Also, they need to reach the cap floor and still need to ice a full roster
- PatC80

Lots of ways to do that without making the moves he did.

“Derek’s acquisition provides us with important stability at center heading into the season,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. “He plays a 200-foot game and has proven to be a reliable special teams player throughout his career. His addition to our lineup will also represent a valuable leadership presence within our group.”

When this is in the room, you might need to


- dmnted

*pukes*

Lots of ways to do that without making the moves he did.

“Derek’s acquisition provides us with important stability at center heading into the season,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. “He plays a 200-foot game and has proven to be a reliable special teams player throughout his career. His addition to our lineup will also represent a valuable leadership presence within our group.”
- Archaic

We all know that Stepan is not that good anymore..
They just needed people to fill out their roster. Just need some older, veteran players to help the young kids learn.

We all know that Stepan is not that good anymore..
They just needed people to fill out their roster. Just need some older, veteran players to help the young kids learn.
- PatC80

The question is, does Pierre Dorion know?

We all know that Stepan is not that good anymore..
They just needed people to fill out their roster. Just need some older, veteran players to help the young kids learn.
- PatC80

Well they are teaching them how to lose icetime, lose confidence and... well lose.

Wow.

Kudos for owning up to your horrible, horrible prediction.

- Scabeh

It really feels like the early days of the Edmonton rebuild. When they surrounded Hall, RNH and Eberle with guys like Andrew Ference (who was named Captain somehow) thinking it would help them.

Carrying a bunch of dead weight isn't good for anybody.
- Scabeh

Also looks like the Leafs with Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton... thinking it will help the young core.

It won't. These guys will either grow up and figure out what is required to win, and decide that they care about winning, or it is never going to happen for them.

I am glad the media's take on how the Mens will be competitive went out the window.

Their team is worse than last year. The young players don't even look good except Stutzle.

Also looks like the Leafs with Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton... thinking it will help the young core.

It won't. These guys will either grow up and figure out what is required to win, and decide that they care about winning, or it is never going to happen for them.
- Aetherial

Worked for Crosby with Guerin etc.

Also looks like the Leafs with Patrick Marleau or Joe Thornton... thinking it will help the young core.

It won't. These guys will either grow up and figure out what is required to win, and decide that they care about winning, or it is never going to happen for them.
- Aetherial

I disagree, veteran leadership is important.

The Sens just suck, vets only help if your team is good.

Well they are teaching them how to lose icetime, lose confidence and... well lose.
- Scabeh

In Dorion's defense, he had to reach the cap floor, so he needs to sign *somebody*. He also is probably picking from a much smaller pool of players who are willing to go to Ottawa. It is going to be a very tough road for that franchise.

Worked for Crosby with Guerin etc.
- AdamFrench

You are taking perhaps the hardest working player we have ever seen as an example.

I would suggest that it was more who Crosby was inside that made his success. I think it is a stretch to give Guerin credit for that.

The question is, does Pierre Dorion know?
- Archaic

no, I don't think he does.. I think he will learn that soon though

I disagree, veteran leadership is important.

The Sens just suck, vets only help if your team is good.
- Santo_44

The Leafs core is maturing, not particularly quickly. How did Marleau help? How is Thornton helping?

You are taking perhaps the hardest working player we have ever seen as an example.

I would suggest that it was more who Crosby was inside that made his success. I think it is a stretch to give Guerin credit for that.
- Aetherial

Also, in Crosby's rookie season he lived with Mario firkin Lemieux

If ever you are going to tank an entire year, this year is the one to do it.
- Atomic Wedgie

Next year is the year I'd try that. Shane Wright.

The Leafs core is maturing, not particularly quickly. How did Marleau help? How is Thornton helping?
- Aetherial

Teaching the kids about BDE

You are taking perhaps the hardest working player we have ever seen as an example.

I would suggest that it was more who Crosby was inside that made his success. I think it is a stretch to give Guerin credit for that.
- Aetherial

It looks like its helping the Leafs.

And look, a lot of the benefits go unseen from us fans and every single GM in the present to the past have valued veteran leadership. There is obviously plenty of value that we as fans don't see and it would be ignorant of us to say otherwise.

The Leafs core is maturing, not particularly quickly. How did Marleau help? How is Thornton helping?
- Aetherial

Marleau has played 1,000 games, he was very close with AM and Marner and they 100% benefited from him. How could you not? Unless you are a Richard like Deangelo there is a lot of things a good respected talented vet can teach a team.

Marleau has played 1,000 games, he was very close with AM and Marner and they 100% benefited from him. How could you not? Unless you are a Richard like Deangelo there is a lot of things a good respected talented vet can teach a team.
- Santo_44

I hear that a lot.

I don't see where MMN have improved any faster than any other young players.

I also don't see where it is helping now. I see the same exact Leafs team we have seen for 4 years. They have had the benefit of playing against poop competition for the most part.

I hear that a lot.

I don't see where MMN have improved any faster than any other young players.

I also don't see where it is helping now. I see the same exact Leafs team we have seen for 4 years. They have had the benefit of playing against poop competition for the most part.
- Aetherial

Then that's your problem, those 3 players have improved heaps and bounds and at 23 are all top forwards in the game.

Off ice, on ice, how they take care of themselves. There is a lot that goes on in the game and I think its super ignorant as a fan to say vets don't have value when teams constantly have desire to have them. Is there something you know that they don't?

Marleau has played 1,000 games, he was very close with AM and Marner and they 100% benefited from him. How could you not? Unless you are a Richard like Deangelo there is a lot of things a good respected talented vet can teach a team.
- Santo_44

Yes, but the question must be asked:

Couldn't we have signed another guy instead, who wouldn't clog up key minutes, who the coach wouldn't feel obligated to play instead of pushing him down the lineup, and who we wouldn't have to eventually pay a 1st rounder just to make him go away?

Good, respected talented vets are a dime a dozen.

FFS, we have three on the team now, and combined they make less than $3M, all on one-year deals.

Then that's your problem, those 3 players have improved heaps and bounds and at 23 are all top forwards in the game.

Off ice, on ice, how they take care of themselves. There is a lot that goes on in the game and I think its super ignorant as a fan to say vets don't have value when teams constantly have desire to have them. Is there something you know that they don't?
- Santo_44

Perhaps not best to use Matthews in this argument.

Then that's your problem, those 3 players have improved heaps and bounds and at 23 are all top forwards in the game.

Off ice, on ice, how they take care of themselves. There is a lot that goes on in the game and I think its super ignorant as a fan to say vets don't have value when teams constantly have desire to have them. Is there something you know that they don't?
- Santo_44

I fully think that having added Marleau was a net positive for the Leafs (even if we consider Dubas giving up the picks and players to get rid of that last year of his contract - that's more on Dubas than on Marleau as a player).
Biggest contribution off ice from Marleau was creating the precedent for a top player (or at least a highly regarded player) signing with the Leafs -- opening up the door for Tavares.

that being said -- judging Matthews' off-ice behaviour, I am not sure too what extent he has helped that part.

When this is in the room, you might need to


- dmnted

Sadly, it looks as though it doesn't come in the cool bottle anymore: