Oh , I didn't write at all that, but yes, going after Tavares is NOT a good idea and not what Dubas and company should be doing. If in fact that is the route they are heading, then the Leafs are definitely not going in the right direction.

This is a huge year for the big three however (Matthews, Marner and Nylander). They each struggled this season (struggling with plenty of scoring, but just not as good as they an still be, Matthews especially, and it showed in the playoffs, he was not close to being 100% and was frustrated). I don't even think it would be crazy to think about moving Matthews in a huge deal if in fact he struggles to stay healthy again. Just thinking about the possibilities in what the team could get for Matthews even scoring 34 goals in a season missing 20 games and being unhealthy for much of it...? We are talking about winning a Cup here and would much rather have Matthews being the first to lift it if and when that day comes...but seriously ? The Idea will/should come up if he struggles to stay healthy and has another poor first round in April/May and get sent home again early.
- royalgardens

Meth is a bad drug..

Meth is a bad drug..

- MaximusAurelius

Don't go after Tavares and then trade Matthews.
What could go wrong?

Don't go after Tavares and then trade Matthews.
What could go wrong?
- PatC80

The guy is entitled to his own opinions, even when they're wrong.

Royal!!! Where you been man!! Nice to see you about again!

Everyone forgetting Kaskisuo too. AHL backup next year. Suspect McBackup is going bye bye and battle will be Sparks and Pickard. Need one of the two to step up and play a few more games behind Freddy.

As for center rather Stastny than overpaying JT and having that albatross contract.

I think going after Tavares is a good idea.I just think he's not leaving the New York Islanders
- PatC80

of course it is a good idea... Dubas would be an idiot and criticized if he didn't try. On the rare occasions that players like Stamkos or Tavares reach FreeAgency you have to kick the tires.

the question is $$$ versus age... with the back-drop being the 3 kids signing.

CAP is not infinite... and will likely not go up as much again in the very near future (the current / upcoming increase being largely driven by Vegas entering the league).

my personally I would rather drop 10M per year on a Tavares than 7.5 on a Krechi... and perhaps that's how they(Leafs management) have to look at this "truly elite" exception player versus above average.... again it may be better to sign a Statsny at 2x5 or whatever and be able to add a significant additional piece. Someone on radio pointed out that Matthews want's more minutes, assuming he and Kadri both can handle 18-20, that leaves only 20-24 minutes to split over two centers...

A better D would help, which I think is even more important.
- TrashPanda

i think Pickard will be the backup this year. He showed dedication and played a year in the AHL. Sparks isnt liked by management, hes a weirdo.. McBackup can go somewhere else.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Aren't most goalies a little weird anyway?

Put too much work into this

Good video! But can also sell him on the amount of endorsements the local boy will make playing in Toronto than he would playing anywhere else.

But here's what I do:

82 Million projected cap for 2018/19

Offer JT 1yr max deal promising him another 8yr contract following the max deal.
So it would look like this:

1. 2018- 1yr 16 million 28yrs
1. 2019- 12 million 29yrs
2. 2020- 12 million 30yrs
3. 2021- 12 million 31yrs
4. 2022- 12 million 32yrs
5. 2023- 12 million 33yrs
6. 2024- 12 million 32yrs
7. 2025- 12 million 33yrs
8. 2026- 12 million 34yrs

Total 112 Million over 9yrs with an avg 12.4M+++++endorsements

I then sign Nylander to bridge deal 4M x 3yrs

Bridge Marner the following year 5.5M x 2yrs

Knowing after 3yrs your going to have to pay the best one top dollar making other dispensable as a trade chip

Give Matthews long term contract the following year 11.5M x 8yrs

knowing you have Gardiner (4.5M) Hainsey (3M) coming off the books next yr

I trade Martin or buy him out since he clearly is not a Babcock player

My team 2018-2019 team looks like this:

FORWARDS

Johnsson (1.6M) Matthews (0.925M) Marner (0.900M) FIRST LINE

Marleau (6.2M) Tavares (16M) Nylander (4M) FIRST LINE

Hyman (2.25M) Kadri (4.5M) Brown (2.1M) SHUT DOWN LINE

Grundstom (0.925M) Aaltoen (1.2M) Kapanen (0.87M) 4th LINE

Spare: Levio (0.925M)


DEFENCE

Rielly (5M) Hainsey (3M)

Gardiner (4.5M) Zaitsev (4.5M)

Dermot (0.87) Ozhiganov (1.5M)

Carrick (1.3M)


GOALIES


Anderson (5M) McElinney (0.85M)


BUYOUTS

Kessell (1.2M)
Martin (1M)

GRAND TOTAL $71.2 Million Leaving 10M in cap space to load up at deadline with a top 4 D

2018-19 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS.....YOUR TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!!

Wishful thinking....That will never happen (especially with that defense!) and why put all that stock into an aging John Tavares??? If the Leafs want to win a Stanley Cup adding Tavares puts them further away from that. This team needs guys who can play defense and have a damn clue about how to play in their own end. These guys aren't even close to a Cup contending team. They have some pieces, but the puzzle is FAR from complete! And Tavares only adds a big piece to the puzzle that really doesn't fit IMO.
- royalgardens

Johnsson on the 1st line is a bit presumptive imho. Leave Hyman there with either Nylander or Marner as the other winger.

on defense you are forgetting or overlooking three possible Marlies
Holl
Borgman
Rosen

if the approach that Dubas considers is to move Gardiner for either help at center or for a RHD... then that opens up a LHD spot - which would go to either one of Borgman or Rosen.

Aren't most goalies a little weird anyway?
- leafsfann

Don't go after Tavares and then trade Matthews.
What could go wrong?
- PatC80

don't think it was meth... more likely a few too many beers (wobbly pops) during the World Cup games

Don't go after Tavares and then trade Matthews.
What could go wrong?
- PatC80

The bozek is not the number one center we need, but the one we deserve.

Tanev is Alzner except he's chronically injured. I live in Van so I see him play a lot, when he plays. I sure wouldn't give up more than a late second for him. Canuck fans think he's worth a first and a prospect. That is seriously laughable. Come to think of it I would just stay away from him

The bozek is not the number one center we need, but the one we deserve.
- Tumbleweed

I don't know about you, but I deserve better than Bozak. Why can't the Canadiens deserve Bozak for the next 7 years? Why?

Sorry. I mean, teh Bozek.

Put too much work into this

Good video! But can also sell him on the amount of endorsements the local boy will make playing in Toronto than he would playing anywhere else.

But here's what I do:

82 Million projected cap for 2018/19

Offer JT 1yr max deal promising him another 8yr contract following the max deal.
So it would look like this:

1. 2018- 1yr 16 million 28yrs
1. 2019- 12 million 29yrs
2. 2020- 12 million 30yrs
3. 2021- 12 million 31yrs
4. 2022- 12 million 32yrs
5. 2023- 12 million 33yrs
6. 2024- 12 million 32yrs
7. 2025- 12 million 33yrs
8. 2026- 12 million 34yrs

Total 112 Million over 9yrs with an avg 12.4M+++++endorsements

I then sign Nylander to bridge deal 4M x 3yrs

Bridge Marner the following year 5.5M x 2yrs

Knowing after 3yrs your going to have to pay the best one top dollar making other dispensable as a trade chip

Give Matthews long term contract the following year 11.5M x 8yrs

knowing you have Gardiner (4.5M) Hainsey (3M) coming off the books next yr

I trade Martin or buy him out since he clearly is not a Babcock player

My team 2018-2019 team looks like this:

FORWARDS

Johnsson (1.6M) Matthews (0.925M) Marner (0.900M) FIRST LINE

Marleau (6.2M) Tavares (16M) Nylander (4M) FIRST LINE

Hyman (2.25M) Kadri (4.5M) Brown (2.1M) SHUT DOWN LINE

Grundstom (0.925M) Aaltoen (1.2M) Kapanen (0.87M) 4th LINE

Spare: Levio (0.925M)


DEFENCE

Rielly (5M) Hainsey (3M)

Gardiner (4.5M) Zaitsev (4.5M)

Dermot (0.87) Ozhiganov (1.5M)

Carrick (1.3M)


GOALIES


Anderson (5M) McElinney (0.85M)


BUYOUTS

Kessell (1.2M)
Martin (1M)

GRAND TOTAL $71.2 Million Leaving 10M in cap space to load up at deadline with a top 4 D

2018-19 STANLEY CUP CHAMPS.....YOUR TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS!!

Wishful thinking....That will never happen (especially with that defense!) and why put all that stock into an aging John Tavares??? If the Leafs want to win a Stanley Cup adding Tavares puts them further away from that. This team needs guys who can play defense and have a damn clue about how to play in their own end. These guys aren't even close to a Cup contending team. They have some pieces, but the puzzle is FAR from complete! And Tavares only adds a big piece to the puzzle that really doesn't fit IMO.
- royalgardens

I don't know where to start... So I'm not going to. No! No!

P.S. I was too lazy (and drunk) to read most of this, so I'll just assume it's nonsense like most hockeybuzz rants.

The guy is entitled to his own opinions, even when they're wrong.
- TrashPanda

The importance in living in a free country is never more relevant than when someone exercises their right to be stupid in public. #freedome #dontbeamoran

McElhinney deserves the chance to at least fight for his job, he's done a fine job since coming over from Columbus. Never complained about playing time, filled in great when Andersen went down with his injury, and helped clinch a playoff spot in a very tough 81st game the year before. He's been exactly what Andersen has needed behind him over the last few years, a true pro backup goalie. Mac has earned his job and if Sparks can't flat out steal the spot from a career backup goalie, I don't think he deserves to be up with the big club. Three good goalies fighting for 1 backup spot is a great position for the team to be in.

McElhinney deserves the chance to at least fight for his job, he's done a fine job since coming over from Columbus. Never complained about playing time, filled in great when Andersen went down with his injury, and helped clinch a playoff spot in a very tough 81st game the year before. He's been exactly what Andersen has needed behind him over the last few years, a true pro backup goalie. Mac has earned his job and if Sparks can't flat out steal the spot from a career backup goalie, I don't think he deserves to be up with the big club. Three good goalies fighting for 1 backup spot is a great position for the team to be in.
- 13sundin13

Makeasavey overplayed his previous NHL performances by a wide margin.

At his age, the idea of him recapturing that magic is slim. Maybe it would be nice to give him a shot to win against Sparks or Pickard, but it could cost us a roster spot we need or salary we need. While I'm grateful for the great job Mac did last year, it seems to me that to make the best team we can, the Leafs are better off choosing one of the younger goalies.

Makeasavey overplayed his previous NHL performances by a wide margin.

At his age, the idea of him recapturing that magic is slim. Maybe it would be nice to give him a shot to win against Sparks or Pickard, but it could cost us a roster spot we need or salary we need. While I'm grateful for the great job Mac did last year, it seems to me that to make the best team we can, the Leafs are better off choosing one of the younger goalies.
- Thecakeisalie

For sure, their waiver status is a part of the decision making, but my point is that it's his job and if Sparks wants that job he will have to play for it. There was no signs of Mac slowing down last season, he has one year left on his deal and it seems counterproductive to move him and create a pretty big hole in the lineup just to make it easier for a young guy to come in. A young guy who has yet to really prove he can do it in the NHL. 3 goalies playing for one spot is a great safety net to have, once the backup is decided, then management starts making decisions.

For sure, their waiver status is a part of the decision making, but my point is that it's his job and if Sparks wants that job he will have to play for it. There was no signs of Mac slowing down last season, he has one year left on his deal and it seems counterproductive to move him and create a pretty big hole in the lineup just to make it easier for a young guy to come in. A young guy who has yet to really prove he can do it in the NHL. 3 goalies playing for one spot is a great safety net to have, once the backup is decided, then management starts making decisions.
- 13sundin13

I'm all for a goalie war at the start of preseasons assuming we have the roster/cap space for that situation until that point and the team doesn't feel they will lose assets at that point in time.

The main worry is that if we wait until training camp of next year, if the Leafs do decide to trade either Mac or Sparks, there may no longer be any market. If they want to be able to trade someone at all, let alone at a profit, they may need to speculate on who is better to keep for the organization moving forward. I personally think Sparks is the better long term investment.

I'm all for a goalie war at the start of preseasons assuming we have the roster/cap space for that situation until that point and the team doesn't feel they will lose assets at that point in time.

The main worry is that if we wait until training camp of next year, if the Leafs do decide to trade either Mac or Sparks, there may no longer be any market. If they want to be able to trade someone at all, let alone at a profit, they may need to speculate on who is better to keep for the organization moving forward. I personally think Sparks is the better long term investment.
- Thecakeisalie

By next year Mac's deal will be done so it shouldn't really be an issue. If it's this year then there's no market, that's fine too, the market for a backup is usually not very good anyways. If the market isn't there then they just send them down, hope they clear waivers and have some insurance in case there's a major injury to Andersen.

But, all things being equal, if they both deserve it, then I'm pretty sure management trades or demotes Mac and keeps Sparks, like you say i makes more long term sense.

By next year Mac's deal will be done so it shouldn't really be an issue. If it's this year then there's no market, that's fine too, the market for a backup is usually not very good anyways. If the market isn't there then they just send them down, hope they clear waivers and have some insurance in case there's a major injury to Andersen.

But, all things being equal, if they both deserve it, then I'm pretty sure management trades or demotes Mac and keeps Sparks, like you say i makes more long term sense.
- 13sundin13

Sounds good to me bud. If Mac outplays Sparks, obviously he keeps his job as he should. If Sparks proves better, we win as an organization. If we really need to trade a goalie early next season, I guess it isn't a big deal. It will only make the news because it's Toronto.

Tanev is Alzner except he's chronically injured. I live in Van so I see him play a lot, when he plays. I sure wouldn't give up more than a late second for him. Canuck fans think he's worth a first and a prospect. That is seriously laughable. Come to think of it I would just stay away from him
- Hardbalz

Not even close to the same player

Tanev is good, enough of the Canuck hate

Johnsson on 1st line?? he's shown nothing to prove he can be a top6 fw in NHL, let alone a first liner. Hyman's staying on that line anyways as long as Babcock is the coach. Johnsson is turning 24 in November and he's just on the verge of making it to the NHL, that's quite late for a forward these days.. people get all wild about him after a few decent games in NHL and AHL playoffs - but then again, people were wild about Frattin and Soshnikov a few years as well (they were tagged as 1st/2nd liners by some on here as well).

Adding Tavares to this Leafs team, even without adding another D (apart from the Wizard) would directly make Leafs one of top 3 contenders for SC this season.
- MaximusAurelius

That is exactly the same as hyman. Both played a handful of games as a 23 yr old and began full time at 24.

Don't go after Tavares and then trade Matthews.
What could go wrong?
- PatC80

When did bergevin/chia/Dorion become leafs gm

Royal!!! Where you been man!! Nice to see you about again!

Everyone forgetting Kaskisuo too. AHL backup next year. Suspect McBackup is going bye bye and battle will be Sparks and Pickard. Need one of the two to step up and play a few more games behind Freddy.

As for center rather Stastny than overpaying JT and having that albatross contract.
- Roadrunner75

You'd rather stastny who is 5 years older and going to cost like 7.5mil?