2024/2025 Around the League

[henchman21]

Well I guess Laine wasn't looking for a reunion with Torts

Makes sense with Laine’s work ethic.

 

[LOFIN]

Makes sense with Laine’s work ethic.

He did change for the better under Torts, and if you believe Blue Jackets fans Laine was actually one of the harder back checking forwards in the team.

Doesn't mean he would like Torts though. Easy Company got pretty good at soldiering under Cpt. Sobel (in Band of Brothers, if you are a poor soul and missing on that reference), and everyone hated him. Though for his defence, Torts also has his fans among players.

 

[henchman21]

He did change for the better under Torts, and if you believe Blue Jackets fans Laine was actually one of the harder back checking forwards in the team.

Doesn't mean he would like Torts though. Easy Company got pretty good at soldiering under Cpt. Sobel (in Band of Brothers, if you are a poor soul and missing on that reference), and everyone hated him. Though for his defence, Torts also has his fans among players.

Just because Laine tried harder under Torts doesn’t mean Laine enjoyed that.

Lots of players will run to defend Torts. He certainly runs some the wrong way, but most eventually figure out that he’s better for them and they come to appreciate it. Helps he’s also brutally honest, but still a good person that cares.

 

[Pokecheque]

Okay, does anyone have a link to a recent interview by Danny Briere, where he apparently talked shit about Matvei Michkov?

 

[GoNordiquesGo]

Just because Laine tried harder under Torts doesn’t mean Laine enjoyed that.

Lots of players will run to defend Torts. He certainly runs some the wrong way, but most eventually figure out that he’s better for them and they come to appreciate it. Helps he’s also brutally honest, but still a good person that cares.

I would argue that brutally honest and care don't go well together. Empathy is important and people who are brutally honest are often lacking in soft skills. Just because someone says the truth doesn't mean that its OK to say these things, in that way. A lot of bullies are truthful. They are still assholes...

 

[Balthazar]

Okay, does anyone have a link to a recent interview by Danny Briere, where he apparently talked shit about Matvei Michkov?

Huh? Every time I heard him talking about Michkov he had sparks in his eyes.

 

[henchman21]

I would argue that brutally honest and care don't go well together. Empathy is important and people who are brutally honest are often lacking in soft skills. Just because someone says the truth doesn't mean that its OK to say these things, in that way. A lot of bullies are truthful. They are still assholes...

I would argue you're ignoring all the players that speak very highly of Torts, even those he didn't get along with for hockey reasons.

 

[Balthazar]

That's the most buyout and lockout proof contract I've ever seen

https://x.com/i/web/status/1831029730126213361

 

[Pokecheque]

I would argue that brutally honest and care don't go well together. Empathy is important and people who are brutally honest are often lacking in soft skills. Just because someone says the truth doesn't mean that its OK to say these things, in that way. A lot of bullies are truthful. They are still assholes...

A lot of people much prefer someone who's brutally honest and up front as opposed to someone who care more about feelings and comes off as disingenuous. I have mixed feelings about Torts, but one thing he maintains along with honesty is that he doesn't play favorites, doesn't matter if you're a star player or a 4th line scrub, you get treated equally.

Yeah, he's an asshole, but there are worse things.

 

[LOFIN]

That's the most buyout and lockout proof contract I've ever seen

Huberdeau is pretty awful too

 

[Balthazar]

Huberdeau is pretty awful too

As seen with the Tavares saga, I believe they do this to avoid Canadian taxes.

Huberdeau, Tavares, Matthews, Draisaitl...all playing in Canada.

 

[Pokecheque]

As seen with the Tavares saga, I believe they do this to avoid Canadian taxes.

Huberdeau, Tavares, Matthews, Draisaitl...all playing in Canada.

Well, did they ever resolve that whole thing with Tavares? Because that should still be taxable income.

I think it has more to do with lockout AND buyout protection than it has to do with any sort of tax stuff, but it ain't like I'm an expert on these sorts of things.

 

[LOFIN]

It's a combination of three things:

- signing bonus heavy contracts are more lockout proof
- singing bonus heavy contracts are harder to buy out
- signing bonus heavy contracts enable the players get more money on hand faster

I don't really see what Canadian taxes have to do with it, US teams do it too if you are a superstar player and the team owner isn't cheap:

 

[GoNordiquesGo]

I would argue you're ignoring all the players that speak very highly of Torts, even those he didn't get along with for hockey reasons.

I wasn't specifically talking about Torts. I don't know much about him. Although when there's smoke there's fire...

A lot of people much prefer someone who's brutally honest and up front as opposed to someone who care more about feelings and comes off as disingenuous. I have mixed feelings about Torts, but one thing he maintains along with honesty is that he doesn't play favorites, doesn't matter if you're a star player or a 4th line scrub, you get treated equally.

Yeah, he's an asshole, but there are worse things.

That's a very good way to put it.
Just because someone has a nice quality, it doesn't men that he doesn't have the faults as well.
This is not a black or white thing.
Sounds like an honest asshole... but an asshole regardless.

 

[Pokecheque]

A lot depends on the player too. Nikita Zadorov didn't do great under a player's coach like Jared Bednar, but he thrived under a taskmaster like Darryl Sutter. Seems like he did okay under Rick Tocchet too. Guess we'll see how he does in Boston and Monty.

 

[Balthazar]

Well, did they ever resolve that whole thing with Tavares? Because that should still be taxable income.

The Tavares camp is still fighting the CRA over it AFAIK.

I don't really see what Canadian taxes have to do with it

Players claim that signing bonuses werent earned while working in Canada and therefore arent taxable in Canada.

John Tavares is fighting an $8M CRA tax bill. Ottawa tells court he must pay | Globalnews.ca

The federal government is pushing back against John Tavares’ $8-million tax dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency, arguing the Toronto Maple Leafs captain is offside.

globalnews.ca

 

[dahrougem2]

The Oilers have to win next season. Otherwise in 25-26 they've got Draisaitl and Bouchard new contracts kicking in plus Skinner, Brown, and Emberson as UFAs.

Draisaitl and Bouchard alone will account for a likely 12M cap increase for them.

 

[LOFIN]

The Tavares camp is still fighting the CRA over it AFAIK.



Players claim that signing bonuses werent earned while working in Canada and therefore arent taxable in Canada.

John Tavares is fighting an $8M CRA tax bill. Ottawa tells court he must pay | Globalnews.ca

The federal government is pushing back against John Tavares’ $8-million tax dispute with the Canada Revenue Agency, arguing the Toronto Maple Leafs captain is offside.

globalnews.ca

Yeah sure, but players who have zero of these issues still want signing bonuses. Thus, it's not really a tax motivation. Do you hear a guy like Huberdeau or Marner fighting fith CRA? No, because they didn't try to exploit it. Yet still got signing bonuses.

 

[PAZ]

It's a combination of three things:

- signing bonus heavy contracts are more lockout proof
- singing bonus heavy contracts are harder to buy out
- signing bonus heavy contracts enable the players get more money on hand faster

I don't really see what Canadian taxes have to do with it, US teams do it too if you are a superstar player and the team owner isn't cheap:

"Under a Canada-U.S. tax treaty, signing bonuses and other inducements for athletes, artists, actors and musicians get special treatment and are taxed at a low 15 per cent rate. But if all of the money paid to Tavares under the seven-year deal with the Leafs was treated as normal income, it would likely be taxed at the top marginal federal rate of 33 per cent, plus the provincial Ontario tax."

Canada Revenue Agency disputes Leafs captain John Tavares' argument in tax case

The Canada Revenue Agency is disputing a claim by Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares that the USD $15.25 million the team paid him in 2018 was a signing bonus, saying that that the amount was effectively a form of salary and should be taxed at a higher rate.

www.sportsnet.ca

The case isn't resolved so the situation could change, but as of now it's a significant factor.

 

[LOFIN]

The case isn't resolved so the situation could chan-ge, but as of now it's a significant factor.

Yet everyone else does it too (if they can) even though they are not affected by said treaty in any way. Because the advantages of signing bonuses are universal, and have nothing to do with Canadian tax laws.

 

[henchman21]

I wasn't specifically talking about Torts. I don't know much about him. Although when there's smoke there's fire...

Being brutally honest as a coach does not mean you don't care as a person. Work and life can be and most of the times are different than outside life. As a manager, you can be critical and honest about somebody's work, but also care as a person.

On Torts specifically. There are scores of players that will go to bat for Torts... even many of those that didn't like playing for him. Vinny absolutely hated playing for Torts, but speaks very highly of him today. MDZ famously didn't get along with Torts, but years later he praised him a ton. Most players rave about the quality of person Torts is. The Columbus leadership group basically begged him to coach them for another season

So where there's smoke... there's a media narrative about him because he's actively combative with the media.

The Oilers have to win next season. Otherwise in 25-26 they've got Draisaitl and Bouchard new contracts kicking in plus Skinner, Brown, and Emberson as UFAs.

Draisaitl and Bouchard alone will account for a likely 12M cap increase for them.

Yeah they are not well setup to keep the team going. The move to grab Savoie (if he pans out), might turn out to be a savvy one. That's an ELC that might allow them to dump a guy and save 4-5m. They need another couple of those and the aging curve to not slap them in the face.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Yet everyone else does it too (if they can) even though they are not affected by said treaty in any way. Because the advantages of signing bonuses are universal, and have nothing to do with Canadian tax laws.

Bettman is screwing small market Canadian teams yet again.

 

[PAZ]

Yet everyone else does it too (if they can) even though they are not affected by said treaty in any way. Because the advantages of signing bonuses are universal, and have nothing to do with Canadian tax laws.

Both can be true.

Yes, signing bonuses benefits are universal, but there are additional incentives for players in Canadian cities.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1831141603144065490

 

[The Kingslayer]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1831141603144065490

great gesture by Cole. I still cant believe Johnny is gone, Still doesnt feel real.