Don't think that Buffalo trade would ever happen, but I do love it!

Biggest problem I keep seeing is what people think Kapanen and Johnsson are going to get paid. Kap will get 4 minimum at this rate, Johnsson probably low threes. Having a real hard time seeing how they keep both, unless one of Nylander or Kadri go.

I don’t think Marner, Kapanen, Johnsson, or buffalo accepts that

Those contracts are short term bridge deals for this reason, it gives the team more time to see if this season was a fluke and gives teams with tight cap space a year or two to fix the situation

And you still have 1.5M in cap. Plus a 23 man roster. You could shave it to 22 and afford to up Johnsson and Kappy a bit in order to keep the wolves at bay. Also, I might be of the minority here but I don't think Marner should get a penny more than Kucherov or Stone, regardless of term. Marner is a beauty, but no way is he better or more valuable to a team right now than those two. Even with the tax advantages that Tampa and Vegas have

Zaitsev at 4.5M is a cap dumb and Risto > Nylander

I think he deserves to get the same as Stone but he seems to have more hype behind him for some reason so I think he’ll end up getting more. Maybe add 250k-500k on to Kappy and Johnsson.

Mantha 3.3, Reinhart 3.6, Adam Lowry(!) 2.91, Toffoli was 3.25 coming out of his deal. Hard to see how both those guys take less than these with the Cap going up.

I don't think the Leafs can say "bridge" and expect players to except low offers, especially if they are eligible for offer sheets. Kapanen stats this year aren' that much lower than Nylander last year and Nylander got 7m. Reinhart of Sabres was 25/25 for 50 points and he got a two year bridge at 3.625m starting this season.
I don't like that Buffalo deal either. It's virtually giving away Nylander. Rather just keep Zaitsev and trade Nylander for prospects and picks and get a decent return.

Hype and hate come in eaual measures with the toronto media, and neither does much good for the team. You could be right, Marner might take them to the bank. I just don't see the case for how its justifiable to pay him more than Stone or Kuch.. that said, I could certainly see it happening

Biggest problem I see is people's short memories.

3 RFA contracts signed late last summer. Reinhart 2 x 3.65M, Morrisey 2 x 3.15M, and Nurse 2 x $3.2M.

All with longer and better resumes then Kappy or Johnsson, all got bridge deals (non-stars usually get bridge deals). All under $4M.

Kappy and Johnsson need to be bridged, they should be bridged, and neither is worth more than $3M on a bridge deal.

Kapanen is eligible for arbitration so he will get paid. Johnsson is not eligible for arbitration so his contract will be more reasonable.

You've got them reversed. Kappy is not eligible, Johnsson is.

Johnsson is a 24 yo rookie having a solid season, he does not have a whole lot of leverage.

Also a 7th round pick, while Kappy is a 1st. Plus, some past injury history and it took him awhile to get things going this year before he moved up the lineup. I think he's great. But short bridge seems more than reasonable

One thing to remember too is that Florida and Vegas don't have a state income tax. So these in reality he could make $12 mil a season and still make less take home than Stone and Kucherov.

They are in a cap crunch if your plan involves them shedding over $12 mil while only taking on $5.4 mil. Also I agree with most here. These guys will make more in arbitration even on a bridge deal.

stone should never be mentioned in the same sentence as kuch. I'd love to compare stone and Marner but Marner is more dynamic, more consistent, puts up more points and on a team with plenty of stars, out plays them all. Stone was over paid(for a understandable reason). I don't know if this hurts the leafs or helps them though. compare them as equal, then get marner for a cheap 9.5, consider marner a way better player(he is) then 10+ is expected.

Kapanen is 22 years old and he has played 2 seasons in the NHL, so he is eligible for arbitration.

Signed at 18, needs 4 pro seasons before he's eligible. This is his 3rd pro season. Per his capfriendly page (unless it's wrong?)

The Leafs won't get very far with 3 NHL defenceman and 3 AHL defenceman. Where is the 7th d-man?

I would trust the cap friendly website more than the website that I got the info. So Kapanen is probably not eligible, but Johansson is.

Yeah, I know. I hear the TSN/Sportsnet analysts flex their intellectual tax knowledge muscle from time to time too. I just think the math is a bit more complex than they let on, or what Kyper could ever add up... Its generally my general postion that I don't accept the general narrative on the tax advantage debate. I just think there is alot more to it than what they can squeeze into their tweets and 5 minute discussions before the next commercial break .. but like I mentioned before on these tax implication discussions, I don't really even like dealing with my own taxes let alone all of this.. so, I'll give you this point, and only say that you do have a point here

I don't know if Marner is a way better player at all. They're both great players and they play different games even if they do play the same position. If it came right down to it and I had to make a choice between who I would rather have on a team it would be a tough call for me, and for many others would be my guess too..

As for Kucherov, I completely agree. He is a way better player than both marner and Stone right now. Can marner become as good as Kuch? I think he has a very real shot of doing so.. but he's not there right now..

Last time I checked, Ozzie and Dermott are both currently in the NHL and Dermott will continue to improve with his young age but Ozzie will remain a 6th man. Sandin on the other hand has shown great levels of improvement and could easily be playing in the NHL by next year. Also, 7th dman is in the scratches, normally where the extra dman would be