Yesterday, I asked you, our loyal readers, to give me your take on whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs were in a position to get offer sheeted.
The topic of offer sheets has been swirling for quite some time in recent days and I think it’s high time we put it to rest. The Leafs are going to be fine. Or, at least, just as fine as a host of other NHL teams who will see their impending RFAs command more money over the summer.
But it doesn’t matter what I think. Let’s check out some of your enlightening replies.
Username: afp1961
Every team employs capologists to scour their own team as well as others so they can leverage available dollars (or lack thereof). It’s a necessity in today’s game. There are teams worse off than the Leafs. There is still the Horton LTIR, and trades that can be made and in the absolute extreme waive a player hoping he gets picked up.
The Leafs may have to lose Gardner just like they let Bozak and JVR walk if it gives them cap freedom. Or trade players with higher cap cost for picks or prospects with no cap cost. Cap freedom has become a trade asset just like a draft pick. These are just two simple examples. No doubt Dubas and Co. have a slew of other strategies to deploy.
Username: Marcel DePass
What if Toronto threatens to offer sheet Aho? I’m sure Aho would sign too. With promising defenders coming, Gardiner probably pricing off the team, and some defenders waiting for an opportunity, Dubas could present an attractive offer to a clear budget team’s star player.
With Zaitsev and Hyman’s NTC’s kicking in next year and Marleau possibly moving on, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Getting Nylander at the cap he signed for could pay dividends to make a big splash happen, especially if Marner’s deal is respectable.
Username: Old School
There are seriously only 2 players that might get offer sheets, Matthews and Laine. Matthews being a generational player and Laine the heir to Ovechkin. No other player is worth 4 first round draft choice and neither one is going anywhere.
Username: Rick Lee
(Editors Note: Check out Rick’s wrong opinion, everybody!)
If there was ever a time for Arizona to offer sheet anyone, it would be now.
Between the team, ownership and the local government, the Yotes are, as we all know, a mess. The Phoenix Suns are also struggling and apparently, attempts to create a relationship between the 2 teams to create a high end 2 tenant home have been unproductive.
This would all change if the Yotes successfully offer sheeted Matthews. Awesome Auston would be the face of not only the Yotes but also of Arizona pro-sports, he would be the centrepiece needed to bring the Yotes and the Suns together and he would be going home. They have some decent pieces in Clayton Keller and Christian Dvorak down the middle and already have a lot invested in their D so they are a few decent wingers away from icing a competitive lineup
Curiously, I am not adverse to Matthews being offer sheeted. He is the most talented Leaf on the roster to be sure and will undoubtedly improve even more in the coming years but because of his recent injury history, I have climbed the fence on whether spending 11+ mil on him will be money well spent. For me, if Mitch and Auston were offered the same money and term in their next deals (similar to the Kane and Toews deals but at potentially higher money), I would expect Mitch to be worth his contract simply because he will be available for most of the season. Will we all still value Matthews highly if he misses another 15-20 games next season?
If we were to do a blood test on Mitch, he would bleed Blue but I’m fairly certain Matty doesn’t. The fact that he said in one interview that his next deal could be for 5 seasons, which would take him up to his RFA years, tells me is closer to having one foot out the door than any of us would want to believe.
Username: Sam Taggart
Here’s what I want to see happen because it would be hilarious. Arizona offer sheets Matthews 13mill for 7 years. He signs, then our really nerdy looking GM will threaten to wail whoever the GM of the Coyotes is, in a barn. Then Pheonix…..err Arizona will go bankrupt trying to pay Matthews. Matthews then returns to his rightful place with the Maple Leafs.
Bergevin will then try screw over the Leafs by offer sheeting Marner. Poor Bergy gets easily confused though and he ends up offering Mitch 5.5mill for 7 years, the Leafs match and live happily ever after.
(Editors Note: to which another commenter replied…)
Username: GinjaNinja
Bergevin is more likely to offer sheet Gauthier.
Thanks for reading and submitting your engaging comments! Keep an eye out for the next “What Do You Think?”