It's speculation because no one knows what will actually happen.. Plus, technically teams are not yet allowed to talk to pending free agents.. So, unless Dubas or the Blues broke the rules, it's all a guess at this point.

With that said, go get him Kyle.. Bring home Pietrangelo
- PatC80

I am not here to argue what the definition of "speculation" is.

pl said there is mutual interest.

That is all. There is interest from both sides if a deal doesn't work out with the blues.

And were you born yesterday? You can move info through insiders. Alex says he is interested in signing with Leafs. Dubas talks to teams around the league about unloading mass salary to add Petro. boom.

I am sure it is more than speculation...pl wouldn't say it without having truth to it.

It makes a lot of sense for him here if the money doesn't work out in STL.

Goes to show you how having anchor contracts (frank) you over.

Who's taking Steen right now? Think a team out west is going to help a powerhouse STL team? nope. Does anyone in the east have the money...or if they do wouldnt they want a shot at the best D that hit the open market in years?

If Petro wants to stay a Blue it looks like he will have to take significantly less than he is worth, and maybe he does. We will see.
- Santo_44

If there was real mutual interest it would be tampering. The Leafs have to be very careful. The agent is obviously sending a signal about his player getting more unhappy. If anything though it also means he wants the Blues to keep trying.

One small note:

Unlike the past few years, this year will not have the "talk but don't sign" period prior to free agency.

When the doors open, 31 GMs are going to have to rush into the ballroom, clutching contracts.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah exactly, and teams are not allowed to express interest in players that are not on their current roster.

One small note:

Unlike the past few years, this year will not have the "talk but don't sign" period prior to free agency.

When the doors open, 31 GMs are going to have to rush into the ballroom, clutching contracts.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think teams and players can relay who they are interested in before that no problem.

It will just be money and term that need to be thought out.

I'D bet more teams do what MTL did with Edmondson.

Yeah exactly, and teams are not allowed to express interest in players that are not on their current roster.
- PatC80

Yes they can

How do you think Dubas and co makes a plan? Are they unable to mutter the word "Petro" so the word doesn't get out?

No. Sometimes. Depends.
- Steven_Seagull

Mutual interest between Seagull and Florida. Teammates offer to pack his tiny suitcase.

I am not here to argue what the definition of "speculation" is.

pl said there is mutual interest.

That is all. There is interest from both sides if a deal doesn't work out with the blues.

And were you born yesterday? You can move info through insiders. Alex says he is interested in signing with Leafs. Dubas talks to teams around the league about unloading mass salary to add Petro. boom.
- Santo_44

I know what LeBrun said and I hope it's true.. Dubas expressing interest is still a form of tampering though, isn't it?

I am not here to argue what the definition of "speculation" is.

pl said there is mutual interest.

That is all. There is interest from both sides if a deal doesn't work out with the blues.

And were you born yesterday? You can move info through insiders. Alex says he is interested in signing with Leafs. Dubas talks to teams around the league about unloading mass salary to add Petro. boom.
- Santo_44

I could probably take a few guesses on the definition of "speculation", based upon the facts I know...

I doubt any GM bets on adding any player.

They have all their options laid out and do it one step at a time.

If Petro is there for them they likely have a pretty damn good idea of what trades are out there for Willy/Kerfoot/Andersen/AJ
- Santo_44

Exactly. But if we wait for Petro, and he ends up signing in St Louis the day before Free Agency, we could very well end up missing out on other defenseman who get traded in the interim.

Yes they can

How do you think Dubas and co makes a plan? Are they unable to mutter the word "Petro" so the word doesn't get out?
- Santo_44

not formally, they can't.. It would be tampering

I think teams and players can relay who they are interested in before that no problem.

It will just be money and term that need to be thought out.

I'D bet more teams do what MTL did with Edmondson.
- Santo_44

They do all the time, but at least on paper, it's prohibited by the CBA (tampering) and comes with huge penalties.

I think teams and players can relay who they are interested in before that no problem.

It will just be money and term that need to be thought out.

I'D bet more teams do what MTL did with Edmondson.
- Santo_44

Teams can’t tamper with a player under contract. Unless there were specific changes you need to be really careful about what you say.

I know what LeBrun said and I hope it's true.. Dubas expressing interest is still a form of tampering though, isn't it?
- PatC80

How?

Unless he's going to the player or agent its not tampering.

He is allowed to talk to his management about adding Petro. News travels through league execs.

If Toronto wanted Petro to know they would sign him it wouldn't be hard to do it...in fact they already did it. PL reported it and its not tampering.

Teams can’t tamper with a player under contract. Unless there were specific changes you need to be really careful about what you say.
- Canada Cup

You hear about what team wants to sign who for a reason...Its not difficult to get that info out.

Mutual interest between Seagull and Florida. Teammates offer to pack his tiny suitcase.
- Canada Cup

Florida very, very eager to have him.

They've set up a welcoming reception: 40,000 maskless fans, indoors, who all want to kiss him on the beak.

Keep in mind 'tampering' is standard operating procedure.

Mutual interest between Seagull and Florida. Teammates offer to pack his tiny suitcase.
- Canada Cup

Then they send him flying.

not formally, they can't.. It would be tampering
- PatC80

League execs can spread whatever info they want.

Maybe one day they find a way to punish the rats that leak all the info...doubt it though fans love their rumours.

How?

Unless he's going to the player or agent its not tampering.

He is allowed to talk to his management about adding Petro. News travels through league execs.

If Toronto wanted Petro to know they would sign him it wouldn't be hard to do it...in fact they already did it. PL reported it and its not tampering.
- Santo_44

No, really, not allowed. At all.

I'm sorry, Santsie, you're 100% wrong on this one.

Leafs can ask permission to talk to Pieterangelo, but St. Louis would have to agree to it.

How?

Unless he's going to the player or agent its not tampering.

He is allowed to talk to his management about adding Petro. News travels through league execs.

If Toronto wanted Petro to know they would sign him it wouldn't be hard to do it...in fact they already did it. PL reported it and its not tampering.
- Santo_44

For example:

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...fs-for-tampering-1.802383

No, really, not allowed. At all.

I'm sorry, Santsie, you're 100% wrong on this one.

Leafs can ask permission to talk to Pieterangelo, but St. Louis would have to agree to it.
- Atomic Wedgie

Wrong about what?

How else did PL get his info? Through league execs.

You are a gullible (frank) if you think players and teams dont know information on who wants who.

You are allowed to be gullible, most people are.

How?

Unless he's going to the player or agent its not tampering.

He is allowed to talk to his management about adding Petro. News travels through league execs.

If Toronto wanted Petro to know they would sign him it wouldn't be hard to do it...in fact they already did it. PL reported it and its not tampering.
- Santo_44

Obviously you can skirt the rule without being caught but I think GMs who that pay a price. It’s not hard for LeBrun to speculate that the Leafs want him and maybe he put a call through to Buffalo to check in with Mike but I just don’t think teams do or need to (frank) around.

For example:

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...fs-for-tampering-1.802383
- Atomic Wedgie

And here:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-violating-tampering-law/

Obviously you can skirt the rule without being caught but I think GMs who that pay a price. It’s not hard for LeBrun to speculate that the Leafs want him and maybe he put a call through to Buffalo to check in with Mike but I just don’t think teams do or need to (frank) around.
- Canada Cup

Someone should kick Simmons out of the league.

Tampering.

Wrong about what?

How else did PL get his info? Through league execs.

You are a gullible (frank) if you think players and teams dont know information on who wants who.

You are allowed to be gullible, most people are.
- Santo_44

Everyone has ideas but they don’t have hard information. Agents can talk to reporters. Agents can say, of course the Leafs are interested. But this is mostly well informed fog.