People who try to use this as a legitimate reason get nothing more than an eye roll from me lol
- Dozzer

Does anybody actually say that’s a reason they lost?

Does anybody actually say that’s a reason they lost?
- Canada Cup

The way people have whined about him are absurd.

The only reason people believe he’ll stay is because he hasn’t said he will go… likes he’s going to!!! It’s stupidity to expect that.

Name another American superstar that ever happily stayed playing in Canada. Name one.

Also openly judge me again your post will be deleted. I’m giving reasons for my beliefs and no one else is. Continue to do it and you’ll be banned as well.
- Dozzer

Well to be fair, there's not a lot of american "superstars" in Canada to start with. Current list of american NHL players and where they rank for US born players who extended in Canada or chose to be here are:

Kessel - 13th overall American born player
Wheeler - 21st overall
Statsny - 27th overall

Wheeler loves Winnipeg and Statsny came back to Winnipeg as a UFA recently and he said it was because he preferred playing there.
Kessel got traded but he did sign an 8 year extension with the team and was happy to play here.

I don't know what you see when you watch Matthews, man. In the playoffs, he led the team in hits, was second in blocked shots and led the team in takeaways. He's a takeaway machine, creates open ice, is a possession and play driver, and has the best wrist shot in the league. He's also only 23 years old.
- Monkeypunk

I said it before and i'll say it again.

Of all the players in the league the Habs have to face, Matthews is the one that scares me the most when he has the puck.

Now that's obviously a very intangible feeling.

But I think it still means something.

What’s your suggested adjustment? Flip Nylander and Marner? Guess what… if Marner isn’t playing with a goal scorer he’s far from dominant. Hence the no switch. Try thinking a little for once before offering opinions.

Matthews is gone before Keefe and Dubas btw… even Shanahan realizes that Matthews is a wimpy player who only plays well in open ice.

He’s seriously not that good… offensively talented but nothing more.

Bye bye to him… can’t wait.

I’d rather have two 25-30 goal scoring forwards over him FOR THE SAME PRICE
- Dozzer

Oh ok.
Angry much today?
Is this what Shanahan told you?
So many examples of superstar players being dealt before the coach or gm, right?
Unless they go full rebuild, which i dont see it yet, theyll try a new approach with a new coach or gm prior to trading one the better centers the organization has had.
Marner played well on the 3rd all those years ago.
Heck even if shanny keeps dubas and keefe after another 1st round, i think we marner or willie moved before matthews.

You got some hot takes today Dozzer! I admire that

Oh ok.
Angry much today?
Is this what Shanahan told you?
So many examples of superstar players being dealt before the coach or gm.
Unless they go full rebuild, which i dont see it yet, theyll try a new approach with a new coach or gm prior to trading one the better centers the organization has had.
Marner played well on the 3rd all those years ago.
Heck even if shanny keeps dubas and keefe after another 1st round, i think we marner or willie moved before matthews.
- Fakepartofme

Then you don’t think well

If you were another GM would you take Marner with his contract?

Wait… don’t reply I already know you’re answer would be no

(frank)ing Matthews fans are fools imo. Prolly take a couple years before you’re able to grasp it tho… talented now… but not for long

You got some hot takes today Dozzer! I admire that
- Aaron_85

Thank you… as for your earlier post I don’t allow what players say about a place to play until retired. Even then I mostly believe it’s just what they feel they should say.

Oh ok.
Angry much today?
Is this what Shanahan told you?
So many examples of superstar players being dealt before the coach or gm.
Unless they go full rebuild, which i dont see it yet, theyll try a new approach with a new coach or gm prior to trading one the better centers the organization has had.
Marner played well on the 3rd all those years ago.
Heck even if shanny keeps dubas and keefe after another 1st round, i think we marner or willie moved before matthews.
- Fakepartofme

If it was up to me I’d…

Fire: Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe, Malhotra, and whoever the other assistants are.

Trade: Nylander, Dermott, Mikheyev, Liljegren.

Thank you… as for your earlier post I don’t allow what players say about a place to play until retired. Even then I mostly believe it’s just what they feel they should say.
- Dozzer

That kind of throws a wrench into your idea that Matthews wants out because he signed a 5 year deal, doesn't it? That until he actually does it then he's here.

I'll go as far to say that if Dubas and Co. have any indication about Matthews resigning then yes if they bomb out this year or prior to his contract expiring then they should seriously consider trading him.

Then you don’t think well

If you were another GM would you take Marner with his contract?

Wait… don’t reply I already know you’re answer would be no

(frank)ing Matthews fans are fools imo. Prolly take a couple years before you’re able to grasp it tho… talented now… but not for long
- Dozzer

You can read everyones minds!
Im not a fan of marners contract, but ffs weve garbage players contracts get moved. Marner is a 90 - 100pts reg season player, he leads his current team in playoff points since he came into the league - I get it he hasnt scored a playoff goal in years. But yes, there is definitely a gm who would take Marner and say two years of his contract....maybe the leafs retain 1m or so. Dunno. But im sure some gm thinks his situation could make marner more successful.
Time will tell.

Then you don’t think well

If you were another GM would you take Marner with his contract?

Wait… don’t reply I already know you’re answer would be no

(frank)ing Matthews fans are fools imo. Prolly take a couple years before you’re able to grasp it tho… talented now… but not for long
- Dozzer

In a heartbeat.

But I can see why other GM’s might not. That’s a big gamble, but what he brings to a team is impossible to understate.

I see no reason to worry that AM wants to leave TO when his contract is up.

Id put my money on him signing another deal with the Leafs

I see no reason to worry that AM wants to leave TO when his contract is up.

Id put my money on him signing another deal with the Leafs
- senstroll

I agree.

Crosby didn’t leave PIT, and that place is a shïthole.

That kind of throws a wrench into your idea that Matthews wants out because he signed a 5 year deal, doesn't it? That until he actually does it then he's here.

I'll go as far to say that if Dubas and Co. have any indication about Matthews resigning then yes if they bomb out this year or prior to his contract expiring then they should seriously consider trading him.
- Aaron_85

I’d rather move him after this year right away.

This guy will start fading talent wise in three years or so… especially once his speed starts to drop

Get rid of him after this year if they don’t get past the first round

If it was up to me I’d…

Fire: Shanahan, Dubas, Keefe, Malhotra, and whoever the other assistants are.

Trade: Nylander, Dermott, Mikheyev, Liljegren.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Malhotra should have been let go. I wouldn't fire anyone this year, only if they get booted from the 1st round next playoffs

But im shocked that willie is 1st on your list.
Lol
:p

If that's the best option available I'm in, just because Sandin essentially replaces Rielly doesn't mean he has to play top pair minutes.

Should Rielly be traded, my preference would still be to bring in another defenceman. A natural righty would be best in my opinion.

That one year of not having to worry about the defence came under some special circumstances in a limited window, I'd prefer not to assume because of as much that its guaranteed bulletproof going forward.
- joel878

The defensive play of the team as a whole improved. They played actual NHL teams. Obviously it’s not bulletproof but with the goalie situation still a question mark, I don’t want to see it weakened especially if they’re going to be be playing tougher teams.

Also, I don’t really see an internal configuration that works with Rielly gone. I’m not sure how those minutes get picked up. Muzzin, Holl and Brodie already eat a bunch of minutes and I don’t trust any of the rest to take up major minutes.

So I’m back to trade him for a replacement or take as much of a shot as you can this year year with him.

I see no reason to worry that AM wants to leave TO when his contract is up.

Id put my money on him signing another deal with the Leafs
- senstroll

BECAUSE HE WAS NOT BORN IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

American players most typically get back to their own country

You can read everyones minds!
Im not a fan of marners contract, but ffs weve garbage players contracts get moved. Marner is a 90 - 100pts reg season player, he leads his current team in playoff points since he came into the league - I get it he hasnt scored a playoff goal in years. But yes, there is definitely a gm who would take Marner and say two years of his contract....maybe the leafs retain 1m or so. Dunno. But im sure some gm thinks his situation could make marner more successful.
Time will tell.
- Fakepartofme

Marner is better than Matthews long term I (frank)ing guarantee it

I would rather keep him 100%

I agree.

Crosby didn’t leave PIT, and that place is a shïthole.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Pittsburgh has been ranked among the top ten cities in the US for years

I see no reason to worry that AM wants to leave TO when his contract is up.

Id put my money on him signing another deal with the Leafs
- senstroll

Unless the leafs keep losing in the first round.
But if they go deep a few times and the money is right....i think he could stay.

I see no reason to worry that AM wants to leave TO when his contract is up.

Id put my money on him signing another deal with the Leafs
- senstroll

Im with you here, I think the basketball baseball comparisons are apples to oranges. Matthews owns this market, it's one of the biggest hockey markets in the world. To flush that and all the endorsement revenue that comes with it to go play somewhere they won't even recognize him walking down the street doesn't seem to appealing.

Many an nhler has lived in a place different than they play. Sid goes to NS every offseason... So I don't really consider spending the summer elsewhere to be a tell one way or the other.

I've been in Scottsdale bar hopping after a leaf game wearing a Matthews jersey, It's crazy how many people didn't even recognize what sport a leaf jersey is from let alone know who the name on the back belonged to. And that's his hometown ffs.

In a heartbeat.

But I can see why other GM’s might not. That’s a big gamble, but what he brings to a team is impossible to understate.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I just feel Matthews is horribly over rated and nobody will convince me that I’m wrong

Great for a couple more years
Good for a couple more
Decent for a couple more
Then nothing more than joe Thornton but ten years earlier

Malhotra should have been let go. I wouldn't fire anyone this year, only if they get booted from the 1st round next playoffs

But im shocked that willie is 1st on your list.
Lol
:p
- Fakepartofme

It’s about building a well structured team that exemplifies a strong work ethic and attention to detail. 7mil for a 30/30 player that doesn’t engage physically at all? Also I think other teams starving for offence would be happy to take him and give up assets. Leafs need young, cheap players to replenish the ranks.

BECAUSE HE WAS NOT BORN IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

American players most typically get back to their own country
- Dozzer

who are these players?
what are the examples?

one name that comes to mind is Trouba? but he is not a superstar or even a star..but I cant think of others