Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign D Mark Giordano to extension (2 years, $800k AAV)

[Gabriel426]

I see Sandin as a likely candidate of being involved in a trade for a top 6 forward (JT Miller?).

Friedman and Johnston both hinted that Leafs will try to make a bold move of some sort. It's not gonna be the core 4 players.

My guess is Sandin + for a big time forward

Even with this year 1st plus Sandin and Kerfoot for one year of Miller is fleecing the Nucks.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Just realize PK is a UFA. Imagine him signing a 800k deal to play in TO

he'd be a decent Marlie, but he shouldn't be on the Leafs

 

[3headeddragon]

This is incredible news . Thanks Gio!!!!

 

[The Masters]

From the same guy who broke this signing:

The right move. No more fking around with guys who cant play anymore. Team hasn’t won shyt

 

[OVO16]

Mikheyev gone
Kase Gone
Spezza gone
Engvall 50/50
Blackwell a UFA

Dubas has a real chance of re-working the bottom 6. I really hope he figures out the type of players he needs this time.

 

[Nylanderthal]

He aint leavin St. Louis

He has 3 times before

 

[saltming]

I love how Dubas gets all the credit for these guys wanting to play in their hometown their last couple year before retirement, where they were born and where their families live.

Credit to Dubas for bringing him in to begin with, he was great for the team and was an incredibly steadying influence on Liljegren and even made Holl look okay, but getting him to sign a team friendly contract? All that credit goes to Gio.

I'm sure nonis would have given him 2 or 3 mill over 4 or 5 years.
Dubas gets credit first for bringing Gio here. Did Gio take a home town discount? Yup. Credit to dubas for building an organization in which a very like Gio would believe in enough to give up a few more million on the free market to stay here.
Not sure if you remember but there was a time from the 70's until recently that no good vet wanted to play here unless overpaid and our of shape, yes Odog in looking at you. Dubas and shanny to a lesser extent deserve credit for that, so yes! Dubas deserve credit

 

[OVO16]

He has 3 times before

And has always found his way back.

 

[ULF_55]

Holy shit... a top 4D for 800k? He easily gets 3-4M in UFA market. He was really good for us

DITTO

Those are my exact words ... Holy Poop.

He just made everything so much easier.

Checks calendar ... nope it isn't April 1st.

 

[zeke]

Beauty.

I'd stick with these 7 dmen going into next year. 7 at least borderline top 4 quality dmen is perfect to get through a whole season.

 

[yubbers]

Zero complaints there.

 

[Gabriel426]

Now if only Dubas can get a goalie and Marchand, lol

 

[fahad203]

Very good signing. We been missing a vet for long time. Hope his ice time is managed well

The right move. No more fking around with guys who cant play anymore. Team hasn’t won shyt

He really should go back to Ottawa and finish of his career there

Young team could use some leadership and then maybe get traded to leafs at the deadline for depth

 

[All Mod Cons]

What's Jagr up to these days?

 

[htpwn]

The extra year gives some security to Gio. It seems plausible some sort of NMC/NTC will be attached.

But overall, great signing. I was kind of expecting him to take a hometown discount, but like $1.5/2M range. $800,000 is fantastic.

 

[JSn0w93]

From the same guy who broke this signing:

The right move. Love Spezza and what he brought here, but clear especially near the end of the season that he didn't have much left. I'd hope he would be offered a spot in management or coaching with the Leafs when he's ready.

 

[Maplebeasts]

What a deal!

 

[The Masters]

If i have to see this fungus toe pic advertisement one more time…

 

[pcruz]

If I'm Dubas, I call Gio and Spezza into my office and offer them the same deal verbally:

Take some time to collect yourselves over the summer. I have 2 reserved spots for you on my roster going into training camp. If at any point you decide you want to go at it again, call me and we will work out a deal instantly. I won't guarantee you 82 games, but you will both be in the playoff roster. We should have won a lot more this year, and we can win with this team going forward. An open invitation to Training Camp regardless of whether you have a contract or not. Think about it, call me and we will get it done. We want both of you back here.

Thank you.


As for the roster:

I do all that I can to move Kerfoot and Mrazek out.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Nylander
Robertson - Kampf - Kase
Blackwell - Spezza - Simmonds
Clifford - Abruzzese - Engvall

Rielly - Sandin
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Lilly
Holl

Kallgren
Campbell

If Campbell would accept $4m and Gio could also come in at under $4m, even with slight pay raises to Lilly and Sandin, it would work. Especially with the cap guy working some magic all year long.

Sandin and Liljigren are looking at marginal raises. Sandin because he missed nearly the whole season and Lilly was relegated to the press box during the playoffs. However, I think they're both really good value.

I was told that Giordano would laugh in Dubas' face with this kind of deal.
In fact, I was way high on the deal he would take in Toronto.

It makes the math much more digestible for Toronto, especially if they re-sign Spezza for $750k again.
They can definitely upgrade in a couple of areas of the roster.
The team doesn't need an overhaul, so many of the same people can come back on relatively decent deals or be replaced with similar players.

 

[Blaylock38]

Probably makes Sandin expendable.

Probably more so Muzzi, I don't see this affecting Sandin at all except for providing him a mentor for 2 years.

 

[The Masters]

I expect to see some Canadian Tire commercials featuring Gio

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Yessss, what a great contract. Had hoped he would want to stay on the cheap

 

[Gabriel426]

Gio is still a top 4 Dman in the league and to get him for 800k is wow.
The left side is set for the Leafs, once they sign Boosh or another physical RD, the right side will be set. Just hope they don’t think Holl is the answer on the Right side with TJ and Lilly.

 

[Mr_Fun]

Dubass shouldn't be credited for any of this. Obviously Gio wanted to stay here for a discount

I could have been GM and negotiated this same deal

Umm...Dubas gets credit for the signing for at least being the partial architect of a team and culture that MG wants to be a part of. See, that's how things work in the real world, son.

 

[The Masters]

Mikheyev gone
Kase Gone
Spezza gone
Engvall 50/50
Blackwell a UFA

Dubas has a real chance of re-working the bottom 6. I really hope he figures out the type of players he needs this time.

Bottom 6 and Goalie HAVE TO BE at the top of dubas list. Our bottom 6 was complete garbage in playoffs. U cant win like that.

I hope this is a precursor to many good things.

I also want to see a shakeup to 2nd line and move JT to wing