Puck Pix : Next Great Leafs Writer Finalist #3. David. “CUPS OVER COOKIES”

Cool blog, and accurate.

I've seen something similar written about the Leafs and the question of are they a team or a club?

The Leafs are very much a Club currently and to win a cup you have to be a team.

Hoping the saved $ from a new JT contract combined with the likely large amount of salary cap dollars/space that is created when MM signs elsewhere (because it's the most likely scenario of any of the core being moved) allows Tre to better balance this roster by investing more $ into the bottom 6 / complimentary forwards to (as Tre said they needed to) 'change the DNA'.

They appear more than fine between the pipes and along the blue line but slight improvements on the blue line would help obviously - like Reilly finding his game.

NMC don’t mean poop.

Anyone can be traded.

NMC don’t mean poop.

Anyone can be traded.
- Horsey Sauce

Once they agree to it

Cool blog, and accurate.

I've seen something similar written about the Leafs and the question of are they a team or a club?

The Leafs are very much a Club currently and to win a cup you have to be a team.

Hoping the saved $ from a new JT contract combined with the likely large amount of salary cap dollars/space that is created when MM signs elsewhere (because it's the most likely scenario of any of the core being moved) allows Tre to better balance this roster by investing more $ into the bottom 6 / complimentary forwards to (as Tre said they needed to) 'change the DNA'.

They appear more than fine between the pipes and along the blue line but slight improvements on the blue line would help obviously - like Reilly finding his game.


- Cush29

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)
- senstroll

I still say ~100 points. I don't believe that one skater, short of maybe McJesus, has that much impact on overall team points and standings. Goalies individual performances can elevate or kill a team greatly.

Teams are a sum of their parts.

- Horsey Sauce

So you don't understand the difference - not surprising in the least from someone saying a NMC doesn't mean poop.

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)
- senstroll

I think we are all going to find out in 2025-2026 and personally I don't care if they have less points or don't win the division if it means they go on a deeper playoff run and I think most Leaf fans feel the same.

I still say ~100 points. I don't believe that one skater, short of maybe McJesus, has that much impact on overall team points and standings. Goalies individual performances can elevate or kill a team greatly.

Teams are a sum of their parts.
- Kinger34

I think 100 points, Marner worth maybe 5 standing points. even if you say 7. 98 point team
with Bennet, is it 1 or 2 points less?. maybe.

NMC don’t mean poop.

Anyone can be traded.
- Horsey Sauce

Only if they agree.
Marner was asked to move and tre had been looking for deals since last summer.
Yet...he wasnt moved.

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)
- senstroll

Hard to say, but FLA for example, TBL, etc. are never using the standings as any kind of metric: it's all about mile markers towards playoff preparedness, individually and as a team. They've fully embraced the "playoffs is like a different league" mentality and built a team around that.

Like I think if the Leafs got Bennett and Marchand, for example, this team would still be a 95+ point team, assuming Matthews is healthy.

Leafs should've shut down Matthews for the last 8-10 weeks, spent over the cap like all the good teams do when their star players are hurt, and worried less about home-ice advantage, which clearly didn't do much in the grand scheme of things.

For example, let's look at Knies Matthews Domi: the line is a little less effective defensively, but you still have a Selke nominee center, plus Knies is a responsible 200' player in the making, so it's not like a huge drop-off there.

It's a little less crafty/shifty, but it's also a more intense, physical, puck battle-winning line with Domi on it.

McMann Tavares Nylander: no changes obviously, although McMann has room to improve and I don't think Tavares takes a really step back here.

Robertson Bennett Marchand: a massive upgrade over the 3rd lines we've had, and we're now truly capable of scoring across all three (maybe 4) lines. Robertson will get a lot of time/space with that line, and he has a Mighty Midget in Marchand to look up to, not to mention Bennett.

Lorentz Laughton Holmberg: a line that will get buried in DZ starts and will probably come out even, and maybe even pot a few here and there, but will be relied upon for majority of the PK duties.

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)
- senstroll

Don't remember the exact number but both teams in the cup finals were around 11th and 15th for goals for in the regular season.

Too much emphasis has been on replacing his scoring. Need players that fit the system and can get prepared for a playoff run and not slip up.

Here is a question
Lets say the Leafs now with Marner are a 105 point team. pretty much last season, a few less

How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)
- senstroll

Well, lets say marner walks, the leafs will have $25.7m in cap
- They sign knies for $7m
- Sign JT for $5.5m
- Re-up Holmberg for $1.6m
- They bring up Cowan at $873 000
- Re-up Lorentz - $1m

Which leaves about $9.7m to replace Marner and improve the bottom 6.
So Bennett is out unless they move out cap.
Maybe Kane at $5m
B Tanev at $4m

They get 95pts...if matthews can stay healthy and earn at least 80% of his ballooned salary.....and if the goalies can repeat their same performances from last year....and if our older D stay healthy most of the year.

Well, lets say marner walks, the leafs will have $25.7m in cap
- They sign knies for $7m
- Sign JT for $5.5m
- Re-up Holmberg for $1.6m
- They bring up Cowan at $873 000
- Re-up Lorentz - $1m

Which leaves about $9.7m to replace Marner and improve the bottom 6.
So Bennett is out unless they move out cap.
Maybe Kane at $5m
B Tanev at $4m

They get 95pts
- Fakepartofme

Don't think either Jarnkrok or Kampf contracts are there.

I think JT gets even less. If the number is 5.5M the Leafs walk. It is up to JT if he wants to stay.

Don't think either Jarnkrok or Kampf contracts are there.

I think JT gets even less. If the number is 5.5M the Leafs walk. It is up to JT if he wants to stay.
- Santo_44

Until they are moved....they are there.
Maybe JT does $4m.....so we can use the extra cap to squeeze in a cheap depth player.

Don't remember the exact number but both teams in the cup finals were around 11th and 15th for goals for in the regular season.

Too much emphasis has been on replacing his scoring. Need players that fit the system and can get prepared for a playoff run and not slip up.
- Santo_44

Teams going deep seem to always be high in the expected goals categories, something we were lacking this year with Matthews being hurt and a weak bottom 6.

Until they are moved....they are there.
Maybe JT does $4m.....so we can use the cap to squeeze in a cheap depth player.
- Fakepartofme

Until Kane and Tanev are not on the team, they aren't.

What the (frank) is this double standard

Teams going deep seem to always be high in the expected goals categories, something we were lacking this year with Matthews being hurt and a weak bottom 6.
- gravyface

Yeah well I think a more balanced team fits Berube's system more.

Until Kane and Tanev are not on the team, they aren't.

What the (frank) is this double standard
- Santo_44

Glad things havent changed with you.
Always so female dogy.

No double standard.
The question was....
"How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)"
I didnt suggest any trades, so kampf and Jarnie are still on the team (people have been trading these guys for years).
You feel like their contracts may not be there (and they may not) but as today, right now for the purpose of my response...they are.

Teams going deep seem to always be high in the expected goals categories, something we were lacking this year with Matthews being hurt and a weak bottom 6.
- gravyface

Agreed.
The leafs issue was depth scoring.....and well star scoring during games 5 - 7.
I honestly dont think the leafs can replace Marners pts this off season.
But they could get close.....maybe.....

I agree we do need guys that fit Berube's system well...but they need score as well.

Agreed.
The leafs issue was depth scoring.....and well star scoring during games 5 - 7.
I honestly dont think the leafs can replace Marners pts this off season.
But they could get close.....maybe.....

I agree we do need guys that fit Berube's system well...but they need score as well.
- Fakepartofme

Do they need to replace Marner's points though?

Honestly who gives a poop if they don't get as many regular season points or win the division if the result of that is a more balanced roster that is built for deep playoff runs (and they make some)?

Do they need to replace Marner's points though?

Honestly who gives a poop if they don't get as many regular season points or win the division if the result of that is a more balanced roster that is built for deep playoff runs (and they make some)?
- Cush29

Well in theory, yes.
But doesnt that present the same type of issue...going into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed and playing the better teams in the first round?
Honestly, whether people want to admit or not.....even losing 50 of Marners 100pts will impact the teams results and lower their win totals (reg season and the first 4 games of the round...lol).
When Matthews was injured, we had marner running the show......we wont anymore. Can willie step up? Sure, maybe, hopefully.
Scoring has been an issue for the leafs in the playoffs...so I guess we'll have to wait and see where those pts are distributed. IMO, you have to replace some in the top 6 and we desperately need some in the bottom 6.
I agree that we can no longer be top heavy, something has to change, just not sure the grass will be as green as we hope on the other side.
We'll have our answer a year from now....lol thats not too long no?

Glad things havent changed with you.
Always so female dogy.

No double standard.
The question was....
"How many points do the Leafs have in 2025-26 if..
-they dont re-sign marner and dont replace him
-replace him with Bennett
-replace with player of your choice (name them)"
I didnt suggest any trades, so kampf and Jarnie are still on the team (people have been trading these guys for years).
You feel like their contracts may not be there (and they may not) but as today, right now for the purpose of my response...they are.
- Fakepartofme

It is a double standard dude.

If you are going to predict players coming in you predict players going as well. This is not rocket science.

Hard to say, but FLA for example, TBL, etc. are never using the standings as any kind of metric: it's all about mile markers towards playoff preparedness, individually and as a team. They've fully embraced the "playoffs is like a different league" mentality and built a team around that.

Like I think if the Leafs got Bennett and Marchand, for example, this team would still be a 95+ point team, assuming Matthews is healthy.

Leafs should've shut down Matthews for the last 8-10 weeks, spent over the cap like all the good teams do when their star players are hurt, and worried less about home-ice advantage, which clearly didn't do much in the grand scheme of things.

For example, let's look at Knies Matthews Domi: the line is a little less effective defensively, but you still have a Selke nominee center, plus Knies is a responsible 200' player in the making, so it's not like a huge drop-off there.

It's a little less crafty/shifty, but it's also a more intense, physical, puck battle-winning line with Domi on it.

McMann Tavares Nylander: no changes obviously, although McMann has room to improve and I don't think Tavares takes a really step back here.

Robertson Bennett Marchand: a massive upgrade over the 3rd lines we've had, and we're now truly capable of scoring across all three (maybe 4) lines. Robertson will get a lot of time/space with that line, and he has a Mighty Midget in Marchand to look up to, not to mention Bennett.

Lorentz Laughton Holmberg: a line that will get buried in DZ starts and will probably come out even, and maybe even pot a few here and there, but will be relied upon for majority of the PK duties.
- gravyface

I don’t see JT staying in the 2C spot if they get Bennet. Put him on the wing instead of McMann or move him to 3C.