Tanner is setting Dubas straight
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James Tanner@James_Tanner123
Safe to say Kyle Dubas first major undertacking as Leafs GM has been a huge failure.
Just pay the damn kid already. #Leafsforever


https://editorinleaf.com/...leafs-william-nylander-9/
- 21peter

What a (frank)ing idiot

My guess: Nylander signs a 3 yr/ $15M bridge deal.
- PatC80

If that's the case, great. Get him back on the ice, get his point totals up and trade him for a #1 RHD.

Tanner is setting Dubas straight
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James Tanner@James_Tanner123
Safe to say Kyle Dubas first major undertacking as Leafs GM has been a huge failure.
Just pay the damn kid already. #Leafsforever


https://editorinleaf.com/...leafs-william-nylander-9/
- 21peter

So stupid.

Agree, but he was outplayed by a sh!t goalie.
- winsix

2 games in a row that goalies that have sucked this season played their asses off against the Leafs.

I think he might hold out for more.
- PatC80

If that's the case, great. Get him back on the ice, get his point totals up and trade him for a #1 RHD.
- Unholy_Goalie

If they sign Nylander for $5M, I don't think they'll trade him.

If they sign Nylander for $5M, I don't think they'll trade him.
- PatC80

Either way, they should. If it's a shorter term deal, the next deal will be much bigger and harder to fit. If it's a longer bridge deal, he's a UFA.

Nylander for a #1 RHD has to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's when.

And I don't blame Dubas for playing the "we want to keep him, we don't want to trade him" card because he's not showing his hand to his rivals. But behind closed doors, they have to know that trading him for defensive help is the best move for the team's overall and long term future.

Either way, they should. If it's a shorter term deal, the next deal will be much bigger and harder to fit. If it's a longer bridge deal, he's a UFA.

Nylander for a #1 RHD has to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's when.

And I don't blame Dubas for playing the "we want to keep him, we don't want to trade him" card because he's not showing his hand to his rivals. But behind closed doors, they have to know that trading him for defensive help is the best move for the team's overall and long term future.
- Unholy_Goalie

Leafs aren't that much better then the team that was iced last year. No improvement off of the back end, Gardiner still makes ridiculous decisions. Rielly is scoring more points, but still makes errors. The rest are subpar, or at at best, average. The Leafs seem to want to take a wait and see, but their ruining their chance to make a Cup run, with the Cap situation starting to catch up to them.

The Leafs also have a deficit on the wings, with size and are often boxed out, when they run into a bigger stronger club. Tavares is an upgrade at 2C, but moving Kadri down takes away his goal scoring opportunities. Sure, they can run and gun, but they can't play playoff style hockey and at the end of the regular season, they'll be judged on how they play in the playoffs.

Leafs need to move Nylander for a decent Right shooting defenseman and solidify their top 4. Gardiner needs to go.

- daeth

Yep. Same stupid, pointless argument every night...

Yep. Same stupid, pointless argument every night...
- Steven_Seagull

pretty insufferable

pretty insufferable
- daeth

I blame Dubas

I blame Dubas
- Yeti1181

As per usual, some Leafs fans will blame the referees.

As per usual, some Leafs fans will blame the referees.
- Unholy_Goalie

You're a (frank)ing idiot

You're a (frank)ing idiot
- jimi james

Either way, they should. If it's a shorter term deal, the next deal will be much bigger and harder to fit. If it's a longer bridge deal, he's a UFA.

Nylander for a #1 RHD has to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's when.

And I don't blame Dubas for playing the "we want to keep him, we don't want to trade him" card because he's not showing his hand to his rivals. But behind closed doors, they have to know that trading him for defensive help is the best move for the team's overall and long term future.
- Unholy_Goalie

I dont think it "has" to happen, there are more moves they can make before having to break apart the core, but if it does, I think most fans would be fine with it especially if it's a #1. Problem is, it's doubtful he brings back a #1 RHD (the most valuable asset in the NHL behind a #1 centre) a 2nd pairing seems more realistic, and I dunno if that's worth it. We'll see how it plays out, I would guess they need to get a guy who is on nobody's radar and performs beyond his expectations. A 2nd pairing RHD should still do great playing with Rielly.

In any case, Hainsey definitely cant be on the #1 pair next year if the Leafs are at all serious about contending for the cup.

I dont think it "has" to happen, there are more moves they can make before having to break apart the core, but if it does, I think most fans would be fine with it especially if it's a #1. Problem is, it's doubtful he brings back a #1 RHD (the most valuable asset in the NHL behind a #1 centre) a 2nd pairing seems more realistic, and I dunno if that's worth it. We'll see how it plays out, I would guess they need to get a guy who is on nobody's radar and performs beyond his expectations. A 2nd pairing RHD should still do great playing with Rielly.

In any case, Hainsey definitely cant be on the #1 pair next year if the Leafs are at all serious about contending for the cup.
- 13sundin13

It has to happen. You look at Tampa Bay and they have Hedman, plus McDonagh, plus Stralman plus Sergachev; an actual top-4. If this is an arms race, the Leafs are seriously behind Tampa Bay on defense. Tampa Bay has a better, younger goalie too which means their ability to prevent goals is better in two categories better than the Leafs and their offense is as good if not better.

Pietrangelo. He's a bit older than Nylander but he has 1 more year left on his deal and he checks a lot of boxes for the Leafs. Hopefully St. Louis sucks this year and they think about moving him for younger players like Nylander.

It has to happen. You look at Tampa Bay and they have Hedman, plus McDonagh, plus Stralman plus Sergachev; an actual top-4. If this is an arms race, the Leafs are seriously behind Tampa Bay on defense. Tampa Bay has a better, younger goalie too which means their ability to prevent goals is better in two categories better than the Leafs and their offense is as good if not better.

Pietrangelo. He's a bit older than Nylander but he has 1 more year left on his deal and he checks a lot of boxes for the Leafs. Hopefully St. Louis sucks this year and they think about moving him for younger players like Nylander.
- Unholy_Goalie

Pietrangelo would be great but Nylander is not getting you him so it's not really worth mentioning when talking about dealing him for a RHD. Maybe if he tells the Blues he's going UFA then there's something but since isn't, and he's the player he is, the Blues will do everything they can to re-sign him and most likely will.

I agree the Leafs need defensive help but just trading Nylander is not going to solve that problem, they need at least two new 2nd pairing dmen and probably an upgrade in another pairing if they want to compete with the likes of Tampa.

Thing is, maybe they don't have match Tampa and can play to their strengths right now, which would mean keeping Nylander and having the edge up front. As the Caps and Pens have proven over the last few years, it's a legitimate way to build a cup team. The Preds and Lightning both had much better D depth and still came up short. If the right deal comes along for a Dman then they obviously should make it, if not, then stay put and build around the forward depth until it does.

Pietrangelo would be great but Nylander is not getting you him so it's not really worth mentioning when talking about dealing him for a RHD. Maybe if he tells the Blues he's going UFA then there's something but since isn't, and he's the player he is, the Blues will do everything they can to re-sign him and most likely will.
- 13sundin13

Even if the Leafs had to add something, it'd still be worth it if he signs an extension.

He's got 1 year after this season and becomes a UFA. St. Louis moved Stastny as a pending UFA only a couple points out of the playoffs. Imagine if they completely suck this year or next and Pietrangelo doesn't have a contract yet. Plus, if you look at their cap situation, they don't exactly have a lot of money available. They might elect to go with younger, cheaper players (keep Parayko) and move the older guys for more young players (Nylander).

And maybe he doesn't want to stay there. He's been there his whole career but they've been pretenders for awhile now. If they miss the playoffs again, maybe he doesn't want to re-sign and maybe he gets put on the trade block.

These are hypothetical but reasonably possible situations.

I agree the Leafs need defensive help but just trading Nylander is not going to solve that problem, they need at least two new 2nd pairing dmen and probably an upgrade in another pairing if they want to compete with the likes of Tampa.

Nylander is very valuable and if the Leafs get what he's actually worth (or more by swindling a team) it goes a long, long way in helping the defense. They can get other top-4 D in other forms but Nylander is their best chip for getting a top pair RHD. Unless they move him for a LHD and try to move Rielly for a RHD. Either way though, Nylander's value is a means to an end to upgrade the defense.

Thing is, maybe they don't have match Tampa and can play to their strengths right now, which would mean keeping Nylander and having the edge up front. As the Caps and Pens have proven over the last few years, it's a legitimate way to build a cup team. The Preds and Lightning both had much better D depth and still came up short. If the right deal comes along for a Dman then they obviously should make it, if not, then stay put and build around the forward depth until it does.

The Capitals failed for 13 years trying to outscore their opposition and it didn't work. They pulled it off last year because their team defensive game and style of play was a lot stronger than it's ever been. How many times did they lead in goals and points but fail in the playoffs? They also have a superior goalie and literally the best goal scorer in possibly the history of the game. Same with the Penguins with Malkin and Crosby. These two teams are not comparable to what the Leafs have. History has shown that the vast majority of teams that win Cups are capable defensively. The Leafs have the goal scoring, they need the defense especially because their goaltending is good but not great so he needs the help.

If they sign Nylander for $5M, I don't think they'll trade him.
- PatC80

You can keep hoping that all you want. It doesn’t make it true.

You're a (frank)ing idiot
- jimi james

Getting to a point where i dont want to even come on here because of him!

Either way, they should. If it's a shorter term deal, the next deal will be much bigger and harder to fit. If it's a longer bridge deal, he's a UFA.

Nylander for a #1 RHD has to happen. It's not a matter of if, it's when.

And I don't blame Dubas for playing the "we want to keep him, we don't want to trade him" card because he's not showing his hand to his rivals. But behind closed doors, they have to know that trading him for defensive help is the best move for the team's overall and long term future.
- Unholy_Goalie

When did 5 years become a bridge deal?


Has to happen.

Getting to a point where i dont want to even come on here because of him!
- nbboy

It's brutal.

Oz stinks.