As a fan what is your "Realistic" expectation for next season? What you want?
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justashadowof
Registered User
- Aug 15, 2020
- 4,025
- 4,230
I predict one prospect making the team in October, Joey Anderson. And Anderson will be the 13th forward, dress occasionally, play less than 5 minutes a night and be on waivers before the end of November. As with previous seasons, the forward group will be filled out with UFA signings who possess attributes the Leafs' forward prospects can't match. Robertson will be given several opportunities during the season to take over a spot in the lineup and will probably do it.
Regarding the Leafs RFAs, my predictions:
Liljegren and Sandin re-signed.
Engvall traded.
Rubins re-signed to a two way deal.
Kase, Scott, Duszak and Krys not qualified.
Regarding the Leafs RFAs, my predictions:
Liljegren and Sandin re-signed.
Engvall traded.
Rubins re-signed to a two way deal.
Kase, Scott, Duszak and Krys not qualified.
Last edited:
- Dec 12, 2017
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He really has no choice but to fill the positions toice a team. What remains to be seen is whether they’ll be a contender or pretender.I agree with your shopping list, but Dubas will never fulfill it. I don't think any GM can pull that off in 1 offseason.
ULF_55
Moderator
What is your definition of all in?
I don't really see more all in than what they've already done.
Here's an option:
Nylander, Mrazek, 2022 1st., 2023 1st., prospect
for
Scheiffele, Hellebuyck 50% retention
And I don't give two hoots about people perception of Scheiffele's attitude.
I was thinking Nylander, not Rielly. Why would we get rid of a cap friendly player?
ULF_55
Moderator
You said top 4, Nylander isn't in top 4.
So for non-cap friendly you're looking at Tavares or marner?
acrobaticgoalie
Registered User
- Jun 18, 2014
- 3,468
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Steeves and Holmberg have legit shots at making it
Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
- 13,185
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Yes Rielly is cap friendly in the terms of the value he brings. As a number 1 defensemen, he is good value.
Matthews would fetch us a kings ransom, even at his cap hit. If he's gone you're losing an elite first line centre, but gaining cap relief, a chance to improve team depth and maybe find a couple of players who will block a shot in the playoffs.
Marner would also bring back a good haul. Puts in more effort in the playoffs and plays on both the PP and PK.
Tavares would be to hard to trade given his age, caphit and term of his contract.
Nylander is probably easiest to trade and get good value back. I'm sure many teams would want a top line right winger for under seven.
Gary Nylund
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2013
- 31,704
- 25,547
Early to say. Likely another 1st rd exit and possibly a regression based on the field of available goalies (first time i've said this with this core) and decline of Muzzin/JT/TJ/Spezza retirement/etc.
My demands to change that (22-23):
- Revamped 4th line; energy, speed, tenacity
- 1x middle six forward with significant size and physicality that can actually play/produce with talent
- Medium-long term starter solution with either a) upside, or b) proven track record of being a high-end starter
- Promote and rely on Robertson/Liljegren in permanent roles and don't scratch them for garbage
23-24:
- A major two-way D acquisition as Muzzin/Brodie/Giordano start to age out. LD is talked about as a log jam but as soon as next year there will be an immediate need for a prime aged solution. Sandin and Rielly cannot be your top 4 LD anchors together. There is no LD in the pipeline that projects to solve this long-term need.
My demands to change that (22-23):
- Revamped 4th line; energy, speed, tenacity
- 1x middle six forward with significant size and physicality that can actually play/produce with talent
- Medium-long term starter solution with either a) upside, or b) proven track record of being a high-end starter
- Promote and rely on Robertson/Liljegren in permanent roles and don't scratch them for garbage
23-24:
- A major two-way D acquisition as Muzzin/Brodie/Giordano start to age out. LD is talked about as a log jam but as soon as next year there will be an immediate need for a prime aged solution. Sandin and Rielly cannot be your top 4 LD anchors together. There is no LD in the pipeline that projects to solve this long-term need.
ULF_55
Moderator
Unless you have a time machine or you've quit being a fan it is unlikely to be major change between now and October. If you're cheering them in October, you're in the same boat I am.
I've been watching for over 60 years, so obviously we haven't hit my breaking point.
ULF_55
Moderator
Why can Rielly and Sandin not be top 4 LD?
If you're worried about size, you shouldn't be.
If it is ability, in 2 years they'll know about Sandin, whether he's a top 4 or top 6.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
One year ago we lost to the Habs with a 4th line of Jumbo Spezza and Foligno. This year we lost with a 4th line of Kase Blackwell and Spezza.
You are not alone when you say you want a "Revamped 4th line; energy, speed, tenacity". Unfortunately Dubas is making it up as he goes, picking up whatever he sees fit from the bottom of the dumpster.
After the CBJ loss, Shanny said we needed to be harder to play against. Three years later, with Dubas' answer to being tougher to play against Cliffy and Simmonds, sitting in the pressbox we watched Engvall shy away from Hagel, Tavares refuse to engage, Willie pull up, and Perry and Maroon mess with Matty.
I'm not holding my breath that Dubas can get 95% on this summer's exam.
Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
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Like you I will absolutely be watching come October but I’m at the point that 6 years of playoff excuses is enough but also like you I do not think there will be any major changes come October.
All that said it’s going to be hard to get excited if they do well during the season. After how they played great last year only to fail again it just gives us false hope. I’m a relatively new Leafs fan at only 4 decades, compared to you. I guess I will just have to learn patience. Lol
Girard got hospitalized after having his head put through the boards.
Do the Leafs have a Makar caliber player?
Rielly-Sandin means you can’t have a single high level shutdown pair in the top 4.
ULF_55
Moderator
Yep, if they don't show any progress in the post-season I think Keefe and Dubas are gone.
I think that will come back to haunt the Leafs with regards to Dubas, but I'm not sure Keefe has done anything with a stacked line-up to indicate he's an up and coming coach.
Neither Dubas nor Keefe are out there on the ice, but they'll take the fall.
FlareKnight
Registered User
My expectation is that they will make the playoffs. They've got a talented enough roster for that to be pretty consistent and expected. Where they finish I don't know. Could win the division or maybe slide to the first lottery spot if they have some bad fortune.
Once they make the playoffs...I expect another first round exit. My hope is that they'll find a way to avoid that and add whatever they have to do in order to manage that. Since if they keep failing in the first round...they'll run out of time before guys like Matthews can decide to go.
Somehow they need to find a way to change that. But I don't see them actually changing anything because of their cap situation. Can make some moves and have to do some things like find goalies. But besides that there isn't much to do but ride it out again.
I want to see them win a round, win the cup, and have a truly spectacular year. But I don't expect any of that.
Once they make the playoffs...I expect another first round exit. My hope is that they'll find a way to avoid that and add whatever they have to do in order to manage that. Since if they keep failing in the first round...they'll run out of time before guys like Matthews can decide to go.
Somehow they need to find a way to change that. But I don't see them actually changing anything because of their cap situation. Can make some moves and have to do some things like find goalies. But besides that there isn't much to do but ride it out again.
I want to see them win a round, win the cup, and have a truly spectacular year. But I don't expect any of that.
ULF_55
Moderator
Americanadian
Registered User
Dubas is very clearly learning on the job with the Leafs and his mistakes have been costly but I fully understand that when he is fired and gets a new job they will be getting a much better GM than the one who the Leafs hired in 2018 and he might actually get into the top 5 GM’s one day. In 10 years he’ll have nearly 15 years experience at an age (46) where most people are breaking into the GM role.
- Dec 12, 2017
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Racer88
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2020
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One thing for sure is it’s going to be interesting. If they come out guns a blazing we will have to wait until the playoffs for a verdict but if they stumble out of the gate the natural move is axe the coach. It remains to be seen if Dubas will do that to try and save himself or ride it into the sun
ULF_55
Moderator
Jim Dorey career profile at HockeyDraftCentral.com
Player page on HockeyDraftCentral.com for Jim Dorey, the No. 23 pick in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft
www.hockeydraftcentral.com
Some of us probably remember this:
Took boxing lesssons in his early NHL years and knew Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo.
Okay, maybe he doesn't have to got that far but ...
That’s why I don’t get the Colorado example. They’re not a model you can follow.
We might even see a European FA. Once most of the fanbase pencils him into the top 9/top 4, he'll be well on his way to being healthy scratched for the fist half of the season, and then traded to another team or head back to Europe.
