Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.8

www.afootinthecrease.com

Unlike many of today’s successful teams, the Maple Leafs are devoid of dynamic young talent that could one day become the next face of their franchise. Effective young talent they do have, but at this point, none that appears poised to lead the team over the next decade. Now over two years into the league’s obstruction crackdown, speed, skill and youth have continually shown that they are three of the most important assets a team can possess. Generally to acquire such franchise cornerstone type players, a team must hit rock bottom for a year if not more to accumulate enough high draft picks with which to rebuild from. The Maple Leafs, though, don’t want to fully commit to a rebuilding period but still wouldn’t mind one of those young franchise type players. JFJ’s latest idea…Let’s subvert the draft.

Earlier last week, a story broke suggesting the Maple Leafs had approached John Tavares with an AHL contract offer in hopes of him signing the deal paving the way for him to become a Maple Leaf down the road in 2013. After concluding a multi year AHL contract until said date, he would become a free agent eligible to sign with the Maple Leafs or any other team for that matter. Leaf fans…don’t count on it. If it were just that easy to subvert the draft, teams would be doing it with the top two or three “can’t miss” prospects each year. Unless ¾ of AHL teams voted in favour of passing an exception, Tavares would not be eligible for the AHL any sooner than he would be for the NHL. He still has to be 18. Don’t think for a minute 75% of the league would agree to allow an exception for one team to sign a player that would likely give them a significant competitive advantage.

Let’s not forget that Tavares is a kid who already wants to play in the NHL at age 17. Why would he wait until he is 23 just for a chance to play for the Maple Leafs. So if you’re Tavares, why not just wait and do things the conventional way. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.