they lost against a (frank)ing zamboni driver.
that says it all about this season.
- MaximusAurelius

this one will never die

It's still a massive cap hit. I mean if a team is trying to reach the floor it's great but if they have a bunch of young talent on ELC's then it can still hinder them moving forward.
- golfingsince

A massive cap hit for a star, yes.

There are only a handful of wingers better than Marner, at 22 he will arguably be the best eventually.

Teams will line up for him and there is no question.

Deal has to be right, most of the time when you trade away a star you lose.

Tampa missed the playoffs in 2017. It happens.
- Steven_Seagull

need to turn into 2 steps forward next year.

if they can't, time to turn the keys over to somebody else.

If I'm Shanahan, my end of the year meeting is going something like okay, you've had two years to survey this group from top to bottom, get a feel for the league flow, the market... Everything. There's been pros and cons (because despite what anyone says it hasn't all been bad). We're at a point where it's time to execute everything you've taken so far into a functional direction... And one bit of advice, the small speedy one dimensional approach isn't that functional direction. Good luck because the clock just hit 11:30.🤷‍♂️
- joel878

Remember way back at the beginning of the Shanaplan where the direction was get as much skill as you can, and fill it in later with size, grit etc. because skill is a lot harder to find?

Now is the time I think where they need to get some heart, size and toughness.

Columbus looked about 4" taller and 20 lbs heavier on average than Toronto and there is no question the Leafs were very leery of driving the net or cutting into the middle. As much as anything else, this leafs team needs something to make them play bigger.

It's still a massive cap hit. I mean if a team is trying to reach the floor it's great but if they have a bunch of young talent on ELC's then it can still hinder them moving forward.
- golfingsince

I predict that at least 10 teams next year will be trying anything they can to reduce salaries - and have plenty of cap room.

Florida has long been roomered to want to cut salary.

The owner of Tampa said in an interview he was losing "pooploads of money."

All three California teams are legally unable to put a single arse in the stands until there is a vaccine.

A vast majority of Dallas fans will be dead before Christmas.

How many corporations have put off on ordering their luxury boxes for next year in non-traditional markets?

It's going to be a financial bloodbath for much of the NHL.

yep.

didn't even make the playoffs this year.

a step backwards.
- Tumbleweed

I agree they took a step back this year.

but they are playoffs, I get they have to call them play-ins for the sake of the draft and stuff. but the stats will be included in playoff stats.

everything about them has the feel and consequences of playoffs

A team trying to stay at the lower end, and be competitive would be all over that I would think.
- Aetherial

The Sens make the most sense to me TBH.

How would that look?

I think it would be worth it just for the pre and post trade "discussion".

I can't believe Dubas hasn't traded for nathan gerbe yet..
- MaximusAurelius

too tall

I predict that at least 10 teams next year will be trying anything they can to reduce salaries - and have plenty of cap room.

Florida has long been roomered to want to cut salary.

The owner of Tampa said in an interview he was losing "pooploads of money."

All three California teams are legally unable to put a single arse in the stands until there is a vaccine.

A vast majority of Dallas fans will be dead before Christmas.

How many corporations have put off on ordering their luxury boxes for next year in non-traditional markets?

It's going to be a financial bloodbath for much of the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

Johnsson and Liljegren for Ekblad, you say?

The Sens make the most sense to me TBH.

How would that look?

I think it would be worth it just for the pre and post trade "discussion".
- golfingsince

Sens have some good pieces. Too bad Melnyckel probably would not add the salary.

Question for you guys... would you do Marner for Chabot? I doubt Ottawa would, and I wouldn't either, but what do you guys think?

too tall
- BorjeFan4Ever

5'4! 👍

I don’t have a problem with the deal. He’s a star and got paid.

I’m starting to come around to the trade idea though for two reasons.

The first is style. He and Nylander and Kapanen play a flow game (Mike Johnson as talking about this yesterday) that the CBJ clogging up approach really slows down. You need more of a start and stop, almost station to station approach as part of your game. JT gives you that, Hyman gives that and so does Robertson even though he is small and fast. A Marner out, Robertson in even though it’s a big loss in capacity right now shifts the style and presumably brings a big upgrade on defence.

The second reason is character. I’m not saying anything about Marner’s character. I obviously don’t know anything about that except that his mom is a flossy thrash. But getting to the edge but not over has to say something about the team makeup and something has to change and a big piece has to change. Marner is a big piece.

You all know I’m right but will feel the need to argue anyway. It’s ok. I get it.
- Canada Cup

If Petro is the addition it is simple, trade Marner out west to the highest bidder and get back a 2nd line forward in the deal.

If not? A 1 for 1 is rare and there is no gaurnetee the right D man comes back.

One thing I'd bank on is Freddy being gone. Sign or trade for a 1A and trade off Freddy and his 1 Million dollar salary this season.

checking in on the ol USA

A 17-year-old worker at a Pennsylvania theme park suffered a displaced jaw and will require surgery after he was assaulted by a couple he asked to wear masks, police say.

sounds about right

Remember way back at the beginning of the Shanaplan where the direction was get as much skill as you can, and fill it in later with size, grit etc. because skill is a lot harder to find?

Now is the time I think where they need to get some heart, size and toughness.

Columbus looked about 4" taller and 20 lbs heavier on average than Toronto and there is no question the Leafs were very leery of driving the net or cutting into the middle. As much as anything else, this leafs team needs something to make them play bigger.
- Aetherial

bingo bingo

someone needs to remind Dubas of what he himself said.

and someone needs to get hold of the spreadsheets he's using to profile players... and adjust the fields that contain height and weight

5'4! 👍
- gergeswillems

still too tall

Remember way back at the beginning of the Shanaplan where the direction was get as much skill as you can, and fill it in later with size, grit etc. because skill is a lot harder to find?

Now is the time I think where they need to get some heart, size and toughness.

Columbus looked about 4" taller and 20 lbs heavier on average than Toronto and there is no question the Leafs were very leery of driving the net or cutting into the middle. As much as anything else, this leafs team needs something to make them play bigger.
- Aetherial

But they have to play those guys too. Clifford was a catalyst but they give him 2 mins a game.

I predict that at least 10 teams next year will be trying anything they can to reduce salaries - and have plenty of cap room.

Florida has long been roomered to want to cut salary.

The owner of Tampa said in an interview he was losing "pooploads of money."

All three California teams are legally unable to put a single arse in the stands until there is a vaccine.

A vast majority of Dallas fans will be dead before Christmas.

How many corporations have put off on ordering their luxury boxes for next year in non-traditional markets?

It's going to be a financial bloodbath for much of the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

Meanwhile the Leafs are rolling in money from their 30th place season alone

Sens have some good pieces. Too bad Melnyckel probably would not add the salary.

Question for you guys... would you do Marner for Chabot? I doubt Ottawa would, and I wouldn't either, but what do you guys think?
- Aetherial

I saw someone propose Marner for Brady tchuk and batherson (or some other med prospect)

Remember way back at the beginning of the Shanaplan where the direction was get as much skill as you can, and fill it in later with size, grit etc. because skill is a lot harder to find?

Now is the time I think where they need to get some heart, size and toughness.

Columbus looked about 4" taller and 20 lbs heavier on average than Toronto and there is no question the Leafs were very leery of driving the net or cutting into the middle. As much as anything else, this leafs team needs something to make them play bigger.
- Aetherial

In a remarkable coincidence, I look 20 lbs. heavier than average.

I predict that at least 10 teams next year will be trying anything they can to reduce salaries - and have plenty of cap room.

Florida has long been roomered to want to cut salary.

The owner of Tampa said in an interview he was losing "pooploads of money."

All three California teams are legally unable to put a single arse in the stands until there is a vaccine.

A vast majority of Dallas fans will be dead before Christmas.

How many corporations have put off on ordering their luxury boxes for next year in non-traditional markets?

It's going to be a financial bloodbath for much of the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

10million they need to lose (in actual payments).
Nylander contract 2nd of July is perfect for them.
Barkov doesn't have a signing bonus

People told me last year that no teams with 10 million dollar payers getting out of the first round was an anomaly.

I predict that at least 10 teams next year will be trying anything they can to reduce salaries - and have plenty of cap room.

Florida has long been roomered to want to cut salary.

The owner of Tampa said in an interview he was losing "pooploads of money."

All three California teams are legally unable to put a single arse in the stands until there is a vaccine.

A vast majority of Dallas fans will be dead before Christmas.

How many corporations have put off on ordering their luxury boxes for next year in non-traditional markets?

It's going to be a financial bloodbath for much of the NHL.
- Atomic Wedgie

I've long been critical of both the Leafs and Canucks cap management. With a now stagnant and likely dropping salary cap we're both in poor situations moving forward.

bingo bingo

someone needs to remind Dubas of what he himself said.

and someone needs to get hold of the spreadsheets he's using to profile players... and adjust the fields that contain height and weight
- BorjeFan4Ever

Dubas traded for Muzzin and Clifford. He so far has not been against adding those types of players.

the thing is, those moves always get ignored...for whatever reason...its not the right grit and toughness...or something

Remember way back at the beginning of the Shanaplan where the direction was get as much skill as you can, and fill it in later with size, grit etc. because skill is a lot harder to find?

Now is the time I think where they need to get some heart, size and toughness.

Columbus looked about 4" taller and 20 lbs heavier on average than Toronto and there is no question the Leafs were very leery of driving the net or cutting into the middle. As much as anything else, this leafs team needs something to make them play bigger.
- Aetherial

I don’t believe that they have been intimidated in any of the series against the bigger teams they’ve played recently, too many of those series were too close.

I also think the problems have been just as pronounced with the forwards as on defence as least in this series just looking at goals.

They’ve had chances to put series away and have failed. There’s something missing. I think they need to make a big move just as much to shake things up as to bring in somebody in. Not knowing anything about any any of them, I think Marner is more of a shake up move.

Dubas traded for Muzzin and Clifford. He so far has not been against adding those types of players.

the thing is, those moves always get ignored...for whatever reason...its not the right grit and toughness...or something
- senstroll

yep...