it was a now or never opportunity. chayka said he had chychurn ranked behind keller on his draft board (not impossible given his ranking was all over the place). maybe he could he could have squeezed out a little more...but more importantly, he had to make the deal on the spot to get his guy.

plus, holland used his cap space to sign neilsen long-term. giving cap space to bad gm's is like dropping a poison pill in the deal. we'll see what bowman does.
- Tumbleweed

Chychrun dropping in his draft year was insane.

Guy was a lock for a top 5 pick for so long.... only to drop misteriously at the draft.

I had him as the 2nd best defenseman available.... after Sergachev.... and an obvious top 10 pick.

Granted, McAvoy beats them all but that's beside the point. IM NOT PERFECT.

Could be, not sold on Tocchet and not sure they even have a 1c?
- Garnie

nope. don't have a 1c yet.

last year they usually ran with a 2nd line, a 3rd line and 2 ahl lines.

this year they should have 2 2nd lines, a 3rd line and a 4th line. improved, but not likely a playoff team.

Chychrun dropping in his draft year was insane.

Guy was a lock for a top 5 pick for so long.... only to drop misteriously at the draft.

I had him as the 2nd best defenseman available.... after Sergachev.... and an obvious top 10 pick.

Granted, McAvoy beats them all but that's beside the point. IM NOT PERFECT.
- Scabeh

almost though

nope. don't have a 1c yet.

last year they usually ran with a 2nd line, a 3rd line and 2 ahl lines.

this year they should have 2 2nd lines, a 3rd line and a 4th line. improved, but not likely a playoff team.
- Tumbleweed

Galchenyuk is their #1 C

Galchenyuk is their #1 C
- Symba007

Also Lou is gone...we will never see Polak playing for the Leafs again
- senstroll

It’s too bad, MORE ZAITSEV

Galchenyuk is their #1 C
- Symba007

You just know he's gonna be amazing next to Keller.

nope. don't have a 1c yet.

last year they usually ran with a 2nd line, a 3rd line and 2 ahl lines.

this year they should have 2 2nd lines, a 3rd line and a 4th line. improved, but not likely a playoff team.
- Tumbleweed

Tanner and some ARI fan seem to think they’re a playoff team.

I hope Nipple is surviving Hurricane Chris.....damages will cost a fortune

https://twitter.com/donny...tatus/1017571425220222981

Edit: RIP Nipple, you were a gigantic wussy but some still liked you...somehow.

Tanner and some ARI fan seem to think they’re a playoff team.
- Garnie

raanta is very good and the top 4 is solid. i just don't see enough goal scoring ... yet.

yotes will be a decent team this year. probably not playoffs, but 85 point ish. they're on the right track.
- Tumbleweed

I agree.

I think we're looking at an Ottawa last place finish

I agree.

I think we're looking at an Ottawa last place finish
- Aaron_85

And the Colorado Avalanche, with the first overall draft pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft, select.....

And the Colorado Avalanche, with the first overall draft pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft, select.....
- TheMussel

That'll be so awesome.

Be even funnier if the Avs somehow had a dismal season and won the lottery and picked 1st and 2nd.

I agree.

I think we're looking at an Ottawa last place finish
- Aaron_85

I think the Islanders could also compete for that last spot.

Rangers without McDonagh all year.... looking to unload Zuccarello and maybe even Lundqvist could fall pretty low.

I think the Habs will find a way to disappoint me and finish around 10th in the east.

Good blog
- TheMussel

LOL

I guess not

I think the Islanders could also compete for that last spot.

Rangers without McDonagh all year.... looking to unload Zuccarello and maybe even Lundqvist could fall pretty low.

I think the Habs will find a way to disappoint me and finish around 10th in the east.
- Scabeh

Buffalo and Edmonton say hi

LOL

I guess not
- Mrbs71

Can you maybe deliberate on a few of the points you made?

Can we talk realistic trades? Things that may improve the Leafs?

The Leafs need Zaits to have a bounce back season and be a serviceable 4th guy. Not great but at least acceptable. Leafs need Hainsey to be relegated to third pairing left side (strong side, he was getting beat on his back hand too often last year) and PK minutes only. He can't be taking on top pairing assignments all year. Dude did an admirable job but he was spent by the end of the year.

For me, ideally I'd like to see Gardiner moved ( not because of game 7 or because I dislike him) but because he will command too much on his next contract and you have to get something for him now, you can't keep letting guys walk for nothing like JVR and Bozak. And...he is actually someone with some worth on the market.

I feel like Dermott can take his minutes in the 3 hole ( maybe not as much offense but certainly better defense) which means you need to replace a righty in the 2 hole and a righty in the 6 spot with Hainsey. Is that Carrick or Holl? Maybe.

Ideally if you could move Gards for a good skating shutdown guy to play with Rielly. Maybe nowhere near the offense of Gards so his stock isn't as high but a solid contributer in moving the puck and defending.

For me? Ideally I'd like to see the Leafs make a huge move for Rasmus Andersson out of Calgary but I don't see a fit there right away asset wise. If you guys can come up with something that makes sense I'm all ears.

We know Zaits can't play with Rielly in the 2 hole. That's a no go. So it has to be someone who would complement 44's game. Let him skate a bit and be as responsible as Hainsey but a R shot and can move a little quicker to stay above guys. 2 years ago I thought Petrovic could have been that guy but he was bad last year in Florida.

Brown and Kappy and Gardiner to me are the guys other teams would be most interested in...and in turn I think the Leafs would be most comfortable parting with to fill a need.

Brown is a top scorer in junior, rookie of the year in the AHL and 20 goal scoring rookie in the NHL, should he really be playing on the 4th line? Kappy is a 1st round pick with blazing speed and scoring touch...not sure he should be playing on the 4th line either. So trade one of them for a need. ( I like both players a ton but I don't want to see them playing 8 minutes a night on the 4th line)

Is Calgary short on wingers? If so, Dubas should be on the horn. Minny interested in bringing home a Minny boy to play the left side? Who can Gards pry out of Minny?
- Mrbs71

Isn't Calgary short on goaltending? We have like 12 goalies now..

I think the Islanders could also compete for that last spot.

Rangers without McDonagh all year.... looking to unload Zuccarello and maybe even Lundqvist could fall pretty low.

I think the Habs will find a way to disappoint me and finish around 10th in the east.
- Scabeh

Islanders could too. I agree.

Rangers have Lundquist and he's stated he doesn't want a trade and wants to be there for the rebuild so he pretty much keeps them from a last place finish.

Buffalo and Edmonton say hi
- plantheparade

Edmonton shouldn't be in the basement. They and Buffalo should be better than last place this year. Bottom 3 finish for either team is a huge disappointment and underachievement.

Islanders could too. I agree.

Rangers have Lundquist and he's stated he doesn't want a trade and wants to be there for the rebuild so he pretty much keeps them from a last place finish.
- Aaron_85

If the Habs can manage to end 27th out of 31 teams with Carey Price.... Pretty sure the Rangers can find a way to finish in a similar spot if they trade a few of their good players.

she served you a Cleveland steamer, not pancakes.
- Symba007

Buffalo and Edmonton say hi
- plantheparade

Edmonton will not finish last with McDavid, impossible.

Buffalo is trending up... they just drafted Dahlin, have Mittdelstatsd (butchered it) coming and Reinhart showing signs of breaking out... Eichel, Ristolainen...

Too much talent to finish last again imo.

Edmonton shouldn't be in the basement. They and Buffalo should be better than last place this year. Bottom 3 finish for either team is a huge disappointment and underachievement.
- Aaron_85

It would be great though:

29th: Edm
30th: Buf
31st: Ott

It would be great though:

29th: Edm
30th: Buf
31st: Ott
- plantheparade

I don't want Buffalo or Edmonton to get another top pick.