Because they have led you to the playoffs?
- Rang

No because they have heart to take us by playoff rounds when we do lol

Goaltending is a concern, always.

Of greater concern is whether or not Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares can translate their games to the playoffs, finally.
- Aetherial

Tampa looks a little different this year. But, with them you can never know if they'll just "flip a switch" and turn it on.

Reminds me of the wings team from 10+ years ago.

I am not sure how the focus got on Matthews vs Tkachuk as they play different brands of hockey, but I’ll take a stab.

Matthews has had the better career. No doubt. Not much of an argument can be made. With that said, based on this year, it’s interesting.
Matthews
G:32
A:38
PPP:23
SOG:263
HIT:72
BLK:84
+/=:+31

Tkachuk
G:30
A:41
PPP:25
SOG:285
HIT:201
BLK:9
+/- :-11

From a traditional stats standpoint, Tkachuk leads 4 of the 7 categories this season. Mind you, Matthews has 7 less games played so it’s entirely conceivable that Matthews would take every category minus hits, but it would still be close.

Matthews is making 11.6 mill per and is up for contract in 2024. Brady will be making 8.2 until 2028. It’s not inconceivable for Matthews to demand over 12-13 mill per in a years’ time. That’s essentially the sum of the Tkachuk and Batherson deals combined.

Matthews is an elite goal scorer. He will likely put up more 60 goal years in his career. His shooting percentage is 3 points down from his career average, which is significant for a goal scorer. Sens fans just have to look at Debrincat for that.

Brady has a physical element to his game that Matthews doesn’t have but doesn’t have the finishing ability that Matthews has. If I had to pick one guy to build around without any other contract considerations, it’s likely Matthews. However, it is not by as much as one might initially think. When you take contract situations into account, things could certainly be different. I am quite happy to not have to encounter Matthew’s contract negotiations for a team that is already right up to the cap ceiling.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Brady having a career year and Matthews having a down one(injury) and those are the stats you pick. Matthews scored 40 as a rookie ffs. There’s a very good reason why he’s being paid more. Now if you would rather not have superstars because of their contracts, fine. But good luck winning without them.

Brady having a career year and Matthews having a down one(injury) and those are the stats you pick. Matthews scored 40 as a rookie ffs. There’s a very good reason why he’s being paid more. Now if you would rather not have superstars because of their contracts, fine. But good luck winning without them.
- shack67

Oh we have Stutzle and Sanderson Tkachuk Norris Batherson Chabot Giroux Pinto Chychrun we don’t need superstars 🙄
We need a better system and #1 Goalie lol

Brady having a career year and Matthews having a down one(injury) and those are the stats you pick. Matthews scored 40 as a rookie ffs. There’s a very good reason why he’s being paid more. Now if you would rather not have superstars because of their contracts, fine. But good luck winning without them.
- shack67

Reading comprehension check:

Acknowledged injury (7 less games) – check
Acknowledged down year (shooting percentage) -check
Acknowledged past seasons success (60 goal year) - check
Acknowledged Matthews over Brady to build a team – check

Sooner or later, you have to look at contracts. Toronto has Nylander up for contact at the same time as Matthews. He will need a significant raise. You’ll have Marner and Tavares making coin. Toronto hasn’t won squat with the contacts they currently have. If they don’t perform well this coming postseason, they will need a new strategy. That can certainly include superstars but maybe sacrifice one to fill another hole.

I’m quite comfy with Stutzle being this team’s superstar at 8.3 mill per until 2031.

Oh we have Stutzle and Sanderson Tkachuk Norris Batherson Chabot Giroux Pinto Chychrun we don’t need superstars 🙄
We need a better system and #1 Goalie lol
- sens4life1971

Stu will be on his way to being a superstar. The others are just vary levels of a ‘star.

As posted by @BigHeadHcky on Twitter, Stutzle is on pace to reach 40 goals and 90 points. Only 5 other players have managed this under the age of 21 in the post-lockout era in the NHL and the names are quite impressive:
- Alex Ovechkin
- Evgeni Malkin
- Eric Staal
- Steven Stamkos
- Connor McDavid

No Matthews or Tkachuk in there. Stu will be a special one.

Arguably not when the winger is making 8.25 for the next 6 seasons versus the centre who will hamstring the team's cap by earning 14+ a year on his next deal. Add the uncertainty that AM walked to UFA and holds all the cards whether or not he stays. Plus vis a vis locker room presence you've got a skilled emotional firecracker versus a highly skilled mannequin. Skill wise, player for player, there's a case to be made. Character and contract is a different story - I'll take the man child
- Bartacus

What like how everyone said the current contracts would handcuff the team and they've only gotten better?

No because they have heart to take us by playoff rounds when we do lol
- sens4life1971

You're assuming and hoping. Yet to be proven if he can get them there

Reading comprehension check:

Acknowledged injury (7 less games) – check
Acknowledged down year (shooting percentage) -check
Acknowledged past seasons success (60 goal year) - check
Acknowledged Matthews over Brady to build a team – check

Sooner or later, you have to look at contracts. Toronto has Nylander up for contact at the same time as Matthews. He will need a significant raise. You’ll have Marner and Tavares making coin. Toronto hasn’t won squat with the contacts they currently have. If they don’t perform well this coming postseason, they will need a new strategy. That can certainly include superstars but maybe sacrifice one to fill another hole.

I’m quite comfy with Stutzle being this team’s superstar at 8.3 mill per until 2031.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Mentioning Tkachuk in the same breath as Matthews is just ridiculous fanboy worship. I guess his brother is right up there with McDavid when you consider contracts and intangibles.

What like how everyone said the current contracts would handcuff the team and they've only gotten better?
- Aaron_85

Not arguing that AM is the better player here - but contracts do matter. Dubas has managed to eke out a solid roster with some incredible top heavy pressure, in no small part by filling bottom roles for pennies on the dollar with homer deals like Spezza, Giordano, Bunting, and Simmonds. IMO the Tavares signing value put a lot of upward pressure on contracts. When the big 3 deals lapse, those performing players are going to want more. Unless the cap starts heading north very soon, the cap crunch in Toronto is going to get real as soon as this offseason with Bunting, Holl, Kampf, and Kerfoot UFAs and the impending extensions to Nylander and Matthews on the horizon. Dubas has managed it reasonably well so far - if he's still there come July, he has an unenviable task.

Not arguing that AM is the better player here - but contracts do matter. Dubas has managed to eke out a solid roster with some incredible top heavy pressure, in no small part by filling bottom roles for pennies on the dollar with homer deals like Spezza, Giordano, Bunting, and Simmonds. IMO the Tavares signing value put a lot of upward pressure on contracts. When the big 3 deals lapse, those performing players are going to want more. Unless the cap starts heading north very soon, the cap crunch in Toronto is going to get real as soon as this offseason with Bunting, Holl, Kampf, and Kerfoot UFAs and the impending extensions to Nylander and Matthews on the horizon. Dubas has managed it reasonably well so far - if he's still there come July, he has an unenviable task.
- Bartacus

It will be interesting going forth. Salary retention has increased significantly in the past year. With amount of movement clauses out there and the desirability of the Leafs for some players, the Leafs might be able to pull off a few more O’Reilly deals type deals down the line. However, you can’t have another NHL retain any money extending current players.

It’s a big year for the Leafs. They need to get out of round 1. I am not sure you can go forth with the current group if they bow out early again. They have the tools to have a team for a Cup run.

Not arguing that AM is the better player here - but contracts do matter. Dubas has managed to eke out a solid roster with some incredible top heavy pressure, in no small part by filling bottom roles for pennies on the dollar with homer deals like Spezza, Giordano, Bunting, and Simmonds. IMO the Tavares signing value put a lot of upward pressure on contracts. When the big 3 deals lapse, those performing players are going to want more. Unless the cap starts heading north very soon, the cap crunch in Toronto is going to get real as soon as this offseason with Bunting, Holl, Kampf, and Kerfoot UFAs and the impending extensions to Nylander and Matthews on the horizon. Dubas has managed it reasonably well so far - if he's still there come July, he has an unenviable task.
- Bartacus

These same sentiments were said when they signed the first deals and that was without knowing a flat cap would happen. I suspect, with things the way they are, they will navigate them just fine.

Either way if Dubas is here and the leafs are unsuccessful he has a lot of UFA's to walk away and get a new look to the team. A new GM comes in and gets the same thing. Can let the "failures" walk. No issue letting the UFA's of the depth go.

Contracts do matter but I think Matthews vs Thachuk isn't fair. Tkachuk isn't a center. More value is already placed on that position + Hart and 60 goals. I'd rather debate Tkachuk and Marner as at least both are wingers. That has more merit to me. It's at least debatable.


edit: I can't spell tkachuk for the life of me so I am sorry for misspelling it. It isn't on purpose! I can't remember!

Oh we have Stutzle and Sanderson Tkachuk Norris Batherson Chabot Giroux Pinto Chychrun we don’t need superstars 🙄
We need a better system and #1 Goalie lol
- sens4life1971

You mean the same Chychrun that has 9 games as a sen and 4 points? Along with 6 losses (5 straight)? Arizona is 6 - 3 in those same 9 games.

These same sentiments were said when they signed the first deals and that was without knowing a flat cap would happen. I suspect, with things the way they are, they will navigate them just fine.

Either way if Dubas is here and the leafs are unsuccessful he has a lot of UFA's to walk away and get a new look to the team. A new GM comes in and gets the same thing. Can let the "failures" walk. No issue letting the UFA's of the depth go.

Contracts do matter but I think Matthews vs Thachuk isn't fair. Tkachuk isn't a center. More value is already placed on that position + Hart and 60 goals. I'd rather debate Tkachuk and Marner as at least both are wingers. That has more merit to me. It's at least debatable.


edit: I can't spell tkachuk for the life of me so I am sorry for misspelling it. It isn't on purpose! I can't remember!
- Aaron_85

I usually say Brady when discussing Tkachuk due to spelling. I think the Senators try to get players I can’t spell of pronounce on purpose, Stu, Chy, etc.

I am not sure why Matthews/Tkachuk started. It’s not even like Matthews is the captain (for finding similarities). I find Stu/Matthews more compelling. More similarities and as you say, same positions. Call it fanboy worship all you want, but the season he is having, at his age, with the contract he has, is insanely exciting.

I usually say Brady when discussing Tkachuk due to spelling. I think the Senators try to get players I can’t spell of pronounce on purpose, Stu, Chy, etc.

I am not sure why Matthews/Tkachuk started. It’s not even like Matthews is the captain (for finding similarities). I find Stu/Matthews more compelling. More similarities and as you say, same positions. Call it fanboy worship all you want, but the season he is having, at his age, with the contract he has, is insanely exciting.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think this is an accurate perspective.

Surprised that there are not more comments on the choke issues faced in the Toronto hockey culture.

I like size and toughness for the playoffs.

For a long time now, Leafs have the same problem by game 7. In every first round match up, they have nothing left. Teams know ff you pound on them physically, they start to become no shows as you deeper into the the series. Even more important, they lack depth. If you hold their top 4 skaters in check, their structure always collapses and they begin to panic.

I don't know if

These same sentiments were said when they signed the first deals and that was without knowing a flat cap would happen. I suspect, with things the way they are, they will navigate them just fine.

Either way if Dubas is here and the leafs are unsuccessful he has a lot of UFA's to walk away and get a new look to the team. A new GM comes in and gets the same thing. Can let the "failures" walk. No issue letting the UFA's of the depth go.

Contracts do matter but I think Matthews vs Thachuk isn't fair. Tkachuk isn't a center. More value is already placed on that position + Hart and 60 goals. I'd rather debate Tkachuk and Marner as at least both are wingers. That has more merit to me. It's at least debatable.

- Aaron_85

The Leafs wouldn't be suffering from any cap criticism at all without COVID, as we'd have a cap hit north of 7M+ higher right now. For the Leafs to maintain their level of competitiveness with a flat cap is a testament to how well the team is managed. That said, without a serious injection of cap flexibility, this team may have to trade out proven talent for lesser, more affordable pieces. Additional moves like this deadline's will be further hampered given the team has almost no good draft capital for the next 3 years - 5 picks out of 16 in rounds 1-4 of the next 3 drafts: two low firsts, zero seconds, 2 thirds and a fourth. Moves to date clearly show Dubas is striking while the iron is hot and pushing his chips in. It's do or die time in Toronto these next two years.

The Leafs wouldn't be suffering from any cap criticism at all without COVID, as we'd have a cap hit north of 7M+ higher right now. For the Leafs to maintain their level of competitiveness with a flat cap is a testament to how well the team is managed. That said, without a serious injection of cap flexibility, this team may have to trade out proven talent for lesser, more affordable pieces. Additional moves like this deadline's will be further hampered given the team has almost no good draft capital for the next 3 years - 5 picks out of 16 in rounds 1-4 of the next 3 drafts: two low firsts, zero seconds, 2 thirds and a fourth. Moves to date clearly show Dubas is striking while the iron is hot and pushing his chips in. It's do or die time in Toronto these next two years.
- Bartacus

Good post man. Covid came at the worst possible time for the leafs.

The Leafs wouldn't be suffering from any cap criticism at all without COVID, as we'd have a cap hit north of 7M+ higher right now. For the Leafs to maintain their level of competitiveness with a flat cap is a testament to how well the team is managed. That said, without a serious injection of cap flexibility, this team may have to trade out proven talent for lesser, more affordable pieces. Additional moves like this deadline's will be further hampered given the team has almost no good draft capital for the next 3 years - 5 picks out of 16 in rounds 1-4 of the next 3 drafts: two low firsts, zero seconds, 2 thirds and a fourth. Moves to date clearly show Dubas is striking while the iron is hot and pushing his chips in. It's do or die time in Toronto these next two years.
- Bartacus

Again, they've already done this. They have moved out pieces and added in cheaper players. Hyman went and they brought in Bunting as an example. They will simply do the same thing if thats what is called for.

They still have Knies, Robertson and hope he does fine, Amirov who was a first round pick too. They have a couple fine prospects and young players like Timmins and Liljegren. Its a contending team. The draft picks for the next few years dont matter.

I think this is an accurate perspective.

Surprised that there are not more comments on the choke issues faced in the Toronto hockey culture.

I like size and toughness for the playoffs.

For a long time now, Leafs have the same problem by game 7. In every first round match up, they have nothing left. Teams know ff you pound on them physically, they start to become no shows as you deeper into the the series. Even more important, they lack depth. If you hold their top 4 skaters in check, their structure always collapses and they begin to panic.

I don't know if
- spatso

If there is going to be comparison of past teams to current or future teams then the senators have to be compared with the culture of "not making the playoffs".

A lot of people have posted in this blog talking about making to the playoffs but theres no talk of the culture of failing at it and it affecting all these players. What is the team going to do if they miss again?

I remember when Toronto signed Tavares. I thought it was a bad move. I really like Tavares but it was not what they needed. They needed D and G. To make matters worse Covid makes it impossible for them to even hold onto guys like Hyman.

Dubas just got totally screwed. Who could have predicted that?

I really really really want the Cup to come back to Canada. I won't lie. Toronto is way way down at the bottom of my list of Canadian based teams that I would want to be that team and it would pain me but I would cheer if they could do it. I just don't think they can.

They have an awesome top 6 and a bit on D but not nearly enough depth and extremely questionable goaltending.

I think Ottawa is much better positioned to do the trick with the team they have. They need a goalie, a guy like Mattias Ekholm on the right side and a couple of 5 million dollar guys for their top nine. They can not gamble the money necessary for those things on DeBrincat.

Hopefully new ownership will show Dorion and Smith the door and NHL competent replacements will be brought in. If those things happen - watch out TO!

Elliot Freidman in his 32 thoughts said the high bidder for the Senators might be Neko Sparks at as high as $925 mill. Speculation that serious bids came in lower to see where things go and bids can increase.

The whole thing is a process but interesting to hear of an LA-based bid might have set the tone for the sale number.

Love how DJ is using the Watson line to match up against Crosby.

Sens Vs Pens and refs tonight.

Big win boys!!!

oh okay...I guess a 60 goal center, who plays 200 foot hockey isn't worth a winger outside the top 20 in scoring.
- Aaron_85

Is Stamkos a 60 goal center?
Matthews will NEVER score 60 again - make a bet with you me. I said it last year. It was lighting in a bottle last year with how good he was at scoring. He is a great center but it's not all about goals. The guy couldn't keep his pants on (literally) to become captain. Brady will fight anyone, Matthews will fight to get to round 2 (would be really though?)

If it was a one on one game, I'd lean towards Matthews, but it's a team game and the affect Brady has on his team is far and beyond what Auston brings (imo). Brady Tkachuk in the playoffs will be a mix of Tom Wilson and Gabriel Landeskog