Thought #5: Ilya Mikheyev took less money.
According to his agent, Dan Milstein, Mikheyev and Kyle Dubas had already agreed on a previously higher cap hit than the one he signed of $1.645 million. The reason for the winger’s concession was he wanted to help the organization be able to fit under the salary cap ceiling when the 2020-21 season starts and not force the Leafs to have to trade out anyone else in the process.
Therein lies the reason why Kyle Dubas can afford to pay four players such a large sum of their available cap space. Finding players who are willing to play for less who can also contribute to the teams’ success in a higher capacity than their cap hit would suggest has been the mantra of the Dubas Era. Having inked depth players such as Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, and Jason Spezza on below-market value contracts has allowed the Leafs to maintain their “studs and duds” approach.
Immediately following the Mikheyev signing, naysayers argued the “pay-cut” was a publicity stunt pulled off by his agent to appeal to the fanbase and improve the Russian winger’s standing among Leaf fans. They suggested Mikheyev never took a pay-cut and the $1.645 he agreed to was always going to be the value on his contract.
My question is how does this make any sense at all? There is no need for Mikheyev to pull off a show like this. He is already beloved by anyone who watches this team. Following his first career NHL game, after scoring his first career NHL goal, all Mikheyev wanted to talk about in his post-game presser was how he loves soup. Leafsnation instantly fell in love. His popularity grew even further when in a mid-season game against the Oilers, Mikheyev scored a goal from in tight, destroying the in-net camera, and later genuinely apologized for breaking it.
Thought #6: Dave Feschuk, Toronto Star.
A few days ago, Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star published an article titled “The Maple Leafs’ salary gap could divide the dressing room if the stars don’t earn their keep”. His premise was the difference in salary among Toronto’s star forwards in comparison to their depth players will cause a stir in the locker room.
Feschuk argues, once the Leafs “Big Four” take notice of Mikheyev’s contract, their reaction would negatively affect the locker room. Do you really think a guy like John Tavares, the well-respected and adored captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, could have someone in the locker room dislike him? During the 2019 offseason, the Leafs were faced with a lot of roster turnover and it was Tavares, before the captaincy, who was the one to welcome all the new faces. Tavares texted Alex Kerfoot immediately following the trade and organized a dinner with him and Tyson Barrie soon after the former Avs landed in Toronto.
Someone who goes out of his way to take care of his teammates in such a sincere and compassionate manner I find it hard to believe would have some of his players hating him. Similarly, Mitch Marner has proven to be the happy-go-lucky, positive attitude this team has needed several times over the last couple of seasons.
Remember, when Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas were preparing to deliver the inevitable news coach Mike Babcock had been fired, they were on a road trip with the injured Marner remaining in Toronto to rehab his high-ankle sprain. The team felt his presence should be felt around the locker room with such apprehensive news on the way, so MLSE flew the assistant captain out to Arizona so he could be the motivating and upbeat spirit the Leafs needed at the time.
I find it really hard to believe you will find someone in the Leafs locker room with negative things to say about the Leafs captain or alternate captain.