Leafs offer Tavares contract

[SweWings 45]

I'm confused...If this is actually possible, why don't teams do this all the time? Cuz this would mean that the team has the rights to the player since he's under contract - even if drafted right? So this could be like soccer where some kids like Messi are signed at like 11 years of age? So the NHL starts to reflect the elite soccer leagues in Europe where more or less the same teams are the top 4-5 in the national league and the CL? That sounds like crap...

[joshy207 156]

I don't see this working out under any of the scenarios laid out in the article. For one, the AHL and NHL are very closely tied together. All AHL teams are NHL affiliates and the AHL is used as a testing ground for tweaks to NHL rules. The AHL honors NHL suspensions and contracts. The AHL basically doesn't function without the NHL. This wasn't the case when Patrik Stefan and Petr Sykora played in the old IHL as 17-year-olds. The IHL had NHL affiliations but was more of an independent league, using some different rules and at one point had aspriations of rivaling the NHL as a major league. I could not see the AHL allowing Tavares to sign the 3-year deal and spurn the NHL draft, this would strain relations between the leagues. Even the one-year deal would be tough, because it would hurt the OHL, which also has a very strong working relationship with the NHL. Basically I can't see the applecart being upset here. If Tavares wants to play pro next year, maybe he should look to Europe.

I'm confused...If this is actually possible, why don't teams do this all the time? Cuz this would mean that the team has the rights to the player since he's under contract - even if drafted right? So this could be like soccer where some kids like Messi are signed at like 11 years of age? So the NHL starts to reflect the elite soccer leagues in Europe where more or less the same teams are the top 4-5 in the national league and the CL? That sounds like crap...

This sounds like the NHL in the pre-draft years, up until the late 60s. The O-6 teams all had territorial rights to every player in their area, and could sign players outside their territory as young teens. Boston signed Bobby Orr at age 14 (yeah, 14!!!) and had him play with one of their junior teams, the Oshawa Generals... same team that Tavares is on. Every player, like my dad, who just played midget and junior hockey in Detroit in the mid-60s had to sign what was called a "C-Form" which made him property of the Detroit Red Wings and unable to sign with another NHL team. The Canadiens had rights to every French-Canadian player, which is why they had so many Francophone stars in the O-6 era. This was all before the Entry Draft, and I can't see any form of a return to that system happening.

[Guest Canadian Wings]

The title of this post should be changed...Toronto never offered Tavares anything, Ferguson however, did make contact with Tavares agent, but NO CONTRACT was offered..

[handyandy_101 0]

altho i still dont fully comprehend everything that is involved here, i think that the leauge should make sure that this does not pan out, and then close the door for anything like this to happen in the future. i hate how complex the game has gotten in recent years. we are talkin about the distinct possiblity of the leafs winning numerous cups somewhere in the future all because of some chinsy ass loophole. call me a purist, but i believe that the business side of the game should follow as basic, standardized, and fair a structure as possible, and then let the games get won and lost on the ice.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Jiri Tlusty scored his first two NHL goals just 35-seconds apart tonight. Who needs Tavares? jk

Man, the Leafs are vastly improved without Tucker and McCabe taking up dead space.

[Barrie 900]

They talked about this on the FAN590 today. The eligible age to play in the AHL is the same as the NHL, 18 by September 15th. Tavares is still to young. Since he's under 18 the only way it can be done is if 2/3 of the AHL owners approve it. If approved, the Leafs can only sign him for a one year deal. After that one year, he enters the draft.

If the Leafs want to try this they have to convince the AHL that having Tavares in the League a year early would benefit the AHL and help sell tickets. Considering 26 teams in the AHL teams are American, no one other than Canadians have ever heard of this guy, so it really won't effect anything, which means it will be voted down. Plus they said the AHL owners wouldn't allow a 17 year old in the League anyway, considering the level of play in the AHL to the OHL is a big difference.

Also they talked to Tavares Agent today. He was asked if JFJ contacted him, the answer was no.

If the Leafs want Tavares, they should just unload their average talent, finish last, and rebuild from scratch. This is just a desperate attempt by a GM who knows he's going to lose his job at the end of the season. I'm sure if this was legal, it would have been tried before with Lindros or Crosby for example. Honestly, I don't understand how a GM could be so stupid thinking he could sign a player in the OHL before he's available in the draft.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

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.

True, but if something like this goes through it will change the way GM's pursue prospects. As a result the draft wouldn't be as legit if this became common practice.

[eva unit zero 271]

This is a BS rumor. Tavares is not eligible to play in the AHL until the 2009-10 season. While the minimum age for the AHL is 18, Tavares is an OHL player. The minimum age for an AHL player who has played in Canadian Major Junior is 20. This prevents NHL teams from stockpiling the top 18 and 19 year old Canadian talent in the minor leagues if they are not good enough to play in the NHL right away.

Also, Toronto cannot sign Tavares to an NHL contract as he is under 18.

Even if Toronto signs Tavares to a minor league deal, that gives them zero control over his NHL rights. If he is drafted, he becomes property of the team that drafted him, regardless of any minor league contract. The team that drafts him would have to give up NOTHING to the Leafs.

EDIT: Correction; Tavares will have played 4 seasons in the CHL after the 2008-09 season, making him eligible for the 09-10 AHL season.

Edited October 27, 2007 by eva unit zero

[Konnan511 1,736]

This is a BS rumor. Tavares is not eligible to play in the AHL until September 20, 2010. While the minimum age for the AHL is 18, Tavares is an OHL player. The minimum age for an AHL player who has played in Canadian Major Junior is 20. This prevents NHL teams from stockpiling the top 18 and 19 year old Canadian talent in the minor leagues if they are not good enough to play in the NHL right away.

I'm fairly certain that isn't fully true, if his team for some strange and odd reason releases him from the team then they lose his rights and therefor has no CHL rights and can actually play in the AHL before he is 20, but not until he has at least become draft eligible of course.

[Doggy 130]

Hi All,

This is my first post at LGW and I hate to be so negative with it, but this isn't possible. Tavares cannot sign with an AHL team at his age. If this rumour is true, Ferguson is only doing this for the headlines. Unless he's a total moron (which granted, is probable) he should know all this.

As a few people have already mentioned, this rumour looks like its pretty much BS. The reason no other GMs have tried anything like this before is because they are busy doing their jobs and not wasting time trying to use loopholes that don't exist.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Please, I could have whipped Taveres' ass in hockey back in '94(I was 10 and he was 4). lol