He's scored over 30 twice in eight seasons, so calling him a 30+ goal guy could be a problematic label.

I get where you are coming from, he's the best winger we have now. If he doesn't have the attitude issues some of our former wingers had...I can understand signing him either way.

However, you know he will want to be paid like a 30g player. What if he only scores 20-20-40 stat line this year? Still want to sign him to 7+?

What about if him and Eichel don't mesh well. Willing to pay a 2nd line player 7+?

There are issues that arise if the contract is signed now and we don't get to see the product before. If everything goes well we will have time to talk. Skinner holds all the cards anyways and he can't make a decision until July 1st as is. I'd wonder if HE wouldn't want to sign until he sees how the team fairs.

Throw out all the TDL and chemistry stuff, we just acquired him. I think letting him get settled, get his stride back and meet the guys is a good call.

Edit: Thrice
- RhinoFan

I understand the risk in signing him to big $$$
But the longer it goes, the more likely we won’t be able to sign him imo

And obviously we need scoring badly

Ppl talk about how we’re gonna be a lot better this year...
but how much have we actually improved our scoring?
Remember, we lost ROR & Kane
We need more than just a modest improvement

I understand the risk in signing him to big $$$
But the longer it goes, the more likely we won’t be able to sign him imo

And obviously we need scoring badly

Ppl talk about how we’re gonna be a lot better this year...
but how much have we actually improved our scoring?
Remember, we lost ROR & Kane
We need more than just a modest improvement
- jdfitz77

Skinner>Kane (3 30 goal seasons v. 1)
Sheary>Pouliot
Berglund>Girgensons
Mittelstadt vs. ROR? Can Mitts get 20? Idk
Erod>Josefson
Risto is Risto
Dahlin>Bogo
Bogo>Falk
McCabe>Gorges
Maybe Okposo and Reinhart won't have horrible starts

Offensive production is going up

Edit, also, Eichel isn't playing with 28 and 29. That should be huge

Interesting, hard to tell if you agree with my take?

Who says no?
- Boss34

I know I say this the same week Karlsson got traded but I highly doubt the Leafs will ever let Austen go. Leafs are in a win now mode, and trading for a prospect regardless of how highly regarded they are just doesnt make any sense.

I understand the risk in signing him to big $$$
But the longer it goes, the more likely we won’t be able to sign him imo

And obviously we need scoring badly

Ppl talk about how we’re gonna be a lot better this year...
but how much have we actually improved our scoring?
Remember, we lost ROR & Kane
We need more than just a modest improvement
- jdfitz77

I think we have the same fears but different conclusions. I've always been a believer two people can be correct and have different answers. He is a scorer, that's true. At the same point, if we suck again, it'll probably mean a big regime change...which usually means there's another roster turnover. I'd rather trade Skinner at the deadline than lock him to 7x7 on a piss poor team.

There's also the chance we get more than we paid for him at the deadline, especially if we can hold cap.

I believe and hope that he succeeds here. If this is the case, after a few months, I would start negotiations. Just would wait is all. I don't think the chance of him resigning is changed much by deferring to a later date. As I said, Skinner could be the one wanting to wait and see how it goes too.

Zuerst.

I know I say this the same week Karlsson got traded but I highly doubt the Leafs will ever let Austen go. Leafs are in a win now mode, and trading for a prospect regardless of how highly regarded they are just doesnt make any sense.
- Wissler

Like trying to trade Stamkos for undrafted Eichel?

Or trying to trade Seguin for an undrafted Dahlin?

Bad argument, but I do agree Mathews is a lifer up there

Skinner>Kane (3 30 goal seasons v. 1)
Sheary>Pouliot
Berglund>Girgensons
Mittelstadt vs. ROR? Can Mitts get 20? Idk
Erod>Josefson
Risto is Risto
Dahlin>Bogo
Bogo>Falk
McCabe>Gorges
Maybe Okposo and Reinhart won't have horrible starts

Offensive production is going up

Edit, also, Eichel isn't playing with 28 and 29. That should be huge
- jcragcrumple

But is it going up moderately, or significantly?
Bc we need a BIG leap up in scoring

But is it going up moderately, or significantly?
Bc we need a BIG leap up in scoring
- jdfitz77

35 more goals would have us middle of the pack.

Can Jack score 10 more than 25? Probably

Can Skinner have 30 to Kane's 20? Probably

Can Dahlin score 10? probably

Can Sheary have 20 to Pouliot's 15? Probably

Can Berglund have 13 to Girgensons 7? Probably

There's 40 more goals, not counting Erod, healthy Bogo (6-8 goals?), Thompson maybe.

The real questions imo are whether Mittelstadt can score 20, and is Reinhart actually a 30 goal scorer, can Okposo score 20 ever again?

Like trying to trade Stamkos for undrafted Eichel?

Or trying to trade Seguin for an undrafted Dahlin?

Bad argument, but I do agree Mathews is a lifer up there
- washedup20

You never really know with prospects until they actually play in the NHL. What if Hughes is RNH and the Leafs traded Matthews for a player that tops out at 50/60 points in his career?

I think we have the same fears but different conclusions. I've always been a believer two people can be correct and have different answers. He is a scorer, that's true. At the same point, if we suck again, it'll probably mean a big regime change...which usually means there's another roster turnover. I'd rather trade Skinner at the deadline than lock him to 7x7 on a piss poor team.

There's also the chance we get more than we paid for him at the deadline, especially if we can hold cap.

I believe and hope that he succeeds here. If this is the case, after a few months, I would start negotiations. Just would wait is all. I don't think the chance of him resigning is changed much by deferring to a later date. As I said, Skinner could be the one wanting to wait and see how it goes too.
- RhinoFan

Skinner might not be the perfect fit,
but i think Botts understood that when he traded for him

The bottom line is that we needed scoring,
so we traded for a scorer

I’d think we’d wanna keep that guy & not trade him or lose him for nothing

Bc if we don’t sign him...
then we are still looking for a scoring winger next year,
and beyond

I understand the risk in signing him to big $$$
But the longer it goes, the more likely we won’t be able to sign him imo

And obviously we need scoring badly

Ppl talk about how we’re gonna be a lot better this year...
but how much have we actually improved our scoring?
Remember, we lost ROR & Kane
We need more than just a modest improvement
- jdfitz77

Why wouldn't both sides want to try it out for a few months.

I dont think time is of an essence.

I know I say this the same week Karlsson got traded but I highly doubt the Leafs will ever let Austen go. Leafs are in a win now mode, and trading for a prospect regardless of how highly regarded they are just doesnt make any sense.
- Wissler

That makes sense.

But if there is turmoil and possibly a problem between Mathews and Babcock, or cap issues eventually.

The fact that matthews didnt get alot of playoff ice time, and that his coach had to fly and meet him. I sense some discontent. Now the "c" thing

Guys of this echelon , who do they get traded for?

Didnt boston trade Seguin for the right to draft kessel?
Something like that?

Like trying to trade Stamkos for undrafted Eichel?

Or trying to trade Seguin for an undrafted Dahlin?

Bad argument, but I do agree Mathews is a lifer up there
- washedup20

Yeah: both of those trade rumors were so factual?

Hockeybuzz factual

Zuerst.
- mhp

90-95 points this season for the team

35 more goals would have us middle of the pack.

Can Jack score 10 more than 25? Probably

Can Skinner have 30 to Kane's 20? Probably

Can Dahlin score 10? probably

Can Sheary have 20 to Pouliot's 15? Probably

Can Berglund have 13 to Girgensons 7? Probably

There's 40 more goals, not counting Erod, healthy Bogo (6-8 goals?), Thompson maybe.

The real questions imo are whether Mittelstadt can score 20, and is Reinhart actually a 30 goal scorer, can Okposo score 20 ever again?
- jcragcrumple

I just think there’s so many questions,
that I’m not ready to assume anything

And you’re not counting on any injuries with those estimates it looks like
So that’s another factor

I’m still hopefully optimistic though
And i do think we are FINALLY headed in the right direction

You never really know with prospects until they actually play in the NHL. What if Hughes is RNH and the Leafs traded Matthews for a player that tops out at 50/60 points in his career?
- Wissler

Definitely high risk-high reward, but it could actually help the "win now" mode was my point

Yeah: both of those trade rumors were so factual?

Hockeybuzz factual
- Boss34

Hey, shut your mouth when your talking to me

90-95 points this season for the team
- homiedclown

Cautious optimism but I can see if this team can avoid injuries to key players that they could do that number, maybe 92 or so.

Why wouldn't both sides want to try it out for a few months.

I dont think time is of an essence.
- Boss34

That makes sense
I’m just worried that he could also just decide to go to free agency though

It wouldn’t be the end of the world,
Bc we didn’t give up much at all for him

But then we are right back to trying to find a legit scoring winger again

Cautious optimism but I can see if this team can avoid injuries to key players that they could do that number, maybe 92 or so.
- mhp

5 keys

1. eichel play over 75 games
2. casey becomes legit right away
3. dahlin is 3/4 of what advertised
4. above average special teams
5. average goaltending

That makes sense.

But if there is turmoil and possibly a problem between Mathews and Babcock, or cap issues eventually.

The fact that matthews didnt get alot of playoff ice time, and that his coach had to fly and meet him. I sense some discontent. Now the "c" thing

Guys of this echelon , who do they get traded for?

Didnt boston trade Seguin for the right to draft kessel?
Something like that?
- Boss34

Boston traded Kessel to the Leafs for two 1sts
Then the Leafs imploded & one of the 1sts ended up being the Seguin pick
Pretty sure the trade happened in the late summer if i remember right

That makes sense.

But if there is turmoil and possibly a problem between Mathews and Babcock, or cap issues eventually.

The fact that matthews didnt get alot of playoff ice time, and that his coach had to fly and meet him. I sense some discontent. Now the "c" thing

Guys of this echelon , who do they get traded for?

Didnt boston trade Seguin for the right to draft kessel?
Something like that?
- Boss34

Kessel was 5th OA in 06, Seguin was 2nd OA in '10. They got to draft Seguin by trading kessel

I bet if a glove was on the ice in front of the other net

it would score more goals then some of our former sabres from last season

Boston traded Kessel to the Leafs for two 1sts
Then the Leafs imploded & one of the 1sts ended up being the Seguin pick
Pretty sure the trade happened in the late summer if i remember right
- jdfitz77

September 18, 2009
2 firsts and a second

the other first the bruins got was hamilton

That makes sense.

But if there is turmoil and possibly a problem between Mathews and Babcock, or cap issues eventually.

The fact that matthews didnt get alot of playoff ice time, and that his coach had to fly and meet him. I sense some discontent. Now the "c" thing

Guys of this echelon , who do they get traded for?

Didnt boston trade Seguin for the right to draft kessel?
Something like that?
- Boss34

There isn't turmoil. Of course Matthews wants more ice time and Babs wanted more from Matthews in the playoffs. I would be more concerned if they didn't talk at all this summer. Also the captaincy is the media trying to create fodder. Matthews is going to be the captain after he signs his extension. Toronto actually has a championship calibre team and the fans and media dont know what the (frank) to do lol.