Mike Augello: Big guns save sluggish Leafs, Nylander sitting in Sweden

(frank) EVERYTHING.

(frank) EVERYTHING.
- Unholy_Goalie

That's the spirit.

And (frank) Nylander if he's unwilling to accept a deal that keeps this team together. My only real issue with trading him is the hit to Dubas' reputation and his promise to JT, but if he gets back a blue chip defender, surely Tavares won't be upset at least. Dubas will just have to be more careful about his promises in the future.

Does anyone know what Nylander and his group are asking for?

I heard numbers ranging from 6.5 - 9 million.

Is there anyone who is actually in the know?

The weaknesses that the Leafs displayed last night are not the kind of things Nylander can fix.

Poor Dzone coverage, panicky, scrambly play, in their own end, losing most puck battles, getting out-worked all over the ice...

Nylander is not the kind of player to change any of that.

That's the spirit.

And (frank) Nylander if he's unwilling to accept a deal that keeps this team together. My only real issue with trading him is the hit to Dubas' reputation and his promise to JT, but if he gets back a blue chip defender, surely Tavares won't be upset at least. Dubas will just have to be more careful about his promises in the future.
- Thecakeisalie

Nobody should give a (frank) about Nylander, Tavares included, if he brings them a good top pair RHD. Anything that objectively makes the team better will make all sides happy.

Does anyone know what Nylander and his group are asking for?

I heard numbers ranging from 6.5 - 9 million.

Is there anyone who is actually in the know?
- walshyleafsfan

I know nothing but hearsay and 5th hand information. Too much from Shanny's reactions.

That's the spirit.

And (frank) Nylander if he's unwilling to accept a deal that keeps this team together. My only real issue with trading him is the hit to Dubas' reputation and his promise to JT, but if he gets back a blue chip defender, surely Tavares won't be upset at least. Dubas will just have to be more careful about his promises in the future.
- Thecakeisalie

The worst thing about Nylander being traded is Matthews will really struggle 5 on 5 to be effective. Marleau Matthews and any RW not named Marner will really affect Matthews' game.

Either way, it'll get done, so fear not. Nylander lost 70k in the last 26 hours.

Does anyone know what Nylander and his group are asking for?

I heard numbers ranging from 6.5 - 9 million.

Is there anyone who is actually in the know?
- walshyleafsfan

I doubt anyone except Nylander, his agent and the Leafs brass know.

"Hiding" behind the agent, including Matthews' comments today is total BS. The agent does NOT control these players' lives. They hide behind the agent to try to maintain their own image. This is about Nylander, and ego.

The weaknesses that the Leafs displayed last night are not the kind of things Nylander can fix.

Poor Dzone coverage, panicky, scrambly play, in their own end, losing most puck battles, getting out-worked all over the ice...

Nylander is not the kind of player to change any of that.
- Aetherial

Nylander for Pietrangelo.

(frank) EVERYTHING.
- Unholy_Goalie

and wear protection

hoho's hat has been past around

Nobody should give a (frank) about Nylander, Tavares included, if he brings them a good top pair RHD. Anything that objectively makes the team better will make all sides happy.
- Unholy_Goalie

My comment about JT is because Dubas promised to keep the core together when he was trying to bring him to Toronto. JT wanted to add to a team, not subtract in order to fit him in and Dubas said that was doable.

So if they need to let Nylander go now cause of salary issues, it's a bit of a betrayal to management's promise to Tavares. Still, what can you do when Willy is being a greedy idiot? And if they exchange him for a player of equal value (but maybe actually more needed by the team, ie a defender), then JT shouldn't care.

I doubt anyone except Nylander, his agent and the Leafs brass know.

"Hiding" behind the agent, including Matthews' comments today is total BS. The agnt does NOT control these players' lives. They hide behind the agent to try to maintain their own image. This is about Nylander, and ego.
- Aetherial

Damage to his reputation with fans seems to already be irreversible.

He has to be traded now. Not getting a top pair dman for him, so let's think of some great 2nd pairing dmen in the league.

Nylander for Pietrangelo.


- Unholy_Goalie

29 in January.

UFA after the 19/20 season and already at a cap hit of 6.5.

I would be gambling more on potential... like Chabot in Ottawa, but I doubt Ottawa takes on an RFA asking for 8 million+ or whatever.

My comment about JT is because Dubas promised to keep the core together when he was trying to bring him to Toronto. JT wanted to add to a team, not subtract in order to fit him in and Dubas said that was doable.
- Thecakeisalie

If Nylander leaves for nothing or for a poop player, that would be a subtraction. But if Nylander got you Karlsson or any other legit top pair D, that's not a subtraction, it's just moving a surplus to cover a deficit. Overall, it's not a subtraction as long as whatever happens makes the team stronger.

So if they need to let Nylander go now cause of salary issues, it's a bit of a betrayal to management's promise to Tavares. Still, what can you do when Willy is being a greedy idiot? And if they exchange him for a player of equal value (but maybe actually more needed by the team, ie a defender), then JT shouldn't care.

Tavares is signed for 7 years, he's not going anywhere regardless. I see it as a non-issue as long as whatever happens makes the team stronger.

Damage to his reputation with fans seems to already be irreversible.

He has to be traded now. Not getting a top pair dman for him, so let's think of some great 2nd pairing dmen in the league.
- walshyleafsfan

Or a package, with Gardiner and something else.

I doubt anyone except Nylander, his agent and the Leafs brass know.

"Hiding" behind the agent, including Matthews' comments today is total BS. The agent does NOT control these players' lives. They hide behind the agent to try to maintain their own image. This is about Nylander, and ego.
- Aetherial

True. They may trust their agent, but at the end of the day, this is their life and their pay being negotiated. I'm sure Willy is kept updated on all that happens, and he'd be signed tomorrow if he called his agent and ordered him to take the deal available.

Willy might be influenced more by his dad if he's still getting involved. I really wonder if Mikey is part of the problem. Probably trusts and admires him more than his agent and used to doing what he tells him, so if his dad says to drag things out or he needs more money, he might be more likely to listen.

29 in January.

UFA after the 19/20 season and already at a cap hit of 6.5.

I would be gambling more on potential... like Chabot in Ottawa, but I doubt Ottawa takes on an RFA asking for 8 million+ or whatever.
- Aetherial

I'd rather have somebody more proven than roll the dice on a guy you might have to wait another 3 or 4 years to be who you need him to be right now. At 29, he'd have at least 5 or 6 more prime years left. Chara at 40 is still going.

My comment about JT is because Dubas promised to keep the core together when he was trying to bring him to Toronto. JT wanted to add to a team, not subtract in order to fit him in and Dubas said that was doable.

So if they need to let Nylander go now cause of salary issues, it's a bit of a betrayal to management's promise to Tavares. Still, what can you do when Willy is being a greedy idiot? And if they exchange him for a player of equal value (but maybe actually more needed by the team, ie a defender), then JT shouldn't care.
- Thecakeisalie

I thought about that also... but we don't know what was meant by the core.

So Dubas calls him up and says, I might not be able to keep all 4 forwards, but we can trade for some big defensive help... I am pretty sure Tavares would be OK with that.

Or a package, with Gardiner and something else.
- Aetherial

So our top line RW, our 2nd pairing and 2nd most important dman (not really a Gardiner fan) and something else for a 2nd pairing dman?.


Sign me up

I'd rather have somebody more proven than roll the dice on a guy you might have to wait another 3 or 4 years to be who you need him to be right now. At 29, he'd have at least 5 or 6 more prime years left. Chara at 40 is still going.
- Unholy_Goalie

What do you think Pietrangelo gets in free agency.

Answer: the same problem salary that Nylander would get now, or worse.

This is not the right trade. The core has to remain young.

If Nylander leaves for nothing or for a poop player, that would be a subtraction. But if Nylander got you Karlsson or any other legit top pair D, that's not a subtraction, it's just moving a surplus to cover a deficit. Overall, it's not a subtract as long as whatever happens makes the team stronger.
- Unholy_Goalie

Which is basically what I said, so why are you acting like you're disagreeing? As long as they either sign him or get a comparable player back, all good.

Tavares is signed for 7 years, he's not going anywhere regardless. I see it as a non-issue as long as whatever happens makes the team stronger.
- Unholy_Goalie

Yes, Tavares is locked up. But it's about reputation and keeping your word to players. It makes Dubas and the Leafs look bad if they fail to keep their promises to JT. Not to mention it will probably just piss JT off and affect morale.

So our top line RW, our 2nd pairing and 2nd most important dman (not really a Gardiner fan) and something else for a 2nd pairing dman?.


Sign me up
- walshyleafsfan

Oh... I wasn't thinking second pairing, I was thinking we up the Ante and go for a top pair guy.

I just have no idea who that is.

And we can't afford Gardiner after this year anyway.

The worst thing about Nylander being traded is Matthews will really struggle 5 on 5 to be effective. Marleau Matthews and any RW not named Marner will really affect Matthews' game.

Either way, it'll get done, so fear not. Nylander lost 70k in the last 26 hours.
- walshyleafsfan

They showed a graph on how Nylander's cap hit will look like this year and the longer he waits to sign the higher his cap hit will be this year but then goes down the following year.

That's the spirit.

And (frank) Nylander if he's unwilling to accept a deal that keeps this team together. My only real issue with trading him is the hit to Dubas' reputation and his promise to JT, but if he gets back a blue chip defender, surely Tavares won't be upset at least. Dubas will just have to be more careful about his promises in the future.
- Thecakeisalie

Why is this Nylander’s responsibility? So why don’t Mathews, Marner and Gardiner all step forward and do deals for less? I have no problem with Willy wanting to get paid what he thinks he’s worth. I’m not saying Dubas should agree but that’s what salary negotiations are all about.