Because the second Matthews is healthy he's going back with Marner and we all know it.
Brad Treliving is doing a great job.
- Thread starter LEAFANFORLIFE23
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Because the second Matthews is healthy he's going back with Marner and we all know it.
ACC1224
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thusk
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Maybe when hes coming back but doesn't that will be the plan coming TDL
The team that Brad has built just keeps finding ways to win games.
As of November 17th the team is 1 point out of 1st in the Atlantic although Florida does have a game in hand.
2 points out of 1st in the east with currently 2 games in hand on NJ, and if I read the schedule right it eventually grows to 4 games in hand
Have won 5 of their last 6
And have done it without Auston Matthews.
Is the team perfect? HELL NO, I still think they need 1 more piece on defense, and they DESPERATELY need a 3rd line center.
But they are among the top teams in the league right now and It's in no small part due to the defense and goaltending Brad has built.
As of November 17th the team is 1 point out of 1st in the Atlantic although Florida does have a game in hand.
2 points out of 1st in the east with currently 2 games in hand on NJ, and if I read the schedule right it eventually grows to 4 games in hand
Have won 5 of their last 6
And have done it without Auston Matthews.
Is the team perfect? HELL NO, I still think they need 1 more piece on defense, and they DESPERATELY need a 3rd line center.
But they are among the top teams in the league right now and It's in no small part due to the defense and goaltending Brad has built.
conFABulator
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I like that and I like Granlund depending on th acquisition cost. Without any trades (and health), I would like to see something like:
McMann Matthews Domi
Pacioretty Tavares Marner
Knies Minten Nylander
That leaves Lorentz, Holmberg, Dewar, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Robertson, and Reaves battling for spots and time. Maybe have Robertson in for Patches if he is out long term.
Apex Predator
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I don’t see it in Robertson. He doesn’t have it. He needs space for his shot but can’t find space in the NHL to do it. Wa easy in the OHL and AHL. To me he’s a tweener. Too good for the AHL not good enough for the NHL.
Minten isn't ready for that role
You might be right, and if you are he's got to go, no room for tweeners
conFABulator
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This middle 40 games of the season would seem like a good opportunity to see if he is. If he is, that certainly changes things for us. If not, we now know we need to shop outside the organization.
Nah man keep him in the AHL, let him develop and go get a Granlund, or a Brock Nelson or Yanni Groude, go get a veteran and let Minten develop for a year or 2.
He's our only legitimate center prospect don't rush him.
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conFABulator
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Both can be true.
Yes, if we can make a hockey trade that happens before the TDL for a guy that fits and solves a need and if we can be cap compliant and not give away too much in future assets then I would be on board too.
I would rather give Minten some NHL time for his sake and to see what we have. He has already developed for a year or two since we drafted him. He might need more, let's find out.
If he's not ready, then we make a trade.
How much are you willing to give up for one of your three targets?
I mean those are the 3 targets I mentioned but I'm sure there will be others available by the deadline.
But in relation to those 3 quite a bit.
This is the strongest I have felt about this team in the Matthews era and I thought they could win in 2021, and 2023, still do think that about 2021, if Tavares doesn't get kneed in the skull who knows what happens, but I digress.
Even in those years we weren't getting the saves from Campbell and Samsonov that we are now, Samsonov was pretty good in 2023 but not like this.
If you add a Granlund, Gourde, or Nelson or someone else to THIS team getting THIS goaltending you can go far.
Imagine having
Marner Matthews Knies.
Nylander Tavares Mcmann
Domi Nelson Jarnkrok
As your top 9.
That's pretty good that's 3 lines deep, I know Domi is struggling but I think it has A LOT to do with him playing out of position and possibly hurt.
You shift him back to the wing where he belongs and your forwards are set.
conFABulator
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I don't disagree we are stronger with one of those three at C, or someone like them. I am curious what it might take from an acquisition cost, salary cap and roster management perspective. If we could get one of them at 50% retained for a low cost I am also on board. I don't think we do though and then it depletes us elsewhere by what we have to give up and who we have to move out to fit them in.
I am not a guy who rushes prospects, but I don't know that Minten is NOT ready. He D+3 now, he is big, skates well and his best assets my be poise, hockey IQ, and two-way play. We also have depth around him to ease him in. This is why I think we should give him a look soon and for an extended stay...30 games or so.
McMann Matthews Domi
Paccioretty Tavares Nylander
Knies Minten Marner
...Robertson in on L1 or L2 while Patches is out.
This gives us a fourth line of Lorentz, Kampf, Dewar, Holmberg and Jarnkrok back by the playoffs. I worry we lose some of that depth if we go big game hunting for a 3C with a big-ish price tag.
As of this writing the Leafs are 1st in the Atlantic at 12-6-2.
Now if I'm being honest I expect Florida to Stomp Chicago into the dirt tomorrow and that would take back 1st place for Florida.
But as I write this the Leafs are 1st in the Atlantic.
They are doing it without
Matthews
Domi
Jarnkrok
Patches
Reaves
Potentially Knies
Yet somehow they keep plugging players into the lineup and they keep finding ways to win and as of this writing it has them in 1st.
What a job Treliving is doing
Now if I'm being honest I expect Florida to Stomp Chicago into the dirt tomorrow and that would take back 1st place for Florida.
But as I write this the Leafs are 1st in the Atlantic.
They are doing it without
Matthews
Domi
Jarnkrok
Patches
Reaves
Potentially Knies
Yet somehow they keep plugging players into the lineup and they keep finding ways to win and as of this writing it has them in 1st.
What a job Treliving is doing
What a difference it is just getting goaltending of any kind the last couple years have been rough mrazek campbell Samsonov it’s no wonder we haven’t made it out the first round
Evilhomer
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It is crazy how much criticism this guy gets. I assume it's probably age-related, but it seems so wild that many fans were suggesting that Kyle leaving would be the final nail in the coffin.
CincoHolio
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Exactly! There is zero precedent for moving a player, 9 years into his career, from wing to centre. ZERO! It's lunacy and why the experiment never sees light of day beyond training camp.
CincoHolio
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He's fine for the NHL, but on a bottom feeder team with no cup aspirations. That's it. He's just a guy
notDatsyuk
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I don't really think it's age related.
I think the Tavares signing and to a lesser extent the Marner overpay really divided a lot of the posters into "Dubas is a genius" and "Dubas is an idiot" groups. The ones who thought those were great moves had to keep trying to laud his every move since, despite the evidence.
If you can't show that your idea is better, try to denigrate the other.
To be clear, I don't think I fall into either camp. I think JT was unnecessary and the Marner contract (in particular) was mishandled (he said so himself), but he did make a number of good moves. I do think that the evidence shows that Tre has done better (pending the upcoming JT and Mitch resolutions, and playoff results).
Look there is A LOT of things you could be critical of Dubas for, I could and have gone over them before.
Signing Tavares is not one of them.
If you have a 27 year old legitimate #1 center that wants to play for your team you sign that contract.
ANYBODY would have signed that contract I don't care if you got Matthews and Kadri or not.
ANYBODY would have signed that contract you can say you wouldn't have but I know that's not true, and you know that's not true.
Besides if he wasn't here where would we be now? certainly not 1st place in the Atlantic.
Dubas doesn't get credit for very much, overall he's a bad GM.
But he does get credit for a couple things and that's one of them.
Why wouldn’t we wed still have Kadri and a better team cause the cap gets spreaded better we don’t lose Hyman etc
