Besides AM what forward was good all series, Kerfoot? Fourth line came on and JT came on. But that’s it.

D is bad but the 9 goals against (I think) weren’t what cost us the series especially when you count in the softies.

This was all shared up and down the line up.
- Canada Cup

Kerfoot was good.
Am was great.
JT had a couple of good games.
Marner was good games 2 -4.

Nylander is the easiest contract to move and the most attractive. That's why you move him over Marner.

Also, Marner is a complete player while Willie, whilst offensively talented, isn't in the same conversation as Mitch in terms of talent and heart.
- mjones242

Easiest cuz in the flat cap era whale contracts are that much harder or nearly impossible to move. Marner isn’t 4m better.

My comparison for a complete player on the wing is Marchand. I hate the guy but gotta be honest. Marner is not him.

As much as I would prefer to keep him, Nylander had a pretty fantastic regular season last year which makes his value as a tradable asset very tempting.

Leafs need a legit top pairing RHD man to share big minutes with Rielly. Columbus has Werenski and Jones.. wouldn't it be nice if we had Rielly and (insert stud defender here) eating up big minutes?
- mjones242

After watching the epic Jackets vs Tampa 5 OT game last night, I must agree.

Jones....Werenski....McDonaugh....Hedman.....Sergachev....

It was a glaring example of how these teams have so much more defensive depth than Toronto....

Fair enough, I could point my fingers at the 2nd line as well.

The problem with the D isn't just their defensive play but also their ability to carry the puck forward and contribute offensively. Rielly is the only player on the Leafs D who isn't an absolute black hole when it comes to actually being creative and dangerous on the attack.

Marner is not the problem. Is he paid a million too much? Maybe. But that's not enough to warrant wanting to trade him.

He's 23 and has heart. (frank) the trade Marner narrative. Dubas is correct: criticism of Marner IS idiotic.
- mjones242

There’s a flat cap for the next 3 years at least. That changes everything.

Which top 2C are you referring to?
- Nasty_Duck

Leafs AM & JT

I think he's referring to JT though it seemed for a second like he was implying Willie was a 2C.
- mjones242

I’ve never implied Willy is a C on any line 😂

It falls to WN by acclimation with everyone in blind love with the highest 3 paid. His contract is reasonable as is AM’s. The other 2 sorry.
- Nighthawk

Sorry if you don’t acknowledge that MM has elite potential, you’re blind. Move him maybe but appreciate that you may be kicking yourself for a very long time.

After watching the epic Jackets vs Tampa 5 OT game last night, I must agree.

Jones....Werenski....McDonaugh....Hedman.....Sergachev....

It was a glaring example of how these teams have so much more defensive depth than Toronto....
- hawk35

You are astute

at the time of trade, the pick would of been 22~31 range was the thinking of the Leafs
- dmnted

then they were a bubble playoff team all year.
This isnt a cup contending team as is constructed right now.

I’m not putting it on one person. Obviously the D is a real weakness but this series went far deeper and they still came close.

Which raises the other problem: constantly coming close but not being able to finish and not playing consistently.

They need to change the make up of the team somehow.
- Canada Cup

This is true but the odds of no EN goal in 4mins makes me wonder what odds Vegas had on that? You imagine the pay out lol

I’m not putting it on one person. Obviously the D is a real weakness but this series went far deeper and they still came close.

Which raises the other problem: constantly coming close but not being able to finish and not playing consistently.

They need to change the make up of the team somehow.
- Canada Cup

As I said, the D-corps has zero creativity and actively stifles offense. Losing a big minute d-man like Muzzin blatantly displayed the horrendous defense the Leafs managed to cobble together.

The 3rd line is also a massive problem. Kerfoot is versatile but overpaid and not a true 3C. Mikheyev looked like a shell of his former self (yes, yes he came back from a brutal injury), Kapanen was mostly invisible. They ate some minutes which is about as good an assessment as I'd be willing to give.

Andersen letting in some softies didn't help. The pandemic didn't help (rust was clearly shown). Plenty of excuses to go around but the D just screams horror show and needs to be (frank)ing addressed.

Who said Holtby>Freddie?
- Nighthawk

Someone who spoke too soon.

There’s a flat cap for the next 3 years at least. That changes everything.
- Steven_Seagull

Go on...

Easiest cuz in the flat cap era whale contracts are that much harder or nearly impossible to move. Marner isn’t 4m better.

My comparison for a complete player on the wing is Marchand. I hate the guy but gotta be honest. Marner is not him.
- Nighthawk

For the money Marner makes, he needs to be a "Patty Kane", or at least a close copy. As of now, he is a little (lot?) short of that. Has to show up in big moments, score some timely goals, drive the play more in the critical part of games. Can he be that guy, or is he just a very expensive supporting player??? That is what the Leafs need to figure out.

Hyman being MIA says a lot. JT only coming on towards the end says a lot. Maybe we don’t understand what the Covid start really meant but there was no consistency and that was a problem over the year. (Not JT and Hyman necessarily)
- Canada Cup

It did say a lot but a scape goat for 22m in linemates is a bit to much.

On consistency a few here said early on O would be more ready than D. That was no respect to CBJ. It was a strange 4mins away from a 3-1 series loss. Btw I factored in covid long lay off & predicted Leafs in 3 or CBJ in 5. No I wasn’t hedging my bet I just didn’t know what to expect.

Islanders murdered the Caps.

I wonder if Tavares misses the island and questions coming into this hockey hotbed.

Great place if you’re winning.....




- Garnie

Holtby is the only reason the Caps lost. He handed the game to the Islanders.

I’ve never implied Willy is a C on any line 😂
- Nighthawk

I think he's referring to JT though it seemed for a second like he was implying Willie was a 2C."
- mjones242

NHL fined Brind'amour $25,000 for being right.

After watching the epic Jackets vs Tampa 5 OT game last night, I must agree.

Jones....Werenski....McDonaugh....Hedman.....Sergachev....

It was a glaring example of how these teams have so much more defensive depth than Toronto....
- hawk35

That a game for the ages imo.

Classic match up of O vs D.

That series has only just begun & I pick TB but I wouldn’t put money against CBJ.

Someone who spoke too soon.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Oh noes... Holtby had a bad game today! This definitively means Freddie > Holtby.

Kerfoot was good.
Am was great.
JT had a couple of good games.
Marner was good games 2 -4.
- Fakepartofme

Marner has one primary playoff point in his past 12 games

For the money Marner makes, he needs to be a "Patty Kane", or at least a close copy. As of now, he is a little (lot?) short of that. Has to show up in big moments, score some timely goals, drive the play more in the critical part of games. Can he be that guy, or is he just a very expensive supporting player??? That is what the Leafs need to figure out.
- hawk35

He's only 23 and has the potential to be an analogue to Patty. Time will tell.

There’s a flat cap for the next 3 years at least. That changes everything.
- Steven_Seagull

Bingo & dictates a new rethinking of what is needed to be done. Cannot always go with what is sexy. Tough decisions & I have a hunch Dubas will give it 1 more year & keep it fairly status quo & fill in the D with cap space that has gone UFA etc. I like confidence & patience but do you all here want to risk another disappointment? If Dubas goes that route & similar results he should be nervous & wonder if it’s sayonara.

Sorry if you don’t acknowledge that MM has elite potential, you’re blind. Move him maybe but appreciate that you may be kicking yourself for a very long time.
- Canada Cup

I agree. Mitch and Auston have McDavid/Dri level talent.

Yes I said it, they both can dominate the league if they play together.

AV’s are getting the rope-a-dope from Arizona.