And Shannahan has the call on what philosophy to accept.

Freidman is not saying the core 4 is being broken up.

Writers of the athletic are opinion pieces.
- Santo_44

I don't think the Core gets broken up just to break it up and I don't think they want to be an inferior version of themselves. If a swap of Marner for a #1D is an option you can find, you have to consider it, especially if it leaves you money on the cap to find a couple of other wingers who can play in the top-6.

But if Shanahan is handcuffing an incoming GM from the get-go, he's limiting the quality of GM he's going to get.

I won't lie, I thought it was a great trade for Calgary at the time.. What I meant was that the Leafs would be dealing the younger player with more upside..
Unless another younger all-star player becomes available... Like a Jason Robertson.
- PatC80

Oh sure then you're right.

Most people around here feel there's a few pieces missing and "to balance" the line up so trading a star for two pieces (1F and 1D) seems like the ideal move to appease Hbuzz leaf fans.

Or he was involved in a contract negotiation. I would like x, y, and z. You have offered me a, b and c.

The other party has the right to say, I'm sticking with a, b and c - if you don't like it, you are more than welcome to decline the offer and move on. Or perhaps they find a middle ground on parts of it.

If I was a young general manager I would expect some oversight from my boss, but after 5 years I would like more leeway to do my job. I don't expect complete autonomy per se, but I'd expect more freedom and different constraints.

I've also heard a bunch of different reports on what Dubas asked for, so other than the $6m instead of $4m and more authority, I don't actually know what he really asked for.

At the end of the day, Shanahan is the boss and he has that title as given to him by the owners of the team. He's the president and it's his decision. I don't like how it went down, but hopefully they make a decision that moves the team forward.
- Monkeypunk

So far all that's been reported is Dubas asked for more money and more power.. Shanahan, or the board said no... The decision was made to let him go..

Dubas did do a lot of good things, but only one playoff series win in those 5 years is not a great accomplishment when he started with the Marner, Matthews, Nylander, Rielly already in place.

You mean the trade that everyone loved for Calgary last year? The one that everyone thought Treliving did a smooth move and pretty much "got one over" on Florida? That trade?

How did Treliving know Hubie would be a subpar version of himself and Markstrom would suck balls?
- Aaron_85

I seem to recall many last summer saying Tree-ling was going to be GM of the year for that trade & he 'won' the off season.

I don't think the Core gets broken up just to break it up and I don't think they want to be an inferior version of themselves. If a swap of Marner for a #1D is an option you can find, you have to consider it, especially if it leaves you money on the cap to find a couple of other wingers who can play in the top-6.

But if Shanahan is handcuffing an incoming GM from the get-go, he's limiting the quality of GM he's going to get.
- Monkeypunk

Agreed.

If he doesn't and he takes a break, you going to take a break too?
- Aaron_85

very disrespectful post.

I don't think the Core gets broken up just to break it up and I don't think they want to be an inferior version of themselves. If a swap of Marner for a #1D is an option you can find, you have to consider it, especially if it leaves you money on the cap to find a couple of other wingers who can play in the top-6.

But if Shanahan is handcuffing an incoming GM from the get-go, he's limiting the quality of GM he's going to get.
- Monkeypunk

its not handcuffing if you bring in a GM that lines up with his own philosophy.

and yes if there is a trade that makes sense you do it...chances are that trade is likely not there.

The pressure Dubas would have insulating this core over yet another offseason would have been tough. I think Dubas card to play was trade to make a change and I do not think Shanahan liked that.

He wants someone to come in with fresh ideas to surround this core...but also isn't attached to anyone and if a MT like trade comes along you do it.

I don't think the Core gets broken up just to break it up and I don't think they want to be an inferior version of themselves. If a swap of Marner for a #1D is an option you can find, you have to consider it, especially if it leaves you money on the cap to find a couple of other wingers who can play in the top-6.

But if Shanahan is handcuffing an incoming GM from the get-go, he's limiting the quality of GM he's going to get.
- Monkeypunk

Yeah why would Armstrong come to Toronto to be a puppet? Unless he's paid stupid money. Like say 6 million a year or so.

Well said.
- fifty__missions

Make moves to win a cup at all costs.

If its trading a core piece because the right deal is there lets do it, if its to insulate this offseason and to keep evaluating over the next year do that.

I would love to see this board if the leafs made a trade like the Flames and missed the playoffs.

Yeah why would Armstrong come to Toronto to be a puppet? Unless he's paid stupid money. Like say 6 million a year or so.

- Aaron_85

You gotta think this is Shanahan's last shot, that he'd be going down with the next GM. He's gotta make it count. If he brings in a person of Armstrong's pedigree, you'd think he's going to let him/her do their work.

Make moves to win a cup at all costs.

If its trading a core piece because the right deal is there lets do it, if its to insulate this offseason and to keep evaluating over the next year do that.
- Santo_44

👍

its not handcuffing if you bring in a GM that lines up with his own philosophy.

and yes if there is a trade that makes sense you do it...chances are that trade is likely not there.

The pressure Dubas would have insulating this core over yet another offseason would have been tough. I think Dubas card to play was trade to make a change and I do not think Shanahan liked that.

He wants someone to come in with fresh ideas to surround this core...but also isn't attached to anyone and if a MT like trade comes along you do it.
- Santo_44

Fresh ideas, more experience with more bite?

Toronto media is too much some times. Ok, all the time..

Only in Toronto will the media say something like Auston will walk because the Leafs don't have a GM

He had Johnny G walk away from him. Be funny if Matthews did too
- Aaron_85

Johnny G walked from Sutter

If he doesn't and he takes a break, you going to take a break too?
- Aaron_85

does he even like KitKat chocolate bars?

perhaps a snickers bar would be better.







I'll see myself out.

Johnny G walked from Sutter
- drexel

Huberdeau was very likely prepared to do the same even with a contract already in place, but now Sutter is out.

Reports (Friedman) are that the players were VERY blunt about what didn't work in their exit interviews. The question is: what were they vocal and blunt about?

1. The coach?
2. The captain/leadership?
3. The roster makeup/salary structure?
4. The management?

In all of the recent discussions about who stays and who goes, I haven't heard one person say that Keefe should stay. We'll soon see if the organization shares that lack of confidence in their coach.

IMO, Keefe was more to blame for recent playoff flameouts than Dubas.

Reports (Friedman) are that the players were VERY blunt about what didn't work in their exit interviews. The question is: what were they vocal and blunt about?

1. The coach?
2. The captain/leadership?
3. The roster makeup?
4. The management?
- fifty__missions

Option 5; Too many bran muffins being served during team meetings?

In all seriousness, I would think that coaching was the issue

Fresh ideas, more experience with more bite?

Toronto media is too much some times. Ok, all the time..

Only in Toronto will the media say something like Auston will walk because the Leafs don't have a GM
- PatC80

I am not even really sure what he meant by bite.

I was thinking bite as in making harder decisions.

Like EDM signing Kane, a lot of people looked down on that but it turned out excellent.

Yzermans Vrana/Mantha trade.

In all of the recent discussions about who stays and who goes, I haven't heard one person say that Keefe should stay. We'll soon see if the organization shares that lack of confidence in their coach.

IMO, Keefe was more to blame for recent playoff flameouts than Dubas.
- GalacticStone

I agree... Keefe should have tried to match Florida's dirty, I mean physical play.. Give Simmonds a go, if even for a game. After Knies was power-bombed on the ice by Bennett, I thought, you've got to do something to stop Florida, because the refs/league are not going too.

I am not even really sure what he meant by bite.

I was thinking bite as in making harder decisions.

Like EDM signing Kane, a lot of people looked down on that but it turned out excellent.

Yzermans Vrana/Mantha trade.
- Santo_44

Sign Eric Staal, trade for Bennett and Gudas. Hope yourgoalie goes on a historic run and then boom, Cup winners,..


A guy that can make hard decisions, seems like it would be Treliving

I agree... Keefe should have tried to match Florida's dirty, I mean physical play.. Give Simmonds a go, if even for a game. After Knies was power-bombed on the ice by Bennett, I thought, you've got to do something to stop Florida, because the refs/league are not going too.
- PatC80

Keefe didn't adjust. Matthews needed O Reiily and Acciari on his wing. Marner and Bunting/Jarnkrok completely unable to create space.

I agree... Keefe should have tried to match Florida's dirty, I mean physical play.. Give Simmonds a go, if even for a game. After Knies was power-bombed on the ice by Bennett, I thought, you've got to do something to stop Florida, because the refs/league are not going too.
- PatC80

I was screaming it into the void. Against players like Bennett, Tkachuk, and Gudas, you have to draw the line early in the series. Period one of game one, lay down the law. If it means risking a suspension, then the earlier in the series, the better. Florida is gonna keep up those tactics because they are working.

Keefe didn't adjust. Matthews needed O Reiily and Acciari on his wing. Marner and Bunting/Jarnkrok completely unable to create space.
- fifty__missions

You're right.. Florida did what Montreal did, which was make Mitch beat them.. Blanket Matthews and force Mitch to win the series for Toronto. Which is not something he can do.

Acciari-Matthews-Nylander would have been a fun line to watch, but Keefe made no adjustments at all