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The point you make is that we don't know as of yet what may happen in the new NHL world ..Gary said:Joe Thornton is an Ontario boy not a Mass. How much will that influence decisions no ones knows as of yet ...
In the past, most of the elite players who take less $$$ to play for a team seem to be for 1 of 2 different reasons. 1) The player feels that he has a REAL good chance at a stanley cup 2) To finish their careers there (even if the team is'nt a contender). Roberts/Newy/Nolan all talk about how great the Leafs are-But they still wanted damn good coin. To insinuate they'd play for peanuts just to be in a Leafs uniform and to help the team get under a cap seems somewhere inbetween extremely unlikely, and nearly impossible. Sure Kariya and Selanne took big cuts to play for Anaheim because they liked the environment but when they're washed up. I venture to say there will be hockey in hell before guys like Heatley/Thornton/etc. play for 1/2 of what they could at a early age just to be in a city they like more. Atleast not when they're 27-28 years old. Maybe you'll get to see a 38 and 37 year old Heatley and Thornton on your team though. Look at all the oldies on T.O. and tell me honestly that you don't think I'm right.
Time will tell if its going to be a factor .. This is not theory though ..
RicK Curran player agent was on the Radio a few days ago The Fan 590 and he said that new currancy under a cap will not be money alone and that players may chose destinations now for all sorts of reasons and the desire to play at home is certainly a big one of the players he has ..
Well I can't tell you if you are right because the UFA was 31 under the old CBA and many players contracts didn't end until much after that. Roberts and Corson came as UFA to Toronto because it was home .. Roberts said he loved his time in Carolina but the lure of playing at home was too great .. Joe Nieuwendyk player for 2 mil last season, but chose Toronto .. At the rate he produced he was worth far more then he was paid ..
Shortly we will see how this theory plays out .. Adam Foote a Toronto boy could be unable to return to Colorado .. If he picks Toronto then that might be the first sign of the market working for a team .. If we then see that he took less then market (ie his former less 24% correction) then that might suggest he offered a discount ..
You would be last one I would expect to be surprised if Thornton once UFA left Boston .. Toronto would certainly be interested in his services so again we will see if he leaves for Toronto or Phoenix or Nashville ..
Only time will tell .. Before it was about the money now with that not being such a great difference between cities other intangibles will come into play ..
Just like it would surprise no one if Lindros joined the leafs and took a small contract to do it ..