Around the League - 2022-23 Season Edition

[BallardEra]

One guy who is impressive to watch play is Jack Hughes.

Never knew he was this good.

 

[Menzinger]

Wild re-sign Boldy for 7 years, $7 AAV

That seems like a lot for someone with 89 games played

He’s done well (27 goals, 68 points in that span). But I don’t consider that a crazy bargain. Potential is there.

Worth noting 50% of his production has been on the PP this season .. and 36% of his career totals have been PP production overall.

I think it's okay for the Wild going forward..I think the kids the real deal. They need to keep all their skilled young guys they can, especially after dumping Fiala

But this contract js 100% driven by potential rather than what he's proven capable of

 

[Menzinger]

Can you name a GM who hasn't made some controversial decisions, or who hasn't been greeted in a new job as a huge improvement over the departing one?

(According to the majority of people at least.)

Yzerman carries a bit more of the 'golden boy' image than most, but he was pretty good in Tampa, and a lot of the criticism is in hindsight. And I think some of it, especially in Detroit, comes from his success as a player there.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
That all, with one accord, praise new-born gauds,
And give to dust, that is a little gilt
More laud than gilt, o'erdusted."

Every GM definitely makes mistakes. But when you walk into the job with a reputation as one of the leagues top front office talents, you open yourself up for extra scrutiny.

Imo most of the criticism that has been leveled at him is valid so far (especially the waiver wire stuff). Doesn't mean he won't ultimately build a solid program in the long term (he probably will). But until then he's got to take it on the chin

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Tampa 2 points back now with 2 games in hand

 

[Gabriel426]

Every GM definitely makes mistakes. But when you walk into the job with a reputation as one of the leagues top front office talents, you open yourself up for extra scrutiny.

Imo most of the criticism that has been leveled at him is valid so far. Doesn't mean he won't ultimately build a solid program in the long term (he probably will). But until then he's got to take it on the chin

Thats the thing with GM coming in with a reputations, fans need to know that just bc someone like Steve Y came in, the players in the system won't suddenly become All Stars. I am on the train of being patience and regardless of how good the players are, teams need to gather as much top 90 draft picks as possible in the beginning in order to really build success.

Looking back, the Leafs should have waited another season or two before trading away picks for players. At that time, I think Boyle was a good trade but it should not happen even if it was a 2nd rounder that gained from Polak trade the year before. Signing Marleau and Hainsy in the following offseason is okay but terms should had switched between those two, Marleau for 2 years and Hainsy for 3 years. Which lead to the Turtleneck trade the next season plus not trading away JVR, Bozak and Leo the summer before. Pretty sure Leafs, if lucky could gather a first, and multiple 2nds and 3rds. Lastly, I think the strategy of drafting over agers was not only about trying to get hidden values but more about moving up the timelines for these draft picks to contribute sooner.

Signing JT after that plus the drafts capitals it gathered will path way for trades and having a strong pipelines to help the team.

I think Steve Y is doing well in Detroit. Got some great young talents, they just need some vets in the lineup plus a good goalie.

Tampa 2 points back now with 2 games in hand

Maybe they can catch Boston

 

[Peasy]

One guy who is impressive to watch play is Jack Hughes.

Never knew he was this good.

Coming into next season I think he will constantly be talked about as a top 10 player in the league.

People that followed him early on saw this was coming. Its really impressive how he completely improved his shot between one off season. Gotta be one of the most fun skaters to watch, he makes it look so effortlessly.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Thats the thing with GM coming in with a reputations, fans need to know that just bc someone like Steve Y came in, the players in the system won't suddenly become All Stars. I am on the train of being patience and regardless of how good the players are, teams need to gather as much top 90 draft picks as possible in the beginning in order to really build success.

Looking back, the Leafs should have waited another season or two before trading away picks for players. At that time, I think Boyle was a good trade but it should not happen even if it was a 2nd rounder that gained from Polak trade the year before. Signing Marleau and Hainsy in the following offseason is okay but terms should had switched between those two, Marleau for 2 years and Hainsy for 3 years. Which lead to the Turtleneck trade the next season plus not trading away JVR, Bozak and Leo the summer before. Pretty sure Leafs, if lucky could gather a first, and multiple 2nds and 3rds. Lastly, I think the strategy of drafting over agers was not only about trying to get hidden values but more about moving up the timelines for these draft picks to contribute sooner.

Signing JT after that plus the drafts capitals it gathered will path way for trades and having a strong pipelines to help the team.

I think Steve Y is doing well in Detroit. Got some great young talents, they just need some vets in the lineup plus a good goalie.

I still wonder how Lou caved to Marleau's demands and giving him 3 years, when San Jose where he played his whole career up to that point was only offering him a 2 year contract.

The funny thing is I remember before the 2018 trade deadline, some Leafs fans were upset that Lou didn't trade for Ryan McDonagh. Maybe part of it was that he went from the Rangers to the Lightning and was under contract for 1 more season at that time. However, that would have meant giving up their 1st round pick in 2018 and not selecting Rasmus Sandin.

The fact he traded for Plekanec made no sense, because defense was more of a need.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Hopefully we don't finish 3rd in the Atlantic again.

We've gotta tie up that #2 spot.

 

[Gabriel426]

Coming into next season I think he will constantly be talked about as a top 10 player in the league.

People that followed him early on saw this was coming. Its really impressive how he completely improved his shot between one off season. Gotta be one of the most fun skaters to watch, he makes it look so effortlessly.

Just want to add he grew up a Leafs fans and in Toronto. Maybe he will come home in 8 years, lol.

 

[Gabriel426]

I still wonder how Lou caved to Marleau's demands and giving him 3 years, when San Jose where he played his whole career up to that point was only offering him a 2 year contract.

The funny thing is I remember before the 2018 trade deadline, some Leafs fans were upset that Lou didn't trade for Ryan McDonagh. Maybe part of it was that he went from the Rangers to the Lightning and was under contract for 1 more season at that time. However, that would have meant giving up their 1st round pick in 2018 and not selecting Rasmus Sandin.

The fact he traded for Plekanec made no sense, because defense was more of a need.

The Marleau signing was more a character/culture change which backfired. Also, I don't think Lou cared much about that third year as he was thinking JVR and Bozak will be gone by then and he thought the big Three won't sign their deals at their price. Also, there is no way anyone predict JT would walk at the time of the Marleau signing.

Didn't Miller also went to TB with McDonagh too. It was a trade that I thought Lou missed out too.

The Plekanec deal was bc we were playing Bruins and he had been effective against them.

 

[kb]

The Marleau signing was more a character/culture change which backfired. Also, I don't think Lou cared much about that third year as he was thinking JVR and Bozak will be gone by then and he thought the big Three won't sign their deals at their price. Also, there is no way anyone predict JT would walk at the time of the Marleau signing.

Didn't Miller also went to TB with McDonagh too. It was a trade that I thought Lou missed out too.

The Plekanec deal was bc we were playing Bruins and he had been effective against them.

The third year for Marleau was always going to be a problem before the ink dried.

 

[Martin Skoula]

I still wonder how Lou caved to Marleau's demands and giving him 3 years, when San Jose where he played his whole career up to that point was only offering him a 2 year contract.

The funny thing is I remember before the 2018 trade deadline, some Leafs fans were upset that Lou didn't trade for Ryan McDonagh. Maybe part of it was that he went from the Rangers to the Lightning and was under contract for 1 more season at that time. However, that would have meant giving up their 1st round pick in 2018 and not selecting Rasmus Sandin.

The fact he traded for Plekanec made no sense, because defense was more of a need.

More years than anyone else offered, more AAV, a full 35+ NMC for the entire duration, and a handshake agreement to never sit him so he can chase vanity records instead of a cup. I’m pretty sure if Marleau asked nicely Lou would have been willing to also be his personal butler for the duration.

 

[Gabriel426]

The third year for Marleau was always going to be a problem before the ink dried.

I agree completely, but if it was not for JT even if the big three signed their deals. It is still a bad contract and it won't cost us a 1st to get him away.

 

[fahad203]

Carter Verhaeghe is doing alright these days. 35 points in 44 games. One of 5 players we gave up to get Michael Grabner, who played 80 games for us in 2015-16 and got 18 points that year. I bet Lou not happy about that trade on his record. Just goes to show that all GMs make mistakes.

Carter was an over ager and a late bloomer. He didn't do anything until 24. That's 6+ draft years.

You can go through NHL and find 50 players like that.

I am not defending Lou but that was far from one of his worse

 

[ACC1224]

I still wonder how Lou caved to Marleau's demands and giving him 3 years, when San Jose where he played his whole career up to that point was only offering him a 2 year contract.

The funny thing is I remember before the 2018 trade deadline, some Leafs fans were upset that Lou didn't trade for Ryan McDonagh. Maybe part of it was that he went from the Rangers to the Lightning and was under contract for 1 more season at that time. However, that would have meant giving up their 1st round pick in 2018 and not selecting Rasmus Sandin.

The fact he traded for Plekanec made no sense, because defense was more of a need.

3rd year wouldn’t have mattered with different cap management

 

[Jacquestrapless]

 

[SprDaVE]

It would be a shame if the refs called that in a crucial game and waved off a goal in the process.

 

[kb]

3rd year wouldn’t have mattered with different cap management

Yeah, like offer sheets for our 2 unsigned RFA's.

 

[All Mod Cons]

3rd year wouldn’t have mattered with different cap management

Yeah. There was loads of money to go around. Ample.

Then we signed Tavares and things got very tricky all of a sudden.

 

[Dekes For Days]

3rd year wouldn’t have mattered with different cap management

Wasting massive amounts of cap on on-ice liabilities during competitive years always matters.

 

[ACC1224]

Yeah. There was loads of money to go around. Ample.

Then we signed Tavares and things got very tricky all of a sudden.

They made their choice. Hard to say if it would have been better or worse had they taken another path.

 

[LeafsNation75]

The third year for Marleau was always going to be a problem before the ink dried.

I can't remember who it was,but someone on TSN said that right after his signing in Toronto became official, said it looked like JVR could not be re-signed and this was before the thought of Tavares coming to Toronto was going to be a reality.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Coming into next season I think he will constantly be talked about as a top 10 player in the league.

People that followed him early on saw this was coming. Its really impressive how he completely improved his shot between one off season. Gotta be one of the most fun skaters to watch, he makes it look so effortlessly.

I love watching him in transition and absolutely own the neutral zone when he has the puck. He is just so smooth.

He is also pretty responsible defensively. Still only 21 and already a complete player.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Dekes For Days]

Yeah. There was loads of money to go around. Ample.

No there wasn't. We were the highest spending team in the league in 2017-2018.

Carter was an over ager and a late bloomer. He didn't do anything until 24. That's 6+ draft years.

Yeah, I'm sure this board would never blame a GM for moving on from a player that didn't do anything until after age 24...