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Leaf Rumours

Artnes said:
Do you think he would want to be labeled the Lindros of the modern NHL though.
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How could anyone consider him Lindros though? He reported to the team that drafted him, unlike Lindros, and will have played three seasons there, also unlike Lindros. His parents were never heavily involved in any contract negotiations, he signed a standard entry level deal, and he's been kept out of trouble for the most part. Tavares is not under ANY obligation to re-sign with the Islanders whatsoever once his current contract expires. To be honest, I'm actually amazed that more players don't explore other options at a younger age now that free agency is open up to players years before it previously was.
 
JaysCyYoung said:
How could anyone consider him Lindros though? He reported to the team that drafted him, unlike Lindros, and will have played three seasons there, also unlike Lindros. His parents were never heavily involved in any contract negotiations, he signed a standard entry level deal, and he's been kept out of trouble for the most part. Tavares is not under ANY obligation to re-sign with the Islanders whatsoever once his current contract expires. To be honest, I'm actually amazed that more players don't explore other options at a younger age now that free agency is open up to players years before it previously was.
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Good point.

Have there ever been cases like this before?
 
Artnes said:
Good point.

Have there ever been cases like this before?
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Kessel.

The problem is mediocre players, teams don't really care about them, so they really hold no sway. It's only the top players that hold sway, but they're still RFAs, so unless if they sign for an larger sum than the team wants to pay, the team can just match and have them under contract.
 
Wheeler became a UFA though. Tavares won't be a UFA, he'll be an RFA. He has some control in that a team that doesn't think he can sign with won't trade a crapload for him, but he's still kinda locked in with the Isles. -- Or offer sheet.
 
Bozak, Kulemiin, MacA, Gunnarson, Aulie, D'Amigo, one of the goalies, 1st in 2012, etc, etc.

The Leafs have a ton to offer Dallas.
 
If we know Richards wants to come to Toronto then we give up nothing and sign him on July 1st. Let some other team give up stuff for a rental.

The media are going to make Richards regret saying anything over the next few months though, hehe.
 
I'll admit that I still think that Semin is the way to go, but others I've spoken have convinced me that Burke simply won't go after him just because of the Russian angle. That pisses me, but oh well. Therefore, the only way we're adding a top line player is by paying for Brad Richards.

So...to answer your question, why trade for him and not just wait?

Because there's no guarantee that he'll be available in free agency (it's cool that he wants to come here but if whoever trades for him and then offers him a massive contract...he's staying there), and additionally, the trade deadline is early enough in the season now where his addition could give us the extra offensive jam to take a legit run at a playoff spot.
 
hockeylover said:
The time The Monster met George W Bush

Understated and quiet, especially for a professional athlete, Gustavsson didn't admit it, but Texas hardly seems like his sort of place. He said he eventually chose Toronto for a variety of reasons.

"Brian Burke, first of all, showed the most interest in me," he said. "He flew a couple times to Sweden and did a great job there. Toronto's a big hockey market, big hockey history and actually the first jersey I got as a kid was a Toronto Maple Leafs one. I've still got a picture, I'm seven years old wearing it.

"So, the history, of course. The rebuilding of the organization, the rebuilding of the team and the great organization. The city's unbelievable, too, the fans are great. I can keep going and going. It wasn't a tough decision in the end."

He added that he doesn't ever reflect on what could have been had he ended up in California, Colorado or Texas instead.

"I'm really happy with my decision to play here," Gustavsson said. "I don't think about anything else because I feel like I found the right place for me."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...time-the-monster-met-george-w/article1808809/
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Sweet :thumbsup(22):
 
hockeylover said:
reporterchris

Brad Richards on #leafs: "When the time comes, if that's an option, Toronto's always a No. 1 destination ... but we're not close to that."
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Erm...wtf? I'm pretty surprised he'd say that when he's still playing for Dallas. Good to hear though---those Maritime boys too often seem to get sucked into being Hab fans. I guess the question how serious he is. Because I'd much rather see the Leafs sign him as a UFA than have to give up a bunch of assets for him as a rental first.

As for John Tavares, even if he decides to pull a Lindros and refuse to re-sign with his team, it'd take a hell of a package to get him out of Long Island, provided the Isles are willing to let him go instead of just waiting him out.
 
I work with a bunch of P.E.Islanders and it seems to be a pretty even 50/50 split among the boys for Leafs/Habs.

A few of the guys know Richards' through family and whatnot, when I'm back on rotation I'll see if he's from a Leaf fan family.
 
Just hope he's a UFA on July 1st. If he doesn't re-sign in Dallas, he will be no matter where he's traded to.

Sign him as a UFA, but it makes no sense to give up assets for him in a deadline deal.
 
hockeylover said:
SportsnetSpec

Just wondering: What are the Leafs giving up for Brad Richards? Pending UFA Kaberle? Draft picks? Oh yeah...
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The Leafs have a whole whack of good young goalies/dmen/fowards that the Stars can choose from.

Even if the Leafs did have their own 1st this year, they wouldn't trade it for a UFA to be.
 
JackBurton said:
Just hope he's a UFA on July 1st. If he doesn't re-sign in Dallas, he will be no matter where he's traded to.

Sign him as a UFA, but it makes no sense to give up assets for him in a deadline deal.
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Its too important to get that top line forward to sit around with your finger up your ass hoping one makes it to July 1.
 
The problem with waiting is that it gives Richards a chance to re-up with a new team.

If he goes to another team and he likes the situation there, there's a good chance he signs before free agency. The team that traded for him will do everything possible to get him re-signed because they don't want to give up assets and be left with nothing.

If he goes to a team like the Rangers, there's no way he makes it to free agency.
 
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