Tavares

[Nik]

I put this up not in the hopes that we in any way replicate the Stamkos thread but just because I'm guessing we're going to hear a lot of speculation about the possibility until Tavares signs an extension.

That said...nobody would really think it's a good idea, right? The Stamkos situation pretty much drove a stake into the heart of the idea that someone like that would take a huge discount to play for the Leafs so just from a dollars standpoint it makes almost no sense unless you follow it up with trading one of MNM and even then, all due respect to Tavares, I'd rather take their growth potential.

[RedLeaf]

I dont think its a proposterous idea. I just think the stars would have to line up for it to happen. Like I said in the Stamkos thread,if you can sign him for nothing than trading one of Marner or Nylander (along with picks perhaps) for a true #1 D man actually improves the club by leaps and bounds.

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think that Tavares entertains it, but Button's idea of an enormous 1-year contract for him next season before the Matthews and Marner deals kick in is probably the only way I'd do it.

[louisstamos]

I'm with you on this.  I'd love Tavares at something like $7-$8 million, but that simply isn't going to happen.  I'd rather hang on, and attach the camp dollars, to the kids.

[Bill_Berg_is_sad]

I don't think that Tavares entertains it, but Button's idea of an enormous 1-year contract for him next season before the Matthews and Marner deals kick in is probably the only way I'd do it.

I'm a fan of Button's suggestion. I also got a pretty good deal on 1/10th ownership of the Statue of Liberty last time I was in New York that I'm willing to give to Tavares, if he signs for a year with the Leafs. Help off-set the potential risk of getting hurt and not being able to play hockey again. 

[Nik]

I don't think that Tavares entertains it, but Button's idea of an enormous 1-year contract for him next season before the Matthews and Marner deals kick in is probably the only way I'd do it.

Even then though, I feel like you're throwing one heck of a curveball into the mix for a very limited upside. A steady progression towards the team the Leafs ultimately want to be seems like a better bet than having one crazy year where they're sort of artificially pumped up.

[bustaheims]

I think, had the Leafs not signed Marleau this summer, Tavares might have been a more realistic target. He still would have potentially caused complications down the line, but, the immediate upside would have been worth it.

I also think that going the Marleau-type route might be the better way to help keep the core together while adding quality secondary pieces. Less term means better flexibility in the future.

[Nik]

I think, had the Leafs not signed Marleau this summer, Tavares might have been a more realistic target. He still would have potentially caused complications down the line, but, the immediate upside would have been worth it.

Not that this necessarily refutes what you're saying here but I genuinely think that in order to sign someone like Tavares it would ring in at roughly double what Marleau signed for in AAV.

[bustaheims]

Not that this necessarily refutes what you're saying here but I genuinely think that in order to sign someone like Tavares it would ring in at roughly double what Marleau signed for in AAV.

Maybe, but, without Marleau, the Leafs may have been able to create a situation where they had the flexibility to sign him for $10M-$12M per type deal. With Marleau, I don't think they do.

[Bill_Berg_is_sad]

Not that this necessarily refutes what you're saying here but I genuinely think that in order to sign someone like Tavares it would ring in at roughly double what Marleau signed for in AAV.

Maybe, but, without Marleau, the Leafs may have been able to create a situation where they had the flexibility to sign him for $10M-$12M per type deal. With Marleau, I don't think they do.

But Tavares would likely not sign for just a couple years, so we'd have him for 8 years or something.  By 2019, we'd have cap troubles that we're not likely to have with the Marleau signing. Or course then it may have come down to who do you want? Nylander/Marner (one of) or Tavares, and maybe you pick Tavares over either of those guys anyway.

[herman]

If Tavares is super competitively serious about winning the Cup, he should jump ship sooner, rather than later, lest he become an Iginla, Sundin, or the Sedins. Best way I see for him to do that is to rent himself out like a mercenary -- costly but not exorbitantly so -- and call his shot. At a decent number (2-3y/8M-ish) whatever team he chooses has a chance to surround him with suitable depth to achieve a solid Cup run.

I don't think the fit is there with us.

Targeting a weak division and a team with cap space plus a solid backend would do the trick though. Let's say Nashville.

[Frank E]

If Tavares is super competitively serious about winning the Cup, he should jump ship sooner, rather than later, lest he become an Iginla, Sundin, or the Sedins. Best way I see for him to do that is to rent himself out like a mercenary -- costly but not exorbitantly so -- and call his shot. At a decent number (2-3y/8M-ish) whatever team he chooses has a chance to surround him with suitable depth to achieve a solid Cup run.

I don't think the fit is there with us.

Targeting a weak division and a team with cap space plus a solid backend would do the trick though. Let's say Nashville.

I highly doubt that Tavares would want to be signing short-term deals during his prime income earning years, just for the sake of a maybe-better chance of going deep in the playoffs.

Like, I think some of these guys want to win, but I'm not sure at the expense of long-term security during mid-late 20's.

[herman]

If Tavares is super competitively serious about winning the Cup, he should jump ship sooner, rather than later, lest he become an Iginla, Sundin, or the Sedins. Best way I see for him to do that is to rent himself out like a mercenary -- costly but not exorbitantly so -- and call his shot. At a decent number (2-3y/8M-ish) whatever team he chooses has a chance to surround him with suitable depth to achieve a solid Cup run.

I don't think the fit is there with us.

Targeting a weak division and a team with cap space plus a solid backend would do the trick though. Let's say Nashville.

I highly doubt that Tavares would want to be signing short-term deals during his prime income earning years, just for the sake of a maybe-better chance of going deep in the playoffs.

Like, I think some of these guys want to win, but I'm not sure at the expense of long-term security during mid-late 20's.

Want to win the Cup? Break the wheel.

In any case, the writing is on the wall that the Islanders are not going to ever get there again in Tavares' career. He's too good for the team to net difference-making picks.

And before it gets brought up, I understand the NHL and hockey the sport is not the NBA and basketball. The threat of injury is real, and the insurance of having a long-term multi-million dollar deal is going to set you and your next generations up for a good while.

[Bill_Berg_is_sad]

If Tavares is super competitively serious about winning the Cup, he should jump ship sooner, rather than later, lest he become an Iginla, Sundin, or the Sedins. Best way I see for him to do that is to rent himself out like a mercenary -- costly but not exorbitantly so -- and call his shot. At a decent number (2-3y/8M-ish) whatever team he chooses has a chance to surround him with suitable depth to achieve a solid Cup run.

I don't think the fit is there with us.

Targeting a weak division and a team with cap space plus a solid backend would do the trick though. Let's say Nashville.

I highly doubt that Tavares would want to be signing short-term deals during his prime income earning years, just for the sake of a maybe-better chance of going deep in the playoffs.

Like, I think some of these guys want to win, but I'm not sure at the expense of long-term security during mid-late 20's.

Want to win the Cup? Break the wheel.

In any case, the writing is on the wall that the Islanders are not going to ever get there again in Tavares' career. He's too good for the team to net difference-making picks.

And before it gets brought up, I understand the NHL and hockey the sport is not the NBA and basketball. The threat of injury is real, and the insurance of having a long-term multi-million dollar deal is going to set you and your next generations up for a good while.

You just wanted to say "break the wheel".

[herman]

You just wanted to say "break the wheel".

Better than... "break a leg".

It's that kind of conservatism that kind of keeps hockey, one of the most dynamic and exciting professional sports, mired in boredom.