Proposal: Chi - Tor

[Randy Randerson]

We have like 21 Mil coming off the books next year and another 10ish the year after. Just like we can afford JVR going forward we could also afford a Seabrook.

It is an interesting proposal.

The cap pinch wouldn't be in the next few years, it'd be in the last 4-5 of the contract. Matthews/Nylander/Marner could easily absorb that $21mil on their own in their bridge deals if we're buying a few UFA's. Nobody who wants to be contending can afford $6.8mil in dead cap, our situation looks peachy now because our best players are either locked up or on ELC's, and there's bigger contracts coming off the books in the form of barely-NHL players. That won't be the case if Matthews/Nylander/Marner/Zaitsev and a bunch of our secondary prospects turn out, which is what has to happen if this team is to contend

Gotta start cap planning now to keep the core together then

 

[Srsly]

Makes us better now but at the present time Seabrook won't win us a cup and he'll be on the decline by the time we contend. I also think that his value actually exceeds JVRs in a vacuum so you'd be better off shopping him elsewhere.

 

[Piffle]

Gotta start cap planning now to keep the core together then

That's not how teams win cups. You push the cap now to the max to make the best team possible, and figure out 2+ years down the road what you will do then. Silly to plan a team that far in the future. You never know who will go permanent IR/retire or what the cap will be, etc.

 

[Randy Randerson]

That's not how teams win cups. You push the cap now to the max to make the best team possible, and figure out 2+ years down the road what you will do then. Silly to plan a team that far in the future. You never know who will go permanent IR/retire or what the cap will be, etc.

So you think we should max out our cap commitments with 3 up and coming superstars on ELC's, a top 4 (possibly top 2) defenseman to resign in Zaitsev, and a bunch more prospects coming up to take the place of the vets that we'll purge - and all while not contending?

Steering towards the ice berg.

Cap trouble is inevitable if the kids turn out and the team gets good, there's no reason to go looking for it. Seabrook is in a situation that he can help his current team contend, we won't be ready by the time he's likely in big decline

I agree that the time to add to a team is when it's about to contend to take advantage of big performances out of RFA's, we're not there yet and those ads will have to be more strategic than adding a 31 year old defenseman on an 8 year big money contract who's showing signs of decline

 

[Piffle]

So you think we should max out our cap commitments with 3 up and coming superstars on ELC's, a top 4 (possibly top 2) defenseman to resign in Zaitsev, and a bunch more prospects coming up to take the place of the vets that we'll purge - and all while not contending?

Steering towards the ice berg.

Cap trouble is inevitable if the kids turn out and the team gets good, there's no reason to go looking for it. Seabrook is in a situation that he can help his current team contend, we won't be ready by the time he's likely in big decline

I agree that the time to add to a team is when it's about to contend to take advantage of big performances out of RFA's, we're not there yet and those ads will have to be more strategic than adding a 31 year old defenseman on an 8 year big money contract who's showing signs of decline

I don't have a strong opinion about whether you guys should go after Seabrook right now. I will say that having a few strong vets when Kane and Toews were in their first few years really helped them develop right.

My point was more directed at exactly what I quoted. It isn't smart to not improve your team now because you think it might cause you some cap discomfort in the future.

 

[Randy Randerson]

I don't have a strong opinion about whether you guys should go after Seabrook right now. I will say that having a few strong vets when Kane and Toews were in their first few years really helped them develop right.

My point was more directed at exactly what I quoted. It isn't smart to not improve your team now because you think it might cause you some cap discomfort in the future.

Gotta time the signings though and pick good UFA's or trades though. Like in the Chicago case, they signed Hossa at 29 years old and added him to a team with a 20 turning 21 year old Patrick Kane who had already had a 72 & 70 pt season, a 21 year old Jonathan Toews with a 54 and 69pt season, then Patrick Sharp, Brian Campbell, Duncan Kieth as established players, Byfuglien/Barker/Seabrook/Hjalmarsson coming up and already performing very well, Versteeg/Bolland as good secondary players, and they had already been a 100pt playoff team. That team had more than a few strong vets too

I agree with the principle, but we're much closer to the 2005 Blackhawks right now, not yet time to add veteran impact players, more signings like Zaitsev and Soshnikov are ideal for now

 

[Ricky Bobby]

That's not how teams win cups. You push the cap now to the max to make the best team possible, and figure out 2+ years down the road what you will do then. Silly to plan a team that far in the future. You never know who will go permanent IR/retire or what the cap will be, etc.

Is that you Dave Nonis?

 

[Ricky Bobby]

So you think we should max out our cap commitments with 3 up and coming superstars on ELC's, a top 4 (possibly top 2) defenseman to resign in Zaitsev, and a bunch more prospects coming up to take the place of the vets that we'll purge - and all while not contending?

Steering towards the ice berg.

Cap trouble is inevitable if the kids turn out and the team gets good, there's no reason to go looking for it. Seabrook is in a situation that he can help his current team contend, we won't be ready by the time he's likely in big decline

I agree that the time to add to a team is when it's about to contend to take advantage of big performances out of RFA's, we're not there yet and those ads will have to be more strategic than adding a 31 year old defenseman on an 8 year big money contract who's showing signs of decline

Bingo.

Keep the long term cap space to pay our stars through their primes. Instead of paying a declining player top dollar.

Toronto also shouldn't be giving up an asset like JVR for Seabrook.

Leafs could bring in a UFA dman without giving up a valuable asset like JVR for Seabrook who's paid UFA type money.

If targeting a veteran Dmen in trade it should be guys with 1-3 years term like Garrison, Johnson, Methot or Martin because it doesn't interfere with the Leafs paying their youngsters.