Point will sign a bridge deal for around 6.
- Aetherial

Let’s hope the 3rd year is for $15 million.

Didn't get to watch the game (stupid early start)
How did our golden boy look?
Any of the bubble guys put in good performances?
- BestRapperAlive

Freddy the Goat was playing well.
And I thought Moore was on his good level as last year - without doing anything spectacular though..
Was good to see some hockey though

Marner is much much better than Rantanen and Point.
1.5-2mln AAV better.
- MaximusAurelius

Uuuuummmmm......

Let’s hope the 3rd year is for $15 million.
- Atomic Wedgie

That will set up another trade with the Canucks.

Marner is much much better than Rantanen and Point.
1.5-2mln AAV better.
- MaximusAurelius

Do you mean:

...Rantanen and Point...

- or -

...Rantanen or Point...

Do you mean:

...Rantanen and Point...

- or -

...Rantanen or Point...
- Atomic Wedgie

Marner was active, but rusty.
Goat looked like a Gazelle - seriously he looked for more interested than usual.
Spezza, conversely looked like Jason Allison with dull skates.
Barrie looked rusty, but isn't averse to carrying the puck and mixing things up.
Schmaltz looked weak
Marincin looked exactly like Marincin (which isn't a good thing)
- BorjeFan4Ever

sounds like goat played better than spezza, i wonder who wins the starting spot

Freddy the Goat was playing well.
And I thought Moore was on his good level as last year - without doing anything spectacular though..
Was good to see some hockey though
- MaximusAurelius

moore should be a lock to make the team, i really like his game

sounds like goat played better than spezza, i wonder who wins the starting spot
- BestRapperAlive

Athletic has an article suggesting Leafs may only carry 21 players on the roster.

Spezza needs to impress.

Athletic has an article suggesting Leafs may only carry 21 players on the roster.

Spezza needs to impress.
- Atomic Wedgie

We might have to, otherwise we would need to make other roster moves to be cap compliant

Athletic has an article suggesting Leafs may only carry 21 players on the roster.

Spezza needs to impress.
- Atomic Wedgie

Maybe? Spezza needs to show that he has rounded into season form by game 8 of the preseason, I guess . . .

I totally get the comments saying that Gauthier could get better, but Spezza is declining, so if they are already on an even plane, then Gauthier wins.

Today, I'm not going to be swayed because Gauthier played one game against Ottawa's AHL & Junior team and looked good. Good for him. I really do hope he keeps it up. But even if the guy who played yesterday shows up to all 8 preseason games, he's also played 100 NHL games where he hasn't looked very good.

Gauthier was 34% in the faceoff circle in the playoffs last year. Spezza took 3 times as many faceoffs and was still at 53%.

I feel that with Gauthier, we have guys on the Marlies who might just be able to step up and fill that role next year. . . Would Brooks be better or worse?

Anyway, I think that for Gauthier to beat out Spezza, he's going to have to beat the poop out of him - not just edge him because Gauthier doesn't really offer any role-based skills (PK, PP, faceoff).

Maybe? Spezza needs to show that he has rounded into season form by game 8 of the preseason, I guess . . .

I totally get the comments saying that Gauthier could get better, but Spezza is declining, so if they are already on an even plane, then Gauthier wins.

Today, I'm not going to be swayed because Gauthier played one game against Ottawa's AHL & Junior team and looked good. Good for him. I really do hope he keeps it up. But even if the guy who played yesterday shows up to all 8 preseason games, he's also played 100 NHL games where he hasn't looked very good.

Gauthier was 34% in the faceoff circle in the playoffs last year. Spezza took 3 times as many faceoffs and was still at 53%.

I feel that with Gauthier, we have guys on the Marlies who might just be able to step up and fill that role next year. . . Would Brooks be better or worse?

Anyway, I think that for Gauthier to beat out Spezza, he's going to have to beat the poop out of him - not just edge him because Gauthier doesn't really offer any role-based skills (PK, PP, faceoff).
- Monkeypunk

Have to think it's the Goat's to lose though... Like Babcock says; 'you can't teach 6'5"

Maybe? Spezza needs to show that he has rounded into season form by game 8 of the preseason, I guess . . .

I totally get the comments saying that Gauthier could get better, but Spezza is declining, so if they are already on an even plane, then Gauthier wins.

Today, I'm not going to be swayed because Gauthier played one game against Ottawa's AHL & Junior team and looked good. Good for him. I really do hope he keeps it up. But even if the guy who played yesterday shows up to all 8 preseason games, he's also played 100 NHL games where he hasn't looked very good.

Gauthier was 34% in the faceoff circle in the playoffs last year. Spezza took 3 times as many faceoffs and was still at 53%.

I feel that with Gauthier, we have guys on the Marlies who might just be able to step up and fill that role next year. . . Would Brooks be better or worse?

Anyway, I think that for Gauthier to beat out Spezza, he's going to have to beat the poop out of him - not just edge him because Gauthier doesn't really offer any role-based skills (PK, PP, faceoff).
- Monkeypunk

Not sure if you can read too much into 1st pre-season game, but Goat was on PK last night a few times. might be an indication they are willing to try him there this season.

Have to think it's the Goat's to lose though... Like Babcock says; 'you can't teach 6'5"
- PatC80

Exactly, most of those big guys are to stupid to learn.

Have to think it's the Goat's to lose though... Like Babcock says; 'you can't teach 6'5"
- PatC80

Jason Spezza
C | 6' 3"

Jason was taught 6'3 though.

Athletic has an article suggesting Leafs may only carry 21 players on the roster.

Spezza needs to impress.
- Atomic Wedgie

As soon as we knew MM's AAV we knew they'd carry 20 or 21 at most (unless they trade a bigger contract).

Do you carry an extra D or F? I think probably a D. So that battle for the 4th line becomes even more important.

I'm not sure I see Spezza making the team unless he impresses enough to slide into 2/3 line winger. Babs will want that 4th line filled with PK possibilities.

Have to think it's the Goat's to lose though... Like Babcock says; 'you can't teach 6'5"
- PatC80

No, you can't teach 6'5". But he's also had 100 games to learn hockey and hasn't done that either. Hopefully this offseason was the impetus for him to do that.

Most Newfoundlanders can’t swim because the water never gets warm enough to get in. True story.
- shack67

I went swimming in Lake Ontario on January 1st this year. I've done that cryotherapy thing where you stand in a tube filled with nitrogen gas at - 135 C, and the lake dip felt colder.

I went swimming in Lake Ontario on January 1st this year. I've done that cryotherapy thing where you stand in a tube filled with nitrogen gas at - 135 C, and the lake dip felt colder.
- Zezel

Both sound equally awful. Were you in one of the Saw movies?

Jason Spezza
C | 6' 3"

Jason was taught 6'3 though.
- AdamFrench

Same guys earlier were saying vets "mail" pre season in so don't judge Tavares, Marner, Muzzin, Barrie.......

Is Jason a 6'3" vet?

I went swimming in Lake Ontario on January 1st this year. I've done that cryotherapy thing where you stand in a tube filled with nitrogen gas at - 135 C, and the lake dip felt colder.
- Zezel

I used to do the Polar Bear Dip in Oakville every New Year's Day. In, out, dry off, head to a guy's house who had a hot tub and a pot of chili. I'm the toughest of tough guys, but it was nasty.

I took my dog to Cherry Beach on New Year's Day this year. She was happy for about 30 minutes (she's a Lab, so she can't resist the water). At a certain point she just gave me a look and started walking back to the car. By the time we got there, she had icicles on her fur.

As soon as we knew MM's AAV we knew they'd carry 20 or 21 at most (unless they trade a bigger contract).

Do you carry an extra D or F? I think probably a D. So that battle for the 4th line becomes even more important.

I'm not sure I see Spezza making the team unless he impresses enough to slide into 2/3 line winger. Babs will want that 4th line filled with PK possibilities.
- The Law

I would imagine this decision is 100% dependent on who would have to clear waivers and who wouldn't.

Same guys earlier were saying vets "mail" pre season in so don't judge Tavares, Marner, Muzzin, Barrie.......

Is Jason a 6'3" vet?
- underhill14

Is Jason Spezza a really good role model in that he is a guy who was a star and is accepting his new role gracefully as he gets older?

Babcock: Well, I think the big thing is with Spez here — we’ve talked tons about it in advance — is that there is a role here for him. But he’s got to be able to do it. We’re going to see over exhibition whether he likes it and whether he wants to do it. We’re just in the process of feeling him out and he’s feeling us out right now. It is probably a different camp that way for him, but he loves hockey.

https://mapleleafshotstov...-got-to-be-able-to-do-it/

Exactly, most of those big guys are to stupid to learn.
- bixll

Jason Spezza
C | 6' 3"

Jason was taught 6'3 though.
- AdamFrench

Spezza's 6'3 on skates. In normal shoes, he's actually 4'9