I wondered about #34 re. Andersen being shopped. Andersen was in AZ. with #34. Wonder how #34 feels about this...
- fifty__missions

Yeah I had the same thought.

They should have made Matthews the captain.

Sure it does. Leafs have 7.8M cap space right now and if you add Nylander's 7M they have plenty of room to add legit pieces.

Marner was trending towards another 90+ point season and has been far more defensively responsible than Willie. I'd argue that Mitch is a core player while BillNy, a nice piece, is a complementary type player.
- mjones242

I like Mitch. But let's be completely honest here. He is a special teams specialist, and not particularly effective 5 on 5. Especially when things ramp up in intensity in the playoffs. It's a lot of $ for that profile.

Tanner says we should just resign Barrie. He’s awesome and always has the puck.
- Garnie

this might be true ...if someone hadn't watch 1-2 games that Tyson Barrie played as the 6th defenseman in the series against Columbus. Barrie NEVER kills penalties because he can't Any puck that goes into his corner is a turnover, either because he panics about being hit so immediately gives it up... or throws a pizza up the middle of the ice.

Resigning Barrie would be essentially saying that the team is going into the next season with five defensemen dressed for each game.

But that's Tanner - so asinine is right in his wheel house

Yeah I had the same thought.

They should have made Matthews the captain.
- Aetherial

they couldn't because of underpants gate.

Rielly should have been the captain - would have solved the Tavares / Matthews debate thing.

There's always more

You asked for it


- Aetherial

Take me Jesus. I’m ready

they couldn't because of underpants gate.

Rielly should have been the captain - would have solved the Tavares / Matthews debate thing.
- BorjeFan4Ever

What if Rielly didn’t want to be captain?

Sure it does. Leafs have 7.8M cap space right now and if you add Nylander's 7M they have plenty of room to add legit pieces.

Marner was trending towards another 90+ point season and has been far more defensively responsible than Willie. I'd argue that Mitch is a core player while BillNy, a nice piece, is a complementary type player.
- mjones242

7.8 is with 8 forwards and 6 dmen. enough to sign dermott, mikheyev and 4 guys for about a mil each.

agree. mitch is better. but $4M better? i'm not so sure.

I like Mitch. But let's be completely honest here. He is a special teams specialist, and not particularly effective 5 on 5. Especially when things ramp up in intensity in the playoffs. It's a lot of $ for that profile.
- fifty__missions

they couldn't because of underpants gate.

Rielly should have been the captain - would have solved the Tavares / Matthews debate thing.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Then they should have waited.

I think it is a problem naming Tavares Captain when he is neither the best player, nor the best leader. This is clearly Matthews' team. I don't see Tavares being willing or able to lead him in any regard, and as Matthews goes, so goes Marner, Andersen, Nylander (probably) and maybe Rielly (not sure).

7.8 is with 8 forwards and 6 dmen. enough to sign dermott, mikheyev and 4 guys for about a mil each.

agree. mitch is better. but $4M better? i'm not so sure.
- Tumbleweed

I am.

Is Ekblad even all that good?

Barrie did a number on me, thought we were getting something we weren't.
- Leafs43

even a quick look at Barrie's stats coming into his season with the Leafs - he defensive numbers were much worse than Jake Gardiner's.

that should have been enough to tell you what you need to know.

Take me Jesus. I’m ready
- Canada Cup

Well sure, if that is what is waiting on the other side!!

That thought makes me want to go maskless in a mall in Brampton.

Then they should have waited.

I think it is a problem naming Tavares Captain when he is neither the best player, nor the best leader. This is clearly Matthews' team. I don't see Tavares being willing or able to lead him in any regard, and as Matthews goes, so goes Marner, Andersen, Nylander (probably) and maybe Rielly (not sure).
- Aetherial

(frank)ing right. This clearly should have been Matthews' team and, I think, would have shown confidence from upper mgmt to AM34 that they view him as the saviour.

Snakevares is fantastic but didn't need to be gifted the 'C'.

Honestly, the captaincy going to JT smells of Babs bs.

What if Rielly didn’t want to be captain?
- Steven_Seagull

c'mon... there's already a Rum product with his name on it.. what else could a guy want.

i) he's got a hot girlfriend now
ii) he's going to get a raise
iii) you could get him to take less on his next contract if you promise him money from Rum sales

(frank)ing right. This clearly should have been Matthews' team and, I think, would have shown confidence from upper mgmt to AM34 that they view him as the saviour.

Snakevares is fantastic but didn't need to be gifted the 'C'.

Honestly, the captaincy going to JT smells of Babs bs.
- mjones242

Yeah, I wish they could find a way to reverse that. I don't know how they go about it. I feel like this was becoming a tight knit group, and then they brought in an outsider and made him captain. Not that Tavares is a Richard or anything. I am sure he well-liked and all. It still didn't sit right.

Yeah, I wish they could find a way to reverse that. I don't know how they go about it. I feel like this was becoming a tight knit group, and then they brought in an outsider and made him captain. Not that Tavares is a Richard or anything. I am sure he well-liked and all. It still didn't sit right.
- Aetherial

It’s a transition. Tavares will hand over the C to Matthews. Marner and Rielly each with an A. Tavares steps back and says to Matthews “it’sss your turn, my ssson.”

c'mon... there's already a Rum product with his name on it.. what else could a guy want.

i) he's got a hot girlfriend now
ii) he's going to get a raise
iii) you could get him to take less on his next contract if you promise him money from Rum sales
- BorjeFan4Ever

What if he’s more of a Bacardi guy?

they couldn't because of underpants gate.

Rielly should have been the captain - would have solved the Tavares / Matthews debate thing.
- BorjeFan4Ever

tavares = superman
matthews = batman
mitch = robin

tavares over matthews was at least rationale.

imo, it was insulting to matthews to have him share an 'A' with mitch.

talent wise sure. but i don't the guy is huge. nylander is clearly the better goal-scorer.

$7m doesn't give us the cap space to upgrade enough spots. $11M gets us a lot closer.
- Tumbleweed

No way Marner or Nylander are leaving. Whatever they can buy or trade for with their other pieces is what they’ll do.

Yeah, I wish they could find a way to reverse that. I don't know how they go about it. I feel like this was becoming a tight knit group, and then they brought in an outsider and made him captain. Not that Tavares is a Richard or anything. I am sure he well-liked and all. It still didn't sit right.
- Aetherial

I don’t think Matthews was ready then. I think he is now

I don’t think Matthews was ready then. I think he is now
- Canada Cup

Yeah looks like he is headed that way. Underwear-gate didn't help. They should have waited.

Then they should have waited.

I think it is a problem naming Tavares Captain when he is neither the best player, nor the best leader. This is clearly Matthews' team. I don't see Tavares being willing or able to lead him in any regard, and as Matthews goes, so goes Marner, Andersen, Nylander (probably) and maybe Rielly (not sure).
- Aetherial

This 100% birthday boy.

I wondered about #34 re. Andersen being shopped. Andersen was in AZ. with #34. Wonder how #34 feels about this...
- fifty__missions

Meh who cares.
Players get traded.
Winning helps athletes to forget.

(frank)ing right. This clearly should have been Matthews' team and, I think, would have shown confidence from upper mgmt to AM34 that they view him as the saviour.

Snakevares is fantastic but didn't need to be gifted the 'C'.

Honestly, the captaincy going to JT smells of Babs bs.
- mjones242

nope.
Jt is the better captain choice.