Salary Cap: Cap Problems next season?

[Center Ice Scrum*]

FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Colton Orr ($0.925m)

DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m) / Tim Gleason ($4.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)

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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $48,719,167; BONUSES: $850,000
CAP SPACE (12-man roster): $22,380,833

__________________________________________________________________

So we have roughly 22.4 million dollars in free cap space to spend this offseason.

We have Colton Orr as the only bottom 6 player next season who currently holds a contract past this season. As for defence, we have 2 open spots with both Franson and Gardiner being RFAs. In net we have Reimer as a RFA.

UFA:
Bolland
Kulemin
Raymond
McClement
Ranger
Bodie
Smith

RFA:
Franson
Gardiner
Reimer
Holland
Ashton
Brennan
D'Amigo

Who do you see sticking around? How much of a raise will Franson, Gardiner, Reimer get?

We can't realistically offer up 2.5-3 mil to Gards, Franson, Reimer and afford to keep all 3 of Kulemin, Bolland, Raymond. We can basically afford only about one of them. McClement is another player who we can't afford to keep if he's demanding more then 2 mil. How do you see things sorting out? I think we're going to have quite a big cap issue going into next season unless we start plugging the young kids into our line up.

Click to read more...

 

[Erdinger]

Leafs finally stop paying Darcy Tucker? Franson shouldn't get a raise. He should be let go.

 

[Hotlanta]

Why on Earth would we give Gardiner, Franson or Reimer that much?

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

It's possible to keep 3 of the six players you listed in your last paragraph. I'd want it to be Kulemin, Bolland and Gardiner. Fanson and Raymond can go, and I think Reimer is gone come the offseason.

 

[Woodman19]

If we need the cap space, I see no reason why we can't buyout Clarkson.

It would save us

2014-15 $2,958,333
2015-16 $3,708,333
2016-17 $5,208,333
2017-18 $5,208,333
2018-19 $2,958,333
2019-20 $1,458,333
2020-21 -$1,791,667
2021-22 -$1,791,667
2022-23 -$1,791,667
2023-24 -$1,791,667
2024-25 -$1,791,667
2025-26 -$1,791,667

 

[SeenSchenn2]

Well hopefully we won't need to pay Franson anything, and I'm assuming Reimer's gonna be gone.

Marginal raise to Gardiner, re-signing Kulemin, Bolland, Holland, etc. Shouldn't be an issue IMO.

 

[TheCLAM]

If we need the cap space, I see no reason why we can't buyout Clarkson.

It would save us

2014-15 $2,958,333
2015-16 $3,708,333
2016-17 $5,208,333
2017-18 $5,208,333
2018-19 $2,958,333
2019-20 $1,458,333
2020-21 -$1,791,667
2021-22 -$1,791,667
2022-23 -$1,791,667
2023-24 -$1,791,667
2024-25 -$1,791,667
2025-26 -$1,791,667

I'd rather not have a 12 year cap hit!

 

[Woodman19]

I'd rather not have a 12 year cap hit!

Of course, but with 2 Million of dead space coming off the books (Armstrong + Tucker) and with the cap likely going up for the foreseeable future, having 1.8 million in dead salary every year for the next 12 years would not be to deadly provided we don't have to do it again.

Lets say the cap goes up from this years number at a very modest 3% a year and discounting the fact that the cap will be going up from the Rogers deal next year. You are looking at a 91.7 Million cap by the final year, of which the 1.8 in dead space represents 1.9% of the salary cap. For reference, that would be equal to 1.2 Million in dead space with todays cap.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

One of Franson or Gardiner HAS to go. We can't afford both financially and we can't afford to keep both b/c they are both defensive headaches. I want to see Granberg up next year. Perfect 3rd pairing defensive partner and on a cheap contract.

 

[frankthetank91]

1) If anything Franson deserves to make less. He earned 2 mil after a great playoffs. He's looked pretty bad this season. I can see us re-upping him at the same amount or trading him.

2) Gardiner has nothing to lean on to get a big raise.

3) Reimer is probably traded. We'll bring in a cheap back up.

4) 2 of Bolland, Kulemin and Raymond can get a bit tricky. We'll see.

5) McClement should re-up at the same amount. Don't want to lose him but he can be replaced if he wants a penny over 2m.

 

[ThrillinPhil]

Try to sign these two at these amounts, wouldnt be bad cap numbers at all.

Nik Kulemin - 3.25M Per @ 3 Years
Dave Bolland - 4.0M Per @ 4 Years

 

[Erdinger]

If we need the cap space, I see no reason why we can't buyout Clarkson.

It would save us

2014-15 $2,958,333
2015-16 $3,708,333
2016-17 $5,208,333
2017-18 $5,208,333
2018-19 $2,958,333
2019-20 $1,458,333
2020-21 -$1,791,667
2021-22 -$1,791,667
2022-23 -$1,791,667
2023-24 -$1,791,667
2024-25 -$1,791,667
2025-26 -$1,791,667

Can you imagine being Nonis trying to pitch that to his bosses.

 

[Holymakinaw]

if we need the cap space, i see no reason why we can't buyout clarkson.

It would save us

2014-15 $2,958,333
2015-16 $3,708,333
2016-17 $5,208,333
2017-18 $5,208,333
2018-19 $2,958,333
2019-20 $1,458,333
2020-21 -$1,791,667
2021-22 -$1,791,667
2022-23 -$1,791,667
2023-24 -$1,791,667
2024-25 -$1,791,667
2025-26 -$1,791,667

lmao!!!!!

 

[Strategy]

This Clarkson contract is screwing us over, but we can work around it. Bolland will ask for too much as we know, so don't sign him. Trading Reimer also gives us lots of cap relief

 

[frankthetank91]

Try to sign these two at these amounts, wouldnt be bad cap numbers at all.

Nik Kulemin - 3.25M Per @ 3 Years
Dave Bolland - 4.0M Per @ 4 Years

I bet Bolland will not take anything less than 5. We will be lucky if he signs for 4.5 but I can't see it.

Sounds reasonable for Kulemin though.

 

[Jes5ant]

One of Franson or Gardiner HAS to go. We can't afford both financially and we can't afford to keep both b/c they are both defensive headaches. I want to see Granberg up next year. Perfect 3rd pairing defensive partner and on a cheap contract.

I agree completely. I would keep Gardiner. He has the speed advantage on Franson. If we could ever get Gardiner to play smarter he could be incredible. His brain farts are the only thing holding him back atm.

I like the idea of giving Granberg or Percy a shot and signing someone like Orpik or Tom Gilbert.

I have really like dressing 7 defence. It will allow us to insulate our younger guys and get more out of our forwards.

 

[Stephen]

Franson should be let go, Raymond should not be retained, neither should Bolland if he will be expensive, Lupul needs to be dumped before his value plummets and he becomes a mill stone and there needs to be some exit strategy with Clarkson.

 

[JackJ]

Quite a few youngsters should be making the jump permanently so we're fine cap wise.

Holland
Ashton
D'Amigo
Percy
Granberg

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m)/ Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / XXXXXXXX
Bolland (4.5m) / Holland (900K)/ David Clarkson ($5.250m)
D'Amigo (900K) / McClement (2m)/ Ashton (900K)
Bodie (850K)/ Orr ($0.925m)

DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m) / Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m)
Tim Gleason ($4.000m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Percy (863K) / Granberg (800K)

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
XXXXXXXXXX

TOTAL: 60,432,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gardiner, Reimer++ for young RW (4-5m)
Sign UFA backup (1.5)
Add in a solid 4/5 vet D (2m)

NEW TOTAL: Between (67.932-68.932)

Close to the 71M. Having two third liners (Bolland and Clarkson) making 10m means we need to cut back on D.

Not a chance in hell Nonis lets Bolland walk after giving up three draft picks.

 

[Sonofamitch]

If we need the cap space, I see no reason why we can't buyout Clarkson.

It would save us

2014-15 $2,958,333
2015-16 $3,708,333
2016-17 $5,208,333
2017-18 $5,208,333
2018-19 $2,958,333
2019-20 $1,458,333
2020-21 -$1,791,667
2021-22 -$1,791,667
2022-23 -$1,791,667
2023-24 -$1,791,667
2024-25 -$1,791,667
2025-26 -$1,791,667

Why buy him out, just retain 1.25 and you can probably get something of value for him.

 

[Diatomic]

Franson should be let go, Raymond should not be retained, neither should Bolland if he will be expensive, Lupul needs to be dumped before his value plummets and he becomes a mill stone and there needs to be some exit strategy with Clarkson.

I agree with this except for Lupul, I don't think he should be dumped but we should shop him around to see what we can get.

 

[Woodman19]

Why buy him out, just retain 1.25 and you can probably get something of value for him.

Sign me up

 

[Morbo]

Franson should be let go, Raymond should not be retained, neither should Bolland if he will be expensive, Lupul needs to be dumped before his value plummets and he becomes a mill stone and there needs to be some exit strategy with Clarkson.

There is an exit strategy, it's called a buyout.

 

[ThrillinPhil]

Also if Bolland walks, I would feel comfortable with Holland taking over that 3rd Line C spot. I also wouldnt mind if Nonis went after Matt Moulson in the off-season to play with Lupul and Kadri. If the numbers are right, he wouldnt be a bad choice to pick-up. Self-Admitted Leafs fan and Ontario Boy! Would be a great piece to add.

 

[Erdinger]

There is an exit strategy, it's called a buyout.

Nonis would look like a real idiot if he did that. Perhaps if he is fired the next GM would do a Clarkson buyout.

 

[Erdinger]

Also if Bolland walks, I would feel comfortable with Holland taking over that 3rd Line C spot. I also wouldnt mind if Nonis went after Matt Moulson in the off-season to play with Lupul and Kadri. If the numbers are right, he wouldnt be a bad choice to pick-up. Self-Admitted Leafs fan and Ontario Boy! Would be a great piece to add.

I've always liked Moulson but what if he turned into another Clarkson?