Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 - Trade Deadline Approaches

[Gallagbi]

Sure. And the big market NHL teams should push it. They are the ones with the money. The idea that the teams that don’t make any money that get all the advantages can control the league is silly.

And the league with all of their talks of parity and fairness should recognize reality.

There's more poor teams than rich ones and the owners would still, largely, prefer to spend less. Net salaries seem like a logical move but I can't see enough teams volunteering for it

I do wonder if we'll every see something like more compliance buyouts and/or some type of cap credit trading. Poor teams can sell those off (pro) and rich teams can buy (pro). Parity would theoretically drop, but if the asset accumulation helps lower end teams it could naturally fuel parity just on a longer term basis

 

[Americanadian]

I do wonder if we'll every some type of cap credit trading. Poor teams can sell those off (pro) and rich teams can buy (pro). Parity would theoretically drop, but if the asset accumulation helps lower end teams it could naturally fuel parity just on a longer term basis

This makes sense. It has nothing to do with taxes but it would make sense as an additional lever under the current CBA.

 

[Gallagbi]

This makes sense. It has nothing to do with taxes but it would make sense as an additional lever under the current CBA.

I thought about throwing in a net portion to the credit for this, but honestly it just over complicated it IMO

You're still giving low tax states an advantage, but at least there are more options to offset in the higher cost, higher spend teams.

 

[Legion34]

There's more poor teams than rich ones and the owners would still, largely, prefer to spend less. Net salaries seem like a logical move but I can't see enough teams volunteering for it

I do wonder if we'll every see something like more compliance buyouts and/or some type of cap credit trading. Poor teams can sell those off (pro) and rich teams can buy (pro). Parity would theoretically drop, but if the asset accumulation helps lower end teams it could naturally fuel parity just on a longer term basis

This is the misnomer. They can’t as a group of 32 spend less. It’s all about who spends. It’s about the allocation. Poor teams have to do all these weird things to get to the cap. And other teams get to use tax loopholes.

Why not let the rich teams actually spend. Instead of just paying other teams to beat them

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Moral of the story is based on the timing of when signed, duration and amount all of the core 4 have done everything to extract as much money as possible for themselves out of the team. Thats their right.

But the cycle must end.

 

[Smif]

Been used in business for many decades, COLA based on location.
Worked for a national bank decades ago and going from a small town/city to Toronto automatically got a COLA.

It doesn't make sense when you're competing with a different branch in the same company and have the same budgets for performances but the salaries have major discrepancies.

Essentially,. it's common sense for us to be underperforming. I think since the salary cap was introduced 80% or might even be higher of Stanley cups have gone to the lower taxed teams.

 

[Gallagbi]

This is the misnomer. They can’t as a group of 32 spend less. It’s all about who spends. It’s about the allocation. Poor teams have to do all these weird things to get to the cap. And other teams get to use tax loopholes.

Why not let the rich teams actually spend. Instead of just paying other teams to beat them

Outside of Arizona I don't recall many teams doing weird things to spend the minimum.

I'm fine with having no cap, I don't think the majority of owners would agree

 

[Evilhomer]

I don't think you can generalize by saying that players are choosing teams based on after-tax income. It may ultimately become a factor if a player is choosing between two identical locations other than tax rates, but that isn't realistic. Players choose cities based on a myriad of factors, not the least of which is the reality that US-born players are going to be heavily pre-disposed to choosing to play for US-based teams, just as Canadian players are more likely to give greater value to playing for a Canadian team. I also think that weather is a far bigger factor than anyone is acknowledging. Lots of players don't want to play in cold-weather locations, especially when they are young.

 

[ULF_55]

I also think that weather is a far bigger factor than anyone is acknowledging. Lots of players don't want to play in cold-weather locations, especially when they are young.

I don't think weather would be a major factor for experienced players, but as you say young people might have unrealistic fantasies about outside activities every day. Whereas reality would be most of the time preparing for games and traveling, and then going home in the off-season.

Now, Calgary, Edmonton have some crazy times, but my Mexican friends talk to me about wet season ... just different crappy weather times.

 

[Fogelhund]

Been used in business for many decades, COLA based on location.
Worked for a national bank decades ago and going from a small town/city to Toronto automatically got a COLA.

One step further. People sign contracts based on % of salary cap. You sign for 10% salary cap, cap goes up, you get paid more. Your 10% of cap is tradeable... if you go to a low tax state team, your gross goes down, but your net is a constant... (more or less), you go to a high tax jurisdiction, your Gross goes up, and your net is a constant.

 

[ULF_55]

Entirely feasible in a free market. Not so much under a CBA.

CBA gets renewed/replaced/updated like all unions it is negotiated.

This is a negotiated contract it isn't a law or a physical science.

HRR is defined, but that definition can be altered.

They could do whatever they want, example return a percentage of HRR to teams. Give the paying customer what they're paying for.

Ranked: Which NHL Team Takes Home the Most Revenue?

The Oilers are the second-highest earning team in the NHL and the Panthers are 26th. We show the top teams in the NHL by revenue in 2023.

www.visualcapitalist.com

 

[ULF_55]

Canadian teams are always going to have a handicap with contracts.

Now that doesn't mean they absolutely have to double down on this core yet again - that's another question all together.

But when it comes to premium talent the Leafs will always have to pay a premium price

We're just lucky that Toronto is at least theoretically desirable for most players unlike Winnipeg, Ottawa, Edmonton ect

I'm sure take home pay plays a part.
Other influences could be nationality, closer to home, travel impact.
Whether the team is a potential contender.

But best cities ... would be contrary to many recent reports where Vancouver and Calgary are near the top in the world.

City quality of life indices - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ULF_55]

From 4 Nations:

Matthews is a flawed but irreplaceable part… however if the Americans win based on a smash mouth brand of hockey and its guys like Tkachuk Bros, Miller leading the way up front with skating length defenders on the back, Matthews playing his quiet two way game, inconsistent offense, maybe that’s a cue as to what the Leafs need to build around him… it’s not going to be skill and smurfs. It’s going to be a motley crew protecting him. And obviously we can’t get Matthew or Brady Tkachuk but stylistically that’s the way you go. You build a murderers row around him and protect him. But we won’t win with a skill and finesse game cause he can’t pull through in big moments.

So this would change the shopping list for me.

Certainly, not going to get a talent level Tkachuk type player, but perhaps you can get a couple players who can actually play minutes, and hold their own?

Real POS players who don't hurt you, and not talking 34 year old smurfs either.

Below just a quick look at physical players who actually play a reasonable number of minutes (12+). Some are likely too old, ex. Foligno, but mostly from teams who might not do playoffs, or expect to win anything.

Wingers:

Nikolai Kovalenko

Mathieu Joseph

Alexey Toropchenko

Anthony Beauvillier

Cole Smith

Eeli Tolvanen

Brandon Tanev

Lawson Crouse

Mathieu Olivier

Justin Danforth

Maxim Tsyplakov

Jake Neighbours

Nick Foligno

Dylan Holloway

Frank Vatrano

Centers:

Casey Cizikas

Nick Bjugstad

Radek Faksa

Michael McCarron

Jack McBain

Michael Rasmussen

Noel Acciari

Zach Aston-Reese

Peyton Krebs

Martin Pospisil

Barclay Goodrow

Marco Kasper

Scott Laughton

Luke Kunin

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Dylan Cozens

Brayden Schenn

 

[jaric1862]

Dreger dropped Colton Parayko's name on OverDrive. Now that's an add I can seriously get behind.

 

[ULF_55]

Dreger dropped Colton Parayko's name on OverDrive. Now that's an add I can seriously get behind.

Yeah, if there is a way to land him and pay him ...

Wouldn't leave much for other updates though.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Dreger dropped Colton Parayko's name on OverDrive. Now that's an add I can seriously get behind.

Heard Dreger mention him not too long ago, and by the sounds of it, the only real thing that would interest them is Knies.

 

[ULF_55]

Heard Dreger mention him not too long ago, and by the sounds of it, the only real thing that would interest them is Knies.

So Steeves and Robertson is a no?

How to get Crouse then, to replace Knies?

 

[MarMarSab3]

Heard Dreger mention him not too long ago, and by the sounds of it, the only real thing that would interest them is Knies.

I think that's a deal you make

 

[ULF_55]

So Steeves and Robertson is a no?

How to get Crouse then, to replace Knies?

Knies, Domi and Kampf
for
Payrako (no retention)

Buy Low:
Crouse (Mt. Brydges, Ont.)
for
Minten / Cowan and Top 12 protected 1st.

Cowan (Mt. Brydges, Ont.) Hmmm?

Waive 1 billion dollars worth of scrap players.

 

[TMLAM34]

If Chicago were willing to retain at least 2 million on Jones’ contract, I’d be interested.

 

[TMLAM34]

I do think, if we end up spending high end assets such as Cowan and our 1st next year, I would rather put that towards a young center (Cozens) than a defenceman in their 30s. Top six center depth is pretty weak in free agency meanwhile there’s a couple good top four defenceman available, Ekblad being a righty.

 

[ULF_55]

If Chicago were willing to retain at least 2 million on Jones’ contract, I’d be interested.

Looked at Jones.

I think I'd lean towards the Canadian Payrako ...

 

[TMLAM34]

Looked at Jones.

I think I'd lean towards the Canadian Payrako ...

I would take Parayko over Jones as well. I’d be happy with either or tbh lol… I wouldn’t want to move Knies in any package however.

 

[Legion34]

I don't think you can generalize by saying that players are choosing teams based on after-tax income. It may ultimately become a factor if a player is choosing between two identical locations other than tax rates, but that isn't realistic. Players choose cities based on a myriad of factors, not the least of which is the reality that US-born players are going to be heavily pre-disposed to choosing to play for US-based teams, just as Canadian players are more likely to give greater value to playing for a Canadian team. I also think that weather is a far bigger factor than anyone is acknowledging. Lots of players don't want to play in cold-weather locations, especially when they are young.

1.) it’s not always about “choosing the low tax teams” although: stamkos, Marchy, Skej, Stephenson,geuntzel, Montour, reinhart. all signed in no state tax markets

Sure that was a coincidence.

The argument is that high tax teams pay more to get the same talent level. And it’s not weather Anaheim and San Jose pay the same rates Toronto

 

[ULF_55]

I would take Parayko over Jones as well. I’d be happy with either or tbh lol… I wouldn’t want to move Knies in any package however.

Yeah, wanting to do something is not always the overriding factor.

Same with moving 1st. round picks, don't want to but ...

Wonder if something like a 2nd. round pick for every 2 years of retention?

So for a player on a 6 years deal.

So for example only, Seth Jones:

Couple players of value.
2nd. retention 2024-2026
2nd. retention 2026-2028
2nd. retention 2029-20230