No on Dubinsky.. Yes on Savard and Anderson
- PatC80

Are they that bad? Wouldn't they want to resign Anderson?

Same. He made the big first step so hopefully he figures his poop out now that he's sought help.
- RickJames77

Yeah here's to hoping!

Are they that bad? Wouldn't they want to resign Anderson?
- Aaron_85

Maybe? Just has put up some really bad numbers this year.. Hoping they move him

The fact that he doesn't hit and avoids contact isn't the biggest problem. Nylander seems to do a button hook upon entry into the offensive zone every play. I've complained that the Leafs get (frank)ed by the officiating ad nauseam. Upon reflection, the Leafs are absolutely the worst team in the league at drawing penalties. Boston might be the best. One of the reasons for this is avoidance of going into the high danger zone (the 25 foot circle directly in front of the net. You go there - you get hit, you get hacked, you draw penalties. You skirt around the outside looking for the ultimate perfect pass - it works or you cough it up. Leafs seem able to do both. Going into the "paint" ( if you will) on a regular basis would be an incredibly good thing for this team.
- winsix

I think Toronto fans have an issue with their star players. They expect them to be something they likely are not and never will be. We did the same thing to Kessel. We wanted him to be this beast of a winger, hitting, cycling, scoring. Play this 200 foot game and it isn't really him.

We are doing the same thing to Nylander now. Toronto can never shake loving their grinders like Tucker.

I think Toronto fans have an issue with their star players. They expect them to be something they likely are not and never will be. We did the same thing to Kessel. We wanted him to be this beast of a winger, hitting, cycling, scoring. Play this 200 foot game and it isn't really him.

We are doing the same thing to Nylander now. Toronto can never shake loving their grinders like Tucker.
- Aaron_85

My rant a couple of weeks ago is completely accurate, and an easy contender for post of the decade.

I'm eating lunch and surfing around capfriendly. Have to say, I like where the blue jackets are. They went for it last year, they missed but they have a young team and no real bad contracts. Only problem I see is they don't really have anything to sell come deadline time to help bolster the team. MAYBE Dubinsky gets traded if it's possible for him to play?
- Aaron_85

Can't agree - no superstars outside of Seth Jones, he's on a good contract. Dubinsky is a terrible deal, they have 10RFA on the the big club and several more in the minors. Don't have a goalie signed beyond this year. Cap space - sure - they may be a cap team next year without a fan base that justifies the payroll.

I think Toronto fans have an issue with their star players. They expect them to be something they likely are not and never will be. We did the same thing to Kessel. We wanted him to be this beast of a winger, hitting, cycling, scoring. Play this 200 foot game and it isn't really him.

We are doing the same thing to Nylander now. Toronto can never shake loving their grinders like Tucker.
- Aaron_85

Personally, I don't expect that type of play from Nylander or Marner. I do expect Matthews to do that though.. Sometimes, your best players need to be your best grinders..

There's too much focus on their cap hits. 16 of 31 teams are against the cap. Leafs can trade any contract they want.

There's too much focus on their cap hits. 16 of 31 teams are against the cap. Leafs can trade any contract they want.
- RogerRoeper

Of course they could.. Doesn't mean they should. I don't want them to move Matthews

Personally, I don't expect that type of play from Nylander or Marner. I do expect Matthews to do that though.. Sometimes, your best players need to be your best grinders..
- PatC80

Matthews I do expect, mostly because a top center. The best centers do it. Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf all can do it. Or did it.

Leafs have the cup

My rant a couple of weeks ago is completely accurate, and an easy contender for post of the decade.
- Steven_Seagull

You're a bird. It doesn't count.

Matthews I do expect, mostly because a top center. The best centers do it. Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf all can do it. Or did it.
- Aaron_85

All those players have gone through periods in their careers where they have looked meh.

Can't agree - no superstars outside of Seth Jones, he's on a good contract. Dubinsky is a terrible deal, they have 10RFA on the the big club and several more in the minors. Don't have a goalie signed beyond this year. Cap space - sure - they may be a cap team next year without a fan base that justifies the payroll.
- winsix

Don't always need a superstar. Look at the devils and the panthers with their "superstars". Doesn't guarantee anything.

They have some decisions to make for sure but I still like the direction they are going in. After going for it, losing a lot of picks in doing so, they can re-tool rather quickly.

Dubinsky is only one more year beyond this year so it isn't a big deal.

You're a bird. It doesn't count.
- Aaron_85

You’re a cat eating alien...

All those players have gone through periods in their careers where they have looked meh.
- Santo_44

Crosby had a lot of concussion problems.

Anyway, doesn't mean they can't do it or didn't do it. They also all have cups. 2 of them have 3.

Doesn't excuse Matthews from being a little more like that.

You’re a cat eating alien...
- Steven_Seagull

We can bond over our mutual dislike of cats.

We can bond over our mutual dislike of cats.
- Aaron_85

Matthews I do expect, mostly because a top center. The best centers do it. Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf all can do it. Or did it.
- Aaron_85

That's my line of thinking as well.. Crosby has even gotten into fights.. Not saying Matthews needs to throw punches, but I do expect him to fight for loose pucks and get some ugly goals

I think Toronto fans have an issue with their star players. They expect them to be something they likely are not and never will be. We did the same thing to Kessel. We wanted him to be this beast of a winger, hitting, cycling, scoring. Play this 200 foot game and it isn't really him.

We are doing the same thing to Nylander now. Toronto can never shake loving their grinders like Tucker.
- Aaron_85

Sure. But that's because we would like to see a winner for once. It would be one thing if Nylander was the only soft player on the team - even Kessel goes into the corners - but it is team wide. Barrie barely hits. Ceci is soft as a cream puff, and Matthews plays like a wimp. On and on. Saying we are expecting something they simply can't do is saying they simply can't win. If that's the case ship 'em out of town and regroup. Otherwise demand they start acting like men and playing like men who want to win. Like Ovi said.

We can bond over our mutual dislike of cats.
- Aaron_85

Can't agree - no superstars outside of Seth Jones, he's on a good contract. Dubinsky is a terrible deal, they have 10RFA on the the big club and several more in the minors. Don't have a goalie signed beyond this year. Cap space - sure - they may be a cap team next year without a fan base that justifies the payroll.
- winsix

Werenski, Jones, Dubois, Anderson (despite his horrible season this year) and Bjorkstrand are solid pieces to build around.... their lack of picks because of the all-in doesn't help at all though.

Sure. But that's because we would like to see a winner for once. It would be one thing if Nylander was the only soft player on the team - even Kessel goes into the corners - but it is team wide. Barrie barely hits. Ceci is soft as a cream puff, and Matthews plays like a wimp. On and on. Saying we are expecting something they simply can't do is saying they simply can't win. If that's the case ship 'em out of town and regroup. Otherwise demand they start acting like men and playing like men who want to win. Like Ovi said.
- aminnes

I still go back to the season isn't even half way yet. We can't just go making knee-jerk reactions. Most of the season hasn't seen the entire, non-injured team WITH a new head coach.

We can bond over our mutual dislike of cats.
- Aaron_85

Werenski, Jones, Dubois, Anderson (despite his horrible season this year) and Bjorkstrand are solid pieces to build around.... their lack of picks because of the all-in doesn't help at all though.
- Scabeh

They have some good pieces, but why are talking about the Blue Jackets? We should talk about something new like Nylander = Mackinnon