Free Agency and Trade Thread: Off-season alive and well ... for some!

[Americanadian]

Seems there are a lot of penny smart pound foolish fans on this site. Everyone is willing to drop a ton of CAP on any potential Clarkson who catches their cancy, but they won't risk a dime on our top prospects. How very oldschool of you.

This is ridiculous. He deserves 950k at this point. I believe he will become an excellent complementary player but he has done nothing to deserve more than 1M.

 

[Kiwi]

This is ridiculous. He deserves 950k at this point. I believe he will become an excellent complementary player but he has done nothing to deserve more than 1M.

He may get just over 1M if he's bridged for 2 years rather than one

I haven't looked at how may more years he's an RFA though

 

[Americanadian]

He may get just over 1M if he's bridged for 2 years rather than one

I haven't looked at how may more years he's an RFA though

His track record isn’t much better than Leivo’s.

 

[Kiwi]

His track record isn’t much better than Leivo’s.

He's a talented kid, if we're getting an extra year he's going get a little extra coin I'd presume

850K-950K for one year
1M-1.1M for two

 

[showtime8]

Johnsson has played less than 10 regular season games with the Leafs.

There shouldn't be any sort of consideration of giving him more than 850k.

You want to take a gamble on the guy, but I think that you can see what he does after a full season in the NHL.

 

[LeafChief]

Johnsson has played less than 10 regular season games with the Leafs.

There shouldn't be any sort of consideration of giving him more than 850k.

You want to take a gamble on the guy, but I think that you can see what he does after a full season in the NHL.

Some posters seem to think he should get a $5 million dollar contract because he may be wort that in 3-4 years. Makes sense right?

 

[4thline]

Some posters seem to think he should get a $5 million dollar contract because he may be wort that in 3-4 years. Makes sense right?

Be fair now. They think we should over pay by 1-1.5 for 2 seasons so that *hopefully* we can underpay by 1.5 for 2 seasons and then say goodbye to our talent at 27. If you truly appreciate something you set it free as soon as possible

 

[4thline]

He's a talented kid, if we're getting an extra year he's going get a little extra coin I'd presume

850K-950K for one year
1M-1.1M for two

Eh I'd go as high as 1.5 for 2 if he's firmly in the teams plans

 

[LeafChief]

Be fair now. They think we should over pay by 1-1.5 for 2 seasons so that *hopefully* we can underpay by 1.5 for 2 seasons and then say goodbye to our talent at 27. If you truly appreciate something you set it free as soon as possible

So, so mindless.

 

[4thline]

So, so mindless.

I for one am glad that we have Kadri and Leivo for a combined 9.5 million dollar cap hit this year

 

[Kiwi]

Eh I'd go as high as 1.5 for 2 if he's firmly in the teams plans

After watching him on the Marlies and with the Leafs I'd say he's definitely in the plans

I think you can get him under 1.5M on a 2 year deal, I think he's going to get decent money afterwards because I really rate the kid but I don't think he's proven enough as yet to get 1.5M on a bridge

 

[LeafChief]

I for one am glad that we have Kadri and Leivo for a combined 9.5 million dollar cap hit this year

Haha.

Numbers just aren't his strength. We shouldn't pile on. He'll accuse us of having numerous accounts.

 

[4thline]

After watching him on the Marlies and with the Leafs I'd say he's definitely in the plans

I think you can get him under 1.5M on a 2 year deal, I think he's going to get decent money afterwards because I really rate the kid but I don't think he's proven enough as yet to get 1.5M on a bridge

If I'm him I don't take that second year at much less though, no incentive. He's gotta have the self confidence coming off this year to be thinking a Brown deal is a lock for 19-20, maybe Arvidsson. taking a 2x1 likely shorts himself a mil. I agree that he's only earned ~1mill by this point, but I think it would be advantageous to bet on him and pay a premium to buy down a second season because its the pinch year

 

[showtime8]

Some posters seem to think he should get a $5 million dollar contract because he may be wort that in 3-4 years. Makes sense right?

I'm all for gambling on players similar to what another poster said about what the Preds did with Jarnkrok. You keep the bet under a specified amount and I'm okay with it.

The Leafs did that with Zaitsev. After a solid first year with the Leafs, they figured that giving him term and a reasonable dollar amount for what a top 4 defenseman should get is worth the gamble. After the first year, I thought it was worth it. Ask me again after the 2nd year, then I start to question it a bit, but also consider the injuries that he had throughout the year and give them the benefit of the doubt. But again, that's all part of the gamble.

 

[Kiwi]

If I'm him I don't take that second year at much less though, no incentive. He's gotta have the self confidence coming off this year to be thinking a Brown deal is a lock for 19-20, maybe Arvidsson. taking a 2x1 likely shorts himself a mil. I agree that he's only earned ~1mill by this point, but I think it would be advantageous to bet on him and pay a premium to buy down a second season because its the pinch year

He doesn't have a lot of leverage though being an RFA, it probably isn't in his best interests having that extra year tacked on but he may be forced to eat it and wait until he's in a better negotiating position

Saying all that it may make sense for us to only offer one year if we think he's going to be good, if he's only proven for 1 year that could bring down the AAV on that second deal

 

[LeafChief]

I'm all for gambling on players similar to what another poster said about what the Preds did with Jarnkrok. You keep the bet under a specified amount and I'm okay with it.

The Leafs did that with Zaitsev. After a solid first year with the Leafs, they figured that giving him term and a reasonable dollar amount for what a top 4 defenseman should get is worth the gamble. After the first year, I thought it was worth it. Ask me again after the 2nd year, then I start to question it a bit, but also consider the injuries that he had throughout the year and give them the benefit of the doubt. But again, that's all part of the gamble.

Yeah - I'm really hoping that with a solid offseason he will bounce back.

He actually looked pretty good at the World Championships. Maybe pairing him with someone strong defensively would allow him to show off his strengths.

 

[Boutette]

Fixed

Okay, you've crossed the line. You've been reported. Its one thing to attack my suggestions. Its another thing to 'quote' and then rewrite the text you are quoting. That demands an immediate apology and removal of that post.

 

[Boutette]

I for one am glad that we have Kadri and Leivo for a combined 9.5 million dollar cap hit this year

Its one thing to argue and mock. When you alter people's posts to suit your attacks then that is crossing the line. Remove what you have done immediately or I will escalate my complaints.

 

[Boutette]

This is ridiculous. He deserves 950k at this point. I believe he will become an excellent complementary player but he has done nothing to deserve more than 1M.

Do you think that Marleau deserves 19 million for two seasons of 40+ point production? That is what may happen.

 

[Boutette]

Be fair now. They think we should over pay by 1-1.5 for 2 seasons so that *hopefully* we can underpay by 1.5 for 2 seasons and then say goodbye to our talent at 27. If you truly appreciate something you set it free as soon as possible

You clearly don't tip your waiters since you don't see the point of paying more for your dinners than the absolute minimum you have to. Hyman is also UFA at the end of his contract (which he too signed after exhausting his ELC). As are many players who get resigned during their UFA year. I guess the leafs don't appreciate him either.

 

[LaPlante94]

Do you think that Marleau deserves 19 million for two seasons of 40+ point production? That is what may happen.

Are you trying to compare Marleau to Johnsson? Marleau has been a consistent 20+scorer for almost as long as Johnsson has been alive. Marleau has earned his contracts. I know what you're trying to say but we're talking about a guy who has only played 9 NHL games so far and has 3 points in those games. Leivo has 22 points in 57 games and got less than 1 mil. He's gonna get a 1 or 2 year deal for less than 1 mil a season to earn a bigger contract.

 

[Boutette]

Are you trying to compare Marleau to Johnsson? Marleau has been a consistent 20+scorer for almost as long as Johnsson has been alive. Marleau has earned his contracts. I know what you're trying to say but we're talking about a guy who has only played 9 NHL games so far and has 3 points in those games. Leivo has 22 points in 57 games and got less than 1 mil. He's gonna get a 1 or 2 year deal for less than 1 mil a season to earn a bigger contract.

So? Matthews was signed to the maximum contract and bonuses he could possibly earn before he played a single game in the NHL. So have many NCAA players who never played an NHL game. Russians who've primarily played against AHL castoffs have been paid $4 million day one. What did they prove in the NHL that Johnsson hasn't? I'm not saying the leafs *will do* what I suggest, I'm stating that there are benefits to what I suggest, and pointing out that many say the team has the money to wildly overpay UFAs in bidding wars by paying our RFAs the minimum possible, and based on team history with engaging in UFA bidding wars, that might not be the best idea going forward. I have pointed out there are risks and benefits, but if the team is to get out from under its bad history of choosing to heavily overpay and favor aging and declining vets over their promising young players, it's worth considering.

 

[Fogelhund]

Sometimes when you come across a poster with a persecution complex, who is paranoid, delusional and refuses to ever address questions asked directly to them, it is best to put them on the ignore list. Some posters just aren't worth the trouble. As the saying goes " 'Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."

 

[LaPlante94]

Matthews was a 1st overall pick and given the same contract every 1st overall pick gets so idk why you'd try and use that to prove your point. Players who tear up the Russian league that decide to come over are offered max ELC which is like 925k. Panerin signed for less to play for Chicago. I believe that only applies to players under a certain age. Vadim Shipachyov is the last Russian I can think of who signed a deal with an NHL team to leave the KHL. He got 4.5 a year for 2 years. He was a leading scorer in the KHL for years and had pretty good International tournament stats. He was also 30 years old and more than 1 team wanted him so a team was gonna overpay to convince him to move here. Again he's a 30 year old with many games in a mens professional league compared to Johnssons 9. NCAA free agents get signed to ELC too for a max of 925k so idk where you're going with that too.

Again I know what you want us to do, but I'd rather him play a full season before considering giving him a longer term deal.

 

[Boutette]

Matthews was a 1st overall pick and given the same contract every 1st overall pick gets so idk why you'd try and use that to prove your point. Players who tear up the Russian league that decide to come over are offered max ELC which is like 925k. Panerin signed for less to play for Chicago. I believe that only applies to players under a certain age. Vadim Shipachyov is the last Russian I can think of who signed a deal with an NHL team to leave the KHL. He got 4.5 a year for 2 years. He was a leading scorer in the KHL for years and had pretty good International tournament stats. He was also 30 years old and more than 1 team wanted him so a team was gonna overpay to convince him to move many here. Again he's a 30 year old with many games in a mens professional league compared to Johnssons 9. NCAA free agents get signed to ELC too for a max of 925k so idk where you're going with that too.

Again I know what you want us to do, but I'd rather him play a full season before considering giving him a longer term deal.

Many of the kind of players you point out can't get paid any more than they do because of NHL rules, its a measure of can't as opposed to won't. Now you may rather Johnsson playout a full season before giving him a longer deal, and that's fine, but can you really say that Babcock, a notorious lover of his GUD PROS, pulling Komarov in the playoffs, in favor of Johnsson shows that Johnsson has proved nothing with regards to him being an NHL calibre player, because that's what I've gotten from all you guys.