GDT: End of season media availability - Today

[Gabriel426]

So we are to assume the guy replacing JT will contribute 38 regular season goals, 5 playoff goals be a top 15 face off guy who is also great on the boards. Good times ahead.

Are we still playing in the playoffs?

Maybe Leafs replace JT with Kampf 2.0 but ends up winning the Cup, who cares.

Even if JT is back with a 4mil deal. He needs to know that he is just another player on the team instead of a top player, he needs to know that it is not automatic that he will be on PP1 or have a lot of Ozone starts.....most importantly, there won't be a NTC or NMC in the last year or two of this contract.

 

[NVious]

So we are to assume the guy replacing JT will contribute 38 regular season goals, 5 playoff goals be a top 15 face off guy who is also great on the boards. Good times ahead.

2 goals 0 assists last 9 playoff games, one of the worst playoff performers of all time relative to his contract, old, slow and invisible.

He is a last option at a low cost

 

[Gabriel426]

Why is the only defense of Marner "wHaT AbOuT NyLanDeR"?

What about Nylander? He's built very differently to Marner.

You can go back and pinpoint the exact, precise moment Marner went from being this carefree, life-loving free spirit of a player, to this miserable, tight, awkward, defensive personality - it was as soon as he came back from that utterly stupid contract negotiation.

A negotiation that looks even worse when you consider the Marners are local and should know not only what the market is like, but how the pressure of the market can cripple someone like their son who lacks any sort of mental fortitude whatsoever.

It is always what about Willie or what about AM or what about player X....with MM.
At least thats the narrative of his followers here.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Family is important but he also wouldn't want to quit on his teammates, surprised people would expect him to.

If he signs with another team as a UFA as expected, isn't he still ultimately quitting on his teammates though?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I really hope that he is able to come back again as a depth forward. He provided so many intangibles for us when he was healthy.

More than just intangibles. IIRC he tied for the team lead in points in the Florida series, amazing stuff!

 

[Community]

I'm kinda split on JT

Issue for me is, I don't see a viable replacement available in free agency

On 1 hand, we need major change. Marner alone isn't enough. Rielly needs to go and I think due to a need of culture change, Tavares probably has to go

Then on the other hand, he's a 60+ point C who is great on faceoffs

He provides a ton of value, but then again we need new voices and personsel in the locker room. If we can find a viable replacement for 2C, move off of JT. If not, who's playing in our top 6 behind Matthews ?

Im pretty certain we can't absorb losing both Marner and JT this year without either risking our ability to make the playoffs next year OR overspending on UFAs that will result in a shorter (and worse high-end) competitive window.

If it's already been decided that Marner is moving on, I think our best bet at this point is to try and sign a couple top 6 forward UFAs to high cap, 1 year deals similar to what we did with Bertuzzi and Domi in 2023 and then re-assess with a (hopefully) stronger 2026 UFA forward class (highlighted by two superstar centers that aren't expected to be available, but we can dream).

 

[Daisy Jane]

As a father, I do understand that and it's a fair point. As mentioned, it was Dubas' fault for putting Marner in the driver's seat in the first place.

But if the speculation is true that Marner had no intention of re-signing here regardless of money because he got tired of the fan/media scrutiny, it would obviously have helped the organization tremendously if he accepted the trade to Carolina. As a hometown kid and Leaf fan, I thought that should have been part of his thought process.

Ultimately, he exercised his contractual right and put himself and his family first. I accept that. I don't hate him for it, but as a diehard Leaf fan, I can't help but have some resentment as well based on his entire history.

that's basically what it is. like i'm not saying its not in his right.

i'm just saying I don't get ANY player. really who is all "well it's in my right NOT to move... but it's evident no one wants me me here so i'm just going to stay here" - then complain later how not cool/kosher it was?

i don't know how the terms of the deal was is or whatever. so if he needed to sign in carolina to make it work and he knows he didn't want to go there then that's fine. why waste CAROLINA'S time. I'm just pointing out if it were me. what i'd do.

i know former analysts and go "it's not our job to help do the GM's job" and I also think that's; sort of a problem. people can say whatever they want about cap hits and crap but i always have to cycle back to Towes/Kane/Keith, Crosby, and Ovi. they did it. and their teams benefited from it. imo if marner (and nylander and matthews) had all bent a little bit. kowing that Shanahan basically had them covered - how much more good will there would be.

but it's never on them. it's always us and everyone else. just gets tiring after a while.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Lundell/Bennett/Verhaeghe/Luostarinen/ERod make under $20 m total, if my math is right. Plus they played pennies for Marchand salary-wise.

Yes, roughly 19.6

Will jump next year though with Verhaeghe new contract, especially if they re-sign Bennett.

 

[rumman]

doesnt mean he has to sign them... Nylander got offer sheets and didnt sign them. Knies scoffed audibly at the question of offer sheets during his presser

Just saying Knies is going to be a overpayment, it’s just how much, and will the Leafs match. Ilove Knies, but not at a ludicrous price………

 

[Dayjobdave]

a lot of media personnel including the ones from Florida admitted that if bennet was a leaf he would be suspended for the antics he pulled with florida while he has ZERO suspensions as a panther

they basically said that the league has different rules/laws for the leafs and non-leafs

this is sadly very accurate.

History dictates we will get both Bennet and an again Marchand, and they will both be forced to stop playing the way they have because it will be a constant parade to the box, punctuated by trips to NYC to see DOPS.

the Clarkson effect.

At least, after 95 games of pretty exciting hockey, we can soothe our broken hearts with a dramatic summer of GM second-guessing through July 1 and beyond. we do get a lot of drama for our $

 

[Buds17]

I really hope that he is able to come back again as a depth forward. He provided so many intangibles for us when he was healthy.

A quote which shows the wisdom gained from experience, and a player who brought it come playoff time. Wouldn't mind at all if there's some kind of spot for him again next season.

 

[ACC1224]

If he signs with another team as a UFA as expected, isn't he still ultimately quitting on his teammates though?

No, the season is over.

 

[Farsailor]

I remember Nylander sitting out.
Did Mitch?


I know things were ugly with his dad?

Sat out to get under payed it turned out.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Why is the only defense of Marner "wHaT AbOuT NyLanDeR"?

What about Nylander? He's built very differently to Marner.

You can go back and pinpoint the exact, precise moment Marner went from being this carefree, life-loving free spirit of a player, to this miserable, tight, awkward, defensive personality - it was as soon as he came back from that utterly stupid contract negotiation.

A negotiation that looks even worse when you consider the Marners are local and should know not only what the market is like, but how the pressure of the market can cripple someone like their son who lacks any sort of mental fortitude whatsoever.

....but i wasn't defending Marner? I was legit asking a question. I know Nylander sat out, and I know Mitch had a bad contract renegotiation but I don't know/remember if Mitch sat out. that's the only reason why i brought it up. i knew one did, but couldn't remember the other.

 

[rumman]

i understand and share your frustration but I also sympathize with the position berube is in

he can't come out and start calling out players in case we want to trade them and lower their trade value

I think reading between the lines Berube essentially did provide inputs that were meaningful

1. be strong physically (we couldnt win board battles or puck battles)
2. be on your toes (skate, skate, skate, be aware and don't half ass your shifts)
3. be strong mentally (psychological pause aside he is saying go out there and want it, game aint gonna come to you)
4. You have to earn your bounces (basically they didnt compete hard enough)
5. structure breakdown (basically if you are not gonna superstar the fancy shit to win then play within structure morons thats how I read it)
etc...

Berube did say alot IMO without saying much to keep reputation of the players, team, org and future in mind

only thing i didnt agree with berube was 16 and 91 back 100% but what was he gonna say on a public platform

I didn’t expect him to throw them under the bus, but a lttle honesty would be appreciated, MLSE has successfully gelded their coach……..

 

[Confucius]

2 goals 0 assists last 9 playoff games, one of the worst playoff performers of all time relative to his contract, old, slow and invisible.

He is a last option at a low cost

We wouldn’t be giving him 11 million again that is for certain. When looking at the playoffs stats, look at them as a whole. This pulling up just a few is not a true indication of anything. Let’s look up cold streaks for everybody over the last season even the last few, pretty sure we could say things like Mathews scored only once in 8 games several times and just ignore the rest of the games,

 

[rumman]

Knies should be priority #1. If it gets to a point where offer sheets are an option, it means the Leafs have allowed this to go way too far.

Going based on the past though, we should probably expect it to be drawn out with the threats of offer sheets and hold outs. Hopefully Treliving takes care of business.

Takes two to tango, Leafs should be all over resigning him, does your opinion of him change if he’s waiting to see what else is out there?

 

[WillNy29]

the whole pressure thing while we're getting some good stuff from patches and woll, still bothers me because i feel the media isn't asking the right questions.

like. are you saying you wish the fans didnt care so much?
but then you get mad when they don't cheer
like do you want them to temper expectations that you can't do anything but 'win one game at a time?'
like why does it just have to be Toronto
why are you apparently okay with people basically bad mouthing the people who travel to support you

like what's the barometer that you want? because again. if i'm Hockey Canada, or USA Hockey and i'm looking at this i'm like if you can't handle Toronto where all they basically want is for you to simply play well, i'm supposed to trust you at the Olympics when your country wants you to kick butt?

you realize this pressure nonsense didnt come from any of the leaf players? it started from brad Marchand, Paul Maurice and that p***y who ducked a Canadian market Matthew Tkachuk; now everyone is roasting these guys as if they made the comments.

 

[Buds17]

I think that ship sailed once they asked him to waive his NMC and he already said no to what can be assumed was their best offer.

I'm sure there will be an are you sure convo, but that's about it.

I can see how his camp is happy to test free agency and how that may ruffle some feathers within management. I'm still just not absolutely certain about that return door being fully shut.

 

[ACC1224]

....but i wasn't defending Marner? I was legit asking a question. I know Nylander sat out, and I know Mitch had a bad contract renegotiation but I don't know/remember if Mitch sat out. that's the only reason why i brought it up. i knew one did, but couldn't remember the other.

Your post was fine. Stupid what offends some.

 

[rumman]

0 chance lol, we match whatever he's offered. Unless it's something absurd like 11M but no chance anyone is stupid enough to do that.

NHL GM’s “hold our beers……..”

 

[Tak7]

END OF SEASON - Mitch Marner

• On what the last 24 hours have been like for him and his family - saddened, devastated in a way. It's never easy to put words to it. It's hard, and gets harder.
• Do you want to be a Maple Leaf next season? Says he's always loved his time here. So grateful. Hasn't processed anything yet, as things are still so fresh. Says losing sucks.
• On the impact of all the pressure/scrutiny - says there's pressure everywhere, doesn't matter where you are. Says they put the most pressure on themselves, and says they hold themselves to such high accountability (lol), and you want to win every single year. Says the pressure from the outside doesn't matter too much, compared to what we put on ourselves.
• On what's important for him when assessing where he's playing hockey next season - says it's still so fresh, that it's tough to think about the future right now. Was hoping to be playing hockey tonight, and hasn't thought about anything. Says he will sit down with his wife in the coming weeks and figure out what's next.
• On what it's been like living in this city as a Maple Leaf - says it's been amazing, with it's ups and downs. You want to win every year, and you feel the love and passion in this city and you're forever grateful for that. It's oneo f the best cities to live in in the world, and feels grateful to not just live here, but to wear the Maple Leaf and be part of the history of this team. Says it's tough to say.
• On how difficult it would be to actually move on - It's tough to process right now, given how fresh it is. Haven't processed anything, or sat down with his wife to discuss the future. Will do that over the next couple of weeks. Forever grateful, especially with this group.
• On whether he's taken a giant step back at the end of seasons and wonder why this group with high end talent have never been able to get through? - Says no. Says it sucks a lot. Tough to say. Says all sports have amazing teams that struggle to get through, and take a little longer to win. Can only focus on getting stronger and faster and more powerful and come back going forward.
• On playing with Matthews for all these years, and his first year as captain - says both have been amazing. Says his leadership has developed the last couple of years in such a great way. Captaincy didn't change who he was. Still the exact same person, and that nothing ever went to his head. Took everything on himself, very hard, Unbelievable player, best in the world.
• On Maurice's comments about the Toronto spotlight being very hard on families of players, and what it's been like for Marner's family - he's sure it's tough on his family. Can't focus on that though. Says he and his wife have done a great job the last few years of not focusing on that, and just focusing on themselves and knowing how much love and affection there is from the fans out there. You know you have the love of a lot of people, even if the noise you here isn't what you want to here. Says he's sure it's been hard for his family, especially because they've been in the building for a couple, but says that's how hockey goes. The passion that the city brings is what you love about it.
• On what about this loss feels different - the momentum and vibe around the team. Says that everything about game 7 morning and that day, was high energy. Didn't think anyone was nervous, felt everyone was excited for the moment and the opportunity. Hurts looking back and doing the 'what ifs'.

 

[Tak7]

....but i wasn't defending Marner? I was legit asking a question. I know Nylander sat out, and I know Mitch had a bad contract renegotiation but I don't know/remember if Mitch sat out. that's the only reason why i brought it up. i knew one did, but couldn't remember the other.

Marner missed the first few days of camp, entrenched in his position, yes.

 

[robertmac43]

....but i wasn't defending Marner? I was legit asking a question. I know Nylander sat out, and I know Mitch had a bad contract renegotiation but I don't know/remember if Mitch sat out. that's the only reason why i brought it up. i knew one did, but couldn't remember the other.

He came to training camp late by a couple days I believe.

 

[Tak7]

If he signs with another team as a UFA as expected, isn't he still ultimately quitting on his teammates though?

He's earned the right to quit.