Tough guys don't stop stupid stuff from happening. That is a fact.

People, think that signing these guys will stop Matthews marner and Nylander from getting hacked slashed cross checked or hit and stop guys from barrelling over Andersen.
- burn

did you even bother to read my post?

i didnt say anything about that... protecting doesnt mean being a bodyguard

its about being able to put dependable vets on the ice when the kids inevitably get rattled.

It's so awesome that the only thing the Leafs Nation tweakers have to tweak about is a couple of minor signings. Oh yeah and a draft where we got the best player but the rest didn't match up with the board, a board which is always wrong.

Yep...adding players that help accomplish that a start..Adding players to protect others when losing a funny plan
- Fruitcakenipple

You guys don't actually believe this narrative, do you?

They are adding Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Rychel, Brown, Zaitsev etc etc etc. Plenty of skill

So they signed a couple big lugs to mix it up when necessary. Big (frank)in deal. Better than a bunch of PAP or Arcobellos taking spots from the kids

Nah

It was clear last year that the Leafs got pushed around fairly regularly. They were soft as poop. So much so that Babcock had to address it, stating that they would be taking care of some of that this summer.

They are clearly going to roll with the kids, and simply grabbed a couple tougher types to give them some space. It's not Arcobello and Winnik, but whatever.

I'm not thrilled with these off-season moves, minus the Rychel trade, but when you finish last, no additions should really be frowned upon.
- WingmanWillie

I agree what i said was that these guys aren't going to stop others from taking liberaties and such on the young guys. It just doesn't happen like that.

Nah

It was clear last year that the Leafs got pushed around fairly regularly. They were soft as poop. So much so that Babcock had to address it, stating that they would be taking care of some of that this summer.

They are clearly going to roll with the kids, and simply grabbed a couple tougher types to give them some space. It's not Arcobello and Winnik, but whatever.

I'm not thrilled with these off-season moves, minus the Rychel trade, but when you finish last, no additions should really be frowned upon.
- WingmanWillie

Pretty much. It's also cap management and certainty. Polak for one year is not a big deal. 4 years of Martin at a low cap number is easy to swallow. Not all 4 lines can be snipers and goal scorers. You have to balance out the lineup, to deal with all contingencies. Unfortunately, that means laying down the law on opposition players that use tactics to intimidate smaller, younger players. You know....the people like Patrick Kaletta.....rats!

Overblown nonsense.
- burn

You don't need a bunch of Coke machines on the ice, but some good solid veterans would help.

did you even bother to read my post?

i didnt say anything about that... protecting doesnt mean being a bodyguard

its about being able to put dependable vets on the ice when the kids inevitably get rattled.
- Dozzer

Did you read mine?

Did you read mine?
- burn

yes... and i addressed it

you keep trying to say protecting players is about having guys to go beat on the opposition or keep their own young kids from getting beat on.

it has nothing to do with that. stop thinking so linear.

Imagree, ute as it said was that these guys aren't going to stop others from taking liberaties and such on the young guys. It just doesn't happen like that.
- burn

What if you put Komorov and Martin on the same line and started carpetbombing the other teams skill players, if they take liberties? What if the team is struggling with consistency and you need to change the game narrative? You need guys who'll get into the corners and cause havoc and allow the skill players to feed off of it.

yes... and i addressed it

you keep trying to say protecting players is about having guys to go beat on the opposition or keep their own young kids from getting beat on.

it has nothing to do with that. stop thinking so linear.
- Dozzer

I quoted a post that say they will stop teams from taking liberaties and I said no it won't. How are you saying I'm saying that? I didn't say that.

You don't need a bunch of Coke machines on the ice, but some good solid veterans would help.
- Jeropotato

No one said otherwise.

how people dont see the leafs game plan this summer was size

rychel, martin, polak... all 200 plus pounds

anyone expecting the leafs to be anything more than a bottom 10 team is fooling themselves.
- Dozzer

I agree. Once the Stamkos thing fell through, I knew it was another transition year.

Andersen and how the kids pan out are the only X factors that could affect it, obviously. But I think we are looking at a top 10 pick (hopefully a Dman) again next year

It's so awesome that the only thing the Leafs Nation tweakers have to tweak about is a couple of minor signings. Oh yeah and a draft where we got the best player but the rest didn't match up with the board, a board which is always wrong.
- Zezel

Excuse me but I want the decisions of scouts who watch thousands of games to match with the experts here or on TSN.

You don't need a bunch of Coke machines on the ice, but some good solid veterans would help.
- Jeropotato

And it's exactly what they got. A David Clarkson type player, without the overbearing contract, plus a 6th defenseman, that was good enough to play in the Stanley Cup finals. In the David Clarkson type player, it means getting into the dirty area's and getting the puck. Clarkson was negated the day he signed that ludicrous contract.

What if you put Komorov and Martin on the same line and started carpetbombing the other teams skill players, if they take liberties? What if the team is struggling with consistency and you need to change the game narrative? You need guys who'll get into the corners and cause havoc and allow the skill players to feed off of it.
- PrinceLH

1st part they just gonna come back st you again. Doesn't stop it.

Not disagreeing with the 2nd part.

I quoted a post that say they will stop teams from taking liberaties and I said no it won't. How are you saying I'm saying that? I didn't say that.
- burn

okay... lets take a step back here...

i agree that it wont stop teams from being physical with the kids... but it will protect them

BUT by protect i mean insulating them and being able to take them off the ice when they do get run over or rattled.... these guys arent expected to do anything but be steady... and steadiness is usually the one thing majorly lacking in an overly young lineup

And it's exactly what they got. A David Clarkson type player, without the overbearing contract, plus a 6th defenseman, that was good enough to play in the Stanley Cup finals. In the David Clarkson type player, it means getting into the dirty area's and getting the puck. Clarkson was negated the day he signed that ludicrous contract.
- PrinceLH

Over the past two seasons, Matt Martin and Tyler Bozak have roughly the same rate of 5v5 primary points per 60 minutes of ice time.

Excuse me but I want the decisions of scouts who watch thousands of games to match with the experts here or on TSN.
- Canada Cup

They should just import Bobby Mac's list and autodraft

I quoted a post that say they will stop teams from taking liberaties and I said no it won't. How are you saying I'm saying that? I didn't say that.
- burn

I said it! And I stand by it!! Leafs need a few guys that can grind, when necessary. They're top heavy on small skilled players. Marner, Nylander, Brown, Soshnikov, etc. They need to have players that can bang and change the momentum of games.

I agree. Once the Stamkos thing fell through, I knew it was another transition year.

Andersen and how the kids pan out are the only X factors that could affect it, obviously. But I think we are looking at a top 10 pick (hopefully a Dman) again next year
- WingmanWillie

even the leafs themselves said they needed to be tougher

how people find any of these moves surprising is beyond me

this is pretty much the offseason i expected... and if you remember... i never bought into the stamkos coming home hype.

okay... lets take a step back here...

i agree that it wont stop teams from being physical with the kids... but it will protect them

BUT by protect i mean insulating them and being able to take them off the ice when they do get run over or rattled.... these guys arent expected to do anything but be steady... and steadiness is usually the one thing majorly lacking in an overly young lineup
- Dozzer

I think the value is less stopping our guys from getting rattled but in rattling opposing players and retrieving the puck for skilled guys. Would rather have Komonand Martin going into the corners to get the puck that Nylander. Hyman is going to do it either way.

Over the past two seasons, Matt Martin and Tyler Bozak have roughly the same rate of 5v5 primary points per 60 minutes of ice time.
- nbboy

And for their cap hits, they are either equal or above what other teams pay for the same service. With all of the Bozak hate, he's still a fairly effective player. He's just played in the wrong position. Second or third line centre is where he belongs.

okay... lets take a step back here...

i agree that it wont stop teams from being physical with the kids... but it will protect them

BUT by protect i mean insulating them and being able to take them off the ice when they do get run over or rattled.... these guys arent expected to do anything but be steady... and steadiness is usually the one thing majorly lacking in an overly young lineup
- Dozzer

And I'm not disagreeing. The original poster said it will stop liberaties and I said overblown nonsense and everyone jumps all over it saying need vets to support the kids(didn't say they didn't) need vets to insulate the kids (didn't say they didn't). All the replies to my post of "overblown nonsense" didn't address what was said.

even the leafs themselves said they needed to be tougher

how people find any of these moves surprising is beyond me

this is pretty much the offseason i expected... and if you remember... i never bought into the stamkos coming home hype.
- Dozzer

I said it! And I stand by it!! Leafs need a few guys that can grind, when necessary. They're top heavy on small skilled players. Marner, Nylander, Brown, Soshnikov, etc. They need to have players that can bang and change the momentum of games.
- PrinceLH

Grinding banging gritty guys with size not totally useless. Didn't say they were, what I quoted was that they'd stop liberaties being taken. 100% false they will. It doesn't happen.