It's just adorable how sour Buffalo fans are right now. A year ago everyone was being nice in saying the Sabres were a year ahead of Toronto on the build
- FlareKnight

Not really butt hurt or sour. I certainly wish Babs was here...think the tables may perhaps be spun, but I like Housley and think we'll be much more competitive this year. I just think it's funny that any time a star player comes up in UFA talks he's automatically going to Toronto...it's silly really.

hahaha, from a Sabres fan..

That's rich
- PatC80

Never said we knew how to win...but players don't come here either if that makes you feel better.

Leafs have 30 million in space at the end of this upcoming season. And the only possible returning player would be Komarov. Which wouldn't cost much at all. Which gives you room to sign JT and a good defenseman. Then bring up some cheap prospects like Bracco, Dermott, Liljegren, Kapanen to fill the void.

I mean it's certainly doable/possible, but in all honesty I could live without signing JT. We don't really need the guy. And that Marleau signing probably lays all those talks to rest now anyways.

Who wants to be a Leaf?


- RhinoFan

I do !

Leafs have 30 million in space at the end of this upcoming season. And the only possible returning player would be Komarov. Which wouldn't cost much at all. Which gives you room to sign JT and a good defenseman. Then bring up some cheap prospects like Bracco, Dermott, Liljegren, Kapanen to fill the void.

I mean it's certainly doable/possible, but in all honesty I could live without signing JT. We don't really need the guy. And that Marleau signing probably lays all those talks to rest now anyways.
- LeafGuy89

this, most of all.

edit: most of all he's still and isle and probably signs there.

Matthews $10-$12M
Marner/Nylander $7-$9M x2 (which is optimistic)

Best case? $24M for 3 forwards. Worst? $30M.

Add Tavares then for $8.5M-$10M. (which is optimistic)

Best: $32.5M. Worst: $40M. 4 forwards.

It can't and won't work without getting rid of one of the 3 young guns, and still haven't address D.

What do you think Gardner gets on his next deal? $5M+ right off the bat, likely $6.5-$7M.

I used to be an overly optimistic Leafs fan too, and this was WAY BACK when there was no salary cap.

What makes Toronto different in 2-3 years when they (hopefully) have some success on par with a team like Chicago that had to blow up their roster because all the young stars they developed and wanted to keep came up for a new contract? And we're talking about adding Tavares?

If you want to get wild and crazy dreaming big on July 28 let's start talking OEL or Doughty...you know, actually address a NEED as opposed to stockpiling more depth in a surplus area.

I haven't even touched on guys like Bracco, Grundstrom, Johnnson, etc. that you know...MAY turn out to be good too and earn an NHL spot some day and where to put them. Some guy had the current roster signed to 8 year deals a couple pages back so you can shoe horn Tavares into the forward mix.

Call me grumpy, or a twat as it was so eloquently put earlier...but I've seen enough to know that this team will be exceptional without singing another single guy the next 2-3 years just through maturation and development, let alone landing the most coveted UFA in 30 years if Tavares does in fact get to free agency, which he won't.
- Deeps27

Those salary numbers you are projecting are insanely high..

I do !
- zazzle

Say your name!

Those salary numbers you are projecting are insanely high..
- PatC80

Maybe. Maybe not. Let's add Tavares though. My numbers being to high make that a good idea.

Who wants to be a Leaf?


- RhinoFan

The only one winning today is Eklund because his July click bait blog worked like a charm.

Leafs have 30 million in space at the end of this upcoming season. And the only possible returning player would be Komarov. Which wouldn't cost much at all. Which gives you room to sign JT and a good defenseman. Then bring up some cheap prospects like Bracco, Dermott, Liljegren, Kapanen to fill the void.

I mean it's certainly doable/possible, but in all honesty I could live without signing JT. We don't really need the guy. And that Marleau signing probably lays all those talks to rest now anyways.
- LeafGuy89

I think Grundstrom will replace Komarov next season (depending how this one in the AHL goes).

Hamonic was one of the worst statistical dmen in the league last 2 years very happy we got something for him. Leddy is top 3 defenseman in the Metro, Boychuk better than everyone on toronto as well as dehaan. Add in 100mph pp shot and 4 or 5 more nhl dmen to fill up last two spots. Gardiner stinks, Liljegren at least 2 years away. Zaitzev and Reilly form one of the worst first pairing combinations in the eastern confrence
- 151509

I disagree with this statement. Your hate for the Leafs is strong.

#FNF (Fake News Friday)

What have they accomplished that says they are better? NYI top ten in goals last year with much much better defense.
- 151509

Much better defence? Hard to believe when the gave up same amount of goals as the leafs.

I have been an Islander fan forever and a realistic one. Bottom line is the LEafs are leaps and bounds better then my crappy team. Tavares if he was smart would get off the island as it is a sinking ship with Garth Snow at the helm. If he does jump ship and goes anywhere I would really like to find a new team as I would be completely done with this crap show.

So the question is if Tavares leaves which team should I choose??

Much better defence? Hard to believe when the gave up same amount of goals as the leafs.
- devias69

dont listen to him. Our defense sucked all year. Boychuck is not the same anymore. Hickey for get about him Hamonic was horrendous. LEddy was some what decent and De Haan but thst is about it. Pulock will help offensively but defensivly is still a question mark

Well one kind of did, texting me.."the closest I can say is JT truly loves the city of Toronto and looks at the talent he could be playing with up here and doesn't exactly scoff at the possibility...He could bring multiple Cups to Yonge St were he teamed up with the young superstars already playing here..It's hard to not think about it he has told me..."

This pure fabrication, how desperate can you be?

Honestly I'd rather the leafs not sign tavares. Be fun to watch but leafs are in a position right now with no bad contracts where if done properly they can be contenders for years without having to blow it up constantly. Beyond finding 1 more top pairing D if possible i wouldn't make any other big moves. Lock up all your young guys long term and let them grow together and fill out the rest of rest of the roster with kids and vets on short term contracts. If the kids look good lock them up early before they have arbitration rights to keep the cost down. I think they should offer nylander and marner identical 6-6.5 x 8 contracts coming out 9f their entry level. They have no negotiating power and for a young kid playing a contact sport it's hard to pass up 48-52 million of guaranteed money.

What have they accomplished that says they are better? NYI top ten in goals last year with much much better defense.
- 151509

Leafs gf: 250 ga: 234
Islanders gf: 239 ga: 238

Maybe. Maybe not. Let's add Tavares though. My numbers being to high make that a good idea.
- Deeps27

to be fair, Tim Gleason's buyout ends after this upcoming season. So, that saves us 1.33M.

All signs point towards the Leafs being a powerhouse in the East for the foreseeable future. I mean...Stamkos plays for them.
- RhinoFan

dude you seem to be having a trolling meltdown on site ......

dude you seem to be having a trolling meltdown on site ......
- Alexzanki

Nah bro, I'm cool.

Who wants to be a Leaf?


- RhinoFan

The Sabres can't even win the draft lottery never mind win a cup

The Sabres can't even win the draft lottery never mind win a cup
- ShayneCorsi

They won the most idiotic, meddling, useless owner in the NHL. Fungoola, Sabres can thank Leafs fans for not being the ass of the NHL in terms of attendance as well.

Like making up ridiculous salary cap projections to try to fit a guy that won't fit into your salary structure long term all because he's from Toronto? Yeah, who enjoys living and working in NYC? It's not happening, so try not to make the rest of us Leafs fans look like delusional clowns in the interim.
- Deeps27

Just because you don't like the idea or think it will happen, doesnt mean it won't. If JT doesn't resign I think Toronto is his #1 place (from everything he's said in media; I don't know him personally). I think he would even take a discount and The TO Brass will do what they can to accommodate him. Toronto is no longer a mediocre team with poor management. They have young, elite talent, one of the best management teams and spend to the cap every year. If it means trading away a few of the better performing, high salary players, you do it to make room for JT. Plus with the cap increasing and the financial creativity of the Leafs, they can find the money and cap space. I think the NHL looks the other for the biggest bread winning team anyways. (Robidas island, summer LTIR, etc)

I have been an Islander fan forever and a realistic one. Bottom line is the LEafs are leaps and bounds better then my crappy team. Tavares if he was smart would get off the island as it is a sinking ship with Garth Snow at the helm. If he does jump ship and goes anywhere I would really like to find a new team as I would be completely done with this crap show.

So the question is if Tavares leaves which team should I choose??
- kasperrko

Islanders were a model expansion team when Torrey ran the team. I think Tavares might leave - but the Rangers are much more likely than the Leafs. Rangers were scraping the bottom of the dumpster when they signed Desharnais.