Subj : Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Free A;ents, Bonuses, Pietrangelo
To : All
From : The Hockey Writers
Date : Fri Jul 03 2020 04:40 am
This season's NHL activities are very different. In this edition of Toronto
Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I'll share some of those differences. As well, I'll
note some of the ways the Maple Leafs organization differs from other NHL
franchises.
Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Brazeau, Nesterov & Mogilny
Finally, I'll take a look at why the team won't be signing star defenseman Alex
Pietrangelo and consider what might happen next season to Cody Ceci.
Item One: July 1 Came and Went, and No Free Agent Signings?
As the Hockey News Sam McCaig pointed out yesterday in his article about NHL
free agent signings, July 1 was different than any other in recent memory.
There were no surprise signings, no huge contracts, no bidding wars, no drama
to speak of - nothing.
That's quite a change. Usually, the hockey world perks up on July 1 because of
all the action. Chalk up another cost of living in a season militated by
COVID-19. There's the hope of a return to hockey, but even that's a bit foggy.
In the absence of team-changing free-agent signings, McCaig looked at the 10
biggest July 1 UFA signings in the past 10 years. At number two on McCaig's
list - right after Artemi Panarin who signed with the New York Rangers (seven
years at $81.5 million) - was the 2018 Maple Leafs signing of now-captain John
Tavares (seven years at $77 million).
Toronto Maple Leafs'; Auston Matthews celebrates with teammate John Tavares
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)
What has Tavares brought to the team in those two seasons? First, he's brought
skill. He's scored above a point-per-game pace since he joined the team. He
also set a career-high for goals with 47 last season. He's brought class and
the respect of the NHL, given his inclusion as one of the few players on the
Return to Play committee. Finally, he's brought quiet leadership that asks
teammates to follow by example.
What he hasn't brought yet is playoff success. Although he's only had one crack
at the Stanley Cup with this team, they fell again to the Boston Bruins last
season in round one. Where he might lead his team this season is still in
question.
Item Two: The Maple Leafs Organization Got Poorer Yesterday
The Maple Leafs work differently than most other teams. One attraction of being
a star in Toronto is that once a year you suddenly have a huge influx of money
deposited into your account when your signing bonus is paid.
Related: Sour Grapes: Don Cherry Is Biased Against The Maple Leafs
For the Maple Leafs, that day was yesterday. There's joy at my house when my
monthly Canada Pension cheque gets deposited. I can't imagine what Auston
Matthews thinks about an influx of $15.2 million. Did he wake up and check if
it was deposited?
It was no surprise that the NHL agreed that all players due signing bonuses
would be paid in full. Even with a shorter regular season and preparation for a
less lucrative Stanley Cup Playoffs, players were paid as scheduled, worth
over $300 million.
As noted, the Maple Leafs work differently. The team leads the NHL in bonus
payouts at $60 million. Matthews earns the largest signing bonus in the NHL.
His teammate Mitch Marner is second at $14.3 million. Then come the Edmonton
Oilers'; Connor McDavid�at $13 million and Panarin�at $12 million.
Auston Matthews, earns the highest signing bonus in the NHL. (Jess Starr/The
Hockey Writers)
Looking at the Maple Leafs'; signing bonus break down, four players make more
than 90% of their annual contracts in signing bonuses, including Matthews
(whose total salary is $15.9 million, with $15.2 million in signing bonus, for
95.6%), Marner (total salary $15 million, with $14.3 million signing bonus, for
95.3%), Tavares (total salary $12 million, with $11.09 million signing bonus,
for 92.4%), and Jake Muzzin (total salary $8 million, with $7.3 million signing
bonus, for 91.3%).
Other big contract players include goalie Frederik Andersen (total salary $5
million, with $4 million signing bonus, for 80%) and William Nylander (total
salary $6 million, with a $3.5 million signing bonus, for 58.3%). Of the
$101,945,500 total salary paid by the Maple Leafs this season, $61,308,000 was
paid yesterday in signing bonuses.
Ironically, both Matthews and Marner make the NHL league minimum salary at
$700,000. Obviously getting paid in signing bonuses is a huge advantage for
players who make most their money at one time rather than during the entire
season.
Item Three: It's Time to Put Alex Pietrangelo Rumours to Rest
A week doesn't go by without someone mentioning the rumour that the Maple Leafs
would like to sign Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Of course
they would. However, it won't happen. Even if Pietrangelo chooses not to
re-sign with the St. Louis Blues, unless things change drastically in the wake
of COVID-19's transformation of the salary-cap structure and the way contracts
are signed, the skilled defenseman's cost on the open market is too high.
Related: Devils Need to Pursue Pietrangelo This Offseason
As Maple Leafs writer Mike Augello noted yesterday, Pietrangelo's salary would
be more than Oliver Ekman-Larsson's $8.25 million. The cost of signing him
would be more than his salary/signing bonus, it would also cost the Maple Leafs
a young forward on a big contract, like Nylander (cap hit of almost $7
million) or Marner (cap hit of almost $11 million), to make that possible.
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Mitch Marner celebrates with teammate Morgan Rielly
(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill)
For me, that's where the conversation ends. Before last season, I thought there
was a chance Dubas might trade Nylander. That thought is now gone. He's
special and could, at the end of the day, be far more special than Pietrangelo.
We already know where Marner ranks on the list of young, two-way forwards -
very near the top.
So, if it costs one of those youngsters to sign Pietrangelo, goodbye Alex.
What's Next for the Maple Leafs?
Almost weekly, a Maple Leafs writer points out that defensemen Tyson Barrie and
Cody Ceci won't return. Although Barrie should be a sought-after free agent
because he's a puck-mover, a power-play quarterback, and has offensive upside,
I keep wondering what will happen to Ceci.
What will happen to Toronto Maple Leafs'; Cody Ceci next season? (AP
Photo/Derik Hamilton)
A defenseman with his resume - although advanced metrics indicate he is less
than elite at the position - could be offered a one-year deal somewhere, even
if it is much less than his current $4.5 million. I'm sure he'll continue to
play, but where?
Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Keefe, Barabanov, Marner & Shanahan
Interestingly, I've never heard anyone other than fans or commentators
disparage his play. Head coach Sheldon Keefe kept throwing him out there night
after night, 20:32 per game on average.
So, where will he go? Is there a chance he comes back next season, or even move
back to the Ottawa Senators where he played for six seasons before he came to
the Maple Leafs? I'm curious.
The post Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Free Agents, Bonuses, Pietrangelo & Ceci
appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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