Brad Treliving- 1st year complete.

[Mess]

I am shocked that you think Tanev and OEL are better after hyping up Edmundson and Lub so much last season.

Tanev and OEL are not these "big, mean, and mobile" D you keep saying are the best and Tre keeps signing.

This post just seems weird. Almost like your opinion changes based on what Treliving does.

I'm not surprised you're shocked and don't believe Chris Tanev is a massive upgrade to Leafs DCore. Just watch him play big minutes beside Morgan Rielly on Leafs top pairing. If they can recapture their chemistry and magic as a pairing that they found winning GOLD for Canada at past World Championships.

No question the Toronto Maple Leafs under Treliving this off season have improved their defense, and solidified their goaltending situation, are they a better team than the one that was eliminated 2-1 in overtime of Game 7 by the Boston Bruins.

There is no doubt that the back end has added quality with the signings of rough and tough shot blocking machine Chris Tanev, (3rd in NHL with 207 blocked shots last season) & potential power play quarterback Oliver Ekman-Larsson and penalty-kill specialist Jani Hakanpää, who is plus +34 in his career. Indeed, that this trio is a MAJOR step up from the departing TJ Brodie and Mark Giordano, who each had noticeably lost a step on the back end of their respective careers and sat and watched from the press-box in the playoffs.

Between the pipes, the decision not to bring Ilya Samsonov back has opened the door for 25-year-old Joseph Woll to land the starting job, which Leafs management appear confident will, after signing him to a three-year, $10.98 mil contract that will begin in the 2025-26 season. Should the injury-plagued young goalie falter or get hurt again, the signing of former Florida Panther Anthony Stolarz gives Toronto a second potential starter whose numbers in 108 career games (43-31-9, 2.69 goals-against average, .915 save percentage) are impressive.

Yes, Toronto’s shiny new toys certainly are reason for real optimism for a suffering fan base that’s watched its Leafs win just one Stanley Cup Playoff series in the past 20 years.

So what I know is Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson (temporarily) were a a pair 3rd pairing physical but limited Dman but >>> TJ Brodie and grandpa Giordano (who both mainly sat in the pressbox during the playoffs. Chris Tanev & OEL for similar Cap hit AAV >>>>>>> Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson.

 

[notbias]

I'm not surprised you're shocked and don't believe Chris Tanev is a massive upgrade to Leafs DCore.

I never said that.

I am shocked you believe anyone can be an upgrade over Edmundson and Lub after you hyped them up so much.

The D got smaller and less mean, this doesn't fit with you saying that Treliving is assembling a "big, mean, and mobile" D core...

I am just asking for consistency when agreeing with everything Treliving does... I know it is impossible, but still.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Can’t say I love the Tanev contract, but he’s a needle moving addition imo, so you do what you have to.
Regarding OEL his term is far from horrific.
We bought his 34-37 seasons. No reason that every one of those can’t be good for us.
I also like that we’re getting some stability in the next tier of players on the roster after the core. The turnover year to year in key positions has been brutal and a big part of the lack of cohesion and progress imo

Tanev in his prime was a good player. I liked him a lot. Tanev from 34-40 is a giant question mark and ticking time bomb. He may help us this year, but he represents the destructive, short-term thinking that has hurt the Leafs for decades. Too many people relying on this just magically disappearing when it's most convenient for us. We've learned nothing from the past.

OEL's term is not as bad as Tanev's, but still problematic for that player and at that age. He declined years ago, and while he had a slight resurgence as a bottom pairing defenseman last year, we're now overpaying him through the years when players typically drop off hard.

We had stability in our defense core before, until injuries and declines happened to players at ages younger than our new additions, and we let Holl walk. I don't see how signing injury prone or inconsistent players through decline years is supposed to give us stability. This is never-endiing uncertainty.

Beyond all that, if somebody likes the acquisition/contract, they should be able to justify that on its own merits. They shouldn't compare it to garbage signings to pretend it's good, and they shouldn't post misleading AAV comparisons that ignore the impacts of age and term on those AAVs.

 

[ACC1224]

Still can't believe he gave Nylander 11.5

 

[Evilhomer]

D.

This DCore is marginally better. But relying on a 35 year old defenseman to be your rock is a recipe for disaster.

Leafs should have held steady. Let Marner and Tavares walk and reinvest the cap into higher quality defenseman.

Tanev and OEL may be decent for next year, but after 2025 they are bottom pairing D level players signed for 7M.

Point me to teams that have a 35 year old as their best defenseman playing important playoff games.

There aren't any

I think you are underestimating the domino effect that Tanev will have on the defense. The defense will be substantially improved relative to last season.

 

[Mess]

Treliving in a realist, and the work as still just begun.

In the past 14 playoff games, the Maple Leafs have been held to 2 goals or less 13 times. Treliving knows that.

During his end-of-season media availability in May, he pointed to it as an aspect that was both frustrating and head-scratching.

That, in part, was why he refused to claim this roster is significantly that much better than the one whose players were on the wrong end of the handshake line yet again two months ago, this one coming after Boston's David Pastrnak’s OT goal gave the Maple Leafs an exit Treliving previously described as “disappointing” and “premature.”

For those reasons, Treliving chose his words carefully when asked about the state of the team after his recent UFA signings.

“What is it, July 1? We still have a lot of work to do yet,” he said. “The work that went on between the end of the season and today, we executed on some of the things we wanted to work on. But I’m not looking at rosters today compared to what we ended the season with.”
While acknowledging the newcomers both fill needed roles and are “tremendous people,” the GM was quick to point out that the season does not start until October.

“I’m happy with what transpired today but it’s only Day One,” Treliving said. “So we’ll continue to chip away.”

In the process, the biggest question remains: What is Mitch Marner's future? That is the next BIG domino to fall perhaps.

 

[57 Years No Cup]

Marner should be untouchable. Resigning him is a must.

Signed,

Darren Ferris.

 

[notDatsyuk]

D.

This DCore is marginally better. But relying on a 35 year old defenseman to be your rock is a recipe for disaster.

Leafs should have held steady. Let Marner and Tavares walk and reinvest the cap into higher quality defenseman.

Tanev and OEL may be decent for next year, but after 2025 they are bottom pairing D level players signed for 7M.

Point me to teams that have a 35 year old as their best defenseman playing important playoff games.

There aren't any

You may not be aware of it, but they could not let Marner and Tavares walk this year, so they could not reinvest the cap into higher quality defencemen.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I’d bet Marner would take 8 x 11, fans are worse negotiators than even Dubas. We will see

Possibly from another team either as a UFA or a sign-and-trade. From Toronto, no.

 

[egd27]

don't look at it like that we currently have 28.7 million in cap space next year with 15 guys signed 28 million to sign 5-8 guys is a lot of cap space.

yea, all we need to do is resign McCabe and Knies to market value contracts, replace Marner's 90+ points, find a productive 2nd line Centre.

I'd guess that's around 5 + 4 + 7.5 + 7.5 = 24M

Leaving almost $5M for the 3 or 4 other scrubs.

 

[GoonieFace]

Not a fan of his July 1. But looking at the current roster he can’t be finished. We only have 11 forwards under contract currently.

Tanev is solid, but that term is ugly and his injury history is troubling

OEL probably peaked last year. A 1 or 2 year deal would have been fine, but 4 is too much term. Hopefully he doesn’t go to sleep since he has his cup already.

I figure Liligren might be dealt at some point over the summer, which would be fine.

 

[notbias]

Treliving in a realist, and the work as still just begun.

In the past 14 playoff games, the Maple Leafs have been held to 2 goals or less 13 times. Treliving knows that.

During his end-of-season media availability in May, he pointed to it as an aspect that was both frustrating and head-scratching.

That, in part, was why he refused to claim this roster is significantly that much better than the one whose players were on the wrong end of the handshake line yet again two months ago, this one coming after Boston's David Pastrnak’s OT goal gave the Maple Leafs an exit Treliving previously described as “disappointing” and “premature.”

For those reasons, Treliving chose his words carefully when asked about the state of the team after his recent UFA signings.

“What is it, July 1? We still have a lot of work to do yet,” he said. “The work that went on between the end of the season and today, we executed on some of the things we wanted to work on. But I’m not looking at rosters today compared to what we ended the season with.”
While acknowledging the newcomers both fill needed roles and are “tremendous people,” the GM was quick to point out that the season does not start until October.

“I’m happy with what transpired today but it’s only Day One,” Treliving said. “So we’ll continue to chip away.”

In the process, the biggest question remains: What is Mitch Marner's future? That is the next BIG domino to fall perhaps.

Sounds like he is getting ready to trade a bunch of picks again... you must be excited.

 

[Nineteen67]

Not a fan of his July 1. But looking at the current roster he can’t be finished. We only have 11 forwards under contract currently.

Tanev is solid, but that term is ugly and his injury history is troubling

OEL probably peaked last year. A 1 or 2 year deal would have been fine, but 4 is too much term. Hopefully he doesn’t go to sleep since he has his cup already.

I figure Liligren might be dealt at some point over the summer, which would be fine.

they can’t trade him if Hak can’t play.

No money and no depth is not a good place to be. I’ve always assumed they’d ice a team, but maybe they won’t.

 

[I am Canadian]

You may not be aware of it, but they could not let Marner and Tavares walk this year, so they could not reinvest the cap into higher quality defencemen.

I know when their contracts expire, thanks. I'm saying they shouldn't have spent to the cap this year on long terms deals. They would have had better opportunities next year.

 

[ToneDog]

I know when their contracts expire, thanks. I'm saying they shouldn't have spent to the cap this year on long terms deals. They would have had better opportunities next year.

That would indicate they are here to sell jerseys and not winning.

 

[Antropovsky]

I prefer how Treliving hasn't been babying his stars of late. The rumors of captaincy being changed and the rumors of Marner being traded and how Treliving isn't shielding Marner from it. This is what this team deserves... they haven't won $%^&. Much better than the phony bull$%%$ Dubas pulled "I won't say anything bad about the players but I will take all the blame"

Dubas thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

 

[notbias]

I prefer how Treliving hasn't been babying his stars of late. The rumors of captaincy being changed and the rumors of Marner being traded and how Treliving isn't shielding Marner from it. This is what this team deserves... they haven't won $%^&. Much better than the phony bull$%%$ Dubas pulled "I won't say anything bad about the players but I will take all the blame"

Dubas thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

This board is too obsessed with how our team addresses the media, it is weird.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I know when their contracts expire, thanks. I'm saying they shouldn't have spent to the cap this year on long terms deals. They would have had better opportunities next year.

Ok. That makes a lot more sense than the previous post.

I'm not sure that standing pat for this year would have worked, and I can just imagine the screaming fits the Dubasites would be having if he had.

Not a bad job of improving the D and G, and there will likely be more to come, and he can still do more next year.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

This board is too obsessed with how our team addresses the media, it is weird.

Did you watch the Amazon documentary?

 

[Michoulicious]

They key is to have very low expectations.

 

[ToneDog]

Looks like Tre plugged the leak on D and leaks on LW and #3C has sprung. Tre is finding out what a mess Shanny and Dubas put this team in over the 5 years with Dubas in charge. How long will it take him to figure out you can't win without an alpha dog or two?

 

[The Shadow]

Dubas over paying those guys was a disaster

Thank god he is gone but the mess he left will take a bit of time just like Rutherford in Vancouver.

 

[Nineteen67]

Looks like Tre plugged the leak on D and leaks on LW and #3C has sprung. Tre is finding out what a mess Shanny and Dubas put this team in over the 5 years with Dubas in charge. How long will it take him to figure out you can't win without an alpha dog or two?

But somehow he’s making the team worse, on paper.

Tanev may help a little, they had several OEL, and Hakanpaa may not play. They have very little depth at both D and F.

They say he’s in on everything but he can’t close and now they’re scrambling to do the one thing that was always a given, ice a team. His cap management is no better than Dubas.

Looks like Treliving is going to move into the executive offices next summer, let’s hope he hires a competent GM.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

Dubas over paying those guys was a disaster

Thank god he is gone but the mess he left will take a bit of time just like Rutherford in Vancouver.

For me, the true mark for Treliving will start occurring once Tavares's contract is off the books next year and how he starts to re-shape the team with that allocation of money. As well as who he puts in place as the next captain to show who he places his trust in to lead this team going forward.

 

[Nineteen67]

This board is too obsessed with how our team addresses the media, it is weird.

Because it’s part of the job. Clearly the coach and previous gm were not on the same page at times and we heard a mixed message.