This trade was a win at 50% and a gamble at this price. Jon Ekin knows Murray pretty well so I sure hope he’s right. Murray was very good for 18 of 20 games last year and had two stickers at the end.

Campbell wasn’t an option for me. I don’t think $5 was on the cards and I don’t think he could be a number one guy. Kuemper was going to cost $7.

At $4.7 he’s got to have a good season.
- Canada Cup

Agreed at 50% it was a clear win even with the question marks. Now it's a so-so move with a lot of eyeballs watching more closely.

My concern with this is once you get this sorted, it feels a lot like we are exactly where we started. Small bit of deck chairs moving around, depending on what you can replace Mikheyev with... Maybe even worse.

Dubas gotta have something up his sleeve with the Kerfoot/Holl/Muzzin type salaries, cause its hard see room for improvement as it stands now.
- joel878

I kind of always expected deck chairs this year. The core is the core and I would be surprised if Muzzin or Kerfoot are moved.

I picture him creeping around a funeral home this very second plotting his revenge against Elliott’s Friedman
- Canada Cup

that’s probably pretty accurate..

Preceded by Berger. There can only be one…
- DrunkenCanuck

till he lost his job in the media.

Lucas is a Leafs Homer fan.

They have plenty of money. 6.3 million dollars. Samsonov didn't get qualified and after bonuses was 1.4 million on his ELC. Cap hit was 925k. I don't see him getting some huge number no matter where he goes. Leafs can offer a back up a million easily.

Leafs only need Sandin signed, 2 forwards signed with say 5.3 million. Very doable. Also that's without trading anyone.
- Aaron_85

I'd guess 6.3M with 2 3rd line fwds, Sandin and a back up to sign.

Engvall and Sandin combined ~ $3M. The other 3rd line fwd 1.5ish.

So about 1.5M or less for a back up. Doubt that gets Samsonov.

Could still swap out Holl for a cheaper 6/7 guy and save some $$.

I hope you’re right… I just see that money getting sucked up pretty quick.
- dozerD10

It'll be sucked up. Leafs will be a cap team regardless of who they sign. I don't see them going into the season with more than a few hundred thousand in room.

Also, sucks Gibson didn't want to be traded, specifying in some article not wanting to play for Toronto. What young, rich guy wants to leave cali?

You know though man - sometimes the stars align right. There are goalies that have good years and bad or good few years then bad then a couple good, and so on.

If the Buds can kick out and Murray has a Penguins calibre (not that late season where injury and crease competition rattled him) season they have a real good tender for 4.7! Like I said fingers crossed for rest of summer amd ya never know.
I remember Gilmour Tucker and Mats all made comments during their time on Toronto where they mentioned how sometimes being a place like Toronto can elevate your play and you punch above your weight class. Who’s to say that doesn’t happen with this Ontario boy eh.
- Big23Questions

That's not even really the point of why it's such a bad trade. It's not that Murray is a terrible goalie or can't be a decent goalie again (even if the odds of those are larger than the alternative) - it's that his trade value was basically nothing.

Dubas didn't just lose this trade, he was molested. It's terrible. If there's more to it, I sincerely can't imagine what it is. I mean . . there is nothing that Ottawa could have included that justifies the unaffordable $4.7m salary.

When you go in negotiating from a position of strength and lose the trade? That's something everyone should be taking note of.

My bad…
- dozerD10

go spank yourself in the corner there

I picture him creeping around a funeral home this very second plotting his revenge against Elliott’s Friedman
- Canada Cup

That's not even really the point of why it's such a bad trade. It's not that Murray is a terrible goalie or can't be a decent goalie again (even if the odds of those are larger than the alternative) - it's that his trade value was basically nothing.

Dubas didn't just lose this trade, he was molested. It's terrible. If there's more to it, I sincerely can't imagine what it is. I mean . . there is nothing that Ottawa could have included that justifies the unaffordable $4.7m salary.

When you go in negotiating from a position of strength and lose the trade? That's something everyone should be taking note of.
- Monkeypunk

Molested. Oooof. That's got to be the most damning condemnation of a trade I've ever seen. 🤣

I kind of always expected deck chairs this year. The core is the core and I would be surprised if Muzzin or Kerfoot are moved.
- Aaron_85

I don't think they are moved unless the Leafs are sucking and are out of the playoffs..

this is the hill Dubas will die on

AM 34 has 2 years left before UFA. If that's Leafers window of contention, you've got to have a serious set of stones to spend those two years relying Matt Murray as your goaltender.

Just home from a 6 day backcountry hiking trip. Phone was in the car the whole time.

Anything interesting happening with our Leafs?

My concern with this is once you get this sorted, it feels a lot like we are exactly where we started. Small bit of deck chairs moving around, depending on what you can replace Mikheyev with... Maybe even worse.

Dubas gotta have something up his sleeve with the Kerfoot/Holl/Muzzin type salaries, cause its hard see room for improvement as it stands now.
- joel878

I'm not a fan of this but I'll cling to my optimism. I think we're overthinking this if we think theres more twists and turns coming. Dubas is 100% a believer that they can turn Murray back into the healthy top flight tender he was 3 yrs ago. We get to hope his loyalty pays off.

I kind of always expected deck chairs this year. The core is the core and I would be surprised if Muzzin or Kerfoot are moved.
- Aaron_85

I've kind've always taken the "core" bit as him being cognizant of the idea that there was still some definite changes to be made outside of his top 5-6-7 players. You know? Like he's aware the bottom six got killed in the playoffs, and he's aware the 2nd line is completely stagnant without another top 6 winger.

I still believe there's more at play here then plugging some holes and taking another swing. Because I don't know how you can look at it and choose not to see it, before you even factor in that your job is probably on the line if it doesn't work out.

Especially now that he's hitched his wagon to Matt Murray...

till he lost his job in the media.

Lucas is a Leafs Homer fan.
- dmnted

So that’s who Big Dion->Lucas->Zezel is? Cool.

I'm not a fan of this but I'll cling to my optimism. I think we're overthinking this if we think theres more twists and turns coming. Dubas is 100% a believer that they can turn Murray back into the healthy top flight tender he was 3 yrs ago. We get to hope his loyalty pays off.
- The Law

I agree. But I do think there's some salary in salary out stuff in the cards and not just we have 6.3 million to get a few signings done and round out the roster. That's where my optimism is headed.

I'd guess 6.3M with 2 3rd line fwds, Sandin and a back up to sign.

Engvall and Sandin combined ~ $3M. The other 3rd line fwd 1.5ish.

So about 1.5M or less for a back up. Doubt that gets Samsonov.

Could still swap out Holl for a cheaper 6/7 guy and save some $$.
- The Law

Paging EBUG…

Just home from a 6 day backcountry hiking trip. Phone was in the car the whole time.

Anything interesting happening with our Leafs?
- fifty__missions

You scored a big name cup winning goalie!

That's not even really the point of why it's such a bad trade. It's not that Murray is a terrible goalie or can't be a decent goalie again (even if the odds of those are larger than the alternative) - it's that his trade value was basically nothing.

Dubas didn't just lose this trade, he was molested. It's terrible. If there's more to it, I sincerely can't imagine what it is. I mean . . there is nothing that Ottawa could have included that justifies the unaffordable $4.7m salary.

When you go in negotiating from a position of strength and lose the trade? That's something everyone should be taking note of.
- Monkeypunk

I think you're being over negative about the trade. It's another 1.6 million? If they retained the full 50%. Dubas legit gave up "future considerations" and got a 3rd round pick, in a draft that people call extremely deep. (A lot of talking heads consider the 3rd round picks to be worth at least a 2nd for 2023).

It isn't a molestation. Currently the leafs won the trade if you use the common adage, the team wins who got the best player in the deal. So far that's Murray.

I think you're being over negative about the trade. It's another 1.6 million? If they retained the full 50%. Dubas legit gave up "future considerations" and got a 3rd round pick, in a draft that people call extremely deep. (A lot of talking heads consider the 3rd round picks to be worth at least a 2nd for 2023).

It isn't a molestation. Currently the leafs won the trade if you use the common adage, the team wins who got the best player in the deal. So far that's Murray.

- Aaron_85

If the ask is for me to believe that this wasn't a bad deal at a crucial time, and Matt Murray can be the guy here and the Leafs can go deep as a result... I mean yeah (frank) it I can do that. I'm sure I've believed in dumber poop over the last 30 years as a leaf fan. I give you the entire Brian Burke/Ron Wilson era for example. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I'd guess 6.3M with 2 3rd line fwds, Sandin and a back up to sign.

Engvall and Sandin combined ~ $3M. The other 3rd line fwd 1.5ish.

So about 1.5M or less for a back up. Doubt that gets Samsonov.

Could still swap out Holl for a cheaper 6/7 guy and save some $$.
- The Law

That’s not viable. They need a couple of Marlie forwards to perform and they need Holl and at least one other contract moved out to be reallocated somehow. Stolarz is only $950K next year btw, in case the Ducks can’t move Gibson

If the ask is for me to believe that this wasn't a bad deal at a crucial time, and Matt Murray can be the guy here and the Leafs can go deep as a result... I mean yeah (frank) it I can do that. I'm sure I've believed in dumber poop over the last 30 years as a leaf fan. I give you the entire Brian Burke/Ron Wilson era for example. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

"LETS GO!" lol

I am not suggesting anyone not be skeptical about it. Just to be give it at least some games before we fully judge.

"LETS GO!" lol

I am not suggesting anyone not be skeptical about it. Just to be give it at least some games before we fully judge.
- Aaron_85

Unless he’s completely broken, he’s a better goalie than Campbell. The problem is that he might be broken. $4.7 is a lot to pay to find out.

True.

It is not like there were any Vasilevskiy's available either.
- Aetherial

It's the direction the league is heading in. Two schmucks riding tandem. It's all about filling the net more than the other team. Remember playoffs being 2-1 or 3-2 games? This year we saw blowout after blowout and when it wasn't a blowout it was 6-5 or 5-4 games.