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!
- winsix

not a thing professionally

he hasnt played a single second of pro hockey (aside from preseason)

the only thing he has proven is that he can dominate in junior playing on a line with two other top 5 picks

thats it.

mcdavid also has 25lbs on marner... which is my (frank)ing point... please actually read what i say... i never said he wasnt talented enough i said i dont trust in him being able to physically endure an NHL season. he doesnt need to be a 200lber... but he will need to be a lot tougher when it comes to absorbing contact at the NHL level

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.
- Lucas.Neilson

i think this as well... loved how he played last year

fuuuuuck....

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

McDavis is just so damn special. I think he is going to be better than Crosby - he could be the best hockey player on the planet right now, at 19yrs old. I could see people saying no.

Michael Grosso ‏@RumorBreak 1m1 minute ago
#BREAKING - Leafs have an offer on the table for Shattenkirk. Will try to dig out the exact offer

BREAKING

Michael Grosso ‏@RumorBreak 1m1 minute ago
#BREAKING - Leafs have an offer on the table for Shattenkirk. Will try to dig out the exact offer

BREAKING
- MCharisma91

How legit is the source?

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

sure... if the deal is there... but not for an overpayment

think what you want.. but the leafs are still saying they are moving forward with time and patience.

i am listening to what they are saying as an organization... i am not hearing what i hope they are saying...

How legit is the source?
- ThePresident

As legit as me saying the Leafs were trading for Phaneuf back, then shipping him out to the Oilers for 1-1 trade for CMAC.

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
- DarcyTucker16

superior hockey-IQ and hockey sense.
he also is a better two-way player than Nylander, hence easier for him to gain minutes since defensively more responsible (at least at this time).

Marner is hugely underrated by alot of people; in particular Leafs fans.

I'm don't tend to be too high on most of the Leafs players (Brown, Kadri, Gardiner, etc. etc.) but in Marner I see a top 30 NHL player for coming decade.
I fee as well that with Rielly, Matthews and Marner, Leafs have a terrific central core.
Nylander is a great player, but in my opinion just a bit below the former three mentioned.

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.
- oldstyle

We know Lou wants a dman. We know teams are dangling dmen. We know that the expansion draft is a big variable in terms of which teams want to move a dman and which teams can take on a dman.

I suspect the current situation is simply that Lou is trying to get one on the cheap - probably dangling picks and b-grade prospects. Teams are probably asking for JVR. It's a mexican standoff.

Speaking of Mexican ....did we find a culturally appropriate nickname for Matthews yet?

El Grande Hoja

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
- Dozzer

Next year at deadline, you won't get nearly the same return, definitely not a top pairing young dman.
If we sign Stamkos, with Laich, Bozak, Kadri, Greening - JVR is not needed for any mentorship or to relieve "responsibility" of the kids. A top pairing dman will take this team much further than JVR will in the long run.

superior hockey-IQ and hockey sense.
he also is a better two-way player than Nylander, hence easier for him to gain minutes since defensively more responsible (at least at this time).

Marner is hugely underrated by alot of people; in particular Leafs fans.

I'm don't tend to be too high on most of the Leafs players (Brown, Kadri, Gardiner, etc. etc.) but in Marner I see a top 30 NHL player for coming decade.
I fee as well that with Rielly, Matthews and Marner, Leafs have a terrific central core.
Nylander is a great player, but in my opinion just a bit below the former three mentioned.
- MaximusAurelius

ok still none of this explained why you think that (other than the defensively responsible party which is pretty debatable).. you just restated your opinion with more gusto... PS I'm not saying marner wont make the team and won't put up the numbers you said... i just don't see how you can possibly be that confident in it from any of the stuff we've seen from him at a higher level of play this year

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

Most of the forwards we 'need' to protect wouldn't bring any tears to most fans if they went via expansion.
If you could (pure speculation alert) move JVR to Columbus as the main part of a deal to get the 3rd overall, you'd probably have to pay a lot less if you agreed to take on Hartnell (who needs to be protected I believe).
Hartnell could move in and out of a 2nd-3rd line roll, and help shield the young guys for a few years. If something like that would get you 3rd overall, would anyone be that upset about losing someone like Leipsic?

Next year at deadline, you won't get nearly the same return, definitely not a top pairing young dman.
If we sign Stamkos, with Laich, Bozak, Kadri, Greening - JVR is not needed for any mentorship or to relieve "responsibility" of the kids. A top pairing dman will take this team much further than JVR will in the long run.
- Cooshie

stop saying stamkos like it's a done deal

i've stopped taking any post with him pencilled in seriously

Next year at deadline, you won't get nearly the same return, definitely not a top pairing young dman.
If we sign Stamkos, with Laich, Bozak, Kadri, Greening - JVR is not needed for any mentorship or to relieve "responsibility" of the kids. A top pairing dman will take this team much further than JVR will in the long run.
- Cooshie

I can see both sides of this argument - thing is, the Leafs would have no proven RW who can put the puck in the back of the net if you ship him out.

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

Burke did overpay for some poor d-men. His biggest mistake was he thought the team was better than it was. He built a team around a great scoring winger not a solid center. Not one of the moves the this organization even resembles what was done under Burke. Leafs have a number one pick overall tomorrow - does that change the time frame? - you bet. You add a top flight player - instantly to your lineup - no waiting. Is Marner ready - how much more could he have accomplished last year? You bet he's ready. If this team adds Stamkos - which is a possibility - the top two lines will be stacked with talent. Unlike the poop that Sundin played with - who also was a Number one pick at center. Remember Hoglund? Well if he could score 30 goals on Sundin's line imagine what Marner will do with Matthews or Stamkos. This team is better than you think, maybe not as good as I think, but 4-5 years - no way. If the Leafs land Stamkos - they will be competitive now and fight for a wildcard spot along with Buffalo.

As legit as me saying the Leafs were trading for Phaneuf back, then shipping him out to the Oilers for 1-1 trade for CMAC.
- RickJames77

To be fair that 'roomer' has been on the circuit for a couple of days.

Boston pick #29 ++

I'd guess the Leafs would have #31 ++ on the table as well.

Burke did overpay for some poor d-men. His biggest mistake was he thought the team was better than it was. He built a team around a great scoring winger not a solid center. Not one of the moves the this organization even resembles what was done under Burke. Leafs have a number one pick overall tomorrow - does that change the time frame? - you bet. You add a top flight player - instantly to your lineup - no waiting. Is Marner ready - how much more could he have accomplished last year? You bet he's ready. If this team adds Stamkos - which is a possibility - the top two lines will be stacked with talent. Unlike the poop that Sundin played with - who also was a Number one pick at center. Remember Hoglund? Well if he could score 30 goals on Sundin's line imagine what Marner will do with Matthews or Stamkos. This team is better than you think, maybe not as good as I think, but 4-5 years - no way. If the Leafs land Stamkos - they will be competitive now and fight for a wildcard spot along with Buffalo.
- winsix

once again... stamkos

until he actually signs somewhere stop talking about him like he is already a leaf

he isnt.

as for marner.. what happens when the scrawny kid gets levelled by someone like doughty? he will get hurt... and badly

To be fair that 'roomer' has been on the circuit for a couple of days.

Boston pick #29 ++

I'd guess the Leafs would have #31 ++ on the table as well.
- The Law

Is Shattenkirk any good defensively....seems like a minus player, even though he puts up 40-50 points...may not be worth it.

stop saying stamkos like it's a done deal

i've stopped taking any post with him pencilled in seriously
- Dozzer

There's nothing wrong the the word "if".

To be fair that 'roomer' has been on the circuit for a couple of days.

Boston pick #29 ++

I'd guess the Leafs would have #31 ++ on the table as well.
- The Law

Yeah, I know it is, but that source is a joke. I've been saying for a while that I think the Leafs should get Shats. Problem is, I want the Bruins to as well, so you guys can back the (frank) off

I think the starting point for the Bruins would have to be the 14th though, to be honest. Which is tough to part with because I feel there are some solid players at that point.

the issue is the leafs have only 2 legitimate top 6 guys

the rest of them are prospects or 3rd pairing guys being thrust into that role

and JVR is a cap management dream for a GM... including LouLams... you simply dont move him

when an organization trades they do so from their depth... which for the leafs is picks and legit prospects buried on the depth chart.... for instance ... percy.

until the kids prove they can handle the load you keep the limited top 6 talent the leafs have. plain and simple.

there is no guarantee marner even makes the team for instance... LouLams said himself in a recent interview that he thinks its best to bring the kids up later than sooner...patience leaf fans...
- Dozzer

A voice of reason. My sentiments exactly.

once again... stamkos

until he actually signs somewhere stop talking about him like he is already a leaf

he isnt.

as for marner.. what happens when the scrawny kid gets levelled by someone like doughty? he will get hurt... and badly
- Dozzer

Marner is already as big as Gaudreau, maybe bigger. Size isn't necessarily a deal breaker with him though he has been told to put on some muscle this summer. If he fails to gain much muscle I still think a good training camp puts him on this team for 2016-2017.

Is Shattenkirk any good defensively....seems like a minus player, even though he puts up 40-50 points...may not be worth it.
- ThePresident

By most accounts he's a pretty elite skater/puck mover but I'll have to leave that to the experts.

I suspect the Leafs are trying to add a top4 dman without having to move a piece like JVR.

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!
- winsix

The problem with that is the difference in "level" between the CHL and NHL is staggering.

once again... stamkos

until he actually signs somewhere stop talking about him like he is already a leaf

he isnt.

as for marner.. what happens when the scrawny kid gets levelled by someone like doughty? he will get hurt... and badly
- Dozzer

in their def...the last 2 posts you've being commenting on about Stamkos and poop... people are saying "IF" .. I'd say relax a little..