Both general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Sheldon Keefe made it clear to Spezza at his season-ending meeting that they wanted him back. And there wasn’t much negotiation needed, as Spezza happily accepted another minimum contract from the only team he wanted to be on.
“I'll be honest: All I care about is playing on a good team and just trying to win. If I could take less [money], I would,” said Spezza, who has earned about $89 million in his career to date, per Cap Friendly. “I love playing the game, I love competing. Chasing the Cup is at the forefront of my mind daily, and anything I can do to help the team acquire better players, that's why I just take league minimum.”
Last edited by DeluxeMoustache; 06-17-2021 at 11:57 AM.
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Would be interesting to see what the makeup of the Leafs would be if Lou L was kept on. He wouldn't have had 4 guys making half the cap, and with no series wins since the early 2000's, you have to think they might be a more well rounded team with more depth if Lou stayed on.
Would be interesting to see what the makeup of the Leafs would be if Lou L was kept on. He wouldn't have had 4 guys making half the cap, and with no series wins since the early 2000's, you have to think they might be a more well rounded team with more depth if Lou stayed on.
Which might very well be why he didn't.
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I would like to give this thread a bump as we can start to look at what Treliving has done in Toronto and we can be thankful he decided to move on from the organization. I was reading some HFleafs and see a lot of discussion on the Brandon Carlo trade that cost the leafs Minten and their 1st this year. Carlo is on the bottom pair, Minten is in the NHL and the pick has top 5 protection only. The 2027 1st that was traded for Scott Laughton who has been a 4th line center.
David Kampf was a 4 year extension signed that could be leading towards termination.
Their blue line is ancient with most of the guys in the top 4 aged 31-35 with some type of trade protection.
They have 3 picks next draft (3rd round is the highest) and they do not have a 1st or 3rd in 2027.
Their prospect pool is among the worst in the league and they lost a top 5 scorer league wide and salvaged a mediocre bottom 6 forward in return.
Since Tree has been there he was able to accomplish something he only did once in Calgary which was have a team make the playoffs in consecutive years and his team won 7 playoff games last year which beat his best of 5 set in 2015, 2020, and 2022.
They are the leagues oldest team and look like they could be facing the same problems teams like the Hawks and Kings faced with an aging core that will be tough to win with as no prospects are coming to help. They are a winning streak away from getting back in the mix but if the season ended today with no change in the lottery they would be giving the B’s the 6th pick in the draft as part of the Carlo trade. Shades of Kessel
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TBF this is the first year he's not been under Shanahan. I don't think he's done much great since but the stuff before was not entirely his own.
Spending on free agency and sending out 1st round picks for depth defensemen was not new to Treliving before Toronto. As of today the Carlo trade looks to be Hamonic level bad but if the pick is in the 20’s not so bad. There was a lot of smoke Shanahan was on his way out last year so not sure how much he was driving things as opposed to Treliving. They opted to not replace Shanahan so felt comfortable with everything Treliving was selling.
We even got some of the “close but not quite” stuff with the Rantanen deal last year. It does feel like the Leaf fans have had the full experience in a coupe of years.
TBF this is the first year he's not been under Shanahan. I don't think he's done much great since but the stuff before was not entirely his own.
It’s always someone else’s fault with Tre.
Never had the resources here! No autonomy!
Reality: horrible coaching decisions and fumbling the Tkachuk file due to overpaid depth guys (sounds familiar, Toronto) were disastrous turning points for that core. Drafted a future Conn Smythe winner but somehow couldn’t get him in a position for success here.
So glad he’s gone.
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<--- no good.
