He's currently got Triple Crown numbers going. Leads the AL in AVG, HRs, and RBI.

Also leading MLB in WAR with 3.6.
- mjones242

And Jays fans wanted to trade him for a bucket of chicken last season.

If Jays had better pitching maybe they'd have a shot at wildcard?
- Nasty_Duck

This is definitely the Achilles Heel of the Jays this season. They need another stud starter to really put it all together.

Looks like the schedule lightens up for the team from here on out but I'm not betting on them making it this year...

And Jays fans wanted to trade him for a bucket of chicken last season.
- gergeswillems

To be fair, he would have traded himself for a bucket of chicken last year.

And Jays fans wanted to trade him for a bucket of chicken last season.
- gergeswillems

Yup As you can see with Marner Toronto fans have zero patience.

To be fair, he would have traded himself for a bucket of chicken last year.
- mjones242

Yeah I think his DNA was KFC. But he slimmed down and is now ripping the cover off the ball.

Wonder if CBJ would trade Bjorkstrand if they are rebuilding.

Bjorkstrand+Domi(50% retained)

Wonder if CBJ would trade Bjorkstrand if they are rebuilding.

Bjorkstrand+Domi(50% retained)
- Santo_44

I don't get the allure with Domi. Bjorkstrand is a good player.

I don't get the allure with Domi. Bjorkstrand is a good player.
- gergeswillems

Hence the 50% retained contract.

He has been a 3rd line scoring forward the past few years. Has some snarl...Would be nice at half his cap hit.

Bjorsktrand is underrated for sure...Bit of a value contract at 5.5M.

CBJ hired a young coach, GM says they are re-tooling not rebuilding. There is a fit I would think if CBJ gets some exciting assets back.

Yup As you can see with Marner Toronto fans have zero patience.
- Santo_44

False equivalence. Vladdy Jr. has yet to play a full season of baseball. He's yet to play a single post-season game.

For Marner and the Leafs, how much patience is required? What makes you believe that this team, with this lineup, is built to endure playoff hockey?

Have you watched the Isles, Vegas, or TBL? What makes you think Marner - or the Core 4 (if we're being charitable) - would be effective against any of these teams?

Ultimately, this isn't about "patience" per the Leafs -- it's begging the question: is this team constructed in a way that can succeed in the post-season?

We've had 3 years of post-season failure with this team. Two of those years we were clear favourites to advance. But yes, let's run it back again and poop on people who are starting to question the formula.

I don't get the allure with Domi. Bjorkstrand is a good player.
- gergeswillems

It's unfortunate that Bjorkstrand is a RW. The Leafs have needs on the other wing.

It's unfortunate that Bjorkstrand is a RW. The Leafs have needs on the other wing.
- mjones242

Well Bjorsktrand played a bunch of LW last season.

Nylander switched with Hyman plenty of times.

I don't think that would hold them back from that trade.

Well Bjorsktrand played a bunch of LW last season.

Nylander switched with Hyman plenty of times.

I don't think that would hold them back from that trade.
- Santo_44

Ahh... nice. I didn't know that he was a switch-winger. I approve!

False equivalence. Vladdy Jr. has yet to play a full season of baseball. He's yet to play a single post-season game.

For Marner and the Leafs, how much patience is required? What makes you believe that this team, with this lineup, is built to endure playoff hockey?

Have you watched the Isles, Vegas, or TBL? What makes you think Marner - or the Core 4 (if we're being charitable) - would be effective against any of these teams?

Ultimately, this isn't about "patience" per the Leafs -- it's begging the question: is this team constructed in a way that can succeed in the post-season?

We've had 3 years of post-season failure with this team. Two of those years we were clear favourites to advance. But yes, let's run it back again and poop on people who are starting to question the formula.
- mjones242

Its just the principle, they never have to be clone situations but the principle is there...Marner has been dominant in the regular season. A top player in the league and as frustrating as it is seeing him fail come playoff time I will bet on him changing that...Especially at 23 years old.

Im not giving up on Marner after a few bad playoff runs.

There are moves they can make without trading one of the best players they have had in decades.

Ahh... nice. I didn't know that he was a switch-winger. I approve!
- mjones242

Also at a manageable cap at 5.4M.

They have some other 1 year pieces I'd look at if they are willing to retain.

Plus I'd take Foligno at 1 year if he is willing to take care of the unfinished business he has here Not counting on it but would be interesting to see his values there.

Yup As you can see with Marner Toronto fans have zero patience.
- Santo_44

Vladdy has the 7th highest cap hit in the league (while somehow only being 3rd on the team) and consistently underperforms in the playoffs?

Vladdy has the 7th highest cap hit in the league (while somehow only being 3rd on the team) and consistently underperforms in the playoffs?
- Steven_Seagull

Its the fact fans wanted to stupidly trade a talented young player because they weren't happy with the production.

Sugar coat it all you want, its stupid to trade top of the league young players.

Wonder if CBJ would trade Bjorkstrand if they are rebuilding.

Bjorkstrand+Domi(50% retained)
- Santo_44

Why would the Jackets trade Bjorkstrand?

Why would the Jackets trade Bjorkstrand?
- Steven_Seagull

Because they are years away from getting back into playoff contention.

Thats why.

Why would the Panthers trade Ekblad?

Because they are years away from getting back into playoff contention.

Thats why.
- Santo_44

His new contract starts next year, and it goes for 5 years. Why would they trade him?

His new contract starts next year, and it goes for 5 years. Why would they trade him?
- Steven_Seagull

Why would Florida trade Ekblad?

Its just the principle, they never have to be clone situations but the principle is there...Marner has been dominant in the regular season. A top player in the league and as frustrating as it is seeing him fail come playoff time I will bet on him changing that...Especially at 23 years old.

Im not giving up on Marner after a few bad playoff runs.

There are moves they can make without trading one of the best players they have had in decades.
- Santo_44

I think Marner is a wonderful player who is getting paid at least 2-3M too much. That contract is a very tough pill to swallow per cap management and team balance. It doesn't help that he's had 1 good playoff performance in 5 attempts.

Even if he was to have another "good" performance in the playoffs, his salary - I would argue - is an albatross that gets in the way of improving this team in areas that would actively make them more difficult to play against.

The Islanders have made two straight Conference Finals without a player who has been so dominant in the regular season. So I ask the question: why is Marner a necessary ingredient for playoff success?

11M is a lot of money to give to a winger who doesn't score many goals and who has never made it to a second round of playoffs.

I just don't think it's laughable or "stupid", in the least, to consider Marner as a trade option. 🤷

Why would Florida trade Ekblad?
- Santo_44

Cheap owner still pissed at the Bobrovsky contract wants to shed more money. They gave Trochek away for basically nothing last year, and Weegar has proven he’s a pairing D. Not to mention Barkov needs a new deal next off-season.


Still unlikely, though.

Also at a manageable cap at 5.4M.

They have some other 1 year pieces I'd look at if they are willing to retain.

Plus I'd take Foligno at 1 year if he is willing to take care of the unfinished business he has here Not counting on it but would be interesting to see his values there.
- Santo_44

From what I understand, his family is quite entrenched in the Columbus community -- but who knows? I like what he adds to this team but I just don't think we can keep him for the price he'd be asking.

I wonder if Boone Jenner might be an option? Imagine the Leafs had him when Snake went down with an injury?

Who knows? Maybe there's a blockbuster that can be had with CBJ involving Rielly, Jones, et al.

Cheap owner still pissed at the Bobrovsky contract wants to shed more money. They gave Trochek away for basically nothing last year, and Weegar has proven he’s a pairing D. Not to mention Barkov needs a new deal next off-season.


Still unlikely, though.
- Steven_Seagull

I see plenty of scenarios from the past decades of teams starting a rebuild/retool trading 26-30 year old players. They do it to maximize value for when they are actually contending again.

GM said expect trades...They want to go very young next season. They would for sure entertain trading Bjorsktrand if they could get some young pillars to grow with the franchise.

As for Ekblad I have no idea. From my standpoint it seems silly and I have said they have a cheap owner but I was proven wrong this year. Florida wasn't cheap at all so I dont even agree with that anymore.

I think Marner is a wonderful player who is getting paid at least 2-3M too much. That contract is a very tough pill to swallow per cap management and team balance. It doesn't help that he's had 1 good playoff performance in 5 attempts.

Even if he was to have another "good" performance in the playoffs, his salary - I would argue - is an albatross that gets in the way of improving this team in areas that would actively make them more difficult to play against.

The Islanders have made two straight Conference Finals without a player who has been so dominant in the regular season. So I ask the question: why is Marner a necessary ingredient for playoff success?

11M is a lot of money to give to a winger who doesn't score many goals and who has never made it to a second round of playoffs.

I just don't think it's laughable, in the least, to consider Marner as a trade option. 🤷
- mjones242

If Marner signed a 3x7 bridge deal, I wouldn’t be saying to trade him. The reality of spending 33.5M on 3 forwards (3 out of the 7 highest cap hits in the league) while being in the middle of a flat cap can not be ignored. This isn’t like anything another team has had to deal with before.

But it’s okay, Holl is in the top-4.