NHL 2017 -Official Discussion Thread

[Smitty-48]

Should note; the Leafs seven year contract to Zaitsev, heavily bonus laden in each year, except for one year, where there is no bonus; 2020.

Always been a fan of bonus heavy contracts, the only downside is it's hard to project the cap hit if you have too many guys on them so you have to use them sparingly, can't sign everyone to bonus heavy contracts, if the team has good year all of sudden your over the cap.

It's not performance bonuses for Zaitsev, just signing bonuses, so if you want to trade him, often the other team will take the cheap year in the deal, after you pay the signing bonus on July one, just makes him more moveable in a pinch, in any given year.

Say you get a better option at 4D in a few years, Tim Liljegren for example, and so you want to move him, but he has three years left at $13.5 million, you pay the signing bonus on July one, the other team only pays $10.5 million, that sort of thing.

This is another reason why he got 7 years at $4.5 million instead of something like 6 years at $4 million, because in year four, 2020, the Leafs offered him lockout protection, by spreading most of that year out over the other six years, for all intents and purposes for the Leafs, it's actually a six year contract, with a year off in the middle, Zaitsev gets his 2020 money, it's just paid out as an extra $500K per year, but in any given year, if they want to move him, they can say to the other team, that's on us, we'll eat that money on July one to make a deal, most teams being budget teams who care more about actual cash than cap room.

[Smitty-48]

Now, see, Dallas was in on Patty Marleau on a three year contract as well, Marleau chooses the Leafs, the back up plan for Dallas? 5 Years $31.5 million, for a 31 year old Alex Radulov? Not that the Leafs would sign Radulov, Babs wouldn't have him on the team, but the free agency market is all relative, Patty Marleau all day till the wheels fall off, Radulov I wouldn't even have on my team for cheap, never mind big money and term.

Radulov puts up Bozak numbers for the Habs, but they still give him the VIP treatment as if he was Matthews, then he walks on them even tho they offered him a four year deal at the same rate? Yeah, ah, no, Patrick Marleau for three, thanks, if thirty one five over five is the market rate for a Radulov. Patty Marleau has more goals over the next three years than Radulov? Yeah, I'd take that bet, let her ride. Patty Marleau has more goals than Radulov over the next five years? Still leaning Patty Marleau.

[Smitty-48]

Wow, New Jersey gets Marcus Johansson for a 2nd and a 3rd? That's a good deal, I guess this is what comes of Washington signing Kuznetzov for the next 8 years at $7.8 million. Might have considered trading Kuznetsov to New Jersey for a better package and then keeping Johansson instead.

[StCapps]

Wow, New Jersey gets Marcus Johansson for a 2nd and a 3rd? That's a good deal, I guess this is what comes of Washington signing Kuznetzov for the next 8 years at $7.8 million. Might have considered trading Kuznetsov to New Jersey for a better package and then keeping Johansson instead.

Stanley Cup Hangover without getting anywhere near the Cup, oh Capitals.

[StCapps]

Looks like Sakic is going to sit on his hands and the Avs are keeping Duchene. Fire everyone already, fuck this noise, being an Avs fan is a real pain in the ass these days, everything is terrible.

[Smitty-48]

Somewhat ominous for the Leafs as $7.8 for 8 sounds like what the Nylander camp would be looking for, considering that's what Kuznetzov got. Might take the risk and go for more of a show me five year extention instead, try to get it closer to $6 million, those five years are likely to be his best production years statistically anyways, if he then goes into RFA holdout mode after 5 years and demands stupid money, they can explore options to trade him.

[Smitty-48]

Looks like Sakic is going to sit on his hands and the Avs are keeping Duchene. Fire everyone already, fuck this noise, being an Avs fan is a real pain in the ass these days, everything is terrible.

Just tell him, look, even if you want out of here, we're not selling low, so you need to come back and put up or shut up, big numbers on the board, then we'll look to move you mid season. Then hire Dave Tippett and he'd probably want to stay then anyways.

[StCapps]

Just tell him, look, even if you want out of here, we're not selling low, so you need to come back and put up or shut up, big numbers on the board, then we'll look to move you mid season. Then hire Dave Tippett and he'd probably want to stay then anyways.

Jared Bednar bro, they aren't going to wise up. Stop pretending the Avs might be smarter than they are, it just leads to greater disappointment on my part when they make a retarded decision instead of embracing common sense.

[Smitty-48]

Dave Tippett is sitting at home right now, he was rumoured to be going to the Avs before, if Team Bednar comes out of the gate flat again, I think Tippett to the Avs is a done deal, unless someone else hires him first.

Bednar is at last chance threshold right now, that leash has to be short as a thumb, if they don't come out flying, he's gotta be gone.

[StCapps]

Dave Tippett is sitting at home right now, he was rumoured to be going to the Avs before, if Team Bednar comes out of the gate flat again, I think Tippett to the Avs is a done deal, unless someone else hires him first.

Someone will hire him first. The Avs will sit on their hands too long and then settle for a lesser coach when they finally wise up.