Actually, it is a very good comparison. Nashville was a 20 year project. After many failed attempts, the Leafs just finished year 3 in a plan that has put them in a position that is stronger than Nashville's in 2016-17 when they reached the finals. There will be no more tanking or "selling" at the deadline - bad look and bad for business. Cup contention is much more realistic now than it has been in over 4 decades. Your view is not shared by all, there is serious reason of optimism - and it is not all due to serendipity.
- winsix

NO THANKS!

There are needs and areas of weakness for the Leafs - no question.

Priorities include:
1) Defensemen - that can clear the zone and traffic in front of Anderson
2) Getting Size and grit with a high skill level on both offence and defense. (this is a rare commodity - failed with Gauthier, Wheeler for Jets, even Mantha for Wings are examples)

Priorities do not include:
1) Adding smaller skill forwards who will seriously upset the pay scale

Example : Jonsson>>>>>>>Khokhlachev and he cost the Leafs a seventh round pick and $750K per season.

Glad you are not the GM.
- winsix

The Leafs definitely need help on D and more size but that's not the only needs they have. Hyman is a poopty 1st line LW. He's a 3rd liner. And they're about to lose JVR's 36 goals and Bozak too.

3.9 is the maximum they could pay him. They could pay him 2 or 2.5 million. Even as high as 3.9 million, it's nowhere near upsetting the pay scale. Matt Martin makes 2.5 million. That's upsetting the pay scale.

True - he'll also be 25 come September

LW - does he replace Marleau? ..... No
- does he replace Jonsson? .... new contract, probably about $1 million..... No
- does he replace Hyman? ..... probably not
- is he better than 20 yr old 2nd pick, $750K Grundstrom...... not likely
- is he better than Leivo - for sure he is, great, let's pay a fifth string LW, second line money, in the hopes he over acheives in the NHL as a 25 year old rookie.

Sometimes a simple easy plan is better, UG is making this way too complicated.


- winsix

Marleau is old, he's not part of the future. He'll be gone in two years, maybe less. So yes, he could replace Marleau in the future.

Johnsson is unproven in the NHL but Khokhlachev had better AHL numbers. Again, why wouldn't you want to add a player who is as good if not better than Johnsson. Why not keep adding to the pool of young, talented players? If Johnsson doesn't pan out, you have another guy who can fill his spot.

He's got way more skill and talent than Hyman. Way more.

Grundstrom has barely played in North American, he's fairly unproven.

Way better than Leivo.

And he can play center too which means he can replace Bozak, replace Komarov, replace JVR on the PP. There's no shortage of holes he can help fill.

He spent 3 seasons in the AHL and didn't make the Bruins. That's at least 3 NHL preseasons and 3 full seasons they looked at him and didn't want him in the NHL. If the Bruins are so hard to make, how can Heinen and Debrusk come in this year as rookies and make it Alex can't? Where is he playing in the leafs top 6? Hyman - Matthews - Nylander, Marleau - Kadri - Marner. He is not replacing any of those players. He is a small player who plays on the perimeter, something the leafs do not need especially in their bottom 6. Johnsson has proven he can play in the NHL, Khokhlachev hasn't, just play Johnsson and save they second rounder and the insane 4m for 4 year contract... Insane you want to give 4M a year to a player who had 3 years to make the NHL and couldn't so he went home.
- harps43

Not making the Bruins at 20 years old means (frank) all. He's a top-six forward on a team that has Bergeron and Krejci as their top-six centers. It also doesn't mean (frank) all because it was Claude Julien who didn't like him and he's been fired so maybe his judgement in those 3 years weren't all that great.

He's better than Hyman and Marleau has one foot out the door at his age. The Leafs are about to lose JVR and Bozak with no guarantees anybody they have in the system can replace them.

3.9 million is the maximum he can get without having to give up more than a 2nd round pick. Do you (frank)ing understand that? It could be 2.5 or 2 million. It doesn't have to be 3.9 million, that's just the maximum they can go, he might take less, who knows, that's what negotiations are for.

Funny you say Brown and Khokhlachev are equal too, Brown can play anywhere in the lineup and can PK. If they were equal, he would be playing for Boston since he would be able to play their style as you say and they would have no issue putting him on their PK and in their bottom six. Which they clearly didn't since he is in Russia and Heinen and Debrusk took spots that he couldn't fill.

Equal in the sense they're both young forwards who can score and Khokhlachev might actually be a better scorer if he's given a chance. They're equal in the sense that they're young, talented players you want to add to your team.

Again, you're talking about bottom six forwards, Khokhlachev is a top-six forward. He's a scorer, he can skate, he can pass, he can shoot. He's a threat on the PP, something they need to replace with JVR likely leaving. So you can either overpay to keep JVR at 6+ million or you sign a guy with potential who is 5 years younger at half the price.

If Gardiner was signed for a few years at his current price, maybe.

The 10th overall for 1 year of Gardiner? I wouldn't do it.
- Scabeh

Would you trade Hall for Larsson?
Barzal pick for Rienhart?
Eberle for Strome?