Updated rankings

1) Matthews
2) Muzzin
3) Hyman
4) Campbell
5) Brodie
6) Spezza
7) Mikheyev
8) Nylander
9) Robertson
10) Rielly

Niemela
Engvall
Tavares

One issue with spreadsheets is they don't account for refs allowing Isles to clutch and gran their way to a final. I really wish they simply called penalties.
- RogerRoeper

Clutch and gran? Isles couldn't possibly be earning their playoff wins. Not this year or last year or the year before that. It's the refs. Randomness. Thanks, Jimmy. The Isles are everything the Leafs aren't. But maybe they're just lucky.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
4m
A sign the off-season is really revving up as the final four chase the Stanley Cup: Carolina has given Dougie Hamilton permission to talk to other NHL teams. Opens potential for a sign-and-trade.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
4m
A sign the off-season is really revving up as the final four chase the Stanley Cup: Carolina has given Dougie Hamilton permission to talk to other NHL teams. Opens potential for a sign-and-trade.
- gravyface

Wow that is a very interesting move.....

Wow that is a very interesting move.....
- Archaic

Dougie needs time to visit museums.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
4m
A sign the off-season is really revving up as the final four chase the Stanley Cup: Carolina has given Dougie Hamilton permission to talk to other NHL teams. Opens potential for a sign-and-trade.
- gravyface

and who would sign and trade this year, risking one of your other defensemen in the expansion draft?

Dougie needs time to visit museums.
- gergeswillems

Washington?

Clutch and gran? Isles couldn't possibly be earning their playoff wins. Not this year or last year or the year before that. It's the refs. Randomness. Thanks, Jimmy. The Isles are everything the Leafs aren't. But maybe they're just lucky.
- gergeswillems

I will say this, generally-speaking, the NHL rewards defensive-minded teams in the playoffs, where fewer calls combined with higher-intensity play suits their play style better, which is the opposite of a long regular season, where high-end skilled/offensive teams will win more games than they lose, out of sheer goal probability (xGF%).

It's why those teams that squeak into the playoffs tend to go on a run.

I will say this, generally-speaking, the NHL rewards defensive-minded teams in the playoffs, where fewer calls combined with higher-intensity play suits their play style better, which is the opposite of a long regular season, where high-end skilled/offensive teams will win more games than they lose, out of sheer goal probability (xGF%).

It's why those teams that squeak into the playoffs tend to go on a run.
- gravyface

I don't know how anyone who's watched playoff hockey can be surprised. Back in the 1995 SCF the Devils embarrassed the heavy favourite Red Wings with smothering defensive hockey. That's where we first heard "clutch and grab."

Red Wings fans used to whine about it. No one cared. We were labelled as playoff chokers and we were. It took awhile but the Red Wings finally realized they had to adapt. More will was needed. Less skill. More North South hockey. Less east west. The Russian 5 was broken up.

Gritty guys like McCarty and LaPointe were given more minutes. Bowman knew he couldn't rely on the refs to call penalties. He had to tell his players to fight through all the clutching and grabbing and water skiing. Playoffs is Hudson Bay rules hockey. The Gary Bettman NHL wants parity. It's not going away. Adapt or die.

I will say this, generally-speaking, the NHL rewards defensive-minded teams in the playoffs, where fewer calls combined with higher-intensity play suits their play style better, which is the opposite of a long regular season, where high-end skilled/offensive teams will win more games than they lose, out of sheer goal probability (xGF%).

It's why those teams that squeak into the playoffs tend to go on a run.
- gravyface

I'll say this, if a Leaf player did what Weber did it would not have been just a 5 thousand dollar fine.
Until every team gets away with that crap the ones that don't will flame out.

The thing is, Rielly did not have the stas/acccomplsihments when he signed his 6 year deal Nylander, Marner and Tavares did. Marner cashed-out because he had 94 pointds the year before he signed.

He likely wants to make a killing. this is his big one. Leafs have to decide this summer if they want him back at a high number. They have to stop this "own rental" stuff. It's not working.

If they sign Rielly again, I would move Muzzin. He'll likely slow down soon and has 3 years left. And Sandin is LD. I'm not really thrilled with the idea of him being 3rd pair D. Let him play and develop.
- RogerRoeper

Rielly can’t play defense, might as well just put Nylander back there.

Rielly can’t play defense, might as well just put Nylander back there.
- Garnie

Efffen eh, scoring defenseman.

and who would sign and trade this year, risking one of your other defensemen in the expansion draft?
- bobbyisno1

I think it depends on the cost.

Rielly can’t play defense, might as well just put Niemela back there.
- Garnie

Fixed

Rielly can’t play defense, might as well just put Nylander back there.
- Garnie

Also get rid of wussy Rielly and Marner.

I think it depends on the cost.
- Archaic

So you're going to give up one of your top 3 to trade for a guy you can sign in free agency a month later?

Washington?
- AdamFrench

what will they sign OV for?

Efffen eh, scoring defenseman.
- bobbyisno1

3 5v5 goals, not sure he’s scoring much.


I like Rielly, but I don’t think he’s very good at defending and he’s been fairly poor on the PP.

Also get rid of wussy Rielly and Marner.
- bobbyisno1

You could get a good package for all the pussies.

McD for Rielly - Marner - Nylander

what will they sign OV for?
- dmnted

5mil

You could get a good package for all the pussies.

McD for Rielly - Marner - Nylander
- Garnie

tampa does not have the cap space for all those pussies

5mil
- AdamFrench

and a chocking ball for his "wife"

So you're going to give up one of your top 3 to trade for a guy you can sign in free agency a month later?
- bobbyisno1

The sign and trade has never happened in the NHL, and it never will.

Player X goes to a golf tournament in June and lets Player Y know that he's interested in signing with that team as a UFA. Calls are made. Discussions are had.

It's not in Player X's best interests to agree to a sign and trade, because he's unnecessarily weakening the team he's going to for the next 8 years.

8 vs. 7 years isn't that big a deal for superstar players.

Friedman knows this. It's franking embarrassing that he's floating this.

I don't know how anyone who's watched playoff hockey can be surprised. Back in the 1995 SCF the Devils embarrassed the heavy favourite Red Wings with smothering defensive hockey. That's where we first heard "clutch and grab."

Red Wings fans used to whine about it. No one cared. We were labelled as playoff chokers and we were. It took awhile but the Red Wings finally realized they had to adapt. More will was needed. Less skill. More North South hockey. Less east west. The Russian 5 was broken up.

Gritty guys like McCarty and LaPointe were given more minutes. Bowman knew he couldn't rely on the refs to call penalties. He had to tell his players to fight through all the clutching and grabbing and water skiing. Playoffs is Hudson Bay rules hockey. The Gary Bettman NHL wants parity. It's not going away. Adapt or die.
- gergeswillems

Yeah, but the New NHL was supposed to change all that: get rid of fighting, score more goals, more PPs, reduce goalie equipment, 3v3 OT, etc.

And by and large this is all true, but now the gap between regular season and playoffs is even greater in my opinion. It's like two different leagues.

Not sure...Both are a bit overrated for sure.

I don't know why CBJ would take an expiring contract back if the reason they are trading Jones is because they don't sign.

I am thinking CBJ will want to load up on 19-23 year olds and run with that to try and be competitive but still likely draft high.

Send Jones to PHI for Nolan Patrick, 1st and a prospect.

Bjorkstrand plus Jenner/Domi(50% retained) for some good young assets on the Leafs .

I think that would be a good offseason for them.

FYI Rielly has no trade protection and I'd be willing to bet CBJ is on most players list this offseason...
- Santo_44

It's possible Rielly would have CBJ on his M-NTC list but the reason why CBJ would make that deal is because the Leafs would have to sweeten the pot. Rielly would also be an asset they could trade at the deadline.

As an aside, I don't think Nolan Patrick is an asset at this point that would bring back any value. Some teams may want to take a flier on him but he isn't moving the needle on any deals out of PHI.

Leafs should stay away from Domi. Jenner though: yes, please!