• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Marleau signed [3 years, $6.25mil AAV]

CarltonTheBear said:
Nik the Trik said:
As to the possibility that Marleau would refuse and demand to play I think we can kind of ignore that because the idea that he'd choose to ride the bus in the AHL vs going home to San Jose family for a pretty small pay check relatively seems unlikely to the point of real never seen before dedication.
Click to expand...

His NMC would mean he's not going to the AHL, but yeah I'm becoming more and more convinced that Marleau has no intention whatsoever of playing that third year given what his actual in-season pay-cheques are going to amount to.
Click to expand...

Ah, I hadn't heard that he'd gotten a NMC in addition to the NTC but even then, replace the AHL with the press box.
 
Even if they don't trade the third year, I'm near certain he'll be LTIR.

The only way I can even imagine otherwise is if he and Matthews destroy the league together for the next two seasons and it'd be unthinkable for him not to play.
 
Capfriendly is listing Marleau's contract only as an NMC, so it's only trade by permission. I don't think it'll be a problem though.

Hainsey has a modified NTC.
 
Nik the Trik said:
RedLeaf said:
Nik the Trik said:
If anything it seems like the far more apt comparison would be to someone like Nieuwendyk. I don't think anyone was expecting him to be at his peak here, just that he could still be a useful player.
Click to expand...

Or Lindros?
Click to expand...

Well, except the direct comparison is worrying about age vs worrying about injury. Lindros was only 32 when he signed here but hadn't been played a full season in years. Nieuwendyk was 37 and relatively healthy.

So, yeah, Nieuwendyk.
Click to expand...

Thanks for doing my homework for me Nik.
 
I don't like this signing.  For that kind of money, they could have got Phaneuf back.  They needed a defenseman not another forward.
 
Rebel_1812 said:
I don't like this signing.  For that kind of money, they could have got Phaneuf back.  They needed a defenseman not another forward.
Click to expand...

1) This doesn't prevent or preclude us from getting another defenseman.
2) If needed, we can trade JvR and/or Bozak for cap space and/or assets required.
 
Cons:
- Age and Mileage: Yes he hasn't missed a game since 2009, plus extra-curricular tournaments/Olympics, but that doesn't mean he won't ever miss a game
- Term: the third year overlaps with the season we're paying all 3 of the Kids; but the contract is very tradeable should Marleau choose to 'retire'.
- Value: That's a lot of dollars for declining performance; paying for the name, essentially.

Pros:
- Speed and skill style of play; still very speedy relative to the increasingly younger and faster league
- He's basically JvR+: former 2OA pick, LH shot, big, fast, scores from net front in a variety of ways, doesn't play hard on the body, but more defensively responsible, can take draws well.
- Pushes better wingers lower on the lineup; we're still insisting on Martin eating up a spot, so it can only get so much better
- He has all the intangibles Martin can't cover: how to be a skilled star in the league, preparation for longevity and durability with a skill game, on-ice leadership, team loyalty
- Might be exactly the right type of leader to match Matthews' personality:
Roenick has criticized Marleau in the past ? mostly for a lack of heart and emotion. The two were teammates for two seasons before Roenick retired in 2009.

I talked with Marleau today about his relationship with Roenick, now a TV analyst in addition to author.

?He?s got his own agenda,? the 33-year-old former Sharks captain said. ?He?s saying stuff so people watch. I understand that. I don?t have to like it or agree with it, but he?s trying to get viewers like you?re trying to get people to read the paper. I don?t take it personally or anything like that.?

As far as the perception that he lacks emotion, Marleau addressed that, too.

?I can see how people would think that because I?m very stoic,? he said. ?I tried to keep it controlled, but believe me, the emotions are running. Sometimes I think if you just show emotion to show it, you?re draining yourself and it?s not really for anybody?s benefit.?
Click to expand...

More

Responses to the Cons:
- Age and Mileage: The Leafs as a group were unusually durable, and I suspect their focus on rest and recovery via their sports science department had a lot to do with that -- e.g. Hunwick was able to rehab up to speed, seeing what Rielly did in the playoffs on a high ankle sprain
- Term: the Cap hit / (actual salary - signing bonus) ratio is heavily stacked to help another team reach the floor for a minimal spend.
- Value: We have a lot of LTIR space that went unused; if you have it, might as well leverage it while your primary core is cheap

Ultimately, Marleau is not a core player on the Leafs, and while he's expensive, we have money lying around. It brings more balance to the scoring side of the equation, by either pushing top-9 players into the bottom-3, or giving more of a safety net to turning JvR/Bozak into depth elsewhere. I think Lou is accurate in saying this was a unique opportunity to hire a contributing on-ice mentor for the core. Performance bonus overages will get pushed to next season, but that's something that can push into our open cap space the following season when Lupul, whatever is left of the 3 UFAers, and Gleason, etc. come off the books.

If the move pays off, it could pay off handsomely; if it doesn't work out, the only real possible reason would be injury and that in itself has a built-in solution.
 
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/patrick-marleau-bring-toronto-maple-leafs/

This is good chart.
Marleau.png
 
Deebo said:
Herman, your ability to find ways to mention Martin in unrelated topics is pretty impressive.
Click to expand...

:)

I see them as similar moves, except one is for skill while the other is for toughness. Both are for veteran experience and mentorship, whatever that is worth (it's not worth nothing, but it's also not worth a lineup slot without some scoring). 
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Nik the Trik said:
Good article about the signing

https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/sports/courtship-joe-thornton-patrick-marleau-183610401.html

Seems like Thornton was never a real possibility.
Click to expand...

Reading Thornton's comments about it always being San Jose makes me even more surprised we landed Marleau. Yes, we're paying him very handsomely, but still this is like Sundin leaving Toronto to play for Vancouver if the Leafs were actually still good at that time.
Click to expand...

So Joe was willing to take a little less to have Marleau resign? That's interesting.
 
https://twitter.com/MapleLeafsHS/status/882016497761218560
https://twitter.com/c_marleau/status/881943656143376384
 
"I?m still full of piss and vinegar and I know the kids they have here are full of it"

T.O. media lesson #1, Patty: Never, ever say anything that can be taken out of context.  In other words, never say anything remotely interesting.

PS: Saying "I'm going to feed off it" in the next line is ... er, odd.  Unless you're Gandhi.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
gunnar36 said:
They need to find a way to at least get one of Kapanen or Soshinikov into lineup full time.  They are both excellent forecheckers and can play valuable pk minutes. Yes, you will argue that Moore and Marleau will do the same, but i see youthfulness as an asset in providing a more effective and relentless forecheck.
Click to expand...

Kapanen is going to have to be patient. He'll either get his chance when JVR is traded, or maybe next season when JVR and Bozak potentially walk (which would open up 1 top-9 wing spot, or potentially 2 wing spots if Nylander slides to centre). He's also still exempt from waivers so him playing another season in the AHL wouldn't be the end of the world.

As far as Soshnikov goes, I don't see him being more than a 4th liner. Albeit, a 4th liner that I like. But with Martin taking up 1 spot, there's a lot of competition for the other spot so he's in a very tough situation. Any one of Hyman or Soshnikov or Kapanen or Leivo would be fine there.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% CtB.  Kapanen has 2 years or 137 NHL games to go before he has to clear waivers.  The Leafs need to maximize that.

Soshnikov is also waiver exempt to so I think he won't be on the big club and could be trade bait with his useful role.

I expect the lineup to look like:
Marleau / Matthews / Nylander
JVR  / Bozak / Marner
Komarov / Kadri / Brown
Martin / Moore / Hyman
Fehr + Smith in the press box
 
Marleau calls the Leafs youngsters a "special group", and talks of what really sold him on signing with the team:

?They just kept talking to me about the excitement in and around the team, talking to me about the group of guys that they have there right now and how they eat, sleep and breathe hockey,? said Marleau, the Sharks? all-time goals and points leader.

?That sold me. I want to be part of that. They say they have a special group. I want to be one of those guys that plays there. Hopefully, we can build on that and have some success.?

?He brings that excitement to the game. I watched him this year out here on the west coast,? Marleau said of Matthews.

?You see these guys love the game. They?re ready to go. They?re tons and tons of energy. It?s exciting to watch. I want to be a part of it.?

The cherry on top of being a Maple Leaf for Marleau is getting to play for coach Mike Babcock again.

?It definitely played a huge factor in it,? Marleau said of Babcock?s impact on his decision. ?I look forward to having that pressure on me and having him want things out of me and pushing me. I expect a lot out of myself and I know he does, too. I?m ready for the work.?
Click to expand...

[tweet]881970550226157568[/tweet]


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/patrick-marleau-excited-maple-leafs-special-group/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top