Mike Augello: Leafs Sign Danford To Entry-Level Contract

- TheMussel

oh - it's not a day for celebration?

We are definitely in the dead zone of summer for hockey news.

I hope I am wrong, but it feels like this is the roster for opening night. I had hoped, in vain apparently, that something major could be worked out. As we inch closer to training camp, it is starting to look like we won't see a major core change until next deadline or offseason.

Gazing into the crystal ball of obvious possibilities, I see a misty vision of greatly increased cap space for next season. Whether that is the result of Tavares or Marner, remains to be seen.

Woll, Stolarz, and Murray is a little scary if Woll crashes and burns or ends up hurt off and on, like a Leafy Ben Bishop. Stolarz is a career backup, so you don't want him as your starter. Murray is a total reclamation case and could go wildly either way. There's little certainty here.

I like Tanev and what he brings. But, like Woll, he also scares me a little. He will be a vital piece in shoring up the defense, but he's also in his mid-thirties and plays a hard game. If he ends up taking an early ticket to Robidas Island, then it's right back to where it was.

Bert was a spaz, but his 20 goals have not been replaced.

Reaves is still on the roster.

Regardless, count me in. I'm ready to play the long game if necessary.

With a hard salary cap that continues to go up, maybe it's time to think about being the first North American major league to abolish the draft, ELC and RFA system.

It destroys any and all incentive for any team to ever tank but allows teams to restock their system with careful finite financial decisions rather than luck of the draw.

Allow all players to sign with any team they choose at 18 years old. Maybe restrict the maximum first contract length to 5 years for players under 23 but they become UFAs immediately.

We are definitely in the dead zone of summer for hockey news.

I hope I am wrong, but it feels like this is the roster for opening night. I had hoped, in vain apparently, that something major could be worked out. As we inch closer to training camp, it is starting to look like we won't see a major core change until next deadline or offseason.

Gazing into the crystal ball of obvious possibilities, I see a misty vision of greatly increased cap space for next season. Whether that is the result of Tavares or Marner, remains to be seen.

Woll, Stolarz, and Murray is a little scary if Woll crashes and burns or ends up hurt off and on, like a Leafy Ben Bishop. Stolarz is a career backup, so you don't want him as your starter. Murray is a total reclamation case and could go wildly either way. There's little certainty here.

I like Tanev and what he brings. But, like Woll, he also scares me a little. He will be a vital piece in shoring up the defense, but he's also in his mid-thirties and plays a hard game. If he ends up taking an early ticket to Robidas Island, then it's right back to where it was.

Bert was a spaz, but his 20 goals have not been replaced.

Reaves is still on the roster.

Regardless, count me in. I'm ready to play the long game if necessary.
- GalacticStone

for this up coming season at least.
the following season which will be his last year maybe with the Marlies

With a hard salary cap that continues to go up, maybe it's time to think about being the first North American major league to abolish the draft, ELC and RFA system.

It destroys any and all incentive for any team to ever tank but allows teams to restock their system with careful finite financial decisions rather than luck of the draw.

Allow all players to sign with any team they choose at 18 years old. Maybe restrict the maximum first contract length to 5 years for players under 23 but they become UFAs immediately.
- Rare_Jewel

So basically end most of Canada's existence in the league?

for this up coming season at least.
the following season which will be his last year maybe with the Marlies
- dmnted

It does feel like this is the last hurrah for this lineup and core. A farewell tour of sorts. After this season, like it or not, the team is going to look very different. It feels inevitable that at least one piece of the core will be gone. Maybe two.

Or not.

Who the (frank) knows any more.

We're living in the upside down, so anything is possible.

New head coach Dion Phaneuf might change things up under new GM Wendel Clark.

So basically end most of Canada's existence in the league?
- AdamFrench

I see it the other way.

You get a bunch of young Canadians trying to prove themselves with markets like Montreal and Toronto who would probably overpay them at 18 compared to the system they have now where most of the best Canadian players will never play in Canada because their early years they get drafted and restricted. Then, when they're older, they hit the market and either destroy the cap (Tavares) or sign in no income states (Stamkos).

Also, because of the hard cap system, eventually teams fill up their rosters and run out of cap space. I think Canadian teams might prefer a system where they get the advantage on younger players rather than a draft lottery system that almost always guarantees their best players never play in Canada.

I see it the other way.

You get a bunch of young Canadians trying to prove themselves with markets like Montreal and Toronto who would probably overpay them at 18 compared to the system they have now where most of the best Canadian players will never play in Canada because their early years they get drafted and restricted. Then, when they're older, they hit the market and either destroy the cap (Tavares) or sign in no income states (Stamkos).

Also, because of the hard cap system, eventually teams fill up their rosters and run out of cap space.
- Rare_Jewel

What evidence have we ever seen of a super star level Canadian ever doing this? Including JT who got the second best deal he could.

What evidence have we ever seen of a super star level Canadian ever doing this? Including JT who got the second best deal he could.
- AdamFrench

The evidence that I've seen over the years is that most of them go to a terrible draft lottery team and either get stuck on that team for the majority of their best years or get overpaid as a UFA when they get a chance to leave.

What getting rid of the draft would do is allow players maximum freedom from day one which gives teams more chances to sign players rather than being locked into a system that basically rewards teams for tanking and getting lucky in a draft.

Look at this past draft. Do you think San Jose was incentivized to be an absolutely garbage team this season to get Macklin Celebrini? Do you think he would have signed there if he had the choice? Sennecke, Lindstrom and Iginla? Think they want to play in Columbus, Anaheim or Utah at this moment? Maybe but I doubt it.

I'd say the Canadian teams would have had a better chance to get those young future stars to sign. Yes, keeping them afterwards would be more difficult but I think that'd be a more balanced system than what exists now.

The evidence that I've seen over the years is that most of them go to a terrible draft lottery team and either get stuck on that team for the majority of their best years or get overpaid as a UFA when they get a chance to leave.

What getting rid of the draft would do is allow players maximum freedom from day one which gives teams more chances to sign players rather than being locked into a system that basically rewards teams for tanking and getting lucky in a draft.

Look at this past draft. Do you think San Jose was incentivized to be an absolutely garbage team this season to get Macklin Celebrini? Do you think he would have signed there if he had the choice? Sennecke, Lindstrom and Iginla? Think they want to play in Columbus, Anaheim or Utah at this moment? Maybe but I doubt it.

I'd say the Canadian teams would have had a better chance to get those young future stars to sign. Yes, keeping them afterwards would be more difficult but I think that'd be a more balanced system than what exists now.
- Rare_Jewel

I like the enthusiasm and maybe the family/gf thing won't be a problem for 17/18 year old draftees, but Macklin chose the US before even the draft.

The only French Canadians who choose to play in Montreal are done or stupid.

xander schauffele doing it again at the olympics

I like the enthusiasm and maybe the family/gf thing won't be a problem for 17/18 year old draftees, but Macklin chose the US before even the draft.

The only French Canadians who choose to play in Montreal are done or stupid.
- AdamFrench

It's the dog days of August, just trying to come up with something interesting to debate about.

He did because it was best for his career. I think his career trajectory would probably be better right now if he signed with the Canucks over the Sharks though. Same goes for Bedard. I doubt he'd have picked the Blackhawks over the Canucks too. Fantili? No chance he picks Columbus.

Maybe at 18 the Leafs don't get Matthews to sign. But maybe they get McDavid instead. Maybe they get Tavares at 18 instead of overpaying him at 28+. It goes both ways which is why I think it's a more balanced way to operate.

European players would always be the wild cards but I could see them landing in Montreal more often than not if given the choice at 18.

I think for the NHL, the draft lottery is there to help garbage American markets more than it's there to help Canadian markets. And if no income US states are going to have the advantage signing the biggest contracts, maybe it's time Canada had an advantage of signing elite prospects instead of having them fall into the hands of terrible tanking teams more often than not.

Mike Augello: Leafs Sign Danford To Entry-Level Contract
- mikeinbuffalo

oh great👍

another pencil neck tripping and falling all over the ice🤦🏿‍♂️

what a (frank)ing joke🤦‍♂️

edit:nice alliteration 👍🏿

oh great👍

another pencil neck tripping and falling all over the ice🤦🏿‍♂️

what a (frank)ing joke🤦‍♂️

edit:nice alliteration 👍🏿
- Skalapy

It's the dog days of August, just trying to come up with something interesting to debate about.

He did because it was best for his career. I think his career trajectory would probably be better right now if he signed with the Canucks over the Sharks though. Same goes for Bedard. I doubt he'd have picked the Blackhawks over the Canucks too. Fantili? No chance he picks Columbus.

Maybe at 18 the Leafs don't get Matthews to sign. But maybe they get McDavid instead. Maybe they get Tavares at 18 instead of overpaying him at 28+. It goes both ways which is why I think it's a more balanced way to operate.

European players would always be the wild cards but I could see them landing in Montreal more often than not if given the choice at 18.

I think for the NHL, the draft lottery is there to help garbage American markets more than it's there to help Canadian markets. And if no income US states are going to have the advantage signing the biggest contracts, maybe it's time Canada had an advantage of signing elite prospects instead of having them fall into the hands of terrible tanking teams more often than not.
- Rare_Jewel

via GIPHY

the NHL draft will look different next year. It will just like in the covid days.

xander schauffele doing it again at the olympics
- TheMussel

go Fleetwood!

go Fleetwood!
- drexel

my man Valimaki is still in it, but outside of the Finns it's nice to see Hideki at the top

my man Valimaki is still in it, but outside of the Finns it's nice to see Hideki at the top
- TheMussel

my boy Viktor still mia

my boy Viktor still mia
- 21peter

yeah he hasn't played his best golf for awhile, hopefully he can bounce back soon

I want Danford to be a good pick but I have this feeling that he will never play a game in the NHL

my boy Viktor still mia
- 21peter

shouldnt you be there cheering on your son in person

- dmnted