Speculation: Chris Johnston "An atom bomb could drop"

[GardinerTheForward]

Keeping him has been a lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, lose, situation too though to be fair. He ain't it.

You were here when I joined so I know you of the dark days. Ovi lost lost lost lost until he didn’t - not saying thats the case but at this point just keep tinkering. We can tank at the end of the contract / when the next McJesus is draft eligible

 

[LeafsMonster]

Are you guys seriously ready for life without Matthews, Marner and Tavares?

We already have. Most of us were around before they came and will be around after they leave. We've experienced every low there is lol

 

[I am Canadian]

Whatever this team does, they need to bulk up. They got bigger, but they still got bullied.

Me personally, I do something reactionary like this:

Out:

Tavares
Marner
Rielly

in:

Sam Bennet 6 x 6.5M
Trenin (trade) -3M
Dakota Joshua (trade) 3.25M
I'm calling the Rangers about Vincent Trocheck, I'm calling Seattle about Vince Dunn.
I'm asking Vancouver about Kieffer Sherwood

I'm building a team that may not win the division, but they will hammer you into the wall.
Our bottom 6 was useless.

I'm holding Laughton and Lorentz for the 4th line and everyone else can kick it

 

[ORRFForever]

The nuclear option would have to be Matthews

I agree.

 

[GardinerTheForward]

Rielly’s wife is from Windsor, if Rielly were to move I wouldn’t be surprised to see Detroit on his list. However you’re not getting the 13th overall pick plus a prospect for Rielly. Vancouver, Seattle, and Rangers I can also see on his list he’d waive to.

I can definitely see Utah and a team like Seattle willing to pay quite a bit for Nylander, they’re desperate for a superstar. Both destinations are far better than Toronto IMO living and lifestyle wise.

Utah better than Toronto

 

[mikeyz]

A bit of a read. But this hits the nail right on the head regarding the Core 4.

 

[rumman]

Are you guys seriously ready for life without Matthews, Marner and Tavares?

Sadly I am, and find a way to get rid of Riley too……….

 

[rumman]

I think Marner and Shanahan will be gone.

Does that count as an atom bomb?

Not even close imo……

 

[KAWAIlllI]

Upcoming 15 mil contract for Marner is my guess

 

[Trapper]

Sadly I am, and find a way to get rid of Riley too……….

The Shanapurge. The Atom bomb destroys everything core.
Tavares is an easy walk away.
Let someone else pay Marner 14 million.
Tell Matthews you are rebuilding. Does he want to waive the NMC?
Nylander. Same.

 

[Nineteen67]

Trading Matthews, Nylander and Rielly would be a great start to a rebuild

 

[Nineteen67]

Instead of getting at least a top prospect and a first, Marner is going to walk for nothing (horrible asset management). Trade Matthews for pennies on the dollar, no real farm system and no first round picks on the horizon, good luck trying to get players to come here. And good luck making the playoffs for the next decade.

Let’s see how this fanbase likes that.

Considering they’ve made the playoffs 8 of the past 9 yrs and their ceiling in all those yrs was the second round maybe missing the playoffs for a few yrs wouldn’t be too bad.

 

[VanW27]

Friendly reminder that this time last year all the "insiders" talked non-stop about a Marner trade to the point they eventually all but guaranteed it was happening.

The Leafs are their click bait cash cow. Nothing they speculate about the Leafs should be taken seriously.

 

[Anthrax442]

we heard this so many times and nothing happens.

 

[Meth Flanders]

We shall say Ni again to you if you do not appease us.

PSA
The Knights who formerly said "Ni!" converted themselves to being the Knights who say "Ekke Ekke Ekke Ekke Ptang Zoom Boing Ademshoushim".

 

[rumman]

The Shanapurge. The Atom bomb destroys everything core.
Tavares is an easy walk away.
Let someone else pay Marner 14 million.
Tell Matthews you are rebuilding. Does he want to waive the NMC?
Nylander. Same.

If these moves were made prudently, we could ice a very competitive team next season, one with heart. For thise who disagree please remember quitters never win and winners never quit, there’s no better adage to explain why the Leafs can’t win……..

 

[thewave]

Trading Matthews, Nylander and Rielly would be a great start to a rebuild

It's a suicidal plan to despair.

Knies AM WN JT(if cheap) is a viable start.

 

[rumman]

It's a suicidal plan to despair.

Knies AM WN JT(if cheap) is a viable start.

Nothing changes without change. Running any part of this is sheer lunacy………

 

[Peasy]

Friendly reminder that this time last year all the "insiders" talked non-stop about a Marner trade to the point they eventually all but guaranteed it was happening.

The Leafs are their click bait cash cow. Nothing they speculate about the Leafs should be taken seriously.

Yes, they and the org (owners) are all talk.

"We're not just here to sell jerseys"

Yeah okay Pelley.

 

[thewave]

Nothing changes without change. Running any part of this is sheer lunacy………

Next year is the litmus test. There is no panick. Get Matthews healed etc. See what McJesus does etc.

Kneejerks don't pan out

 

[Trapper]

If these moves were made prudently, we could ice a very competitive team next season, one with heart. For thise who disagree please remember quitters never win and winners never quit, there’s no better adage to explain why the Leafs can’t win……..

If you are letting Marner walk it’s probably best to move on from Matthews. I have a feeling he won’t want to be here much longer and you could be left hanging in 3 years. Proactive in a turnaround rebuild.

 

[Tak7]

Are you guys seriously ready for life without Matthews, Marner and Tavares?

I was ready in 2021.

I was prepared in 2023.

Now? Just burn this bitch to the ground and start again - Marner and Tavares are gone, and you can't win a cup with Matthews.

 

[JL17]

I think when we look back at last year and Nylanders bench situation where he tells the 2 to stop bltching. I think Nylander is on the outside of those and just wants to play hockey. I think he gets tired of 16 and 34 and being the fall guy when those 2 don’t play well. He’ll always have his warts but I think if one goes Nylander becomes more engaged.

 

[Trapper]

I was ready in 2021.

I was prepared in 2023.

Now? Just burn this bitch to the ground and start again - Marner and Tavares are gone, and you can't win a cup with Matthews.

Rebuild now before you waste more assets trying to support half a core that has the same issues (it won’t make Matthews/Nylander different players) and before Matthews leaves in 3 years.

 

[LeafGrief]

Fingers crossed.

Am I ready for life without Matthews, Nylander, Marner, Tavares, and Rielly?

I am certainly ready for life without losing to a zamboni driver.
I am certainly ready for life without losing in Game 7 every years.
I am BEYOND ready for life without losing in Game 7 to rivals like the Habs or Bruins.

Missing the playoffs, even for an entire decade, would suck ass, but I've been there, done that.

The only, ONLY thing that I would truly miss, the real tragedy (and triumph) of all this, is that the Sens are finally a playoff team again and missing out on beating them in the first round a few more times would be very sad.

Carve out the rot. Perform the exorcism. Two go for free, one might be bought out, and then two will actually get us pretty legit packages if we trade them. Does surgery ever feel good? Do you ever leap off the operating table with a five pound tumour removed and run your first marathon? No, you have a long road to recovery, but at least you don't have that tumour killing you any more.

Drop the bomb. Medicine via Enola Gay.