If AM as good as everyone says, it shouldn't matter who he plays with. JT has dragged some garbage in NY to great seasons. SO lose Marner and Nylander. Johnssson also useless. get some muckers with a bit of hands (Hymans etc), bolster the D and make AM prove hes top 10? 5? If he is, he doesn't need Marner and Nylander.
- drexel

Matthews scored at a 45 goal/88 point pace in 2018-2019 playing mostly with Marleau and Kapanen...

yes, some did. apparently Dubas did as well. Dubas also thought that Ceci would be a reasonable replacement for Zaitsev.

neither of those two work out in any way to be even OKAY.

Barrie was playing third pairing in essentially a playoff series - with little to no power play time. Even after Babcock treated him "so badly", and he got his confidence back with Keefe.. he still ... sucked.

One possible move, that might have actually help the Leafs when the defense was banged up.. Dubas could have gone out an spent a mid-round pick and got a different stop gap defender... who could defend - and then move Barrie before you absolutely zilch both out of him and for him.

But that didn't happen. Neither did the 70 pts. Neither did the elite break out passes. Or the big shot from the blueline. So some of that is on the player for not playing up to expectations.

and some of that is on the "roster constructor" - who pretty clearing gambled and it was a large swing and miss...

so... Barrie - underachieved - and has hurt himself financially - absolutely no doubt about it.

what's Dubas done? exactly nadda since the initial risky decision.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Dubas got rid of an albatross contract in dealing Zaitsev for one year of Ceci. That was a master stroke and any narrative otherwise is (frank)ing retarded. Yes, retarded. I rarely, if ever, use that word -- but it's goddamn appropriate here.

Gretzky dragged Kurri and Anderson to HofF. Lemieux made Stevens good, Lindros made LeClair and Renberg good, Crosby got Kunitz to Team Canada for Christ sakes...you wanna be considered elite...do that
- drexel

Early on it was Marner who played with lesser players.

Country club management breeds a Country club team.
- Nighthawk

Where did you pull this from?

Matthews scored at a 45 goal/88 point pace in 2018-2019 playing mostly with Marleau and Kapanen...
- Steven_Seagull

so Babs was right all along

Where did you pull this from?
- Canada Cup

Probably a bulletin board, circa 1997.

Willy is a perimeter floater on a solid contract. He’s the obvious contract to move. That doesn’t mean anything on its own & everything on what Dubas does.
- Nighthawk

You're making things up again. Look at where his goals come from.

so Babs was right all along
- drexel

Well, Matthews was on pace for 55 goals and 94 points this year...

so Babs was right all along
- drexel

Matthews was on a clip to score 55+ goals this season and smashed his single season point high, so... no?

Early on it was Marner who played with lesser players.
- aminnes

Not really.

Matthews was on a clip to score 55+ goals this season and smashed his single season point high, so... no?
- mjones242

So he didn’t peak in year 2. Weird. Same end result

Matthews was on a clip to score 55+ goals this season and smashed his single season point high, so... no?
- mjones242

Well he wasnt hurt. And had better line mates

Matthews scored at a 45 goal/88 point pace in 2018-2019 playing mostly with Marleau and Kapanen...
- Steven_Seagull

Makes Marner expendable for the right deal.

So he didn’t peak in year 2. Weird. Same end result
- drexel

I wanted Nylander gone when he was holding out. He has since increased his value at least as a regular season scoring dude. Has he increased his value overall ? Probably. Move him out. Robertson looks like a 20+ goal player right away but also works his ass off every shift. Anyone who’s lazy that can be traded needs to be.
- aminnes

Translation - You formed your opinion a while ago and the fact that he has shown you wrong doesn't change you view.

Makes Marner expendable for the right deal.
- Nighthawk

Makes Marner expendable for the right deal.
- Nighthawk

Except he's almost untradeable

Matthews was on a clip to score 55+ goals this season and smashed his single season point high, so... no?
- mjones242

Then he shouldn’t need 10-15MM dollars worth of linemates. He’s the one I want to keep. Just pointing out if he needs elite linemates to succeed then we are all wrong in our assessment of his worth

Then he shouldn’t need 10-15MM dollars worth of linemates. He’s the one I want to keep. Just pointing out if he needs elite linemates to succeed then we are all wrong in our assessment of his worth
- drexel

4 3rd lines. Good plan

4 3rd lines. Good plan
- Canada Cup

Cbus forwards are what a combined 34M?

4 3rd lines. Good plan
- Canada Cup

Sounds like the Habs....and they are still playiing...

Where did you pull this from?
- Canada Cup

The front office never seems critical nor accountable. Sure I get it they are to exude confidence & patience etc. Shanahan hires Babcock & Dubas fired him. Keefe couldn’t get the roster to play any better. Tells me its the roster make up. I don’t hear any anger from them nor shouldering any blame. Country Club.

The players are what they are & I do like many of them. In the end it’s a poorly constructed roster but has promise. Many players played to their worth & many could’ve done more. Reilly seemed the only player perturbed on the post game show. JT was a scripted nothing considering his experience. So the captain leads me to say its on him & hence Country Club.

Translation - You formed your opinion a while ago and the fact that he has shown you wrong doesn't change you view.
- Canada Cup

He’s better than I thought he would be at scoring. But ya, I’d still trade him. He takes too many games off and doesn’t do the little things. I’m glad he bagged some goals this year or the leafs would have to eat salary again.

You're making things up again. Look at where his goals come from.
- Canada Cup

It’s all about only goals okie dokie

4 3rd lines. Good plan
- Canada Cup

Translation. Cuomo Cup formed his opinion a long time ago...