Speculation: Chris Johnston "An atom bomb could drop"

[HockeyVirus]

The 2026 pick is protected, no?

You are suggesting the Leafs will rebuild in 1 season? Never been done in the history of the sport

 

[horner]

The nuclear option would have to be Matthews, it just sucks because you're not winning a trade being the team that trades the 69 goal scorer lol.

But it's time. He is not a winner. I think he would accept a trade at this point to an American team. I think he knows his time has run out here.

He can get all the crazy American endorsements and make all the money he wants which is obviously a high priority for him.

I wonder if nuclear means literally everybody. Matthews trade, Marner walk, Tavares walk, Nylander trade (his value is so high right now) and trade Rielly.

The teams changed. Go for it. This experiment doesn't work. I'll suffer gladly for a few years if I know we are trying something new. I hate these Leafs. They are pathetic. No heart. Unlikable team.

This is why I didn't want to trade any 1st Rd pks.

 

[Rare Jewel]

You are suggesting the Leafs will rebuild in 1 season? Never been done in the history of the sport

No, but they only keep the pick if it's a top 10, usually those go into lineup right away, maybe a year

So, that would help.

Was Boston planning to be a lottery team this year? It just happens sometimes.

 

[horner]

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

Mathews may want out since it will be all on him .

 

[facelessjoe1990]

I think the rebuild can't start until 2028 at the earliest. No 1st round picks until 2028. Unless we keep next years 1st than we lose 2028 to philly.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I'm late on this...any thoughts as to what he's insinuating?

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

I'm late on this...any thoughts as to what he's insinuating?

Nylander will beginning training camp as a centre

 

[Trapper]

The only atom bomb will be in stall 2 after the locker clean out

The already dropped the bomb on the ice in games 5 and 7. Nuclear winter.

 

[rumman]

Mathews may want out since it will be all on him .

Yup, when your the only “passenger” on the bus it’s hard to defer to others…….

 

[rumman]

The already dropped the bomb on the ice in games 5 and 7. Nuclear winter.

And some of Leaf Nation are happy with little to no changes expecting a different outcome…….

 

[Trapper]

Yup, when your the only “passenger” on the bus it’s hard to defer to others…….

That’s another point being overlooked.
If Marner leaves, the giant spotlight is all on Matthews. Nobody cares about Tavares and Willy is Willy but no Marner shield for Captain Passenger.

 

[rumman]

That’s another point being overlooked.
If Marner leaves, the giant spotlight is all on Matthews. Nobody cares about Tavares and Willy is Willy but no Marner shield for Captain Passenger.

I really think they’d love to be traded to the same team and keep the love brother fest continuing elsewhere. If that could be done then only have Styles and Mo to deal with…….

 

[Trapper]

I really think they’d love to be traded to the same team and keep the love brother fest continuing elsewhere. If that could be done then only have Styles and Mo to deal with…….

That’s a very real possibility once Marner gets settled in somewhere. That’s why I say, 3 years and counting to rebuild. In 3 years Tavares is 38, Matthews UFA and that leaves Nylander, Knies and maybe Cowan (if he pans out) due to the lack of picks and prospects currently.
It’s like the old saying, pay me now or pay me later. If Marner goes it’s the first domino to whether you want this coming fast or slow.

 

[L3af]

Matthews + Carlo for Strome + Leonard + Hutson + 2025 1st + 2026 1st?

Now that would be a blockbuster move

Trade Rielly + Woll for UPL + 1st (2026l or Byram

Than you have ample cap room to add high-end D in Ekblad/Provorov/Orlov/Gavirkov + 3 of granlund/ehlers/boesor/Donato

Team would be extremely deep and have a lot of future assets

Holy shit, I'm glad you are nowhere near this team.

 

[hamzarocks]

Holy shit, I'm glad you are nowhere near this team.

What's your idea to fix the team?

Who would you target without running the core back to get us to be a better team

 

[mikeyz]

Just remember when the end of season presser happens, that if it was up to MLSE Mitch would've been re-signed months ago to an 8-year $100 million deal with a full NMC.

And what that implies is that the team was 100% okay with running it again EXACTLY as is (minus perhaps Tavares) regardless of how these playoffs went.

Which means - and really hope this hits home with someone, anyone here - that if Mitch were to say today that he's thought about it and wants to finish what he started here, it's an absolute lock MLSE would have that 8 year extension in his hand within minutes.

This is why I'm getting this very sickening feeling that they're actually going to run this thing back.

 

[mikeyz]

Holy shit, I'm glad you are nowhere near this team.

I would honestly be willing to try those trades out if the alternative to that is running this thing back again. Because we know what a colossal mistake running this thing back would be again

 

[stealth1]

Shocked at the amount of fans on here that I know have been Leaf fans for decades screaming to rebuild. Folks, we don't have a first until 2028. It is only 15 years ago we tanked without our first and gifted the Bruins Tyler Seguin 2nd OA. And guess what? Bruins hold one of our firsts again.

Rebuilding is not on the table and I lose a bit of respect for anyone suggesting it because it isn't an option at all

I lose a lot of respect for anyone that thinks rearranging the bottom 6 again and moving Marner/Tavares is going to change the outcome in th playoffs. Matthews isn't changing how he plays.
McDavid isn't likely to come here. Stamkos grew up loving the Leafs and he never came home.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I lose a lot of respect for anyone that thinks rearranging the bottom 6 again and moving Marner/Tavares is going to change the outcome in th playoffs. Matthews isn't changing how he plays.
McDavid isn't likely to come here. Stamkos grew up loving the Leafs and he never came home.

So what's your plan?

 

[HockeyVirus]

I lose a lot of respect for anyone that thinks rearranging the bottom 6 again and moving Marner/Tavares is going to change the outcome in th playoffs. Matthews isn't changing how he plays.
McDavid isn't likely to come here. Stamkos grew up loving the Leafs and he never came home.

Saying we are not rebuilding does not mean there cannot be changes. A rebuild is a very specific thing

 

[Trapper]

So what's your plan?

The first step is putting a management in place that decides how THEY want the Leafs to play. Then you only draft those players that demonstrate those qualities.

 

[WTFMAN99]

The first step is putting a management in place that decides how THEY want the Leafs to play. Then you only draft those players that demonstrate those qualities.

The last time anyone was that narrow minded, we had the Burke years.

 

[stealth1]

So what's your plan?

Move on from Tavares and Marner. Trade Matthews for what you can get for him. Build around Knies and Nylander. Cowan is on his way. It's a good core to build around.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Move on from Tavares and Marner. Trade Matthews for what you can get for him. Build around Knies and Nylander. Cowan is on his way. It's a good core to build around.

Okay and we have no 1st round picks for this year or the 2 following.

You'll be a lottery team without 1st round picks.

I can't take this plan seriously.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Okay and we have no 1st round picks for this year or the 2 following.

You'll be a lottery team without 1st round picks.

I can't take this plan seriously.

Imagine tanking with no first round picks in 2026 and 2027.

#Burke