Leafs offseason discussion

Homer Jay · Post #61 » by **Homer Jay** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:34 pm

Lol Richards wants 8-9 year deal and at least 25 million just for the first two years... NO THANKS... keep us on the treadmill for a decade...

whysoserious · Post #62 » by **whysoserious** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:45 pm

At this point, screw it. The Leafs should be throwing as much money at Stamkos. Stamkos at 21 or Richards at 31. I know Burke has had a stance against RFA's but without getting top picks, you can't keep going in to the summer filling out the bottom 6 every year. It's time to make a splash.

Post #63 » by **Crowned** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:46 pm

Why does it matter what he wants in the first 2 years? The Leafs have deep pockets, and it wouldn't count against his cap hit. I don't care if they pay him $25 mil his first season alone, and 2 million every year after, it's his cap hit that counts.

Post #64 » by **Crowned** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:47 pm

whysoserious wrote:At this point, screw it. The Leafs should be throwing as much money at Stamkos. Stamkos at 21 or Richards at 31. I know Burke has had a stance against RFA's but without getting top picks, you can't keep going in to the summer filling out the bottom 6 every year. It's time to make a splash.

I'd rather go after Richards first, he doesn't cost anything. If we strike out, then I agree. Offer Stamkos some ridiculous 12 year contract at max money and see if Tampa accepts. If they do, they're screwed against the cap.

Post #65 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:48 pm

bryant08 wrote:
darth_federer wrote:Wait wait hes in Mississauga? Any idea where?

And word is that the Leafs have made a huge offer to Villie Leino. I hope they dont overpay.

Edit: Sabres him give 27 million over 6 years

201 City Centre Drive at the Newport Sports Offices. It's pretty packed in the area with Canada Day Celebrations later today.

Hmm thats pretty close to home. Might check it out later on today. Going there for the fireworks tonight anyways...

Homer Jay · Post #66 » by **Homer Jay** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:53 pm

I wanted Richards when it looked like he might go for 5/35 or even 5/40... but not this 8/75 bullshyte.

Post #67 » by **Crowned** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:53 pm

Apparently Calgary is going to make a strong push for Richards now too.

Relentless88 · Post #68 » by **Relentless88** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:57 pm

Stamkos would be amazing... Burke should offer 140 million over 12 years...something like that. I wonder if Tampa matches that. To get a 21 year old superstar locked up for more than a decade would be huge for this team.

Also why do we surrender 4 first round picks if we sign Stamkos? Is that just how RFA works in the NHL?

Homer Jay · Post #69 » by **Homer Jay** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 8:59 pm

Relentless88 wrote:Stamkos would be amazing... Burke should offer 140 million over 12 years...something like that. I wonder if Tampa matches that. To get a 21 year old superstar locked up for more than a decade would be huge for this team.

Also why do we surrender 4 first round picks if we sign Stamkos? Is that just how RFA works in the NHL?

Yes, although you can negotiate a trade as well. Burke needs to get over the Dustin Penner crap from 5 freaking years ago and play the RFA game.

KingstonRaptors · Post #70 » by **KingstonRaptors** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 9:01 pm

Relentless88 wrote:Stamkos would be amazing... Burke should offer 140 million over 12 years...something like that. I wonder if Tampa matches that. To get a 21 year old superstar locked up for more than a decade would be huge for this team.

Also why do we surrender 4 first round picks if we sign Stamkos? Is that just how RFA works in the NHL?

I believe it's part of the compensation for the teaming losing free agents, part of the CBA.

Post #71 » by **Crowned** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 9:01 pm

I'd gladly hand over 4 firsts for Stamkos and call it a day.

Post #72 » by **bryant08** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 9:07 pm

darth_federer wrote:
bryant08 wrote:
darth_federer wrote:Wait wait hes in Mississauga? Any idea where?

And word is that the Leafs have made a huge offer to Villie Leino. I hope they dont overpay.

Edit: Sabres him give 27 million over 6 years

201 City Centre Drive at the Newport Sports Offices. It's pretty packed in the area with Canada Day Celebrations later today.

Hmm thats pretty close to home. Might check it out later on today. Going there for the fireworks tonight anyways...

There were already some people crowded outside there, but most of the executives have already left, don't think Richards has walked out yet. All face-to-face meetings are done though, just conference calls with other interested teams now.

whysoserious · Post #73 » by **whysoserious** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 9:39 pm

Crowned wrote:
whysoserious wrote:At this point, screw it. The Leafs should be throwing as much money at Stamkos. Stamkos at 21 or Richards at 31. I know Burke has had a stance against RFA's but without getting top picks, you can't keep going in to the summer filling out the bottom 6 every year. It's time to make a splash.

I'd rather go after Richards first, he doesn't cost anything. If we strike out, then I agree. Offer Stamkos some ridiculous 12 year contract at max money and see if Tampa accepts. If they do, they're screwed against the cap.

Different strokes I guess. If I'm running a team, I go after the 21 year old that is already a superstar instead of the 31 year old who will only diminish over the contract.

If it hurts Burke politically in trades with other GM's and it costs 4 first rounders, you say screw 'em and keep tragetting or UFA's.

Some analysts were saying you'll get blackballed if you do it and Burke has said he doesn't believe in it but who cares, it's a rule in the CBA, you take advantage of the rules in place.

Post #74 » by **Next Coming** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 10:20 pm

It's Steven Stamkos, Brad Richards or bust for me. I really want to come away with either of the two. If not I'm completely fine with not overpaying the rest of the talent on the board.

I mean good lord look at what Ville Leino got. Yuckh!

whysoserious · Post #75 » by **whysoserious** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 10:25 pm

Next Coming wrote:It's Steven Stamkos, Brad Richards or bust for me. I really want to come away with either of the two. If not I'm completely fine with not overpaying the rest of the talent on the board.

I mean good lord look at what Ville Leino got. Yuckh!

I agree, if they don't get either of those two, move on to the trade market and if not anything there, wait another year. Don't overpay for lesser talent.

Also, what are peoples thoughts on Burke going to Kandahar on the opening day of free agency? I know he's got people to do certain things for him but as GM he should be here making his pitch to guys.

Burke's stubbornness for his idealogy regarding the cap is holding him back while other GM's are adapting to the rules of the CBA. He won't front load deals and he won't go the RFA route.

Relentless88 · Post #76 » by **Relentless88** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 10:33 pm

Looks like the Rangers are the most likely team to land Richards. From ESPN..

UPDATE: TSN's Gord Miller suggests the New York Rangers are feeling pretty good about their chances of landing Brad Richards:

"Officials with the NYR are confident that they'll land Brad Richards. They have lots of cap space, an open spot at centre and (coach John) Tortorella."

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings also reportedly made strong pitches to Richards today.

ESPN.com's Scott Burnside suggests the Buffalo Sabres are no longer in the running:

"Brad Richards still mulling options. Have to figure Sabres are out with Leino signing."

Post #77 » by **Next Coming** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 11:18 pm

The RFA thing with Burke bothers me. It's a tool. Use it.

You have a chance to sign one of the best young players in the league and a Toronto native.

I think it's kind of honorable that he stuck to his commitment of going to visit the troops. This is a thing he signed up for months in advance and apparently he didn't know the date of the trip and he didn't want to back up.

We have a really good Front Office that works well with Burke and who's to say he wasn't involved you know with Skype and all the other new technology we didn't have 10 years ago.

The media is going to be all over it because he was adamant that the Leafs would be players on July 1st and they haven't done anything yet(which I think is the correct move btw) but again the media is going to hammer him on it.

Post #78 » by **Next Coming** » Fri Jul 1, 2011 11:20 pm

Guess Richards really loves Tortorella and Rupp huh?

J-Roc · Post #79 » by **J-Roc** » Sat Jul 2, 2011 2:59 am

For all these years, how are teams like the Rangers always able to go after top players, yet the Leafs are always hamstrung.

whysoserious · Post #80 » by **whysoserious** » Sat Jul 2, 2011 3:28 am

J-Roc wrote:For all these years, how are teams like the Rangers always able to go after top players, yet the Leafs are always hamstrung.

For pretty much the last few years, Burke has been able to go after players if he's wanted to. They've had capspace pretty much the last three off-seasons. The first, they overpaid and got the wrong guys in Komisarek and the likes.

Burkes belief in not frontloading contracts has hurt him in structuring deals. The Leafs also seem to have this arrogance about them that players should want to come here and they don't have to pitch or go hard or make big offers. The team has been basically crap since 04ish, and hasn't won a cup since 67, why would any player want to come here?

Burke needs to get with the times and take advantage of the CBA rules, the other GM's are. Now is not the time to be stubborn because he's being left behind.