Kadri and Franson Contract Updates

[bustaheims]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Doesn't sound like TOR and RFAs Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson are even in the same ballpark on negotiations at this point.

TSNBobMcKenzie: Kadri believed to be looking long-term (6 yrs in Tavares stratosphere of $5.5M per). Leafs want short, 2 yrs at P.K. Subban $ ($2.875M per).

TSNBobMcKenzie: Franson was eligible for salary arb but didn't file. Believed to want long term (4 yrs at $4M+ per). TOR aiming short, yr or 2 at <$3M per.

 

[ZBBM]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Doesn't sound like TOR and RFAs Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson are even in the same ballpark on negotiations at this point.

TSNBobMcKenzie: Kadri believed to be looking long-term (6 yrs in Tavares stratosphere of $5.5M per). Leafs want short, 2 yrs at P.K. Subban $ ($2.875M per).

TSNBobMcKenzie: Franson was eligible for salary arb but didn't file. Believed to want long term (4 yrs at $4M+ per). TOR aiming short, yr or 2 at <$3M per.

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So lets just say that Kadri and Franson cave and the Leafs get them both signed to $2.875mil a piece. Assuming that they only go with 1 extra forward (Bodie for cap reasons) and one extra defenceman (Ranger/Fraser), they would only be $236k over the salary cap.

If they bury Fraser and bring up Holzer they would be 99k over the cap. Then if they carried over Gardiner's bonuses over to next season they could squeeze under. With that said that's with 3 pretty useless forwards (Bodie, McLaren, and Orr) on the roster and with only 22 players.

I would also be surprised if they actually got Kadri and Franson that low.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

Every single player except for Crosby is overpaid if you use Tavares' contract as the measuring point. Saying that Kadri wants $5.5mil isn't the same as saying Kadri thinks he's as good as Tavares.

If McKenzie had said that Kadri wants to be paid the same as Blake Wheeler it wouldn't sound so bad, would it?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If they bury Fraser and bring up Holzer they would be 99k over the cap. Then if they carried over Gardiner's bonuses over to next season they could squeeze under.

I actually made a mistake here. That $99k figure already doesn't include Gardiner's potential bonuses. So I ran something else.

Lets say Kadri and Franson sign for $3mil a piece.
We use Trevor Smith as our 13th forward (cheapest option available).
We bury both Fraser and Liles in the minors.
We use Ranger, Holzer and Blacker as our 5th/6th/7th defencemen.

That gives us $35k in cap space with an extra $460,000 in bonuses that could be carried over if achieved. Obviously still not enough breathing room but it's something.

It would also require Nonis and Carlyle to make roster moves based solely on the salary cap.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 1h
Cody Franson says he's likely looking at a one-year deal with the #leafs because of the salary cap dropping.

Man, I bet he's kicking himself now for not going the arbitration route. Although that could have priced himself into the UFA talent pool. Still, nice to see that he's at least open to this option.

 

[TML fan]

Wow. He's taking a big risk that he can repeat last years exploits. Good on him though.

 

[louisstamos]

Is it worth exploring the option of trading Liles, retaining part of his salary AND including some sort of pick with it?

....*hides*

 

[ZBBM]

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

Every single player except for Crosby is overpaid if you use Tavares' contract as the measuring point. Saying that Kadri wants $5.5mil isn't the same as saying Kadri thinks he's as good as Tavares.

If McKenzie had said that Kadri wants to be paid the same as Blake Wheeler it wouldn't sound so bad, would it?

Kadri making $5.5 sounds bad no matter who else is making it.  He doesn't deserve it, and he doesn't deserve to make as much as Tavares, who might be underpaid but he's still worth way more than Kadri.  Who needs to dial back his self-esteem just a bit.

 

[Tigger]

Big risk and potential reward for Franson there if true.

 

[Peter D.]

Does a 1-year deal take Franson to UFA? 

Either way, while risky on Franson's part, the cap increasing next year will only help the situation.

 

[bustaheims]

Does a 1-year deal take Franson to UFA? 

No, he'll have one more season as an RFA left.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

Every single player except for Crosby is overpaid if you use Tavares' contract as the measuring point. Saying that Kadri wants $5.5mil isn't the same as saying Kadri thinks he's as good as Tavares.

If McKenzie had said that Kadri wants to be paid the same as Blake Wheeler it wouldn't sound so bad, would it?

Kadri making $5.5 sounds bad no matter who else is making it.  He doesn't deserve it, and he doesn't deserve to make as much as Tavares, who might be underpaid but he's still worth way more than Kadri.  Who needs to dial back his self-esteem just a bit.

I have no problem with people thinkng Kadri doesn't deserve $5.5mil (he doesn't). It just annoys me a little bit when people suggest he's being arrogant for comparing himself to a future Hart-winning forward like Tavares. I highly doubt he went into negotiations and said "I want whatever Jon's getting".

 

[drummond]

I very much like - if true - Cody Franson?s attitude. It is risky, but it shows a lot of maturity, dedication, and confidence.

They can make kind of verbal agreement that he will cash in a little extra cash next year (he still will be RFA) by doing this favour.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

Every single player except for Crosby is overpaid if you use Tavares' contract as the measuring point. Saying that Kadri wants $5.5mil isn't the same as saying Kadri thinks he's as good as Tavares.

If McKenzie had said that Kadri wants to be paid the same as Blake Wheeler it wouldn't sound so bad, would it?

Kadri making $5.5 sounds bad no matter who else is making it.  He doesn't deserve it, and he doesn't deserve to make as much as Tavares, who might be underpaid but he's still worth way more than Kadri.  Who needs to dial back his self-esteem just a bit.

I have no problem with people thinkng Kadri doesn't deserve $5.5mil (he doesn't). It just annoys me a little bit when people suggest he's being arrogant for comparing himself to a future Hart-winning forward like Tavares. I highly doubt he went into negotiations and said "I want whatever Jon's getting".

It's just how it's being reported in the media as a comparison - his ask is being compared to Tavares' deal as the closest comparable and the Leafs to the Subban deal. Maybe that's the way Cousin Dave told Dreger.

 

[bustaheims]

Maybe that's the way Cousin Dave told Dreger.

Maybe, but this is coming from Bobby Mac, not Dregs.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Maybe that's the way Cousin Dave told Dreger.

Maybe, but this is coming from Bobby Mac, not Dregs.

Yeah, Dregers been on the radio today though. He's been saying "the numbers don't work for the Leafs bringing back both Kadri and Franson" or something similar to that.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, Dregers been on the radio today though. He's been saying "the numbers don't work for the Leafs bringing back both Kadri and Franson" or something similar to that.

He's tweeted similar things of late, but, to his credit, he's shied away from getting into specifics or comparisons.

 

[bustaheims]

jonasTSN1050: Dave Poulin on proposal to Kadri: "It?s not cap-related...It?s representative of the body of work that he has done in his time here."

jonasTSN1050: Leafs want greater track record from Kadri before they commit significant dollars long-term. 48-game sample size won't cut it.

jonasTSN1050: Also of note, Kadri had 17 goals/39 points in first 36 games, but only 2/9 over final 19. Which production is closer to real thing?

 

[Kin]

Kadri wants to get paid like Tavares?  The Tavares who is beginning to round into Hart candidate form?

Nazem, Nazem, Nazem.  Your ego is showing again.  Be a starter for a couple of more years, produce like Tavares, then you can cash in.

Why should Kadri feel that way when all over the league guys are getting big extensions after a good year or two?