Marner should be and is ready for NHL.
Taking things too slow is not good either.
And Leafs have been rebuilding long enough; can't compare a Arizona or NYI rebuild with a Leafs or Montreal rebuild.
Leafs have to make the playoffs 2017-2018 for sure. If they don't, Shanahan, Lou, Babcock and friends have miserably failed.
- MaximusAurelius

stop being impatient... they even said they have no timeline... it will happen when it happens... thats been their stance so thats the one i believe.

i am thankful loulams and co. do not share your view.

marner hasnt proven sweet Richard all against professionals.
- Dozzer

why are you assuming they dont share my view?



what are you basing this on? when have they said anything about sending him back?

I dont know it would be a catastrophic failure, the NHL is a very competitive league.
- Tanooki

the leafs are looking at another bottom 10 finish easily... maybe even a bottom 5

i am thankful loulams and co. do not share your view.

marner hasnt proven sweet Richard all against professionals.
- Dozzer

can marner play for the solar bears?

the leafs are looking at another bottom 10 finish easily... maybe even a bottom 5
- Dozzer

You are wrong, as you often are dozzer. sorry.

why are you assuming they dont share my view?



what are you basing this on? when have they said anything about sending him back?
- Tanooki

what am i basing it on?

words that they have spoken

"i prefer to bring kids up later than sooner"
~Lou

can marner play for the solar bears?
- jimi james

no... ohl or nhl are his only options

You are wrong, as you often are dozzer. sorry.
- Tanooki

you are starting to sound like an edmonton fan

do you really think the leafs are anywhere near a playoff spot this year? thats simply delusional.

a bunch of cast offs on bad contract... two proven top 6 forwards... 3 or 4 rookie forwards a defense that is so green some of them are still in diapers.

this is nothing close to a playoff team

sorry wingman.... deleted that by mistake

feel free to post again

the leafs are looking at another bottom 10 finish easily... maybe even a bottom 5
- Dozzer

Nailed it. Thanks for Dozzer's Monday morning roundup!

You are wrong, as you often are dozzer. sorry.
- Tanooki

no he's really not, no indication yet that this team will be any better necessarily than the team from last year. Yes we have Matthews, and yes Nylander will likely be on the squad full time (along with maybe Marner) but it is very important to temper expectations. Marner and Matthews are not necessarily ready to shoulder unrealistic expectations. A bottom ten finish would not be a failure, if we end up 20th-21st in the league that should be looked up as progress, as there will naturally be growing pains. These kids aren't walking onto the team as cup quality caliber automatically

what am i basing it on?

words that they have spoken

"i prefer to bring kids up later than sooner"
~Lou
- Dozzer

I guess Matthews wont be on the team either then.

no... ohl or nhl are his only options
- Dozzer

maybe swiss league or sweden on loan for a year?....just speculating a happy medium

jvr is not a problem... he's an asset on a good contract

you cant just oilers it up and ice a bunch of kids... not only is it stupid to do so but thankfully loulams and babcock aren't known for rushing kids

i still wouldnt be surprised to see marner returned to london this year

leafs lineups posted are funny... no basis in reality... its gonna likely look more like

jvr kadri komarov
michalek matthews nylander
lupul bozak marner (if he makes the team)
greening laich martin
- Dozzer

Babs has already stated that Matthews will be the teams 3rd line C behind Kadri and Bozak

sorry wingman.... deleted that by mistake

feel free to post again
- Dozzer

30 potential points last year were given up in 1 goal regulation losses. That's not counting extra time, that's not counting empty netters that widened the margin.

Basically Andersen stopping a few pucks here and there and some of the kids scoring (or even a healthy JVR) could cause the Leafs to overachieve

Pragmatic thinking would suggest a moderate improvement, however.

For what it is worth, almost all of the articles I read based on development camp and what Babcock had to say would suggest that Matthews, Marner and Nylander will all be on the opening roster. Granted, he never outright says that any of them will be, but the message came across.

Babs has already stated that Matthews will be the teams 3rd line C behind Kadri and Bozak
- steve362

OK so swap those lines. big deal.

It's a top 9 league now anyway

maybe swiss league or sweden on loan for a year?....just speculating a happy medium
- jimi james

Marner can't be loaned. He can play 9 NHL games. Go on AHL conditioning stints, play in the WJC and then go to junior as the lengthening of his "ELC stay"

maybe swiss league or sweden on loan for a year?....just speculating a happy medium
- jimi james

I don't think there is any medium option, unfortunately

OK so swap those lines. big deal.

It's a top 9 league now anyway
- WingmanWillie

Go eat a Snickers?

Marner can't be loaned. He can play 9 NHL games. Go on AHL conditioning stints, play in the WJC and then go to junior as the lengthening of his "ELC stay"
- AdamFrench

ok thanks

Go eat a Snickers?
- steve362

I am a little hungry

Nailed it. Thanks for Dozzer's Monday morning roundup!
- Leafsandbolts

god listening to you guys cry all year because the team is in the bottom third of the league is gonna be annoying

temper those expectations.... you'll only be disappointed if you dont

I am a little hungry
- WingmanWillie

Always good time for a SNickers

you are starting to sound like an edmonton fan

do you really think the leafs are anywhere near a playoff spot this year? thats simply delusional.

a bunch of cast offs on bad contract... two proven top 6 forwards... 3 or 4 rookie forwards a defense that is so green some of them are still in diapers.

this is nothing close to a playoff team
- Dozzer

Its true man.. I dont ever recall thinking you were right about one of your predictions.. nothing personal, but you are definitely a part of grim leaf nation.. For some reason you refuse to acknowledge that we actually have a #1 goalies now and much improved D. A healthy JVR, Nylander, Matthews, Marner, and some grit with Martin.. This team is nothing like last years team. I understand the pessimism but i think you underestimate this team. Id put a friendly wager on them not being a bottom 10 team.

I don't think there is any medium option, unfortunately
- WingmanWillie

dammit