Yes, I would sign with the Leafs as a UFA if I actually wanted to win a Stanley Cup in the next 5 years.

Yep, if they can get their act together and improve their Defense this team can win a cup.

Kinda of a dumb question isn't it? Players sign for money, and well as playing for a good team, so why wouldn't the Leafs be a choice of some players. Ease of travel and family consideration also a factor.

It would depend if I was a forward or a D man.

If I was a RHD I'd sign with the Leafs because there wouldn't be much job competition.

If I was a forward I wouldn't cause they have too many good forwards.

No I would not.

Marleau, Tavares and probably McDavid next.

No, if I actually wanted to win the cup, I'd go to a team that has won a playoff series this side of the 05 lockout

No, personally. No, professionally.

My answer is two fold. A.) With the assumption that I'm a UFA that's biggest goal is to win a cup before I retire...the Leafs are NOT at the top of the list. TOR has offense, but lacks defense, toughness, coaching, and currently cap space...which leads me to B) How much of a discount do I need to take to go to the Leafs vs other teams. Why shouldn't I take that same discount for a team that's got a better chance?

I think Denver is a more enticing destination by far. They also have this thing called "cap space" which I hear is a key ingredient to signing a top free agent.

McDavid is under contract in Edmonton until 2026. Don't hold your breath.

Crowing about the Marleau signing is like Oilers fans bragging that Lucic signed in Edmonton.

Yes, it is. The Leafs can't actually afford to sign a "top free agent", making the point moot.

That's may not be true. The Leaf could trade a high cap player for futures,,,,let' say Nylander and then have cap space for a top UFA. That' true for a lot teams.
I'm just not sure, if there are really any top UFAs that will be worth the cost though

I wouldn't want to have that media or fan scrutiny personally, I'd much prefer to play for a smaller market team or for a city that doesn't care that much about hockey so I can still go out and do things

depends on the player, some guys do not want to deal with the media circus that comes with playing with the leafs. Other teams can give them money and chances to win, personality and family life if they can handle the TO scene probably would be priority 1 for some

With a flat cap next season, they could throw around 8-9m on the right player and still be in good shape to res-sign Makar, Landeskog, and MacKinnon long term.
They can be players this offseason on some big fish but wont sign a Marleau overpaid "top UFA" bc they feel like they need to sign someone.

Three more years of MacKinnon at a killer cap hit... I would be all over offering Hoffman and Dadonov 3-year deals this summer. There's your window, right there.

I think they check in on Hall, but Haula or toffoli would be ideal UFA targets as they fit their identity pretty well.
They will be more inclined to make a big trade vs UFAs to be honest, they already have a glut of young forwards with no spots for

start of the season I was all about the avs trying to get puljujarvi out of Edmonton, now they legit dont have a spot for him even if they could trade for him