They’re surprisingly bad. Especially the goaltending.
- shack67

yeah, he sure hasn't been his own elite self this season.

If I had to bet money I'd still pick the Rangers to make the playoffs. Lots of season left.

Poor excuse imo, Leafs have missed half their blue line and both starters for most of the season and they are fine. Leafs are better than the caps but still.

They were a bubble playoff team going into the year that had to ride on Kuemper to be anything more than that. The injuries are causing them to be below a bubble team but the season is getting close to lost.

You know they aim to be competitive for as long as Ovi is here...but this year I think you sell and grab some prospects for post Ovi and then use all that cap space to sign players for the Ovi window.
- Santo_44

I dunno. Is it a poor excuse to miss your HOF 2nd line centre, your PPG most intimidating power forward in the game, your 2nd best defenseman and a newly acquired 3rd line two-way hopeful and be an almost .500 club?

The Leafs and the rally behind the defense and goalie losses have been amazing and worthy of all the praise we've been giving them since November.

We can agree to disagree. I think they can go into the luxury tax if needed for that stuff. We had quality starters and they didn't win us a playoff game this year. As much as I like Manoah, he didn't get it done...Could you imagine Verlander too?! Again, on a short contract I'd do it. Not long term.
- Aaron_85

Monah didnt get it done in what was his 1st or 2nd playoff game...much like verlander didn't really get it done in his career of playoff games until last year.
Bullpen and some bad defensive plays lost the jays game 2 during that choke.

If I had to bet money I'd still pick the Rangers to make the playoffs. Lots of season left.
- Zezel

2 pts out of a wild card. Doable for sure.

If I had to bet money I'd still pick the Rangers to make the playoffs. Lots of season left.
- Zezel

Yup, agreed.
They can easily turn it around

I dunno. Is it a poor excuse to miss your HOF 2nd line centre, your PPG most intimidating power forward in the game, your 2nd best defenseman and a newly acquired 3rd line two-way hopeful and be an almost .500 club?

The Leafs and the rally behind the defense and goalie losses have been amazing and worthy of all the praise we've been giving them since November.
- AdamFrench

It hurts for sure...but teams have injuries.

My point is they haven't been good and getting players back maybe put them in the middle of the pack which isnt enough to get the back into the playoffs.

Poor excuse imo, Leafs have missed half their blue line and both starters for most of the season and they are fine. Leafs are better than the caps but still.

They were a bubble playoff team going into the year that had to ride on Kuemper to be anything more than that. The injuries are causing them to be below a bubble team but the season is getting close to lost.

You know they aim to be competitive for as long as Ovi is here...but this year I think you sell and grab some prospects for post Ovi and then use all that cap space to sign players for the Ovi window.(Tarasenko?)

Orlov, Hathaway, Jensen, Eller gets you some good value...Head into FA and spend.
- Santo_44

I don't see why they'd rebuild while having Ovi for 3 years beyond this one. I also don't see why Orlov would be traded unless they thought he was coming back as a free agent with again, Ovi signed for 3 years beyond this one they will want to be competitive and as we know, buying a team in free agency isn't the way to do it.

I do agree they would trim some cost soon or recoup some assets with trading the likes of Eller and Hathaway.

I don't see why they'd rebuild while having Ovi for 3 years beyond this one. I also don't see why Orlov would be traded unless they thought he was coming back as a free agent with again, Ovi signed for 3 years beyond this one they will want to be competitive and as we know, buying a team in free agency isn't the way to do it.

I do agree they would trim some cost soon or recoup some assets with trading the likes of Eller and Hathaway.
- Aaron_85

I didnt say they would rebuild. I said they should sell off their UFA's and go into FA with a bunch of cap room and sign players for the Ovi window.

Its not the way to do it but if we are talking the right way to do it its to rebuild...which they won't do so they will do what they can to remain competitive.

Jensen likely isnt returning.

Orlov maybe...but also if he really likes it in Washington they can trade him as a rental and re sign him in free agency. This isn't a situation where a team is selling into a rebuild...its a sell and come talk to us in the offseason because we still want to be good.

For what its worth Hathaway is a perfect add for the Leafs.

I don't see why they'd rebuild while having Ovi for 3 years beyond this one. I also don't see why Orlov would be traded unless they thought he was coming back as a free agent with again, Ovi signed for 3 years beyond this one they will want to be competitive and as we know, buying a team in free agency isn't the way to do it.

I do agree they would trim some cost soon or recoup some assets with trading the likes of Eller and Hathaway.
- Aaron_85

Agreed, while they have have ovi, i dont see them doing a rebuild. Unless ovi were to be moved as well.

I didnt say they would rebuild. I said they should sell off their UFA's and go into FA with a bunch of cap room and sign players for the Ovi window.

Its not the way to do it but if we are talking the right way to do it its to rebuild...which they won't do so they will do what they can to remain competitive.

Jensen likely isnt returning.

Orlov maybe...but also if he really likes it in Washington they can trade him as a rental and re sign him in free agency. This isn't a situation where a team is selling into a rebuild...its a sell and come talk to us in the offseason because we still want to be good.

For what its worth Hathaway is a perfect add for the Leafs.
- Santo_44

Except this quote would indicate a rebuild

but this year I think you sell and grab some prospects for post Ovi

You aren't getting good prospects for "post Ovi" from 4th rounders in Eller and Hathaway deals. As I said, the "likes" of them so Jensen or Irwin or anyone else they don't plan to resign in the off season.

I doubt Orlov is moved.

yeah, he sure hasn't been his own elite self this season.
- 21peter

Goaltending throughout the league is just ok. The days of big money goalies are dead I think.
As for the Rangers laf will probably get it going but Kakko is slipping into the bust category.

Except this quote would indicate a rebuild


You aren't getting good prospects for "post Ovi" from 4th rounders in Eller and Hathaway deals. As I said, the "likes" of them so Jensen or Irwin or anyone else they don't plan to resign in the off season.

I doubt Orlov is moved.
- Aaron_85

No it does not. Getting prospects for expiring contracts for post ovi in a lost season is not rebuilding.

Said contracts lose all value beyond this season, meaning they get value in a lost season and focus on adding in the offseason.

Orlov and Jensen both bring back good hauls, and they should trade them. Makes zero sense unless they sign them now which they haven't yet.

You are undervaluing Hathaway, he gets D zone starts and similar defensive results to Kampf. He hits a bunch and can score a bit. He gets close to a Jarnkrok return last TDL.

No it does not. Getting prospects for expiring contracts for post ovi in a lost season is not rebuilding.

Said contracts lose all value beyond this season, meaning they get value in a lost season and focus on adding in the offseason.

Orlov and Jensen both bring back good hauls, and they should trade them. Makes zero sense unless they sign them now which they haven't yet.

You are undervaluing Hathaway, he gets D zone starts and similar defensive results to Kampf. He hits a bunch and can score a bit. He gets close to a Jarnkrok return last TDL.
- Santo_44

Goaltending throughout the league is just ok. The days of big money goalies are dead I think.
As for the Rangers laf will probably get it going but Kakko is slipping into the bust category.
- shack67

Yeah their prospects haven't been what they fully expected, thankfully they got a great tender and signed a few top guys like Panarin.

- Aaron_85

Yeah their prospects haven't been what they fully expected, thankfully they got a great tender and signed a few top guys like Panarin.
- Aaron_85

When Kakko was drafted he was labeled as the most nhl ready by the scouts. I’ll say one thing about the leafs, when we tanked we hit home runs on our first round picks.

When Kakko was drafted he was labeled as the most nhl ready by the scouts. I’ll say one thing about the leafs, when we tanked we hit home runs on our first round picks.
- shack67

Yeah I said that the other day too. As leaf fans we have had a pile of first round picks turn out as players since Rielly and Kadri. Considering teams are lucky to get a couple out of them, leafs got like 5 or 6.

Yeah I said that the other day too. As leaf fans we have had a pile of first round picks turn out as players since Rielly and Kadri. Considering teams are lucky to get a couple out of them, leafs got like 5 or 6.
- Aaron_85

The only no-brainer was Matthews. On the others there were a lot of complete busts that were picked in the same draft class.

You walked yourself right into this one.
Take a look at the teams that actually *win* Stanley Cups. It's not about penalties. All of those teams, a hell of a lot douchier , grittier, and capable of playing when the game gets taken into the alley than our Leafs.
- fifty__missions

Sad old man take. It's a different world out there; try to keep up.

And in case you haven't been paying attention, all of our attempts at gritty dudes never panned out: Simmonds, Clifford, Martin, etc. all have had a negative effect every time they stepped out on the ice and did nothing to prevent liberties being taken.

And again, because I don't think you're watching or you're too busy crushing Bud Lights and hugging your Clark sweater to pay attention, the Leafs had no problem rising above the noise against Tampa last year or Montreal the year before: in no way shape or form did our team play scared; this is a fantasy narrative you've fabricated to meet your old man agenda.

The only no-brainer was Matthews. On the others there were a lot of complete busts that were picked in the same draft class.
- shack67

We got the best Nylander brother.


We did not get the best Robertson brother.

Rangers have a team signed long term. They have two first rounders this year and few other picks. I don't see them doing much this year, just an "off" year and fill around the edges again come the off season.

So Voracek is done for the year in Columbus. I don't see why they care to keep Nyquist until the deadline. Might as well try to save a few million on payroll and trade him sooner than later. Gavrikov might have a higher deadline value though.

new blog everyone

Goaltending throughout the league is just ok. The days of big money goalies are dead I think.
As for the Rangers laf will probably get it going but Kakko is slipping into the bust category.
- shack67

honestly; it has actually looked like the opposite is more likely to happen

Goaltending throughout the league is just ok. The days of big money goalies are dead I think.
As for the Rangers laf will probably get it going but Kakko is slipping into the bust category.
- shack67

A big money goalie just won a cup 2 years ago