I've been fooling around with the idea of an all-Canadian division.

Each division would only play within their division, right up to the playoff semi-finals.

North Division:
Toronto
Montreal
Ottawa
Winnipeg
Calgary
Edmonton
Vancouver

East Division:
Boston
New York
LI
Philly
Carolina
NJ
Buffalo
Wash

Central Division:
Columbus
Detroit
Chicago
Pitts
Tampa
Florida
Nashville
St. Louis

West Division:
Colorado
Dallas
Minny
Vegas
Arizona
Anaheim
LA
SJ

No way in hell the border opens by December. No franking way in hell.
- Atomic Wedgie

the fallout (real fallout) of the surge in cases in Texas, Florida, California, etc... that really took off in early July - will raise the death count over the coming 6-8 weeks (regardless of what the various political parties chose to focus on). With that increase, and ongoing testing inconsistencies, there is no practical end in sight for the border closure. Even if the US manages to get is outbreaks under control somehow miraculously in the next month or so... how long will they need to show that cases are decreasing before any borders will open.

Its highly unlikely that it opens in any meaningful manner prior to the new year.. I'm guessing much later

anyways. lets see what happens in the lottery and over the fall break before next season.

if one of Snake/ Marner aren't gone, then don't expect different results.

Nylander/ Matthews/ Rielly should be seen as the core imo.
- MisterBrown

Yes, improving the Toronto Maple Leafs would be bad for business.

Fans of other teams are welcome here.

Fans of other teams who are just here to post stupid comments are not.
- Atomic Wedgie

Bad for business? do you think Laf going to toronto is good for the NHL and credibility?

Come on... the way the NHL and its vaste media outlets have built up the leafs and oilers, adding Laf seems silly... Yea, it sucks he wont go to the habs ( im crossing my finger hed pull a Lindros haha) but i think a team like winnipeg or Minnesota would utilize his marketability better and it evens out the talent across the league.

The leafs and Oilers have demonstrated they cant build a team that can make it over the hump, with players that are above avg, elite and franchise players. Why reward them with more franchise talent.... makes no sense from a business side.

He was not.

I saw(seen?) every one of his giveaways and bad drop passes.

I like Marner, but it was an ugly series for him.
- Leafs43

Seen't

Sure but they'd have to make their team worse.

Not many teams right now can make a trade for a shakeup and take on 3 million in actual dollars.

This way they aren't getting worse and saving a lot of money. The only other option is subtracting players.
- Santo_44

I don't disagree with you. I just think that AZ as a cash crunching team would be more than likely to look at their situation between the pipes as an embarrassment of riches that doesn't come with the need to maintain it.

They have a clearcut #1, I don't see them as making a cash strapped decision there and deciding they need to have a backup like Andersen, or two #1s to stay where they're at.

I think they're more likely to go hey we can hack money here and find a quality backup instead. Don't need two starters. 🤷‍♂️

The point would be Aroizona saving 3 million dollars....I think people don't quite understand the financial troubles teams like Arizona will have.

If they can save 3 million and take a goalie that is in the same breath as the one they are giving up it is a no brainer for them.
- Santo_44

no its not.
Not when they have to extend Freddy or lose him and then they have no goalie.
Other ways to save 3 million.

Bad for business? do you think Laf going to toronto is good for the NHL and credibility?

Come on... the way the NHL and its vaste media outlets have built up the leafs and oilers, adding Laf seems silly... Yea, it sucks he wont go to the habs ( im crossing my finger hed pull a Lindros haha) but i think a team like winnipeg or Minnesota would utilize his marketability better and it evens out the talent across the league.

The leafs and Oilers have demonstrated they cant build a team that can make it over the hump, with players that are above avg, elite and franchise players. Why reward them with more franchise talent.... makes no sense from a business side.
- munky123

rather there then the media and hockey wastelands of florida and minnesota..

Like Brooks Brothers?
- Atomic Wedgie

I might be to young, disconnected... Or just not have had enough coffee to know what that means.

Either way, I don't know what that means.

no its not.
Not when they have to extend Freddy or lose him and then they have no goalie.
Other ways to save 3 million.
- Fakepartofme

Raanta has one year left and Keumper has 2

There is no other way of shedding salary without making their team worse.

It’s either subtracting or going to these ultra rich teams and hoping a one for one works where they save money.

Fire Dubas. Incapable.

Bad for business? do you think Laf going to toronto is good for the NHL and credibility?

Come on... the way the NHL and its vaste media outlets have built up the leafs and oilers, adding Laf seems silly... Yea, it sucks he wont go to the habs ( im crossing my finger hed pull a Lindros haha) but i think a team like winnipeg or Minnesota would utilize his marketability better and it evens out the talent across the league.

The leafs and Oilers have demonstrated they cant build a team that can make it over the hump, with players that are above avg, elite and franchise players. Why reward them with more franchise talent.... makes no sense from a business side.
- munky123

it’s pretty obvious that you aren’t looking at it this way, you are looking at it as a Habs fan that hates Edmonton and Toronto.

i'm sure there are teams that will take Tavares in trade and he'd waive to go to. he has a NMC but it can be waived and many players have done so when they are told the team wants to move him out. doubtful he would stay on a team that wants to send him packing....
- MisterBrown

He would absolutely look at blocking it, that's why he negotiated it into his deal in the first place.

He signed that contract to move his family to his home city and raise children there... Not just to play hockey. He's not going to void that because his feelings are hurt...

Even Kadri blocked a move until he didn't have the right to block it anymore.

Fire Dubas. Incapable.
- iTOLDu

he's very woke though, plus he got us an AHL championship!

I don't disagree with you. I just think that AZ as a cash crunching team would be more than likely to look at their situation between the pipes as an embarrassment of riches that doesn't come with the need to maintain it.

They have a clearcut #1, I don't see them as making a cash strapped decision there and deciding they need to have a backup like Andersen, or two #1s to stay where they're at.

I think they're more likely to go hey we can hack money here and find a quality backup instead. Don't need two starters. 🤷‍♂️
- joel878

I think the NHL has shown how valuable a tandem is...I’d say they are a team that needs to rely on 82 games of starting caliber goaltending to make the playoffs.

Teams will be making cuts, a team executive said most teams are planning for a budget based on 25% fan capacity and those are the optimistic teams.

Arizona, CBJ, NYI, Florida, Buffalo, ect will probably have to make some huge cuts, or in Buffalos case not add nearly as much as they were planning to.

Maybe a team is finally willing to trade a top pairing D for Marner knowing he only makes 900K this season after the SB.

They contributed, as did Andersen
- Santo_44

actually, their lack of contribution is what lost the series.

Raanta has one year left and Keumper has 2

There is no other way of shedding salary without making their team worse.

It’s either subtracting or going to these ultra rich teams and hoping a one for one works where they save money.
- Santo_44

trading for andersen is not their only option.

I got Leafs on the 11th try
- Santo_44

So clearly before the draft I gotta do the lottery 8 times and you gotta do it 10 times. That way the real one comes in golden.

trading for andersen is not their only option.
- Fakepartofme

It’s not.

One of the few options that would make their team not get worse.

Toronto, NY, MTL, Boston, Chicago... only a handful of teams who can help teams financially this summer.

I think the NHL has shown how valuable a tandem is...I’d say they are a team that needs to rely on 82 games of starting caliber goaltending to make the playoffs.

Teams will be making cuts, a team executive said most teams are planning for a budget based on 25% fan capacity and those are the optimistic teams.

Arizona, CBJ, NYI, Florida, Buffalo, ect will probably have to make some huge cuts, or in Buffalos case not add nearly as much as they were planning to.
- Santo_44

Hard to say, they got to where they are now with 29 games from their best goaltender. There's a side to the argument that they could view their team as more than capable to reach that bar again with 50 out of him next year.

Who knows. I do like the idea of a Raanta / Campbell combo in Toronto next year though.

It’s not.

One of the few options that would make their team not get worse.

Toronto, NY, MTL, Boston, Chicago... only a handful of teams who can help teams financially this summer.
- Santo_44

listening.....what do you have in mind for MTL

Keep him, play him for 3 years on his ELC.

Trade Marner the day after they pay him his signing bonus.
- Atomic Wedgie

That would fall in line with every other player whose sweater I've gotten. I get their name and the team trades them.

Could get a lot for Marner, though.

It’s not.

One of the few options that would make their team not get worse.

Toronto, NY, MTL, Boston, Chicago... only a handful of teams who can help teams financially this summer.
- Santo_44

Meh, we'll see how this thing plays. The playoffs havent even started yet, no one knows how they will play out or what occurs in the fall off season.

I think the NHL has shown how valuable a tandem is...I’d say they are a team that needs to rely on 82 games of starting caliber goaltending to make the playoffs.

Teams will be making cuts, a team executive said most teams are planning for a budget based on 25% fan capacity and those are the optimistic teams.

Arizona, CBJ, NYI, Florida, Buffalo, ect will probably have to make some huge cuts, or in Buffalos case not add nearly as much as they were planning to.

Maybe a team is finally willing to trade a top pairing D for Marner knowing he only makes 900K this season after the SB.
- Santo_44

This is where the Leafs paying those massive bonuses is golden. Nylander's money is almost all paid. There is little money to go with the cap hits. Small market teams will look for that.

Cap hit of Leafs top line today: $33.53M

Cap hit of all 11 forwards the Blue Jackets dressed today: $34.33 M

lol