How is the team built when JT and Marner are coming off books soon or need new deals. Nylsnder needs a contract or a new home. You only have AM for 4 yrs. To me that's hardly a team built for long term success. Too many variables in a short time. It def looks like they are in a build a team mode as weird as that is to say for a perennial playoff team.
- Leniwm1

How does any of that change if Matthews had signed an 8-year extension? They have him for 5 more years. Marner isn't going anywhere and Nylander's probably getting a new contract. Tavares is also likely to give them a homer extension. The core of the team will be the same for the next five years. Their plan for longterm success is to win a Cup or two in those five years.

How is the team built when JT and Marner are coming off books soon or need new deals. Nylsnder needs a contract or a new home. You only have AM for 4 yrs. To me that's hardly a team built for long term success. Too many variables in a short time. It def looks like they are in a build a team mode as weird as that is to say for a perennial playoff team.
- Leniwm1

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the 3 years of flat cap it’s that I don’t want any TML signed to an 8 year deal unless it is*universally* agreed that the aav is well below “current “ market

How is the team built when JT and Marner are coming off books soon or need new deals. Nylsnder needs a contract or a new home. You only have AM for 4 yrs. To me that's hardly a team built for long term success. Too many variables in a short time. It def looks like they are in a build a team mode as weird as that is to say for a perennial playoff team.
- Leniwm1

Also in any given year NJD is going to have expiring contract. sooner or later those expiring contracts will be for their superstars. It’s a cycle. Your comparing NJD and TML are at slightly different stages in their arcs

The Matthews deal is a good deal. If he is happy in Toronto it doesn’t matter how long the deal is he will resign. The playoff issues will right themselves because the core is more mature.

I keep hearing about defensive concerns but it will be ok. With a cap there has to be priorities and with the forwards they have the defense does not have as much money invested in it. Reilly has shown he is a true number one guy.

I would have preferred that they kept Bunting if they could have got him for 8 years at 3 million just like they should have kept Hyman but they didn’t.

Term and money are of good value.

But theres only 2 ways this will end. Fantastic or horrible. Theres no middle ground left