The amount of female doging about the Leafs is hilarious. Look at this core. And Dubas just signed Lehtonen. HE also drafted Sandin and Robertson the past 2 years.

This is a core that will contend for the next 4+ years easy.

Start of this season:

Rielly - Zaitsev
Muzzin - Dermott
Marincin - Holl

Sandin & Liljegren coming up during the season.

Would have preferred to keep Brown and Zaitsev as well over getting Ceci.
- MaximusAurelius

Zaitsev's contract was terrible. He had to go. CLassic Lou overpay of a supporting guy. That 4.5 cap hit is now gone after this Covid cup

And brown himself wasa little pricey for a bottom 6 guy even if I liked him. Dubas has brought in better players to replace him

One year of Ceci >> 6 years of Zaitsev.

One year of Ceci >> 6 years of Zaitsev.
- GreatGigInTheSky

This. Giving Zaitsev 7 years was crazy after one decent year in the NHL.

Add to that Babcock decided to change his role 180 after his first year and he had to go

Zaitsev and Marleau's combined cap hit was 10.75. Crazy.

One year of Ceci >> 6 years of Zaitsev.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I disagree.
Zaitsev was really good in the playoffs.

But anyways, I am aware a lot of people didn't like him.
Apart from the salary, the fact that he's Russian contributed to that quite a bit imo.
(there is a lot of anti-Russian sentiment around in Canada/US apparently).

I disagree.
Zaitsev was really good in the playoffs.

But anyways, I am aware a lot of people didn't like him.
Apart from the salary, the fact that he's Russian contributed to that quite a bit imo.
(there is a lot of anti-Russian sentiment around in Canada/US apparently).
- MaximusAurelius

He should never have gotten that contract. It's not because he's Russian. Leafs stars get non-stop crap after they sign their deals. Even a Toronto guy in Marner.

I disagree.
Zaitsev was really good in the playoffs.

But anyways, I am aware a lot of people didn't like him.
Apart from the salary, the fact that he's Russian contributed to that quite a bit imo.
(there is a lot of anti-Russian sentiment around in Canada/US apparently).
- MaximusAurelius

Yet the fanbase loves Mikheyev.

Sorry that your argument died.


Zaitsev was a 3rd pairing D making WAY too much for WAY too long. Thanks Lou.

He should never have gotten that contract. It's not because he's Russian. Leafs stars get non-stop crap after they sign their deals. Even a Toronto guy in Marner.
- RogerRoeper

Zaitsev contract still much better than the Johnsson contract.

Zaitsev contract still much better than the Johnsson contract.
- MaximusAurelius

I disagree.
Zaitsev was really good in the playoffs.

But anyways, I am aware a lot of people didn't like him.
Apart from the salary, the fact that he's Russian contributed to that quite a bit imo.
(there is a lot of anti-Russian sentiment around in Canada/US apparently).
- MaximusAurelius

Don't confuse anti russian sentiment with anti putin or anti russian orthodox or anti annexation sentiment

Zaitsev contract still much better than the Johnsson contract.
- MaximusAurelius

Ridiculous LOL.

LOu would have loaded our 4th line with grinders making 4 million each. Thank god he's gone.

Don't confuse anti russian sentiment with anti putin or anti russian orthodox or anti annexation sentiment
- TheMussel

That's exactly the point I wanted to make - that lots of 'fans' mix these things up.

What's funny is the fuss over Leaf contracts wouldn't even be an issue in other markets. People are not aware aware the vast majority of the NHL is in worse cap issue than the Leafs.

LOu would have loaded our 4th line with grinders making 4 million each. Thank god he's gone.
- RogerRoeper

Kadri
Rielly
Andersen
Brown

all good contracts.
If I remember well, Lou all was responsible for those.

That's exactly the point I wanted to make - that lots of 'fans' mix these things up.
- MaximusAurelius

Toronto resident Mitch Marner is destroyed regular;y for his contract.

LOu would have loaded our 4th line with grinders making 4 million each. Thank god he's gone.
- RogerRoeper

But that means the Leafs have better depth. Because a guy making 4M to do the job of a guy making league minimum is smart Cap management. Fire Dubas.

Kadri
Rielly
Andersen
Brown

all good contracts.
If I remember well, Lou all was responsible for those.
- MaximusAurelius

Let's be clear here, Rielly and Kadri deals look real good in retrospect as the cap went up. The exact thing has happened to Nylander in the past year. Kadri and Rielly's deals were not viewed as that great at the time.

It's like when people say Marchand is such a steal and took a discount. Do people realize he had worse stats than Nylander? What was he supposed to ask for? 10 million?

Toronto resident Mitch Marner is destroyed regular;y for his contract.
- RogerRoeper

that's just jealousy.

But that means the Leafs have better depth. Because a guy making 4M to do the job of a guy making league minimum is smart Cap management. Fire Dubas.
- Steven_Seagull

That's the funny thing. People think cap hits on 4th liners mean they are better than Dubas' guys making less than a million.

Jason Spezza at the minimum is better than any of Lou's 3 million per 4th liners.

Toronto resident Mitch Marner is destroyed regular;y for his contract.
- RogerRoeper

The one contract Dubas signed that I hate. At least it’s Marner and not an aged Marleau...

that's just jealousy.
- MaximusAurelius

Oh ok but when a player happens to be Russian it's anti-Russian feelings

The one contract Dubas signed that I hate. At least it’s Marner and not an aged Marleau...
- Steven_Seagull

Yeah he is the one that's overpaid. I still don't mind as he's 22 and can get 100+ points yearly. Better than some scrub.

That's the funny thing. People think cap hits on 4th liners mean they are better than Dubas' guys making less than a million.

Jason Spezza at the minimum is better than any of Lou's 3 million per 4th liners.
- RogerRoeper

The year before, Ennis at league minimum scored 12 goals.

The one contract Dubas signed that I hate. At least it’s Marner and not an aged Marleau...
- Steven_Seagull

you would be right if you would include the matthews' contract as well.
a better negotiator might have been able to close a deal with both (earlier on) for 1-1.5mln AAV less (per contract). That's a 2-3mln total cap saving.