why those two goalies? what stands out about them?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Merzlikins may actually be okay, but he's 26 with 42 games of NHL experience. Korpisalo, I think, gets a nod because he was hot during the play-ins last year. He's 26, and posted a .911 on a defense-first team last year; he is among the bottom 5 so far this year.

I wouldn't expect either to be any better than Campbell.

Skill, youth, low cap hits
Anything from CBJ please

They play the game the right way
- mr.sir

Re: Bolded - do you mean CBJ or those 2 goalies?

Korpisalo has #'s that are terrible right now.
.889 Save % and GAA of 3.46
Has this year and next at 2.8 Million per.

Elvis has much better #'s but has only played 9 games
.917 Save % and GAA of 2.81
Has this year and next at 4 Million per year

Andersen again is at .905 SV% but has a lower GAA at 2.69
Has this year at 5 Million

Yes the 2 CBJ goalies are on cheaper deals (currently & you get one more year of that deal before they want more than the 5 that Andersen makes now if they are good) but if you move to get one of those 2 goalies what do you have to give up?

There is no way CBJ is doing a straight swap for Andersen & as both the CBJ goalies are under contract next year if you want one you have to trade for him.

The other thing is Andersen has a MNTC where he submits a list of 10 places he can be traded to so the odds he is moved this year are pretty slim I would think.

Andersen will get more than 5M if he walks from Toronto even for a 1-2 year deal but if he really wants to stay with the Leafs can you get him to stay for 5 or (unlikely but) even less of a short term deal of 2 years?

Going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Non life threatening injuries for tiger

Merzlikins may actually be okay, but he's 26 with 42 games of NHL experience. Korpisalo, I think, gets a nod because he was hot during the play-ins last year. He's 26, and posted a .911 on a defense-first team last year; he is among the bottom 5 so far this year.

I wouldn't expect either to be any better than Campbell.
- Monkeypunk

Just to clarify... (before my lunch break is over)

You have concerns about Merzlikins having 42 games by age 26, but no concerns with Campbell having 66 games at age 29?

Re: Bolded - do you mean CBJ or those 2 goalies?

Korpisalo has #'s that are terrible right now.
.889 Save % and GAA of 3.46
Has this year and next at 2.8 Million per.

Elvis has much better #'s but has only played 9 games
.917 Save % and GAA of 2.81
Has this year and next at 4 Million per year

Andersen again is at .905 SV% but has a lower GAA at 2.69
Has this year at 5 Million

Yes the 2 CBJ goalies are on cheaper deals (currently & you get one more year of that deal before they want more than the 5 that Andersen makes now if they are good) but if you move to get one of those 2 goalies what do you have to give up?

There is no way CBJ is doing a straight swap for Andersen & as both the CBJ goalies are under contract next year if you want one you have to trade for him.

The other thing is Andersen has a MNTC where he submits a list of 10 places he can be traded to so the odds he is moved this year are pretty slim I would think.

Andersen will get more than 5M if he walks from Toronto even for a 1-2 year deal but if he really wants to stay with the Leafs can you get him to stay for 5 or (unlikely but) even less of a short term deal of 2 years?

Going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
- Cush29

I just can't get my head around giving Andersen $5M on his next contract.

I don't think he commands that on the open market either - not in these cap-tight times.

It gets weird at that point - do you accept a new contract for less money? Or does pride (and your agent) force you to move to a new team?

Non life threatening injuries for tiger
- bryant

Not to sound like a bastard, but I'll just ask what we are all wondering:

Are they career-threatening injuries?

Not to sound like a bastard, but I'll just ask what we are all wondering:

Are they career-threatening injuries?
- Atomic Wedgie

Who knows yet, but if they say he’ll make a full recovery I bet he wins again.

I just can't get my head around giving Andersen $5M on his next contract.

I don't think he commands that on the open market either - not in these cap-tight times.

It gets weird at that point - do you accept a new contract for less money? Or does pride (and your agent) force you to move to a new team?
- Atomic Wedgie

Markstrom got 6. Freddy will get at least that as a UFA.

Not to sound like a bastard, but I'll just ask what we are all wondering:

Are they career-threatening injuries?
- Atomic Wedgie

At his age very likely.

I just can't get my head around giving Andersen $5M on his next contract.

I don't think he commands that on the open market either - not in these cap-tight times.

It gets weird at that point - do you accept a new contract for less money? Or does pride (and your agent) force you to move to a new team?
- Atomic Wedgie

Fair point, I'm operating on what we have seen in the past where a guy cashes in on his deal and it's super rare to see a guy take less when he hasn't fallen off the cliff completely. Is Andersen worth 5 Million in a COVID / Flat Cap system - nope. I would say alot of goalies are not worth what they are being paid in these odd times (cough Price, Bob etc. cough) but those deals were signed before we were here.

Leafs got a couple years of these 5 that they have had Andersen where he was probably playing better than a 5 Million dollar goalie and then some (flat cap years for sure) where he was playing like a guy who should be making less than 5 for sure - it's probably a wash over 5 years.

This might be the worst summer to be a UFA as the money just won't be there so maybe they can get him to a lesser amount for shorter. If we had never had COVID and the flat cap I think he would get more than 5 (but not alot more).

I guess we will see how it plays out but your right, pride and agent influence may be big factors but the desire to stay where (I assume) he is comfortable and has teammates he really likes who are staying might sway him as well.

Should be interesting!

When I was told the Leafs has finally replaced Tavares at 2C, I presumed Leafs management finally acknowledged his decline. As his skating has become labored and slow it was obvious he could not keep up with his linemates. Such decline is to be expected with age, but I believe it came a year or two before Leafs management expected. However, I was shocked to discover instead of being demoted, he was shifted to the top line, foisted upon Marner and Matthews. Doing so did not help any of the Leafs, instead it provided advantage to Calgary.

The combination of Tavares' decline, his expensive contract and his NMC will make this contract problematic in short order. Perhaps the Leafs may find a way to transfer him (and his contract) to Robidas Island. Otherwise they will soon need to find a creative way to recover his cap hit for use on a competent 2C.
- Jackie Daytona

ummm ok then

ummm ok then
- senstroll

I find it hilarious that so many people are writing off Tavares like he's washed up. I wouldn't count him out just yet.

JT last season and this season
83 games
32 goals
45 assists
77 points


JT career average
34 goals
42 assists
76 points


he is nosediving ...

Grubauer would be a good fit here I think.. Assuming he doesn't re-sign with Colorado
- PatC80

Andersen is most likely a better goaltender than Grubauer and people hate him.

Just to clarify... (before my lunch break is over)

You have concerns about Merzlikins having 42 games by age 26, but no concerns with Campbell having 66 games at age 29?
- mr.sir

I do. Campbell played behind Jonathan Quick, so he didn't get a lot of opportunity - but when he played he put up positive numbers every year; noting that he didn't even really make the NHL until he's 27. One difference is that Jack Campbell was very successful through his career before struggling to make the transition to the NHL. He has 3 gold medals, a couple of bronze medals - he has been on U18, U20, and World Championship teams - so his capabilities are considered decent by more than just fans. I'm not disputing that Merzlikins has also represented Latvia, but I am saying that his field of competition is smaller.

But this is less about Jack Campbell and more about whether or not Merzlikins is a plausible replacement for Andersen. I don't think he's proven himself to the point where he can be the guy you trust for that assignment.

JT last season and this season
83 games
32 goals
45 assists
77 points


JT career average
34 goals
42 assists
76 points


he is nosediving ...
- senstroll

Andersen is most likely a better goaltender than Grubauer and people hate him.

- Scabeh

To be clear, we are discussing which goalie to sign next, put him in a blue and white jersey and then completely destroy him.

- gergeswillems

JT for Skinner straight up

I find it hilarious that so many people are writing off Tavares like he's washed up. I wouldn't count him out just yet.
- gergeswillems

I can't wait until he shakes the monkey off his back and shifts to full Snake-Mode and goes on an absolute tear.

Islanders fans will be crying their salty tears and we will all love Johnny Hockey more or again for those who have fallen out of love with him

To be clear, we are discussing which goalie to sign next, put him in a blue and white jersey and then completely destroy him.
- Atomic Wedgie

Oh.

Then I vote Rask.

(frank) Tuuka Rask.

JT for Skinner straight up
- TheMussel

Skinner.

Skinner. 🤣
- gergeswillems

So cringe even thinking about that contract.

It's the perfect poopstorm

I never thought there would ever be a contract that was worse than David Clarkson's but wow. Here we are.

So cringe even thinking about that contract.

It's the perfect poopstorm

I never thought there would ever be a contract that was worse than David Clarkson's but wow. Here we are.
- TheMussel

Sabres are stuck with that boat anchor contract. Yikes.

So cringe even thinking about that contract.

It's the perfect poopstorm

I never thought there would ever be a contract that was worse than David Clarkson's but wow. Here we are.
- TheMussel

You know, everyone knew it was a bad contract the second it was signed.

But I must admit.

I didn't expect him to go from "scored 40 goals" to "absolute poopshow" in only 2 years.

Hell I thought he could be a 50 points guy on an offensive Sabres team... but nope... not even close.

You know, everyone knew it was a bad contract the second it was signed.

But I must admit.

I didn't expect him to go from "scored 40 goals" to "absolute poopshow" in only 2 years.

Hell I thought he could be a 50 points guy on an offensive Sabres team... but nope... not even close.
- Scabeh

You'd think Buffalo would've learned from the Okposo contract. Nope! He still has 2 years at 6 mil AAV left on his deal by the way. 👍