Are you feeling more or less optimistic about the leafs future since Dubas took over?

[ACC1224]

The icing on the cake would have been walking away from Ceci's contract in arbitration. Would have been a genius move to clear all that cap space and bring in 2 free agent D to address depth in the middle of free agency.

They could have walked away?

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

They could have walked away?

Yes. If they took Ceci to Arbitration they would have had the option of not accepting the proposed deal and letting Ceci walk to UFA.

 

[ACC1224]

Yes. If they took Ceci to Arbitration they would have had the option of not accepting the proposed deal and letting Ceci walk to UFA.

Interesting decision. Guess they did like the player. Wonder if he is re-signed?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Yes. If they took Ceci to Arbitration they would have had the option of not accepting the proposed deal and letting Ceci walk to UFA.

Only if Ceci didn't accept the QO, and only if the player elected to go to arbitration, and only if the award was above 4.4m, and it would have dragged things into August when we needed cap certainty, and when all other potential options would have been signed.

 

[Mess]

Of course he's gonna talk up the guy he just traded for in the media.

I think Ceci was worth a shot and got rid of the zaitsev deal so no loss even though it didn't work out.

I love that in a thread about ones confidence level in Dubas body of work discussion since taking over, that so many of his moves end with "even though it didn't work out" as the conclusion, that it doesn't change some peoples impression that everything is going great, except for all the missteps and bad endings.

 

[robertmac43]

I love that in a thread about ones confidence level in Dubas body of work discussion since taking over, that so many of his moves end with "even though it didn't work out" as the conclusion, that it doesn't change some peoples impression that everything is going great, except for all the missteps and bad endings.

Ceci didn't work out in Toronto but the deal served it's purpose. Overall I would classify that trade as 'working out.

 

[deletethis]

Ceci has played an average of 20:32 per game for the Leafs. C'mon, admit it, he was never meant to be a contract dump. He would have been flipped immediately or farmed out to save a cool million or Robidas'd. He was meant to help.

 

[Fogelhund]

Respectfully so what, except for everything you said might help explain contracts $$, it doesn't matter when you look at teams and Cup competitiveness.

There is no playoff handicap system that adjust for timing of when player contracts are signed, so that doesn't matter other than having cap friendly deals when its the same salary cap ceiling for everyone creates advantages for the earlier contracts.

The fact Crosby carries a $ $8,700,000 and Malkin a $9,500,000 cap and will be for the next 3 years, while Matthews $11.634 mil Tavares $11.0 mil and Marner $10.893 (because of signing) is still a huge competitive advantage for the Pens star players when everyone builds teams built on $81.5 mil max spending and viewing Cup Windows.

Just because Sid has a cap hit of >$2 mil less than any Leaf player above, that doesn't mean Pens don't gain a competitive advantage as a result, just because you can explain why his cap hit is so much less than Leafs.

Boston star top line carries a $19.6 mil cap hit vs Leafs top 3 of over $33.5 mil .. What that means is the free cap space difference created is being used by Boston towards the rest of their supporting cast.. Its a main reason why Boston has 100 points and Leafs have 81 points and are a much stronger competitive team.

It's interesting that you bring up Malkin and Crosby. Many seem to forget that people said the Penguins wouldn't win, because they'd allocated 29.27% of the cap, to two players. That's the funny thing, as the years go by on the contract, they begin to look like bargains compared to new contracts. Crosby signed in 2012, Malkin in 2013.. You've mentioned Bergeron, who also signed in 2013. If there is a mistake to called out, it's not signing our guys to the longest term possible, with these cap hits, so that we can maximize these contracts, when normally they end up looking good in the last half of the contract.

Sure, having a huge percentage in a few players hurts... for a few years, and normally in a cap world, the cap goes up, it becomes manageable, and just like your example the Penguins, they managed to compete and win the cup, with high percentage contracts after a few years, when those contracts didn't take the percentage of cap, that they'd once had.

 

[Menzinger]

Ceci has played an average of 20:32 per game for

Whatt about th free agent market? There was plenty of opportunity and he ignored it all and allowed Hutch to piss away between 8-14 points before FINALLY fixing it.

Again, i do agree he could have acted better regarding the backup situation. BUT think youd be hard pressed to find people who predicted Hutch would br as bad as he ended up being. That caught folks by surprise when he seemed to flop almost every start he was given

 

[Menzinger]

Interesting decision. Guess they did like the player. Wonder if he is re-signed?

I think/suspect they liked him enough as a warm body for the bottom pairing.

If he gets resigned he would need to take a fair salary cut but i doubt it happens since there seemingly will be bigger fish to chase on July 1st. At this point i can only see him back with the Leafs is if he hasnt found another team willing to sign him and he takes a cheap 1 year deal here

 

[Mess]

Ceci has played an average of 20:32 per game for the Leafs. C'mon, admit it, he was never meant to be a contract dump. He would have been flipped immediately or farmed out to save a cool million or Robidas'd. He was meant to help.

Leafs acquire Cody Ceci and Ben Harpour for Nikita Zaitsev annd Connor Brown

Ceci is a restricted free agent, with arbitration rights. He is coming off a one-year, $4.3 million contract. The Senators extended Ceci a qualifying offer to retain his rights. The qualifying offer would be a one-year contract at a minimum of $4.3 million.

Dubas signed Ceci to a one year deal for $4.5 million, the exact same AAV as Nikita Zaitsev’s contract, and then proceeded to claim they intended to use Ceci in their top 4 and partnered with Morgan Rielly, while Muzzin and Barrie projected for the 2nd pairing.

PS. Remember Dubas let Gardiner walk for nothing as he signed in Carolina for $4.05 mil per, while signing Ceci instead to $4.5 mil.

 

[Mess]

Leafs currently have $76,908,533 committed to just 16 players for 2020-21 season with a $81.5 mil salary cap ceiling all but guaranteed to go down due to the current loss of HRR from this year.

 

[Menzinger]

Leafs currently have $76,908,533 committed to just 16 players for 2020-21 season with a $81.5 mil salary cap ceiling all but guaranteed to go down due to the current loss of HRR from this year.

Any major salary cap reduction will be likely paired with a rollback of contracts. The Leafs are hardly the only team facing cap issues at the moment either

 

[Dekes For Days]

PS. Remember Dubas let Gardiner walk for nothing as he signed in Carolina

And thank god he did, since Gardiner has been an absolute disaster there. Arguably their worst defenseman in literally everything except PP production, and Carolina is already looking to dump him.

 

[Gabriel426]

And thank god he did, since Gardiner has been an absolute disaster there. Arguably their worst defenseman in literally everything except PP production, and Carolina is already looking to dump him.

Exactly, I don’t understand why some here still dreamt of Jake, Leo, Martin and even Polak. I would take Ceci, Engvall, Spezza and Holl over those four based on their performances last season.

 

[Gabriel426]

Any major salary cap reduction will be likely paired with a rollback of contracts. The Leafs are hardly the only team facing cap issues at the moment either

I think this next few seasons might have a temp luxury tax for teams who can pay extra to get players and money to the rest of the league.
I just don’t see the cap dropping even if they need to play in an empty stadium bc not just the Leafs but most teams won’t be able to ice their team plus players coming out to RFA and UFA won’t like it.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Robertson hasn't done anything yet but Spezza is better than Komarov based on your logic the Muzzin deal shouldn't have been made.

The Muzzin deal puts a smile on 9 out of 10. I’m curious why the Muzzy deal was not necessary for you.

 

[All Mod Cons]

The problem is i think managment got too focused on getting 2 pieces back (a 3c and top 4 d) instead of just a single D man.

It didnt work out perfectly, but the trade in terms of assets in and out looked good "on paper" at the time. I also suspect the gap between kerfoot and Kadri wont be that large over.the coming seasons

I suspect it will get larger if anything. I think this season is probably the closest it will be.
And I'm sceptical about the idea that T.J. Brodie would help this defense much. He's fairly piss poor in his own end as well. Kadri for a high scoring UFA dman and an underwhelming 3c is a poor move. Either Kyle thought he could extend Barrie (which i doubt he thought) or he thought we were going for the Cup. In which case, I'd slightly question his judgement.

And i think the "on paper" mention is where i question Kyle's decisions sometimes. He's got to get some input (and listen) to people about the "off paper" part of building a team.

 

[robertmac43]

PS. Remember Dubas let Gardiner walk for nothing as he signed in Carolina for $4.05 mil per, while signing Ceci instead to $4.5 mil.

The issue was not the money now it was the term. Also Jake has been alright this year, but between him wanting term and the recent injury it was a risky move for a team so close to the cap.

 

[Mess]

Any major salary cap reduction will be likely paired with a rollback of contracts. The Leafs are hardly the only team facing cap issues at the moment either

Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL teams that could face salary-cap hell in 2020-21.

According to Frank Seravalli at TSN

Expect the Leafs to hunt for more LTIR contracts

Every penny will count for the Leafs, who will be feeling the cap crunch this off-season with hockey’s loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic likely to keep the cap flat at $81.5 million.

Now, with Horton and Clarkson mercifully sliding into the sunset, the Leafs will likely be on the hunt for replacement LTIR contracts to enjoy the same cap benefits.

Full Story: Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to hunt for more LTIR contracts - TSN.ca

 

[Dekes For Days]

Leafs currently have $76,908,533 committed to just 16 players for 2020-21 season with a $81.5 mil salary cap ceiling all but guaranteed to go down due to the current loss of HRR from this year.

The cap is not going down at all. Losses will come out of escrow.

Hyman (2.25) - Matthews (11.65) - Marner (10.9)
Mikyehev (???) - Tavares (11) - Nylander (6.95)
Johnsson (3.4) - Kerfoot (3.5) - Kapanen (3.2)
????????????? - Engvall (1.25) - ?????????????

Rielly (5) - Lehtonen (0.9)
Muzzin (5.6) - Holl (2)
Dermott (???) - Sandin (0.9)

Andersen (5)
Campbell (1.65)

Kessel retention (1.2)

So actually, with no moves and a flat cap, we have 5.15m to sign Dermott, Mikyehev, and two 4th liners.

You want a team in an actual situation, look no further than Tampa.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Exactly, I don’t understand why some here still dreamt of Jake, Leo, Martin and even Polak. I would take Ceci, Engvall, Spezza and Holl over those four based on their performances last season.

The amount of Leafs fans that would make excuses for Gardiner (very similar to Dubas) was staggering

 

[Menzinger]

Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL teams that could face salary-cap hell in 2020-21.

According to Frank Seravalli at TSN

Expect the Leafs to hunt for more LTIR contracts

Every penny will count for the Leafs, who will be feeling the cap crunch this off-season with hockey’s loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic likely to keep the cap flat at $81.5 million.

Now, with Horton and Clarkson mercifully sliding into the sunset, the Leafs will likely be on the hunt for replacement LTIR contracts to enjoy the same cap benefits.

Full Story: Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to hunt for more LTIR contracts - TSN.ca

That article funny enough was just recently discussed in the Free Agency thread.

The author doesnt seem to understand how LTIR works, so im not sure id take him as an authority on any cap Leafs issues. It makes zero sense acquiring any new ltir contracts beacuse it doesnt actually save the Leafs anything....

 

[Dekes For Days]

Now, with Horton and Clarkson mercifully sliding into the sunset, the Leafs will likely be on the hunt for replacement LTIR contracts to enjoy the same cap benefits.

This doesn't even make any sense. Leafs acquired the LTIR contract for a very specific scenario that no longer applies. There's no reason to seek out LTIR contracts if you're not already in LTIR; it provides no benefit.

 

[ottomaddox]

Wow. How did the "more" votes get up to 62.1%??!!

I have a feeling that some people employed their fake accounts.