and why do you think the leafs are in a hurry to stabilize the top pairing?

they keep saying be patient... be patient

no need to make a deal right now... they arent looking to challenge for the cup next year.... LouLams will wait before giving up the only legit top 6 winger they have.

keep in mind the leafs have andersen now... which will allow the young defencemen to play with more confidence... we might see a young guy step up his game due to this

no need to rush anything... not one bit.
- Dozzer

Leafs are in the centennial year, and need to make the playoffs, conditional on Stamkos signing in Toronto.

If he doesn't sign, you're right.
If he does sign, they need to obviously be in the playoffs and make some additional moves in order to accomplish that.
Most important one would be to add a top4 d-man (Burn knows what characteristics he should have).

Matthews and JVR for McDavid...
- Arctic_AARDVARK

What about Matthews and Rielly for McD...??

I got no problem trading JVR for a young top pairing Dman (needs to play physical hockey to compliment what we currently have).
As a matter of fact, I would encourage that trade.
- Cooshie

You have to see what you really have from some of these prospects before you trade a piece like JVR.

and why do you think the leafs are in a hurry to stabilize the top pairing?

they keep saying be patient... be patient

no need to make a deal right now... they arent looking to challenge for the cup next year.... LouLams will wait before giving up the only legit top 6 winger they have.

keep in mind the leafs have andersen now... which will allow the young defencemen to play with more confidence... we might see a young guy step up his game due to this

no need to rush anything... not one bit.
- Dozzer

Except that by acquiring Andersen, they are clearly indicating that they want to add some "now" pieces for this centennial year

I think they will stick to the plan, for sure. But I think that plan includes getting a top 4 dman

you and LouLams have very different philosophies

i am thankful for this

you guys are too sold on the idea that the leafs lineup will be full of young guys next year

i am still not entirely sold marner makes the team.. if he isnt ready physically to endure the rigors of a full NHL season he will be heading back to junior

under babcock... you have to make the team... no freebies. the leafs as a team come before marner
- Dozzer

70+ games, 45+points.
He's by far more ready than Nylander in my opinion.

What about Matthews and Rielly for McD...??
- Cooshie

No

alright folks... lets get something straight... if a person has a different opinion than you they are not trolling

if anyone continues to call other people a troll for having a different opinion you will be getting banned

What about Matthews and Rielly for McD...??
- Cooshie

fuuuuuck....

Id say no i guess.. Rielly is too important.

alright folks... lets get something straight... if a person has a different opinion than you they are not trolling

if anyone continues to call other people a troll for having a different opinion you will be getting banned
- Dozzer

The only troll I deal with is the troll dust dry rub at 5 alarm wings

70+ games, 45+points.
He's by far more ready than Nylander in my opinion.
- MaximusAurelius

marner?

he hasnt even played a single professional game... he has proven sweet Richard all professionally

(frank) me i hate leafs nation sometimes

marner has been playing against teenagers... its a very different world in the NHL

and why do you think the leafs are in a hurry to stabilize the top pairing?

they keep saying be patient... be patient

no need to make a deal right now... they arent looking to challenge for the cup next year.... LouLams will wait before giving up the only legit top 6 winger they have.

keep in mind the leafs have andersen now... which will allow the young defencemen to play with more confidence... we might see a young guy step up his game due to this

no need to rush anything... not one bit.
- Dozzer

I understand your point. What is exactly a reasonable amount of time for patience? 2-3 years? 3-5 years? 10 years? Percy is not going to bring a quality return - to get quality, you can't offer scraps. Are you suggesting stand pat? for how long? I am convinced Lou is going to be much busier than you would like.

alright folks... lets get something straight... if a person has a different opinion than you they are not trolling

if anyone continues to call other people a troll for having a different opinion you will be getting banned
- Dozzer

Come on Doz, stop trolling the non-trolling designated trolls of disseminating opinions.

Expansion is likely to throw another variable into it. I wouldn't be surprised to see teams like the Leafs, that have little they need to protect, take on a player with a limited NTC or NMC that the team would otherwise HAVE to protect.
We might see some relatively big assets moved this way before 2017.
- oldstyle

They only have 2 D right now that they need to protect, they can acquire 1 more.

For Werenski, Jones, and Puj I would. Easy for me to say though, as I don't have a horse in the race. If the Bruins had the first overall pick, I'd be torn with that offer.
- RickJames77

nah... this pick is more than just asset management

unfortunately for matthews he is going to be a symbol of the leafs starting to turn the corner

hope the kid is ready for that... cause that is what will happen

you and LouLams have very different philosophies

i am thankful for this

you guys are too sold on the idea that the leafs lineup will be full of young guys next year

i am still not entirely sold marner makes the team.. if he isnt ready physically to endure the rigors of a full NHL season he will be heading back to junior

under babcock... you have to make the team... no freebies. the leafs as a team come before marner
- Dozzer

m of the belief that the Leafs have a lot of high end prospects that can fill out the wing. Finding a scoring winger is much easier than finding a top pairing dman. Considering the Leafs don't have any top pairing projected dmen in the system (or on the Leafs aside from Rielly), I would welcome a trade involving JVR for one. This is more a long term thought than short term. JVR is a nice player, for sure, but he is not equivalent in value to a top pairing dman, IMO and on this team, for it's future, he is not as important.

I understand your point. What is exactly a reasonable amount of time for patience? 2-3 years? 3-5 years? 10 years? Percy is not going to bring a quality return - to get quality, you can't offer scraps. Are you suggesting stand pat? for how long? I am convinced Lou is going to be much busier than you would like.
- winsix

yes.. exactly... stand pat

the leafs are building through the draft and development

4-5 years under this administration before the leafs are truly competitive

dont start overpaying for some d-man in some dumb attempt to speed things up

thats what burke did... and how did that work out?

You have to see what you really have from some of these prospects before you trade a piece like JVR.
- fifty__missions

I don't see any top pairing physical dmen....so for me, it's a no brainer if you can get an NHL ready one that is still young.

I got no problem trading JVR for a young top pairing Dman (needs to play physical hockey to compliment what we currently have).
As a matter of fact, I would encourage that trade.
- Cooshie

Same.
He's the least essential (in a multi-year time frame) player on the roster that has any real value. A lot of opinions seem to be we need him to show the kids the ropes, but he doesn't strike me as the rah-rah kind of guy.
We could get another veteran to do the mentoring for the young guys.

marner?

he hasnt even played a single professional game... he has proven sweet Richard all professionally

(frank) me i hate leafs nation sometimes

marner has been playing against teenagers... its a very different world in the NHL
- Dozzer

I understand some skepticism on Marner - but - remember - he scored at the same level as McDavid last year. He was the best player in junior Canadian hockey period. Don't care if he played pee-wee, he won a championship and was the best player by a country mile in the Country at his level. Hasn't proved anything? Come on!

m of the belief that the Leafs have a lot of high end prospects that can fill out the wing. Finding a scoring winger is much easier than finding a top pairing dman. Considering the Leafs don't have any top pairing projected dmen in the system (or on the Leafs aside from Rielly), I would welcome a trade involving JVR for one. This is more a long term thought than short term. JVR is a nice player, for sure, but he is not equivalent in value to a top pairing dman, IMO and on this team, for it's future, he is not as important.
- Cooshie

nope... too much responsibility for the kids at this point... you wanna turn out like the oilers?

the leafs don't need to address the top pairing d man this year if the right deal isnt there.... let the kids get some experience under their belt... then next year if they do choose to move on from JVR sell him off at the deadline for a huge overpayment

70+ games, 45+points.
He's by far more ready than Nylander in my opinion.
- MaximusAurelius

I actually believe he will be better than Nylander too this year.
He just has that compete level that Nylander yet has - which is an absolute requirement in the NHL.

thefourthperiod has to be one of the worst ran hockey rumor websites....they never update their news during important times....they haven't even covered the Freddy Andersen trade, come on now....

70+ games, 45+points.
He's by far more ready than Nylander in my opinion.
- MaximusAurelius

please explain this? marner looked out of place at last years camp, struggled against top teams in the world juniors... yes he shred the OHL playoffs and men cup... how does that translate to he's more ready than the guy that actually played NHL games and didn't look out of place

Except that by acquiring Andersen, they are clearly indicating that they want to add some "now" pieces for this centennial year

I think they will stick to the plan, for sure. But I think that plan includes getting a top 4 dman
- WingmanWillie

If stamkos comes to Toronto they may shore up their D - if not I don't see them doing anything but seeing what they have in their D prospects.

Personally, I think Zaistev will impress but I think the stand out is going to be Carrick.

yes.. exactly... stand pat

the leafs are building through the draft and development

4-5 years under this administration before the leafs are truly competitive

dont start overpaying for some d-man in some dumb attempt to speed things up

thats what burke did... and how did that work out?
- Dozzer

PLEASE SEE ABOVE. I'm thinking it takes a shorter amount of time than mentioned, but there is no reason to over pay through trade or FA. For once it looks bright for us, let's not pull the shades on this.