Diaz or Lawler?

One is 21 with 42 career NHL games (regular + playoff).
The other is 22 with 13 career NHL games.
- Steven_Seagull

Ya I know, that's why I'm saying "I'm waiting...". I haven't written him off completely but not too impressed either.

Leafs don't seem to develop defensemen or goalies well, not for a while at least.

Diaz or Lawler?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Lawler.

I love Nick Diaz, he's got balls coming back from a 6 year layoff and taking a monster like Lawler on out of the gate. Robbie is an absolute beast.

I bet Diaz makes the decision because he's tough AF, but moneys on Lawler battering him.

You have no right to use "playoff performance issues" as a debating point in your nonsensical Marner's rhetoric, while in the same breath saying Kerfoot brings nothing to the table while being one of our best playoff performers over the past two years. Stop being a hypocrite and pick a side.
- UsernameUnknown

Kerfoot played well, 1g 5a for a helluva lot less money than Marner. He's the last player that is a problem on this team.

And Marner, 0g 4a, has $10.9m to buy new tighty whiteys after poopting in them the last 3 playoff rounds. He deserves all the heat he gets.

Anyone who apologizes for him must've forgotten hockey is about the playoffs and winning the Cup.

Yes, because criticizing Mitch Marner means we want to storm his house in a mob with pitchforks and torches.

Marner has sucked hard in the past 3 post-seasons. He is the highest paid RW in the game but God forbid fans call him out for not elevating his (frank)ing game.

I don't give a (frank) what Mac has to say. I very much doubt he watched every game the Leafs played last playoff. He's just upset that his superstar buddy is feeling so butthurt that some fans are upset. Boo hoo.
- mjones242

Sure ok if you say so man.

Kerfoot played well, 1g 5a for a helluva lot less money than Marner. He's the last player that is a problem on this team.

And Marner, 0g 4a, has $10.9m to buy new tighty whiteys after poopting in them the last 3 playoff rounds. He deserves all the heat he gets.

Anyone who apologizes for him must've forgotten hockey is about the playoffs and winning the Cup.
- Barb34

That was what my point boiled down to. I don't want to get caught up in the Marner debate. It needs to end. He's on the team and we have to hope he can step up if they make the dance this year.
My issue is people (and there are multiple on here) saying he needs to get traded because we need playoff performers while also saying Kerfoot needs to go because he's not all that special during the regular season. It's hypocrital and people need to pick a lane.

Lawler.

I love Nick Diaz, he's got balls coming back from a 6 year layoff and taking a monster like Lawler on out of the gate. Robbie is an absolute beast.

I bet Diaz makes the decision because he's tough AF, but moneys on Lawler battering him.
- joel878

I’ll take Diaz.

I think he just has that X factor and he looks a lot bigger.

Anyways, I hope he wins i have $20 on him.

Marner apologetics have been really sad to witness too.
- mjones242

Has anybody said he was good in the playoffs? The main difference is the conclusion that he will never be good in the playoffs. I’m not convinced of that. It’s possible but others treat it as a given.

The main issue is that the topic has gotten (frank)ing stale. First preseason game of a new year and here we go again.

Kerfoot played well, 1g 5a for a helluva lot less money than Marner. He's the last player that is a problem on this team.

And Marner, 0g 4a, has $10.9m to buy new tighty whiteys after poopting in them the last 3 playoff rounds. He deserves all the heat he gets.

Anyone who apologizes for him must've forgotten hockey is about the playoffs and winning the Cup.
- Barb34

I’ll take my gamble on the guy who lights it up in the regular season year over year being able to figure out how to do it in the playoffs over the guy who goes on a tear in a playoff season once but that’s just me.

I also have patience and continue to be-Leaf.

Zezel - pour me another big old cup of that blue Koolaid brother.

:-)

I just look at the totality of Marner's career and his play and find that I could not comfortably wager against him having some huge playoff performances going forward. So I don't see the point in tweaking about it all summer. The best is yet to come, and that's exciting.

Did you say that out loud?
- bobbyisno1

It’s the only logical response to that troll

That was what my point boiled down to. I don't want to get caught up in the Marner debate. It needs to end. He's on the team and we have to hope he can step up if they make the dance this year.
My issue is people (and there are multiple on here) saying he needs to get traded because we need playoff performers while also saying Kerfoot needs to go because he's not all that special during the regular season. It's hypocrital and people need to pick a lane.
- UsernameUnknown

Marner has to lose the diapers when the playoffs start.

Has anybody said he was good in the playoffs? The main difference is the conclusion that he will never be good in the playoffs. I’m not convinced of that. It’s possible but others treat it as a given.

The main issue is that the topic has gotten (frank)ing stale. First preseason game of a new year and here we go again.
- Canada Cup

No no but 10.9 M, highest paid RW in the game and not enough playoff production means he will forever be the worst.

Stay on topic please.

Yes heavy sarcasm and I too am tired of hearing it.

I too also believe Marner sucked balls in last years playoffs but I really do believe can & will figure it out.

I lived through the Ballard Leaf years I can live through these ones - they are A LOT less painful.

I’ll take my gamble on the guy who lights it up in the regular season year over year being able to figure out how to do it in the playoffs over the guy who goes on a tear in a playoff season once but that’s just me.

I also have patience and continue to be-Leaf.

Zezel - pour me another big old cup of that blue Koolaid brother.

:-)
- Cush29

New take. Hutchinson didn’t hug his Dmen after every whistle. He’s a cancer.

I just look at the totality of Marner's career and his play and find that I could not comfortably wager against him having some huge playoff performances going forward. So I don't see the point in tweaking about it all summer. The best is yet to come, and that's exciting.
- Zezel

Agreed now pass over the jug of that delicious blue stuff we just stomped the Habs tonight in game 8 of the series we got this!

New take. Hutchinson didn’t hug his Dmen after every whistle. He’s a cancer.
- Canada Cup

(frank) the Hutch - bring back the ginger that shall go unnamed.

Agreed now pass over the jug of that delicious blue stuff we just stomped the Habs tonight in game 8 of the series we got this!
- Cush29

Drink up, it's happy hour!

I always said, Leafs in 9.

(frank) the Hutch - bring back the ginger that shall go unnamed.
- Cush29

Sucks for Scott who looked good for a few minutes

Other take: I loved that Cuthbert just gave up on saying SDA’s name and started calling him more SDA.

Other, other take: looking forward to November 4th and 6th. Games against Boston and TBL. Very interested to see what team looks like.

Sucks for Scott who looked good for a few minutes

Other take: I loved that Cuthbert just gave up on saying SDA’s name and started calling him more SDA.

Other, other take: looking forward to November 4th and 6th. Games against Boston and TBL. Very interested to see what team looks like.
- Canada Cup

He did look good. Did they say what happened?


And just to wrap up my Marner diatribe....he has sucked in the playoffs, we all know that, but I pretty sure everyone in here HOPES he doesn't suck any more.

He's an awesome regular season hockey player. So fun to watch. If he pulls it together I'm pretty sure no one will be bagging on him.

If he doesn't, well, then things get kinda (frank)ed.

Lets Go Leafs!!! Do this poop!!!

Sucks for Scott who looked good for a few minutes

Other take: I loved that Cuthbert just gave up on saying SDA’s name and started calling him more SDA.

Other, other take: looking forward to November 4th and 6th. Games against Boston and TBL. Very interested to see what team looks like.
- Canada Cup

Yeah, Scott made 3 saves, and 2 of them were difficult and smoothly done. I hope, for his sake, he can find a way to stay healthy and see where his career can go.

SDA has been underwhelming every time I've seen him - at all levels - for all the praise he's received.

Ya I know, that's why I'm saying "I'm waiting...". I haven't written him off completely but not too impressed either.

Leafs don't seem to develop defensemen or goalies well, not for a while at least.
- Barb34

Dermott is an NHLer. Holl went from ECHL to playing top-4 in the NHL. Both Sandin and Liljegren will be NHLers. They’re better since Dubas and Keefe joined the organization.

Dubas literally went out and got Mcann just to make sure Kerfoot would stay a Leaf.
I don't think he's essential to the roster at all. But I'm saying the team would be worse without him if they only replaced him internally. Which was my argument to Monkeypuck. Cap space is nice, but not if you don't use it properly. I'd rather have Kerfoot in the lineup than take him out to make sure we can fit Gabriel and Liljegren under the cap.
- UsernameUnknown

Dubas correctly deduced that Kerfoot was worth more than Hallander and a 7th. Having said that, I'm willing to bet he would have preferred to have kept McCann. It was a no-brainer asset mgmt move but don't mistake it for confidence in Kerfoot's ability to make this roster better with him than without him.

Mark my words: Kerfoot will be off-loaded at the TDL to bring in an impact player.

Obviously cap space must be utilized correctly; it's a precious commodity and I'm more than certain there are players who are a much better fit on this team than Kerfoot.

I’ll take Diaz.

I think he just has that X factor and he looks a lot bigger.

Anyways, I hope he wins i have $20 on him.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Diaz looks like poop. 🤷🏻‍♂️

You have no right to use "playoff performance issues" as a debating point in your nonsensical Marner's rhetoric, while in the same breath saying Kerfoot brings nothing to the table while being one of our best playoff performers over the past two years. Stop being a hypocrite and pick a side.
- UsernameUnknown

My non-sensical Marner rhetoric? I presented cold hard statistics: 0g10a in his last 18 playoff games. He makes 10.9M or 13.4% of the cap and is the highest paid RW in hockey. He must be one of the best players in any playoff series he plays. In the past 3 off-seasons he has been objectively NOT that.

Kerfoot had a decent post-season against MTL but he wasn't one of our "best" playoff performers against CBJ -- and if he was, that's a pretty (frank)ing low bar to set. As mentioned before, recency bias can be fun though and the idea that suddenly Kerfoot is a legit 2LW is absurd when looking at his career resume.

There's is nothing hypocritical or mutually exclusive in these two statements:

- Mitch Marner has been poop in the playoffs the past 3 seasons and needs to feel the full brunt of criticism for not playing anywhere near his contract or his ability

- Alexander Kerfoot is NOT a 2LW and not ideal at 3C. Despite the small sample set against MTL, he is not what this team needs and his salary makes him very expendable.

Sure ok if you say so man.
- Cush29

So I can't be critical of Marner or disagree with Mac's statement? Okay.