The Leafs year over year Cap dilemma is nauseating. Time to start thinking out of the box and start truly trying to build a long term contender. Do you think they can keep Nylander at $9.5M long term, once his contract expires? Do you think Matthews isn't going for the $14M+ contract, once Pasternak gets his payday, after what McKinnon received? I'm going to get blowback here, but this is what needs to happen, if the Leafs go out in the first round again, this year:

Start the auction on Matthews, if he decides to go to the max. Take the assets and the draft picks, like the haul that Colorado received from the Lindros trade, while in Quebec City. Build up your farm system, keep the rest of your assets and trade for a good number 2 centre behind Tavares, Start peeling back on players like Rielly and get a good return and stop drafting midgets to the roster. If Matthews is a real team player, then he should give back a hometown discount and sign for around $12M long term. Bock at that, then send him to auction. Same goes for Marner and Nylander. You can't win if your top players are maxing out contracts. Boston does well because their players get paid well, but not max contracts, leaving room to pick up secondary players that keep them near the top. Time for the brat pack of Leafs wannabee playoff contenders to suck it up, or go elsewhere.

As a Leafs fan, who saw them win a Cup, when I was 9 years old, I'm now a senior citizen. 56 years without even an appearance in the finals is a disgrace and it's time that something was done about it. Flame on Weafers........
- PrinceLH

Boston has one Cup since the in the last 50 years so I don't know if they have some magic formula that nobody else has figured out.

Guys like Jenner or Domi don’t put this team over the top. 🤮

5 - 4 Rangers, maybe in Overtime. Samsonov will see around 38 shots. Matthews and Marner will be non factors, as they sleep walk through this game. Leafs will get at least 1 goal from the bottom 2 lines and 1 goal from their defense. Their powerplay will go 0 - 4, while the Rangers go 2 - 5.

I once met Harold Ballard in the early 1980's. He was an ignoramus and his boorish behaviour was disgusting. I was at Maple Leaf Gardens, in 1971, the night that Stafford Smythe died. That was the beginning of the Ballard era. Little did I know, or understand what the future would be. I sat in the stands, and watched the Sittler/McDonald/Salming era. Ballard made life difficult for the Leafs management to make proper moves and that team fell apart by the end of the 70's. The 80's was almost a write-off with a hand-full of playoff appearances. Those Leafs teams were sub .500 for the most part. Sure, they won playoff rounds, but playing in the Western Conference was a drag. Ballard received more revenue from the league for being in the Western Conference. Who cares if you had to stay up until 1am to see a road game, during the regular season. It was a joke and not a fun one. Only through his death, did the Leafs finally become competitive again. Thank God for Steve Stavros. If you have nothing good to say about the dead, then best say nothing. I say nothing, when it comes to the Life and Times of Harold Ballard.
- PrinceLH

Huh?

The classic Leafs Nation solution is to trade away your best players. Brilliant.

Well we all know it's not. So you're finally ready to put Knies on the table?

For reference some US reports say Devils have Holtz, a first, plus on the table and that they'll get to negotiate a long term extension with Meier. Holtz = Knies.

The price is high for him! ...and probably for Horvat too. Big pieces and extensions.

Who do we like in the pure rental market? Kane, RoR, Bertuzzi, ...
- The Law

I like RoR the most personally. Bertuzzi is interesting but I thought he kind of has a salty attitude about playing in Canada? So who knows?

I think Knies only gets on the table if its a guy with term coming back. And given the Leafs Cap sitch it'd have to be affordable term. Konecny, Chychrun/Crouse, or guys like that - but don't see it happening.

I think we end up landing on a first rounder + for a rental. RoR maybe or Bertuzzi ..or someone like that?
- The Law

Agreed
But i also think knies is a little overrated in leafs land

Boston has one Cup since the in the last 50 years so I don't know if they have some magic formula that nobody else has figured out.
- Zezel

Many more trips to the finals. They finished lower than us, in the standings last year, but retooled on the fly. We just put bandaids on the scratches and move forward. They get top 6 parts, we get scraps that are either gone in the next year, or ineffective. See Laboosh.....or Blackwell.......

The classic Leafs Nation solution is to trade away your best players. Brilliant.
- Zezel

The classic Leafs nation solution is to overpay and fail in the playoffs.

Well we all know it's not. So you're finally ready to put Knies on the table?

For reference some US reports say Devils have Holtz, a first, plus on the table and that they'll get to negotiate a long term extension with Meier. Holtz = Knies.

The price is high for him! ...and probably for Horvat too. Big pieces and extensions.

Who do we like in the pure rental market? Kane, RoR, Bertuzzi, ...
- The Law

I put Topi on the table and then just run down the list of best available/best (UFAs, RFAs and term). ROR is the one guy on your list I don’t go after.

SJ hasn’t given permission to talk to Meier. Obviously that could change.

Well we all know it's not. So you're finally ready to put Knies on the table?

For reference some US reports say Devils have Holtz, a first, plus on the table and that they'll get to negotiate a long term extension with Meier. Holtz = Knies.

The price is high for him! ...and probably for Horvat too. Big pieces and extensions.

Who do we like in the pure rental market? Kane, RoR, Bertuzzi, ...
- The Law

Ror predicts to be another overpayment in the waiting. I like what he was...this year meh.

I like how a top team in the league for a number of years now isn't considered a long term contender. They've been a contender for a number of years. Because they fail and under perform in the playoffs, doesn't make them not a contender in my opinion and definition.

I'd go a step further and instead of worrying about "long term" how about they win something. I'd trade a cup for 10 years of poop. Give me Carolina's history in the past 20 years.
- Aaron_85

You need to actually contend to be a contender. Losing year on year in rnd. 1 does not make you a contender.

Many more trips to the finals. They finished lower than us, in the standings last year, but retooled on the fly. We just put bandaids on the scratches and move forward. They get top 6 parts, we get scraps that are either gone in the next year, or ineffective. See Laboosh.....or Blackwell.......
- PrinceLH

Still not convinced by the trade your best players idea.

You need to actually contend to be a contender. Losing year on year in rnd. 1 does not make you a contender.
- fifty__missions

We can agree to disagree on the definition

The classic Leafs nation solution is to overpay and fail in the playoffs.
- PrinceLH

What's past is prologue my dude.

You need to actually contend to be a contender. Losing year on year in rnd. 1 does not make you a contender.
- fifty__missions

Sure it does.

Ror predicts to be another overpayment in the waiting. I like what he was...this year meh.
- Fakepartofme

Normally I would agree but I feel like he could be someone similar to Manson being traded. Lots of talk of him not being good anymore last year and he showed everyone we were wrong after being traded. RoR could be the same. But for me, he's at best a 1st round pick and a prospect like Robertson (if he wasn't injured) or maybe Nimela.

I like RoR the most personally. Bertuzzi is interesting but I thought he kind of has a salty attitude about playing in Canada? So who knows?
- Aaron_85

Bertuzzi was salty about Canada due to the Vax mandate and not being able to travel here during that time. RoR would solve a couple of problems, but if the cost is too much, forget about it. Maybe a package of Sandin, Robertson and a 3rd gets you Chychrun. Sandin and Knies for Chychrun and a 4th coming back may works too.

The classic Leafs nation solution is to overpay and fail in the playoffs.
- PrinceLH

And your solution is to get rid of any player who doesn’t agree to play for less than he’s worth because he’s not a “team player”.

Bertuzzi was salty about Canada due to the Vax mandate and not being able to travel here during that time. RoR would solve a couple of problems, but if the cost is too much, forget about it. Maybe a package of Sandin, Robertson and a 3rd gets you Chychrun. Sandin and Knies for Chychrun and a 4th coming back may works too.
- PrinceLH

The reported asking price for Chychrun is what Vegas gave up for Jack Eichel.

Sure it does.
- Zezel

Actually it doesn't make you a contender....it makes you an overpriced joke. Enough of 50 weeks of adventure, 2 weeks of ecstasy and a bad trip after game 7 of round 1.

Normally I would agree but I feel like he could be someone similar to Manson being traded. Lots of talk of him not being good anymore last year and he showed everyone we were wrong after being traded. RoR could be the same. But for me, he's at best a 1st round pick and a prospect like Robertson (if he wasn't injured) or maybe Nimela.
- Aaron_85

Just not willing to pay a first and Niemela for a “hope he gets better”.

You need to actually contend to be a contender. Losing year on year in rnd. 1 does not make you a contender.
- fifty__missions

The leafs are cup contenders just like the 16th ranked team that gets into the playoffs are "cup" contenders.
Until they get past a round

And your solution is to get rid of any player who doesn’t agree to play for less than he’s worth because he’s not a “team player”.
- Canada Cup

You get paid on results. It isn't about MVP, or Richard trophies....it's about winning! All of this other stuff is just the mashed potatoes beside the striploin. You're paying the $35 bucks for the striploin dinner, not the mashed potatoes on the side.

Actually it doesn't make you a contender....it makes you an overpriced joke. Enough of 50 weeks of adventure, 2 weeks of ecstasy and a bad trip after game 7 of round 1.
- PrinceLH

The Leafs are obviously a top contender, to deny that is bizarre, nonsensical silliness.