Clark4Ever
What we do in hockey echoes in eternity...
It's a starting point with the players currently under contract. It's not a finished product.
Post-Game Talk: 2023-2024 Leafs Roster/Changes/Turnovers & Replacement(s)
- Thread starter Leaf Rocket
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Global Moderator
You would only have about $5 mil in free cap space with that roster you suggested.
Trapper
Registered User
- Nov 21, 2013
- 24,658
- 12,825
I think it’s time for JT (if he doesn’t waive) to move to the wing.
If we are looking at trading Marner:
Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares-C-RW
Build a SOB checking line
D
Rielly-Schenn
McCabe-Lily
So when moving a player, look to fill in the letters with upgrades from the deal.
Can you get a D like Hughes for Marner? A forward like Kempe on the RW? A package deal that gives you the RW+D. Find a speedy center.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
I truly believe under a new coach this core with this supporting cast can achieve great things. Every playoff series the Leafs lose the same way.
Offensively, the Leafs have been stymied by a neutral zone trap going back to Columbus, and when they do get in the offensive zone they can't get into the slot/middle of the ice. This makes the Leafs more susceptible to getting "goalied" as they so often do and we end up taking a lot of perimeter shots. The Leafs offensive cliff dive every playoffs is less of a personnel problem than it is a tactical one.
Defensively, the Leafs get scored on in transition and off the rush all the time. It's our primary downfall in the playoffs. In our four previous playoff series losses:
Now there are two constants on this team since 2020, Sheldon Keefe and the Core Five. The supporting cast over the years has changed so much and has had so many different strengths and weaknesses that it's difficult to blame the surrounding players for these continued exploitations. Blaming the core is more than fair given they're the ones actually on the ice. However, no trade or FA signing or prospect graduation matters until the knucklehead behind the bench is switched out.
Given all the evidence it's clear the Leafs main downfall in the playoffs is strategy moreso than a lack of talent or grit or speed or heart or whatever. When we've seen the Leafs fall victim to the same tactics over and over and over and over again, it says to me we've got a coach with absolutely zero answers and who's too stubborn to change up his game plan when facing adversity.
With all of this plus Keefe's inability to develop young talent at this level it's clear that it's time to move on and it's time for a new voice behind the bench. Leafs need a coach who's far more capable of adapting on the fly and who can employ a game plan that makes the opposition uncomfortable, rather than always reacting.
And to be clear, I'm not 100% against trading a core piece, but I do think that it wouldn't be the end of the world if they ran it back with the same core players. Again, no roster change matters until a new coach is behind the bench.
Offensively, the Leafs have been stymied by a neutral zone trap going back to Columbus, and when they do get in the offensive zone they can't get into the slot/middle of the ice. This makes the Leafs more susceptible to getting "goalied" as they so often do and we end up taking a lot of perimeter shots. The Leafs offensive cliff dive every playoffs is less of a personnel problem than it is a tactical one.
Defensively, the Leafs get scored on in transition and off the rush all the time. It's our primary downfall in the playoffs. In our four previous playoff series losses:
- 2023 80% of Florida's goals came on the rush.
- 2022 Tampa won game 6 via transition and game 7 with 2 rush goals.
- 2021 Montreal scored 1 goal off the cycle, the rest were special teams (3) or in transition.
- 2020 Columbus came back from down 3-0 with 3 goals coming in transition and they won Game 5 off 2 goals in transition
Now there are two constants on this team since 2020, Sheldon Keefe and the Core Five. The supporting cast over the years has changed so much and has had so many different strengths and weaknesses that it's difficult to blame the surrounding players for these continued exploitations. Blaming the core is more than fair given they're the ones actually on the ice. However, no trade or FA signing or prospect graduation matters until the knucklehead behind the bench is switched out.
Given all the evidence it's clear the Leafs main downfall in the playoffs is strategy moreso than a lack of talent or grit or speed or heart or whatever. When we've seen the Leafs fall victim to the same tactics over and over and over and over again, it says to me we've got a coach with absolutely zero answers and who's too stubborn to change up his game plan when facing adversity.
With all of this plus Keefe's inability to develop young talent at this level it's clear that it's time to move on and it's time for a new voice behind the bench. Leafs need a coach who's far more capable of adapting on the fly and who can employ a game plan that makes the opposition uncomfortable, rather than always reacting.
And to be clear, I'm not 100% against trading a core piece, but I do think that it wouldn't be the end of the world if they ran it back with the same core players. Again, no roster change matters until a new coach is behind the bench.
Dreakmur
Registered User
Robertson needs a full year at the AHL level. Even if he can crack the lineup on the 4th line, he shouldn’t be in the NHL next year.
I liked Holmberg - he should earn a 4 line spot.
McMann is a good call up, but that’s about it.
I don’t mind Timmins.
Clark4Ever
What we do in hockey echoes in eternity...
It's a thin UFA market, but if we can find a few decent veteran players on team friendly deals, the Marlies players can always be demoted to start the season and their salaries won't count against the cap. Are any of them not waiver exempt?
A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,901
- 18,119
I don't see how we are a contender with 11m Tavares. Should just trade Mitch and Willy for prospects and build to contend in 2026.
Leaf Rocket
Leaf Fan Till I Die
We are going to have to figure it out somehow, as in GM and coach. I think its feasible but it'll definitely require something to give to fix things.
BallardEra
Leafs&Caps Since 1982™
There is some truth to this. I wonder how this team would have played this year if Keefe was fired last year and someone like Trotz was behind the bench for this season.
TheGreenTBer
Paula Deen does bath salts
- Apr 30, 2021
- 10,214
- 12,535
If Auston won't commit to TO there's no chance he'll commit to frigging Edmonton.
For a lot of reasons, no chance in hell this would happen.
- Dec 12, 2017
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kevsh
Registered User
- Nov 28, 2018
- 3,802
- 5,401
It's a fair plan. Let young players like Knies, Woll and Liljegren get some experience while we wait out Tavares' contract.
Though I'd prefer a stable top-4 D-man to play with Reilly coming back as part of a deal involving either of Willie/Mitch. Also on the shopping list, a top-6 winger that calls the slot his home.
Community
44 is Rielly good
If this was true (it's 100% not true), you would do whatever you can do to keep Matthews... even if it's only for a few years and then McDavid comes to T.O. one year after JTs contract is over.
xxx - McDavid - Nylander
Knies - Matthews - Marner
Run it for a year or two and see if they can win, if not and he wants out you could trade Matthews to fill out the team or let him walk and fill out the roster with the cap space.
However, to reiterate, it's 100% not true. Most likely that McDavid stays in Edmonton until at least his mid-late 30s. It's not so much that he loves Edmonton, I just think he just seems like a guy who ia loyal to a fault and unlikely to leave Edmonton while he's good enough to single handedly make a team good enough to compete.
Maybe he'll want to come to Toronto when he still has a few years left in the tank.
TheGroceryStick
Registered User
I hate to be cynical.
But we likely don't see an "improved" lineup, from this playoff one..with the current core.
Unless we do something drastic(rebuild/retool)
We're likely going to see deck chairs move with a downgrade at 3C, 1 yr older D group etc.
I'm not really yelling to go 'drastic' either. Just not sure, at all, what to do with this team.
Community
44 is Rielly good
Just because 25-26 is the year theyre currently set-up best capswise, doesnt mean we should just give up until then. There's enough roster talent that they can easily win before JTs contract is off the books.
BallardEra
Leafs&Caps Since 1982™
The Leafs and winning easily should never be used together.
- Dec 12, 2017
- 25,807
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They’ve taken a couple of steps backward this year and contending still seems impossible for the foreseeable future. They cannot afford to use anymore picks and resources to fix mistakes like Murray.
They could do 1 of these or all of these if need be.
Sign Mathews for 8 yrs, or trade him
Trade Marner
Maybe they can give Tavares away to a team, if not ride him out.
Sign Nylander for 8 yrs or trade him.
Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit are coming on and it‘d be nice if the Leafs were good at the same time as those teams are good.
- Dec 12, 2017
- 25,807
- 12,297
Not even close to enough talent to win. They were outplayed in 8 of 11 playoff games.
After 5 yrs they still need 4 D, one has to be a #1a or 1b
The probably need a goalie, but I’d give Woll a shot
They need two top 2 wingers that play a different style than the forwards they have now. Knies might be one.
Theyprobably need
If you watched the playoffs you could see they couldnt fill out a consistent lineup because they are so poorly built.
Trapper
Registered User
- Nov 21, 2013
- 24,658
- 12,825
No kidding.
We just put together (this playoffs) arguably the best support group for the core we’ve had in a long time and still couldn’t get much done. We won 5 games instead of 3.
What makes people think this core is just on the verge of a Cup before JT expires in 2 years???
This core needs to change and the team retooled around that change.
- Dec 12, 2017
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Will Shanny speak this week? If they’re doing something do it before the semis start.
SprDaVE
Moderator
- Sep 20, 2008
- 55,691
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I assume he will speak once they have clarity on the Dubas situation, one way or another. I have a feeling it'll be at some point in the next week or so.
- Dec 12, 2017
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The team was built to win a round this year, however the way they played, I think they actually took a step back this season.
I was actually thinking it was already Friday.
My son’s HS baseball season ended last week and he’s finished up school for the semester so my rhythm is off.
SprDaVE
Moderator
- Sep 20, 2008
- 55,691
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Johnston said MLSE expected clarity by Wednesday (today) from Dubas so I think Shanahan will speak soon after that clarity. My bet would be that Shanahan will talk to the media by Friday but I could see it being pushed into next week depending on a few things.
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