I know this is a bit of a joke but Karlsson for nylander probably makes this team better for a year or 2.

Karlsson on the powerplay alone makes it worth it. The leafs haven’t had a #1 pp qb since kaberle, McCabe?
- bryant

https://www.nhl.com/stats...Points&page=0&pageSize=50

In a cap world, you always get cap space back when a guy walks as a UFA. Then you can use that space to sign guys. If the Leafs are a top seed at the deadine and Willy is still not extended, they ain't trading him for picks and prospects going into the playoffs.
- Zezel

This is how I’m seeing it.

And the teams willing to sell off their stars are the rebuilding ones he wouldn’t resign with anyways so the only acceptable return won’t be available.

Nah, Ballard was 100% obvious nothing mattered more than money. Moreno is only about 80% lol
- Dozzer

I met Harold Ballard, back in the '80's. He was an ignorant SOB. The Leafs actually turned for the better under Steve Stavros. He was a gentleman and I had great respect for him.

I met Harold Ballard, back in the '80's. He was an ignorant SOB. The Leafs actually turned for the better under Steve Stavros. He was a gentleman and I had great respect for him.
- PrinceLH

Ignorant when it came to the sport or just in general?

Wouldn’t surprise me if he had hired men doing all the book work for him whatsoever. Accountants who couldn’t care less about hockey being involved wouldn’t shock me.

Nice to hear that about Stavros though, a bit of an amplification to the positivity he already had in my mind

It continues to boggle my mind that Esposito was so dominant - he couldn't skate.

My dad is also one of the "nobody was better than Orr" guys.

I'm taking Gretzky, but Orr winning the Art Ross - twice! - is insane.

Never before, never again.
- Atomic Wedgie

reminds me of Andreychuck with the leafs...big and slow..but 50 Goals

Im ok with doing that for non core players for sure, like the leafs have done for years.
But weve been spoon fed this core for years and to let willie walk without acquiring a piece(s) to fill another place of need seems foolish.
But, I firmly believe the Tree wont let that happen anyway.
If he doesn't sign an extension he'll be traded by the deadline or after their playoff exit in a sign and trade....similar to tkafack.
But willie wont be walking for free....so im not too worried.
- Fakepartofme

Just to be clear I see it as a 50/50

Your reasoning makes sense to move him before risking losing him for nothing but I also believe my reasoning to keep him makes just as much sense.

Ignorant when it came to the sport or just in general?

Wouldn’t surprise me if he had hired men doing all the book work for him whatsoever. Accountants who couldn’t care less about hockey being involved wouldn’t shock me.

Nice to hear that about Stavros though, a bit of an amplification to the positivity he already had in my mind
- Dozzer

Ignorant, in general. He had King Clancy explaining everything to him. King was OK. Don't get me wrong, Ballard knew how to manipulate the media, in Toronto. Always cooking up a scam or a controversy. He reminded me of an old carny.

https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20132014&seasonTo=20222023&gameType=2&position=D&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=ppPoints&page=0&pageSize=50
- AdamFrench

Klingberg at 11

Just to be clear I see it as a 50/50

Your reasoning makes sense to move him before risking losing him for nothing but I also believe my reasoning to keep him makes just as much sense.
- Dozzer

The Leafs could move Nylander for prospects and picks......see Seattle.... and use the cap space to sign another UFA winger. You get the best of both worlds if done right. You might be able to grab a Shane Wright and a first for Nylander, considering the possibility that Seattle would pick in the 25 - 32 range. Leafs need to restock the cupboards and the cap space could be helpful to lure another scorer or an upgrade on defense.

Ignorant, in general. He had King Clancy explaining everything to him. King was OK.
- PrinceLH

I wanted to make a joke about his teeth but then stumbled across this when looking for a pic lol. Was this pretty much the group you met?

I've said this before but it needs repeating.

Arte Moreno makes Ballard look like Jerry Buss.

He simply could not have fck'd up the Trout / Shohei years any more than he has...

- dozerD10

There have been many really bad owners over the years, and they were bad because of greed and incompetence.

But Ballard and Schott remain a notch below all of them.

They both resented when the team did well, because they were jealous of the attention the players got.

It's franked up, but there you have it.

The Leafs could move Nylander for prospects and picks......see Seattle.... and use the cap space to sign another UFA winger. You get the best of both worlds if done right. You might be able to grab a Shane Wright and a first for Nylander, considering the possibility that Seattle would pick in the 25 - 32 range. Leafs need to restock the cupboards and the cap space could be helpful to lure another scorer or an upgrade on defense.
- PrinceLH

Ok if the bolded is done as well yup I can see it making sense. I guess it’s more of the potential of a deadline move that I simply don’t see.

I guess we will know for sure in the next 5 weeks or so.

I wanted to make a joke about his teeth but then stumbled across this when looking for a pic lol. Was this pretty much the group you met?


- Dozzer

That Leafer DEI program was seriously lacking back in the day...

That Leafer DEI program was seriously lacking back in the day...

- dozerD10

Clancy and Kelly were Irish!

That Leafer DEI program was seriously lacking back in the day...

- dozerD10

They didn’t want to win socially either

I wanted to make a joke about his teeth but then stumbled across this when looking for a pic lol. Was this pretty much the group you met?


- Dozzer

Just him and King. I've also met Dan Maloney and Mike Nykoluk. Some of the players like Borje Salming and Walt Poddubny. Ran across Gary Leeman and Wendel Clark in their rookie days. All didn't mind chatting to people that they ran across.

Ugh, I gotta come on here and see a picture of it on here? Bad enough you guys said its name a bunch of times, I gotta look at it too? Franking gross.

Klingberg at 11
- TheMussel

We have two!

It's a pretty expected list though.

Just him and King. I've also met Dan Maloney and Mike Nykoluk. Some of the players like Borje Salming and Walt Poddubny. Ran across Gary Leeman and Wendel Clark in their rookie days. All didn't mind chatting to people that they ran across.
- PrinceLH

That doesn’t surprise me, my cousin even played a few games for the leafs and he said that you better be ready to talk if tied to that team.

I’m truly envious you got to meet Salming though, that’s awesome

I disagree with you on this.

I won’t be shocked if the 5th most important player is used and let walk at all.

Seriously… 5th most important, becoming the 6th of Samsonov has a stellar year as well. Those guys get used and let walk, if he got moved at the deadline for picks and prospects the majority of the fanbase would want Treliving’s head.
- Dozzer

Not if the picks/prospects are used to acquire player(s). If willie walks for nothing the fan base will lose it and rightfully so.
But the Tree wont let that happen.
Willie signs or is traded at some point.

Unless the leafs win the cup then they can all walk and no one will care.

That doesn’t surprise me, my cousin even played a few games for the leafs and he said that you better be ready to talk if tied to that team.

I’m truly envious you got to meet Salming though, that’s awesome
- Dozzer

I met him outside of the Quinte Sports Centre, here in Belleville, in 1984. That was the year that the Leafs had training camp in Belleville. They wanted to use the Olympic sized ice rink, to get their players into shape. I had a buddy that worked at the Sports Centre and allowed me to sneak in and watch the practices. They also had a Blue and White exhibition game and was able to secure a center ice seat in the press box. Salming and Poddubny were just leaving practice, the day before, and a friend of mine and his young son were waiting in the parking lot. They came over and chatted with the 7 year old and then struck up a conversation with my friend and I. They gave us at least 20 minutes of their time. Great guys to shoot the sh!te with.

Not if the picks/prospects are used to acquire player(s). If willie walks for nothing the fan base will lose it and rightfully so.
But the Tree wont let that happen.
Willie signs or is traded at some point.

Unless the leafs win the cup then they can all walk and no one will care.
- Fakepartofme

Kind of my point, if he’s moved for something else and they don’t win the cup the fanbase and media will blame that lol

Hence why I think it’s an off-season move or nothing.

We have two!

It's a pretty expected list though.
- AdamFrench

i can't see any problem with loading up our entire d-corps with PP superstars


Also Tyson Barrie is a bit surprising, even though it's not exactly...

Too bad about tarasenko
- Fakepartofme

Would Tarasenko for a year be a big upgrade on Willie for a year?

I met him outside of the Quinte Sports Centre, here in Belleville, in 1984. That was the year that the Leafs had training camp in Belleville. They wanted to use the Olympic sized ice rink, to get their players into shape. I had a buddy that worked at the Sports Centre and allowed me to sneak in and watch the practices. They also had a Blue and White exhibition game and was able to secure a center ice seat in the press box. Salming and Poddubny were just leaving practice, the day before, and a friend of mine and his young son were waiting in the parking lot. They came over and chatted with the 7 year old and then struck up a conversation with my friend and I. They gave us at least 20 minutes of their time. Great guys to shoot the sh!te with.
- PrinceLH

Even as a mod I’m happily letting the “step-around” the filter for this story stay untouched lol

That’s so damn cool tho… getting to watch what you did and meet him afterwards, that’s a bloody lottery win. I imagine that back in those days if anyone seemed comfy on that size of ice rink it was primarily him as well?