2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Beukeboom Fan]

well it's generally bad practice to say misleading things to get your point across, but you do you. playoff WARRIOR mitchell marner was POINT PER GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS (just don't look at the games that actually mattered lol).

To me, every game matters in the playoffs. The lack of clutch is definitely concerning, but I also would like to see him someplace other than TOR. I get he has come up small, but so has the entire roster.

There is something to be said for adding an elite player for just cap space, especially with the cap increasing.

 

[statswatcher]

To me, every game matters in the playoffs.

every game matters, playoffs or not, but surely we can agree that there are degrees of significance.

The lack of clutch is definitely concerning, but I also would like to see him someplace other than TOR. I get he has come up small, but so has the entire roster.

i can easily see him going elsewhere and doing fine. he has the tools. i do think it's less likely he figures it out by coming here and doing a big bunch of losing.

There is something to be said for adding an elite player for just cap space, especially with the cap increasing.

sure. there are also things to be said against adding this particular elite player to this particular team for that particular cap hit. i'd be wary of saying for sure either way, but with regards to guys with that much stink on them i would prefer to err on the side of caution.

 

[BHawk21]

every game matters, playoffs or not, but surely we can agree that there are degrees of significance.

i can easily see him going elsewhere and doing fine. he has the tools. i do think it's less likely he figures it out by coming here and doing a big bunch of losing.
sure. there are also things to be said against adding this particular elite player to this particular team for that particular cap hit. i'd be wary of saying for sure either way, but with regards to guys with that much stink on them i would prefer to err on the side of caution.

make sure to cover all your bases.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I don't care if he scored 150pts, I don't care if he had 20pts in the 1st round vs the shitty Ottawa Senators.

He isn't, and never will be worth 12+mil, and it will be a detriment to the rebuild if the Hawks sign him, mark my words.

Hawks would probably have to be the highest bidder to get him here, so 12m is probably 1.5-2m too little

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

every game matters, playoffs or not, but surely we can agree that there are degrees of significance.

i can easily see him going elsewhere and doing fine. he has the tools. i do think it's less likely he figures it out by coming here and doing a big bunch of losing.
sure. there are also things to be said against adding this particular elite player to this particular team for that particular cap hit. i'd be wary of saying for sure either way, but with regards to guys with that much stink on them i would prefer to err on the side of caution.

Agree with you 100%. It's definitely a risky move, but there is significant upside IMO. And the risk really relates to all the young guys developing and deserving huge contracts, which is a good problem to have.

I would say I'd feel a lot better about the potential signing without the game 5 spinorama backhand and terrible defensive coverage gaffe. Just such a stupid crotch punch play that it's really hard to overlook.

 

[statswatcher]

make sure to cover all your bases.

sorry to disappoint, but you shan't be dunking on me in eight months when marner is on a 100 point pace for the golden knights or whatever. it's a completely seperate question from whether he's a good fit for this situation.

 

[x Tame Impala]

The rest of the Leafs players probably hate Marner and Matthew’s guts. Spoiled rotten players who don’t take care of business when it matters most and then throw their teammates under the bus.

I can’t believe Matthews said they lost because “there were too many passengers” on the team, which Marner agreed with.

Really, really, really hope we have a quote free agency this year. We’re trending well and have to stay the course.

 

[BHawk21]

sorry to disappoint, but you shan't be dunking on me in eight months when marner is on a 100 point pace for the golden knights or whatever. it's a completely seperate question from whether he's a good fit for this situation.

I completely understand that. We both know hes good. Your just extremely upset that I want him on the Blackhawks and said that he had 13 points in 13 games.

 

[TheFridge]

The rest of the Leafs players probably hate Marner and Matthew’s guts. Spoiled rotten players who don’t take care of business when it matters most and then throw their teammates under the bus.

I can’t believe Matthews said they lost because “there were too many passengers” on the team, which Marner agreed with.

Really, really, really hope we have a quote free agency this year. We’re trending well and have to stay the course.

There is zero accountability amongst the top of their lineup. It's always someone else's fault; someone else isn't doing their job. Part of that is probably because they know there's never going to be any meaningful changes made.

Just watched Dangle's game 7 reaction video and it's literally the same shit every single year with the team. Talking about making changes, talking about not being good enough, talking, talking, talking.

But, as Marner also said in his post-game thoughts, that's "just the way it goes." Riveting stuff from a leader in that room.

 

[TheFridge]

I completely understand that. We both know hes good. Your just extremely upset that I want him on the Blackhawks and said he had 13 points in 13 games.

No one is extremely upset lil fella.

 

[statswatcher]

I completely understand that. We both know he's good. You're just extremely upset that I want him on the Blackhawks and said that he had 13 points in 13 games.

i pointed out that he is not point per game in the playoffs on his career, and that only 2 of those points came in decisive games, which supports his reputation as a player that crumbles under pressure. you've chosen to cope with this information by picturing me in your mind's eye as though i were jumping up and down on my cowboy hat like yosemite sam.

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

There is zero accountability amongst the top of their lineup. It's always someone else's fault; someone else isn't doing their job. Part of that is probably because they know there's never going to be any meaningful changes made.

Just watched Dangle's game 7 reaction video and it's literally the same shit every single year with the team. Talking about making changes, talking about not being good enough, talking, talking, talking.

But, as Marner also said in his post-game thoughts, that's "just the way it goes." Riveting stuff from a leader in that room.

Not every player needs to be a leader, though. Nazar, Bedard, and Vlasic all seem like they’ll grow into great leaders.

As poised and polished as Rinzel was in his debut I could see him being a great leader down the road.

 

[TheFridge]

Not every player needs to be a leader, though. Nazar, Bedard, and Vlasic all seem like they’ll grow into great leaders.

As poised and polished as Rinzel was in his debut I could see him being a great leader down the road.

Marner was a top-10 paid player in the *entire league* for his tenure with the Leafs. If he signs here, it'll likely be for the richest contract in the team (and league) history. Why the hell would you give that contract to a guy who isn't going to be a leader in your room?

You think Marner would come in here and the young guys wouldn't look up to him? Wouldn't emulate him? You think Marner is going to defer to a bunch of 20/21-year-olds?

I really like a lot of the young players the Hawks have. Not just their talent, but their demeanour and character that I can glean from interviews and on-ice performance. Why would you want to poison the well with Marner?

You want to make the playoffs in a couple years, get bounced and have that shithead talking to the media about how there were "too many passengers" and "that's just the way it goes" as he collects his 14M per year? Come on.

We literally just got rid of Seth Jones after he threw the team under the bus as he continued not to live up to his contract. He was a cancer in the room and it needed to be addressed. Why do that again the very next season?

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Marner was a top-10 paid player in the *entire league* for his tenure with the Leafs. If he signs here, it'll likely be for the richest contract in the team (and league) history. Why the hell would you give that contract to a guy who isn't going to be a leader in your room?

You think Marner would come in here and the young guys wouldn't look up to him? Wouldn't emulate him? You think Marner is going to defer to a bunch of 20/21-year-olds?

I really like a lot of the young players the Hawks have. Not just their talent, but their demeanour and character that I can glean from interviews and on-ice performance. Why would you want to poison the well with Marner?

You want to make the playoffs in a couple years, get bounced and have that shithead talking to the media about how there were "too many passengers" and "that's just the way it goes" as he collects his 14M per year? Come on.

We literally just got rid of Seth Jones after he threw the team under the bus as he continued not to live up to his contract. He was a cancer in the room and it needed to be addressed. Why do that again the very next season?

Some guys just need a change of scenery, and Marner might be one of those guys. I think the rotten culture in Toronto is bigger than just one player. For all we know maybe he thrives elsewhere in the same situations.

He’s young and in his prime. I’m not ready to write him off and that he will always be a playoff choker.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Enough of that or I'm going to have to start handing timeouts.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Marner doesn't fit the rebuild timeline anyway. Stock pile youth, and profit off another UFA in 3 years.

 

[Pez68]

Signing Marner would be the Hawks following in Toronto's footsteps, ironically, with an ex Maple Laff. He would be their Tavares. Nah.

 

[CallMeShaft]

Signing Marner would be the Hawks following in Toronto's footsteps, ironically, with an ex Maple Laff. He would be their Tavares. Nah.

Meh, Toronto's biggest issue is they couldn't develop a D better than Morgan Reilly, not that they had one too many elite forwards taking up cap space.

I mean, maybe you could argue they could've used that cap space to sign a true #1D, but how many of those are available through free agency or even through trade? Same for goalies, they could never develop one worth a damn, though at least finding a reasonable starter through trade isn't a huge challenge.

I've been an advocate for us signing Marner, but I'm saying that hoping/figuring on us having a better D core and goalie tandem, and a worse forward core.

 

[Dr Salt]

How would you guys feel about Brock Boeser?

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

How would you guys feel about Brock Boeser?

Legit pissed if they sign him. Ehlers too. Just pay more for the better, younger, and player with less injury history if you can.

 

[CallMeShaft]

How would you guys feel about Brock Boeser?

He's slow now and signing him long term has a very good chance to backfire.

 

[TheFridge]

Meh, Toronto's biggest issue is they couldn't develop a D better than Morgan Reilly, not that they had one too many elite forwards taking up cap space.

I mean, maybe you could argue they could've used that cap space to sign a true #1D, but how many of those are available through free agency or even through trade? Same for goalies, they could never develop one worth a damn, though at least finding a reasonable starter through trade isn't a huge challenge.

I've been an advocate for us signing Marner, but I'm saying that hoping/figuring on us having a better D core and goalie tandem, and a worse forward core.

How are you going to afford the D better than Reilly if you have 4 forwards making 37-45M against the cap? 4 forwards -- elite forwards, allegedly -- that couldn't/can't score in the playoffs? Forwards that don't tilt the ice?

4 years ago, after they lost to Montreal in the bubble, they should have traded Marner. That was the time to do it. They ran it back and now Marner is walking out the door and all they have to show for it is 4 wins beyond round 1.

 

[BHawk21]

Signing Marner would be the Hawks following in Toronto's footsteps, ironically, with an ex Maple Laff. He would be their Tavares. Nah.

When Tavares was signed.

Matthews was signed at 11 for 5 years into UFA
Nylander was signed for 7.5 for 6 years into UFA
Marner was signed for 10.9 for 6 years into UFA

They signed Tavares for 11 for 7 years 13.85% of cap into UFA

The cap was at 81.5 million. Thats almost 50% of the cap. They got extra hurt by cap by the cap staying relatively flat and missing on all the picks from 2017 2018 2019 and terribly 2020. (Besides Durzi traded for Muzzin)


We have nobody signed or needing a big long term extension as a forward except Bedard. Nazar maybe but also could bridge and that would be out to 2027-2028.

The cap in 2027 will be $113.5 million. We have more then enough money to spend for the next 5 years at least.

Our money will be much more spread out then the leafs.

 

[TheFridge]

When Tavares was signed.

Matthews was signed at 11 for 5 years into UFA
Nylander was signed for 7.5 for 6 years into UFA
Marner was signed for 10.9 for 6 years into UFA

They signed Tavares for 11 for 7 years 13.85% of cap into UFA

The cap was at 81.5 million. Thats almost 50% of the cap. They got extra hurt by cap by the cap staying relatively flat and missing on all the picks from 2017 2018 2019 and terribly 2020.


We have nobody signed or needing a big long term extension as a forward except Bedard. Nazar maybe but also could bridge and that would be out to 2027-2028.

The cap in 2027 will be $113.5 million. We have more then enough money to spend for the next 5 years at least.

Our money will be much more spread out then the leafs.

And don't forget, when Toronto signed Tavares, they were already competitive. The Hawks would be signing a 28-year-old to a stupid contract having just finished 2nd last in the league. Now is the perfect time to spend big on old players.

 

[CallMeShaft]

How are you going to afford the D better than Reilly if you have 4 forwards making 37-45M against the cap? 4 forwards -- elite forwards, allegedly -- that couldn't/can't score in the playoffs? Forwards that don't tilt the ice?

4 years ago, after they lost to Montreal in the bubble, they should have traded Marner. That was the time to do it. They ran it back and now Marner is walking out the door and all they have to show for it is 4 wins beyond round 1.

The problem isn't being able to afford a #1D's cap hit, it's being able to draft one. Best Toronto could do was Morgan Reilly.

Hopefully one or both of Rinzel Levshunov helps ensure we don't suffer a similar fate.