The first move after Shanny is fired, the Leafs hire Derek Lalonde as assistant coach.
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2025-2026 Leafs Season
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Gotta like it. With high skill employees with not quite enough will the key is for management/coaches to motivate them. Bérubé did nicely here and hopefully Lalonde will add also to that. Plus, if Matthew has passengers again then he as Captain needs to adjust for that and lead accordingly.
It hurts so bad when you know the team is so close versus the 70s and 90s when they overachieved and were worshipped for it.
It hurts so bad when you know the team is so close versus the 70s and 90s when they overachieved and were worshipped for it.
The Leafs were so close, yet they’re too far away. Softness, lack of depth, bad defence and goaltending were ultimately caused their downfall in the season ending games. More importantly than anything, the performances of the core 5 in all were utterly disappointing. There’s no reason to believe that to run it back with the same core will yield any better results in the most important games of the season.
It’s true that this was the best team in this era, and I would attribute that to the additions made by Treliving. Solartz, Tanev, Benoit, OEL, Carlos, etc. were upgrades over the ones they replaced and made this a better team but that wasn’t enough because the core 5 could not elevate their game.
It would be unfair to lay all the blame on individual players, but I found it disturbing for Matthews to essentially throw his teammates under the bus by saying “there were too many passengers” when he himself did not perform to a level that was expected of him by most. It’s not like he scored a ton of goals more than anyone else. As usually he and the other core 4 never take accountability and offer no apology for their poor performance. I don’t think I’ve seen this kind of behaviour from the true leaders of this game past and present.
It’s true that this was the best team in this era, and I would attribute that to the additions made by Treliving. Solartz, Tanev, Benoit, OEL, Carlos, etc. were upgrades over the ones they replaced and made this a better team but that wasn’t enough because the core 5 could not elevate their game.
It would be unfair to lay all the blame on individual players, but I found it disturbing for Matthews to essentially throw his teammates under the bus by saying “there were too many passengers” when he himself did not perform to a level that was expected of him by most. It’s not like he scored a ton of goals more than anyone else. As usually he and the other core 4 never take accountability and offer no apology for their poor performance. I don’t think I’ve seen this kind of behaviour from the true leaders of this game past and present.
Patrick Kane plays RW and he's American. Both Knies and Matthews are American. Kane only plays for original 6 teams. Leafs are an original 6 team. Kane and Matthews should be able to develop elite chemistry. They could give each other the hand behind the ear salute after every goal. Kane is a career over a point per game player. He should reach 500 career goals next season easily. He can also help the PP. He has also won the Conn Smythe. He'll be a free agent. The topper he wears 88.
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Marner may have declined an extention at 13.5 million for 8 years from the Leafs mid season.
Leafs dodged a bullet there. 14 million is Draisaitl territory and Marner ain't no Draisaitl.
Leafs dodged a bullet there. 14 million is Draisaitl territory and Marner ain't no Draisaitl.
Draisaitl's playoffs stats are astounding.
95 games played 52 goals 141 points.
Marner's playoffs stats for comparison
70 games played 13 goals 63 points.
For those who feel regular season is more important Draisaitl in 2025 lead the league in goals with 52.
Second place was Nylander with 45. Draisaitl also had 106 pts in 71 games.
Marner had 102 pts in 81 games of which 27 were goals.
So 10 more games played with less pts and plenty less goals.
Draisaitl is also a center and carries his own line.
Plays with McD only when they load up.
Marner is a winger and plays primarily with Matthews.
There's also big strong vs timid.
95 games played 52 goals 141 points.
Marner's playoffs stats for comparison
70 games played 13 goals 63 points.
For those who feel regular season is more important Draisaitl in 2025 lead the league in goals with 52.
Second place was Nylander with 45. Draisaitl also had 106 pts in 71 games.
Marner had 102 pts in 81 games of which 27 were goals.
So 10 more games played with less pts and plenty less goals.
Draisaitl is also a center and carries his own line.
Plays with McD only when they load up.
Marner is a winger and plays primarily with Matthews.
There's also big strong vs timid.
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For those dreaming of Toews he has signed with Winnipeg. With plenty bonuses apparently. Including a Playoffs bonus. So players can get paid for Playoffs. If that's the case Leafs should have structured Leafs core with reduced base salaries with Playoffs bonuses. Would have saved them plenty on the cap all those years. Toews playoffs bonus are based on team success. Money for each round won.
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Toews isn't going to be the superstar he once was, but he could be a solid depth player for the Jets.
Depth matters. Florida had 3 solid lines. No team matches that.
Marchand had 10 goals 20 pts in 23 playoff games in 2025 at the age of 37 playing on the 3rd line.
Florida had no holes once the playoffs came around with Jones and Marchand.
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Marchand isn't washed like Toews is. Toews has been off the past 2 seasons and even before that was falling off the cliff.
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Mikko Rantanen has better regular season stats than Marner. Any team that pays Marner more than Dallas pays Rantanen is foolish. Don't give us the tax break excuse either. Marner should pay a special tax for sucking in the playoffs.
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Certainly, no one is expecting him to be a superstar. The point is depth matters. Especially the 3rd line.
His base salary is 2 million. For that it's a good gamble. Anything more than that is performance based and would mean he's producing. Marchand's salary is projected to be higher than his current 6.125 mill which was considered a huge discount. So no one is comparing Marchand to Toews. Using Marchand to point out Panthers recognized depth matters. Especially for their 3rd line. Leafs recognized it as well but all they could get was Laughton. Every year for the last several Leafs traded their 1st round pick for forward depth. Meanwhile they couldn't keep players like Hyman or Kadri who were their forward depth.
So, if anything the comparison should be made between Marchand and Laughton. What Panthers management can do and what Leafs can do.
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Leafs’ problem for the new seas is that they can’t get the players (Bennett and Marchand) they want unless they hugely overpay, and they can’t get rid of the players (Rielly, Krampf and Reaves) unless they eat a big chunk of their salaries.
Rielly wasn’t the only problem, all core four were bad. Nylander was the best player in the first three games but not only he totally disappeared in the last four, he was back with his old floating and flying by habits in the last four games. I guess a leopard doesn’t change its spots.
To change the DNA as Treliving promised, getting rid of Rielly would be a good start although it’d cost a lot to either buy him out or eat a big chunk off his salary. He’s also one of the culprits for that Boston series winning goal in game 7. It’d be a huge addition by subtraction.
Rielly wasn’t the only problem, all core four were bad. Nylander was the best player in the first three games but not only he totally disappeared in the last four, he was back with his old floating and flying by habits in the last four games. I guess a leopard doesn’t change its spots.
To change the DNA as Treliving promised, getting rid of Rielly would be a good start although it’d cost a lot to either buy him out or eat a big chunk off his salary. He’s also one of the culprits for that Boston series winning goal in game 7. It’d be a huge addition by subtraction.
Former Leaf and Sabre Alex Mogilny finally makes the HHOF.
Maple Leafs Re-sign Forward John Tavares | Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has re-signed forward John Tavares to a four-year contract extension. The average annual value of the contract is $4.38 million. Tavares, 34, appeared in 75 games with the Maple Leafs last season, recording 74 points (38 goals, 36...
Great signing . Thanks John.
I'm surprised it's so low.Maple Leafs Re-sign Forward John Tavares | Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has re-signed forward John Tavares to a four-year contract extension. The average annual value of the contract is $4.38 million. Tavares, 34, appeared in 75 games with the Maple Leafs last season, recording 74 points (38 goals, 36...www.nhl.com
Great signing . Thanks John.
Consider his foot speed; he's slower now, but still great on the faceoffs. Good deal.
I wanted to drive JT to the airport.
But signing for practically Reeves money what the hell let’s keep him
But signing for practically Reeves money what the hell let’s keep him
