Not surprised Toronto is running into problems. We heard so much about how they did their rebuild right, but did they really? I think they jumped the gun like we did.

Toronto landed a franchise center and two good wingers. That equates to 1 very good line, not a full team. They're losing JVR and Bozak, their bottom 6 isn't anything great, and their defense sucks. They do have a good goaltender and I've heard they have a goalie prospect that's stellar.

But, still, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Anderson is not enough by themselves to win a cup or even go deep into the playoffs. They have few nice pieces in the barn, but I wouldn't consider them a deep franchise. They should have stayed with the tanking for another season or two, but choose to begin competing once they landed Matthews. It was a mistake and I believe we'll see them pay for it.
- sskkoo1

The Marlies are very good, so I think they have prospects coming. I know of a couple on D. But all of their big guns are due a raise, and they have a couple questionable contracts as well (Zaitsev). They'll be alright, but they aren't world beaters by any stretch

Grabner SUCKS
- TheSabresTaco

20gs in the 3rd line PK help

I’d say your wrong

I agree, they'll be alright, but this team is not winning any cups any time soon.

As for the Marlies, yes, they have some solid prospects on the team, but that roster is also stacked with AHL vets.

20gs in the 3rd line PK help

I’d say your wrong
- gerbe75pts

Agree
Grabner is one of the best 3rd liners in the league

Not surprised Toronto is running into problems. We heard so much about how they did their rebuild right, but did they really? I think they jumped the gun like we did.

Toronto landed a franchise center and two good wingers. That equates to 1 very good line, not a full team. They're losing JVR and Bozak, their bottom 6 isn't anything great, and their defense sucks. They do have a good goaltender and I've heard they have a goalie prospect that's stellar.

But, still, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Anderson is not enough by themselves to win a cup or even go deep into the playoffs. They have few nice pieces in the barn, but I wouldn't consider them a deep franchise. They should have stayed with the tanking for another season or two, but choose to begin competing once they landed Matthews. It was a mistake and I believe we'll see them pay for it.
- sskkoo1

Their ahl team is in the finals... they have a lot more depth then we do because they have drafted better. Hopefully botts changes that.

Their ahl team is in the finals... they have a lot more depth then we do because they have drafted better. Hopefully botts changes that.
- gordong

They're in the finals because of the AHL vets that are on that team, not their prospects. The do have some nice prospects, but their depth is not more than ours.

What did Jack do to earn the 1C spot in his first ever NHL game? Nothing. But we drafted him to be that guy, so he was given the opportunity. We drafted Nylander to be our first line LW. But he's had a rough go with injuries and piss-poor centers in Rochester. Still, we need a LW for Jack and he was drafted to be that guy, lets see if he can handle it. We can always send him back down to Rochester if he can't.
- sskkoo1

1. Jack didn't play 1C exclusively until this past season. However, he was talented enough to play 2C from day 1.
2. We didn't "give him" anything. He earned the right to be 2C, behind a more experience ROR. His potential, which I don't think he will hit for a few more years, is an elite 1C. He's progressing yearly.
3. Nylander was BPA, to Murray. Most GMs don't draft for need. I'd even venture a guess that just about all of them don't draft for need in the NHL. Pre draft, he was known as supremely talent, but needed development to reach the NHL. Eichel was said to be ready for day 1.
4. We definitely need a LW for Jack. We need a LW for ROR and a LW for ERod, too.
5. We "gave" Nylander some minutes at the end of the season, because up to that point, he hadn't earned it. But the Sabres wanted to give Nylander the opportunity to not only play some offensive minutes, but to help his development by showing him what will be required to get called up on merit and to stick in the NHL.
6. Nylander will get a chance to play top 6 minutes in the preseason, guaranteed, injury notwithstanding. If he's not ready for the NHL, you can bet the house on him being sent down until he is.
7. Rochester has good centers.

Agree
Grabner is one of the best 3rd liners in the league
- jdfitz77

I'm going to take an alternative route and crowd source yours and jr's opinion to see how people who've had to root for him feel.

He can score but he brings his linemates down big time with possession ability. We need another guy killing our horrid possession ranking?

OEL + Domi?
OEL + 5th OA?

Leafs need defense BAD
ARZ offered OEL an 8yr deal for 8.25per and he hasn’t accepted
(hasn’t said no yet either)
- jdfitz77

Who knows Matthews might just wait for a offersheet do I think the coyotes would give him more then mcDavid to save their franchise I do

And I don’t think the leafs will match a max Amount

Who knows Matthews might just wait for a offersheet do I think the coyotes would give him more then mcDavid to save their franchise I do

And I don’t think the leafs will match a max Amount
- gerbe75pts

I'm usually not one to respond to a post with emotes, but this. This right here is something. I would feel joy in my heart if the Leafs got rid of their franchise center.

Early returns look good for you two.

Sounds like Grabner is well liked in a specific bottom 6 role. Putting him in the top 6 is a no no, and paying him like he belongs in the top 6 is an even bigger no no.

I'm usually not one to respond to a post with emotes, but this. This right here is something. I would feel joy in my heart if the Leafs got rid of their franchise center.
- TheSabresTaco

Honestly can you see them paying more then Connor McDavid ?

The coyotes have nothing to lose imo

The leafs better fix that relationship if not I would wait for my home town team give me a offer that the leafs can’t match

Honestly can you see them paying more then Connor McDavid ?

The coyotes have nothing to lose imo

The leafs better fix that relationship if not I would wait for my home town team give me a offer that the leafs can’t match
- gerbe75pts

What's the cost of admission to Gerbe Island?

I'm going to take an alternative route and crowd source yours and jr's opinion to see how people who've had to root for him feel.

He can score but he brings his linemates down big time with possession ability. We need another guy killing our horrid possession ranking?
- TheSabresTaco

Well he’s a + player most years
Double digits + the last 2 years where he also scored 27goals each season

Idk how bad his possession stats are...
but he’s obviously been pretty damn effective as a scorer
Also,
What exactly do his possession stats (if they’re bad) mean when his line isn’t getting scored on?
*i say that bc he was a +11 last year, & +22the year before

What's the cost of admission to Gerbe Island?
- TheSabresTaco

Don’t be surprised when it happens

Austin Matthews dream is to make Arizona the hockey destination

Early returns look good for you two.

Sounds like Grabner is well liked in a specific bottom 6 role. Putting him in the top 6 is a no no, and paying him like he belongs in the top 6 is an even bigger no no.
- TheSabresTaco

No one thinks he will be in the top 6 he’s a great 3rd line player that will get 3.5 m imo and I would love to have him here

Early returns look good for you two.

Sounds like Grabner is well liked in a specific bottom 6 role. Putting him in the top 6 is a no no, and paying him like he belongs in the top 6 is an even bigger no no.
- TheSabresTaco

If Grabner can score 27goals next to whoever the 3C for NYR has been,
is he really gonna struggle next to Jack?

Not saying he’s top line material,
but he can skate & score
Seems like the exact type of guy we want with Jack
And that line will be heavy in the offensive end & not getting much def zone time

And If it doesn’t work with Jack,
He can always be dropped down to the 3rd line with Mittelstadt

We will likely have to pay him more to get him here, but i don’t think it’ll have to be a long term deal

Idk?
Don’t really see the downside as long as we don’t have to overpay him too much

He’s also gonna get offers from playoffs teams though,
so who knows if he’d even come here?

It's done. I have made a trade in the sens blog

2019 1st, Reinhart, Nylander and #32

for

Hoffman and Stone

Not surprised Toronto is running into problems. We heard so much about how they did their rebuild right, but did they really? I think they jumped the gun like we did.

Toronto landed a franchise center and two good wingers. That equates to 1 very good line, not a full team. They're losing JVR and Bozak, their bottom 6 isn't anything great, and their defense sucks. They do have a good goaltender and I've heard they have a goalie prospect that's stellar.

But, still, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Anderson is not enough by themselves to win a cup or even go deep into the playoffs. They have few nice pieces in the barn, but I wouldn't consider them a deep franchise. They should have stayed with the tanking for another season or two, but choose to begin competing once they landed Matthews. It was a mistake and I believe we'll see them pay for it.
- sskkoo1

I’ve been saying that same thing to all my Leaf buddies and my Dad who is a Leafs fan. They are a victim of their own overachieving. Could you imagine if they missed the playoffs the last two years and picked top 10 how much more dangerous they would be. Including the returns they could have gotten a year ago for JVR and Bozak if they weren’t in “win now” mode. Also save an additional $6.25M in cap space since they wouldn’t have Marleau. They would have been downright scary.

It's done. I have made a trade in the sens blog

2019 1st, Reinhart, Nylander and #32

for

Hoffman and Stone
- jcragcrumple

No thanks on Hoffman
He turns 29 early in the season (Nov)
Has 2 years left on his deal,
then will demand a long term contract after that
Which means we’d be extending him into his late 30s
An 8 year deal puts him at 39 early in the last year
His age & contract situation isn’t a fit

Stone just turned 26
He needs a contract now, which means we’d sign him to an 8 year deal where he’d turn 34 at the very end of the last season

Both good players
But Stone is the good fit
Hoffman, not so much

No thanks on Hoffman
He turns 29 early in the season (Nov)
Has 2 years left on his deal,
then will demand a long term contract after that
Which means we’d be extending him into his late 30s
An 8 year deal puts him at 39 early in the last year
His age & contract situation isn’t a fit

Stone just turned 26
He needs a contract now, which means we’d sign him to an 8 year deal where he’d turn 34 at the very end of the last season

Both good players
But Stone is the good fit
Hoffman, not so much
- jdfitz77

Hoffman-Eichel-Stone

C'mon now. That would be amazing

Hoffman-Eichel-Stone

C'mon now. That would be amazing
- jcragcrumple

Sure
For 2 years

Then what do u do with Hoffman?
Sign him to big $$$ till he’s 39
Or let him walk

Bc at that age,
He’s gonna want to cash in on a long term deal

It's done. I have made a trade in the sens blog

2019 1st, Reinhart, Nylander and #32

for

Hoffman and Stone
- jcragcrumple

Everything is fine but that first you cannot trade that

Sure
For 2 years

Then what do u do with Hoffman?
Sign him to big $$$ till he’s 39
Or let him walk

Bc at that age,
He’s gonna want to cash in on a long term deal
- jdfitz77

See how this year goes, and shed Pommer and Moulson's hits, try to move Okposo, and by the time Hoffman's deal kicks in, you're done with Bogo.

They're also losing Reinhart's salary

See how this year goes, and shed Pommer and Moulson's hits, try to move Okposo, and by the time Hoffman's deal kicks in, you're done with Bogo.

They're also losing Reinhart's salary
- jcragcrumple

The salary for Hoffman isn’t the issue
Paying him till he’s 39 is

You’re gonna pay him 7mil + till he’s almost 40?
Can’t do it imo
And it doesn’t make sense to trade those assets to let him walk in 2yrs

He’s just not a fit for our timeline imo

Just bc he’s good,
doesn’t mean it’s the “right” acquisition