Guys I don't want to alarm you, but Nick Spaling has left the NHL
- AdamFrench

Yeah, I like Horvat... he had a pretty interesting season last year especially when H. Sedin got injured.... he produced pretty well when given more ice time and powerplay time.
- Scabeh

He's alright.. Don't compare him to Kadri in the Nucks thead tho

Guys I don't want to alarm you, but Nick Spaling has left the NHL
- AdamFrench

To the Swiss league?

He probably doesnt meet the KHL's strict eligibility criteria

To the Swiss league?

He probably doesnt meet the KHL's strict eligibility criteria
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He doesn't sucker punch everybody on the ice..?

He's alright.. Don't compare him to Kadri in the Nucks thead tho
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I wouldn't dare.

Strange considering Kadri is pretty obviously the better player at this point.

Nylander a 70point guy?

- Fakepartofme

I don't see that out of the question at all.. maybe not every season but he will be 60 plus points a year

Are we going to see any more Leafs moves before the season at this point?

At the bare minimum a move for a backup goalie seems likely, unless the plan is to run with Sparks again. I've seen Leivo for Wedgewood floated on these boards, I like that one.

Also what was up with Lou's strange no comment on Lupul early in the off-season, has he somehow played his last game as a Leaf? How is that even possible?

Anyways, assuming no more moves is this the realistic Leafs October lineup?

L1: JVR - Kadri - Komarov
L2: Michalek - Bozak - Hyman/Marner
L3: Nylander - Matthews - Greening
L4: Martin - Holland - Laich

ex on 1-way: Lupul, Leivo

P1: Hunwick/Marincin - Rielly
P2: Gardiner - Zaitsev
P3: Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick

ex on 1-way: Corrado, Polak

G1: Anderson
G2: ???

L1: Is a respectable, unspectacular first line. Veteran line gets the majority of tough match ups.

L2: Seems like people have JVR slotted with Bozak but I'm not so sure. He spent more time with Kadri and Komorov last season and I can't see a rookie getting both big minutes and tough match ups. Combine with the rest of the Leafs veteran forwards being filler at best, no JVR for Bozak.

Bozak gets flanked by Michalek on the left, who hopefully with appropriate ice time return to a 30+ point pace making him a tradable commodity at the deadline.

Bozak seems like the likely landing spot for a rookie outside of Nylander and Matthews. I could see Hyman taking this spot for good chunks of the season depending on Marner. Hard to say if he stays or goes with Lou and Babcock. Maybe 9 games, maybe he's ready.

L3: This is where Babcock said they would start. It would be fantastic if they can develop some chemistry, long term could be a formidable pair. Colin Greening seems a decent fit on their right side. Veteran player who had a strong end of the year with the Leafs. Good size and work ethic makes it highly likely he makes Babcock's team. A solid season should net a decent draft pick.

L4: Likely a lot of defensive end starts for this line. Martin finds his home and racks up the hits/forecheck.

Laich is your big body vet on the RW, and will have a role on the PK. Barring injury should acquire a depth draft pic at deadline.

For Holland it's do or die. While not starting in an advantageous spot as 4th line C, there will be opportunity throughout the season with injuries, trades and demotion. He's better face-off man than Laich at this point in Laich's career. Should Bozak find himself traded and Holland's game improve he could find himself staying as a cheap center option.

EX: Lupul likely is on the team as I'm not sure what kind of magic Lou can pull. With his play last year it's not unreasonable, salary aside, that he simply doesn't play his way onto the starting line-up.

Leivo should be close, but too many NHLer's in front of him. Will get games from injuries and once more players are moved out.

P1: Most pressing need to improving this team would be finding a quality partner for Rielly. Babcock loves his L-R combos on D but Rielly has been playing the right side. Could his game be even better if he switched to the left with a high quality R-shooting partner? Trading for Trouba or any of the other talented young unsigned defence out there would be huge, but the price for high end D seems crazy.

Likely the same as last year Rielly splits time with Marincin and Hunwick.

P2: Zaitsev from what I read is supposedly defensively minded despite his big shot. Would be nice to see this pair mesh and Zaitsev play more than a bottom pair role.

P3: Connor Carrick is a guy I think will end up beating out Corrado and Polak for the last spot. On a one way contract he won't be playing for the Marlies.

G: Anderson scares me if only because Toronto's history with trading for goalies leaves a lot to be desired. 5y would be tough to get out of if it was a total flop. Trying to be positive though if he's even an average starter that's a real upgrade.

So in closing, the team I predict we see in the fall will be a lot more similar to last year's variety but the next step forward in the young players development. Veteran guys will be given minutes and we should hopefully see a similar trade off at the deadline, followed by AHL promotions.

I don't see this team finishing bottom 5 this season, playoffs will be the goal of any Babcock team and in an every thing goes right scenario it's plausible however unlikely. Leafs are entertaining and competitive this season, sell off assets and are fantastically positioned for the 2017 off-season.

poop did that ever become a novel.

L1: JVR - Kadri - Komarov
L2: Michalek - Bozak - Hyman/Marner
L3: Nylander - Matthews - Greening
L4: Martin - Holland - Laich

ex on 1-way: Lupul, Leivo

P1: Hunwick/Marincin - Rielly
P2: Gardiner - Zaitsev
P3: Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick

ex on 1-way: Corrado, Polak

G1: Anderson
G2: ???

Just line up if ya don't like the rest of the crap (my justifications).

oh my

poop did that ever become a novel.

L1: JVR - Kadri - Komarov
L2: Michalek - Bozak - Hyman/Marner
L3: Nylander - Matthews - Greening
L4: Martin - Holland - Laich

ex on 1-way: Lupul, Leivo

P1: Hunwick/Marincin - Rielly
P2: Gardiner - Zaitsev
P3: Hunwick/Marincin - Carrick

ex on 1-way: Corrado, Polak

G1: Anderson
G2: ???

Just line up if ya don't like the rest of the crap (my justifications).
- Blazed

Connor Brown and Nikita Soshnikov both in the mix up front

He doesn't sucker punch everybody on the ice..?
- lumlums

That dude got a perma-ban AND now the team that got attacked is pressing charges. K H L! K H L!

Connor Brown and Nikita Soshnikov both in the mix up front
- Lucas.Neilson

Agreed, but where. Gonna be interesting to see camp.

He doesn't sucker punch everybody on the ice..?
- lumlums

one bad apple giving the entire league a bad name

The history of the NHL is far more violent.. Mafk'ers will whack you in the face with their stick *cough Keith....

Is anyone worried that Anderson might be another Toskala or Raycroft?

Anderson's stats:
Max GP in a Season: 54 (42 avg)
Total GP: 125 (114 Starts)
Wins: 77 (61.6%)
Losses: 26
T/OT: 12
Mins: 6974
GA: 271
Saves: 3034
SO: 6
GAA: 2.33
SV%: 0.918

Raycroft pre Toronto
Max GP in a Season: 57 (36 avg) (I used the first three as 1 as its only 21GP)
Total GP: 108 (100 Starts)
Wins: 43 (39.8%)
Losses: 46
T/OT: 12
Mins: 6055
GA: 264
Saves: 2612
SO: 3
GAA: 2.62
SV%: 0.899

Toskala pre Toronto:
Max GP in a Season: 38 (29 avg) (First 2 seasons as one due to GP)
Total GP: 115 (99 Starts)
Wins: 65 (56.5%)
Losses: 28
T/OT: 5
Mins: 6270
GA: 245
Saves: 2597
SO: 8
GAA: 2.34
SV%: 0.906

Bernier pre Toronto
Max GP in a Season: 25 (66 avg) (I used the first two as 1 as its only 7GP)
Total GP: 62 (54 Starts)
Wins: 29 (46.8%)
Losses: 20
T/OT: 6
Mins: 3463
GA: 136
Saves: 1417
SO: 6
GAA: 2.35
SV%: 0.904


Raycroft's first season with the Leafs he played 72 games. Won 37 (51.4%)
GAA - 2.99 SV% 0.894
Toskala's first season with the Leafs he played 66 games. Won 33 (50.0%)
GAA 2.74 SV% 0.904
Bernier's first season with the Leafs he played 55 games. Won 26 (47.3%)
GAA 2.68 SV% 0.923


I'm thinking that this shouldn't be much of an issue as Anderson has already shown that he can out perform our past attempts at finding a #1. I know that these numbers are not everything, but it's something.

Anderson will be the best goalie that the Leafs have had in over a decade.
Lets see if he can keep a winning % above 0.500 and his GAA under 2.50 with a SV% above 0.910 in his first year and I will be very impressed.

I don't see that out of the question at all.. maybe not every season but he will be 60 plus points a year
- ClarksonDavid

Over/Under on Nylander this season 47.5

I don't see that out of the question at all.. maybe not every season but he will be 60 plus points a year
- ClarksonDavid

When i came out with my patented scoring projection list everyone was like OMG YOURE SUCH AN IDIOT NON OF THOSE PLAYERS WILL HIT THOSE NUMBERS..

Fast forward to Aug 10th and now they are saying they hit even higher numbers..

just saying..

Connor Brown and Nikita Soshnikov both in the mix up front
- Lucas.Neilson

I'd be really surprised if brown isn't on the team one way or another. Mathews Nylander Marner Brown will all make it upfront IMO but we will see

When i came out with my patented scoring projection list everyone was like OMG YOURE SUCH AN IDIOT NON OF THOSE PLAYERS WILL HIT THOSE NUMBERS..

Fast forward to Aug 10th and now they are saying they hit even higher numbers..

just saying..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I don't think he hits 60 this year but I think for his career he will be a 60 plus points guy

That dude got a perma-ban AND now the team that got attacked is pressing charges. K H L! K H L!
- markmark

Montreal should get a KHL team... Charge players who lay legal but destructive hits on their players.

Over/Under on Nylander this season 47.5
- senstroll

over. 55pts for bill nye..

maybe even 60.

Is anyone worried that Anderson might be another Toskala or Raycroft?


- currphij

With goalies, I no longer make any assumptions. I hope for the best but that's it. I thought Bernier was going to be fantastic especially for the price the Leafs paid.

Best not to get hopes up even if things look promising.

With goalies, I no longer make any assumptions. I hope for the best but that's it. I thought Bernier was going to be fantastic especially for the price the Leafs paid.

Best not to get hopes up even if things look promising.
- markmark

Same..

Im hoping Woll turns into something special.

Over/Under on Nylander this season 47.5
- senstroll

id say 55 points this season.

Same..

Im hoping Woll turns into something special.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Woll the Wall of TO?

Montreal should get a KHL team... Charge players who lay legal but destructive hits on their players.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

We already bought out the refs so we're fine.

And next year the most destructive hits will come from Mr. Weber.