Supposedly Virtanen missed practice, feeling like he had the flu before Gaudette tested positive.
- Woderwick

Virtanen is too truculent to get sick

You can absolutely make the $ and the roster spot moves to make it happen and he is absolutely better than Dermott. But, you’re using up trade ammo for what is essentially a third pairing spot that will get limited minutes after Muzzin/Holl and Brodie/Rielly. That’s my problem. I think you can get better value up front right now.

I said earlier, get Olesiak in the off-season when you can do a full restructuring of the D
- Canada Cup

Ehh... As you alluded to, Oleksiak is UFA this off-season and won't command much in return for this season. Hell, not even Taylor Hall will fetch much at this point.

Why not do both? It's a buyer's market, friend.

Oh, it’s possible they’re concerned big time.

Best case scenario is that they know exactly what’s going on with him, they know they have no reason to hurry given the standings and Campbell’s play and they have a set of dates when he hits the ice to skate, practice and play.

More likely is that they know exactly what is wrong, that they’re all frustrated with how long it’s taking, that they’ve set benchmarks of some sort to determine when he can hit the ice and the practice and play. Those benchmarks are likely way more conservative given his failed comeback.

Those benchmarks also likely mean making a decision about bringing someone else in depending on his progress or lack of progress at a certain date.

But that decision won’t be taken in isolation - what other moves do they want to make, how is Campbell’s health, how is Hutch playing, etc.
- Canada Cup

I think Hutch is playing just fine, he shat the bed on those 2 shots in Ottawa and the one in Calgary but he's been okay.

I think Hutch is playing just fine, he shat the bed on those 2 shots in Ottawa and the one in Calgary but he's been okay.
- bobbyisno1

Are you willing to gamble with him being your back up come playoff time if Freddie is shutdown or Jack gets hurt?

Bet it was Virtanen
- AdamFrench

we all thought the same but it was Adam Gaudette. You know, the guy who thinks kicking his newlywed wife in the head is solid wedding entertainment.

When has the NHL ever been forthright about injury information? Why would it be anything other than a continuation of whatever injury he’s already been battling.

We can speculate about anything else - from mental health to being hit by a bus to food poisoning - they’re all equally absurd.

Also, this getting fleeced business is really overworked. GMs are going to assess Toronto’s vulnerability by their actions not what Kyle says to a reporter.

Having said we have our three goalies doesn’t help if he picks up the phone now, if anything it undermines him.

I think if we see a goalie trade we see it at the last minute. This injury seems to be something where the question is how quickly and how fully he recovers. If he recovers in time, they go with what they have. If not, they won’t know till the end and they see what’s on the market. I don’t get the sense there’s lots of goalie buyers. If the Sabres for example haven’t moved Ulmark at the end, they’re just as desperate as we are.
- Canada Cup

Why would it undermine him if GMs aren't assessing the team by what he leaks to the media?

And what do you actually expect a goalie like Ullmark goes for? Worst case scenario. A 2nd? Trying to understand the assertion that a move for Oleksiak would somehow expend precious assets that could be used to land bigger fish (Hall, Foligno, Bobby Orr, et al.).

Are you willing to gamble with him being your back up come playoff time if Freddie is shutdown or Jack gets hurt?
- mjones242

Michael Hutchinson for Colorado in the playoffs last year:

4 Games Played
3 Games Started
2 Wins
1 Loss
67% Quality Starts
.910%
2.75GAA

That was against Dallas, so it wasn't a bad team. Now the Avs played well in front of him, but it doesn't change the fact that he's capable of being decent. He will still crap the bed from time-to-time, and ANY goalie that we get who has the job of sitting around doing SFA unless someone gets injured is probably going to be as inconsistent.

Michael Hutchinson for Colorado in the playoffs last year:

4 Games Played
3 Games Started
2 Wins
1 Loss
67% Quality Starts
.910%
2.75GAA

That was against Dallas, so it wasn't a bad team. Now the Avs played well in front of him, but it doesn't change the fact that he's capable of being decent. He will still crap the bed from time-to-time, and ANY goalie that we get who has the job of sitting around doing SFA unless someone gets injured is probably going to be as inconsistent.
- Monkeypunk

I realize what he did last year. Are you comfortable with him as your go to backup this year with this team?

I'm not.

Would like to see Gally tally a hatty against his former club de hockey.

I realize what he did last year. Are you comfortable with him as your go to backup this year with this team?

I'm not.
- mjones242

Still have some time. Stick with their wish list for now and wait to see what happens on the healthy goalie front. If they can secure players on their wish list, upgrades to the skaters may help Hutch be even better, should he be called to action.
I say frank it...roll the dice.
4-1 with 10 to go. Gretzky non call. Carl Brewer. Zamboni driver. David Clarkson.
They can’t show us anything we haven’t seen. And...there’s always next year.

I realize what he did last year. Are you comfortable with him as your go to backup this year with this team?

I'm not.
- mjones242

Not really, but I'm not comfortable using up precious cap space or future assets for a player who is a 3rd string insurance policy that may be marginally better than Hutchinson that I would likely be equally uncomfortable with. I'm not willing to spend for say . . . Ullmark . . .just to have him sit there and cost us $2.5m or whatever he is on the cap. While it may be prorated, that same prorated money and roster spot could go to a defenseman or forward who could be used on a regular basis.

The point is that in a cap world with limited roster spots and waiver rules, there's only so many depth players you can stockpile. Hutchinson is our stockpile. He's also valuable because he's under contract next year, which means we can expose him in the expansion draft - and he's currently our only goalie that we can expose in the draft. If we lose Hutch or trade him for a goalie with an expiring contract, we'd have to expose Campbell.

Why would it undermine him if GMs aren't assessing the team by what he leaks to the media?

And what do you actually expect a goalie like Ullmark goes for? Worst case scenario. A 2nd? Trying to understand the assertion that a move for Oleksiak would somehow expend precious assets that could be used to land bigger fish (Hall, Foligno, Bobby Orr, et al.).
- mjones242

I don’t know how much Dubas intends to spend. My bigger point is we would be bringing Oleksiak in to play a limited 3rd pairing role for $2 and whatever. If you’re still looking to bring in Hall and Ulmark, that’s got to be close to $13M and you better hope you can get the deals sponsored by the American Orthodontic Society if you need that much retained.

I don’t know how much Dubas intends to spend. My bigger point is we would be bringing Oleksiak in to play a limited 3rd pairing role for $2 and whatever. If you’re still looking to bring in Hall and Ulmark, that’s got to be close to $13M and you better hope you can get the deals sponsored by the American Orthodontic Society is you need that much retained.
- Canada Cup

nice

I don’t know how much Dubas intends to spend. My bigger point is we would be bringing Oleksiak in to play a limited 3rd pairing role for $2 and whatever. If you’re still looking to bring in Hall and Ulmark, that’s got to be close to $13M and you better hope you can get the deals sponsored by the American Orthodontic Society if you need that much retained.
- Canada Cup

I don't see why Oleksiak couldn't command 15-20 mins a game. Also, what happens if any one of the Top 4 go down with an injury? Oleksiak has played top pair playoff mins before and is currently on the 2nd pair in Dallas.

It's an insurance trade and he's a proven playoff performer who can definitely handle more minutes than Cornrow Dermott and won't command much to acquire.

That's not to say I think it will happen, I'm just struggling to understand any downside here.

Hall + Ullmark (salary retained) can be had for some combination including Kerfoot and Hutch (and TML other pieces).

Go get 'em, Kyle "the fox" Dubas!

nice
- Woderwick

So, what if we did a Spatso and traded for Laine and then just didn’t renew his contract or traded him in the off-season? Or whatever RFA thing you do. Or we could at least think about it.

That would absolutely break the internet. It might be the funniest trade in history

Not really, but I'm not comfortable using up precious cap space or future assets for a player who is a 3rd string insurance policy that may be marginally better than Hutchinson that I would likely be equally uncomfortable with. I'm not willing to spend for say . . . Ullmark . . .just to have him sit there and cost us $2.5m or whatever he is on the cap. While it may be prorated, that same prorated money and roster spot could go to a defenseman or forward who could be used on a regular basis.

The point is that in a cap world with limited roster spots and waiver rules, there's only so many depth players you can stockpile. Hutchinson is our stockpile. He's also valuable because he's under contract next year, which means we can expose him in the expansion draft - and he's currently our only goalie that we can expose in the draft. If we lose Hutch or trade him for a goalie with an expiring contract, we'd have to expose Campbell.
- Monkeypunk

A few points:

1. If the Leafs trade for a goalie it means Andersen is done and the new goalie becomes our 1b or #2. Ullmark would be a significant upgrade on Hutch.

2. Campbell has 1 year left on his contract. I'm not terribly worried about exposing him to the expansion draft. The Kraken will have plenty of options and I'm not so sure Campbell, with his small sample set, is one of the guys they'd want.

If Seattle does want Jack, you either let them have him or you do a small deal to keep him (a mid-range pick or a middle tier prospect).

3. There are plenty of ways the Leafs could grab a goalie and a depth forward and/or D at the TDL.

I don't see why Oleksiak couldn't command 15-20 mins a game. Also, what happens if any one of the Top 4 go down with an injury? Oleksiak has played top pair playoff mins before and is currently on the 2nd pair in Dallas.

It's an insurance trade and he's a proven playoff performer who can definitely handle more minutes than Cornrow Dermott and won't command much to acquire.

That's not to say I think it will happen, I'm just struggling to understand any downside here.

Hall + Ullmark (salary retained) can be had for some combination including Kerfoot and Hutch (and TML other pieces).

Go get 'em, Kyle "the fox" Dubas!
- mjones242

Nope, I want Laine with Willie and JT. That’s my new thing for the rest of the day or until I forget. It would spice up the PP a bit.

Nope, I want Laine with Willie and JT. That’s my new thing for the rest of the day or until I forget. It would spice up the PP a bit.
- Canada Cup

Well, Laine's lone goal in his last 21 games was on the power play... sounds like a plan!

Well, Laine's lone goal in his last 21 games was on the power play... sounds like a plan!
- mjones242

I’m doing it for Spatso

Oh, it’s possible they’re concerned big time.

Best case scenario is that they know exactly what’s going on with him, they know they have no reason to hurry given the standings and Campbell’s play and they have a set of dates when he hits the ice to skate, practice and play.

More likely is that they know exactly what is wrong, that they’re all frustrated with how long it’s taking, that they’ve set benchmarks of some sort to determine when he can hit the ice and the practice and play. Those benchmarks are likely way more conservative given his failed comeback.

Those benchmarks also likely mean making a decision about bringing someone else in depending on his progress or lack of progress at a certain date.

But that decision won’t be taken in isolation - what other moves do they want to make, how is Campbell’s health, how is Hutch playing, etc.
- Canada Cup

If Freddie is not improving, I think that decision is made in isolation They can't go into the playoffs with Campbell, Hutchinson and teh villain.

Yikes. Willie not playing tonight due to possible Covid exposure. Barabanov in. Isolating and will be re-evaluated tomorrow after further tests.

I’m doing it for Spatso
- Canada Cup

I'm just saying you should at least consider it as a real trade.

I'm just saying you should at least consider it as a real trade.
- mjones242

Why not? $5M for that shot and the laughs

Why not? $5M for that shot and the laughs
- Canada Cup

- mjones242

He escapes Winnipeg. He escapes Torts. C’mon!