With the amount of cap room they have they could’ve taken Price, ate part of his contract and flipped him for a kings ransom.

Probably could’ve gotten a hell of return from the Leafs to do that. Cough Marner Cough

With the amount of cap room they have they could’ve taken Price, ate part of his contract and flipped him for a kings ransom.

Probably could’ve gotten a hell of return from the Leafs to do that. Cough Marner Cough
- hereticpride

Sometimes I really can't believe some of the stuff I read. There is no way in hell that the Leafs would give up Marner for Price.

Sometimes I really can't believe some of the stuff I read. There is no way in hell that the Leafs would give up Marner for Price.
- MJL

that rich considering most of your posts fall into the category

Sometimes I really can't believe some of the stuff I read. There is no way in hell that the Leafs would give up Marner for Price.
- MJL

lol

Francis’ plan essentially was I don’t want big contracts whatsoever so I’ll just build a lesser team. Unbelievable.

This team is going to lose a lot of games. Their forward depth is laughable.
- hereticpride

You realize there's a draft and then free agency and a whole summer to make trades ahead, right?

I think some are not understanding the strategy here. Look around the league. Many, many teams need to move players. He is going to look to add talent for the current roster as well as a surcharge of future assets to take some players off of other teams hands. In order to do that he needs to keep some roster flexibility. Which is why a good number of players he took are AHL level players.
- MJL

I think pretty much everyone understands. But I personally feel he left opportunities to grab some good players on the table.

I also think everyone understands he will be very active. He has to be, because the team he selected tonight is terrible.

I think some are not understanding the strategy here. Look around the league. Many, many teams need to move players. He is going to look to add talent for the current roster as well as a surcharge of future assets to take some players off of other teams hands. In order to do that he needs to keep some roster flexibility. Which is why a good number of players he took are AHL level players.
- MJL

It's obvious they're going to try to take advantage of that, and I'm sure they will have some success. But I'm shocked they couldn't manage even one side deal. Might be an indication that teams aren't willing to pay ridiculous prices to shed cap space, and they may have missed out a big opportunity to acquire better players via the expansion draft and additional entry draft picks.

I mean only a few guys they drafted could be flipped for decent picks. So what’s his plan take contracts to get high draft picks? I mean sure some but not gonna be able to take too many contracts.
- Stayin alive

Exactly. If there were no side deals this was a unsuccessful expansion draft for Seattle. Who are they going to flip? Vanecek has some value and Giordano maybe at the trade deadline gets them something. Twarynski? Really?

I think pretty much everyone understands. But I personally feel he left opportunities to grab some good players on the table.

I also think everyone understands he will be very active. He has to be, because the team he selected tonight is terrible.
- Flyers1218

Read some of the posts. There are some who don't understand. Clearly. I wouldn't say it's terrible. It has some holes, no doubt.

and you thought the phils bullpen was bad

It's obvious they're going to try to take advantage of that, and I'm sure they will have some success. But I'm shocked they couldn't manage even one side deal. Might be an indication that teams aren't willing to pay ridiculous prices to shed cap space, and they may have missed out a big opportunity to acquire better players via the expansion draft and additional entry draft picks.
- BenderRodriguez

There were a lot of lessons learned in the last ED. The cap situation was also different back then. Many GM's are counting on a trade market developing and a better opportunity. I would also bet that there were plenty of side deal discussions had but Francis stuck to his guns and demanded his price. Some teams will have to come to him or to other teams at some point. Look at the Flyers. They have 9.3M to sign Sanheim, Hart and a backup goalie. That doesn't count a 7th defenseman or a 13th forward.

Exactly. If there were no side deals this was a unsuccessful expansion draft for Seattle. Who are they going to flip? Vanecek has some value and Giordano maybe at the trade deadline gets them something. Twarynski? Really?
- dubc55

Who would ever want young, cheap players with upside in a cap world? Or solid players like Lauzon, Dunn and Donskoi? Who would ever want Mark Giordano or Tanev for PO run w/ some salary retained?

Nah, take a bunch of 30+ yo declining guys on long bloated deals... that's the ticket.

Easily the best sports news of the day:

The U.S. women’s soccer team took a devastating 3-0 loss to Sweden early Wednesday morning in their Tokyo Olympic opener, breaking their 44-game winning streak.

All 22 players on Team USA took a knee in solidarity with the radical leftist group Black Lives Matter before the game, a major point of contention with U.S. fans.

Read some of the posts. There are some who don't understand. Clearly. I wouldn't say it's terrible. It has some holes, no doubt.
- MJL

Goaltending is meh. Forward group is horrendous. Defense is pretty good.

And I have been reading the posts. I think everyone knows they will be making some moves, but outside of taking on big contracts they don’t have much of value to trade. Especially with it being rumored they only have a few side deals.

Cap space is a priceless commodity. Totally get that, but they were allergic to adding any money tonight. They need to have a good two months, because that team sucks.

Who would ever want young, cheap players with upside in a cap world? Or solid players like Lauzon, Dunn and Donskoi? Who would ever want Mark Giordano or Tanev for PO run w/ some salary retained?

Nah, take a bunch of 30+ yo declining guys on long bloated deals... that's the ticket.
- Tomahawk

It's absolutely hysterical.

There were a lot of lessons learned in the last ED. The cap situation was also different back then. Many GM's are counting on a trade market developing and a better opportunity. I would also bet that there were plenty of side deal discussions had but Francis stuck to his guns and demanded his price. Some teams will have to come to him or to other teams at some point. Look at the Flyers. They have 9.3M to sign Sanheim, Hart and a backup goalie. That doesn't count a 7th defenseman or a 13th forward.
- MJL

I’m sure Fletcher and the front office has several contingency plans.

Goaltending is meh. Forward group is horrendous. Defense is pretty good.

And I have been reading the posts. I think everyone knows they will be making some moves, but outside of taking on big contracts they don’t have much of value to trade. Especially with it being rumored they only have a few side deals.

Cap space is a priceless commodity. Totally get that, but they were allergic to adding any money tonight. They need to have a good two months, because that team sucks.
- Flyers1218

Vanacek has a chance to be pretty good. They lack high end offensive talent but they have enough solid players to be competitive. They have some players that can be flipped at the deadline. There are a number of players that a team needing some quality depth would be interested in. They were smart to be allergic to adding any money barring any quality side deals offered. They still hold a lot of the cards.

Who would ever want young, cheap players with upside in a cap world? Or solid players like Lauzon, Dunn and Donskoi? Who would ever want Mark Giordano or Tanev for PO run w/ some salary retained?

Nah, take a bunch of 30+ yo declining guys on long bloated deals... that's the ticket.
- Tomahawk

Talk about an exaggeration here. There were some good picks. But your description of “young players with upside” can also be described as “tweeners who are never going to make it.”

You can love it, that’s your opinion. They left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Let’s see what they do in the next two months, they’ve certainly got their work cut out for them.

There were a lot of lessons learned in the last ED. The cap situation was also different back then. Many GM's are counting on a trade market developing and a better opportunity. I would also bet that there were plenty of side deal discussions had but Francis stuck to his guns and demanded his price. Some teams will have to come to him or to other teams at some point. Look at the Flyers. They have 9.3M to sign Sanheim, Hart and a backup goalie. That doesn't count a 7th defenseman or a 13th forward.
- MJL

The landscape is different, no question. It may work out great for them. Or, Francis have bluffed his way to being a lottery team with few additional assets gained.

The landscape is different, no question. It may work out great for them. Or, Francis have bluffed his way to being a lottery team with few additional assets gained.
- BenderRodriguez

They're an expansion team. They should be perfectly comfortable being a lottery team.

Vanacek has a chance to be pretty good. They lack high end offensive talent but they have enough solid players to be competitive. They have some players that can be flipped at the deadline. There are a number of players that a team needing some quality depth would be interested in. They were smart to be allergic to adding any money barring any quality side deals offered. They still hold a lot of the cards.
- MJL

I just disagree. Teams smartened up from the Vegas expansion, held firm on sweeteners, and this is what Francis was left with.

It's obvious they're going to try to take advantage of that, and I'm sure they will have some success. But I'm shocked they couldn't manage even one side deal. Might be an indication that teams aren't willing to pay ridiculous prices to shed cap space, and they may have missed out a big opportunity to acquire better players via the expansion draft and additional entry draft picks.
- BenderRodriguez

Exactly. Seems like a tank mode if kraken doesn’t get teams to up ante. I mean should’ve at least taken a few decent players on offense.

They're an expansion team. They should be perfectly comfortable being a lottery team.
- MJL

They should. But we all know that is no longer the expectation.

They're an expansion team. They should be perfectly comfortable being a lottery team.
- MJL

That I agree with, but unfortunately they will be compared to Vegas. Fans/ownership are going to expect solid early returns. They are one of the worst teams in the West, as currently constructed of course.

Talk about an exaggeration here. There were some good picks. But your description of “young players with upside” can also be described as “tweeners who are never going to make it.”

You can love it, that’s your opinion. They left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Let’s see what they do in the next two months, they’ve certainly got their work cut out for them.
- Flyers1218

Haula, Smith, Karlsson and Marchessault looked like spare parts and castoffs once. Most of these picks won't amount to anything. But neither did most of Vegas' picks.

Vegas got their pound of flesh from a lot of teams on draft night. Seattle will exact their toll over the whole summer.

It's not a matter of loving it or hating it. It's just the new reality of the flat cap.