Dream on! Chara will never sign with Leafs
Why am I not getting excited about the Leafs signing Joe Thornton? He’s had a great career, he’s got Hall of Fame numbers and his salary is definitely cap friendly. Is it the fact that he was the part of those great San Jose 100-plus-point teams that always lost in the first round? How about this: The Leafs sign Zdeno Chara to a two-year deal and make him captain. He’s won the Stanley Cup and a Norris Trophy. He may have lost a step, but not his size, strength, toughness and physical presence. — Doug M. While I agree with everything you say about Chara, the Leafs have a captain and don’t need another. I don’t think he’d want to come here. I hear what you’re saying about Thornton. I was skeptical about Patrick Marleau and that was three years ago. But Thornton is low money and low risk. Plus he might be able to show these young guys how to have fun. I’m not sure they have any fun, and that can’t be fun.
I am interested in getting the aging but durable Zdeno Chara for a year at league-minimum salary, or even a two-year deal at say $1.5 million (U.S.). — Bob, Burlington
Yes, I’m sure 30 teams would be interested in that. But is Chara interested? I gather it’s Boston or nowhere for the big guy. And I doubt he’s playing for the minimum ($700,000).
I read that players on one-year contracts do not have to be protected for the upcoming Seattle Kraken draft. Can that explain why there were so many one-year deals this year? — Paul K.
Any player that is heading to unrestricted free agency does not need to be protected in the expansion draft. I’m not sure that’s the reason for so many one-year deals. In fact, teams might want to have a few of these guys under contract precisely so that they can be exposed in the draft. There are requirements for the number, type and experience level of players teams must expose. I think the reason for so many one-year deals is the uncertainty around finances given the pandemic. Teams are not willing to take on more financial risk than needed. And players, to their credit, are betting on themselves to have a big season and cash in bigger after (if?) the pandemic passes.
I say leave William Nylander unprotected and hope to unload the contract. He’s soft, a floater and overpaid. — Ken S.
The bias in this town is for bashers and big hits, so I get why Nylander doesn’t turn your crank, but he’s an elite player. A point-a-game forward with exquisite skills does not just land in your lap. Nylander has developed an “I’d rather be anywhere but in front of the cameras” persona to his detriment, since that’s the personality fans see through the lens. But his talent is sky high and he plays to it. His $6.9-million average annual value would have been a bargain this year if the cap had risen. Even so, he’s the 69th highest-paid player in the NHL (based on AAV, according to capfriendly.com). He’s paid a hair more than Patrice Bergeron and a hair less than Matthew Tkachuk. His points per game (0.87) is 49th (among players who played at least 30 games). So he’s providing value for the dollar, and playing exactly the way the team wants him to (most of the time).