I see... Is Dubas that dumb GM?
- PatC80

well to be clear, I think JGP is a decent 3rd line C. def has value and could be a good pickup.

But he may fetch an inflated return (1st or something like that)..so stay away from that

Right. One has a proven record of being decent, why give up after one year?

Also, I know I'm a homer but I felt Dubas had a quality summer and off season. He got rid of mistakes, paid a price for them but he did it for the betterment of the team.

Sure, first round picks are great and all but he already has enough trouble with his cap. He didn't need another one.
- Aaron_85

I loved what he did from an outside perspective. He had to unload that Marleau contract, Kadri trade was good, Mikheyev was a smart move, and getting rid of that Zaitsev contract was genius. My only complaint would be the backup goalie, but if that’s your only complaint then you’re doing well. The backup goalie thing is a big deal to me being a Bruins fan. I think it’s extremely wise to have a near starting goalie caliber backup if you can afford to (we can). It helps your team out through the season and definitely helps your starter come playoff time. Rask was an animal all playoffs.

I don't think anyone rational would suggest that Dubas didn't have a good summer - and getting out the Marleau contract was a necessity that ended up costing a 1st rounder.

What's unfortunate about the Marleau situation is that Vancouver turned around and paid Tampa for basically the exact same thing - which casts a bit out a shadow on how much was paid.

what gets overlooked in the Dubas' summer - where he did do a lot of good things - was what he did or contributed to that lead up to that summer of activity.

the Matthews overpayment and contract length, the Nylander fiasco prior to that and then the spectre of Marner's contract - which were the contributing reasons and major ones as to why Dubas couldn't spend more on a back-up, or perhaps add another "better" defenseman.

so its fine to look at the stuff he did in a vacuum - but it does misrepresent the mess that to a large degree he created himself.

I just hope that Dubas doesn't now sit on his hands after such an active summer, where he waits and waits and waits - avoiding what he obviously needs to address. He needs to go out and get a couple of players with spines and figure out which "passengers" need to be thrown off the train.
- BorjeFan4Ever

As others pointed out, the vancouver deal is different than the toronto one.

Also, I never said he wasn't a poor negotiator. I think he's ahead of the trend of where RFA's will be going. More money on second contracts. I didn't have an issue with Matthew's deal, a slight problem with Marner's (so far) but in the end he got them all signed.

Yup, made mistakes with Nylander but Dubas has shown me he isn't shy to make moves or correct what he feels are mistakes.

I don't know if there's anything to do with the roster during the season due to the cap constraints but we will see.

I loved what he did from an outside perspective. He had to unload that Marleau contract, Kadri trade was good, Mikheyev was a smart move, and getting rid of that Zaitsev contract was genius. My only complaint would be the backup goalie, but if that’s your only complaint then you’re doing well. The backup goalie thing is a big deal to me being a Bruins fan. I think it’s extremely wise to have a near starting goalie caliber backup if you can afford to (we can). It helps your team out through the season and definitely helps your starter come playoff time. Rask was an animal all playoffs.
- RickJames77

Boston is paying 9.7mil for 2 goalies, the Leafs 4mil less

you can do that when your 3 best forward all made less than 7mil.

I think there’s something to what’s Babs has been saying about them getting to know each other better. You hold people you know to account, and learn to trust them along the way.

Everyone rags on Babs, but no one should take what he says for granted.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Babs is a good coach, this week shows that they team is actually listening to him.. Maybe for the 1st time this year.

Boston is paying 9.7mil for 2 goalies, the Leafs 4mil less

you can do that when your 3 best forward all made less than 7mil.
- senstroll

Our 3 best forwards (Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kapanen) don't make that much

Our 3 best forwards (Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Kapanen) don't make that much
- PatC80

I have this feeling Dubas pulls a trigger on Kapanen or Johnsson within the next year or so and moves one of them.

I'd prefer Nylander but we will see.

I have this feeling Dubas pulls a trigger on Kapanen or Johnsson within the next year or so and moves one of them.

I'd prefer Nylander but we will see.
- Aaron_85

If he wants to keep Rielly/Andersen, it might have to be Nylander... Which sucks.. I hope the cap goes up by $11M

Boston is paying 9.7mil for 2 goalies, the Leafs 4mil less

you can do that when your 3 best forward all made less than 7mil.
- senstroll

I don’t disagree with you. That’s why I said we can and that you couldn’t. I’m not going to point out your contract structure as being the reason for not being able to play for a quality backup. Everyone knows that.

Babs is a good coach, this week shows that they team is actually listening to him.. Maybe for the 1st time this year.
- PatC80

they are def trying to play a different style. dont see the stretch pass like last season.

Lower event..the last 2 games were of the Boring Variety for most of it.
Is that Better? We will see

I would more agree with this



he had one crazy good playoff year. trade him fast

I would also try to move these players
Namestnikov
Tierny
Hainsey
Demelo
Anderson

Add the picks to the 9 they currently have in the first 2 rounds on 20/21.

they wont, which I am happy about.
Also they run into the problem of not hitting the cap floor. If they werent so poor they would take a contract back to improve the Picks
- senstroll

Leafs acquire Hainsey at TDL

If he wants to keep Rielly/Andersen, it might have to be Nylander... Which sucks.. I hope the cap goes up by $11M
- PatC80

I don't think Kapanen or Johnsson move the cap enough to squeeze in those guys in a couple years.

I think it's Nylander, similar to how Anaheim moved Bobby Ryan to keep Perry and Getz.

they are def trying to play a different style. dont see the stretch pass like last season.

Lower event..the last 2 games were of the Boring Variety for most of it.
Is that Better? We will see
- senstroll

If it helps AM and Marner turn into better defensive players than I am for it...

I loved what he did from an outside perspective. He had to unload that Marleau contract, Kadri trade was good, Mikheyev was a smart move, and getting rid of that Zaitsev contract was genius. My only complaint would be the backup goalie, but if that’s your only complaint then you’re doing well. The backup goalie thing is a big deal to me being a Bruins fan. I think it’s extremely wise to have a near starting goalie caliber backup if you can afford to (we can). It helps your team out through the season and definitely helps your starter come playoff time. Rask was an animal all playoffs.
- RickJames77

Yeah he did a lot. He needs to step away from the negotiating table but it could be worse. Much worse.

There truly isn't any "bad contracts" or someone that fans would consider "unmoveable".

I don't think Kapanen or Johnsson move the cap enough to squeeze in those guys in a couple years.

I think it's Nylander, similar to how Anaheim moved Bobby Ryan to keep Perry and Getz.
- Aaron_85

I doubt any of the 3 will be traded.

Good value in all those contracts.

I don’t disagree with you. That’s why I said we can’t and that you couldn’t. I’m not going to point out your contract structure as being the reason for not being able to play for a quality backup. Everyone knows that.
- RickJames77

Dubas did have an option to improve it. he could have not signed Ceci.

But that was leaving another hole to fill.
is Marincin/other backup a better way to go than Ceci/Hutch?

Yeah he did a lot. He needs to step away from the negotiating table but it could be worse. Much worse.

There truly isn't any "bad contracts" or someone that fans would consider "unmoveable".
- Aaron_85

Yeah he paid a bit more than I’d like if I were a fan. Signing a high price UFA like Tavares before you need to negotiate contracts is a tough spot to be in because then that becomes the bar, which will be a bit high. Not saying you shouldn’t sign him, obviously, but I never thought about how that signing could’ve affected the others.

Dubas did have an option to improve it. he could have not signed Ceci.

But that was leaving another hole to fill.
is Marincin/other backup a better way to go than Ceci/Hutch?
- senstroll

You needed that defensive depth, especially at the start of the year, but I’d say a better backup and no Ceci. You did t have to pay him after trading for him right? He was still an RFA if I’m not mistaken.

I doubt any of the 3 will be traded.

Good value in all those contracts.
- Santo_44

You don't get good things in return for poopty contracts. You'd need to trade value to get value.

You needed that defensive depth, especially at the start of the year, but I’d say a better backup and no Ceci. You did t have to pay him after trading for him right? He was still an RFA if I’m not mistaken.
- RickJames77

Arbitration rights I think is why he got what he got.

You needed that defensive depth, especially at the start of the year, but I’d say a better backup and no Ceci. You did t have to pay him after trading for him right? He was still an RFA if I’m not mistaken.
- RickJames77

You're far too sheltered to understand you Bostonian Bastard.

You needed that defensive depth, especially at the start of the year, but I’d say a better backup and no Ceci. You did t have to pay him after trading for him right? He was still an RFA if I’m not mistaken.
- RickJames77

It's the one criticism I have of Dubas' summer:

There were at least a couple of creative things he could have done on a Ceci contract.

- offer him a contract with most of it payable on Day 1;
- try to get him to go to arbitration so the Leafs could walk away.

Instead, we have a guy making $4.5 million, counting $4.5 million against the cap, and playing like a $2 million d-man.

I have this feeling Dubas pulls a trigger on Kapanen or Johnsson within the next year or so and moves one of them.

I'd prefer Nylander but we will see.
- Aaron_85

If they want to keep Muzzin, and they absolutely should, I think they’ll have to move on from Willy..

Hopefully some team is willing to give something decent in return.

some quick 5v5 scoring for the leafs
last season the leafs score 206 goals and 170 against at 5v5 (54.79% 7th)

TB was 206-157 for reference

So far this season, 37-37 (50% 16th) or on pace for 178-178

to this point the new style has not helped. 17 games though is a short sample

You needed that defensive depth, especially at the start of the year, but I’d say a better backup and no Ceci. You did t have to pay him after trading for him right? He was still an RFA if I’m not mistaken.
- RickJames77

He was an RFA, but Ottawa had given him a qualifying offer ($4.3 million, IIRC).

Leafs had to honour that offer (and all night long, it was honour and offer!).

Anyhoo, it is what it is.