MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 John Ferguson has made a bold move with an eye to capturing the next big thing in hockey  he offered up-and-coming superstar John Tavares a contract to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs' farm team. Tavares, the teenage phenom currently playing for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, is not eligible for the NHL entry draft until 2009 because his birthday, Sept. 20, 1990, falls five days after the age deadline for the 2008 draft. The NHL collective agreement states that only players who are 18 years old by Sept. 15 of each year are eligible for that year's entry draft. An NHL source said Ferguson, the Maple Leafs general manager, recently contacted Tavares' agents, Brian McDonald and Bryan Deasley, and offered the young forward a contract for a minimum of three years. The source said Ferguson has not received a response yet. By offering a deal for at least three years or longer, the source said Ferguson hopes to convince Tavares to remain Leaf property and opt out of the NHL draft. Tavares is eligible for the 2009 entry draft. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Canadian Wings Report post Posted October 25, 2007 If JFJ does this right and actually doesn't f*** up, i think all is forgiven in Leaf land He can turn from the zero to hero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Is this, how do you say it, legal? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 If Fergie actually pulls this off (which I highly doubt he will), I may take back nearly half of the bad things I've said about him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 If Fergie actually pulls this off (which I highly doubt he will), I may take back nearly half of the bad things I've said about him. I'd like to see the kid in the AHL next year as he has nothing left to prove in the CHL. But I highly doubt he'll be bogged down by any contract that prohibits him from playing in the NHL until he's 21. This kid could probably score 25 goals in the NHL right now. Holland! Trade Dats for Tavares now! (ducks from oncoming insults from LGW members) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Interesting to say the least. Another loophole that will be addressed at the CBA renegotiations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Interesting to say the least. Another loophole that will be addressed at the CBA renegotiations. Probably. But I actually don't mind if this could be done. I probably dont' have a clue on what the future ramifications could be, but I don't see an issue with a 17 year old playing in the AHL if he can still keep his draft eligibility. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GordieSid&Ted Report post Posted October 25, 2007 I'd like to see the kid in the AHL next year as he has nothing left to prove in the CHL. But I highly doubt he'll be bogged down by any contract that prohibits him from playing in the NHL until he's 21. This kid could probably score 25 goals in the NHL right now. Holland! Trade Dats for Tavares now! (ducks from oncoming insults from LGW members) I don't mean to bag on anybody for using the tools available to them. But, just like the RFA offer sheets, I don't like this one bit. It's a loophole, right? So, by definition a way of getting around or circumventing the rules. Why not just do this with every up and coming star of the future if your the Leafs or Rangers or Wings? I'll admit I don't understand the situation very well but this seems like bulls*** to me. He should have to be draft eligible and some lucky team, given their atrocious season, should have a crack at getting him to help build their future. The Leafs could very well make the playoffs and we're talking about them swiping this kid right out of the arms of 29 other teams potentially. Whether or not he and his agent agree to do the deal if irrelevant to me. I disagree with this being an option in the first place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agalloch Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Tavares is already whining about not being draft eligible in 2008. For some reason, I highly doubt he wants to wait until 2011 until he can play a single NHL game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 (edited) Interesting to say the least. Another loophole that will be addressed at the CBA renegotiations. Tough to do because it's really more of a loophole between the OHL and AHL. The NHL can't really stop a player from signing a pro contract with another league in their own CBA. Edited October 25, 2007 by MacK_Attack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yemack 1 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Seeing how Leafs are basement dweller for this season and next, they are gonna get Tavares eventually. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteLightning91 105 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Tavares is already whining about not being draft eligible in 2008. For some reason, I highly doubt he wants to wait until 2011 until he can play a single NHL game. The way I read it was that if Tavares was to be drafted by another NHL team in 2008, then the Leaf's would be in a position to trade his right to that team which drafted him, therefore they would get an insane package for the kid. Feel free to correct me if I'm not understanding it correctly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 (edited) Tough to do because it's really more of a loophole between the OHL and AHL. The NHL can't really stop a player from signing a pro contract with another league in their own CBA. True, but it still affects the way a player enters the league, which I'm sure bothers atleast a few of the big wigs. Hard to think that it won't be at least discussed. Edited October 25, 2007 by Never Forget Mac #25 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 What's to stop Chelios from being eligible for the 2008 draft? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeeRYCE 2 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Dear Holland... Sign Steve Stamkos! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 this is yet another example of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. So if phx gets the rights to this kid, they're going to have give up the farm to the leafs to get him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 True, but it still affects the way a player enters the league, which I'm sure bothers atleast a few of the big wigs. Hard to think that it won't be at least discussed. I'm sure they may look to add some kind of clause to the part of the CBA that deals with the draft, but that's about all they can do. The AHL will never agree to stop things like this because it needs the ticket sales and that's what a kid like Tavares would do, sell tickets. It's kind of a tough spot because you're dealing with non-NHL players playing in leagues outside of the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Canadian Wings Report post Posted October 25, 2007 this is yet another example of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. So if phx gets the rights to this kid, they're going to have give up the farm to the leafs to get him? something like that, but if a coupal years pass then he can go back as a FA then sign with the leafs...anyways, who wants to see tavares roat(sp) away in phoenix, not me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
omnipotent_hudler 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Unless tavares "has always dreamed of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs".. there is no way he'll wait this long to play in the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacK_Attack 108 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 Unless tavares "has always dreamed of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs".. there is no way he'll wait this long to play in the NHL. Well....that is the case....he's a Toronto boy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Packer487 3 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 That's sketchy as hell, but absolutely brilliant if they can pull it off. Maybe we should go do that with the next up and coming Swede or Jiri. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBadOne 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 I thought you had to be at least 20 to play in the AHL. Is there something I'm missing, or does that only apply to drafted players? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingslogo19 281 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 This situation doesn't really make sense.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 The Leafs are stealing Tavares. Very smart move by JFJ, maybe he isnt that much of an idiot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted October 25, 2007 UHg, I hear enough BS leafs rumours on TSN that I dont give a crap about. Now I come to LWG and half of the top 3 threads are leafs related. Whats going on - you just can't escape leafs nation, no matter how s***ty they are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
