Ryan Wilson: Penguins need on-ice help, not a Dad Penguins need on-ice help, not a Dad

What’s the Pitts fan base perspective on the young Leafs ? For years I’ve envied many a good young teams (including Pitts) and was rather jealous of their success.

Do you see the Leafs as a contender ? Or just a young solid up in coming squad ?

What’s the Pitts fan base perspective on the young Leafs ? For years I’ve envied many a good young teams (including Pitts) and was rather jealous of their success.

Do you see the Leafs as a contender ? Or just a young solid up in coming squad ?
- Mount Albert

don't think they are a REAL contender for the cup this year but they are solid but in like a year MAYBE 2 they will be one of the prime contenders for the cup.

Oh! Cold Headline.

The Leafs are a shutdown dman away from being considered a contender. And they need to upgrade their backup goalie situation.
The Penguins should at least give Dominic Simon a shot before looking for a winger. He has played in the NHL and did not look out of place. And he’s been solid in WBS all season.

Cullen would have been a great move before the season started. IMO unless the Pens make a real serious hockey move for a true upgrade, they should just stay with what they have.

What’s the Pitts fan base perspective on the young Leafs ? For years I’ve envied many a good young teams (including Pitts) and was rather jealous of their success.

Do you see the Leafs as a contender ? Or just a young solid up in coming squad ?
- Mount Albert

I think they're somewhere in-between. I don't know that they're a TRUE cup contender, but think they're a team that could make it as far as the ECF depending their match-ups.

The Leafs definitely have a better roster than Sid did in his first couple of seasons. Teams like years I think need another year of playoff experience before really becoming a top contender.

You guys are definitely way ahead of EDM lol

Tampa vs. Nashville this year

Fun team for sure. D seems to be an issue. Goaltending could be an issue with your backup.

I wouldn't mind taking a flier on Burmistrov in Vancouver. Maybe he could handle a more high tempo bottom 6 role with Sheahan moving to 4th line...
Love the Simon thought and it seems management agrees.

I would take Cullen on this team for dirty cheap. Some people do better in different environments and I'm pretty sure Cullen would do well with the Pens again.

There's a leadership role vacant and he brings intangibles, things you can't tell by looking at cold numbers. He's a true Penguin.

I wouldn't mind taking a flier on Burmistrov in Vancouver. Maybe he could handle a more high tempo bottom 6 role with Sheahan moving to 4th line...
Love the Simon thought and it seems management agrees.
- beezerdust66

Burmistrov has a cool name, but other than that, he's (frank)ing trash.

I would take Cullen on this team for dirty cheap. Some people do better in different environments and I'm pretty sure Cullen would do well with the Pens again.

There's a leadership role vacant and he brings intangibles, things you can't tell by looking at cold numbers. He's a true Penguin.
- Barnaby36

I dunno, I don't think he'd fair well with Kuhnackl and Reaves as his linemates. I feel like whoever gets to center that line is gonna be a lot of blah.

What’s the Pitts fan base perspective on the young Leafs ? For years I’ve envied many a good young teams (including Pitts) and was rather jealous of their success.

Do you see the Leafs as a contender ? Or just a young solid up in coming squad ?
- Mount Albert

Don't see why they couldn't be a contender this year, with one of the most potent offenses in the league, that's really all you need to be a contender at any given time in the NHL. If the goals started drying up, that's when I'd change my mind...but I don't see that happening, because their top 9 is great. Their PP percentage is good, but they're near the middle of the league on goals with the man advantage which says to me they aren't drawing a ton of calls and as typing this, I looked and saw they have 20 less PP opps than Tampa and almost 40 less than Chicago, they're like 27th in PP opps.

Cullen would have been a great move before the season started. IMO unless the Pens make a real serious hockey move for a true upgrade, they should just stay with what they have.
- Rinosaur

Agreed. If he would have resigned, I eould have been fine with it, but do not give up assets for him.

Don't see why they couldn't be a contender this year, with one of the most potent offenses in the league, that's really all you need to be a contender at any given time in the NHL. If the goals started drying up, that's when I'd change my mind...but I don't see that happening, because their top 9 is great. Their PP percentage is good, but they're near the middle of the league on goals with the man advantage which says to me they aren't drawing a ton of calls and as typing this, I looked and saw they have 20 less PP opps than Tampa and almost 40 less than Chicago, they're like 27th in PP opps.
- j.boyd919

I honestly think it's just a playoff experience thing at this point. While they have some solid vets, they don't have a lot of playoff experience around that lineup. I think one more season and they'll be ready to be in the cup next year, but I also wouldn't be shocked at all if they made it this year.

It's the easy thing to say, but I just don't see anyone knocking Tampa off their perch.

Agreed. If he would have resigned, I eould have been fine with it, but do not give up assets for him.
- Doogs

Plus, while I think he's better than McKegg or Rowney as 4C, he's more of a lateral move to Sheahan at this point, so it's really not worth it.

I think if any move happens right now it's gonna for a depth dman, which we could see very soon.

I agree with the blog for the most part. However, I don't agree that you need to improve on Sheahan at the moment. He now has 7 point in his last 11 games. Hagelin's also stepping up. I feel like the Pens are regressing to the team they should be.

That said, adding Cullen might make sense. Even if he's a lateral move to Sheahan, that's not a bad thing. Personally, I'd rather Riley, with the way he's played the last 15 games or so, over Bonino.

I honestly think it's just a playoff experience thing at this point. While they have some solid vets, they don't have a lot of playoff experience around that lineup. I think one more season and they'll be ready to be in the cup next year, but I also wouldn't be shocked at all if they made it this year.

It's the easy thing to say, but I just don't see anyone knocking Tampa off their perch.
- Rinosaur

The most simple response to that... Babcock. If there is any coach in the league that can counter the whole "team needs playoff experience" thing... It's Babcock. They played the Caps last year in the 1st round and played very well against them. That alone was a damn good experience for that roster.

The most simple response to that... Babcock. If there is any coach in the league that can counter the whole "team needs playoff experience" thing... It's Babcock. They played the Caps last year in the 1st round and played very well against them. That alone was a damn good experience for that roster.
- j.boyd919

Fair enough. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if they made to the cup, but I still think going deeper in the playoffs is one more step.

Adding Cullen for cheap wouldn't be a mistake at all. He's a gamer.

What’s the Pitts fan base perspective on the young Leafs ? For years I’ve envied many a good young teams (including Pitts) and was rather jealous of their success.

Do you see the Leafs as a contender ? Or just a young solid up in coming squad ?
- Mount Albert

I see them as very strong contenders right now. Wouldn't favor them over the Lingtning or Pens, but think they're capable of beating either. Loaded with depth and star power up front. Have a good goalie and a great coach. 3 good defensemen. Could use one more defensemen although the same could be said of the Pens last year.

For them I worry they may take a step back next year and regret the Marleau contract with Bozak and JVR needing new deals.

Adding Cullen for cheap wouldn't be a mistake at all. He's a gamer.
- Barnaby36

Anyone who argues with this is a fool. Here me Gunner? lol

I see them as very strong contenders right now. Wouldn't favor them over the Lingtning or Pens, but think they're capable of beating either. Loaded with depth and star power up front. Have a good goalie and a great coach. 3 good defensemen. Could use one more defensemen although the same could be said of the Pens last year.

For them I worry they may take a step back next year and regret the Marleau contract with Bozak and JVR needing new deals.
- Tojo.

The Leafs time is now and I mean RIGHT NOW

They aren't going to get any better when the Nylander/Marner/Matthews combined salary currently 3 million becomes about 28 million

Thats clearing 25 million worth of players from their roster inside of 2 seasons, and it doesn't give any room to add a "Top pairing Dman"

That's not a recipe for improvement

Anyone who argues with this is a fool. Here me Gunner? lol
- powerhouse

Adding Cullen for what will amount to very little in return, and considering his cap number is a solid move. Sheahan can move to 4th line left wing if the Pens do at some point acquire a "3rd line center". Sheahan then then shifts back to the 4th line role next season. Sorry Gunner, seams like a no brainer.

The Leafs time is now and I mean RIGHT NOW

They aren't going to get any better when the Nylander/Marner/Matthews combined salary currently 3 million becomes about 28 million

Thats clearing 25 million worth of players from their roster inside of 2 seasons, and it doesn't give any room to add a "Top pairing Dman"

That's not a recipe for improvement
- TheGame316

TOR has nothing but time. The cap about to grow as much as it might will put the Leafs in a fine position to remain competitive.