Acceptance and Planning for a Cup Run 2023/2024

[ToneDog]

I disagree, you have to go for it NOW. Not next year, now! Besides, I wouldn't re-sign Dubas unless the team at least wins 2 rounds. If he can only build the 3rd best team in the division, then bye bye. I am sick of excuses for this guy.

Risky given you have Tampa and Boston starring at you in the face. Riskier if we lose home ice to Tampa. Under Dubas we have bled picks/prospects/UFAs with no success to show for it. You better be 100% it will work if you "go for it NOW".

 

[Suntouchable13]

Risky given you have Tampa and Boston starring at you in the face. Riskier if we lose home ice to Tampa. Under Dubas we have bled picks/prospects/UFAs with no success to show for it. You better be 100% it will work if you "go for it NOW".

Well, if you don't go for it then why not fire Dubas? OR re-sign him to a new deal and give him more time? This is obviously a go for it year. Is it not? It's on Shanny and Dubas if they can't build a team that is not better than 3rd best.

 

[NewZealandMike]

Well, if you don't go for it then why not fire Dubas? OR re-sign him to a new deal and give him more time? This is obviously a go for it year. Is it not? It's on Shanny and Dubas if they can't build a team that is not better than 3rd best.

They simply don't have the Assets to fill all of the needs to go for it now. Next year they can fill 2/4 of those assets by free agency. Why not land 1 big D this year and a physical bottom 6 player? Let Knies come in and see what we have before shipping him away for maybes...Plus keep the 1st and draft a player that can make the team in 2 years when we need cheap replacements.

 

[Suntouchable13]

They simply don't have the Assets to fill all of the needs to go for it now. Next year they can fill 2/4 of those assets by free agency. Why not land 1 big D this year and a physical bottom 6 player? Let Knies come in and see what we have before shipping him away for maybes...Plus keep the 1st and draft a player that can make the team in 2 years when we need cheap replacements.

Your post makes sense, but again you're forgetting that Dubas doesn't have a contract for next season. If this wasn't a go for it year, then why didn't Shanny re-sign Dubas? Or didn't fire him after the TB loss?

 

[ToneDog]

Well, if you don't go for it then why not fire Dubas? OR re-sign him to a new deal and give him more time? This is obviously a go for it year. Is it not? It's on Shanny and Dubas if they can't build a team that is not better than 3rd best.

I would have fired him this past summer instead of making him a lame duck GM. They have definitely painted themselves in a corner. Lame duck GM needs to win a round to get extended with 34 and 88 needing new deals and their NMCs kick in July 1st.

So yes this is a go for it year but that's not to say it is a wise decision.

 

[Arzak]

I've been saying it a lot this year. But I think a lot depends on what happens with Matthews on July 1. It kinda sucks in that respect, cause it makes it a bit harder to focus specifically on this year with that big looming decision/moment standing in the way.

If he re-signs, even if it is only for 5 years again, well you then have 6 more years with an open window. Great. In those 6 years, you better be able to surround him with talent, including homegrown cheap talent.

If he doesn't re-sign, I think you need to pivot and consider it may be life without him and likely start a rebuild. Recoup assets while you can and get a kick start on the rebuild, rather than waiting the extra year. What else would help kickstart that rebuild? Homegrown cheap talent.

Thus, please don't blow all our picks and prospects this year with a short-term vision.

I agree with all of your points, but its similar for Boston with Pasta, but the mentality there is let's win this year and see what happens afterwards.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Of course, you want the players and coaches to have that mindset. As the GM you want to have the mindset to give them the best possible chance and also be able to compare them to the teams we'll have to get through. We have to play through Tampa and Boston, most of us agree this team doesn't have the best chance vs Boston. We do have a chance, I'd put it at 60/40 in favor of Boston, but you want the GM to give his team the best shot.

I want the GM to give the team the best shot of winning not just today, but also in future years and balancing the present and the future is always tricky.

 

[AvroArrow]

I want the GM to give the team the best shot of winning not just today, but also in future years and balancing the present and the future is always tricky.

The best shot for this team is while Matthews is here and while Tavares is still producing like a top 6C. in 2 years time it's very possible we're looking at a rebuild or re-tool.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I agree with all of your points, but its similar for Boston with Pasta, but the mentality there is let's win this year and see what happens afterwards.

Boston's situation is completely different from ours. Their best players are nearing the end of the line and they have cap issues next season so this season, their chances of winning are likely much better than any season in the foreseeable future. The Leafs best players on the other hand, they will be their primes for a number of years yet.

The best shot for this team is while Matthews is here and while Tavares is still producing like a top 6C. in 2 years time it's very possible we're looking at a rebuild or re-tool.

More likely that Matthews is here for a long time to come.

 

[Nineteen67]

There’s not many people that think this team can win now. The goal is to win a round this season, sign Matthews long term and try build a winner.

 

[Niagara Bill]

I want the GM to give the team the best shot of winning not just today, but also in future years and balancing the present and the future is always tricky.

This year, not next. It has been since 1967...no more waiting, please

 

[darrylsittler27]

I'm a bit torn. The odds are Dubas is finished but our window is now. I haven't seen one proposal involving the Leafs that I would do. Do we throw it all in, lose ,and have one big mess to clean up or do we seek sensible trades? I favour the Latter. If the right trade ain't there, don't get blackmailed. The refs hate Toronto anyway.

 

[mikeyz]

I am in complete agreement that they don't have the horses to go on a long cup run this year but the minimum goal still needs to be winning a round.
That would go a long way towards learning what it takes to win, in addition to giving Matthews a reason (other than dollars) to stick around.

This is 100% bang on.

 

[WillyC]

I think the Leafs are going to go all in… I expect more threads like this.

house is on fire threads

 

[Dekes For Days]

It seems extremely unlikely we see repeat winners for the Cup. Were close now. But we can't dump Knies and 2023 1ST and not win. next year we have lots of cap space to fill only 2 key spots a top 6 winger ( 6/8m) and a bottom 6 big physical C (2/3m)
This year go trade for a big D and a bottom 6 or two physical players Comtois/Jeannott types.
Can't do it all this year don't have the assets.

We don't need to "dump Knies and 2023 1st". We have just as many assets and as much space as next year, and more than most other contenders, so if we want to acquire something, we can, but we don't actually need anything in order to have one of the best chances at winning the cup, because we're already one of the best teams in the league.

 

[horner]

Next year.

Boston is to good this year.
Our goaltending is not stable yet, I want to see how Sammy does .

Both Boston an TBay are in cap hell next year.
TB has 3 mil to spend on 7 players
Ross Colton needs to be signed

Boston has 21 mil to spend on 10 players
Pasta needs to be signed 10 mil minimum
Swayman needs a new contract 3.5 mil
Bergeron and Krejci need to be payed there bonuses

Next yr is the time to go all in

Will will have a year to see what we have in knies as well

 

[horner]

I think the Leafs are going to go all in… I expect more threads like this.

house is on fire threads

If dubas does he should be hung.
If you don't get beat by vasi then you will be beat by Boston .
Next yr both of those teams are in trouble with the cap.

 

[thewave]

They better get it done this year. Matthews July 1st decision means everything to the future of this team. If he isn't going to commit... huge red flag.