He's better than that.
- RogerRoeper

You can’t say that. You can say he could be better than that or you think he will be better than that. But he hasn’t proven that, yet.

I really liked how Muzzin played - hope to see lots of him next season!
- Lucas.Neilson

I have a feeling he'll be paired with Barrie and poor Rielly will be dragging Cody poopci around.

Yup
A little different league now, faster with more scoring
- Fakepartofme

So Leafs bring up guys later than a lot of teams. What does that matter?

This is such a horrible post. You are only talking about "Goals" when comparing Nylander to Kappanen and Johnsson, but Nylander had 2 61 point season verses 1 40 point season for both Kap and Johnsson.


Meanwhile Matthews is getting paid well because he's the top 5 on 5 goal scorer in the entire NHL since he entered the league.


And sorry, remind me why guys like Drouin are more "Proven"?
- RogerRoeper

Weren't you the one the other day saying that goals were the most important thing to determine a player's value?

I could be wrong.

I have a feeling he'll be paired with Barrie and poor Rielly will be dragging Cody poopci around.
- AdamFrench

I agree
cept on the PP I think Barrie and Rielly will be a crazy combo!

You can’t say that. You can say he could be better than that or you think he will be better than that. But he hasn’t proven that, yet.
- RafiDRW

It tells me he's peaked at 21. I severely doubt that. I also have doubts he won't be used his most this upcoming season.

I have a feeling he'll be paired with Barrie and poor Rielly will be dragging Cody poopci around.
- AdamFrench

Rielly deserves better.

and he's still got a big clapper, saw him rip one a couple seasons ago in men's league in the game before us. It was from the red line
- Lucas.Neilson

Growing up, I was his neighbour and his paperboy.

For Christmas, I used to get the official Leafs Christmas card (and a tip, of course).

I wish I still had them.

Weren't you the one the other day saying that goals were the most important thing to determine a player's value?

I could be wrong.
- Scabeh

I was. Although that wasn't just my opinion, NHLs highest paid players are the best goal scorers.

Even by goals only, Nylander deserves more than Kapanen and Johnsson right now.

Johnssen 20 goal, Kappinen 20 goals, Nylander 20 goals.
I gave Nylander an extra 1.5 mil for his extra assists and puts him in line with more proven guys like Jordan Eberle, Zibanajed, Hoffman, Drouin, Palat.

Mathews salary makes him the second highest paid center in the entire league. He is not the second best center in the league. 10 mil would tie him for 5th highest which is probably still too high but equates him to Eichel so...
- B-Wforever

What? So we are basing this just on goals for Nylander because that’s all that matters?

But then for Matthews. The best even strength goal scorer in the league by a wide margin gets nothing for it?

Matthews has smashed the league in even strength points and goals while playing less games than everyone. At 21 years old he absolutely deserves to be paid 11.5 until he is 27.

It’s not even up for debate.

He's better than that.
- RogerRoeper

Better than what?
Hes had two 60pt seasons playing with matthews
And aclusterfack of a season not playing with him.
So whats he better than?

Rielly deserves better.
- Scabeh

Hainsey to Ceci. The Corsi Gods do not favour the BC Boy.

Growing up, I was his neighbour and his paperboy.

For Christmas, I used to get the official Leafs Christmas card (and a tip, of course).

I wish I still had them.
- Atomic Wedgie

no kidding! hah small world!

yeah too bad you didn't keep all those

I disagree and wasn't the only one that it wasn't clear to.

"I don't think people understand how good Nylander's stats were going into that negotiation. He had Pastrnak, Draisaitl numbers."

How is that clear that you're comparing contracts when the only comparison being made was stats?
- RickJames77

Seriously, fellas?

Time to move on.

Better than what?
Hes had to 60pt seasons playing with matthews
And aclusterfack of a season not playing with him.
So whats he better than?
- Fakepartofme

You're really breaking it down that way? You don't think him missing so much had anything to do with it?

I agree
cept on the PP I think Barrie and Rielly will be a crazy combo!
- Lucas.Neilson

On paper it looks beautiful. Wonder if Babs sticks to the old 4F-1D or changes it up. Gardiner was a lefty so that made sense to have him on wave 2, but Barrie is basically known for his PP wizardry.

I agree
cept on the PP I think Barrie and Rielly will be a crazy combo!
- Lucas.Neilson

I’m not sure if they will both be on the same time.

Barrie’s one timer will be sweet though. Especially with Matthews and JT there to pick up rebounds.

What? So we are basing this just on goals for Nylander because that’s all that matters?

But then for Matthews. The best even strength goal scorer in the league by a wide margin gets nothing for it?

Matthews has smashed the league in even strength points and goals while playing less games than everyone. At 21 years old he absolutely deserves to be paid 11.5 until he is 27.

It’s not even up for debate.
- Santo_44

Yup. The issue is people look at his career high on 73 points and nothing else. Matthews is a franchise Centre and true superstar.

I’m not sure if they will both be on the same time.

Barrie’s one timer will be sweet though. Especially with Matthews and JT there to pick up rebounds.
- Santo_44

Slow down there friend. Leaf players aren't allowed to one time the puck. It's the unwritten rule of the ice.

The way contracts are going…look at list of players who signed $5+ million Dollar contracts this summer—and ask yourself, where would William Nylander fall on this list (Nylander $6.9 Mill Per):

Age: 28 Artemi Panarin $11.6 Mill Per
Age: 22 Sebastian Aho $8.5 Mill Per
Age: 28 Matt Duchene $8 Mill Per
Age: 26 Kevin Hayes $7 Mill Per
Age: 35 Joe Pavelski $7 Mill Per
Age: 23 Timo Meier $6 Mill Per
Age: 32 Mats Zuccarello $6 Mill Per
Age: 29 Gustav Nyquist $5.5 Mill Per
Age: 31 Wayne Simmonds $5 Mill Per


When taking into account, Age, Salary, Productivity over the last 3 years, as well as projected production in 2019-20, the only guys I’d put ahead of him are: Panarin, Aho, and Maybe Matt Duchene.
Panariin also Makes $11.6 Mil....so that becomes a big concern in my opinion.

If Nylander puts up anywhere from 65-75 points, his $6.9 Million Dollar Cap-Hit per season, ends up looking like a steal versus a lot of other contracts that have been recently signed.

So Leafs bring up guys later than a lot of teams. What does that matter?
- RogerRoeper

Umm, he played two half seasons in ahl.
Probably not much different than most teams

It tells me he's peaked at 21. I severely doubt that. I also have doubts he won't be used his most this upcoming season.
- RogerRoeper

I doubt that he’s peaked as well, but you never know. Wording makes a huge difference is all I’m saying. McDavid could break 150 points next season if everything goes perfect but I won’t claim he will, yknow?

On paper it looks beautiful. Wonder if Babs sticks to the old 4F-1D or changes it up. Gardiner was a lefty so that made sense to have him on wave 2, but Barrie is basically known for his PP wizardry.
- AdamFrench

They use the umbrella style PP it seems.

The obvious-

JT net front
Matthews left side wall

The question marks-

The middle man
Guy on the blueline
Right side wall

You can’t say that. You can say he could be better than that or you think he will be better than that. But he hasn’t proven that, yet.
- RafiDRW

Dont worry about proof around here.
Its all feelsies.

I have a feeling he'll be paired with Barrie and poor Rielly will be dragging Cody poopci around.
- AdamFrench

I read something interesting on the Athletic the other day. I don't agree with it, but at least it gives me (false) hope.

The premise was this:

The Leafs' right side was sooooooo franking weak last year, every team in the league would dump the puck into the left side and jam the defenceman, forcing him to make a play to the righty. The righty would constantly frank it up.

So now that they have two righties, that mere fact makes them stronger - the lefties will now have more time and more options to handle the puck.

So we are now stronger on both sides, just by adding Ceci and Barrie.

I'll thank you all for not poking holes in this piece of swiss cheese theory.

I SAID DON'T FRANKING POKE HOLES IN THIS THEORY!!!!!