Sure or we need the guys we pay 10M or so each to score when the chips are down.

That being said I agree on the defensive needs and would prefer that as the fix because I don't see much certainty in the ability to find the next Cujo or Belfour (Helly hasn't proven to be it based on his Jets playoff results so why do we think he will suddenly find it in Toronto?) or Bob who goes on a run after sucking ass for 10M per year for 4 years.
- Cush29

They scored a lot in the first round and won. Tkachuk didn't score in the 2nd round for Florida, and Florida won. Ride the purple pony, let the spinning wheel ride.

Vaselevsky and his 9.5M cap hit says HI.

And other than the last series against Vegas Helly has been fantastic in every other series. The higher odds you have for a goalie playing well in a series the better odds you have in winning.

Not sure how much he will ask for, but he wants to play for a contender as he stated a month ago. Bob did go to the highest bidder and not a great team at the time.
- Santo_44

Vasi plays on a team with a bunch of superstar / elite players that took less so they could afford him + the others - I said this already.

Helly has been fantastic in every other series but his record and the Jets record don't show a goalie who is stealing series, and can you honestly tell me you think the playoff version of the Jets and the Leafs are anywhere close to comparable with respect to how the entire team plays? It's 100% Night and day. In the playoffs the Jets play the way many here pine for the Leafs to - lots of nasty, mean with scoring and tough D mixed in. Could we describe the Leafs as playing that way in the playoffs in the past what 10 years? I sure can't.

This will be Helly's biggest contract as he's 30. I would guess it's unlikely he will be ok with taking a discount to come contend in Toronto, he's from Michigan not Scarborough.

Hellebuyck would be the best offseason acquisition the Leafs could make. He is worth far more than Sammy 1:1 unfortunately. He's a top-5 goalie in the league - even if he only has one year left on his contract, he can be extended.
- Monkeypunk

My only concern is that the extension is going to be ~9M - 10M per year.

I dont see why that matters. would any goalie have outplayed Bob...I really doubt it

maybe 2011 Tim Thomas or 2003 Giggy..but propably not them either
- senstroll

Maybe 2023 Adin Hill.

All this 'wtf' with goaltending in the playoffs is enough to make me hesitant to spend big assets and cap space on a Goalie.

They scored a lot in the first round and won. Tkachuk didn't score in the 2nd round for Florida, and Florida won. Ride the purple pony, let the spinning wheel ride.
- Zezel

Florida had guys who scored in the tight games, Toroto didn't was my point - or more counterpoint to the "if we only had an elite goalie like Bob (who has sucked for 4 years at 10M per before being godlike) we would have won" point.

Toronto can't afford a 10M sucky goalie who suddenly remembers he's good after 4 years - literally can't afford it. lol

Florida has the players who play the POS style Toronto doesn't play enough of - because they don't have enough guys who are that type. Go find some Tree-Living and earn your keep!

My only concern is that the extension is going to be ~9M - 10M per year.
- The Law

For sure it will be, dude wants to get his big deal to ride off into retirement so he will want big $ and term. Some team will probably give it to him but I just don't want it to be Toronto.

Maybe 2023 Adin Hill.

All this 'wtf' with goaltending in the playoffs is enough to make me hesitant to spend big assets and cap space on a Goalie.
- The Law

I'm trying to think of big name goalies who led their teams on big long runs and / or cups over the years and which of them were drafted and developed (or developed after being traded as an unproven goalie) vs traded for when they had this reputation of being elite.

I'm struggling to think of goalies that had been traded after having a reputation as described beyond Roy and now Bob I guess (although still 4 full years at 10M of suck is tough if they don't win the cup I think).

I'm sure I'm forgetting some - can anyone think of any?

I look at goalies developed in house and drafted and think of Binnington, Quick, Price right off the hop.

Bearing in mind that the Leafs were better than Florida this year, Tampa last year, and the Habs the year before - but lost in each year to a top tier goalie because our goalie didn't match their goalie - especially when it mattered.

Having a league average goalie in net would suffice - BUT - then we need a better defense at preventing HD chances against. If we're going to roll out a mobile transition defense, then we need a last line of defense goaltender. If we remake the defense, then we can underspend on goaltending.
- Monkeypunk

I also wonder ....our average goalie bested TB's elite goalie this year (and some might debate last year too) ....so how much of it is g'tending and how much of it is offensive "clutch" type stuff.

Price was unbeatable 3 yrs ago ...until he wasn't. Vasi has been unbeatable at times but when the Leafs did beat him it seemed like it was greasier stuff (screens, rebounds, traffic, etc...). Bob was unbeatable this year until game 1 v. Vegas which saw a lot of big body traffic in front.

I think I'm saying the same as you ...there's more ways then one to build a Champ.

And he’s in a Leaf thread

Man you guys spend a lot of time in here.
- .HOHO.

Of course, lots of great people to talk to here.

I'm trying to think of big name goalies who led their teams on big long runs and / or cups over the years and which of them were drafted and developed (or developed after being traded as an unproven goalie) vs traded for when they had this reputation of being elite.

I'm struggling to think of goalies that had been traded after having a reputation as described beyond Roy and now Bob I guess (although still 4 full years at 10M of suck is tough if they don't win the cup I think).

I'm sure I'm forgetting some - can anyone think of any?

I look at goalies developed in house and drafted and think of Binnington, Quick, Price right off the hop.
- Cush29

Drafted and/or developed from a very young age I think of Price, Rask, Brodeur, MAF, and Lundquist as developed guys that stayed, got paid and performed.

Of course, lots of great people to talk to here.
- Scabeh

If Cole lives up to his potential…. That’s a great signing

the most interesting off season thing is AM, and how Brad tree living handles it.
since Dubas got bent over (some say)...what will Brad do?

Does he change the results of the Florida series?
I honestly dont believe he would.
Bigger defense is on my wish list.
But simply no cap for helly.
- Fakepartofme

Bigger defense would be great. 40 million worth of forwards actually doing their job would be great also. Mystery goals disallowed, a DOPS that did its job, and blatant penalties on series-winning goals actually being called would be great also.

Drafted and/or developed from a very young age I think of Price, Rask, Brodeur, MAF, and Lundquist as developed guys that stayed, got paid and performed.
- The Law

Good ones!

Now which goalies who were way better than average to elite got traded and led their new team to success?
Far less of those - it's such a risk to trade for (pay) a goalie who has had a bunch of success on another team with another system IMO.

Leafs "elite" scoring failed them again when it mattered. They'll all be coming back by the looks of it.
Looks like the coach, who's been outcoached in almost all playoff series (according to many) will be returning.
No cap for any significant additions, and ROR will probably walk. So helly is realistically not happening.
Maybe they move out Brodie for a bigger body and sign some cheaper bigger D.
As of today, not expecting much of change for the team for October.
But its only June. Lots of time for things to change.

I also wonder ....our average goalie bested TB's elite goalie this year (and some might debate last year too) ....so how much of it is g'tending and how much of it is offensive "clutch" type stuff.

Price was unbeatable 3 yrs ago ...until he wasn't. Vasi has been unbeatable at times but when the Leafs did beat him it seemed like it was greasier stuff (screens, rebounds, traffic, etc...). Bob was unbeatable this year until game 1 v. Vegas which saw a lot of big body traffic in front.

I think I'm saying the same as you ...there's more ways than one to build a Champ.
- The Law

There’s no one way to build a winner. But a strong defensive awareness from everybody is probably the most important thing.

You simply can’t win with top six forwards who don’t have a strong defensive game. Your bottom six has to have a gruelling forecheck, they gotta chip in offensively. You also can’t win with a D core who aren’t top defensive players. You can’t win with Justin Holl.

Goalie has to get hot.

the most interesting off season thing is AM, and how Brad tree living handles it.
since Dubas got bent over (some say)...what will Brad do?
- senstroll

The cap hit of AM's contract will show if he really cares about winning or not.

Sign him 3 years at 11per.
Wont happen, but thats what it should be

The cap hit of AM's contract will show if he really cares about winning or not.

Sign him 3 years at 11per.
Wont happen, but thats what it should be
- Fakepartofme

He cares about winning.

Not as much as he cares about money tho.

the most interesting off season thing is AM, and how Brad tree living handles it.
since Dubas got bent over (some say)...what will Brad do?
- senstroll

I predict that he'll sign an extension sometime around Christmas. The delay will send some into a massive panic attack for months.

The term and number will be debated. 49.5% will find it outrageous. 49.5% will find it incredible. 1% will find it unsurprisingly fair and reflective of the market.

1% might be a bit optimistic.

The cap hit of AM's contract will show if he really cares about winning or not.

Sign him 3 years at 11per.
Wont happen, but thats what it should be
- Fakepartofme

That's what a Leaf fan would like it to be, not what it should be.

There’s no one way to build a winner. But a strong defensive awareness from everybody is probably the most important thing.

You simply can’t win with top six forwards who don’t have a strong defensive game. Your bottom six has to have a gruelling forecheck, they gotta chip in offensively. You also can’t win with a D core who aren’t top defensive players. You can’t win with Justin Holl.

Goalie has to get hot.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I don't think anybody would disagree with that.

new blog everyone

The cap hit of AM's contract will show if he really cares about winning or not.

Sign him 3 years at 11per.
Wont happen, but thats what it should be
- Fakepartofme

the feeling im getting now is, there is no way there is any type of discount.
it will be some lame thing like 13.8x3

that would bring him to age 29 ...then he can sign a big deal 8 years x whatever...and the cap should be 100mil by then

Let's not lose sight of the 40M or so the Leafs have invested in 'elite offense' that simply hasn't got it done in all of these close playoff games through these years you have provided goaltending stats for.

If Toronto didn't have the much of an investment in this elite offense than I'd be all in on a elite goalie and the argument that he would make the difference. Look at the teams you have listed stats for and tell me which of them is (supposed to be) offensively better than the Leafs?

The closest 2 teams are Tampa and Boston but again as I said earlier they have star players taking less to help the greater good & it's still arguable that the Leafs SHOULD be better offensively than both.

Florida and Montreal are a perfect storm of a goalie on a heater but a far less offensively talented team - the Leafs elite scoring (lack of ability to do so when the chips are down) is far more to blame for playoff failures than the goaltending to me and it's not even close.

So for those who want this elite/ superstar goalie - how? And at what cost? And are you all going to be fine if the new 10M goalie sucks ass for 4 solid years before he has a cinderella and record setting playoff run?

My spidey senses tell me no.

It's all irrelevant anyway, no way the new GM is getting a year of Helly and then having to move a huge piece to keep him or watching him walk. I'd be shocked if the Leafs don't end up with some combo of what they have in their system now or did last year (if they can re-sign Sammy on the cheap) to start the season.
- Cush29

To be clear, I wouldn't acquire him unless I could extend him, and I wouldn't extend him if he was getting over $7.5m. Bobrovksy, Price and Vasilevskiy are all being paid at least $3.5m more than the next highest paid goalie in the league. That's a massive difference. I'm not sure Hellebuyck at 31 years old and 4 years removed from his last Vezina commands those elite dollars.

If Cole lives up to his potential…. That’s a great signing
- .HOHO.

Yeah, let's just hope his shoulder heals nicely.