Dubas on TSN 1050 Overdrive today key takeaways:

1. Nylander (and obviously Marner and Matthews) are not going anywhere; that was part of the pitch to Tavares, so please, Internet, no more Nylander for Tanev, Nylander for Faulk, etc.

2. Dubas is "bullish" on our D. He could be using the media to send a message to another GM or two, but I believe it.

As for the D, I'm in agreement. I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be and having 4 quality lines and the best center group in the NHL (yeah, I said it Oilers' fans) will make up for any shortfalls.

Polak out, Borgman/Holl/Rosen in. Already that's an improvement. Healthy Zaitsev, another plus. A year older Dermott, that too.

Give them a chance, stop trying to unload Nylander for a top pairing RHD that doesn't exist.
- gravyface

Agree totally with this.... not to mention Ozighanov, lets see how he is too! Not to mention, a full year and more experience on Dermott. If Zaitsev improves well then it comes down to how some more of our other young defence come along as well.

MAYBE Gards could be moved or upgraded on but depends and has to make sense and fit, and assuming he wants a boatload for a new contract otherwise I don't really think we have to get absurd with it.

Dubas on TSN 1050 Overdrive today key takeaways:

1. Nylander (and obviously Marner and Matthews) are not going anywhere; that was part of the pitch to Tavares, so please, Internet, no more Nylander for Tanev, Nylander for Faulk, etc.

2. Dubas is "bullish" on our D. He could be using the media to send a message to another GM or two, but I believe it.

As for the D, I'm in agreement. I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be and having 4 quality lines and the best center group in the NHL (yeah, I said it Oilers' fans) will make up for any shortfalls.

Polak out, Borgman/Holl/Rosen in. Already that's an improvement. Healthy Zaitsev, another plus. A year older Dermott, that too.

Give them a chance, stop trying to unload Nylander for a top pairing RHD that doesn't exist.
- gravyface

Nylander is more valuable next year after he has a big year this year, so him getting traded immediately is different than him getting traded eventually. Also, they can afford to pay Nylander this year. Next year, that might change.

If he thinks the defense is alright, he's not watching close enough. The Leafs gave up 4 goals a game against Boston in the playoffs. If the plan is to score 5 a game against Boston, somebody should tell him that defense is usually what works and wins in the playoffs.

At the same time, he's not going to be desperate for D in public. That's an easy way to get poopty offers.

That player does exist, there's a couple of them, they're expensive but they're out there and worth acquiring too.

Nylander is more valuable next year after he has a big year this year, so him getting traded immediately is different than him getting traded eventually. Also, they can afford to pay Nylander this year. Next year, that might change.

If he thinks the defense is alright, he's not watching close enough. The Leafs gave up 4 goals a game against Boston in the playoffs. If the plan is to score 5 a game against Boston, somebody should tell him that defense is usually what works and wins in the playoffs.

At the same time, he's not going to be desperate for D in public. That's an easy way to get poopty offers.

That player does exist, there's a couple of them, they're expensive but they're out there and worth acquiring too.
- Unholy_Goalie

What is their NMC situation like? You know.... TAXES

It’s not word for word obviously, but the main points still stand.
Bozak talks and the writer makes it into coherent sentences.

You can tell it’s the same writer by the writing style, but I haven’t seen a player come out and start saying what was actually wrong with the piece.
- bryant

Any chance that’s because they are paid?

Not being a wiener and not being bitter but do Leafs fans really think they struck gold with signing JT? The guy belongs in sled hockey! he has no legs and is a defensive liability every time he steps on the ice. For every goal he scores, he is guilty of giving up 1.5. you will see soon enough. I hated him on our team from day one. So now that you have all this cash locked up on the legless wonder, and you still have to pay your true studs...………………..and you have NO defense and sub par goaltending...………….where do you finish? lets revisit this end of the season. Enjoy!
- islesrbettr

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Oh man this is awesome......

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Oh man this is awesome......
- ECLifestyle

Honestly thinking it is kinda sad... someone give Linus his comfort blankey back there already before he drowns in his own salty tears.

Not a single crazy Leafs fan would lose his poop on a message board if Matthews went to Arizona for nothing?

Yeah...right...



And imagine if the Leafs sucked on top of it too. Absolutely there would be some.



Every fan base of every team has people like that if they were in the same situation.
- Unholy_Goalie

White Knight, the answer to a question that nobody asked.

Very true and yet he is getting all the credit.

Also,Tavares could have secretly advised NYI he was not re-signing and allowed NYI to trade him and at least get something for him. They paid him pretty well and provided him his start as he says himself.
- justsaying

Yeah, because if NYI did not take a chance on him and give him that big break of drafting him 1st overall, who knows how his career may have turned out.

Kapanen Tavares Nylander
Hyman Matthews Marner
Marleau Kadri Brown
Jonsson dont care
- systemtool

You really havent paying attention to the news eh?
None of those lines are close

Nylander is more valuable next year after he has a big year this year, so him getting traded immediately is different than him getting traded eventually. Also, they can afford to pay Nylander this year. Next year, that might change.

If he thinks the defense is alright, he's not watching close enough. The Leafs gave up 4 goals a game against Boston in the playoffs. If the plan is to score 5 a game against Boston, somebody should tell him that defense is usually what works and wins in the playoffs.

At the same time, he's not going to be desperate for D in public. That's an easy way to get poopty offers.

That player does exist, there's a couple of them, they're expensive but they're out there and worth acquiring too.
- Unholy_Goalie

I believe him. I also believe Dubas knows more about hockey than any of us in this sad little neck of the woods called HockeyBuzz.

You're forgetting that subtracting Bozak and JVR (not to mention not having our best [at the time] shutdown center in Kadri missing 3 of those games) makes us a better team defensively.

You can't look at one series and say, "welp, this and this happened, so that's surely to happen again...". So much went bizarrely wrong for the Leafs that I can't see the results of that series being a template to build a team upon.

Good teams win with center depth and we have the best center depth in the NHL now and maybe even the best forward group in the NHL.

We have good goaltending.

We have puck moving, skating D, we don't have stalwart, stay at home defensive D; I don't know how much that is going to matter when you have the... wait for it... best center group in the NHL. Did I mention that part yet?

Come trade deadline, who knows, but right now, I'm onboard with Dubas' opinion.

Dubas on TSN 1050 Overdrive today key takeaways:

1. Nylander (and obviously Marner and Matthews) are not going anywhere; that was part of the pitch to Tavares, so please, Internet, no more Nylander for Tanev, Nylander for Faulk, etc.

2. Dubas is "bullish" on our D. He could be using the media to send a message to another GM or two, but I believe it.

As for the D, I'm in agreement. I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be and having 4 quality lines and the best center group in the NHL (yeah, I said it Oilers' fans) will make up for any shortfalls.

Polak out, Borgman/Holl/Rosen in. Already that's an improvement. Healthy Zaitsev, another plus. A year older Dermott, that too.

Give them a chance, stop trying to unload Nylander for a top pairing RHD that doesn't exist.
- gravyface

Oh hey pen15 read number 1.

Dubas on TSN 1050 Overdrive today key takeaways:

1. Nylander (and obviously Marner and Matthews) are not going anywhere; that was part of the pitch to Tavares, so please, Internet, no more Nylander for Tanev, Nylander for Faulk, etc.

2. Dubas is "bullish" on our D. He could be using the media to send a message to another GM or two, but I believe it.

As for the D, I'm in agreement. I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be and having 4 quality lines and the best center group in the NHL (yeah, I said it Oilers' fans) will make up for any shortfalls.

Polak out, Borgman/Holl/Rosen in. Already that's an improvement. Healthy Zaitsev, another plus. A year older Dermott, that too.

Give them a chance, stop trying to unload Nylander for a top pairing RHD that doesn't exist.
- gravyface

I have around to be okay with the roster as it is. I would wait and see how some teams do and then make an offer during the season.

I am still high on Spurgeon if the Leafs want a shot this year and next. I think it would be a first, rasanen, brown... maybe a 4th piece like Carrick and a prospect or pick comes back.

Depends where the wild are during the season.

Interesting we are likely signing and getting Carolina's Asst. GM for some position.... wonder if he doesn't come in and help take over the Marlies or something along those lines there.
- Roadrunner75

Gilman is running the Marlies.

I believe him. I also believe Dubas knows more about hockey than any of us in this sad little neck of the woods called HockeyBuzz.
- gravyface

You don't have to be a hockey genius to realize that the Leafs gave up too many shots, too many chances and got scored on an average of 4 times a game against Boston. That's at least 50% the fault of the defense.

You're forgetting that subtracting Bozak and JVR (not to mention not having our best [at the time] shutdown center in Kadri missing 3 of those games) makes us a better team defensively.

In theory, you'd hope they get better defensively but if you look at Tavares' giveaways and goals against, it's not amazing. And even if the forwards are more defensively responsible, it still doesn't change the fact that the defense is still weak, half of it relatively unproven too. Kadri was still in games they lost. Him being in the lineup didn't change the result in the game he got suspended nor did it change the game 7 outcome.

You can't look at one series and say, "welp, this and this happened, so that's surely to happen again...". So much went bizarrely wrong for the Leafs that I can't see the results of that series being a template to build a team upon.

Yeah you kind of can if the two teams are relatively the same. Boston is going to play the same and they got all the same guys they had last year. That's the team you have to beat. If not them, Tampa Bay.

And I think they can beat Boston now but if the goal is to win the Cup (which it is now) the defense still needs to get better. Tavares gets you past the 1st round but improve the defense gets you deeper.

Good teams win with center depth and we have the best center depth in the NHL now and maybe even the best forward group in the NHL.

They also win with defense.

We have good goaltending.

That's also spotty, Andersen was great in game 5 and 6 but outside of that, he was below average. And with no upgrade behind him, Andersen could once again be overworked during the season.

We have puck moving, skating D, we don't have stalwart, stay at home defensive D; I don't know how much that is going to matter when you have the... wait for it... best center group in the NHL. Did I mention that part yet?

Come trade deadline, who knows, but right now, I'm onboard with Dubas' opinion.

The team is good, it could be better but the defense still needs work and Nylander is definitely a piece they could use to improve it. You want a balanced team and right now, the forwards are clearly overloaded and the defense is clearly weak.

I have around to be okay with the roster as it is. I would wait and see how some teams do and then make an offer during the season.

I am still high on Spurgeon if the Leafs want a shot this year and next. I think it would be a first, rasanen, brown... maybe a 4th piece like Carrick and a prospect or pick comes back.

Depends where the wild are during the season.
- Aaron_85

Too small. If they're going to trade those assets, they can add a bit more and do better than Spurgeon.

I have around to be okay with the roster as it is. I would wait and see how some teams do and then make an offer during the season.

I am still high on Spurgeon if the Leafs want a shot this year and next. I think it would be a first, rasanen, brown... maybe a 4th piece like Carrick and a prospect or pick comes back.

Depends where the wild are during the season.
- Aaron_85

That seems like a lot

White Knight, the answer to a question that nobody asked.
- Larry_Fine

Oh yeah?

where do these people keep coming from?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Really?

Agree totally with this.... not to mention Ozighanov, lets see how he is too! Not to mention, a full year and more experience on Dermott. If Zaitsev improves well then it comes down to how some more of our other young defence come along as well.

MAYBE Gards could be moved or upgraded on but depends and has to make sense and fit, and assuming he wants a boatload for a new contract otherwise I don't really think we have to get absurd with it.
- Roadrunner75

6~7mil cap hit there abouts.

The team is good, it could be better but the defense still needs work and Nylander is definitely a piece they could use to improve it. You want a balanced team and right now, the forwards are clearly overloaded and the defense is clearly weak.
- Unholy_Goalie

I look at the Caps D with Orlov, Carlson, Niskanen, but I'm not thinking "whoa, defensive powerhouse", there's some offensively gifted guys in that group, but they're not going to smother you.

They're going to make smart plays and get the puck out to a deep forward group and they're going to distribute the minutes pretty evenly.

None of those guys are perennial Norris candidates; I think Gardiner and Rielly are right there with them. Dermott may very well be next year too.

And PIT seemed to do ok with a weaker D group that won two Cups.

TB, you have a stud in Hedman, then McDonagh, followed by Sergachev and then... Girardi, an aging Stralman. Better D than the Leafs? Sure, Hedman puts them over the top, but I like our forward group better.

So who wins? I don't know, but let's find out.

Tearing apart our clear advantage which is our forward group to try to pry a top pairing RHD (and not a stud Norris guy, those guys are untouchable), just dilutes us where we have an upper hand over arguably the entire league.

I dont think he "went"...... more like just is.
- Fakepartofme

I look at the Caps D with Orlov, Carlson, Niskanen, but I'm not thinking "whoa, defensive powerhouse", there's some offensively gifted guys in that group, but they're not going to smother you.

They're going to make smart plays and get the puck out to a deep forward group and they're going to distribute the minutes pretty evenly.

None of those guys are perennial Norris candidates; I think Gardiner and Rielly are right there with them. Dermott may very well be next year too.

And PIT seemed to do ok with a weaker D group that won two Cups.

TB, you have a stud in Hedman, then McDonagh, followed by Sergachev and then... Girardi, an aging Stralman. Better D than the Leafs? Sure, Hedman puts them over the top, but I like our forward group better.

So who wins? I don't know, but let's find out.

Tearing apart our clear advantage which is our forward group to try to pry a top pairing RHD (and not a stud Norris guy, those guys are untouchable), just dilutes us where we have an upper hand over arguably the entire league.
- gravyface

Leafs will not be trading any of the big 3. Dubas said so on the radio today. Part of the pitch made in getting Tavares is that the big 3 would be here.

Not a single crazy Leafs fan would lose his poop on a message board if Matthews went to Arizona for nothing?

Yeah...right...



And imagine if the Leafs sucked on top of it too. Absolutely there would be some.

Every fan base of every team has people like that if they were in the same situation.
- Unholy_Goalie

First off, the guy basically said Tavares sucked and that he hated him. I have yet to see a leaf fan on these boards say the same about Mathews. the only thing Ive seen is some injury worries.

Second it still never ceases to amazing me that fans from ALL teams have this sense of entittlement that a player SHOULD waive their NTC clause should they have one in order to get something from them. IF the organziation agreed upon a NTC AND its in the players contract, shut it and honor the bloody contract.

Lastly, I know leafs fans can be a little obnoxious at times, and we think we land all the big UFAs bla bla bla, we are generally not hateful or spew rehotic like that dude did.

Wrong bird...same moves.
- Steven_Seagull

I know. Those hips don’t lie

I can maybe see maybe a swap of Gardiner for someone else. The guy has flashes of brilliance, then flashes of brain farts. Maybe its time for a change.