Wait they would be dumping Nylander and Brodie for EK? Why?

Isn't he straight up saying he doesn't want to be a Shark in October? That plus the fact there's teams trying to make it work for him makes me believe that he will not be a Shark in October.
- MattStrat

Just as the article states...Grier HAS to budge. Probably more-so than they did at the draft. That's probably when the best offers for EK were put on the table. Now all of the teams with reported interest made other moves pushing them either over or further toward the cap ceiling...and Grier still wants a kings ransom which probably doesn't exist for the teams that EK would wave his NMC to go to. So either Grier softens or EK continues to wear teal while pouting about it.

Wait they would be dumping Nylander and Brodie for EK? Why?
- Feds91Stammer

Because then TOR would have the players with 4 of the top 9 highest cap hits in the NHL, which is clearly the path to success in a salary cap league.

Just as the article states...Grier HAS to budge. Probably more-so than they did at the draft. That's probably when the best offers for EK were put on the table. Now all of the teams with reported interest made other moves pushing them either over or further toward the cap ceiling...and Grier still wants a kings ransom which probably doesn't exist for the teams that EK would wave his NMC to go to. So either Grier softens or EK continues to wear teal while pouting about it.
- greenyone

Grier is bad and will set SJ back further than they already are.

It's really nuts that nobody in this forum predicted that EK's contract would become an albatross.

How did everyone miss that?

San Jose made their bed, now they have to lie in it.
- GalacticStone

I’m not sure albatross is the right way to describe it. He’s excellent, he’s just on a dead in the water team so his existence is pointless on the sharks and very few teams that would find a 33 year old super star useful are able to absorb a 12 mil cap hit. A healthy EK is worth his cap hit but teams that can take on that sort of cap hit easily typically are rebuilding and rebuilding teams aren’t going to be interested in a player his age.

No idea why Carolina and Toronto are gunning for EK. Karlsson is such a risk for these teams. If he falls flat even after 1 or 2 good years, you are spending multiple assets to move him off your books for those final 2-3 years.

Pittsburgh makes so much more sense because the pressure to win a Cup isnt there. Its more about trying to make some noise in the playoffs one more time and just watch fun and competitive hockey.

If EK is prioritizing a Cup, I get it, go to one of those two other teams, but Im not sure Id be looking at him if I was Carolina or Toronto.

No idea why Carolina and Toronto are gunning for EK. Karlsson is such a risk for these teams. If he falls flat even after 1 or 2 good years, you are spending multiple assets to move him off your books for those final 2-3 years.

Pittsburgh makes so much more sense because the pressure to win a Cup isnt there. Its more about trying to make some noise in the playoffs one more time and just watch fun and competitive hockey.

If EK is prioritizing a Cup, I get it, go to one of those two other teams, but Im not sure Id be looking at him if I was Carolina or Toronto.
- SuperHenderson13

If I'm Carolina I'm going after the best goal scorer available. Debrincat made a ton of sense for them. Their biggest issue is finishing and I don't think they have addressed that.

I’m to the point that I hope another team folds and gives San Jose something of value only for EK to miss 90 percent of the season with injuries.

Wait they would be dumping Nylander and Brodie for EK? Why?
- Feds91Stammer

Nylander is in the last year of his deal and rumors have been swirling of TOR trying to trade him now since they might not be able to resign him. I never said they’d “dump” Nylander. But trade him for some assets (1st, prospect, depth player) and they can turn around and use some of those assets in a EK deal. Brodie would be a pure cap dump though (similar as to pens fans wanting Petry included in the deal).

But the leafs seem like a realistic landing spot for EK now

No idea why Carolina and Toronto are gunning for EK. Karlsson is such a risk for these teams. If he falls flat even after 1 or 2 good years, you are spending multiple assets to move him off your books for those final 2-3 years.

Pittsburgh makes so much more sense because the pressure to win a Cup isnt there. Its more about trying to make some noise in the playoffs one more time and just watch fun and competitive hockey.

If EK is prioritizing a Cup, I get it, go to one of those two other teams, but Im not sure Id be looking at him if I was Carolina or Toronto.
- SuperHenderson13

Is it though? Crosby will be 36 when the season starts. He has 2 seasons left. Who knows how well Malkin will hold up and he's a yr older. After Crosbys contract he may have 1 or 2 years left in him. If you're him and a fringe team do you stick around? Force a trade? As competitive as he is I think he's the type that wants to win his last game.

So instead of buying Murray out, it looks like the Leafs are going to place him on LTIR, for maybe the entire season

Is it though? Crosby will be 36 when the season starts. He has 2 seasons left. Who knows how well Malkin will hold up and he's a yr older. After Crosbys contract he may have 1 or 2 years left in him. If you're him and a fringe team do you stick around? Force a trade? As competitive as he is I think he's the type that wants to win his last game.
- sammy87

More likely Sid hangs them up after his current contract is over vs going to a different team.

Nylander is in the last year of his deal and rumors have been swirling of TOR trying to trade him now since they might not be able to resign him. I never said they’d “dump” Nylander. But trade him for some assets (1st, prospect, depth player) and they can turn around and use some of those assets in a EK deal. Brodie would be a pure cap dump though (similar as to pens fans wanting Petry included in the deal).

But the leafs seem like a realistic landing spot for EK now
- drummer829

So get rid of their most dynamic forward imo and one of their only D that actually can play D for EK? Seems like a big step backwards.

Carter should do us a solid and go on LTIR for mental health if something.

Carter should do us a solid and go on LTIR for mental health if something.
- Brownsoldier

Hahahaha, yea or he can pull the Hossa and "be allergic to his equipment" lol

So get rid of their most dynamic forward imo and one of their only D that actually can play D for EK? Seems like a big step backwards.
- Feds91Stammer

The obvious answer here is for the penguins to end up with both EK and Nylander without giving up any of our good players.

No idea why Carolina and Toronto are gunning for EK. Karlsson is such a risk for these teams. If he falls flat even after 1 or 2 good years, you are spending multiple assets to move him off your books for those final 2-3 years.

Pittsburgh makes so much more sense because the pressure to win a Cup isnt there. Its more about trying to make some noise in the playoffs one more time and just watch fun and competitive hockey.

If EK is prioritizing a Cup, I get it, go to one of those two other teams, but Im not sure Id be looking at him if I was Carolina or Toronto.
- SuperHenderson13

Isn't that the whole idea? I mean, he wants to win a Cup and he isn't doing that by going to the Pens. Like you said, perhaps the Pens could make some noise in the playoffs, but they still won't be considered a Cup contender if you get him. I can't believe the Pens would give up even more draft picks. Your minor league system is already barren.

Nylander is in the last year of his deal and rumors have been swirling of TOR trying to trade him now since they might not be able to resign him. I never said they’d “dump” Nylander. But trade him for some assets (1st, prospect, depth player) and they can turn around and use some of those assets in a EK deal. Brodie would be a pure cap dump though (similar as to pens fans wanting Petry included in the deal).

But the leafs seem like a realistic landing spot for EK now
- drummer829

What are they going to do with Klingberg then? I guess just give up ever playing defense and go balls to the walls on scoring.

Carter should do us a solid and go on LTIR for mental health if something.
- Brownsoldier

Sullivan should do his team a solid and put Carter infront if the net on the 1st pp.

The obvious answer here is for the penguins to end up with both EK and Nylander without giving up any of our good players.
- Victoro311

Indeed, this is clearly the path forward.

Sullivan should do his team a solid and put Carter infront if the net on the 1st pp.
- Grinder47

It’s too late to tank for Bedard

Why does Eklund have "e4" at the end of the EK rumor on the homepage? What does an error by the second baseman have to do with this?

Why does Eklund have "e4" at the end of the EK rumor on the homepage? What does an error by the second baseman have to do with this?
- MickV

Great point. I thought he was playing battle ship and typed his target in the wrong window.

Why does Eklund have "e4" at the end of the EK rumor on the homepage? What does an error by the second baseman have to do with this?
- MickV

Because Eklund is a clown that likes to rank his "rumors" in "Eklund Strength" so "e4" is the 2nd highest I think. e1-e5 is typically what he does. It's a bunch of BS though.

Because Eklund is a clown that likes to rank his "rumors" in "Eklund Strength" so "e4" is the 2nd highest I think. e1-e5 is typically what he does. It's a bunch of BS though.
- j.boyd919

Ha, OK. Most of these "rumors" seem to be things found on twitter or in published interviews like the one EK just did ... and yet the "source" is always "Eklund".