No Dozzer, they are not looking to tank. They do not own their 1st round pick in 2019. The absolutely last thing they want to do is tank. If they tank, Colorado can draft 1st overall.
- Unholy_Goalie

They're not going to intentionally tank, but there's no way that they are going to be good. Colorado is probably getting a lottery pick no matter what they do.

Karlsson
Doughty

Hedman
Josi

Burns
Pietro
Carlson
Subban
OEL
Byfuglien
McAvoy
Rielly


im probably missing a few
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Ekblad.

then hold him til the sens can tell at the deadline who's the most likely to finish lower in the standings... and a team needing him will also pay more
- Dozzer

I think he's demanded a trade - he has to go. This is why Dorion is getting poopty offers.

They're not going to intentionally tank, but there's no way that they are going to be good. Colorado is probably getting a lottery pick no matter what they do.
- TrashPanda

They're going to try avoiding the tank as much as possible. 1st overall for Duchene gets Dorion fired.

Leafs are already an offensive powerhouse especially with the addition of Tavares. All they need is someone better than Hainsey to play with Rielly. Don’t need Karlsson.
- Steven_Seagull

He's so good tho.

Like, really, really good...

Karlsson has one foot out the door, Winnipeg has little to no interest in moving Trouba. Not to mention, simply put, Trouba isn't as good as Karlsson. We're talking about two different tiers of defensemen here.
- Unholy_Goalie

Trouba might still want out and Winnipeg does have cap problems next year. Not the same tier but maybe a good fit for less plus keep Nylander. Gardiner can take a hike for all I care.

What committee? (frank)ing 90 year old Hainsey? poop bag Zaitsev? Carrick? (frank)ing Gardiner who's a pending UFA and half the fans want him out of town because he poop himself in game 7?

It's a poopty committee. Get the Norris winning RHD.

Imagine the opposite situation right now with 6 legit defenders and no centers and trying to play center and score goals by committee. (frank)ing ludicrous. The Leafs have too much up front and not enough on defense. Trade the expendable forward and acquire the needed RHD.
- Unholy_Goalie

I literally said get someone better than Hainsey.


Rielly, Gardiner, and Dermott are good enough. Just add to that. Don’t need Karlsson.

They're going to try avoiding the tank as much as possible. 1st overall for Duchene gets Dorion fired.
- Unholy_Goalie

You're not listening. There's no way for them to avoid it. They suck, and team morale is going to be equally as good.

They don't need to be as good as Karlsson, they just need to be competent.

How do you know that Dermott doesn't develop into something decent? You don't.

Stop trying to gut the team and let them play. They're going to be good - very good. We're in for an exciting season of hockey!
- TrashPanda

I'm not saying to get rid of Dermott but if you think he's a Norris winning D, you're out of your mind. He's simply not as good as Karlsson and can't bring the same impact that adding Karlsson would bring.

It's not gutting the team. It's taking a surplus and trading it to fill a deficit.

Trouba might still want out and Winnipeg does have cap problems next year. Not the same tier but maybe a good fit for less plus keep Nylander. Gardiner can take a hike for all I care.
- dwoo33

And if Trouba and Nylander both want 7+ million each?

At some point, the Leafs will come into cap trouble. It's going to happen eventually. It's just a matter of having all your eggs in the forward basket or having at least one legit defender and losing a forward who you don't really need anyway since they acquired Tavares.

Ekblad.
- Unholy_Goalie

gud pl'r

You're not listening. There's no way for them to avoid it. They suck, and team morale is going to be equally as good.
- TrashPanda

And you're not listening; Ottawa is going to avoid tanking if they can. Acquiring Nylander and Gardiner do that more so than acquiring a bunch of picks and prospects.

I'm not saying to get rid of Dermott but if you think he's a Norris winning D, you're out of your mind. He's simply not as good as Karlsson and can't bring the same impact that adding Karlsson would bring.

It's not gutting the team. It's taking a surplus and trading it to fill a deficit.
- Unholy_Goalie

When did I say he was going to win the Norris?

Yeah, it's gutting the team. Leafs are set to contend for the next 5 years at least, let's keep what we have and keep it that way.

I literally said get someone better than Hainsey.


Rielly, Gardiner, and Dermott are good enough. Just add to that. Don’t need Karlsson.
- Steven_Seagull

All LHD. Gardiner pending UFA. Dermott unproven, very unlikely to be as good as Karlsson.

And you're not listening; Ottawa is going to avoid tanking if they can. Acquiring Nylander and Gardiner do that more so than acquiring a bunch of picks and prospects.
- Unholy_Goalie

There's no way that they can, they're that bad.

(frank).

When did I say he was going to win the Norris?

Yeah, it's gutting the team. Leafs are set to contend for the next 5 years at least, let's keep what we have and keep it that way.
- TrashPanda

Not with that poop defense if they hope to beat Tampa Bay. Especially if Tampa Bay gets Karlsson.

There's no way that they can, they're that bad.

(frank).
- TrashPanda

Depends what they get for Karlsson. They're not going to just give up and let themselves tank. They're obviously going to do their best to avoid it. This idea that they've already given up 1st overall to Colorado is asinine.

And if Trouba and Nylander both want 7+ million each?

At some point, the Leafs will come into cap trouble. It's going to happen eventually. It's just a matter of having all your eggs in the forward basket or having at least one legit defender and losing a forward who you don't really need anyway since they acquired Tavares.
- Unholy_Goalie

How many elite years does Karlsson have left? 4-5?

All LHD. Gardiner pending UFA. Dermott unproven, very unlikely to be as good as Karlsson.
- Unholy_Goalie

Why do you keep going on with the (frank)ing UFA thing? Is there some law somewhere that says Gardiner can't sign?

Who cares if Dermott is as good as Karlsson? All he needs to be is decent.

All LHD. Gardiner pending UFA. Dermott unproven, very unlikely to be as good as Karlsson.
- Unholy_Goalie

Irrelevant. Dermott doesn’t have to be as good as Karlsson.

How many elite years does Karlsson have left? 4-5?
- dwoo33

With half an ankle? Who knows - which is another problem I'm happy to let another team have.

Why do you keep going on with the (frank)ing UFA thing? Is there some law somewhere that says Gardiner can't sign?

Who cares if Dermott is as good as Karlsson? All he needs to be is decent.
- TrashPanda

Just be able to get the puck to the forwards.

Not with that poop defense if they hope to beat Tampa Bay. Especially if Tampa Bay gets Karlsson.
- Unholy_Goalie

Tampa isn't getting Karlsson, they can't afford him. Just like we can't. Which everyone can see except you.

How many elite years does Karlsson have left? 4-5?
- dwoo33

He's 28 so at least 4 or 5 but comparable players like Niedermayer continued to play that style well into their 30s.

I'd rather have 5 elite years of Karlsson than 6 defensemen who have 0 years of elite years in their careers. The Leafs are very unlikely to have any Norris winners in their midst right now.

With half an ankle? Who knows - which is another problem I'm happy to let another team have.
- TrashPanda

Jeff Finger type or bust.