2010 Free Agency Discussion

[Relentless88]

I'm not really sure about the NHL CBA as I don't follow it much. I was wondering how much cap space the Leafs have this summer.

This site says we have around 43 million committed?
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=TOR

Is the salary cap at 56 million or is it supposed to decrease?

So do we have the cap space to make a run at Ilya Kovalchuk or any other top wing?

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/stor ... id=1388160

That article says 2010 FA might be big for the Leafs, but the article is over a year old (March, 2009).

Thanks in advance.

[bryant08]

Leafs won't have much cash to spend, with increases due for Kulemin and Gustavsson as well as the fact we require more bodies. If we move Kaberle, we'll increase our cap space, but Burke has remained adamant he won't give into the demands of a guy like Kovalchuk, demanding that long of a term at that price. Guys to watch out for would be guys like Lombardi, Torres, Higgins possibly. I'm just not sold on this being a big offseason for the Leafs free agency wise, they'll have to do their work moving bodies.

[Relentless88]

Leafs won't have much cash to spend, with increases due for Kulemin and Gustavsson as well as the fact we require more bodies. If we move Kaberle, we'll increase our cap space, but Burke has remained adamant he won't give into the demands of a guy like Kovalchuk, demanding that long of a term at that price. Guys to watch out for would be guys like Lombardi, Torres, Higgins possibly. I'm just not sold on this being a big offseason for the Leafs free agency wise, they'll have to do their work moving bodies.

Thanks for the response. Yeah Kovalchuk`s demands are insane, hopefully Burke knows what he`s doing.

[bryant08]

Saw this on another forum, thought I'd relay it. This is the Leafs lineup going into next season:

2010-11 Salary Cap Calculator

2010-2011 Toronto Maple Leafs

PLAYER (Age): CAP HIT (BONUS)

* = RFA estimate

FORWARDS (11):

W P.Kessel (22): $5,400,000 ($0)
C T.Bozak (24): $3,725,000 ($2,850,000)
C M.Grabovski (26): $2,900,000 ($0)
* W N.Kulemin (24): $2,000,000 ($0)
C N.Kadri (19): $1,750,000 ($850,000)
* F C.Hanson (24): $1,000,000 ($0)
W C.Orr (28): $1,000,000 ($0)
W V.Stalberg (24): $850,000 ($65,000)
W L.Caputi (21): $833,333 ($265,000)
* F J.Mitchell (25): $750,000 ($0)
W F.Sjostrom (27): $750,000 ($0)


DEFENSEMEN (6):

D D.Phaneuf (25): $6,500,000 ($0)
D M.Komisarek (28): $4,500,000 ($0)
D T.Kaberle (32): $4,250,000 ($0)
D F.Beauchemin (30): $3,800,000 ($0)
D L.Schenn (20): $2,975,000 ($2,100,000)
D C.Gunnarsson (23): $800,000 ($170,000)

GOALIES (2):

G J.Giguere (33): $6,000,000 ($0)
G J.Gustavsson (25): $1,350,000 ($0)

BUYOUTS (1):

F D.Tucker (35): $1,000,000 ($0)


CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS

Roster Size: 19
Salary Cap: $57,700,000
Payroll: $52,133,333
Bonuses: $6,300,000

CAP SPACE: $9,826,667

That leaves 4 roster spots open, 3 for forwards, 1 for a d-man. The extra defenseman and forward don't matter, so they probably take off another $1.4M of our cap space, leaving roughly $8.4M for two forwards. If we're going for the big score, the most we can give one player is $7.7M. I also believe the estimate of $2M for Kulemin is too conservative, and will be closer to $2.5M-$2.7M.

[Brew666]

Mike Ulmer was saying on the Leafs site that another option for the Leafs could be taking on salary from salary capped team (Blackhawks) who need the space. But beyond that, I think we would be going after B list free agents and dealing Kabs on trade day.

[Relentless88]

Mike Ulmer was saying on the Leafs site that another option for the Leafs could be taking on salary from salary capped team (Blackhawks) who need the space. But beyond that, I think we would be going after B list free agents and dealing Kabs on trade day.

Any word on who these B type FA's are? Don't follow the NHL as much so I'm curious.

[Brew666]

Mike Ulmer was saying on the Leafs site that another option for the Leafs could be taking on salary from salary capped team (Blackhawks) who need the space. But beyond that, I think we would be going after B list free agents and dealing Kabs on trade day.

Any word on who these B type FA's are? Don't follow the NHL as much so I'm curious.

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=525496

Above article doesn't list names but talks about Burke's options.

Kind of odd that Orr was mentioned as a vital contributor

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=524340

In this article, Ulmer mentions Torres as a FA target

[sh00n]

If I'm Burkie, I'm making a move for Raffi Torres and landing Patrick Sharp in a trade. Sharp's one of, if not the most underrated player in the NHL. I'm hoping Montreal goes after him and/or Nathan Horton in the summer.

[D2J2S]

Although the Leafs have cap space this summer, being realistic, they need to fill more than 1-2 spots in their lineup. They lack a ton of depth upfront on forward, so they definitley are in need of going after a couple solid players but nothing close to a superstar. The only way the Leafs go after a Ilya Kovalchuck or any player of that caliber is if they are able to swing a deal including a few of their defenceman, for some depth up front, but unless we trade Kaberle, this will be a tough sell, so I don't see them going after any superstars this year in free agency. Next year, 2011, barring any major roster overhauls, will be the year the Leafs can make a big free agent splash when Giggy's contract is substantially reduced/elminated.

[Crowned]

I think Finger is going to be demoted, Kaberle will be traded, and so will Grabo. We should have some money to spend, but I think Burke will be targeting guys like Armstrong in FA.

[Crowned]

Please note- I slightly altered the title of the topic, and this will be our sticky thread for FA discussion this season.

[bryant08]

I think Finger is going to be demoted, Kaberle will be traded, and so will Grabo. We should have some money to spend, but I think Burke will be targeting guys like Armstrong in FA.

Armstrong is definitely another possibility. Here is a nice list put together by TSN of the UFA crop for this offseason:

http://tsn.ca/columnists/scott_cullen/?id=319036

[Brew666]

I think Finger is going to be demoted, Kaberle will be traded, and so will Grabo. We should have some money to spend, but I think Burke will be targeting guys like Armstrong in FA.

Armstrong is definitely another possibility. Here is a nice list put together by TSN of the UFA crop for this offseason:http://tsn.ca/columnists/scott_cullen/?id=319036

I'd love to see Armstrong in a Leafs jersey. I saw his name mentioned somewhere else, but couldn't find where.

If Burke were to do the above (Finger, Kabs, Grabo) and resign Kulemin (not sure what other FAs the Leafs have that would be worth keeping) I'd be happy with that offseason. We're no longer revamping our entire roster as we do have some pieces and doing much more than the above, would take away from who we currently have on the roster.

But with list on TSN I'd be happy with the following:

Colby Armstrong
Raffi Torres
Adam Burish
Dan Hamhuis

There are a few others I wouldn't mind, but these are who I'd target. I think Armstrong and Hamhuis will get too much on the open market but I'd take a chance on Burish and if Torres was still around after that, I'd sign him.

In regards to a first line centre, do you think Burke is looking for an all-star or is he content with a top six forward type (i.e. Plekanec)? I know Bozak has been mentioned as Keseel's possible centremen of the future, but I'm curious if this is what Burke is looking for or is he looking for someone more at Kessel's level or higher?

[bryant08]

^I've really got no idea what's on Burke's mind especially in terms of where he sees Bozak/Kadri as in the future.

But in my opinion, this guy has talked the game about finding "free wallets" with free agents in college and overseas without having to give up assets for them. But I'm sorry, this team is lacking one thing right now, and that's offense. He keeps mentioning the fact that he's not interested in a 5 year rebuild, so I'd like to see him go acquire that offense without giving up any assets in Ilya Kovalchuk. Whatever you say about him, the guy's a pure offensive machine. I don't know how much he expects to get on the market, but I'd easily be willing to go 5-6 years at $8M a season. I know it's a ridiculous amount (not even sure if it's enough too), but offensive talents like this at the minimum unrestricted free agency age of 27 don't come around often at all. Save Kaberle for now, use him in another transaction if you want to (possibly to get a center).

[Brew666]

^I've really got no idea what's on Burke's mind especially in terms of where he sees Bozak/Kadri as in the future.

But in my opinion, this guy has talked the game about finding "free wallets" with free agents in college and overseas without having to give up assets for them. But I'm sorry, this team is lacking one thing right now, and that's offense. He keeps mentioning the fact that he's not interested in a 5 year rebuild, so I'd like to see him go acquire that offense without giving up any assets in Ilya Kovalchuk. Whatever you say about him, the guy's a pure offensive machine. I don't know how much he expects to get on the market, but I'd easily be willing to go 5-6 years at $8M a season. I know it's a ridiculous amount (not even sure if it's enough too), but offensive talents like this at the minimum unrestricted free agency age of 27 don't come around often at all. Save Kaberle for now, use him in another transaction if you want to (possibly to get a center).

I definitely wouldn't be opposed to signing Kovy if we have the cap space because you're right, it's not often that talent like this hits the open market. Being that Boston has our next first round pick as well, it's not like we're going benefit from finishing lower in the standings next year and hopefully by the year after that we'll be a perennial playoff team.
But I'm not going to move the earth to get him either. Jersey and Atlanta are better teams than Toronto and he didn't put them over the top or out of the first round in Jersey's case. I guess what it comes down to for me is I'd rather one of the guys I mentioned with financial flexibility, then having Kovy and being stuck with our current roster. But I'm being presumptious that Kovy will eat up our cap space too.

Anyone know a website that has current cap situations for each team? I get mentions here and there from articles and everything I've seen is out of date.

[bryant08]

^This is probably the best you'll find:

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

[ghostinthepost]

I cant beleive the money they have tied up in defence. Particularly Komisarek

[Griff83]

I'd be trying to sign Manny Malhotra. He's one of the best 3rd/4th line centers in the league, big, strong and from Toronto. Sure we need to badly increase the skill on the top 2 lines but the teams bottom six is also weak and needs some better/more experianced role players.

[Griff83]

^I've really got no idea what's on Burke's mind especially in terms of where he sees Bozak/Kadri as in the future.

But in my opinion, this guy has talked the game about finding "free wallets" with free agents in college and overseas without having to give up assets for them. But I'm sorry, this team is lacking one thing right now, and that's offense. He keeps mentioning the fact that he's not interested in a 5 year rebuild, so I'd like to see him go acquire that offense without giving up any assets in Ilya Kovalchuk. Whatever you say about him, the guy's a pure offensive machine. I don't know how much he expects to get on the market, but I'd easily be willing to go 5-6 years at $8M a season. I know it's a ridiculous amount (not even sure if it's enough too), but offensive talents like this at the minimum unrestricted free agency age of 27 don't come around often at all. Save Kaberle for now, use him in another transaction if you want to (possibly to get a center).

I definitely wouldn't be opposed to signing Kovy if we have the cap space because you're right, it's not often that talent like this hits the open market. Being that Boston has our next first round pick as well, it's not like we're going benefit from finishing lower in the standings next year and hopefully by the year after that we'll be a perennial playoff team.
But I'm not going to move the earth to get him either. Jersey and Atlanta are better teams than Toronto and he didn't put them over the top or out of the first round in Jersey's case. I guess what it comes down to for me is I'd rather one of the guys I mentioned with financial flexibility, then having Kovy and being stuck with our current roster. But I'm being presumptious that Kovy will eat up our cap space too.

Anyone know a website that has current cap situations for each team? I get mentions here and there from articles and everything I've seen is out of date.

Try this website

http://www.nhlscap.com/

[bryant08]

I'd be trying to sign Manny Malhotra. He's one of the best 3rd/4th line centers in the league, big, strong and from Toronto. Sure we need to badly increase the skill on the top 2 lines but the teams bottom six is also weak and needs some better/more experianced role players.

I like this option as well. There are plenty of good 3rd-4th liners for us to pounce on, Malhotra would be a perfect fit.