Who is already signed is already signed. If the this core continues to fail it continues to fail. Can’t have another Matthews paid player, the end. Want to keep Marner? Get rid of the captain.

It’s simple.

1- $13+ million guy
1-2- $11ish
1-2-9-10ish
1-2-7-8ish
3-6ish
Etc etc etc

But no, you can’t have two $13+ guys, that would literally be over 25% of the cap.
- Dozzer

I don't disagree but

1) I would keep Marner over Matthews.

2) I doubt you would have too much problem convincing Matthews to waive and if he goes, at least you get some assets in return.

I understand the counter arguments. I have had this same debate with friends.

Let's face it, neither is ideal. Ideal would be we had some 1st line guys who actually played like first line stars in the playoffs. That ship has sailed and I don't think it's ever coming back.

... I would trade Rielly if he would waive (not sure he has a NMC?)

You claimed it wasn't over because of the Sens play. It hasn't improved. Leafs have given up back breaking shorties and meh it happens. Still sucks.

At least I can admit when I'm wrong instead of cowering away from random dudes on the internet


See I knew you'd be back to puff your chest out and tout how right you think you are. I can read you like a book.

Series still ain't over despite you're wishes for the sens
- Aaron_85

Because the Sens don't quit, forecheck well and that didn't stop in Game 4 or 5. And because I warned that the Leafs would take it easy and look what that did for them tonight...

They played like they were supposed to play in Game 4, they just blew their OT PP opportunity. If they played like that tonight, the series would be over. But what did they do? They took the game off.

Marner can fit at 13 AAV. Just have to let Tavares walk (too old to get Stamkos money unless he takes 5 AAV or less) and then trade Rielly to Vancouver.

The extra money you give to Marner can be saved by replacing Rielly with another 4-5 AAV offensive D-man like when they added OEL as a UFA.
- Rare_Jewel

But it's the same core. It doesn't work. If you like regular season only success, by all means. Just win in the playoffs already!

Marner can fit at 13 AAV. Just have to let Tavares walk (too old to get Stamkos money unless he takes 5 AAV or less) and then trade Rielly to Vancouver.

The extra money you give to Marner can be saved by replacing Rielly with another 4-5 AAV offensive D-man like when they added OEL as a UFA.
- Rare_Jewel

Don’t give a winger $13+ million when you already have a $13+ center

I like Marner, but if he costs that much it’s time to let him walk, I’d rather sign two 60P wingers at $6.5 each for 120P tbh

I don't disagree but

1) I would keep Marner over Matthews.

2) I doubt you would have too much problem convincing Matthews to waive and if he goes, at least you get some assets in return.

I understand the counter arguments. I have had this same debate with friends.

Let's face it, neither is ideal. Ideal would be we had some 1st line guys who actually played like first line stars in the playoffs. That ship has sailed and I don't think it's ever coming back.
- Interloper

It took Ovechkin and Yzerman more than 10+ years to win a Cup. It could take these guys the same kind of time to figure it out.

I'll keep Matthews and Marner until better alternatives present themselves and keep changing the guys around them as the cap continues to rise.

When you get to the end of their contracts, then you start thinking about assets and just rebuilding again.

But it's the same core. It doesn't work. If you like regular season only success, by all means. Just win in the playoffs already!
- PrinceLH

It's not if you get rid of Tavares and Rielly. It's also 18 million in cap space.

It took Ovechkin and Yzerman more than 10+ years to win a Cup. It could take these guys the same kind of time to figure it out.

I'll keep Matthews and Marner until better alternatives present themselves and keep changing the guys around them as the cap continues to rise.

When you get to the end of their contracts, then you start thinking about assets and just rebuilding again.
- Rare_Jewel

You can retool on the fly because your assets are current. Move either Marner or Nylander this summer. The Leafs can't be paying that kind of scratch to two wingers, especially with 9 years of no playoff success.

Don’t give a winger $13+ million when you already have a $13+ center

I like Marner, but if he costs that much it’s time to let him walk, I’d rather sign two 60P wingers at $6.5 each for 120P tbh
- Dozzer

And then you become the Carolina Hurricanes who win nothing in the playoffs either.

Getting rid of Marner is losing a high value asset for nothing. It also makes the odds of Matthews production dropping like a rock.

You are 1000 times better off overpaying Marner and negotiating him waiving his NMC in the future than letting him walk for nothing.

You claimed it wasn't over because of the Sens play. It hasn't improved. Leafs have given up back breaking shorties and meh it happens. Still sucks.

At least I can admit when I'm wrong instead of cowering away from random dudes on the internet


See I knew you'd be back to puff your chest out and tout how right you think you are. I can read you like a book.

Series still ain't over despite you're wishes for the sens
- Aaron_85

Leafs win and you don't hear a peep. Superfan who just loves to show up and pile on when the leafs lose, imagine that.

Carolina got it done

You can retool on the fly because your assets are current. Move either Marner or Nylander this summer. The Leafs can't be paying that kind of scratch to two wingers, especially with 9 years of no playoff success.
- PrinceLH

Keep your best players.

Get rid of the ones who stink or who are too old to be worth the cap hit investment.

It's not if you get rid of Tavares and Rielly. It's also 18 million in cap space.
- Rare_Jewel

Rielly should be moved. The Leafs really need a top 4 RHD, not a lefty. OEL takes over the 2LD from Rielly and Benoit gets a new 3RHD. Tavares for Bennett makes sense. I'd rather have a pitbull at 2C, than a golden doodle.

Leafs win and you don't hear a peep. Superfan who just loves to show up and pile on when the leafs lose, imagine that.
- joel878

Of course not. Can't tout their preferred logic so just cowardly not show up and just own it.

As smart as these superfans think they are, they simply are highly predictable losers

Keep your best players.

Get rid of the ones who stink or who are too old to be worth the cap hit investment.
- Rare_Jewel

But it doesn't work. Games 4 and 5 shows that they disappear every year, once the elimination games start.

And then you become the Carolina Hurricanes who win nothing in the playoffs either.

Getting rid of Marner is losing a high value asset for nothing. It also makes the odds of Matthews production dropping like a rock.

You are 1000 times better off overpaying Marner and negotiating him waiving his NMC in the future than letting him walk for nothing.
- Rare_Jewel

The leafs have won nothing either, so until they do, this is not an argument at all.

Rielly should be moved. The Leafs really need a top 4 RHD, not a lefty. OEL takes over the 2LD from Rielly and Benoit gets a new 3RHD. Tavares for Bennett makes sense. I'd rather have a pitbull at 2C, than a golden doodle.
- PrinceLH

And again, why would Bennett even consider signing in Toronto?

You're going to leave Florida, lose money, join a worse team...for what?

Also, on the Leafs end, do you really want a 7 year deal on a power forward who is going to be 30-35?

Of course not. Can't tout their preferred logic so just cowardly not show up and just own it.

As smart as these superfans think they are, they simply are highly predictable losers
- Aaron_85

Not sure it's the fans, but the players themselves. They just stopped hitting in the middle of game 4. Nothing, with the exception of Knies. Effort was minimal.

The leafs have won nothing either, so until they do, this is not an argument at all.
- Dozzer

Disagree because as history has shown, Ovechkin and Yzerman took more than a decade to win it all. I would rather live and die with the elite talent figuring it out with shuffling the coach and supporting cast than letting high value assets walk away for nothing as free agents.

And again, why would Bennett even consider signing in Toronto?

You're going to leave Florida, lose money, join a worse team...for what?

Also, on the Leafs end, do you really want a 7 year deal on a power forward who is going to be 30-35?
- Rare_Jewel

But people are willing to accept Tavares for $6.5 for 6 years. Take your pick. Florida is capped out so move on him now.

Rielly should be moved. The Leafs really need a top 4 RHD, not a lefty. OEL takes over the 2LD from Rielly and Benoit gets a new 3RHD. Tavares for Bennett makes sense. I'd rather have a pitbull at 2C, than a golden doodle.
- PrinceLH

Everyone talks about trading Matthews, Willy and Rielly as though you just ask them to waive and they go, yeah sure, why not 🤷

I'm dying to see a list of comparables who have waived their full NMC's, and how those teams have fared. I can respect that perhaps there's some decent comparables, but it does not happen with such regularity that any of these pundits who say "just trade them" have any credibility.

What's done is done, you don't turn the rest of the room on you by sewering out a core player and expect better results. Better plan: don't give everyone a full no move clause.

Disagree because as history has shown, Ovechkin and Yzerman took more than a decade to win it all. I would rather live and die with the elite talent figuring it out with shuffling the coach and supporting cast than letting high value assets walk away for nothing as free agents.
- Rare_Jewel

Biggest issue with this argument is the Atlantic Division. Florida, Tampa, previously Boston, banging your head against the wall because you can't win a series. Boston is gone, but now we have Ottawa, Montreal and Detroit on the cusp. Either retool now, or end up like Boston within 3 years.

Everyone talks about trading Matthews, Willy and Rielly as though you just ask them to waive and they go, yeah sure, why not 🤷

I'm dying to see a list of comparables who have waived their full NMC's, and how those teams have fared. I can respect that perhaps there's some decent comparables, but it does not happen with such regularity that any of these pundits who say "just trade them" have any credibility.

What's done is done, you don't turn the rest of the room on you by sewering out a core player and expect better results. Better plan: don't give everyone a full no move clause.
- joel878

It's the Muskoka 5 all over again. Fix it now or join Boston outside the playoff race.

But people are willing to accept Tavares for $6.5 for 6 years. Take your pick. Florida is capped out so move on him now.
- PrinceLH

Tavares is not worth a dime more than 5 AAV at his age, especially after what we saw happen with Stamkos.

If he wants to be Johnny Toronto, that's the price. Take it, or leave it.

Florida has 19 million to sign Ekblad and Bennett. They'll be just fine, especially if they repeat. Players won't want to leave that sweet situation unless you overpay them absurdly.

Not sure it's the fans, but the players themselves. They just stopped hitting in the middle of game 4. Nothing, with the exception of Knies. Effort was minimal.
- PrinceLH

Simply showing up to this site to tout how right you are (before the series is over) doesn't change the fact you're a loser


I mean the players sure didn't show up either but at least they don't think the series is over

And again, why would Bennett even consider signing in Toronto?

You're going to leave Florida, lose money, join a worse team...for what?

Also, on the Leafs end, do you really want a 7 year deal on a power forward who is going to be 30-35?
- Rare_Jewel

1.) He's from the GTA.

2.) We're supposed to accept that our own players will waive in droves to leave but despite the number of local players who have signed to be here since this core came into play, Bennett would never leave a hockey mecca like Florida to play at home.

3.) The aging power forward on a bad contract theory was the exact line used by people like you to apply rationale to Hyman leaving, and then it aged very very poorly.

4 ) Is age supposed to be a consideration when you're already at a point your entire blueline is extended until death?

5.) Responses are redundant, everyone here is already well aware you know absolutely everything and should the leafs win and close out this series no one will have to hear from you for a week until they lose again.