If you really want to play that card - signing Marleau was the mistake. That $6.5 could have been used towards a defenseman, and wouldn't have cost us a 1st round pick to get away from that horrible contract, and we could have signed JT without everyone female doging about us signing JT.
- Monkeypunk

Signing Marleau for 3 years was a mistake. We all knew it was at least a year too long.... but that was the cost for getting him out of San Jose.

Hell signing Marleau with the idea a guy who's never won anything could show them the way was always baffling to me.

The pens got him this year, really paid off once again eh?

Who said we needed to spend JT's money right away? It wasn't a use it or lose it situation with that cap space either. Could have kept powder dry for when the opportunity presented itself.
- floater_willy

It's actually exactly a use it or lose it situation.

If you really want to play that card - signing Marleau was the mistake. That $6.5 could have been used towards a defenseman, and wouldn't have cost us a 1st round pick to get away from that horrible contract, and we could have signed JT without everyone female doging about us signing JT.
- Monkeypunk

Yeah, except it was Lou that signed Marleau. Dubas knew about that contract when he took over and still signed JT. Dubas could have mitigated the cap situation and didn't. He wanted the shiny toy and got him. We could have been in the same position as a non-playoff team this year without JT.

Except there never was a top D available as an UFA. I'm sick of this false narrative.

It wasn't sign JT or Jones. It was sign JT or use the money on 3rd and 4th liners in free agency.
- Atomic Wedgie

true. no error in signing JT.

error was in the dollar amount... and in not managing the expectations of the kids who were signing right after him.

wrong expectations set, and an inexperienced GM who couldn't and didn't handle the situation.

the leafs lost this series

https://twitter.com/Vally...tatus/1292832996043771906

I don't blame a young player for getting the best contract possible....But in Marner's case he was asking for way too much and the only reason Dubas was willing to cave was Toronto's financial power.

He is owed 900K, 10M, 8M, 8M, 8M. As half of the league operates off real dollars that is a really good contract.
- Santo_44

Can't agree with you there, Captain. He's a special teams specialist. Five on five, he disappears, especially in the playoffs. ONE point in 5 on 5 play in his last 12 playoff games.

Eleven million.

Yeah, except it was Lou that signed Marleau. Dubas knew about that contract when he took over and still signed JT. Dubas could have mitigated the cap situation and didn't. He wanted the shiny toy and got him. We could have been in the same position as a non-playoff team this year without JT.
- floater_willy

oh man

signing JT was and is not the issue.
Yes, it upped the asking price for our young punks, but you make that signing every day.

It looks like though, most Toronto media were right, you cant win with 40 million tied up in 4 forwards.

When has a legit superstar D ever hit the market? Suter? He was maybe a top 10 D at the time?

Stop talking nonsense. Out of all the things to complain about, signing JT isn't it.
- Santo_44

If his point wasn't dead already it flat lined at nest egging the money.

Because if there's anything I know for sure this fanbase would have accepted... It is doing nothing with 11 million in cap space waiting for a top pairing defenseman who's never hitting the market.

true. no error in signing JT.

error was in the dollar amount... and in not managing the expectations of the kids who were signing right after him.

wrong expectations set, and an inexperienced GM who couldn't and didn't handle the situation.
- BorjeFan4Ever

It was probably true that, when JT was signed, Dubas didn't expect to have to give 10M+ to both Matthews and Marner.


Signing JT wasn't a mistake. Plenty of teams would salivate at the idea of trading for him right now.

He came around as a top centre, at what... 27-28 years old? This has great signing all over it.

The cap problems can be solved elsewhere.... I do believe Marner might be the odd man out despite him being extremely good still.

I like how you think.

Can you believe the poor guy is playing Boston again?

- Scabeh

It's ridiculous.

Changes teams and still has to play them in the first round.

Is this officially official?
- Atomic Wedgie

No, it's pure Galactic Stone speculation and assuming the worst.

No, it's pure Galactic Stone speculation and assuming the worst.
- GalacticStone

who is tampy getting rid of to sign Cirelli and Sergachev

i think TB handles them pretty easily this time
- senstroll

I'd like to think so, but I have my doubts.

the leafs lost this series

https://twitter.com/Vally...tatus/1292832996043771906


- senstroll

I am not blaming Andersen...But he really wasn't great.

He didn't suck like he has in the past but that's not good enough.

He is owed 1 million for next season...Can you work out a deal for Keumper or Rant in Arizona? They''d be saving 2-3 million in the deal.

No, it's pure Galactic Stone speculation and assuming the worst.
- GalacticStone

who is tampy getting rid of to sign Cirelli and Sergachev

the leafs lost this series

https://twitter.com/Vally...tatus/1292832996043771906


- senstroll

I am not blaming Andersen...But he really wasn't great.

He didn't suck like he has in the past but that's not good enough.

He is owed 1 million for next season...Can you work out a deal for Keumper or Rant in Arizona? They''d be saving 2-3 million in the deal.

oh man
- Santo_44

Way to refute the point and not act like an ass in the process

nicely done.... and all that while drunk on the couch


agree about the Rielly thing completely... and there is NO way he takes less than Nylander's money.

and agree completely about Andersen as well... not his fault when his teams scores zero goals... but he's going to want to get paid, trade him now, recoup some assets before you get nothing
- BorjeFan4Ever

I'd fling the 7.5 x 8 at rielly this summer and hope he somehow loves this mess enough to take it.

It is what it is with Andersen, he's gonna cash in and he needs to do it somewhere else. People are going to freak about not having a #1 tendy, but if retooling is an actual reality the team will have tons of trade able assets to at the least secure a goaltender to play 1A/1B with Campbell until the overall picture is clearer.

I have all my best insight poop faced.

Way to refute the point and not act like an ass in the process
- floater_willy

People are explaining and proving you wrong and you are letting it go way over your head, it is hard to read...Which is where the "oh man " comes from

what a team.....bahahahahahah

what a team.....bahahahahahah

I am not blaming Andersen...But he really wasn't great.

He didn't suck like he has in the past but that's not good enough.

He is owed 1 million for next season...Can you work out a deal for Keumper or Rant in Arizona? They''d be saving 2-3 million in the deal.
- Santo_44

Andersen played well and didnt cost the team the series, but the leafs need more from him, they depend on their goalie too much and he wasnt up to the task.
They needed him to win the series for them.

who is tampy getting rid of to sign Cirelli and Sergachev
- wingz4life

There's gonna be some cap casualties for sure.

Killorn has no protection and his stock is high, so he's probably gone.

Palat, Johnson, and Gourde all have some movement protection, but must also be under consideration if they agree to waive. Personally, I would keep Palat over the others.

Foote can take a D spot on the 3rd pair at a league minimum, so that frees up a little space.

Beyond that, it's going to be interesting.

Andersen played well, but the leafs need more from him, they depend on their goalie too much and he wasnt up to the task.
- Fakepartofme

As someone posted today, CBJ had very few scoring chances.

He wasn't great and contributed to the series loss, as he has the last couple series. Time to move on from him.

cbj's goalies were miles better and it showed, so no he didn't have to win the series for them.