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Jared Cowen on waivers for purpose of a buyout

Refresh my memory. Do we really know what the grievance actually is? Or what's in dispute? And do we have opinions on which side is actually right or do we just selfishly want the Leafs to win?
 
Nik the Trik said:
Refresh my memory. Do we really know what the grievance actually is? Or what's in dispute? And do we have opinions on which side is actually right or do we just selfishly want the Leafs to win?

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/whats-at-stake-in-jared-cowens-grievance-hearing-with-the-maple-leafs/

At issue is whether Cowen was healthy enough to have the final year of his contract bought out by the Leafs last summer. A lengthy section of the CBA is devoted to ?procedures for determining fitness to play,? and they include a player?s right to pursue a second medical opinion beyond what is provided by the team.

[...]

For Cowen, there is $3-million in salary at stake. That represents somewhere in the neighbourhood of 25 per cent of his career NHL earnings to date ? a huge amount given his injury history and diminished future earning potential.

For the Leafs, there are serious salary cap ramifications hanging in the balance.

They are currently operating about $800,000 below the $73-million upper limit, according to capfriendly.com, but that is factoring in a unique $650,000 buyout credit they received for terminating the Cowen contract.

Should the arbitrator rule that they?re unable to do that because the player was hurt, they would lose the credit while reassuming his $3.1-million cap hit this season. That?s a $3.75-million cap swing in total and would almost certainly result in the Leafs invoking long-term injury relief on one of three players ? Nathan Horton, Stephane Robidas or Joffrey Lupul ? to remain compliant.
 
Jolly good show chaps said:
Out of interest why have the Leafs not invoked long term injury relief on one or more of Horton, Robidas or Lupul anyway?

I knew I should've included it in the quote. This is the very next paragraph:
Even though the LTI maneuver would offer immediate relief, it?s something the Leafs hope to avoid since it would increase the size of the cap overage penalty they?ll carry into next season because of performance bonuses expected to be earned by as many as five rookies in their current lineup.

We've got a small raft of rookies with full to nearly full performance bonus packages, all on pace to break 60 pts this season. Limit flexibility now (if possible) to benefit future flexibility after the expansion draft changes and when we're in position to really spend.

i.e. part of the reason I didn't like the Martin and Polak signings.
 
I kind of wish the Leafs had a big, mobile LH dman with a mean streak to fill the 6th spot along side Carrick.  Although he was never that mobile, when Jared was drafted I thought he was going to that kind of player.  Too bad he can't be that player.
 
Britishbulldog said:
I kind of wish the Leafs had a big, mobile LH dman with a mean streak to fill the 6th spot along side Carrick.  Although he was never that mobile, when Jared was drafted I thought he was going to that kind of player.  Too bad he can't be that player.

Andrew Nielsen.  He needs more grooming in the AHL, but he's very much as described.
 
Coco-puffs said:
Britishbulldog said:
I kind of wish the Leafs had a big, mobile LH dman with a mean streak to fill the 6th spot along side Carrick.  Although he was never that mobile, when Jared was drafted I thought he was going to that kind of player.  Too bad he can't be that player.

Andrew Nielsen.  He needs more grooming in the AHL, but he's very much as described.

Well, more mobile than Cowen.
 
Coco-puffs said:
Britishbulldog said:
I kind of wish the Leafs had a big, mobile LH dman with a mean streak to fill the 6th spot along side Carrick.  Although he was never that mobile, when Jared was drafted I thought he was going to that kind of player.  Too bad he can't be that player.

Andrew Nielsen.  He needs more grooming in the AHL, but he's very much as described.

I agree. He looks like a good future fit there. I think it would be cool if the Leafs could trade for - but pretty unlikely - Eric Gudbranson, and make him Matt Martin's new teammate. Gudbranson might be a perfect pairing for Jake Gardiner. it's doubtful though as the Nukes only acquired him in the past year and gave up quite a bit to get him. With things needing to be blown up in Canuck land, I guess anything is possible, but he is a piece they would likely retain. Too bad, the Leafs hadn't gotten to the Panthers first. They could probably have put together an equally attractive package.
 
slapshot said:
I think it would be cool if the Leafs could trade for - but pretty unlikely - Eric Gudbranson, and make him Matt Martin's new teammate. Gudbranson might be a perfect pairing for Jake Gardiner. it's doubtful though as the Nukes only acquired him in the past year and gave up quite a bit to get him. With things needing to be blown up in Canuck land, I guess anything is possible, but he is a piece they would likely retain. Too bad, the Leafs hadn't gotten to the Panthers first. They could probably have put together an equally attractive package.

I thought at the time that Vancouver was insane to make that trade. Gudbranson is pretty much a younger Polak type, no? Not sure if he'd be my choice to upgrade the D.
 
slapshot said:
Coco-puffs said:
Britishbulldog said:
I kind of wish the Leafs had a big, mobile LH dman with a mean streak to fill the 6th spot along side Carrick.  Although he was never that mobile, when Jared was drafted I thought he was going to that kind of player.  Too bad he can't be that player.

Andrew Nielsen.  He needs more grooming in the AHL, but he's very much as described.

I agree. He looks like a good future fit there. I think it would be cool if the Leafs could trade for - but pretty unlikely - Eric Gudbranson, and make him Matt Martin's new teammate. Gudbranson might be a perfect pairing for Jake Gardiner. it's doubtful though as the Nukes only acquired him in the past year and gave up quite a bit to get him. With things needing to be blown up in Canuck land, I guess anything is possible, but he is a piece they would likely retain. Too bad, the Leafs hadn't gotten to the Panthers first. They could probably have put together an equally attractive package.

I have watched Gudbranson for a few years when I have had the chance and he should fit with a offensively minded LH dman.  He seems to be pretty mobile for a 6'5" 220 lbs big man and isn't a liability defensively like some dmen the Leafs have had or have been rumoured to want. Although he isn't a goon, he can drop the gloves if he has to as well.  As McG pointed out he is basically a younger, bigger Polak.  I just feel Gudbranson is a bit better than Polak in every area relevant to hockey and would have been a solid #4 guy.

A digression from Jared Cowan being on waivers....
 
https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/806550396349063168

McKenzie "TOR wins its arbitration case vs. Jared Cowen. He remains bought out."
 
Are we in a bizzaro world? The Leafs have never had things fall their way until Shanny arrived.

There must have been some mega-secret ceremony to bury the voodoo/black cloud/curse.



 

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