TSN in Canada reports tonight Toronto Maple Leafs GM Cliff
Fletcher has contacted veteran winger Darcy Tucker to inform him the club will
buy out the remainder of Tucker’s contract.
The 33-year-old Tucker has three years remaining on his
current contract at $3 million per season, so by exercising their buyout option
the Leafs will be looking at roughly $1 million per season counting against
their cap for the next six seasons.
It’s understandable why Fletcher is taking this route. The
Leafs are in the midst of a massive rebuilding project and has too much money
tied up in too few veteran players unwilling to waive their movement clauses. He needs to free up as much potential cap space as
possible heading into this summer’s UFA market.
Still, this could be a costly move over the long run for the
Leafs.
Tucker struggled through injury and a lack of playing time
last season but still might’ve had enough left in the tank to be a worthwhile contributor
to the Leafs.
He loved playing for the Leafs and loved living and working
in Toronto, and it’s possible he might’ve bounced back next season.
If he didn’t the Leafs could’ve gone the buyout route next
June when it would’ve been than $1 million per season against the Leafs cap for
a shorter period time (four years).
One million per season in dead cap space might seem like a
drop in the bucket for the NHL’s richest franchise, but they still have to work
under a salary cap like everyone else and six years is a long time to carry that dead space, which could come back to
haunt them.
Tucker in the meantime shouldn’t have any trouble finding a
new NHL team to sign with. Rumor has it the NY Rangers might make a pitch if
they opt not to re-sign Sean Avery.
Actually, I think that Darcy would be a great and welcome addition to many teams. I hope though that the Wild are paying attention to this possible bone headed move by the Leafs.
Well, it's boneheaded because the Leafs are no longer going to have him in the lineup but they'll have a cap that is $1 million per year for six years below everyone else's. That's six years! Add to that the $700,000 per year for the next two that Raycroft will take and the Leafs will be well behind everyone else even before they drop the puck. I really think they are rather behind the times in Toronto, unless their rebuilding program is scheduled for the next ten years instead of the next three to five. I think we'll see (and have seen already) that these cast-offs of the Leafs will be quickly snapped up by other teams and will contribute to them quite nicely. I seriously believe that Wellwood, Tucker and Raycroft belong in the NHL and will flourish under a decent and professional leadership team. Meanwhile the Leafs will be on the hook for a cap hit every year.
Vancouver's offense got a boost by snagging Wellwood. Who gets the tough guy?
I'm liking Tucker on the Rangers. He fills the Avery position nicely, and for less money. And I think he'd have better chemistry on the Rangers, especially if the Sundin to Broadway rumors are true. Speaking of, has anyone heard anymore about the Rangers talking to Sundin?
Ok, so they don't have him but they have a $1M cap hit? So what? If they don't buy him out they have him, who they're not happy with and who plays a lot less than he used to, and they're paying him $2M to sit on the bench PLUS whatever they're going to have to pay the guy they're going to replace him with. Neither is an ideal situation but this one opens up a roster spot (hopefully for Marly who wouldn't otherwise get a spot) and lets him go somewhere that he'll be more useful.
Again, not ideal, but neither is having him on the roster when it's been decided that there's not a place for him.
I believe that cutting Darcy Tucker loose is a great move. His act became a real embarrassment, and the amount of money he was receiving for his calibre of play was a travesty. You don't win championships with the likes of Tucker and you certainly don't want him around a rebuilding team. Sure, he will catch on with someone, but he will be a failure. The Leafs will have to keep paying him as penalty for signing him to such a ridiculous contract in the first place.
Last edited by The Great Northeast on June 26th at 9:41 AM.
I know that Tucker's show became an embarrassment and you're absolutely right about it being a no-win situation. Ferguson made a few really poor decisions when he was there. I guess my point was that they were going nowhere for the next couple of years anyway so could afford to see if he could turn his game around under Wilson. After all Tucker scored 18 goals last year in a limited role on a bad team-not worth $3 million but possibly something to work on. It seems to me they should just make a DVD of how the Leafs operate as a management unit and sell it as an instrucional DVD on how to ruin your chances of success by doing almost everything wrong.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
