I think Buffalo would be doing much better if they were playing a more aggressive attacking style. But Krueger has them sitting back and playing too conservative. Gallant or Boudreau would get alot more out of them.
- gergeswillems

You are definitely right on that, but how much better im not sure. They likely arent wiling to eat the 4m Krueger is making then adding an even more expensive coach.

I'm just saying the 3 most popular names I saw this offseason for Leaf fans on CFACGM were Bennett, Crouse and Weegar. Forsberg seems to have taken over now though.
- gergeswillems

That’s just Pridham over and over again. He read Friedman and wants to make it happen

All is forgiven.

Get over here because I want to kiss you...
- Atomic Wedgie

Italians and boomers are allowed, I asked AA

I'm just saying the 3 most popular names I saw this offseason for Leaf fans on CFACGM were Bennett, Crouse and Weegar. Forsberg seems to have taken over now though.
- gergeswillems

I've never been that much of a fan of Bennett. I thought Weegar was a good option - but looking at our current top-4, he probably wouldn't have been worth the price (if I recall, the Leafs supposedly offered Johnsson, and Florida asked for Johnsson + Kerfoot). Crouse is that guy the "Leafs need". Big body and hits people, and theoretically can score.

I think Crouse-type players fall on the "he could be the next Wendel!" scale for some Leaf fans.

I'd still rather have him than a few of our bottom-6 players.

You are definitely right on that, but how much better im not sure. They likely arent wiling to eat the 4m Krueger is making then adding an even more expensive coach.
- Archaic

It seems Krueger is running the show in Buffalo. It's never good when the Head coach is the GM's boss. We knew Adams was just a puppet for the Pegula's.

I would argue that no bottom pairing defenceman is a lynchpin, but having to replace him with someone that barely has hair on their balls at a critical time is important. You're arguing the importance of being able to grind in the playoffs, if your option is to flick someone like Sandin in you may as well paint a big red bullseye on him before sending him in.

The leafs options after Dermott aren't hugely experienced. You're 1-2 injuries away from having Dermott in your second or top pair and someone with zero playoff experience and barely NHL experience in general from stepping in.

As far as forwards go, they're rotating 14/15 guys through the lineup all season and have yet to test Galchenyuk out. They're going to be 3-4 guys away from the same issue they could have on the blueline. Maybe they add a forward, I think experienced defence after Dermott is more critical.

Either way, I'm not looking at huge moves. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

Lehtonen has proven capable and can play PP minutes given the chance.

You argue that Dermott isn't a lynchpin but then go on to say that without him the Leafs are in huge trouble if multiple injuries occur.

We're spinning our wheels here but I think Dermott's value is hugely overstated and that the Leafs lack of grind is far more glaring than a guy who is a 6/7 guy who is eminently replaceable.

Cheers!

Barabanov should be in the lineup all day every day before giving Vesey even a sniff. At least Barabanov seems to have a ceiling which he's far from hitting, Vesey maxed out on what he can provide to this team in game 1.
- joel878

I prefer Petan to both of those guys, tbh.

I still haven't been able to find a clip of that hit, but everything I'm reading about it says it's 1 game for Chiasson... An entire playoff series for Kadri.

Was there a difference?
- joel878

Big difference: https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ecking-maple-leafs-vesey/

Chiasson probably doesn't get suspended if it doesn't happen after the game was over by 5-10 seconds.

I've never been that much of a fan of Bennett. I thought Weegar was a good option - but looking at our current top-4, he probably wouldn't have been worth the price (if I recall, the Leafs supposedly offered Johnsson, and Florida asked for Johnsson + Kerfoot). Crouse is that guy the "Leafs need". Big body and hits people, and theoretically can score.

I think Crouse-type players fall on the "he could be the next Wendel!" scale for some Leaf fans.

I'd still rather have him than a few of our bottom-6 players.
- Monkeypunk

Johnsson + Dermott was the reported price tag.

I would have been fine with that, I'm also fine with how the blueline has worked out instead.

It seems Krueger is running the show in Buffalo. It's never good when the Head coach is the GM's boss. We knew Adams was just a puppet for the Pegula's.
- gergeswillems

well its pretty clear the Pegula's have been "Trying to run the show" since they arrived.. .has there been a more dysfunctional team since Ballard's late 80s Maple Leafs.


same self absorbed dork owns a team and runs it into the ground.

just the contracts that they have handed out the past few years tell you everything you need to know.

I'm just saying the 3 most popular names I saw this offseason for Leaf fans on CFACGM were Bennett, Crouse and Weegar. Forsberg seems to have taken over now though.
- gergeswillems

Danton Heinen or Palmieri please.
or Hintz and Faksa if Dallas continue to fail.

Lehtonen has proven capable and can play PP minutes given the chance.

You argue that Dermott isn't a lynchpin but then go on to say that without him the Leafs are in huge trouble if multiple injuries occur.

We're spinning our wheels here but I think Dermott's value is hugely overstated and that the Leafs lack of grind is far more glaring than a guy who is a 6/7 guy who is eminently replaceable.

Cheers!
- mjones242

Lehtonen has a handful of NHL games. I like him, but he really hasn't proven anything if push comes to shove.

I'm arguing that Dermott himself isn't a lynchpin, but if the wrong circumstances occur having reliable players in place becomes the lynchpin. Be it Dermott or someone else, and I'm not seeing barrels of options that I feel as comfy with at his 875k.

Either way, I trust this management group. They've earned it.

Lehtonen has proven capable and can play PP minutes given the chance.

You argue that Dermott isn't a lynchpin but then go on to say that without him the Leafs are in huge trouble if multiple injuries occur.

We're spinning our wheels here but I think Dermott's value is hugely overstated and that the Leafs lack of grind is far more glaring than a guy who is a 6/7 guy who is eminently replaceable.

Cheers!
- mjones242

I get the feeling that it won't be Dermott who's traded but Liljegren. Reading between the lines it seems Dubas knows he has some decent defensive depth in Dermott, Lehtonen and Sandin. So Liljegren might be expendable at the trade deadline. Some GM's believe you need to be 10 deep on defense if you want to make a Cup run. Injuries can and will happen.

Liljegren has played very well in the AHL and I don't know what more he can do down there. Other teams likely have him on their radar when talking trade with Dubas. I'm thinking Dubas would be willing to trade Liljegren in the right deal but not Sandin.

Big difference: https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ecking-maple-leafs-vesey/

Chiasson probably doesn't get suspended if it doesn't happen after the game was over by 5-10 seconds.
- Monkeypunk

Thanks for that, it definitely was a lot less malicious than the Kadri hit.

Danton Heinen or Palmieri please.
or Hintz and Faksa if Dallas continue to fail.
- MaximusAurelius

Gurianov

If by "pretty damn good" you actually mean "isn't Marincin" then yes, I agree with you.

The Leafs have Lehtonen and Sandin if injuries happen. If Marincin has to step in at any point than the Leafs are probably missing key pieces that are likely to deep six a Cup run anyway, amirite/amirov?

Just trying to think which roster pieces the Leafs could move to bring one back -- Dermott being one of them.
- mjones242

His fancy #’s have him as 1 of our best D so far this year. Not sure what the hurry is to get rid of him but I’d gamble that it’s not happening if Dubas is in charge unless something substantial is coming back.

Just a guess.

All is forgiven.

Get over here because I want to kiss you...
- Atomic Wedgie

Close your eyes.



*Slips in front of CC* 🥰

Maybe Ander5en is trash?
- mjones242

Guess we're lucky he's not.

Danton Heinen or Palmieri please.
or Hintz and Faksa if Dallas continue to fail.
- MaximusAurelius

Palmieri looks like a low key under the radar decent add

My nephew is a big Habs fans. He, like you, not very happy these days either.
- bixll

snap him with a wet towel👍🏿

I get the feeling that it won't be Dermott who's traded but Liljegren. Reading between the lines it seems Dubas knows he has some decent defensive depth in Dermott, Lehtonen and Sandin. So Liljegren might be expendable at the trade deadline. Some GM's believe you need to be 10 deep on defense if you want to make a Cup run. Injuries can and will happen.

Liljegren has played very well in the AHL and I don't know what more he can do down there. Other teams likely have him on their radar when talking trade with Dubas. I'm thinking Dubas would be willing to trade Liljegren in the right deal but not Sandin.
- gergeswillems

gonna respectfully disagree here - and not because I'm some "big" Liljegren fan.

I think its simple numbers, the Leafs have Muzzin and Rielly as mainstays on the left side. Now Brodie and Holl on the right side. I think its fair to believe the Leafs will want to keep Rielly when his contract comes up.

There's some depth on the left side, but beyond Bogosian there's nothing other than Liljegren on the right side, all the guys that they have drafted (a couple of Finns I believe) in the past couple of years are few years away at the earliest.

they may not want to move Sandin because they believe he has the most upside, but they clearly have more left side depth than right.

consider it this way... if Holl or Bogosian were to be injured who would step in?

Johnsson + Dermott was the reported price tag.

I would have been fine with that, I'm also fine with how the blueline has worked out instead.
- joel878

Dermott! That's right. My mistake. They both end in 't' and we all cycle through disliking them.

On behalf of my entire family and Governor Cuomo, I apologize if attempt at humour caused any discomfort
- Canada Cup

I'm sad Fredo won't be able to interview him any more.

Close your eyes.



*Slips in front of CC* 🥰
- annoyed

Finds annoyed in a lovey spot - again

It seems Krueger is running the show in Buffalo. It's never good when the Head coach is the GM's boss. We knew Adams was just a puppet for the Pegula's.
- gergeswillems

It appears that way, but they can only go so long being this bad without the coach being fired, but likely will wait until the offseason.