OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Turning Over a New Leaf(s): The 1988-89 Maple Leafs

uWoHollywood · 06-30-2023, 04:27 PM

Wendel Clark (7th), Ed Olczyk (13th) and Peter Stastny (16th) were among the best-selling jerseys in the month of May

Leafs GM Jason Taylor voted for Brad Park, Darryl Sittler, Tony Esposito and Garry Unger to enter the Hall of Fame

Taylor also had to examine his roster,as he had several contracts expiring. Decisions would need to be made.

#1 - G Bob Froese, 30

Froese will become a UFA. Curtis Joseph was now on par with Froese’s level, pushing Froese further down the depth chart. And Froese was already upset at not getting a shot with the Leafs after the trade deadline. Both Taylor and Froese agreed to let Froese go.

#2 - D Borje Salming, 38

Salming will become a UFA. Salming had experienced a resurgence; his 12 goals in 42 games were his highest total in seven years, and he was playing at a 50-point pace before he fractured his knee. He told Taylor that recovery was extremely challenging, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to play. Taylor said he would abide by whatever Salming wanted; he was open to bringing him back, but wanted Salming to decide if he was up for another NHL season at 39 years old.

#3 - D Steve Konroyd, 28

Konyord will become an RFA. Taylor felt Konroyd had been disappointing overall; his preference was to give Craig Muni another chance on the 3rd pair. He wasn’t sure if Konroyd was his ideal 7th defenseman. Taylor told Konroyd he and his agent could explore offer sheets; if neither of them liked their options, they could explore a new contract in the Summer. But Taylor would qualify Konroyd to maintain Toronto’s rights.

#4 - D Brad Marsh, 31

Marsh was Extended. He wanted to increase his salary from $135k to $240k, and he wanted a 2-year deal. Taylor really liked Marsh’s play and his influence in the dressing room, but would prefer a 1-year deal. Taylor offered a $250k, 1yr deal and Marsh accepted.

#5 - LW Phil Bourque, 26

Bourque will become an RFA. Toronto qualified him to maintain his rights. Taylor liked Bourque’s hard-nosed style, and the fact that he contributed 6 points in 13 playoff games from the 4th line. However, Taylor was interested in giving an NHL look at a few Newmarket Saints players (Tom Chorske, Kevin Stevens and Danton Cole). Taylor told Bourque he liked him, but wasn’t 100% sure he could promise him a full-time role; he would likely be a sub for injuries. He advised Bourque he could explore offer sheets, but that Taylor may end up bringing him back in the Summer.

#6 - C Doug Shedden, 27

Shedden will become an RFA. He played decently in the AHL (25-34-59 and 132 PIM), but Taylor had no interest in giving him a shot at the NHL. However, Taylor wanted to hang on to him just in case someone offer sheeted him in the Summer.

#7 - C Peter Stastny, 32

Stastny was Traded. He had no interest in renewing, and wanted to test the market. Taylor was disappointed, but understood. Stastny advised that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay in Toronto, return to Quebec, or consider something new altogether. Taylor contacted Quebec GM Martin Madden, and mentioned that Stastny was going to hit the market; Taylor wanted to know if Madden wanted to take a shot at renewing his contract before he became a UFA, and Madden said yes. He offered young D Steven Finn, 22. Taylor’s scouts felt Finn could reasonably compete with Craig Muni for the #6 D spot, which would in turn allow Taylor to explore trade options for Steve Konroyd. Taylor accepted, and Madden began working with Statsny’s agent on an extension.

#8 - LW Charlie Simmer, 35

Simmer will become a UFA. He was expensive and his best days were clearly behind him; Taylor wished him well and thanked him for helping the young forwards on the AHL Saints learn from an all-star.

#9 - LW Doug Smail, 31

Smail will become a UFA. He had been a great fit for Toronto’s 4th line. However, Smail wanted a huge salary increase (from $117k to $270k) AND a 3yr deal. Taylor only wanted to renew Smail for one year, given his age. But Smail wouldn’t budge from his desire for a 3-year extension. Taylor asked what it would take to get him on a 2-year deal, and Smail said $330k, take it or leave it. Taylor’s shoulders slumped; that would make Smail the highest-paid player on the Leafs behind only Gary Leeman, and Taylor couldn’t justify that cost for a 4th-line player. He agreed to let Smail become a UFA, and thanked him for his contributions to a wonderful season.

#10 - C Mitch Wilson, 27

Wilson would become an RFA. Similar to Shedden; no room on the Leafs for him, but could be an offer sheet target or trade asset.

And there we have it! From the core Toronto roster:

Peter Stastny traded back to Quebec
Brad Marsh extended
Phil Bourque qualified
Steve Konroyd qualified

A few days later, Taylor approached Smail with an ask; would he be open to a trade to another team giving Smail time to explore a contract with them ahead of July 1? Smail said he would only be interested in going to a true contender, someone who had a legitimate chance at a Cup. Taylor called Bobby Clarke, GM of the Flyers; Smail wasn’t going to re-sign with Toronto, but still wanted a shot with a contender. Would Clarke be interested in an exclusive negotiation window for the last two weeks of June? Clark said yes, and offered a defenseman from his farm team; 22 y/o D Murray Baron. Taylor, looking at the thin blueline in Newmarket, accepted the offer.

Next up: the NHL awards and the end-of-season interview with Leafs' owner Harold Ballard.

06-30-2023, 04:27 PM	#29
uWoHollywood Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 55	Expiring Contracts Wendel Clark (7th), Ed Olczyk (13th) and Peter Stastny (16th) were among the best-selling jerseys in the month of May Leafs GM Jason Taylor voted for Brad Park, Darryl Sittler, Tony Esposito and Garry Unger to enter the Hall of Fame Taylor also had to examine his roster,as he had several contracts expiring. Decisions would need to be made. #1 - G Bob Froese, 30 Froese will become a UFA. Curtis Joseph was now on par with Froese’s level, pushing Froese further down the depth chart. And Froese was already upset at not getting a shot with the Leafs after the trade deadline. Both Taylor and Froese agreed to let Froese go. #2 - D Borje Salming, 38 Salming will become a UFA. Salming had experienced a resurgence; his 12 goals in 42 games were his highest total in seven years, and he was playing at a 50-point pace before he fractured his knee. He told Taylor that recovery was extremely challenging, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to play. Taylor said he would abide by whatever Salming wanted; he was open to bringing him back, but wanted Salming to decide if he was up for another NHL season at 39 years old. #3 - D Steve Konroyd, 28 Konyord will become an RFA. Taylor felt Konroyd had been disappointing overall; his preference was to give Craig Muni another chance on the 3rd pair. He wasn’t sure if Konroyd was his ideal 7th defenseman. Taylor told Konroyd he and his agent could explore offer sheets; if neither of them liked their options, they could explore a new contract in the Summer. But Taylor would qualify Konroyd to maintain Toronto’s rights. #4 - D Brad Marsh, 31 Marsh was Extended. He wanted to increase his salary from $135k to $240k, and he wanted a 2-year deal. Taylor really liked Marsh’s play and his influence in the dressing room, but would prefer a 1-year deal. Taylor offered a $250k, 1yr deal and Marsh accepted. #5 - LW Phil Bourque, 26 Bourque will become an RFA. Toronto qualified him to maintain his rights. Taylor liked Bourque’s hard-nosed style, and the fact that he contributed 6 points in 13 playoff games from the 4th line. However, Taylor was interested in giving an NHL look at a few Newmarket Saints players (Tom Chorske, Kevin Stevens and Danton Cole). Taylor told Bourque he liked him, but wasn’t 100% sure he could promise him a full-time role; he would likely be a sub for injuries. He advised Bourque he could explore offer sheets, but that Taylor may end up bringing him back in the Summer. #6 - C Doug Shedden, 27 Shedden will become an RFA. He played decently in the AHL (25-34-59 and 132 PIM), but Taylor had no interest in giving him a shot at the NHL. However, Taylor wanted to hang on to him just in case someone offer sheeted him in the Summer. #7 - C Peter Stastny, 32 Stastny was Traded. He had no interest in renewing, and wanted to test the market. Taylor was disappointed, but understood. Stastny advised that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay in Toronto, return to Quebec, or consider something new altogether. Taylor contacted Quebec GM Martin Madden, and mentioned that Stastny was going to hit the market; Taylor wanted to know if Madden wanted to take a shot at renewing his contract before he became a UFA, and Madden said yes. He offered young D Steven Finn, 22. Taylor’s scouts felt Finn could reasonably compete with Craig Muni for the #6 D spot, which would in turn allow Taylor to explore trade options for Steve Konroyd. Taylor accepted, and Madden began working with Statsny’s agent on an extension. #8 - LW Charlie Simmer, 35 Simmer will become a UFA. He was expensive and his best days were clearly behind him; Taylor wished him well and thanked him for helping the young forwards on the AHL Saints learn from an all-star. #9 - LW Doug Smail, 31 Smail will become a UFA. He had been a great fit for Toronto’s 4th line. However, Smail wanted a huge salary increase (from $117k to $270k) AND a 3yr deal. Taylor only wanted to renew Smail for one year, given his age. But Smail wouldn’t budge from his desire for a 3-year extension. Taylor asked what it would take to get him on a 2-year deal, and Smail said $330k, take it or leave it. Taylor’s shoulders slumped; that would make Smail the highest-paid player on the Leafs behind only Gary Leeman, and Taylor couldn’t justify that cost for a 4th-line player. He agreed to let Smail become a UFA, and thanked him for his contributions to a wonderful season. #10 - C Mitch Wilson, 27 Wilson would become an RFA. Similar to Shedden; no room on the Leafs for him, but could be an offer sheet target or trade asset. And there we have it! From the core Toronto roster: Peter Stastny traded back to Quebec Brad Marsh extended Phil Bourque qualified Steve Konroyd qualified A few days later, Taylor approached Smail with an ask; would he be open to a trade to another team giving Smail time to explore a contract with them ahead of July 1? Smail said he would only be interested in going to a true contender, someone who had a legitimate chance at a Cup. Taylor called Bobby Clarke, GM of the Flyers; Smail wasn’t going to re-sign with Toronto, but still wanted a shot with a contender. Would Clarke be interested in an exclusive negotiation window for the last two weeks of June? Clark said yes, and offered a defenseman from his farm team; 22 y/o D Murray Baron. Taylor, looking at the thin blueline in Newmarket, accepted the offer. Next up: the NHL awards and the end-of-season interview with Leafs' owner Harold Ballard.