A look at the 2013-14 season - Patience and UFA's

[Leafuture]

(DISCLAIMER - lengthy read, examine the 2 links and the questions at the bottom for a reader's digest version)

As it currently stands the leafs have the potential for a huge amount of cap space with the arrival of the 2013-14 season which could be helped further by buying out the likes of komi ect. If the leafs were to simply play this season with their current roster in 2013-14 we would have 22.7 million in cap space (27 million with a komi buyout) according to:

http://capgeek.com/mapleleafs/

This same year there are several potential UFA the leafs are capable of signing (if the leafs are an attractive landing place for the UFAs). Compound this with the fact that many attractive teams will be unable to sign these UFAs due to them being over the salary cap in the 2013 year, there will be reduced competition for signings. The list includes the likes of:

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2013&team_id=-1&position_id=-1&fa_type_id=2

Iginla
Perry
Getzlaf
Timmonen
Backstrom
(potential for a luongo trade that would eat up cap space)
Thomas
Lupul
and a host of other viable options


(MY OPINION, ARMCHAIR GM, SKIP IF YOU DON'T CARE) I think the leafs should be patient this year (outside of a possible luongo trade which would most likely allow the leafs to reach the playoffs and be a bit more attractive to UFAs). Personally I think the only leafs worth resigning that year are lupul and gunnarson but it's hard to say without seeing everyone's performance in the upcoming season. I predict lupul at 5, gunnarson at 2.5. This leaves us with a potential of 19.5mill for free agents. I think we could easily fit Perry/Getzlaf/Luongo into our roster and fill the rest with cheap, roleplaying marlies. Our defense would be mediocre but our offensive depth would be unmatched, we would roll with 3 top-tier goal scoring lines in the playoffs, all playing roughly equal minutes, using our 4th line as PK specialists and high-energy play, playing minimal minutes.

(frattin/Kadri) - Getzlaf - Perry
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Kul - Grabo - JVR
Brown - Mcclement - (marlie)

Phaneuf - Gunnar
Liles - Gardiner
(2 from holzer/franson/kostka/blacker/ranger)


Lou
Riemer

The strength to this line-up is Lupul/kessel/bozak will get to play against 3rd and 4th lines from other teams and walk all over them.



QUESTIONS:
Should the leafs be patient this season ?
Which UFA's from the 2013-2014 season are most appealing?

Click to read more...

 

[MakeTheIronSing]

Lupul's worth more to the leafs traded than playing for them IMO.

He should've been shipped out at the TD last season when his stock was high.

 

[Leafidelity]

Why would any top UFA want to play in Toronto right now? I don't see any on-ice success or stability in management. You need atleast one of those to convince someone to sign.

 

[Leafuture]

Why would any top UFA want to play in Toronto right now? I don't see any on-ice success or stability in management. You need atleast one of those to convince someone to sign.

Money will talk in a reduced cap system/ most playoff contenders wont be able to sign large salaries like the leafs, the leafs will be competing to sign with similar caliber team, i think a lou trade/playoff birth would easily help attract UFAs (neither are impossibilities, but Perry/Getzlaf is just me dreaming. However, we would be able to offer them salaries close to 7.5m a year, most other teams either cant or dont spend anywhere near the salary cap. And being able to offer 7.5m in a reduced salary-cap season is huge.

A bit besides the point, i still would like to know from others what UFA we are most likely to land/which are most attractive

 

[threeGo]

I think we can easily sell to these FA, what we can do if could sign a few of them together. The new CBA will allow teams to talk to FA a week before FA starts. That means we can get them together and tell them we have the money and are willing to spend. If you get one of getzlaf/perry, then I you'll get others to come. Trading for luongo would help in this regard but I'm uneasy about trading for him.

 

[Legion34]

Money will talk in a reduced cap system/ most playoff contenders wont be able to sign large salaries like the leafs, the leafs will be competing to sign with similar caliber team, i think a lou trade/playoff birth would easily help attract UFAs (neither are impossibilities, but Perry/Getzlaf is just me dreaming. However, we would be able to offer them salaries close to 7.5m a year, most other teams either cant or dont spend anywhere near the salary cap. And being able to offer 7.5m in a reduced salary-cap season is huge.

A bit besides the point, i still would like to know from others what UFA we are most likely to land/which are most attractive

I think zajac would be the best fit...