Jared Crozier: Peeking over the fence - Toronto Maple Leafs

This'll be good.

You're about to shatter your all-time record for hits....

This Leafs team should be deadly. Certainly in one or two years, but possibly now

JVR will be packaged in a trade for defensive help, and I expect Kapanen to slide into that spot. Or he'll step into the third line, with Brown moving up to fill JVR's spot

With Montreal facing an inevitable crash, stemming from an aging core and terrible decision-making in the past two off-seasons, Ottawa dealing with a thin roster and not likely to experience the same luck as last year, and Buffalo still a step or two behind, we should see Tampa and Toronto finish 1 and 2 in the division

Did they take the Caps to 7? Not so sure.

Did they take the Caps to 7? Not so sure.
- Schennski

You are correct...

It seemed like the Leafs took the Caps to 7 games but it was actually 6.

A couple of corrections:
1) It turns out LTIR can be applied in summer, Mirtle wrote an article about it and Daley confirmed.
2) The Leafs also signed a couple of high rated Swedish UFA dmen, a la Zaitsev. At least one will likely be leaned on as an improvement to the bottom pair.

A couple of corrections:
1) It turns out LTIR can be applied in summer, Mirtle wrote an article about it and Daley confirmed.
2) The Leafs also signed a couple of high rated Swedish UFA dmen, a la Zaitsev. At least one will likely be leaned on as an improvement to the bottom pair.
- Feeling Glucky?

1) Fair enough, that process was always confusing anyway, and even the "experts" aren't really clear on how LTIR really works.
2) They got fairly lucky with Zaitsev and how he was able to step , I wouldn't count on either Calle Rosen or Andreas Borgman to step in and solving all of their problems on the blue line, even if they crack the roster.

You're about to shatter your all-time record for hits....

This Leafs team should be deadly. Certainly in one or two years, but possibly now

JVR will be packaged in a trade for defensive help, and I expect Kapanen to slide into that spot. Or he'll step into the third line, with Brown moving up to fill JVR's spot

With Montreal facing an inevitable crash, stemming from an aging core and terrible decision-making in the past two off-seasons, Ottawa dealing with a thin roster and not likely to experience the same luck as last year, and Buffalo still a step or two behind, we should see Tampa and Toronto finish 1 and 2 in the division
- AxlRose91

Im curious to see how florida does this year with a healthy roster.

Bufalo does seem like theyre a step behind, but eichal will bestarting he season on the team and not the ir this year.

1) Fair enough, that process was always confusing anyway, and even the "experts" aren't really clear on how LTIR really works.
2) They got fairly lucky with Zaitsev and how he was able to step , I wouldn't count on either Calle Rosen or Andreas Borgman to step in and solving all of their problems on the blue line, even if they crack the roster.
- JaredCrozier

Why were they lucky with Zaitsev?

Pretty fair assessment, imo. Nicely done Jared.

Brown still needs a new contract, doesn't he?

Brown still needs a new contract, doesn't he?
- mlindsay

Yes he does. Probably come in around 3M. Cap is not Lou's problem with the 2 LITR's now in place (10.5 M). It's contracts; when Brown signs the Leafs are at the max (50). Lou has to move some contracts for picks.

Yes he does. Probably come in around 3M. Cap is not Lou's problem with the 2 LITR's now in place (10.5 M). It's contracts; when Brown signs the Leafs are at the max (50). Lou has to move some contracts for picks.
- JACMAN

This is true

Yes he does. Probably come in around 3M. Cap is not Lou's problem with the 2 LITR's now in place (10.5 M). It's contracts; when Brown signs the Leafs are at the max (50). Lou has to move some contracts for picks.
- JACMAN

I know... just has him listed in the lineup... I'm sure he gets signed (may be more than you project though). Will be interesting to see what contracts they are able to move out.

Why were they lucky with Zaitsev?
- walshyleafsfan

Because undrafted free agent defensemen who can come in and play top pair minutes in their rookie season don't grow on trees. Credit them for getting the signing done, but you have to admit that he exceeded what was expected heading into the season. That is why I said "fairly lucky". Also, the timing with not having to use a protection slot for him was advantageous as well.

Fairly lucky.

Because undrafted free agent defensemen who can come in and play top pair minutes in their rookie season don't grow on trees. Credit them for getting the signing done, but you have to admit that he exceeded what was expected heading into the season. That is why I said "fairly lucky". Also, the timing with not having to use a protection slot for him was advantageous as well.

Fairly lucky.
- JaredCrozier

The clever buggers looked like they knew what they were doing

"The leafs were the fortunate recipients of the gift of Austin Matthews"...

They were the NHL's worst team, and statistically were the team with most odds of getting the first pick.

You make it sound like a huge act of luck happened.
Sounds like sour grapes to me, lol..

"The leafs were the fortunate recipients of the gift of Austin Matthews"...

They were the NHL's worst team, and statistically were the team with most odds of getting the first pick.

You make it sound like a huge act of luck happened.
Sounds like sour grapes to me, lol..
- broc

Ask the Sabres if being the worst always gets you the top pick...

Ask the Sabres if being the worst always gets you the top pick...
- mlindsay

They did. They got Jack ECHL. Who they thought was better than McDavid, before they saw McDavid play

They did. They got Jack ECHL. Who they thought was better than McDavid, before they saw McDavid play
- walshyleafsfan

ya... ok...

"The leafs were the fortunate recipients of the gift of Austin Matthews"...

They were the NHL's worst team, and statistically were the team with most odds of getting the first pick.

You make it sound like a huge act of luck happened.
Sounds like sour grapes to me, lol..
- broc

I think luck is involved on what year you're the worst team.

Are you drafting nail yakupov or mathews with the first overall pick.

I think luck is involved on what year you're the worst team.

Are you drafting nail yakupov or mathews with the first overall pick.
- david22

If you ask Spatso, they're one and the same.

True story

"The leafs were the fortunate recipients of the gift of Austin Matthews"...

They were the NHL's worst team, and statistically were the team with most odds of getting the first pick.

You make it sound like a huge act of luck happened.
Sounds like sour grapes to me, lol..

Because it's a lottery and the worst team can still lose...so yes. The winners of a game of chance are fortunate to have won.

1) Fair enough, that process was always confusing anyway, and even the "experts" aren't really clear on how LTIR really works.
2) They got fairly lucky with Zaitsev and how he was able to step , I wouldn't count on either Calle Rosen or Andreas Borgman to step in and solving all of their problems on the blue line, even if they crack the roster.
- JaredCrozier

1) yeah, it appears that Lupul is on LTIR (There were reports that the Leafs had him take a medical in June which he failed, I assume this was to be able to use him on LTIR before the UFA period opened, but regardless they have a little more cap space than previously thought).

If not Lupul it's Horton. I think the NHL doesn't like teams using LTIR in the summer but to be honest, when it comes to a guy like Horton, who is all but retired but won't retire because he's still under contract, I assume they let teams have a break to sign players and I don't think the PA would argue otherwise.

2) Jared is 100% correct. I don't see Rosen or Borgman making an immediate impact anywhere other than the Marlies at least to start.

Look at it this way; assuming Carrick and Hainsey are locks (which is a safe assumption) and assuming there are no trades made that subtract from the back end, it means Rosen and Borgman have to beat out Marincin, Marchenko, Dermott and Nielsen. Possibly Valiev as well. They're going to be in tough to come out on top of guys already in place. Same would go with Liljegren.

I assume the defence is pretty well exactly what they had last year, with only Hainsey as an addition. Marincin on the bottom pair with Hainsey, Marchenko in the pressbox, everyone else in the AHL until an injury or trade opens up a spot.