The leafs should _____ offseason thread

[Bowski]

It passed the 10-year mark now.

Pros:
-TML are perennial "mostly safe to get in" playoff contenders.
-Plenty of star power, with the best league goal scorer on the roster.
-Decent roster/cap/budget flexibility.

Cons:
-Infamous list of failed/fired/leaving GMs and coaches.
-Perennial playoff failures.
-No. 28 in 2024 NHL prospect pool rankings.

Is there still some semblance of a plan going on, or did an NHL meathead swindle a billion-dollar corporation into setting up his family for centuries with no impunity?

Click to read more...

 

[Gil Gunderson]

People can keep pointing to how good the roster is, but I rarely ever see teams go far in the playoffs when they just have one decent puck moving d-man and that’s it on the back-end.

 

[viper0220]

He should have been fired long ago.

 

[wgknestrick]

TOR was sunk the day they signed Tavares to that contract.

 

[JAK]

Shanahan reports to MLSE, which is owned by Rogers and Bell, two corporations who only care about profits, and not customer satisfaction or exceptional achievements.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Gotta think Pelley's first big move might be finally sending Shanny packing.

Long overdue, he's been a complete bust.

 

[La Bamba]

TOR was sunk the day they signed Tavares to that contract.

This.

Their franchise was in incredible shape after the 17/18 season. In terms of cap flexibility, assets , potential, they were probably the wealthiest team in the league in player/picks assets. They lost key guys like Hyman and Kadri and burned so many assets and it has caught up to them.

I feel bad for the good Leaf fans out there, they got f***ed with horrific management.

 

[DamonDRW]

How is Shanny to blame here? He is not their GM, not a coach, he doesn't even play for them on the ice.

 

[Dr Pepper]

How is Shanny to blame here? He is not their GM, not a coach, he doesn't even play for them on the ice.

He green-lit everything the GMs have done, from Lou to Dubas to Treliving.

One series win in ten years.

Pathetic.

 

[Kegu]

This.

Their franchise was in incredible shape after the 17/18 season. In terms of cap flexibility, assets , potential, they were probably the wealthiest team in the league in player/picks assets. They lost key guys like Hyman and Kadri and burned so many assets and it has caught up to them.

I feel bad for the good Leaf fans out there, they got f***ed with horrific management.

Covid did not help things. Flat cap hit them pretty hard.

 

[Maplebeasts]

This summer.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

I wished it was after Montreal but here we are

No way it survives this time

 

[syz]

He green-lit everything the GMs have done, from Lou to Dubas to Treliving.

One series win in ten years.

Pathetic.

Green-lit everything and also almost assuredly prevented other things, given what we learned from the whole Dubas saga.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Covid did not help things. Flat cap hit them pretty hard.

They were certainly projecting their raises to core players with a cap increase in mind. Covid probably hit the Leafs harder than just about any team. A bad time to be giving out huge contracts.

 

[eojsmada]

Covid did not help things. Flat cap hit them pretty hard.

Every top team was dealing with it. And no one was twisting Dubas' arm to sign those horrific contracts.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

How is Shanny to blame here? He is not their GM, not a coach, he doesn't even play for them on the ice.

He's their boss, how is he not accountable?

 

[eojsmada]

He's their boss, how is he not accountable?

Exactly...the Pres of Hockey Ops would have to sign off on the plan and the moves and the salary structures.

 

[NyQuil]

Shanahan reports to MLSE, which is owned by Rogers and Bell, two corporations who only care about profits, and not customer satisfaction or exceptional achievements.

They would make more profit with a better playoff team.

 

[Kegu]

Every top team was dealing with it. And no one was twisting Dubas' arm to sign those horrific contracts.

Was I defending Dubas anywhere? Im the furthest thing from a Leafs fan, and even I can recognize that they got bent over.

 

[eojsmada]

Was I defending Dubas anywhere? Im the furthest thing from a Leafs fan, and even I can recognize that they got bent over.

Nope...and never intimated that you did. Just saying that everyone was dealing with the flat cap and that Dubas (and by association, Shanahan) put himself in that situation.

 

[KingsFan7824]

TOR was sunk the day they signed Tavares to that contract.

They had Matthews and Marner on ELCs in 18-19. They had to take a swing at that. Then Tavares had his best season that year. Then they were up 3-2 on Boston. That was the year to do it.

Chicago did it early. Pittsburgh did it early. Edmonton tried to. At least some of the guys the team was built around still on ELCs.

They still had Kadri. They still had Hyman. They brought in Muzzin.

That they didn't get the job done, when they took that shot, yeah. Chicago had to re-tool a bit after 2010. Pittsburgh missed a lot of chances after 2009. The Leafs didn't get it done, but you can't fault them for trying to take advantage of those big name ELCs. I don't know who else was realistically out there to get in 2018, but in a hard cap world, with 2 star players on ELCs? Any team in that position that could've signed Tavares at that time, does. No question about it.

 

[DamonDRW]

He's their boss, how is he not accountable?

He is not directly responsible for on ice product. Toronto easily makes the playoffs every year and, on paper, should compete for the Cup. Taking it to the next level is up to GMs, coaches and players themselves.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Exactly...the Pres of Hockey Ops would have to sign off on the plan and the moves and the salary structures.

I think people somehow misunderstand how this shit works. The president is the president. No GM gets full autonomy without the guy above them signing off. Shanahan signed off on every move the Leafs have made. He's had 3 GM's and 4 coaches. Let guys like Hyman go. You can say it's hindsight in some situations but this guy is supposed to be smarter than us. That's his job.

 

[La Bamba]

McDavid in 5 games: 12 pts

Leafs Big Four 'Gods' in a 7 game series: 12 pts

 

[Man Bear Pig]

He is not directly responsible for on ice product. Toronto easily makes the playoffs every year and, on paper, should compete for the Cup. Taking it to the next level is up to GMs, coaches and players themselves.

He's not directly responsible? Do Presidents just get a pass then? Of course he's responsible for the on-ice product. That doesn't mean others aren't to blame as well. You think Shanahan or any other president of a team is worried about popcorn sales and just leaves the GM alone with full autonomy?