What's this?? A hockey parent concerned that his kid isn't getting enough ice time?? That's never happened before, ever! Oh.. Yep. Wait a second.. It happens all the time.

Mitch is doing fine. Sit down dad.
- Snowman X

Rychel was traded because his parents were too involved.

Parents need to be proud and let their son, the coaches, agents handle these situations. They are big boys now.

Only way that works is a home game against a team with one good line....any other situation and the D gets exposed horribly.
- Santo_44

Who on Leafs' D would you like to keep?

Rychel was traded because his parents were too involved.

Parents need to be proud and let their son, the coaches, agents handle these situations. They are big boys now.
- Santo_44

The Habs traded him FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON.

Also because he sucks.

Sorry Dozzer.

Dubas said in an interview with the Athletic that he does not see any pure rentals(expiring UFA’s) that would help the team. He said he sees some pieces with 2,3 years left that he is going to be looking at.

So we can stop talking about Simmonds
- Santo_44

he's just doing his job; talking down the ones he really wants

3 small pieces that could help the Leafs...

1) Kevin Hayes
2) Alex Steen
3) Nic Ritchie

Obviously not game breakers but all would help bring more grit to our 3/4th line..

Need more form the 4th line...we dont need goals from these 9 mins a night... Ennis and the Goat and Lindholm ....see ya!

Things change.
But i don't think simmonds was ever an option.
- Fakepartofme

When Dubas tells the media that he doesn’t see any pure rentals that help the team it means exactly what he said.

He’s not interested obviously. And when I look at the list it’s pretty poop. Other than some decent depth pieces that you can get for mid round picks the top end of the list is horrible.

3 small pieces that could help the Leafs...

1) Kevin Hayes
2) Alex Steen
3) Nic Ritchie

Obviously not game breakers but all would help bring more grit to our 3/4th line..

Need more form the 4th line...we dont need goals from these 9 mins a night... Ennis and the Goat and Lindholm ....see ya!
- billyberg10

Lindholm will stick around regardless. Still looking like a good depth signing.

The Habs traded him FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON.

Also because he sucks.

Sorry Dozzer.
- Scabeh

He does suck but when his dad is yelling at the GM to play him in the NHL its just bad all around. They are actually doing harm to his career. Not good.

Lindholm will stick around regardless. Still looking like a good depth signing.
- TheMussel

People like to think a 4th like center should be good.

They are 4th line centers for a reason...Lindholm has been invisible but that’s fine with me. It means he’s not making any mistakes.

When Dubas tells the media that he doesn’t see any pure rentals that help the team it means exactly what he said.

He’s not interested obviously. And when I look at the list it’s pretty poop. Other than some decent depth pieces that you can get for mid round picks the top end of the list is horrible.
- Santo_44

He means what he says now, doesnt mean his opinion wont change if they are in a bind, need help or get a great offer.
I dont see much either, but the tdl is still several months away.
We'll see.

People like to think a 4th like center should be good.

They are 4th line centers for a reason...Lindholm has been invisible but that’s fine with me. It means he’s not making any mistakes.
- Santo_44

spot on! - people seems to forget this

spot on! - people seems to forget this
- 21peter

Yup.

And if one of the top 3 centers go down Willy will take their spot not Lindholm.

There is no problem with the 4th line. It’s actually better than most teams 4th lines.

Yup.

And if one of the top 3 centers go down Willy will take their spot not Lindholm.

There is no problem with the 4th line. It’s actually better than most teams 4th lines.
- Santo_44

Skill wise for sure...but man would it be nice to have a couple of 6"3 / 6"5 guys who could roll out and swing momentum when needed...dont need fighters....The GOAT plays like he is 5"2

Yup.

And if one of the top 3 centers go down Willy will take their spot not Lindholm.

There is no problem with the 4th line. It’s actually better than most teams 4th lines.
- Santo_44

Would like to see Brian Boyle back on Leafs for playoffs - in his last year of contract.

Would like to see Brian Boyle back on Leafs for playoffs - in his last year of contract.
- plantheparade

Could happen.
But the leafs cant afford to be giving away 2nd -4th round picks anymore. Cant afford to throw them away.
With that said though, the time is now for this cup run.

Would like to see Brian Boyle back on Leafs for playoffs - in his last year of contract.
- plantheparade

Didn't he get his bell rung really bad this year?

I have to say.

NOT a fan of that slogan.
- Scabeh

I figured.

I'm probably going to get banned in the Tanner thread, so before I'm gone, I'd just like to wish all of you a happy holidays, and all the best in 2019.

Wedgie's hot take: Arizona signing Matthews would not be the worst thing in the world.

They simply don't have the revenues for adding a $15 million contract, so they would have to jettison 2-3 good players. The team is already a franking train wreck - just imagine the drafting positions for the next 4 years of our 4 compensatory 1st round draft picks.
- Atomic Wedgie

Well we thought Ottawa was going to be a train wreck this year. And they still could go off the rails, but you never know.

You have to invest money to make money so from a financial points of view for the Yotes it makes sense. Plus hometown kid would get all kinds of endorsements they would sell a bunch of season tickets within hours of him coming on board.

Its not going to happen because with Matthew's they will get a deal done. The number for him is pretty clear you pay him top 2 or 3 money.

Marner is the tricky one, and it could be that Leafs could not necessarily sign him and use that money to build a stronger D and more depth That is the dilemma and why GMs get paid the big bucks. Not saying they won't sign him, but giving out an 11 million to JT and 12 million Matthew's before winning a cup makes it challenging. Now if the Leafs win a cup this year well that removes lots of the pressure no doubt.

While next year's cap will be higher, it's the years after that you may have to worry about. Talk in the states is a recession for the next couple years how does that impact things?

I think the Marleau contract goes away that will certainly help and they could certainly trade him.

They probably get both deals done, but will be interesting for sure.

Rychel was traded because his parents were too involved.

Parents need to be proud and let their son, the coaches, agents handle these situations. They are big boys now.
- Santo_44

Note that those tweets were from 13 months ago, when Mitch was still being moved around the line-up by Babcock. That being said,you're bang on. Hopefully Paul Marner is learning to keep his mouth shut publicly, and speak to/through his son's agent if and when he's frustrated about things.

I'm probably going to get banned in the Tanner thread, so before I'm gone, I'd just like to wish all of you a happy holidays, and all the best in 2019.
- Atomic Wedgie

Cheers to you and yours Wedger.

From the Devils' blog:

Here are the projected lineups.

New Jersey Devils

Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri
Marcus Johansson - Pavel Zacha - Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood - Travis Zajac - Blake Coleman
Brian Boyle - Brett Seney - John Quenneville

Andy Greene - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Sami Vatanen
Mirco Mueller - Ben Lovejoy

Keith Kinkaid

Toronto (via DailyFaceoff.com)

Andreas Johnsson - Auston Matthews - Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander
Tyler Ennis - Par Lindholm - Connor Brown

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Igor Ozhiganov

Frederik Andersen




Damn, I like our 3rd line. Even with lazy, pretty-boy me-before-team chicken-Swede Melander.
- Atomic Wedgie

Now all they need to do is start contributing more... cause they have been fairly 'meh' lately...

I'm probably going to get banned in the Tanner thread, so before I'm gone, I'd just like to wish all of you a happy holidays, and all the best in 2019.
- Atomic Wedgie

I must say, you completely owning (again) Tanner was on my christmas wishlist. Thank you for that.

From the Devils' blog:

Here are the projected lineups.

New Jersey Devils

Taylor Hall - Nico Hischier - Kyle Palmieri
Marcus Johansson - Pavel Zacha - Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood - Travis Zajac - Blake Coleman
Brian Boyle - Brett Seney - John Quenneville

Andy Greene - Damon Severson
Will Butcher - Sami Vatanen
Mirco Mueller - Ben Lovejoy

Keith Kinkaid

Toronto (via DailyFaceoff.com)

Andreas Johnsson - Auston Matthews - Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Hyman - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Patrick Marleau - Nazem Kadri - William Nylander
Tyler Ennis - Par Lindholm - Connor Brown

Morgan Rielly - Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner - Nikita Zaitsev
Travis Dermott - Igor Ozhiganov

Frederik Andersen




Damn, I like our 3rd line. Even with lazy, pretty-boy me-before-team chicken-Swede Melander.
- Atomic Wedgie

I wonder what Matthews did to Babcock to earn this punishment...

3 small pieces that could help the Leafs...

1) Kevin Hayes
2) Alex Steen
3) Nic Ritchie

Obviously not game breakers but all would help bring more grit to our 3/4th line..

Need more form the 4th line...we dont need goals from these 9 mins a night... Ennis and the Goat and Lindholm ....see ya!
- billyberg10

Ya,,, Steen's a scary SOB. Nic, I couldn't put it in the ocean if I was standing on the end of the wharf, Ritchie and who is Kevin Hayes?

Kevin Hayes has 98 minutes in penalties after 5 years in the NHL, another brute.