Didn't have a problem with the Amber Alert. Never underestimate Torotolone, the Blue Jackets were still in comfy chair mode in game one.
Media relations aren't easy.
Media relations aren't easy.
Maple Leafs 2018 - 19
- Thread starter Insidious Von
- Start date
I'll chime in if you don't mind? At the start of the season I believed the Leafs could win a round but didn't think they could win the cup. Now the playoff started and seeing that Tampa got swept, I believe that it's wide open and for the taking. If the Leafs kept it together and not hand the series over to Boston I believe they had a shot at the cup. The top seeds are gone. Boston would have been gone. I had project and many pundits the Leafs to win the Cup between 2020-2024
Which part of Hyman hurt did you not comprehend? Where did it state Leafs were going to win with a healthy Hyman?
Yes we gave that series to Boston. Kadri bone head move and bone head coaching. Cost the Leafs. Changes will be made and when the Leafs get their shit together watch out.
Rumour has it that Dubas doesn't want to lose his AHL coach Sheldon Keefe to another NHL club.
The Leafs blew any chance at advancement when they lost Game 6. And now for some history: at the end of the 85 regular season, the Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings brought up the NHL rear. The Leafs appeared to have the edge by drafting Wendel Clarke, the Wings didn't draft anyone of note. The Wings finished dead last the following year.
The Leafs blew any chance at advancement when they lost Game 6. And now for some history: at the end of the 85 regular season, the Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings brought up the NHL rear. The Leafs appeared to have the edge by drafting Wendel Clarke, the Wings didn't draft anyone of note. The Wings finished dead last the following year.
Yes, true. We gave away that series to Boston otherwise we'd have the Stanley Cup in our hands.
It also remains that Phil "Cheeseburger" Kessel is the sexiest man alive.
If the Pens hadn't given away their series to the Islanders, People magazine would have him on the cover again.
I'm curious about what Shanahan's state of the union address is going to be like. While it's unlikely either or both Dubas and Babcock will be fired, he has to be concerned with the performances of his left and right hand men this past season.
There has been no shortage of criticism on both and justifiably so. I like Babcock and I still believe he will eventually coach the Leafs to a championship. However, I don't think it's unfair to hold him responsible for the special teams' failures which were the main reason we lost to the Bruins. His stubbornness is overplaying Marleau and Nylander when he should have played Matthews more. Especially when the team was behind and double shifting Matthews would have given the team a better chance to tie the game up.
There may be a couple more complaints on Babs but with another 4 years left on his contract, I don't think he'll go anywhere next year.
If I were to blame one more over the other, I'd say it's Dubas was more to blame as he didn't do enough to address the team's weaknesses and wasted one year of the supposedly open window for the Cup.
The team badly needed a right shot d man and he didn't get one. He over evaluated the usefulness of Sparks, Holl and Marincin but none of these three was of NHL caliber. The team lack size and grit on both ends which are essential for playoff
hockey.
Then there's the handling of Nylander's contract extension. He let it drag on for too long and the sccumbed to Nylander's demands with a verbal no trade to boot. The team was playing much better than after Nylander returned. By overpaying Nylander he was forced to extend Matthews for only 5 years when ideally you'd like to see at least 7 year's extension for one of your stud players. It also will have a rippling effect that will lead to losing either Johnsson and/or Kapanan, both are better team players than Nylander imo.
Dubas was hand pick by Shanahan so I don't think he's going anywhere either. Maybe this time next year if the team still loses in the first round, we'll then see a new coach or GM.
There has been no shortage of criticism on both and justifiably so. I like Babcock and I still believe he will eventually coach the Leafs to a championship. However, I don't think it's unfair to hold him responsible for the special teams' failures which were the main reason we lost to the Bruins. His stubbornness is overplaying Marleau and Nylander when he should have played Matthews more. Especially when the team was behind and double shifting Matthews would have given the team a better chance to tie the game up.
There may be a couple more complaints on Babs but with another 4 years left on his contract, I don't think he'll go anywhere next year.
If I were to blame one more over the other, I'd say it's Dubas was more to blame as he didn't do enough to address the team's weaknesses and wasted one year of the supposedly open window for the Cup.
The team badly needed a right shot d man and he didn't get one. He over evaluated the usefulness of Sparks, Holl and Marincin but none of these three was of NHL caliber. The team lack size and grit on both ends which are essential for playoff
hockey.
Then there's the handling of Nylander's contract extension. He let it drag on for too long and the sccumbed to Nylander's demands with a verbal no trade to boot. The team was playing much better than after Nylander returned. By overpaying Nylander he was forced to extend Matthews for only 5 years when ideally you'd like to see at least 7 year's extension for one of your stud players. It also will have a rippling effect that will lead to losing either Johnsson and/or Kapanan, both are better team players than Nylander imo.
Dubas was hand pick by Shanahan so I don't think he's going anywhere either. Maybe this time next year if the team still loses in the first round, we'll then see a new coach or GM.
If the Leafs cripple themselves with another $11 million contract and Montreal improves by 5 points or so, they might be watching the first playoff round from the golf clubhouse next year.
Maybe. Maybe the Leafs sort their shit out. Maybe they sneak in with a wild card spot and do what Columbus is doing now. It's good to have many good young players as RFAs, a luxury the Leafs never had before. Cap space will be freed up somehow. Gardiner and Hainsey is gone so that's at least $6 million. If Dubas can trade Kadri and take no contract back, that's another $4.5 miilion. I think Dubas can move Brown for a pick so that's another $2 million. Dubas will be busy.
As for Montreal's progression, I think Buffalo and Florida will be teams to compete for playoff spots next season.
I hope you're right, but keep in mind that Marner is making just north of $800,000 so he's due for a raise of roughly $11 million.
The 4 players you mentioned total just $1 to $2 million over Marner's raise, and the Leafs have to replace those 4 players with what's left over, and likely trade Kapanen and Johnasson for cheaper talent because they're both due for a big raise as well.
Holl and Marincin will be our defensive talent for next year because we can afford them.
That doesn't produce a well-rounded team or one that can cope with injuries.
One characteristic of successful playoff teams is that they have depth.
Petan, Moore, Ennis (if he signs cheap) plus other players on ELC to fill the roster. Leafs won't be top 3 line team anymore, just top 2 lines. But look who's going to get all the ice time, Matthews, JT, Marner. Reilly ready for big (24-28) minute games. Big boys get their big minutes (that's if Babcock can get over his trust issues). Boston's top line gets almost 20-22 minutes per game. The depth is going to come from Marlies so they will get opportunies. Calle Rosen better than Holl and Maricin. Bracco, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren may get a few games.
According to cap geek Leafs have about $10.5 million in cap space (with Nathon Horton LTIR and Kesel retained salary). But it's projected that the cap will go up to $83 Million, if that's the case Leafs will have about $14.5 million in cap space. Easier to trade Brown at $2 million for a pick or ELC player. They should try to move Kadri at $4.5 million. Marner wants $11 million.
They would probably need to replace both dubas and babs before that will happen. Probably shanahan also so that means don't hold your breadth. Their last trade was to get Petan. He is smaller than Marner
In one sentence: Let's make the Maple Leafs less talented and "grittier".
No thank you.
Unfortunately the talent that Nylander has is skating all around the perimeters and avoiding hits. You'd never see him fight off checks to go for rebounds or take a hit to make plays. They should add his pretty face to the definition of a 'floater'.
As for Gardiner, it's interesting to note that all these years he's played for the Leafs, this is the only time that he suffers any kind of "serious" injury. He sure has that special talent of avoiding contacts but at the team's expense of giving the puck away. I'd say it's because it was his contract year that he was trying to be a little more physical but really had no experience in doing it so he paid the price.
As I said from the beginning the Bs are a bigger threat in the playoffs than the lightning.
Leafs were way better this year than last, they were in control of the series until that fluke goal in game 7 that went through Anderson.
Still played a great 2nd period but couldn’t get back into the game.
Kadri cost the maple leafs. He turned strength into weakness with nylander having to play C
Marner will be signed no questions asked, for whatever his agent asks. Probably 9-10m. Luckily he is a winger
Would love to see Gardiner back but I think he’ll be a cap casualty
We’re going to have to dig deep on the marlins and European skaters to fill depth for the next couple years
It’s sad because on paper, this was the best the leafs team we were going to see before Matthews and marner pro contracts (think Chicago before Kane and toews pay day)
We should have won the cup this year. Thanks Naz for being a brainless, coward of a hockey player.
Leafs were way better this year than last, they were in control of the series until that fluke goal in game 7 that went through Anderson.
Still played a great 2nd period but couldn’t get back into the game.
Kadri cost the maple leafs. He turned strength into weakness with nylander having to play C
Marner will be signed no questions asked, for whatever his agent asks. Probably 9-10m. Luckily he is a winger
Would love to see Gardiner back but I think he’ll be a cap casualty
We’re going to have to dig deep on the marlins and European skaters to fill depth for the next couple years
It’s sad because on paper, this was the best the leafs team we were going to see before Matthews and marner pro contracts (think Chicago before Kane and toews pay day)
We should have won the cup this year. Thanks Naz for being a brainless, coward of a hockey player.
