Bozak's Future

[Beelzeboss]

There's no way Leafs give Bozak 8 years.  If any team gives that to Bozak, his agent will be Tyler's BFF.

As long as he doesn't want a no trade clause, I'd be ok with a 6-8 year contract, in the $2.8-$3.2 range. You can always trade him when you find someone better and/or when the cap goes higher. The thing you have with Bozak is if you acquire a number one center that doesn't mesh well with Kessel or is injury prone, ala Tim Connolly, you can always pop Bozie back into that slot.

Please, don't ever call Tim Connolly a number one center.

 

[Redleaf]

There's no way Leafs give Bozak 8 years.  If any team gives that to Bozak, his agent will be Tyler's BFF.

As long as he doesn't want a no trade clause, I'd be ok with a 6-8 year contract, in the $2.8-$3.2 range. You can always trade him when you find someone better and/or when the cap goes higher. The thing you have with Bozak is if you acquire a number one center that doesn't mesh well with Kessel or is injury prone, ala Tim Connolly, you can always pop Bozie back into that slot.

As you could with Kadri and, now that Bolland's in, Grabbo. And maybe even Bolland. Or McClement. I mean, two years of Bozak centering him has proven Kessel can shoot pucks in off almost anybody.

You could. Just not sure then why Bozie was slotted as the number one and not the other players you've mentioned?  I think there's some chemistry there that may not necessarily be with some of the others.

Spreading out the attack, maybe? Letting the center who brings the least to the table be lifted by the all-star winger? Poor coaching? I don't know.

But I do know the chemistry thing is bunk: http://theleafsnation.com/2013/5/21/nozak-the-chemistry-chronicles

I might have gone along with poor coaching if Carlyle didn't come in after Wilson, and stick with the same plan.

 

[Redleaf]

There's no way Leafs give Bozak 8 years.  If any team gives that to Bozak, his agent will be Tyler's BFF.

As long as he doesn't want a no trade clause, I'd be ok with a 6-8 year contract, in the $2.8-$3.2 range. You can always trade him when you find someone better and/or when the cap goes higher. The thing you have with Bozak is if you acquire a number one center that doesn't mesh well with Kessel or is injury prone, ala Tim Connolly, you can always pop Bozie back into that slot.

Please, don't ever call Tim Connolly a number one center.

;D. It's hard to believe that he was originally brought to center the top line.

 

[drummond]

8 years? Get real Bozie... Under new CBA only handful of players would be given maximum contracts. Bozak ain?t one of them. Simple as that. The only player I would CONSIDER offering 8 years is Phil Kessel.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I still don't understand the debate.  He produced at a 3rd liner clip with 1st line wingers and minutes.  His 3-year even-strength points per 60 mins are equivalent to a 3rd liner.  He hasn't even hit 50 points playing with PPG players.  He was 190th this past season among forwards for 5 on 5 pts/60 while having the 27th most ice-time in the league among forwards.

This isn't hating on Tyler Bozak, I have nothing against him personally.  I just don't understand why you would be paying him anything further with the C we have already on the team.

 

[Kin]

He hasn't even hit 50 points playing with PPG players.

Come on now.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Come on

Alright.

now.

Oh, no not now.

 

[Kin]

It's a good point though. Plus, Nonis should really be concerned about Bozak's injuries this year. He didn't even play 50 games!

 

[Zee]

There's no way Leafs give Bozak 8 years.  If any team gives that to Bozak, his agent will be Tyler's BFF.

As long as he doesn't want a no trade clause, I'd be ok with a 6-8 year contract, in the $2.8-$3.2 range. You can always trade him when you find someone better and/or when the cap goes higher. The thing you have with Bozak is if you acquire a number one center that doesn't mesh well with Kessel or is injury prone, ala Tim Connolly, you can always pop Bozie back into that slot.

As you could with Kadri and, now that Bolland's in, Grabbo. And maybe even Bolland. Or McClement. I mean, two years of Bozak centering him has proven Kessel can shoot pucks in off almost anybody.

You could. Just not sure then why Bozie was slotted as the number one and not the other players you've mentioned?  I think there's some chemistry there that may not necessarily be with some of the others.

Spreading out the attack, maybe? Letting the center who brings the least to the table be lifted by the all-star winger? Poor coaching? I don't know.

But I do know the chemistry thing is bunk: http://theleafsnation.com/2013/5/21/nozak-the-chemistry-chronicles

I might have gone along with poor coaching if Carlyle didn't come in after Wilson, and stick with the same plan.

I didn't have to read that long article to realize Bozak needs Kessel and not the other way around. Their respective point totals are pretty clear evidence.

 

[cabber24]

8 years?

RIDICULOUS

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I think Bozak's possible comparable might be Artem Anisimov. Recently signed an extension.

I think 3.2 million AAV is a good number for Bozak. What say you?

EDIT: He was RFA though, so maybe add 500k a season.

 

[ZBBM]

I think Bozak's possible comparable might be Artem Anisimov. Recently signed an extension.

I think 3.2 million AAV is a good number for Bozak. What say you?

EDIT: He was RFA though, so maybe add 500k a season.

I like Bozak better than some on here, but an 8-year contract?  Cut it in half and then you might have the basis for conversation.

Or not.  With Bolland in the fold, Bozak fits in where?

 

[moon111]

Bozak fits in the top two lines if Grabs doesn't produce.

 

[Mike1]

I still don't understand the debate.  He produced at a 3rd liner clip with 1st line wingers and minutes.  His 3-year even-strength points per 60 mins are equivalent to a 3rd liner.  He hasn't even hit 50 points playing with PPG players.  He was 190th this past season among forwards for 5 on 5 pts/60 while having the 27th most ice-time in the league among forwards.

This isn't hating on Tyler Bozak, I have nothing against him personally.  I just don't understand why you would be paying him anything further with the C we have already on the team.

I'm with you man...I don't get why you wouldn't walk away completely. Paying a player that's never had 20 goal season 5mil x 8 years, hell even 4 or 5 years is just insanity. Complain about Grabovski all you want but he put up his 3-twenty plus goal campaigns, with one season where he almost got 30 before he got paid. What does Tyler Bozak do that's so valuable really? What makes him such an integral piece that the Maple Leafs got to commit to him with big dollars/term? It's just ridiculous...

 

[mr grieves]

But I do know the chemistry thing is bunk: http://theleafsnation.com/2013/5/21/nozak-the-chemistry-chronicles

Provided of course, you subscribe to the same ludicrously narrow definition of "chemistry" from a hockey sense that the article writer does.

Sure, "from a hockey sense" chemistry could mean a whole lot of thing. But one of those things should be a measurable, intersubectively verifiable increase in scoring. That Kessel is more productive without Bozak than with is a concerning fact -- and one that suggests the sort of "chemistry" I think most would be happy to do without.

 

[Kin]

Sure, "from a hockey sense" chemistry could mean a whole lot of thing. But one of those things should be a measurable, intersubectively verifiable increase in scoring.

Not necessarily. Chemistry could mean an overall higher level of play defensively as well as offensively,

 

[ZBBM]

Bozak fits in the top two lines if Grabs doesn't produce.

And so we do what with Grabs?  That die has been cast. 

 

[mr grieves]

Sure, "from a hockey sense" chemistry could mean a whole lot of thing. But one of those things should be a measurable, intersubectively verifiable increase in scoring.

Not necessarily. Chemistry could mean an overall higher level of play defensively as well as offensively,

Sure. But I've never seen a high level of defensive play from Bozak.So, we're down to Kessel seems to like him.

 

[Kin]

Sure. But I've never seen a high level of defensive play from Bozak.So, we're down to Kessel seems to like him.

Well, we're down to you thinking that's the only reason, sure, but we've been there for a while. Most people are relatively comfortable with the job going to a 50+ point scorer who can win face-offs and is responsible defensively, especially given the options the Leafs had.

 

[drummond]

Glad to see Lecavalier?s bidding war results. Most coveted UFA ended up with 5years at 4,5M per year. Hopefully that puts Bozak camp into some perspective. 4 years at 3,5M per year seems reasonable, I really do not get what Nonis is considering about that 8 years with just under 5M per year proposal.