Just trade for one but it must be a person like Simmons, not a 4th line goon that can't play.
- RogerRoeper

Costs too much and his best years are probably gone. Ends up being Clarkson or Lucic 2.0 if you sign him as a UFA.

Is that why they won the cup though? Or is it more to do with the fact that their core players finally played their best come playoff time. Their franchise centre went from useless to playing like a superstar in the playoffs.

The Caps were a post away from still having no cup. Don't read too much into one particular thing. They now have Wilson on a horrific contract they're already regretting.
- RogerRoeper

Mikko Rantanen 1.62
Auston Matthews 1.60
Nathan MacKinnon 1.52
Nikita Kucherov 1.43
Connor McDavid 1.43
Mitchell Marner 1.38
Patrice Bergeron 1.37
Sidney Crosby 1.33
Claude Giroux 1.33
Johnny Gaudreau 1.28
Tom Wilson 1.27

Almost every team in the league uses the 1-3-1. The only place for a big shot righty would be Matthews spot or Riellys spot. Leafs dont need the big shot RHD because they have matthews who is as lethal from that spot as any right shot. You're trying to wedge a square block into a round whole just to satisfy your fixation that the leafs need to add a big shot RHD. You would want to completely change one of the top power plays in the league just squeeze in a one timer.
- HealthyScratch6

Again, replacing the weakest link (Kadri) with a big shot only makes the current players and current set-up even harder to stop. It's called versatility.

Mikko Rantanen 1.62
Auston Matthews 1.60
Nathan MacKinnon 1.52
Nikita Kucherov 1.43
Connor McDavid 1.43
Mitchell Marner 1.38
Patrice Bergeron 1.37
Sidney Crosby 1.33
Claude Giroux 1.33
Johnny Gaudreau 1.28
Tom Wilson 1.27
- AdamFrench

I always hear what the Leafs are lacking in the playoffs. I will flip the script a bit here to say with the 3 centres the Leafs have, they will be a very tough team to beat in a 7 game series. The matchups will be a nightmare.
- RogerRoeper

Not if glasston matthews is in the hospital working on coloring books

i’ve Been saying this for years that we are soft as slime and now it’s an issue all of a sudden?

what a (frank)ing joke

edit:nice alliteration

Mikko Rantanen 1.62
Auston Matthews 1.60
Nathan MacKinnon 1.52
Nikita Kucherov 1.43
Connor McDavid 1.43
Mitchell Marner 1.38
Patrice Bergeron 1.37
Sidney Crosby 1.33
Claude Giroux 1.33
Johnny Gaudreau 1.28
Tom Wilson 1.27
- AdamFrench

He's only played 11 games though. That could very well be a hot streak, rather than indicative of any long term sustainable play.

The highest point totals he's had in the NHL are last year at 35 in 78 games. So, 0.44 ppg pace. I doubt his current 1.27 is sustainable.

Although I'll admit, until that pace does prove unsustainable, his team probably won't regret his contract too much. Although they might prefer him playing more games...

"Trolls" AKA Truth-tellers. I'll accept that!
- babcockblows

How about cowards that are so ashamed of the sh!itty team they cheer for that it isn't even listed on their ridiculous childish avatar.

Again, replacing the weakest link (Kadri) with a big shot only makes the current players and current set-up even harder to stop. It's called versatility.
- Unholy_Goalie

Or it becomes worse. Because, you know, you thought it would be smart to tinker with one of the most effective power plays in the league.

Costs too much and his best years are probably gone. Ends up being Clarkson or Lucic 2.0 if you sign him as a UFA.
- Unholy_Goalie

Yeah, by no means do you sign him as UFA. You trade for him this year.

Not if glasston matthews is in the hospital working on coloring books

i’ve Been saying this for years that we are soft as slime and now it’s an issue all of a sudden?

what a (frank)ing joke

edit:nice alliteration
- Skalapy

Oh my god he's missed as many games as Jack Eichel now!

He's only played 11 games though. That could very well be a hot streak, rather than indicative of any long term sustainable play.

The highest point totals he's had in the NHL are last year at 35 in 78 games. So, 0.44 ppg pace. I doubt his current 1.27 is sustainable.

Although I'll admit, until that pace does prove unsustainable, his team probably won't regret his contract too much. Although they might prefer him playing more games...
- Thecakeisalie

Matthews plays the least amount during a game other than Kuch. Guy gets 4-5 minutes less per game than McDavid.

Oh my god he's missed as many games as Jack Eichel now!
- RogerRoeper

i wish we would’ve kept boyle

was he too expensive?

Or we could trade Brown to Carolina for Ferland

I'd love Simmonds too, but i feel like he'd be destined to fail here.. Too old and broken
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Wouldn't mind Simmonds as a TDL pick up, from TO - can score a little and would be a third liner on the Leafs. Could raise some hell with Kadri. Not likely though, doubt Dubas would pay the ask. Easier add on toughness would be McQuaid. NYR going nowhere and he's moving for sure. Would be an ok 6th d-man and could bust some heads if others took liberties with Matthews. Sickened me to see Leafs do nothing on that dirty (and easily suspendable) hit that Kronwall got away with 2 minutes in the last game. Was probably the right call to not retaliate and get a point, but it would have felt good if someone broke a stick over his head for that cheap shot.

i wish we would’ve kept boyle

was he too expensive?
- Skalapy

He played kinda crappy I thought. But yeah, last thing you want to do is overpay for bottom 6 forwards. It's death in a cap world.

He played kinda crappy I thought. But yeah, last thing you want to do is overpay for bottom 6 forwards. It's death in a cap world.
- RogerRoeper

I think death in the cap world is paying guys ufa dollars coming off their entry level.

I think death in the cap world is paying guys ufa dollars coming off their entry level.
- HealthyScratch6

Well that is 100% of the NHl right now. Overpaying bottom 6 guys are still something you can control.
Next summer will be quite shocking seeing what all the RFAs get.

Matthews plays the least amount during a game other than Kuch. Guy gets 4-5 minutes less per game than McDavid.
- RogerRoeper

I was commenting on Wilson's points per game man. From the list I quoted, which was in response to someone saying his team was regretting his contract already... Not talking about Matthews at all.

I think death in the cap world is paying guys ufa dollars coming off their entry level.
- HealthyScratch6

Yeah, it sucks that's become a thing now. I blame the Oilers again. Not even just Chiapet. I think it was a previous GM that started the trend when they gave out those matching 6 mil contracts to Hall, Eberle, and RNH. I think that was the start.

Oh my god he's missed as many games as Jack Eichel now!
- RogerRoeper

Matthews like Sydney Crosby with his concussion will learn from all of this when mucking it up along boards and learn either to protect himself during the play and pick his poison. He’ll be fine. I wouldn’t be surprised while in the search to bolster leafs D that Dubas ends up aquiring a speedy forwards that has a bit of a bite to his play.
Enjoy Austin tonight.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the leafs first pp unit. It's one of the most lethal ones I've seen since the oilers or pens. And ps. They didn't have a big shot from the point either.

Well that is 100% of the NHl right now. Overpaying bottom 6 guys are still something you can control.
Next summer will be quite shocking seeing what all the RFAs get.
- RogerRoeper

League salary structure is changing. Unless there is a significant change in the next CBA, the new NHL will pay young stars for their prime years and be very stingy and careful with older UFA's.

I notice Calgary flames player tried to square away with Matt dumba for his nasty hit on Calgary team mate. Calgary guy two game suspension but good on him for sticking up for his team mate. I’ll never change my view on this. It’s a physchological war in the mind of players as well knowing that the team has each other’s back irregardless of who steps up. If your franchise player is getting pummeled a lot to a point risking injury and no ones stands up well I hate to see the outcome with the player that’s getting pounded “ face of the franchise”

I notice Calgary flames player tried to square away with Matt dumba for his nasty hit on Calgary team mate. Calgary guy two game suspension but good on him for sticking up for his team mate. I’ll never change my view on this. It’s a physchological war in the mind of players as well knowing that the team has each other’s back irregardless of who steps up. If your franchise player is getting pummeled a lot to a point risking injury and no ones stands up well I hate to see the outcome with the player that’s getting pounded “ face of the franchise”
- BreathLeafs2015

so who then realistically?
obviously the current roster is full of creampuffs

I was commenting on Wilson's points per game man. From the list I quoted, which was in response to someone saying his team was regretting his contract already... Not talking about Matthews at all.
- Thecakeisalie

Wilson had no business getting that much $. Over 5 million per fora career high of 35 points.

so who then realistically?
obviously the current roster is full of creampuffs
- Skalapy

I myself can’t answer that because as Babcock says he doesn’t want a one dimensional player-goon. Someone who has skill maybe speed but has a tiny nasty side by nature embedded in his personality-game. I don’t know who but if Dubas once such a player it may happen. I honestly think I’d get sickly upset if someone hurt Matthews so bad that he was out of lineup or marner. If I was at a leaf game you’d need to pull me down from crawling up the glass to pound someone. I’ve never been so happy since 1993 with matthews marner Tavares Reilly Andersen and Co

I honestly at times get goose bumps when Matthews scores. I have 5 boys. Three are grown up 30-38 years old. All three are cops. My oldest looks like Matthews to a T. Bad divorce not see all three in ten years. When Matthews scores I laugh and cry. I’m blessed married again twin boys 2.5 years old. One of them already sits with me when I watch leafs. We have to protect those we love(34) and hope he plays with eyes on back of his head or Dubas helps the situation