Speculation: Chris Johnston "An atom bomb could drop"

[The Masters]

We asked Marner to waive NMC twice after it locked in? I know the Rantanen one but what was the other?

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

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 rebuiId

I would keep AM for another year and see if he changes without MM. If he is still the same thing (likely) then I trade him next summer. I would just tell him we are not going to let you walk for free and if you don't agree we will sit you in the press box for "Health" related reasons.

 

[Pebble live]

Hiring a dump and chase coach who preaches accountability, for a roster that isn't suited for dump-and-chase hockey & who have grown up within a culture where accountability doesn't matter, was such a bizarre and awkward thing to experience this year.

The only explanation I have is the organization made the decision, when they brought in Tre, that they were going to be focused on building a more physical team and they just haven't been able to turn the roster over enough to make it work. But I agree completely.

I really don't see how they bring back much of the forward group with this coach. By far one of the softest bottom 6's in the league.

 

[Tak7]

The only explanation I have is the organization made the decision, when they brought in Tre, that they were going to be focused on building a more physical team and they just haven't been able to turn the roster over enough to make it work. But I agree completely.

I really don't see how they bring back much of the forward group with this coach. By far one of the softest bottom 6's in the league.

There's another explanation that is far simpler and one that I feared the moment they hired Treliving without a proper GM search - they just don't know what they're doing and are making it up as they go.

 

[sunstersun]

If they want to clean house on GM, Coach, and President I'm down.

 

[Tak7]

We asked Marner to waive NMC twice after it locked in? I know the Rantanen one but what was the other?

I believe there was a soft ask where they just went to him to gauge what interest, if any, he had in waiving it - he said none. That may have been what they were referring to.

 

[BLONG7]

A franchise C that disappears when the pressure is on in the playoffs? A franchise C that throws his teammates under the bus?

Such a good regular season player................but not the playoffs, for years now.
Always seems to be pouting guys? Is that a fair statement guys? The pressure seems to much for him?

 

[TheShape]

A bomb would be Matthews getting dealt. I think we are a year premature on that but I see him waiving for LA, Dallas, Vegas in a heartbeat. Close to home, sunbelt destinations with no tax in DAL, VGK.

I don't know what those teams have to offer but I'd be targeting a cost controlled Wyatt Johnston or a Thomas Harley out of Dallas or both.

 

[mmalady]

So trade your captain, your best playoff performer over the last few years and Mo and let JT/MM walk.
Did any fans actually listen to the Florida players and coaches?
We scorched earth this team we will be set back 10 years and players will not sign here.
Im ready for Willy and Matty to ask for trades and walk away from this team, you cant replace them and what will the Toronto media do for the next 10 years with a crap non playoff Leaf team? Media and fans have made Toronto unbearable and now players and coaches of other teams are calling it out.
It will be awesome watching Mitch/Willy/Matty win once they leave just like Bozak,Phil and many others

Personally I'd rather watch them win with another team than watch them embarrass me , when the going get's tough, one more time

 

[Peasy]

We asked Marner to waive NMC twice after it locked in? I know the Rantanen one but what was the other?

Being ready and willing to offer Marner 13.5m during season is just straight comical. Shows you everything wrong with this organization. Still hasnt proven anything to you, but youre ready to give him the world and make him the highest paid winger and 2nd highest paid player in the league.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Spoiler: Atom bomb = Shanahan

Johnston so dramatic.

Perhaps, but I'm pretty sure Treliving has only one more season left on his deal.

So it's not like when Babcock was fired, it's not a huge money drain. That does put Berube and his staff in a lame duck spot, which, as harsh as it is, I'd likely move on from as well.

Also, there are staff members who've been there 10+ years; a change is likely needed there.

That's my "atom bomb" anyway.

 

[kevsh]

Being ready and willing to offer Marner 13.5m during season is just straight comical. Shows you everything wrong with this organization. Still hasnt proven anything to you, but youre ready to give him the world and make him the highest paid winger and 2nd highest paid player in the league.

And none of us should be the least bit surprised.

MLSE has told us from the very beginning what their philosophy is: Go all-in with the stars and stick with them until they retire. And if anything goes wrong (i.e. like 9 straight years of playoff failure), just fire a coach or gm, trade away the support guys, sign a few UFAs, whatever, but the core is untouchable.

 

[thewave]

Florida was trolling Leaf Nation, and the fact that 88 is the closest thing we have to a playoff warrior speaks volumes, the core needs to be gutted now…….

It's easier to insulate top tier players then get new top tier playoff performers.

They need to fill out the team around the players who can make a difference. Matthews and Nylander. JT becomes inexpensive for a little.

If Matthews wants out that's a different story.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I'm pretty devastated they lost.

I wore my Leafs sweater and hat to work to watch the game and everything. The biggest fleece though isn't the fact they lost. It's the manner in which they lost so badly in front of their home crowd.

Imagine paying all that money to go see that game.

Only to have them serve up another stinker after just getting blown away the last game at home. No wonder the fans were booing and throwing jersey's on the ice. If the players don't like it too bad.

Start playing meaningful games in May and June every year.

The fans will always cheer for a team of players who give it their best but come up short. What they won't tolerate is a lazy no-show appearance followed by a dismissal. Players more concerned about the name on the back of the jersey.

The fans only care about the crest on the front.

 

[thewave]

And none of us should be the least bit surprised.

MLSE has told us from the very beginning what their philosophy is: Go all-in with the stars and stick with them until they retire. And if anything goes wrong (i.e. like 9 straight years of playoff failure), just fire a coach or gm, trade away the support guys, sign a few UFAs, whatever, but the core is untouchable.

On the bright side he saved us from ourselves by being a little too greedy.

 

[Trapper]

Such a good regular season player................but not the playoffs, for years now.
Always seems to be pouting guys? Is that a fair statement guys? The pressure seems to much for him?

Every year this is the same look followed by no personal accountability. No anger, pissed off, I’m going to fight someone, we are on a mission, just utter defeat and blame. Players like Mac, Crosby, McDavid, Draisaitl got angry in a good way, not just angry at the media and then roll over next year. The core is rotten.

 

[Space umpire]

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

What are they willing to pay to have someone take Rielly. I mean seriously Matthews is a soft but EXTREMELY talented regular season #1 C. Nylander is a top line wing on nearly every team.
But Rielly (if you are honest) is an average (offensively) 2nd pairing Dman who put up numbers because he plays will them (and Marner and Tavares). Defensively Rielly is a #6 or #7 Dman. He’s not bad, he’s terrible. Nobody is giving anything worth while to take on his contract.

 

[rumman]

It's easier to insulate top tier players then get new top tier playoff performers.

They need to fill out the team around the players who can make a difference. Matthews and Nylander. JT becomes inexpensive for a little.

If Matthews wants out that's a different story.

I cannot for the life of me understand how people want to keep rolling with these players, getting rid of half the problem doesn’t solve the problem it’s only a half assed fix. Getting rid if the entire core is a monumental task, but that’s the cure. Qutters never win, winners never quit. Does anyone think that adage doesn’t apply to this core?

 

[rumman]

On the bright side he saved us from ourselves by being a little too greedy.

Ungil the idiits in charge re up him, I don’t think that’s out if the realm of possibility, sadly…..

 

[rumman]

Every year this is the same look followed by no personal accountability. No anger, pissed off, I’m going to fight someone, we are on a mission, just utter defeat and blame. Players like Mac, Crosby, McDavid, Draisaitl got angry in a good way, not just angry at the media and then roll over next year. The core is rotten.
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Leaf Nation apparently is okay with this tripe, we get the team we deserve……

 

[I am Canadian]

Lol how?
Those are both low hanging fruit with contracts up. Shanny already was a dead man walking and ppl wanted him gone 3 years ago. Marner isn't shocking if he's gone.

The atom bomb would be firing Tre or trading Matthews but neither of those will happen. Johnston said last year 99.9% they are trading a core piece lol.

There hasn't been any real changes with this team for 9 seasons.

Opening up 22M for new players definitely does that

 

[Stephen]

What if the atom bomb was everyone comes back.

 

[TMLAM34]

Don’t see them moving Matthews. Wonder if they’ll entertain moving Nylander.

 

[The Masters]

There hasn't been any real changes with this team for 9 seasons.

Opening up 22M for new players definitely does that

Those arent atom bombs lol

Everyone is expecting Marner/Leafs to go their separate ways. Shanny? Does anyone really care? Lol

Like I said, if MLSE wasn't so worried about $$$ and wanted to do something drastic, they would entertain trading a guy like Matthews and see if you can rip a team off. But they wont cuz they dont want to risk missing out on the playoffs / trade not working out and blow back from fans. This Org. has had their scaredy cat lense on for years.

 

[rumman]

Don’t see them moving Matthews. Wonder if they’ll entertain moving Nylander.

Move as many of them as possible……..