Another lead they choke away.
Kadri still only 1pt in 20 games now?
Ugh
Without high goaltending....Id hate to see where this team would be.

i can't see bozak backup under any scenario
- Tumbleweed

Well, he's plan E I bet

A lot of time left to play better.

A lot of people seem to forget how well this team played the second half with essentially the same team but worse......

Everyone needs to relax and hope that the team returns to form. We know they are capable of it
- Santo_44

The leafs had great goaltending the 2nd half....the goalies pretty much kept them in games the 2nd half

Well, he's plan E I bet
- Santo_44

A - Tavares
B - Thornton
C - Backlund
D - Stastny
E - Filppula

By all accounts, I bet Bozak is Plan F.. As in (frank), I hope we don't re-sign him

Cool

Dosnt change the fact that the team played well as a whole

I'm not sure if you noticed, but when teams play well their goalie plays well.....pretty simple to see
- Santo_44

Actually is ususally vice versa. When Goalies play well, the teams in front of them look better.

Still a long way to go for this team. But its a process.

A - Tavares
B - Thornton
C - Backlund
D - Stastny
E - Filppula

By all accounts, I bet Bozak is Plan F.. As in (frank), I hope we don't re-sign him
- PatC80

A) I doubt we see JT here
B) way too old, slow...forget that
C)ok
D) ok
E) hates babes (from all accounts apparently)

A - Tavares
B - Thornton
C - Backlund
D - Stastny
E - Filppula

By all accounts, I bet Bozak is Plan F.. As in (frank), I hope we don't re-sign him
- PatC80

I honestly believe JVR is the only one coming back.

i think komarov and jvr could both be back...but only if they take slight discounts. something like what you said for leo. 5.75x6 years for jvr.
- Tumbleweed

No way JVR takes a discount - nor should he.

Careers are short - take the money.

No way JVR takes a discount - nor should he.

Careers are short - take the money.
- Atomic Wedgie

that's fine.

maybe new jersey will give him the $6.5m x 7 years deal. i don't think the leafs will.

I honestly believe JVR is the only one coming back.
- Fakepartofme

Bozak and Komarov need to go. I think both are holding this team back and hurting their line-mates.

JVR, I would like for him to stay, but he's not taking a home-town discount, he will be 29 soon and this could very well be his last contract.

A) I doubt we see JT here
B) way too old, slow...forget that
C)ok
D) ok
E) hates babes (from all accounts apparently)
- Fakepartofme

Meh, all are still better options than the Bozek

Only 25 years and counting
- markmark

Scoring on your mom's 5 hole doesn't count!

Meh, all are still better options than the Bozek
- PatC80

People need to stop being obsessed with ages of players

Thornton is still a good player. Easily a top 6 center.

Same league as Kadri in the short term

People need to stop being obsessed with ages of players

Thornton is still a good player. Easily a top 6 center.

Same league as Kadri in the short term
- Santo_44

I would definitely still take Thornton over Bozak.
Not like Bozak is that fleet of foot either..

I would definitely still take Thornton over Bozak.
Not like Bozak is that fleet of foot either..
- PatC80

Thornton is still a great player

Not the all star he used to be but 50-60 points while playing strong two way hockey and good leadership? Yep

I would definitely still take Thornton over Bozak.
Not like Bozak is that fleet of foot either..
- PatC80

on a 1-year deal for 6-7M...sure.

no point in leaving cap space on the table for next year.

There wasn't a top pair dman available.
- Atomic Wedgie

We could of got Pietrangelo for Marner back then......
Not any more

leafs games are boring now

thanks babcock
- daeth

agreed. we should be scoring more than 1-2 goals per game

Just Put Brown on Matthews' line. He can do the 'right things' by scoring goals.

Instead of (frank)ing Freddy Sjoestrom (Hyman)

The leafs had great goaltending the 2nd half....the goalies pretty much kept them in games the 2nd half
- Fakepartofme

The goalie played well and the team did.......I know your leaf negativity is coming out because recently things haven't gone well.

When only the goalie plays well you get the Habs. Saying Andersen was the only reason the leafs played well the second half is completely false.

When I say "go for it" I meant with the team as it is.

Unless you can get a legit top pairing d-man as a rental... this team is as good as it's gonna be this season imo.
- Scabeh

So, not good enough. If they get to 2nd round, it will be a success. Gain playoff experience, come back next year as a serious contender

People need to stop being obsessed with ages of players

Thornton is still a good player. Easily a top 6 center.

Same league as Kadri in the short term
- Santo_44

Yes all of sudden people need to stop worrying about age. The leafs havent spent decades signing and trading for old players.
With the cap, the huge increase to potential injuries...age is a HUGE factor and people need to be concerned with it.
Thornton will be 39 by the start of next season...dropping big money
(anything over 3.5) on player of that age in today's NHL....foolish.

My line combinations:

JVR - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Bozak - Marner
Hyman - Kadri - Kappenen
Komarov/Martin - Gauthier/Moore - Brown

Hyman kills the play on the top line with his routine play behind the net of going back and forth, back and forth then give the puck away. However, if he does this on Kadri's line, it would be a pretty effective way to shutdown the opposition.

JVR on the top line changes how the line cycles the puck to be up high with Nylander, Matthews Rielly (the teams most skilled players controlling the puck) instead of behind the net with Hyman. JVR can do his thing with all the shots generated from those three.

Kappenen gives Kadri's line a huge boost in speed along with decent skill and defensive responsibility. Possibly swap Brown in there, but I like Kappenen's speed the most.

Marleau provides veteran savvy, and more speed to hopefully mesh with Marner. Bozak is only there to win faceoffs.

Komarov is now on the fourth line where he belongs, swapping with Martin on nights they need a Dad to provide protection.
- vermie22

It's a dump and chase league...JVR isn't chasing anything...we could change Hyman up for sure but I don't think JVR/Nylander on 1 line would be great.

Maybe put Brown up there...Leo isn't going to the 4th line as much as you want it. haha.

Bab's likes Hyman...he's pretty much as fast as Brown and outweighs him by 25lbs. He hasn't been playing his best, but I think the Leafs will get it going with what they have...win a round or 2 ( hopefully ) and continue to build.

Yes all of sudden people need to stop worrying about age. The leafs havent spent decades signing and trading for old players.
With the cap, the huge increase to potential injuries...age is a HUGE factor and people need to be concerned with it.
Thornton will be 39 by the start of next season...dropping big money
(anything over 3.5) on player of that age in today's NHL....foolish.
- Fakepartofme

he'd be fine on a one-year deal next year. he can name his price for that.

we'll have cap space to burn next year.

The goalie played well and the team did.......I know your leaf negativity is coming out because recently things haven't gone well.

When only the goalie plays well you get the Habs. Saying Andersen was the only reason the leafs played well the second half is completely false.
- Santo_44

Its not negativity...its fact. Things recently have gone as expected.
Ya the team played well for sure the last half, but a huge part was Andersen...and even the back up for some games.
Thank gawd for the weak division.
But they still have time to get their crap together. Not worried.