According to what site?

http://www.naturalstattri...&td=&tgp=410&lines=single

This says he's 3rd best, much lower than hyman
- burn

It was an Athletic article and I misread - it eliminated DZone FO losses as everyone gets shelled then through no fault of their own. It's an Ian Tulloch article from Nov 24 - well worth a read.

So nylander signed. And the troll morons immediately move on to Matthews now.

He doesn't want to be a leaf, so we know he doesn't want to be here
- burn

I don't know if being a "Leaf" means much to him? He probably didn't grow up dreaming of playing for the Leafs

You gotta think he wants to stay though. 1st class organization top to bottom, no better roaster of young talent in the league, AND he is going to get paid.

... and he is only going to get stronger and better over the next couple years.

MakeASavey:

3rd best GAA in league

5th best SV%

I'm happy for the guy.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah it is a good story.

He allows the most 4v5 shot attempts out of all 6 pkers - Marner, JT and Kap are the best there by a margin.
- lumlums

To be honest, when we are analyzing fourth liners flaws - they will all have some. For me, the eye test especially for work ethic is key for a fourth liner. Gauthier is a giant, but hits and uses his body size less than Ennis (who is a midget by NHL standards) Leivo stays because he is one of the few players with any level of belligerence on the Leafs. So its between Brown and Ennis. I would pick Brown because he is much harder on the puck than Ennis. Similar players with similar skills but Brown has determination.

To summarize:

Lumlums doesn't like Brown
Burn doesn't like Ennis
- mr.sir

Not at all - I think that Brown has much higher than 4th line potential.

But at over $2m, he'll soon be a luxury that we need to cut to save $$. Keep bringing in cheap depth like Ennis and promote kids on low contracts like Grundstrom for those spots.

Pay your stars well, rotate in cheap effective guys for the lower spots.

My guess is they do Matthews first, because there are good comparables, and he's the best player on the team. Probably 11.5M is my guess.

Then Mitchy comes in somewhere between Willy and Matty, maybe 8.5 if we're lucky.

I just don't think these kids are super greedy; it's not a retirement deal well into their UFA deals or anything and I honestly think there's nowhere else they want to play: they have the power to become a perennial cup contender, by making sure that they stick together on contracts that make sense.

...


- AdamFrench

It may be a great comparison, I just don't see Kane play as much. Also is Kane really the same guy? Kane seems to be more of a goal scorer?

Ennis doesn't bring anything those other 2 don't ( Lievo and brown) and those guys are better defensively and they're both bigger. Brown is a pker too so he's not coming out for someone who doesn't pk
- burn

Thing is...ennis makes tthat 4th line noticeable. ..and he's actually busting his assistant and playing some great hockey. I don't weven notice that he's a failed top 6er trying to fit into a bottom 6 role. Rather I see a tenacious player...and if yyou told me that's what wwe'd be getting from ennis when we signed him I would have said you were nuts. Translated he's won me over.

So nylander signed. And the troll morons immediately move on to Matthews now.
- prock

Honestly,

The main reason I want the Leafs to win a cup at some point, is just to tell the idiots on this site to (frank) off.

Every day there is so much stupid poop thrown our way it is unbelievable.

As soon as one troll theme is shot down, they dream up another and it becomes a (frank)ing feeding frenzy of idiocy.

Thing is...ennis makes tthat 4th line noticeable. ..and he's actually busting his assistant and playing some great hockey. I don't weven notice that he's a failed top 6er trying to fit into a bottom 6 role. Rather I see a tenacious player...and if yyou told me that's what wwe'd be getting from ennis when we signed him I would have said you were nuts. Translated he's won me over.
- mykokes

Can't go wrong for 650k

Perfect guy for 13th forward, since he can play all 3 forward positions

Not at all - I think that Brown has much higher than 4th line potential.

But at over $2m, he'll soon be a luxury that we need to cut to save $$. Keep bringing in cheap depth like Ennis and promote kids on low contracts like Grundstrom for those spots.

Pay your stars well, rotate in cheap effective guys for the lower spots.
- lumlums

What do you do with the in-between guys?

I think we get Kapanen on a decent bridge, I am not sure about Johnsson (isn't he getting near UFA age in a couple years?) Do we get them for similar deals to Hyman/Brown?

Thing is...ennis makes tthat 4th line noticeable. ..and he's actually busting his assistant and playing some great hockey. I don't weven notice that he's a failed top 6er trying to fit into a bottom 6 role. Rather I see a tenacious player...and if yyou told me that's what wwe'd be getting from ennis when we signed him I would have said you were nuts. Translated he's won me over.
- mykokes

Health has a lot to do with it. I think he's top 9 potential for sure, just not on our team. If we had more bottom 6 center depth (a center playing wing, etc.) I'd feel differently, but I'd rather Goat stick around as our 13th forward.

I don't know if being a "Leaf" means much to him? He probably didn't grow up dreaming of playing for the Leafs

You gotta think he wants to stay though. 1st class organization top to bottom, no better roaster of young talent in the league, AND he is going to get paid.

... and he is only going to get stronger and better over the next couple years.
- Aetherial

Agreed. Obviously has no ties to the leafs (unlike marner) but pretty sure he likes playing in the centre of hockey universe having opportunity to get endorsements he wouldn't get elsewhere and playing for a strong team/franchise.

He'd rather leave all that and sign on with a loser.

What do you do with the in-between guys?

I think we get Kapanen on a decent bridge, I am not sure about Johnsson (isn't he getting near UFA age in a couple years?) Do we get them for similar deals to Hyman/Brown?
- Aetherial

Johnsson will be looking for more money than the Brown/Hyman deal - and as far as tradings chips go. Leafs will have to move 3rd liners not 4th liners to get decent draft picks and futures IMO.

Not at all - I think that Brown has much higher than 4th line potential.

But at over $2m, he'll soon be a luxury that we need to cut to save $$. Keep bringing in cheap depth like Ennis and promote kids on low contracts like Grundstrom for those spots.

Pay your stars well, rotate in cheap effective guys for the lower spots.
- lumlums

That's probably the case, but for now I think he stays in the lineup. If he's a leaf he's playing over the likes of cheap options like Ennis.

Can't go wrong for 650k

Perfect guy for 13th forward, since he can play all 3 forward positions
- mr.sir

Ennis is not a center and he's 29.

With our talented top 9 (12?) there are always more minute to go around.

Look at how we spread the minutes out with 34 and 29 out: a couple of guys had a 20+ minute game, but other than that, a lot went around pretty evenly.

Thing is...ennis makes tthat 4th line noticeable. ..and he's actually busting his assistant and playing some great hockey. I don't weven notice that he's a failed top 6er trying to fit into a bottom 6 role. Rather I see a tenacious player...and if yyou told me that's what wwe'd be getting from ennis when we signed him I would have said you were nuts. Translated he's won me over.
- mykokes

Not denying any of that, doesn't mean he's better option brown though.

We're still trading nylander? and we have to add a 2nd to get it done? (frank) me.
- burn

yes, they will still trade Nylander... although I suspect it will be after the draft this summer (after he's been paid his bonus or whatever they are calling that thing)...


and for St. Louis to make a deal to work under the CAP before the trade deadline... they would have to jettison someone like Bouwmeester, who's contract runs out at the end of the season.

yes, they will still trade Nylander... although I suspect it will be after the draft this summer (after he's been paid his bonus or whatever they are calling that thing)...


and for St. Louis to make a deal to work under the CAP before the trade deadline... they would have to jettison someone like Bouwmeester, who's contract runs out at the end of the season.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I don't think trading Nylander is in the cards... yet. If they falter two years in a row, they'll start looking at all their options.

So we have 5.1M in cap space (more by trade deadline), but the expiring contracts for RHD look kinda meh. I doubt TBL let Stralman go to a rival, EK will sign with SJ I'm sure.

Agreed. Obviously has no ties to the leafs (unlike marner) but pretty sure he likes playing in the centre of hockey universe having opportunity to get endorsements he wouldn't get elsewhere and playing for a strong team/franchise.

He'd rather leave all that and sign on with a loser.
- burn

Doubt he leaves - he will be the next captain after he signs. Think of the best players in the league. Does McDavid love Edmonton? Does Sid love Pittsburgh? Does OV adore Washington? I doubt it very much in each case. Very hard for a franchise player to move in his prime or before. We should see before the deadline.

It may be a great comparison, I just don't see Kane play as much. Also is Kane really the same guy? Kane seems to be more of a goal scorer?
- Aetherial

The skating and shiftiness was what I was going for.

Not at all - I think that Brown has much higher than 4th line potential.

But at over $2m, he'll soon be a luxury that we need to cut to save $$. Keep bringing in cheap depth like Ennis and promote kids on low contracts like Grundstrom for those spots.

Pay your stars well, rotate in cheap effective guys for the lower spots.
- lumlums

I agree, the unfortunate part of success under the highly flawed cap system. Punish teams for doing things the right way - the Chicago model. And as you pointed out Winnipeg is (frank)ed next year.

I just wish nylander wasn't our 6th best player so he could earn his contract. Too bad we have too many good players. Sucks to be a Leafs fan.
#burkelogic