Toronto Maple Leafs

[blayze]

There's no such thing as sitting on a "completed contract" ... a contract is either signed or not. If it's not signed, then it's worth as much as the toilet paper I use to wipe my ass.

No agent in their right mind would subject their client to that kind of risk.

[4T2]

There's no such thing as sitting on a "completed contract" ... a contract is either signed or not. If it's not signed, then it's worth as much as the toilet paper I use to wipe my ass.

No agent in their right mind would subject their client to that kind of risk.

People come to an "agreement in principle" all the time in many business deals. Often times they have to wait for other pieces to fall in place before putting pen to paper.

That being said, those kind of deals often fall apart. You are right, a verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it's printed on. But to say that these kind of things never happen isn't exactly right either

[lucafen4]

There's a lot more to deals than years and salary. An agreement in principle usually means details still need to be hammered out, but basic framework has been agreed upon.

[2014olympicgold]

Qualifying Offers need to be sent out today to RFAs. Leafs RFAs:
-Marner (QO would be for $874,125)
-Kapanen (QO would be for $874,125)
-Johnsson (QO would be for $826,875)
-Carcone (QO would be for $735,000)
-Gagne (QO would be for $735,000)
-Baptiste (QO would be for $826,875)
-Subban (QO would be for $715,000)
-McAdam (QO would be for $874,125)

If they aren't QO, they are UFA's on July 1st.

[2014olympicgold]

Players Leafs gave a QO to:
- Marner
- AJ
- Kapanen
- Carcone

To become a FA:
- Gagne
- Baptiste
- Subban
- McAdam
- Ozhiganov (leaving for Europe)

[lucafen4]

No surprises there... none.

[DusterDave]

Michael Hutchinson resigned for 1 year at $700K.

What does this mean for Leafs goaltending depth? Feels like this would mean the end of Sparks as a Leaf. But is Hutchinson good enough to be a back-up option for a full season? I would imagine they want one of Woll or Scott as a Marlie along with Kaskisuo with the other playing for the Growlers in the ECHL. I still have a feeling they try to improve the backup position during the summer which would allow them to throw Hutchinson on waivers if need be. If they can’t find anyone else, a backup at $700K is fantastic but I’m concerned about the quality.

Thoughts?

[2014olympicgold]

I think Kaskisuo is slipping in their depth charts. 3.01GAA, 0.896s% in 30 AHL games last yr. Hutch on the same team pulled a 2.70GAA, 0.910s% in 23games.

In the Leafs goaltender depth chart, I see it as:
Andersen
Hutch/Sparks
Sparks/Hutch
Woll
Kaskisuo
Scott (just cause his age)

The pre-season, and the rest of this off-season is where they determine if it's Sparks or Hutch backing up Andersen to start the 2019-20 season. Personally, I think Babcock wants a Hutch, but it's like 60/40 split right now. Sparks could go 3games 3shutouts in the pre-season and Hutch could sh!t the bed and sway the decision.

[lucafen4]

I think Kaskisuo is slipping in their depth charts. 3.01GAA, 0.896s% in 30 AHL games last yr. Hutch on the same team pulled a 2.70GAA, 0.910s% in 23games.

In the Leafs goaltender depth chart, I see it as:
Andersen
Hutch/Sparks
Sparks/Hutch
Woll
Kaskisuo
Scott (just cause his age)

The pre-season, and the rest of this off-season is where they determine if it's Sparks or Hutch backing up Andersen to start the 2019-20 season. Personally, I think Babcock wants a Hutch, but it's like 60/40 split right now. Sparks could go 3games 3shutouts in the pre-season and Hutch could sh!t the bed and sway the decision.

I agree with your ranking, but only because of pro-experience.
We all know Woll & Scott are the only two with a hope in hell of becoming NHL starters from this mix.
The rest are fill ins.

I also expect a better year from Sparks.
A much better year.

I can't imagine the mental toll it takes to prepare yourself as a starting goalie -
Sparks 2yrs ago with Marlies -He changed everything during the '17 offseason to set himself up for that magical AHL season in 17/18
To then get rewarded with 15 NHL games the next year and your previous routine that worked so well - thrown to the curb and have to figure it out all over again.

By the end of camp Woll will have surpassed both Kaskisuo & Hutch... I am expecting him to grab the starting job with the Marlies in Oct.
Wouldn't be surprised & expect Scott to return to PA for one more season.
Signing Hutch seems to solidify that.


Side note:
ECHL league meeting started with a ripping of the Leafs for 'stacking their team' with too many AHL contracts.

They're reply: We see SJ as an extension of the Marlies farm team - ala - MLB and AAA, AA, A. A place to develop prospects that aren't 100% ready for the AHL without turning them loose.

Apparently, this was news to other teams who started to warm to this ideology before the meeting ended.

[2014olympicgold]

@lucafen4
Yeah, I was doing just 2019-20 depth chart.

Sparks I think is the fill in between Andersen and Woll, or that was the plan in 2018-19 before Sparks had that poor season.

[lucafen4]

@lucafen4
Yeah, I was doing just 2019-20 depth chart.

Sparks I think is the fill in between Andersen and Woll, or that was the plan in 2018-19 before Sparks had that poor season.

I figured.

Sparks will get another year and I suspect he'll be significantly better. Much more acclimatized to the role of back up and provide more of what we expected of him last season.

[DusterDave]

I’m hoping Sparks isn’t given up on just yet. It’s too soon. But a lot of people seem to think he is out the door from what I’ve been seeing on Leafs Twitter.

Whoever ends up being the backup, Sparks, Hutchinson or someone else, needs to be given more games than the previous two seasons rather than rotting on the bench.

[ericdaoust]

And NOW the Johnsson and Kapanen deals are done

[lucafen4]

kapanen 3yrs 3.2
Johnsson 4yrs 3.4

Beauty contracts right there!
Love these.

[lucafen4]

Saw this.... seems like this is why Jake hasn't signed with anyone yet:

James (@Account4hockey): Chris Johnston said that the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn’t trade defenseman Cody Ceci unless they have another defenseman lined up.
Jake Gardiner is still wanting to return to the Maple Leafs and would do so on a discount.