He scored 18 goals last year in 69 games and actually plays with grit. C'mon.
- mjones242

90% of Leaf fans would jizz for playoff Bennett

I think you mis-defined potential. Sandin having the potential to grow doesn’t put him ahead of Dermott.
- Canada Cup

I am willing to bet Sandin is as good or better than Dermott right now.

He was very very close last year and he got a lot stronger since then...Play the player who has shown ability to improve his game.

I think Boyd, Spezza, ect are also benefiting from being on a really good team.

We see this happen a lot, especially TB over the years. They make depth players seem better than they are.

I do wonder Bennetts potential on this team, and I do value his ability to play C as there are 0 options after Kerfoot for 3c.
- Santo_44

Maybe Boyd and Spezza are benefiting the team making it better than Gauthier and Timoshov and Trevor Moore, etc made the team

Not that Dermott is a prize but Leafs need more not less depth at Defense IMO. I don't want to see Marincin again. There are other spare parts to trade for Bennett. He's not worth much - has never produced at the NHL level. The Nucks and Flames fans are fantasizing about the huge returns for Bennett and Virtanen. Leafs have several players earning below $1M that are superior to these busts. Let someone else overpay.
- winsix

Marincin as an emergency call up isn't as horrible as I think a lot on here seem to think.

I get it, he sucks and we all like to aggressively poop all over his game but he's actually been pretty reliable on the PK. Playing 8 mins a game while a regular recovers from an injury doesn't sound as terrifying as it should.

Would rather take a chance that our 8th-9th d-man in the system gets mins than holding on to an aggressively mediocre piece like Dermott when he could be moved to help jettison an equally, aggressively mediocre forward out of the lineup.

Maybe Boyd and Spezza are benefiting the team making it better than Gauthier and Timoshov and Trevor Moore, etc made the team
- Canada Cup

Another good example, thanks.

Leafs made all those players look like NHL players...now they all aren't.

Marincin as an emergency call up isn't as horrible as I think a lot on here seem to think.

I get it, he sucks and we all like to aggressively poop all over his game but he's actually been pretty reliable on the PK. Playing 8 mins a game while a regular recovers from an injury doesn't sound as terrifying as it should.

Would rather take a chance that our 8th-9th d-man in the system gets mins than holding on to an aggressively mediocre piece like Dermott when he could be moved to help jettison an equally, aggressively mediocre forward out of the lineup.
- mjones242

People worrying about Marincin playing as the 9th D are the same type of people that hoarded toilet paper when the pandemic started.

Well, after last night's game I can't imagine how Lehtonen isn't obviously ahead of Dermott right now.

Dermott has 0 points and has been largely invisible playing very safe minutes (not promising).

Lehtonen has been on the power play and has 3 pts in his 5 games and has been noticeably involved in plays whilst playing safe minutes (something he should be doing).

Sandin is ahead of Dermott in the long term because he's 20 years old and has a lot of potential to grow. The potential on Dermott's growth is pretty much nil.

Sandin likely hasn't seen any action because of cap and waiver reasons.

Per Bennett, it's Sunday - opening another browser tab and checking out Bennett's fancy stats with a beer in hand sounds about as exciting as it gets. Which is to say, I'm very, very bored.
- mjones242

Hey, make a good trade with any of our players and I don’t care. But saying Dermott isn’t good and then I look at his stats playing beside a pylon it makes me wonder what some are looking at. Sandin was ok last year, seemed the puck went in our net a lot when he was on the ice though. Lehtonen looked good, but 1 game? I’m going to shoot people in the face on Xbox. I’ll check out Bennet later 🤣

Engvall only has 3 more games before losing waiver exemption

I think Boyd, Spezza, ect are also benefiting from being on a really good team

We see this happen a lot, especially TB over the years. They make depth players seem better than they are.

I do wonder Bennetts potential on this team, and I do value his ability to play C as there are 0 options after Kerfoot for 3c.
- Santo_44

This is a good point, but I doubt Kerfoot for Bennett is what the Flames would be after. Flames will want one of Liljegren or Sandin plus and there is no reason to go there.

If I recall not that long ago the Nucks thread was full of Tanev for Marner, Nylander and two firsts. I wonder which 80 point Leafs they want to trade Virtanen for? Maybe they can throw in Juolevi for a couple of first rounders

I think you mis-defined potential. Sandin having the potential to grow doesn’t put him ahead of Dermott.
- Canada Cup

Do you think Sandin is sitting on the taxi squad because Dermott is better than him?

I hear you.

But he is taking mins away from Sandin and Lehtonen. They both should be playing over Dermott...Dermott is 20 scratches away from becoming Lievo.

He has some value right now, now is the time to trade him instead of playing him behind Lehtonen and Sandin.
- Santo_44

If the coaches and management decide Sandin is ready and ahead of Dermott then fine. If they are playing Dermott over Sandin to increase or maintain his trade value then fine.

The very limited comments I have seen from Leafs staff is that they do not think Sandin is physically ready for the NHL. Who knows maybe they are not happy with the work he has put in on his strength and conditioning. I would imagine they are happy to have him in Toronto with their strength coach.

So let's put a little faith in the guys that have all the information.

This is a good point, but I doubt Kerfoot for Bennett is what the Flames would be after. Flames will want one of Liljegren or Sandin plus and there is no reason to go there.

If I recall not that long ago the Nucks thread was full of Tanev for Marner, Nylander and two firsts. I wonder which 80 point Leafs they want to trade Virtanen for? Maybe they can throw in Juolevi for a couple of first rounders
- winsix

I think it would be Dermott plus Engvall...adding Engvall does tilt the value for the Flames but its the price to pay for them to retain salary for it to work.

I asked this same question.

I was told - Do you want to win.



- dmnted

It’s a lock that Sceef will start Hutch tomorrow after what we’ve seen out of Van

90% of Leaf fans would jizz for playoff Bennett
- Santo_44

Agreed, though I think CC is arguing about Virtanen being somehow a poop fit on the Leafs.

Do you think Sandin is sitting on the taxi squad because Dermott is better than him?
- mjones242

Showcasing Dermott

Is Bennett actually a proven playoff performer? Serious question, I don't know.

The Leafs are in first place and went flying off the top ropes and dropped the elbow on the Nucks while they're down. Life is sweet.

This week, Miettinen was crowned National Collegiate Hockey Conference Rookie of the Month for January — and nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, alongside elite prospects like Spencer Knight, Owen Power and Cam York.

If the coaches and management decide Sandin is ready and ahead of Dermott then fine. If they are playing Dermott over Sandin to increase or maintain his trade value then fine.

The very limited comments I have seen from Leafs staff is that they do not think Sandin is physically ready for the NHL. Who knows maybe they are not happy with the work he has put in on his strength and conditioning. I would imagine they are happy to have him in Toronto with their strength coach.

So let's put a little faith in the guys that have all the information.
- jribout

I am not going to try and pretend I know what going on.

But what we do know is Dermott was given the number 6 spot to start and it was his to lose...Its been 12 games and I am seeing Dermott play less and Lehtonen playing more.

Sandin is the number 8 guy and he wont get mins until he is the 7th guy.

I agree.

He is also a guy that can challenge Kerfoot for 3C...We have 0 players that can do that right now.
- Santo_44

I wat to see a 3rd/4th line of Thornton, Mikey, and Engvall. Think it could be a good cycle line for wearing out the opposition.

Is Bennett actually a proven playoff performer? Serious question, I don't know.

The Leafs are in first place and went flying off the top ropes and dropped the elbow on the Nucks while they're down. Life is sweet.
- Zezel

Warrior

Similar to Kadri

I think it would be Dermott plus Engvall...adding Engvall does tilt the value for the Flames but its the price to pay for them to retain salary for it to work.
- Santo_44

Problem there is Bennett makes $2.55 and the Flames are tighter than the Leafs against the cap. This deal makes no sense for the Flames.

Problem there is Bennett makes $2.55 and the Flames are tighter than the Leafs against the cap. This deal makes no sense for the Flames.
- winsix

They have 1.3M in cap space.

Warrior

Similar to Kadri
- mr.sir

So...not a proven playoff performer?

Is Bennett actually a proven playoff performer? Serious question, I don't know.

The Leafs are in first place and went flying off the top ropes and dropped the elbow on the Nucks while they're down. Life is sweet.
- Zezel

Some serious sh!t sandwiches are being eaten on the Canucks thread.

Thanks Carol

Is Bennett actually a proven playoff performer? Serious question, I don't know.

The Leafs are in first place and went flying off the top ropes and dropped the elbow on the Nucks while they're down. Life is sweet.
- Zezel

Matthews is a frickin beast out there. Not just scoring but setting up Marner all night.