Even for Team Canada, Tavares is a loser. Unbelievable.

The decisions already been made. Matthews and Nylander have extensions.
- joel878

I agree. You've got them on longer term deals. It's time to move Marner for younger talent, preferably on the defense. Draft picks and prospects also work. There will be many decent free agents out there, that can play the heavy game and won't cost you what Marner does. The Leafs need at least 2 right shot defensemen that are in the top 4. Another journeyman goaltender is also a must.

I agree. You've got them on longer term deals. It's time to move Marner for younger talent, preferably on the defense. Draft picks and prospects also work. There will be many decent free agents out there, that can play the heavy game and won't cost you what Marner does. The Leafs need at least 2 right shot defensemen that are in the top 4. Another journeyman goaltender is also a must.
- PrinceLH

Not happening.

He won't waive his NMC. And if you really piss him off, he walks as a UFA and you get nothing. No level of booing or benching would change that.

Unlike Tavares, who has a fraction of his value left, Marner would easily benefit from a bidding war as a UFA. Losing the 8th year is irrelevant if he takes a 4/5 year deal like Matthews did.

The incentives to accept a trade are far higher for Tavares because he has limited time in his career by comparison.

Even for Team Canada, Tavares is a loser. Unbelievable.
- Rare_Jewel

At least you have something to female dog about even though the Leafs aren’t playing

The Rangers dodged another bullet. Florida where the better team, but the Rangers got the breaks. Besides, they don't ask you how you scored it, they only know that they did. A good bet would be Panthers to win the next game.

At least you have something to female dog about even though the Leafs aren’t playing
- Canada Cup

It was much more enjoyable reading in here for a couple of hours with the 2 alts banned. Should have known it would not last.

At least you have something to female dog about even though the Leafs aren’t playing
- Canada Cup

Just stating another piece of evidence that Tavares' best days are behind him. He was always a hero for Team Canada, regardless of how much he failed in the NHL. But he doesn't even have that left in him anymore.

Not happening.

He won't waive his NMC. And if you really piss him off, he walks as a UFA and you get nothing. No level of booing or benching would change that.

Unlike Tavares, who has a fraction of his value left, Marner would easily benefit from a bidding war as a UFA. Losing the 8th year is irrelevant if he takes a 4/5 year deal like Matthews did.

The incentives to accept a trade are far higher for Tavares because he has limited time in his career by comparison.
- Rare_Jewel

The Leafs could pound down his value by not putting him on the powerplay and putting on with players like Kampf and Jankrok. His points totals will suffer and his worth would be driven down. So his choice is to take a trade or get less on your next contract.

The Leafs could pound down his value by not putting him on the powerplay and putting on with players like Kampf and Jankrok. His points totals will suffer and his worth would be driven down. So his choice is to take a trade or get less on your next contract.
- PrinceLH

The GMs in the NHL are not all as dumb as a good portion of the posters in here

The Leafs could pound down his value by not putting him on the powerplay and putting on with players like Kampf and Jankrok. His points totals will suffer and his worth would be driven down. So his choice is to take a trade or get less on your next contract.
- PrinceLH

There is no pounding down his value. Absolutely no team interested in him as a UFA gives a flying (frank) if the Leafs intentionally bench him for one year. He's an elite scoring RW in his prime who kills penalties. You can bench him for 82 games on the 4th line and he still gets giant offers.

You are absolutely dreaming in delusions if you think the Leafs cut off their nose to spite their face by even attempting to do that with Marner. You think Matthews would be happy about Marner playing on the 4th line while Matthews has to play with pylons? It's a pipe dream.

There is no pounding down his value. Absolutely no team interested in him as a UFA gives a flying (frank) if the Leafs intentionally bench him for one year. He's an elite scoring RW in his prime who kills penalties. You can bench him for 82 games on the 4th line and he still gets giant offers.

You are absolutely dreaming in delusions if you think the Leafs cut off their nose to spite their face by even attempting to do that with Marner. You think Matthews would be happy about Marner playing on the 4th line while Matthews has to play with pylons? It's a pipe dream.
- Rare_Jewel

Same applies to JT, he will get paid what he will get paid no matter what happens and the Leafs are not going to cut off their nose disrespecting a well liked NHL veteran.

No I am not saying JT will get paid what Marner gets paid. I am saying they will not treat either player like poop to get them to agree to a move.

Not happening.

He won't waive his NMC. And if you really piss him off, he walks as a UFA and you get nothing. No level of booing or benching would change that.

Unlike Tavares, who has a fraction of his value left, Marner would easily benefit from a bidding war as a UFA. Losing the 8th year is irrelevant if he takes a 4/5 year deal like Matthews did.

The incentives to accept a trade are far higher for Tavares because he has limited time in his career by comparison.
- Rare_Jewel

An 8 year deal isn't of value to JT at this point in his career as it would be to Marner.

Tavares signed his max term deal when he was Marners age, took 7 years so he could switch teams and left a lot of money on the table to do it. Paul doesn't stand for leaving money on the table.

Everything you driveled off beyond that doesn't matter.

Same applies to JT, he will get paid what he will get paid no matter what happens and the Leafs are not going to cut off their nose disrespecting a well liked NHL veteran.

No I am not saying JT will get paid what Marner gets paid. I am saying they will not treat either player like poop to get them to agree to a move.
- jribout

Their own captain as well, imagine that. You see NHL teams around the league do it all the time, right...

Same applies to JT, he will get paid what he will get paid no matter what happens and the Leafs are not going to cut off their nose disrespecting a well liked NHL veteran.

No I am not saying JT will get paid what Marner gets paid. I am saying they will not treat either player like poop to get them to agree to a move.
- jribout

It doesn't apply to Tavares because he has less time in his career to win a Cup so him having a year burned by a team wanting to get rid of him has more impact.

And nobody has to treat Tavares like poop to get him to realize it's time to move on. It's just a matter of notifying him the Leafs have no interest of bringing him back next year and beyond. At that point, he tells you where he is comfortable landing and you start figuring out ways to get his cap hit low enough that he provides value for another team while you open up 6-8 AAV of cap space.

Just stating another piece of evidence that Tavares' best days are behind him. He was always a hero for Team Canada, regardless of how much he failed in the NHL. But he doesn't even have that left in him anymore.
- Rare_Jewel

So since the last time JT played for team Canada was 8 years ago that makes him “always the hero”?

Their own captain as well, imagine that. You see NHL teams around the league do it all the time, right...
- joel878

Took 30 years for FA's that were not over the hill to come to TO after the way Ballard treated Sittler, now we want start that poop again.

Bottom line Mitch and JT are not going anywhere unless they want to. I willl double down and say any return for Mitch will be underwhelming in the eyes of most here.

Management have to decide how soon they want to restructure (If Mitch will waive)

I just hope they do not bring him back for Matthews type money.

An 8 year deal isn't of value to JT at this point in his career as it would be to Marner.

Tavares signed his max term deal when he was Marners age, took 7 years so he could switch teams and left a lot of money on the table to do it. Paul doesn't stand for leaving money on the table.

Everything you driveled off beyond that doesn't matter.
- joel878

Tavares was the 2nd highest paid player in the NHL when the Leafs signed him so he didn't leave much money on the table.

If you're going to refer to the ridiculous offer the Sharks allegedly gave him, I'm sure the Sharks would just as eagerly give Marner 14 AAV for 7 years and Marner wouldn't lose a penny by anything the Leafs do.

Marner doesn't need 8 years the same way Matthews didn't need it either. It's a ridiculous notion that he panics and accepts a trade because he's worrying about 1 extra year when there's plenty of options to get all that money, if not more using the same strategy as Matthews or getting it from a Utah or San Jose team that doesn't care to overpay for a UFA.

So since the last time JT played for team Canada was 8 years ago that makes him “always the hero”?
- Dozzer

He use to be a winner with Team Canada and couldn't even muster a bronze this time around.

This point makes me laugh all the time. In what world would the rest of the league not know what was going on if they press boxed a 11 million dollar player?
In addition, in what world would ANY agent want or try to push their player to sign in Toronto after that sort of treatment? Think you'll ever get a player back in Toronto with that type of treatment on a discount? It'll be an overpay every time.
In what world has a team ever done this in the league to a "cancer"? Or just created one out of thin air?

In what world is a player a cancer because he chose not to waive his NMC that the team gave him? Like you want the team to play hardball with the player by putting him in the press box but you're all pissed off when the player treats the team the same way and doesn't waive?

My personal belief is if the leafs don't trade him this summer then you simply deal with it in the off season or trade deadline. Deadline if the leafs pull a Tampa/Colorado and miss the playoffs with superstars on the team.
- Aaron_85

Players with the cap hits of Marner never get dealt at the deadline. No one will give assets after next season because he is a UFA July 1 and you can get him for free.

Took 30 years for FA's that were not over the hill to come to TO after the way Ballard treated Sittler, now we want start that poop again.

Bottom line Mitch and JT are not going anywhere unless they want to. I willl double down and say any return for Mitch will be underwhelming in the eyes of most here.

Management have to decide how soon they want to restructure (If Mitch will waive)

I just hope they do not bring him back for Matthews type money.
- jribout

Let's apply that logic.

Took 30 years to get a guy like Tavares to sign with the Leafs.

What did they win? Nothing.

Missing out on the next Tavares quite obviously doesn't mean (frank) all because they blew their cap load too early and it's costing them dearly.

This "bench the guy and trade him" talk is exactly what people are suggesting the Leafs do with Marner and it's exactly what Ballard did with Sittler. Got the Leafs nothing in return. At least doing it with Tavares gets you cap space if you do it nicely.

He use to be a winner with Team Canada and couldn't even muster a bronze this time around.
- Rare_Jewel

That’s because team Canada isn’t anything special… at least JT provided offensively

It doesn't apply to Tavares because he has less time in his career to win a Cup so him having a year burned by a team wanting to get rid of him has more impact.

And nobody has to treat Tavares like poop to get him to realize it's time to move on. It's just a matter of notifying him the Leafs have no interest of bringing him back next year and beyond. At that point, he tells you where he is comfortable landing and you start figuring out ways to get his cap hit low enough that he provides value for another team while you open up 6-8 AAV of cap space.
- Rare_Jewel

Ridiculous argument. If he was that worried about "getting his year burned" he would ask for a trade not refuse one. Benching him or playing him deeper in the line up is not going to change his mind and is terrible optics.

That’s because team Canada isn’t anything special… at least JT provided offensively
- Dozzer

Tavares is past the point of outscoring his deficiencies.

Took 30 years for FA's that were not over the hill to come to TO after the way Ballard treated Sittler, now we want start that poop again.

Bottom line Mitch and JT are not going anywhere unless they want to. I willl double down and say any return for Mitch will be underwhelming in the eyes of most hear.

Management have to decide how soon they want to restructure (If Mitch will waive)

I just hope they do not bring him back for Matthews type money.
- jribout

It's been well reported Tavares won't waive. He's nearing the end of his career, has a young family and is content playing it out where he is. In the event the team decided not to resign him, it wouldn't surprise me if he retired. Because all indications are he's not motivated by money or championships, he's motivated to be in Toronto.

The rumblings with Marner are the opposite, and for a guy who made sure he folded over his hometown team for every penny last time around it's not hard to see why. Working with the team and waiving is worth a lot of extra money to him and his camp.

Trading Marner is not a trade the team needs to "win", it's a trade that the team needs to come out of more balanced and better. You get a beneficial piece or two, some futures and cap space, and it really doesn't matter if the view is you've won or lost.

Players with the cap hits of Marner never get dealt at the deadline. No one will give assets after next season because he is a UFA July 1 and you can get him for free.
- fifty__missions

On July 1st, the Leafs pay his signing bonus of almost $10M for his final year. All that is left is $775,000 base salary. Teams that want to get off the cap floor would relish having that contract. A team like that Uah Utes might want to make such a deal, getting a face for their franchise and would overpay him to stay. They have young assets that the Leafs would covet, as does a team like Seattle.