Who has the better Cup window? Panthers or Leafs
- Thread starter Sticksandsun
- Start date
Most of Florida's roster/core is in their mid to late 20s, taking them into their early 30s for the next 3-4 years.
Are you expecting a drop off in offense, defense, goaltending or 2 of 3, all of them?
The Leafs definitely have some great players but also need a true #1 goalie and cheap productive depth to offset the cap space eaten up by 4-5 players.
This is why I posed the question from earlier threads with Florida and Toronto.
Toronto seems close to going on a run but missing key pieces IMO, Florida will have to overcome playing so much hockey in the last 2 years, basically half of another season.
Also, Bob is either white hot or dark blue cold and Knight isn't there as a #1 yet, Leafs have similar goaltending questions but related to playoff experience.
I guess I don't get why OP cited two poll threads but didn't make this thread a poll.
... Anyways, Leafs automatically lose due to their cap structure. Even with Bobo at a hefty price, the Leafs still have four players being paid more. Gross.
... Anyways, Leafs automatically lose due to their cap structure. Even with Bobo at a hefty price, the Leafs still have four players being paid more. Gross.
I prefer reading and analyzing the opinions posted and not getting lost in the tally of a poll.
Kind of forces a reply instead of a quick vote and exit thread.
- Aug 24, 2011
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This is the answer. I’m not sure what happens with Marner and Tavares but I’m assuming they’ll try and sign Marner to another huge contract and perpetuate the cycle. The Leafs core players don’t care about winning. They want to make as much money as they can and have great regular seasons.
Florida is a better built team and they’re in a great position going forward specifically because Ekblad, Bobrovsky, and Bennet are UFA’s. They can let these guys walk if they see fit and use that cap space accordingly.
Evilhomer
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2019
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I think people are over-thinking this. Florida has been to two straight Cup finals. How many more do they have in them? Are they realistically going to bump up against the 1980s Islanders or Oilers? The odds are that Florida will follow Tampa's path. Eventually age and the cap will take their toll on Florida, that's all. The better comparison for me would have been Toronto to a team in a similar situation - maybe the Rangers, Wild, etc. - teams that have not just come off two Cup final runs.
Your numbers are flawed. A) You fail to account for road games being taxed by that state.
B) You fail to consider signing bonuses which are taxed at a players home states rate ( not where they play, where they legally reside.
Matthews for instance has nearly all of his pay as signing bonus. His legal residency is in Arizona. Which has no state income tax.
Plus you keep stating 10% which is telling that you are either making the number up but think it’s correct or lying on purpose to help your case.
- Oct 30, 2006
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What's more numerous than the grains of sand on Florida beaches..
The excuses in Toronto.
yea. the thread trys to imply it's a tough one. I chuckled out loud just reading it.
Panthers are the team to beat.
Bruins get compared with them
Bolts, Leafs too ......all Atantic play off teams.
No other team in the Atlantic teams ever make the play offs.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 82,057
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The question you should be asking is whether Florida can quality control and maintain the standard they achieved in 2023-24 with loss of personnel and wear and tear. Barring unforeseen roster changes and behavioral shift in the Leafs, I don't see a measuring stick for Florida at all.
Dread Clawz
LAWSonic Boom
Tampa and Florida both in the top half of revenue now.
Fishy McScales
Registered User
Nowhere in my post did I state that they were beneficiaries of revenue sharing, only that revenue sharing is a tool against the advantage of, well, higher revenue.
This Leafs' core has basically proven that they are not capable of a serious Cup run.
Treliving should have blown it up, but he's apparently committed to perpetuating playoff failure as long as possible.
Treliving should have blown it up, but he's apparently committed to perpetuating playoff failure as long as possible.
If you consider “local” things such as taxes I feel there needs to be 2 more things included in cap (cost/income) determining.
A) Bonus monies paid and the tax rate of each individual players legal residence.
B) Commercials and sponsorships by each player.
Using the Leafs as example… they are insanely popular in the Toronto metro region. I’d venture (guessing) while it’s the star players leading the way a guy like Matthews makes more doing commercials locally than the entire Panther team combined.
That is millions of additional dollars paid to players in certain markets that is not available in all markets.
A) Bonus monies paid and the tax rate of each individual players legal residence.
B) Commercials and sponsorships by each player.
Using the Leafs as example… they are insanely popular in the Toronto metro region. I’d venture (guessing) while it’s the star players leading the way a guy like Matthews makes more doing commercials locally than the entire Panther team combined.
That is millions of additional dollars paid to players in certain markets that is not available in all markets.
Golden_Jet
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- Sep 21, 2005
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Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Unless this group of Leafs somehow takes the next level in development and goes on an unexpected growth and maturation… kind of like Florida actually did… I don’t think they have it in them. They’ve been pretty flat line on being who they are… but I also think it’s unrealistic for a 100 point team to start blowing it up for change mandate reasons. Like Carolina probably isn’t winning a cup soon but why would they dismantle a competitive team?
But getting back to the OP, comparing Florida to Toronto is like asking for a compliment.
BLONG7
Registered User
featherhawk
Registered User
- Dec 13, 2006
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panthers, they are the defending champs...the leafs have a long road to go before the reach window status...
brentashton
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2018
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