Who has nutsack hair these days? Gross.
- Zezel

You're preaching to the choir brother.

But, Skalapy's on record that he has a thick mane.

Gudas fits way better than Cici. Not sure Simmonds has anything left. I did not see anything of him since Nashville(?).

Anderson scares me because he seems like Clarkson.

Still like the Murray for Ander5en idea.
- Aetherial

Anderson

17 goals as a rookie
25 goal pace as a sophmore
27 goals the following year
This year he was injured

I don't see the calrkson narrative. He is a proven goal scorer in his 5th year of the NHL.

I don't think they will have a hard time replacing Barrie and Ceci...Barrie was an awful fit.

Simmonds gets 1 million for 1 year. If he sucks you bury him and lose out on 50K on the cap. Worth the risk I think.

Engvall-Spezza-? line

Fill that with a UFA player who can fight Barabanov for that spot.

Yeah I think it's fair to say that it hasn't played out the way they planned, but I also think there's a reason they all preached patience right out of the gate. These guys are smart enough to know that a young group is going to be volatile in terms of progression and there's going to be learning curves along the way.

That being said I really think Dubas is better set up this summer than he has probably ever been, and what's been done to date is nothing more than water under the bridge. It's what he does from here on out which will define this group and his tenure.

Core extended, a lot of manageable contracts/trade able assets, great free agent crop... All in a market there will be lots of penny pinchers who don't have a fraction of the buying power the leafs do.

Dwelling on what's been done to date doesn't do it for me because I don't see it defining what happens going forward. 🤷‍♂️
- joel878

Shut the (frank) up you lums

You can think what you want all day, but trading Marner would have been inexcusable to the media, the pundits, the fanbase... The group in the dressing room ffs.

It may have been an option to you, but where the team was at and the expectation, dumping off one of their best players at age 22 for the sake of wrapping up Marleaus contract would have been inexcusable to the same group of people who are on here blasting him today.
- joel878

sticking to a number that works for the team was the best option.

trading marner was very unlikely then as it is now. nobody wants him at that price tag.

You're preaching to the choir brother.

But, Skalapy's on record that he has a thick mane.
- The Law

Lololol00ppppp

sticking to a number that works for the team was the best option.

trading marner was very unlikely then as it is now. nobody wants him at that price tag.
- Tumbleweed

Ok thanks

Leafs over Dallas in 6.

I never said what year.

Shreveport Pirates over Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Grey cup.

Everything’s gonna be okay, everything's gonna be okay, say the goddamn words

SAY THE GODDAMN (frank)IN WORDS

It is just ridiculous.

You cannot look at team performance and say it is getting better. You can't look at 3 of the big 4 and say they aren't overpaid. I mean, you *can* if you want to ignore numbers or pick and choose ONE stat that you like.

You can't argue we don't have firsts the last couple years.

You can't argue that our best prospect is yet another very small forward.

You can't argue that we don't have the cap space to address that most glaring problems on the team

and you can't argue that these problems are new.

So while everyone is all full of their own opinion. I have yet to hear what they are basing it on.
- Aetherial

Marner: His is the only contract I think is blatantly overpriced. I think he should probably be between 9-10M but a case could be made that a 90+ point winger who also kills penalties is worth more. Would have been fantastic at 9M though, wouldn't he?

AM34: Does not sign for less than he got. He's the highest goal-scoring 5v5 player in the league since he entered it. He's a bonafide superstar and if you wanted to pay for him to not walk into free agency he would be making McJesus money.

Please note: I'm not saying that he's better, or greater, or comparing him with McJesus as a person or God as a thing or whatever he is.

I'm just saying he would get paid like McJesus to sign for 8 years.

Snakevares: No way he signs for less than 11M. You can make an argument whether the Leafs should have committed that much to another C, but I think you do it 10 times out of 10.

BillNy: He stunk up the first year of his contract but this past year he's got one of the best value contracts in the league.

Conclusion: the Leafs are too top heavy. One of the Big Four has to go. Willie seems like the obvious bet as AM34, JT, and Mitch are (frank)ing awesome players to build around.

But the Leafs need a stud partner in the vein of Rielly to bring balance to the Force. Let's see if Dubas feels the same. I hope he feels the same...

Leafs over Dallas in 6.

I never said what year.

Shreveport Pirates over Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Grey cup.
- RogerRoeper

The Bombers SUCK

ARGOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSS

i hope that is a "perfect storm".

One brght side I see is that teams will have to shy away from free agents, and I wonder if that means more "hockey" trades. Maybe Dubas can parlay some offensive depth into defensive help.

We really need a #1 and I am not sure that is achievable.
- Aetherial

I like our blueline alot more with a couple quality RHD. If they can find a way to get 8-10 million more onto the blueline and have it spread out enough to get rielly and Muzzin both capable partners... That alone changes this team.

3 reliable pairs means less reliance on the goalies, and less exposure for forwards who aren't the most capable defensively. It's a start. 🤷‍♂️

Leafs over Dallas in 6.

I never said what year.

Shreveport Pirates over Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Grey cup.
- RogerRoeper

Marner: His is the only contract I think is blatantly overpriced. I think he should probably be between 9-10M but a case could be made that a 90+ point winger who also kills penalties is worth more. Would have been fantastic at 9M though, wouldn't he?

AM34: Does not sign for less than he got. He's the highest goal-scoring 5v5 player in the league since he entered it. He's a bonafide superstar and if you wanted to pay for him to not walk into free agency he would be making McJesus money.

Please note: I'm not saying that he's better, or greater, or comparing him with McJesus as a person or God as a thing or whatever he is.

I'm just saying he would get paid like McJesus to sign for 8 years.

Snakevares: No way he signs for less than 11M. You can make an argument whether the Leafs should have committed that much to another C, but I think you do it 10 times out of 10.

BillNy: He stunk up the first year of his contract but this past year he's got one of the best value contracts in the league.

Conclusion: the Leafs are too top heavy. One of the Big Four has to go. Willie seems like the obvious bet as AM34, JT, and Mitch are (frank)ing awesome players to build around.

But the Leafs need a stud partner in the vein of Rielly to bring balance to the Force. Let's see if Dubas feels the same. I hope he feels the same...
- mjones242

Mirtle brought up a good point.

Unlikely that the Leafs will want to give Rielly 8 million....He stays for now as we don't have to worry about that for a few years but at some point Dubas might need to look into that.

Of course Sandin developing into a force would help a lot.

Shut the (frank) up you lums
- MaximusAurelius

Wow. That's measured. 🤣

Go (frank) yourself you waste of (frank)ing skin.

Marner: His is the only contract I think is blatantly overpriced. I think he should probably be between 9-10M but a case could be made that a 90+ point winger who also kills penalties is worth more. Would have been fantastic at 9M though, wouldn't he?

AM34: Does not sign for less than he got. He's the highest goal-scoring 5v5 player in the league since he entered it. He's a bonafide superstar and if you wanted to pay for him to not walk into free agency he would be making McJesus money.

Please note: I'm not saying that he's better, or greater, or comparing him with McJesus as a person or God as a thing or whatever he is.

I'm just saying he would get paid like McJesus to sign for 8 years.

Snakevares: No way he signs for less than 11M. You can make an argument whether the Leafs should have committed that much to another C, but I think you do it 10 times out of 10.

BillNy: He stunk up the first year of his contract but this past year he's got one of the best value contracts in the league.

Conclusion: the Leafs are too top heavy. One of the Big Four has to go. Willie seems like the obvious bet as AM34, JT, and Mitch are (frank)ing awesome players to build around.

But the Leafs need a stud partner in the vein of Rielly to bring balance to the Force. Let's see if Dubas feels the same. I hope he feels the same...
- mjones242

And they also need enough money to pay Rielly.... who's bound to ask for ALOT considering how good he is and how important he is to the team.

Mirtle brought up a good point.

Unlikely that the Leafs will want to give Rielly 8 million....He stays for now as we don't have to worry about that for a few years but at some point Dubas might need to look into that.

Of course Sandin developing into a force would help a lot.
- Santo_44

Rielly is UFA next summer.

Mirtle brought up a good point.

Unlikely that the Leafs will want to give Rielly 8 million....He stays for now as we don't have to worry about that for a few years but at some point Dubas might need to look into that.

Of course Sandin developing into a force would help a lot.
- Santo_44

Really?

I'd give him 8M.

He'd be (frank)ing perfect next to Weber.

Rielly is UFA next summer.
- joel878

He is a UFA in two summers.

He has two full seasons left on his deal.

Really?

I'd give him 8M.

He'd be (frank)ing perfect next to Weber.
- Scabeh

It'll be interesting when the time comes.

I assume 8 million is the price tag.

He is a UFA in two summers.

He has two full seasons left on his deal.
- Santo_44

Yeah I read that one wrong for sure. My bad.

NTC on his last two years to.

I like our blueline alot more with a couple quality RHD. If they can find a way to get 8-10 million more onto the blueline and have it spread out enough to get rielly and Muzzin both capable partners... That alone changes this team.

3 reliable pairs means less reliance on the goalies, and less exposure for forwards who aren't the most capable defensively. It's a start. 🤷‍♂️
- joel878

I like the left side of the Leafs blue line, the right side, not so much

Rielly
Muzzin
Sandin/Dermott

On the right
Liljegren, maybe?

So, you also?

No counterpoints, just derision.

Nothing?
- Aetherial

We're getting a lot of blind anger from some people without much in the way of suggestions. I find that level of anger kind of weird.

I've said what I think. Unless you're bringing back a unicorn, top grade defenceman out there I don't see moving Marner or Nylander and I don't think that deal is likely available. If it is, Dubas better be damn sure or all the trade Marner types will be screaming when/if we watch him turn into a bonafide superstar somewhere else.

I'm still not sure what we have on defence next year with a couple of big additions by subtractions and the addition of a year of Sandin and Lehtonen who looks like he slots in above Holl and Dermott. (He does play on the right even though he shoots left.) Depending win the assessment of what we have, Dubas can fill in with trades with non big four forwards.

The last big question is how too deal with the lack of consistency and mental toughness. The ups and downs over the season and the failure to close out series (under Lou/Dubas and Babcock/Keefe) is troubling. The big go to solution is to get tough, gritty guys but that doesn't answer questions about why practically the whole team disappeared for chunks of the CBJ series.

AM seemed to be one few exceptions. Maybe a change in captaincy would help. Maybe this a return of Muskoka 5 syndrome and maybe they need to move a guy out.

Deride away

Rielly is UFA next summer.
- joel878

I think they have to re-sign him. With a flat cap, that pretty much guarantees no Ander5en.

Which means they should trade Ander5en and try to recoup some asset for him.

It'll be interesting when the time comes.

I assume 8 million is the price tag.
- Santo_44

I expect Torey Krug to get around 7M per on his next contract his summer.

So yeah, at least 8 for Rielly who's younger and better.

it just sucks about marelau. 13th overall pick in a deep draft. we'll see what player carolina gets but that one could end up hurting big time.
- wingz4life

I think they choose that Russian goalie A.....