Steve Stamkos?

[Frank E]

Lupul - Stamkos - Komarov
Michalek - Bozak - Nylander
Leivo - Holland - Brown
Leipsic - Winnik - Greening

Reilly - Hunwick
Gardiner - _______
Corrado - Marincin

Bernier/Bibeau

2017 tank intact.

 

[Nik]

Lupul - Stamkos - Komarov
Michalek - Bozak - Nylander
Leivo - Holland - Brown
Leipsic - Winnik - Greening

Reilly - Hunwick
Gardiner - _______
Corrado - Marincin

Bernier/Bibeau

2017 tank intact.

There's no way Marner isn't with the team next year.

 

[rjd]

With the team the way it is, shouldn't the goal be to get a Stamkos type player in the draft, and let them grow with the core of the team?

Or you can do both at no asset cost.

Unless the Leafs try and trade for his rights.  In which case there may be some cost.  Adding Stamkos and Matthews would then require the Leafs to find an elite d-man and an elite goalie in fairly short order.   

 

[Joe S.]

With the team the way it is, shouldn't the goal be to get a Stamkos type player in the draft, and let them grow with the core of the team?

Or you can do both at no asset cost.

Unless the Leafs try and trade for his rights.  In which case there may be some cost.  Adding Stamkos and Matthews would then require the Leafs to find an elite d-man and an elite goalie in fairly short order. 

I think trading for his rights is silly. If he's available as a UFA take a shot, otherwise, I'm not interested.

 

[McGarnagle]

Cap space is a significant asset cost, no? Particularly one close to if not max, for max term?

Wouldn't it be better to have the ability to sign $12M worth of help once we can see what the team is lacking upon maturity of our prospects?

 

[Joe S.]

If the blackhawks can afford 2 players over 10 mil, why can't the leafs afford 1?

 

[Frank E]

Cap space is a significant asset cost, no? Particularly one close to if not max, for max term?

Wouldn't it be better to have the ability to sign $12M worth of help once we can see what the team is lacking upon maturity of our prospects?

I dont know if it would be better, but you could hope to add some quality players via free agency in 2 or 3 years, but it's doubtful you'd find anything elite like Stamkos.

The main reason teams are building through the draft now is because  players like Steve Stamkos never make it to free agency. 

Timing isn't perfect, as has been mentioned, but you're crazy to pass on a 25 year old elite player if he only costs you money. 

 

[TML fan]

Lupul - Stamkos - Komarov
Michalek - Bozak - Nylander
Leivo - Holland - Brown
Leipsic - Winnik - Greening

Reilly - Hunwick
Gardiner - _______
Corrado - Marincin

Bernier/Bibeau

2017 tank intact.

Kadri and JVR traded?

 

[TML fan]

Lupul - Stamkos - Komarov
Michalek - Bozak - Nylander
Leivo - Holland - Brown
Leipsic - Winnik - Greening

Reilly - Hunwick
Gardiner - _______
Corrado - Marincin

Bernier/Bibeau

2017 tank intact.

There's no way Marner isn't with the team next year.

Do you think he'll play centre or on the wing?

 

[L K]

Lupul - Stamkos - Komarov
Michalek - Bozak - Nylander
Leivo - Holland - Brown
Leipsic - Winnik - Greening

Reilly - Hunwick
Gardiner - _______
Corrado - Marincin

Bernier/Bibeau

2017 tank intact.

There's no way Marner isn't with the team next year.

Do you think he'll play centre or on the wing?

Most likely on the wing.  I think he can play center in the NHL but to start I think the responsibility might be too much.

 

[L K]

If the blackhawks can afford 2 players over 10 mil, why can't the leafs afford 1?

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

 

[bustaheims]

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

Not to mention Rielly won't be cheap for long, and this year's 1st round pick could also become a $10M player - especially if it's Matthews.

 

[bustaheims]

Most likely on the wing.  I think he can play center in the NHL but to start I think the responsibility might be too much.

If the Leafs get Matthews, he probably stays on the wing, too. They're not going to run him or Nylander as their 3rd line centre going forward, Nylander's closer to being ready to play C at the NHL level.

 

[Joe S.]

If the blackhawks can afford 2 players over 10 mil, why can't the leafs afford 1?

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

that's some Oilers logic right there...

I kid I kid... but still, no one knows this for sure.. I mean Yanic Perreault tore it up in every level below the NHL, so did Kadri... and I'm sure there are countless  others... We know they'll be good, but we don't know if they'll be elite.

And don't get me wrong, I'm really, really, really hoping they are.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

Not to mention Rielly won't be cheap for long, and this year's 1st round pick could also become a $10M player - especially if it's Matthews.

Geez, God forbid the Leafs have too many outstanding players...

 

[Frank E]

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

Not to mention Rielly won't be cheap for long, and this year's 1st round pick could also become a $10M player - especially if it's Matthews.

Just so I have you guys straight here, you're saying don't sign an elite talent because Nylander and Marner might hopefully be players capable of similar performance to Stamkos,and if the Leafs win the lottery, Matthews might hopefully be an elite player, and then what would we do?

I don't know, trade one for a defenseman?  Geez guys...

I get that it's a long shot to sign him, and that it's a lot of money, but don't be gun shy here.  You get the chance to sign a 25 year old elite talent for nothing but money, you do it.

Imagine the riots on Yonge after Stamkos says Toronto never made him an offer?

 

[YYZ]

I think the thought process might be that Marner/Nylander hopefully fall into that category too.

Not to mention Rielly won't be cheap for long, and this year's 1st round pick could also become a $10M player - especially if it's Matthews.

Just so I have you guys straight here, you're saying don't sign an elite talent because Nylander and Marner might hopefully be players capable of similar performance to Stamkos,and if the Leafs win the lottery, Matthews might hopefully be an elite player, and then what would we do?

I don't know, trade one for a defenseman?  Geez guys...

I get that it's a long shot to sign him, and that it's a lot of money, but don't be gun shy here.  You get the chance to sign a 25 year old elite talent for nothing but money, you do it.

Imagine the riots on Yonge after Stamkos says Toronto never made him an offer?

He is no longer 25, he's 26 now as of a few days ago.  By this time next year he'll be 27, on a Leafs time that will be terrible again.

The NHL is increasingly becoming a young man's game.  At 27 Stamkos will have peaked, and many in here are suggesting he may have already peaked.

Now, that Tavares guy in 2018 could be interesting........

Every year the Cup gets handed out, I make a mental comparison of the key players on the Cup winning team to what the Leafs have on their roster.  It's a fun game to show just how far away the Leafs are, and what key positions need to be filled by elite players.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

He is no longer 25, he's 26 now as of a few days ago.  By this time next year he'll be 27, on a Leafs time that will be terrible again.

The NHL is increasingly becoming a young man's game.  At 27 Stamkos will have peaked, and many in here are suggesting he may have already peaked.

Now, that Tavares guy in 2018 could be interesting........

Every year the Cup gets handed out, I make a mental comparison of the key players on the Cup winning team to what the Leafs have on their roster.  It's a fun game to show just how far away the Leafs are, and what key positions need to be filled by elite players.

Stamkos won't automatically have peaked at 27.  Some studies have shown elite players peaking between 27-30 (they get better earlier, stay better longer, peak later).  In any event, elite players peak, or perform at a higher level, for longer than other players and decline slower.

 

[TML fan]

Also, if the Leafs are worrying about having too many players who want $10 million, there is a good chance they've won a Cup.

 

[Peter D.]

If age is the issue, then as long as those who point to that admit JvR (older than Stamkos) and Kadri (same birth year and 6 months younger than Stamkos) have absolutely no place in the long-term plans of the team, I'll buy it.  Otherwise, I think it's a silly point of contention.