Seems all well and good until you get to Barzal. If Marner is getting $12.5, I don't see any way Barzal gets less. And even at Matthews' AAV as comp, the Isles are still in trouble. Also, what the heck happened to Andrew Ladd?

As a leaf fan you can happily take him

If Marner gets 12.5 Barzal isn't taking that little

I have him buried in the AHL. Didn't want the "he won't be injured" comments meanwhile Robidas was "hurt" for how long? Lol. Ideally we can move him before expansion but if not that's how I got rid of him

As for Barzal - his next deal totally depends on this season. If Isles again are forced to play more defensive minded because of Trotz, Barzal’s numbers likely arent approaching his rookie year. I think a 5 year bridge won't sniff double digits

So the Isles are spending at least $4.5 million of cap space on Ladd, who I can't see reporting to an AHL team. So, the Isles would have to buy him or out, or keep him on their NHL roster. To get rid of him at the expansion draft, it will probably cost the Isles a Marleau level offering like the 1st rounder the Leafs gave the Canes.

The Isles set a terrible precedent by offersheeting Marner for that kind of money, both internally for their own players, and around the league. I will leave it at that. As an Isles fan, I would be paying close attention to what happens with Brayden Point.

If he doesn't report isn't his contract eventually voided? He doesn't have a NMC. Only a M-NTC by this point. And yeah I'm expecting to have to give something up to shed him but that's fine

And I'm sure he'll get a standing ovation when he returns. right? Lol

Marner is leaps and bounds better than anyone on the roster, except maybe Barzal at some point. But not today. I like of like the anarchy that offersheets cause. Could it come around and bite the Islanders? Of course there is a chance. But gotta do what you have to in order to win. That solves everything. If I'm Lou/Barry and I think that the Isles should at least win a playoff round (likely) than those picks are in the mid 20s to begin with. 4 of those are definitely worth Marner

The leafs will send you Ceci for Komarov and Mayfield. I know you are moving them for cap space, you can just let Ceci walk and we'll kick in the 5th that you are getting. Deal?

Probably be a mixed reaction

Yes, if his contract is sent to the minors, as long as he clears, and because he only has a NTC, and not a NMC, his consent is not needed to be sent or assigned to the minor league. In which case, should he not report, the Isles can void the contract. However, I think there would be a ton of league pressure there.

I said this on another thread. I would give Mitch a standing ovation(no hard feelings honestly).Iif you offer sheet Mitch, you will all love him, he's a very fun and exciting hockey player to watch\have on your team. Just not worth the money. imho

But without Lehner, is your goaltending still rock-solid? I am not sure. The Isles got into the playoffs because of Robin Lehner.

I would make that deal, sure.

All very true, except the leafs would likely use those pics in trades to improve the team now oppose to keeping them and using them to draft players.

Yes and no. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Robin and always will. But a lot of what we saw was a combination of Barry Trotz's defensive system and magic of Mitch Korn. Thomas Greiss put up virtually the same numbers in the regular season (almost identical - kinda creepy). But we remember Lehner because of the playoffs. Greiss was just as rock solid - so I'm not overly concerned. I don't like Varlamov's term but I expect a big rebound in this same system. Could the Isles have taken a step back in goaltending? I guess it's possible. But I truly believe its not as significant as you think it might be

No, Mitch Marner will 100% get boo'ed if he is offer-sheeted by another team, which is not matched by Toronto. Remember, it is as much on the player as it is on the team putting forth the offer sheet. The player has to want to play there, so there is at least some proactive steps the player has to take to make that whole process happen. I think for the most part, Leaf fans will take away 2 things, the Leafs offered him a very reasonable contract, or several contract alternatives based on term, which he refused, and that he proactively chose to deal with another team over what he has, in the media, called his favourite team and home town team.

Yeah I would expect them to. And that's fine by me. What TOR decides to do with the picks at that point is their problem lol. I'm gonna happily take Marner and continue to build on what we've got going

Barzal's numbers will spike up if playing with Mitch

I think its a win win

Ehh Lou doesn't ever seem to care about pressure. We've seen plenty of career NHLers get sent down to exile before. Such is life unfortunately

Yeah, I think you'll definitely see a spike. But are they both 100 pt players? I'm not sure. I still have $2.5M in space on this ACGM so Barzal could have a higher AAV. I just thought a middle-tier bridge at 5 years just under $9m made sense. Matthews got 11.6M for the same term and he's the far superior player. We aren't that far off

That’s why I think their will be a mixed I think people will be mad he “betrayed” the leafs and I think some will realize he went to a contract that’s best for him which is his right.

And I think both teams will come out winners if this happens because it allows Toronto to resign a couple ufas and gives them assets to trade to continue to get better but for nyi I think it helps them now but down the road with 4 years of no top picks you could see the depth come back to bite them depending on how they draft in the later rounds