2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Discussion

[CarltonTheBear]

If the Leafs do try to bring McBackup back, they could try offering him a deal with a low salary and easily attainable bonuses (he's +35, so eligible for performance bonuses). The bonuses can then be carried over into the 20/21 season if/when we go over the cap because of them.

They should also consider this option if they want to bring Hainsey back as well.

 

[bustaheims]

If the Leafs do try to bring McBackup back, they could try offering him a deal with a low salary and easily attainable bonuses (he's +35, so eligible for performance bonuses). The bonuses can then be carried over into the 20/21 season if/when we go over the cap because of them.

They should also consider this option if they want to bring Hainsey back as well.

Yeah. That's an option the Leafs should take advantage of when filling out the roster. There's a handful of 35+ guys out there would could still be useful options for the team, if they're willing to structure their contract that way.

 

[Zee]

Yeah, but Gardiner won't be cheap, so him and Marner + one of Kapanen/Johnsson and trying to upgrade on D with another right hander once Zaitsev is gone, doesn't leave much for backup goalie money I don't think.

Without knowing what any of those guys will get it seems strange to take that stand. The difference between paying the minimum for a back-up and paying 1.5 or so is smaller than the range of outcomes on just one of those contracts alone.

According to capfriendly we have about $9M in cap space available without any of those guys signed. I didn't even mention replacing Hainsey's $3M on the D so that would make things even tighter. There's no guarantee the Leafs are able to completely erase Marleau and Zaitsev from the cap so I'd say given all the uncertainty right now the difference between 900k-1M backup or 1.4-1.5 backup is significant. Leafs can't afford to splurge on that position at the moment.

 

[Kin]

According to capfriendly we have about $9M in cap space available without any of those guys signed. I didn't even mention replacing Hainsey's $3M on the D so that would make things even tighter. There's no guarantee the Leafs are able to completely erase Marleau and Zaitsev from the cap so I'd say given all the uncertainty right now the difference between 900k-1M backup or 1.4-1.5 backup is significant. Leafs can't afford to splurge on that position at the moment.

I think just about every serious look at the Leafs next year will have them shedding some salary, whether it's via trading Marleau and Zaitsev or Brown or something else. 9 million probably isn't enough to sign Marner let alone anyone else so it makes very little sense to pretend like that's all the cap room they're going to be working with.

Regardless though, as I said, each and every one of the Leafs negotiations with guys like Johnsson and Kapanen and especially Marner will have outcomes that could vary by at least as much as the difference there so in order to imagine the Leafs having the 500-700k needed to "splurge" on goaltending all that has to happen is for one of those negotiations to go on the low end of the potential outcomes. I'm not saying they'll definitely want to spend the money in that direction but to pretend like there's no way they'll be able to does not seem to be a result of a serious accounting of the facts.

edit: Also, that's 9 million...with Horton.

 

[Kin]

Right now, the low end of what the Leafs have to work with for next year is 14 million.

The high end, assuming Zaitsev and Marleau get moved without taking money back and Brown also goes, is 27 million or so. Obviously, the final number will be within that range with all manner of possibilities as to the exact number.

Within that range, there are scenarios where the Leafs easily have the extra money to spend on goaltending and scenarios where they have the money but may choose to make it a priority over other concerns. Either way, it can't be dismissed either as a possibility or as a smart use of the money.

For instance, I like Kapanen a lot but if you told me the choice was signing Kapanen or having money for a good back-up and getting back what you could in a trade for Kapanen(1st?) and also having a couple million to sign a Kapanen replacement...I probably don't re-sign Kapanen.

 

[gunnar36]

Right now, the low end of what the Leafs have to work with for next year is 14 million.

The high end, assuming Zaitsev and Marleau get moved without taking money back and Brown also goes, is 27 million or so. Obviously, the final number will be within that range with all manner of possibilities as to the exact number.

Within that range, there are scenarios where the Leafs easily have the extra money to spend on goaltending and scenarios where they have the money but may choose to make it a priority over other concerns. Either way, it can't be dismissed either as a possibility or as a smart use of the money.

For instance, I like Kapanen a lot but if you told me the choice was signing Kapanen or having money for a good back-up and getting back what you could in a trade for Kapanen(1st?) and also having a couple million to sign a Kapanen replacement...I probably don't re-sign Kapanen.

I see what you're saying, but I really feel that they would really regret letting Kapanen go. You don't find players with his top end speed and skill set very often.  Our PK would suffer significantly without him.  We haven't really seen his ceiling yet and I'm sure he is on the verge of a 30 goal season in the near future.

 

[Kin]

I see what you're saying, but I really feel that they would really regret letting Kapanen go. You don't find players with his top end speed and skill set very often.  Our PK would suffer significantly without him.  We haven't really seen his ceiling yet and I'm sure he is on the verge of a 30 goal season in the near future.

Like I said, I like him a lot but if the choice is him or decent goaltending in 25 games a year and a viable option in case of an injury to Freddy then the Leafs will regret not having good depth in net a lot more than they'll miss their 5th or 6th best forward.

 

[Frank E]

So, have we just decided that Sparks is not a fit, or did I miss a trade?  And for the record, I don't have a problem with changing out the backup.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think McBackup would want too much money for backup roll now. Need a guy a million or less

I think that is no longer the case. The Leafs NEED a capable backup. Freddie has to be rested more during the year and unless one of the kids or hutch is the guy, they'll need to trade or buy one.
I don't see Sparks back with the club anyway. There's more to the story then they've told. They didn't clear out his locker and move him away from the team to get his game back in 10 days. I think there was an issue with him opening up his yap to the media in the room and the players turned on him.

Leafs are already under the cap crunch for this upcoming season.  I don't think they can afford to spend 1.5 or whatever on a backup.  Not sure what McElhinney would ask for but I have to guess he's looking for a big raise over his previous contract.

Leafs can afford it if they lose some pieces or trade them. Example...Trade Hyman and Brown (replaced with Marlies) out for picks or the backup. There's your 2.5 mill quality backup and replacements covered. There are options and some we won't like but the Leafs can do it.

 

[Kin]

So, have we just decided that Sparks is not a fit, or did I miss a trade?  And for the record, I don't have a problem with changing out the backup.

I don't think we've conclusively decided anything but this discussion is predicated on the contention that the Leafs should upgrade their goaltending behind Andersen.

 

[Bates]

So, have we just decided that Sparks is not a fit, or did I miss a trade?  And for the record, I don't have a problem with changing out the backup.

I don't think we've conclusively decided anything but this discussion is predicated on the contention that the Leafs should upgrade their goaltending behind Andersen.

I think the Leaf's decided when they sent him home in the playoffs that his time with the Leafs was over.

 

[Guilt Trip]

So, have we just decided that Sparks is not a fit, or did I miss a trade?  And for the record, I don't have a problem with changing out the backup.

I don't think we've conclusively decided anything but this discussion is predicated on the contention that the Leafs should upgrade their goaltending behind Andersen.

I think the Leaf's decided when they sent him home in the playoffs that his time with the Leafs was over.

Definitely. Getting sent away on a day before the last game of the season heading into the playoffs isn't a good thing. I've never heard of a player being removed from a locker room/team, to get his game back. While he was on the bench for games 1 and 2, because Hutch was having a kid, the Leafs never said anything about him again. I think his days are done as a Leaf.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I think I'd rather see Sparks back in front of an improved defence that we can roll out all season rather than spending more on a backup to attempt to do a Freddie impression in bailing out a bad D.

Perhaps the two aren't mutually exclusive, but after Marner and one of Kapanen/Johnsson is signed, I'd like to see all the balance of the cap prioritized to the blueline.

 

[Highlander]

To bad, I followed him while he was with Guelph and always rooted for him. When he won the AHL Cup I could see him stepping up at one point. Perhaps he will turn it around if not with us, then someone else.

 

[Highlander]

I think I'd rather see Sparks back in front of an improved defence that we can roll out all season rather than spending more on a backup to attempt to do a Freddie impression in bailing out a bad D.

Perhaps the two aren't mutually exclusive, but after Marner and one of Kapanen/Johnsson is signed, I'd like to see all the balance of the cap prioritized to the blueline.

You have hit the nail on the head for sure.

 

[Kin]

I think I'd rather see Sparks back in front of an improved defence that we can roll out all season rather than spending more on a backup to attempt to do a Freddie impression in bailing out a bad D.

Perhaps the two aren't mutually exclusive, but after Marner and one of Kapanen/Johnsson is signed, I'd like to see all the balance of the cap prioritized to the blueline.

The amount of money it would take to improve the back-up goalie position is not going to be the difference between having a good defence and having a bad one. We're talking about a million or so at most.

 

[Zee]

Looks like Leafs in 2020 is assured!

 

[ZBBM]

Looks like Leafs in 2020 is assured!

That's very sweet!  Happy Father's Day Zee.

 

[Highlander]

Looks like Leafs in 2020 is assured!

That's very sweet!  Happy Father's Day Zee.

Yes Zee and to us all, I think of retirement, a million miles away but you do the best for your kids and that is why we are here. Zee you look like a great Dad, cheers.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Looks like Leafs in 2020 is assured!

Such a lucky man, Zee.  Happy Father?s Day to you!  From one Italian to another.