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Leaf Rumours

This UFA class has two of the best forwards any UFA class has seen in years.

The problem is when those are the only 2 elite forwards on the market that the price could be driven so high that it becomes ill advised to ink them.

Also while Marleau certainly is talented there are definite question marks regarding him in certain areas
 
I know people say the team wouldn't be built around Marleau, but he'd be on a big contract and a decent term. He'd be one of the guys we'd be expecting to lead the team for the next 5 years or so (along with Phaneuf, Kessel etc). I guess my issue is that whilst I like Marleau, I'm just not that high on him.
 
I'd want Marleau for the right price, and the price is really the key part. Maybe you can get a lower cap hit by front-loading and giving him a ton of dough up front.
 
The problem is when those are the only 2 elite forwards on the market that the price could be driven so high that it becomes ill advised to ink them.

Also while Marleau certainly is talented there are definite question marks regarding him in certain areas

Pretty much my feelings.

Once Marleau and Kovalchuk go, theres a real drop off with the forwards. To get one of those guys you are going to have to overpay.

Baring in mind we are essentially trying to build a contender from scratch (having started a year or so ago), I'm not sure you want to be overpaying for a guy like Marleau at this stage. Patience is essential with this rebuild.
 
I know people say the team wouldn't be built around Marleau, but he'd be on a big contract and a decent term. He'd be one of the guys we'd be expecting to lead the team for the next 5 years or so (along with Phaneuf, Kessel etc). I guess my issue is that whilst I like Marleau, I'm just not that high on him.

I think alot of people share that sentiment about him. If you look strictly at the scoresheet both regular season and playoff then Marleau is certainly a desireable elite talant. He can play C or W and is physical in the corners.

My concern would be that this is a guy who had issues playing to the pressure in San Jose. Now, he is not alone, you can apply that tag to Thornton or Nabokov as well. I just don't know if would want to risk a multi year deal worth north of 7M on that kind of guy. It could be a disaster in a media crazed city like Toronto
 
You don't turn down opportunities for prime aged star talent. They don't come around often enough.

HL is right. It comes down to the contract. But I'd say more term than price. None of these 7-8+ year deals.
 
I think you have to at least explore it (because really, we need talent up front in the worst way) but I'm kinda putting my trust in Burke to set a good price in his mind and not be foolish with our cap space.
 
I'll acknowledge the Joe Thornton factor but I think it's a little silly we have Zeke saying it because he was right on the money with Kessel w/o Savard and Antropov w/o Sundin arguments.
 
Murray, Cheechoo, Samsonov, Marleau.....Thornton's a bit of a different case. Lost of guys suddenly become star forwards with him as their centre, and then dissappear.

and the fact that Marleau was a career dissappointment and then suddenly became a star at 28 when Thornton went to SJ....well, I'm a bit suspicious.

no guarantee that's teh case, but I'd worry about it when giving him a big contract.
 
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