Rumor: TOR and John Tavares close to a deal: 3 years at 7 million

[The Shadow]

We don't have to sign him.

But they will

 

[BigBlu]

I would only ever accept JT back on a Jason Spezza type deal. That’s it. That’s all.

 

[Commander Clueless]

He would be better off saying we are going a different direction after this and watch the numbers come down and the groveling ensue.

Marner shit the bed. His value just tanked

Why would shitting the bed for the ninth time tank his value when the other eight didn't?

 

[thewave]

Why would shitting the bed for the ninth time tank his value when the other eight didn't?

Because everyone including other GMS had first row seats

 

[ToneDog]

I would only ever accept JT back on a Jason Spezza type deal. That’s it. That’s all.

Be prepared to be disappointed. Very disappointed.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Because everyone including other GMS had first row seats

Weren't they watching the playoffs for the last eight years while Marner did the things that makes everyone around here skeptical about his playoff performances?

 

[TMLegend]

Disappointing. The Leafs have a chance to majorly retool the roster but would rather just continue to piss into the wind it seems.

Even if they insisted on the top heavy approach they could make big offers to some combination of Rantanen, Ekblad, Ehlers, Bennett, Provorov, Gavrikov, etc, to significantly change the makeup of the team instead of running it back with a group we know doesn't work in the playoffs.

 

[The Shadow]

Sign Bennett and let JT retire and have a role with the team

 

[thewave]

Save it for McDavid

 

[DarkKnight]

The more I think about it, the less I like it. Take a team friendly discount to stay home or go, pretty simple. He will regress, and he’s made his money, hold firm.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Give that money to Sam Bennett

 

[Byron Bitz]

Give that money to Sam Bennett

Is there a 7 million dollar deal on the table for us to sign Bennett to that I’m not aware of? I figured he was gonna re sign in Florida. It seems to be going well for him there.

The more I think about it, the less I like it. Take a team friendly discount to stay home or go, pretty simple. He will regress, and he’s made his money, hold firm.

Agreed but he could prob get 8 on the open market so 7 may already be a bit of a discount. I think the lowest we can hold firm on would be around 6 or else your just walking him to UFA and we’ve gotta go find a 2C on the open market which will be quite costly.

 

[DarkKnight]

Is there a 7 million dollar deal on the table for us to sign Bennett to that I’m not aware of? I figured he was gonna re sign in Florida. It seems to be going well for him there.


Agreed but he could prob get 8 on the open market so 7 may already be a bit of a discount. I think the lowest we can hold firm on would be around 6 or else your just walking him to UFA and we’ve gotta go find a 2C on the open market which will be quite costly.

He doesn't want to go on the open market, that's the point. He's made his big cash, 3 years at 5.5 is a good deal for both sides.

 

[Fogelhund]

Give that money to Sam Bennett

Bennett likely extends in Florida, for around $7 mil. Granlund likely signs elsewhere. Hard to figure out what Duchene does, but he likely extends as well.

Barring a trade, your choices are likely now Gourde, Kerfoot, Dvorak as the replacement.

 

[Woodman19]

So close that here we are weeks later

 

[123offtheglass]

Not that 7m x 3 is unreasonable but they need to hold firm. Don't need to go full Tampa-Stamkos on him but make it team friendly or let him walk & go with someone different & younger like Bennett. Fitting in both would be wicked.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I think you have to "win" one of these higher end contract negotiations if you're the Leafs. All along I've been saying that you have to clean up the roster around the edges in order to create room for a 2C, while considering bringing JT back as a 3C if he's willing to be part of that "clean up". Something around $6 million, rather $7 million makes sense in the coming cap environment. Every million that can be saved around the edges upgrades the quality of player that you bring in as that 2C that enables to Tavares to slide into that 35+ 3C role.

 

[Dayjobdave]

I can live with JT for 3x7, but would love it if he came in below 6.

Would love to get Bennet here, or heavens to Betsy - McDavid - but we have a lot of guys to get paid, including. Mitch, Knies, and whoever our incoming high end D man is.

 

[34]

Really hoping to see JT at $6M AAV @ 3 years. Leave a little more room to add another quality player.

Would really like to see Bennet land in Toronto this summer as a free agent if he makes it there.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

IF it actually gets signed I expect it to be 3 years at 7 mil with deferred money on the 4th year. How much deferred money is the big question. Hopefully it is enough to put his contract to an AAV of 5.5 mil.

As for everyone complaining that signing him stops this team from going big in free agency they will have rough 34 million cap space before the JT signing. Assuming Marner signs for 13.5 range and JT is 5.5 AAV then that leaves 15 mil left to pay Knies ( 1 year 4 mil then he strikes it big next year) 3 million for PTO, league minimum, ELC players. Leafs also have 6 million in Jarnkok, Kampf and Reaves that can be moved out. Lots of room to go big game hunting in UFA or trade market.

 

[ToneDog]

IF it actually gets signed I expect it to be 3 years at 7 mil with deferred money on the 4th year. How much deferred money is the big question. Hopefully it is enough to put his contract to an AAV of 5.5 mil.

As for everyone complaining that signing him stops this team from going big in free agency they will have rough 34 million cap space before the JT signing. Assuming Marner signs for 13.5 range and JT is 5.5 AAV then that leaves 15 mil left to pay Knies ( 1 year 4 mil then he strikes it big next year) 3 million for PTO, league minimum, ELC players. Leafs also have 6 million in Jarnkok, Kampf and Reaves that can be moved out. Lots of room to go big game hunting in UFA or trade market.

McCabe and Woll are due for $5+m in raises. Probably going to have to give Lorenz a few extra pennies.

Mitch can leave if he wants $13.5m. Seriously, how can anybody think he deserves more money than 34?

 

[barilko05]

Look, if JT wants his 21 mil, how about 3x7, rather than 7x3? We get a cheap 2nd-3rd line centre for 3 maybe even 4 years. After that, our window is probably going to be closed anyway. Then, he sticks around for another 3 as Marleau/Thornton-ish mentor at a still reasonable cost for a 3rd or 4th line guy. Cap will sky high (fingers crossed) at that point, and 3 mil will be a drop in the bucket. Plus, he still gets his asked for 21 million. Or, he retires or gets sent to Robidas Island. I know...he won't go for it, and the team doesn't want to be stuck with that money for that length of time. But still...it's the $$ he asked for. Just not all at once.

 

[colchar]

Sign Bennett and let JT retire and have a role with the team

He is nowhere close to retiring.