Good enough to beat Philly & Tampa... guess you will be out of luck again..

- DoctorNHL

Philly got better though...

Kadri and lupul, kessel gets to stay wity jvr american power
- Mapleleafs_91

I'm looking forward to him. And I'm not gonna lie, I don't hate the first 2 lines of this team.

not done, he's shopping Dion, & Gunnar & the coach hates Liles,
- puckhead17

With good reason Liles is soft...

Big guy, good possession and played hard minutes. I actually want the Oil to sign him. I think he'll cost too much for the Leafs to fit cap wise.
- Iggysbff

well if theres some way to get rid of liles we could haha

What's a realistic expectation for Clarkson stat wise? 20 goals? 40-50 pts? I'm assuming he'll be playing with Kadri and who? JvR?
- weirdoh

Lupul

Philly got better though...
- Mapleleafs_91

Should be way better they have a 1c and that's all that counts.

Philly got better though...
- Mapleleafs_91

With what? Lecav?

240 pims
15 goals
25 assists

The real stat will be his linemates #'s...adding him hopefully boosts Kadri/JVR or whomever he plays with...
- Garnie

The real stat will be the # of pooped diapers from the opposing goalies on the year because of him. Going to be a lot I reckon.

What's a realistic expectation for Clarkson stat wise? 20 goals? 40-50 pts? I'm assuming he'll be playing with Kadri and who? JvR?
- weirdoh

25G / 25A / 100 PIM / 150 Hits / +5 /

Plus: Leadership, grit, 10 fights and 6 GWG

Philly got better though...
- Mapleleafs_91

No they didn't. We all came to the conclusion that Vinny was over the hill, overrated, injury prone and a waste of space as soon as he signed in Philly.

How in the hell are they better up front? They lost Grabovski, MacArthur, Frattin, and Komorov and replaced them with David Clarkson.
- Leafsfan87

Komarov is the only player you mentioned who had a consistent impact on the team last year, and we have a bunch of prospects that can fill his spot and play his roll just as well. MacArthur lost his job to Clarkson, Grabovski lost his job to Bolland who may just be keeping the seat warm for Colborne. I liked Frattin but that was a potential for potential trade and I think Bernier's ceiling is higher.

I'm looking forward to him. And I'm not gonna lie, I don't hate the first 2 lines of this team.
- weirdoh

Finally we have two lines. And a good 3rd to boot. With an insane 2/3 of a 4.

Mike Augello: Leafs Better Up Front, But Defense Concerns Remain
- mikeinbuffalo

Mike... you should have wrote:
Leafs Looking Lovely, but Defense Dilly-Dallies as it's Deemed it's still Detrimental.

25G / 25A / 100 PIM / 150 Hits / +5 /

Plus: Leadership, grit, 10 fights and 6 GWG
- As_I_See_It

Assists may be a little high haha, but the rest seems about right.

No they didn't. We all came to the conclusion that Vinny was over the hill, overrated, injury prone and a waste of space as soon as he signed in Philly.
- weirdoh

He's not a #1 & $10 million a year guy anymore, he will fit in well support wise, take minutes off Giroux, & can chip in similar to Hartnell albeit in the middle with points grit

Mike... you should have wrote:

- Tee-Dot Leafs Looking Lovely, but Defense Dilly-Dallies as it's Deemed it's still Detrimental.

No they didn't. We all came to the conclusion that Vinny was over the hill, overrated, injury prone and a waste of space as soon as he signed in Philly.
- weirdoh

He was all that before Philly... a good acquisition for them.. but the gaping hole in net.. and the slow D.. won't be affected by this move.

Ryan Jones was a great hustler and great attitude. Only issue is he never fully recovered from the eye injury and not sure if he will?
- Iggysbff

Well we got a spot open on the bottom 6, I'd love it if Jones was that guy.

Komarov is the only player you mentioned who had a consistent impact on the team last year, and we have a bunch of prospects that can fill his spot and play his roll just as well. MacArthur lost his job to Clarkson, Grabovski lost his job to Bolland who may just be keeping the seat warm for Colborne. I liked Frattin but that was a potential for potential trade and I think Bernier's ceiling is higher.
- BetterCallSaul

A big part of it will be whether or not Bolland can stay healthy.

Well we got a spot open on the bottom 6, I'd love it if Jones was that guy.
- Leafland

I think it's Ashton's spot to lose.

Well we got a spot open on the bottom 6, I'd love it if Jones was that guy.
- Leafland

He still may end up back in Edmonton. Sides are still talking.

I think it's Ashton's spot to lose.
- BetterCallSaul

If Ashton is in the lineup then I agree with the poster that asked how are we better up front.

A big part of it will be whether or not Bolland can stay healthy.
- Iggysbff

If that's an issue then we still have McClemment who can take over as 3C. Bolland may work out or may only be home for 1 year, I'm indifferent about it.

Am curious to see what happens with the defense.

With the cap it might be another good chance to see what defensive prospects may be ready to make a jump. Blacker's played a couple full seasons for the Marlies and might be worth a look. If actually used properly (like not throwing him on the top line) Holzer might be alright as well.

Don't see a massive overhaul of the defense at this point. Though at least it should benefit from adding some responsible players to the forward group.

Looking forward as well to what we'll get from Gardiner. Time to put the concussion behind him and build on the playoff performance he had.

If Ashton is in the lineup then I agree with the poster that asked how are we better up front.
- honesthockey

You have to give your prospects a legitimate look eventually. If he can't handle it then he loses out.