Before this series began a few Leafs fans here floated the idea of Seth Jones for Mitch Marner. Obviously the Blue Jackets would never make this trade.

But what about Zach Werenski for Marner? Leafs need a young stud defenseman to play with Rielly. Columbus needs more scoring and they already have Jones.

Leafs would shed some Cap in the process. Dubas could use that to address other needs.

Thoughts?
- gergeswillems

I floated that one last fall while MM was unsigned. Would still do it b/c I think Werenski might be > Jones long term. Maybe ...

Price was stellar but the Habs were able to score a few goals (surprisingly).
- Symba007

They were due, pretty sure Roger told us the Habs after they won a game. 🤦🏻

Habs 2nd best possession team in the NHL, it’s not a stretch to call them beating a team with aging superstars. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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

everyone covering up for Dubas... why is he above criticism?

he didn't have to get rid of marleau with a 1st... he did it to sign Snake. Snake was the start of the downfall. they would have been fine with Marleau for the full length of his contract and could have drafted a decent D man with the 1st they gave up.

Shanagarbage deviated from the "rebuilding the right way" plan to get Snake. they wouldn't have f'd up their salary cap situation or had to overpay Willie (he's not overpaid now, but at the time he might have signed for less if not for the earlier overpayments), Matthews and Marner.

Burke was right that Matthews negotiation got screwed up cuz of Snake's contract & Nylander's and then the same with Marner. Both those guys, Matthews and Marner, were holding Toronto over a barrel cuz of the Snake payment and the Nylander overpayment. Nylander wouldn't have been able to force the leafs into this situation if they hadn't given Snake 11mill/annum.

Marner isn't worth the money, Nylander is but that's cuz he raised his game, Snake isn't worth the money, but Matthews is but could have been signed for less.

so you have two guys overpaid Snake and Marner.

We'll see how I feel in the coming weeks, but right now, I have zero interest in watching the playoffs.

Maybe if a Canadian team advances, I'll jump on a bandwagon.
- Atomic Wedgie

Me too.

I'll talk offseason talk for a few days but then I am taking a break from hockey, I really don't care about the playoffs unless the Leafs are in it. Better things to do in August.

I really don't know what Dubas is going to do.

Marner should be on the table but I don't see any 1 for 1s that would make much sense.

Ekblad makes sense but the money doesn't for Florida.

Can he get creative on salary retention? or add another team in the mix?
- Santo_44

I don't know the answer but wasn't Ekblad having some injury and regression issues?

I floated that one last fall while MM was unsigned. Would still do it b/c I think Werenski might be > Jones long term. Maybe ...
- The Law

I'd take Werenski over Ekblad.

Okay, okay, okay: Leafs in 7.

Lost a hundred bucks on that too. Dang. Disappointing!

If anyone needs me I'll be sitting Zazen in the forest, and getting pegged by a unicorn.

GO LEAFS GO
- Zezel

Sounds funner then watching the Loafs

I'd take Werenski over Ekblad.
- gergeswillems

Ekblad scares me, be our luck we make a big trade and he retires after the next big hit.

I floated that one last fall while MM was unsigned. Would still do it b/c I think Werenski might be > Jones long term. Maybe ...
- The Law

Werenski is good buddies with AM....but he is a LHD and Marner is the better player.

If that is the best offer on the table? I'd consider it. Would give them flexibility to upgrade Freddy in the FA market and possibly add a lower cost forward for 2-3 years. Like Haula or Dadanov

everyone covering up for Dubas... why is he above criticism?

he didn't have to get rid of marleau with a 1st... he did it to sign Snake. Snake was the start of the downfall. they would have been fine with Marleau for the full length of his contract and could have drafted a decent D man with the 1st they gave up.

Shanagarbage deviated from the "rebuilding the right way" plan to get Snake. they wouldn't have f'd up their salary cap situation or had to overpay Willie (he's not overpaid now, but at the time he might have signed for less if not for the earlier overpayments), Matthews and Marner.

Burke was right that Matthews negotiation got screwed up cuz of Snake's contract & Nylander's and then the same with Marner. Both those guys, Matthews and Marner, were holding Toronto over a barrel cuz of the Snake payment and the Nylander overpayment. Nylander wouldn't have been able to force the leafs into this situation if they hadn't given Snake 11mill/annum.

Marner isn't worth the money, Nylander is but that's cuz he raised his game, Snake isn't worth the money, but Matthews is but could have been signed for less.

so you have two guys overpaid Snake and Marner.
- MisterBrown

Im not privy to any insider info, but I don't believe for a second that any of those guys were able to use what an unrestricted free agent on the open market with 3 times as many years in the league got as their comparable.

Matthews used mcdavid, Nylander used Draisaitl... And Marner used Matthews.

Just my opinion... I don't think JT factored into those negotiations at all. How could he...

I don't know the answer but wasn't Ekblad having some injury and regression issues?
- The Law

Not regression...He was great last year.

He's just had a lot of concussions and with some bad luck he could not even make it the rest of his contract. A couple more and he is done.

Florida loses out on about 3 million I think.

They'd have to really believe they are getting the better player.

Plus are they comfortable with leaving their D core in the hands of two 35 year olds and Matheson?
- Santo_44

I honestly think that people are underestimating the chaos of next season.

Does anyone really think that there is even a hope of an AHL season?

- there is no way the border will be open.
- the vast majority of teams will not be allowed to have fans in buildings.
- TV revenues are miniscule.

So what happens then?

I'm guessing each NHL team gets a non-cap taxi squad of about 10-12 players, who can practice with the team.

And what about the owners that are bleeding money? Are any of them going to be spending even close to the cap?

It's going to be chaos. Chaos, I tells ya!

Ekblad scares me, be our luck we make a big trade and he retires after the next big hit.
- Garnie

Yeah I'm not big on Ekblad either. Even when healthy he hasn't exactly been Seth Jones defensively....

Warning labels all over that dude.

I honestly think that people are underestimating the chaos of next season.

Does anyone really think that there is even a hope of an AHL season?

- there is no way the border will be open.
- the vast majority of teams will not be allowed to have fans in buildings.
- TV revenues are miniscule.

So what happens then?

I'm guessing each NHL team gets a non-cap taxi squad of about 10-12 players, who can practice with the team.

And what about the owners that are bleeding money? Are any of them going to be spending even close to the cap?


- Atomic Wedgie[b]It's going to be chaos. Chaos, I tells ya!

Kinda hoping the Leafs take advantage of chaos.

Mitch's 900 K salary next season is pretty (frank)ing amazing, pandemic or no pandemic.

I floated that one last fall while MM was unsigned. Would still do it b/c I think Werenski might be > Jones long term. Maybe ...
- The Law

i think Werenski better than Jones now.

Anyone who didn't give the BJs a shot at the series win beforehand has no clue what's going on with other teams and is basically a homer.

Torts had this team playing the right way. This team had a list of underrated guys by Toronto fans. Dubois, Foudi, Jones, Foligno, Werenski, Wennberg, and Atkinson come to mind....

now do you believe the BJs had the depth and skill to win? Even big Mike admits the leafs are too one dimensional to win.

Foligno outscored Snake btw... where was Snake all series long?

I'd take Werenski over Ekblad.
- gergeswillems

Oh, I don't think you should be at all. I've always liked Werenski ...skates like Rielly but has a bigger shot and a great hockey IQ. Not as imposing as Jones in his own end but he's feisty and likely puts up more offence. Problem is he's a lefty.

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.
- joel878

I honestly think that people are underestimating the chaos of next season.

Does anyone really think that there is even a hope of an AHL season?

- there is no way the border will be open.
- the vast majority of teams will not be allowed to have fans in buildings.
- TV revenues are miniscule.

So what happens then?

I'm guessing each NHL team gets a non-cap taxi squad of about 10-12 players, who can practice with the team.

And what about the owners that are bleeding money? Are any of them going to be spending even close to the cap?

It's going to be chaos. Chaos, I tells ya!
- Atomic Wedgie

very unlikely there will be an NHL season next season, let alone AHL.

i think Werenski better than Jones now.

Anyone who didn't give the BJs a shot at the series win beforehand has no clue what's going on with other teams and is basically a homer.

Torts had this team playing the right way. This team had a list of underrated guys by Toronto fans. Dubois, Foudi, Jones, Foligno, Werenski, Wennberg, and Atkinson come to mind....

now do you believe the BJs had the depth and skill to win? Even big Mike admits the leafs are too one dimensional to win.

Foligno outscored Snake btw... where was Snake all series long?
- MisterBrown

He was just off being tied for the team lead in goal scoring with Matthews and Nylander. 🤷‍♂️

Remember how we all said that Marner was $1M overpaid?

More like $2-3M.

1 5-on-5 point this series.
- Atomic Wedgie

I know a few of us have been saying that from the get go.

Hope he gets his poop together next season.

Im not privy to any insider info, but I don't believe for a second that any of those guys were able to use what an unrestricted free agent on the open market with 3 times as many years in the league got as their comparable.

Matthews used mcdavid, Nylander used Draisaitl... And Marner used Matthews.

Just my opinion... I don't think JT factored into those negotiations at all. How could he...
- joel878

you missed my point. maybe i didn't explain it well enough.

those other guys saw that the leafs backed up the truck for Snake. Matthews was already better than Snake or had shown he was going to be in a season if not already. No one in the league thinks Matthews is better than McD. So Matthews demanded more than Snake.

He also saw how the Leafs eventually did sign Nylander instead of holding out for their number, around 6 or 6.5 mill, which is what i believe Burke reckoned he should be getting.

Both those signings influenced Matthews on what he knew he'd be able to command. More than Snake, and he knew leafs would give in just as they paid between 500-900k more for Nylander.

very unlikely there will be an NHL season next season, let alone AHL.
- MaximusAurelius

50/50 chance the NHL ever plays again.

I'll bite

Marner for Werenski and J. Anderson

Sign Lehner or trade Freddy for Keumper(ARZ saves 2.5 million next season)

Hyman-AM-Nylander
Micky-JT-Anderson
Robertson-Kerfoot-Kapanen
a combo of UFA signings and Spezza

Rielly-Werenski
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott
Lehtonen

Kuemper
Campbell

Oh and if the Leafs get Laf tonight I am moving Marner out west to the best offer on a defensemen. I don't care if the Leafs lose the deal a bit.

very unlikely there will be an NHL season next season, let alone AHL.
- MaximusAurelius

Thats what you said about the bubble.

Your credibility is at zero, quit trying to give NHL advice on this pandemic.

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
- Santo_44

It's not over my head. It's over yours obviously. Nothing has been proven either way it's an opinion. The concept is difficult for an arrogant know it all to understand. I get it.

You really like to live up to your reputation as a d!ck