GDT: End of season media availability - Today

[Clark4Ever]

Matthews could not have been injured very seriously, if at all . He said off season rest will help but avoided rest and rushed back to play in the 4N.
He is not captain material and hopefully no one listens to his nonsense.

I think he had a lingering injury that affected his wrist shot. It was obvious since the start of the season.

There's no other explanation for such a drastic drop off in his production after one off season at his age.

 

[Clark4Ever]

If Bennett is willing to take 3-4 years you absolutely have to sign him for the 2C role. Bring Marchy along too. But if Bennett wants 6-7 years... no thanks.

He's only 28. Teams will offer him the maximum length contract.

He also played in Calgary for many years so Treliving knows him well. If we can get him to sign for a reasonable AAV, I would do it. His type of game shouldn't deteriorate that badly for at least another 4-5 years.

 

[Clark4Ever]

How do people want Bennett here after he concussed Knies and Stolarz lol

The guy is a complete piece of shit, dirtiest player in the league since Matt Cooke

And he isn't really THAT good. He would literally be suspended multiple times if he was playing for any other team, he's just a piece of shit that is allowed to get away with being a piece of shit, therefore people think he's effective.

He's exactly the type of player we need more of in the playoffs. He also played for Team Canada and played a major role. He's the type you despise when he's on the other team but learn to love when he's on your side.

 

[Goose]

Bennet yes please, but I thought I read all Canadian teams are out and that's fairly well established.

 

[Rare Jewel]

TSN is being pretty ruthless.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

TSN is being pretty ruthless.

The more embarrassment the better.

It increases the likelihood of action.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Maybe, maybe not. People said the same thing about Tavares up until the very minute he signed. If McDavid doesn't come then you pivot and go another route. But there is a real chance he comes

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I want the Oilers to win the Cup this year so that just maybe McDavid will feel more of a reason to come home. No unfinished business in Edmonton.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I want the Oilers to win the Cup this year so that just maybe McDavid will feel more of a reason to come home. No unfinished business in Edmonton.

It would also bring increased embarassment to this organization...which is exactly what they deserve.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Ryan O'Reilly already told us what the problem was with this team. The culture that has been created and fed is not one conducive to growth.

The face of that culture is on his way out of town.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

The face of that culture is on his way out of town.

One of the faces.

They were all in this hellhole together. They all failed.

 

[Community]

Mcdavid will not be a free agent...he is on a team that will not let him go.
If he is your lottery ticket?? Think again......

I'm not betting on McDavid reaching free agency, but what do you mean the team won't let him go? There's nothing they can do if he wants to go to free agency at the end of next year and every team in the league will be willing to make him the highest paid player in the league.

My odds are something like:
-80% chance he re-signs as an Oiler this offseason
-10% chance he re-signs as an Oiler in-season
- 5% chance he signs with the Leafs as a UFA
- 5% chance he signs with a different team in UFA

Meaning, if he becomes a UFA, i think the Leafs could be the favourites to sign him (if they have capspace); however, i don't think he's likely to become a UFA. It's something that should at least be considered when signing free agents this year IF Marner is gone given theres no similar calibre players available this year anymore.

If Marner walks, I'd rather sign guys to overpayment 1 year deals (i.e. Bertuzzi and Domi v1) rather then slightly cheaper multi year deals that won't age well and will limit our options in free agency next year (which CURRENTLY includes quite a few elite forwards and a lot more top 6 talent).

 

[yubbers]

It was a shitty game?

Really Willy? Lol

 

[stealth1]

I'm not betting on McDavid reaching free agency, but what do you mean the team won't let him go? There's nothing they can do if he wants to go to free agency at the end of next year and every team in the league will be willing to make him the highest paid player in the league.

My odds are something like:
-80% chance he re-signs as an Oiler this offseason
-10% chance he re-signs as an Oiler in-season
- 5% chance he signs with the Leafs as a UFA
- 5% chance he signs with a different team in UFA

Meaning, if he becomes a UFA, i think the Leafs could be the favourites to sign him (if they have capspace); however, i don't think he's likely to become a UFA. It's something that should at least be considered when signing free agents this year IF Marner is gone given theres no similar calibre players available this year anymore.

If Marner walks, I'd rather sign guys to overpayment 1 year deals (i.e. Bertuzzi and Domi v1) rather then slightly cheaper multi year deals that won't age well and will limit our options in free agency next year (which CURRENTLY includes quite a few elite forwards and a lot more top 6 talent).

I do agree that if he doesn't want to sign they can't force him to. There never has been any talk about him wanting to leave Edmonton. IMO McDavid will do the same as Stamkos.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I do agree that if he doesn't want to sign they can't force him to. There never has been any talk about him wanting to leave Edmonton. IMO McDavid will do the same as Stamkos.

Realistically speaking, McDavid is re-upping with Edmonton. He just is. Anything else is extraordinarily unlikely.

 

[Community]

“Be patient” where the f**k have you been the last 58 years?

The Leafs already have 6 dmen signed for next year that are all serviceable dmen. I know everybody is ragging on Rielly and he needs to be better this year, but he's getting more flak then deserved which would've been overlooked if our forwards could score more than a goal or two per night against Florida.

Rielly had a 45pt pace with a large decrease in powerplay time, more goals than Marner or Matthews, and top even strength minutes. The only playoff games where he actually looked really bad were the same ones where the whole team looked terrible. He wasn't great, but he wasn't nearly the biggest problem with this team.

Don't spend more money on defense, focus all spending on putting together the best forward group possible.

 

[theTTC]

Presumably pining for Playoff Bennett more than anything here. That amount is a bit more pricey based on the regular season.

Sign Ekblad first.

 

[stealth1]

Realistically speaking, McDavid is re-upping with Edmonton. He just is. Anything else is extraordinarily unlikely.

Agreed. Tavares was an outlier. Most top players stay with their teams now.

IMO some are having a hard accepting this is the end of this era of Leafs. They will likely take a few steps back til Matthews leaves and a rebuild starts again

 

[thewave]

Realistically speaking, McDavid is re-upping with Edmonton. He just is. Anything else is extraordinarily unlikely.

He is coming home. York Regions boys come home more often than not. McDavid Maple Leafs Forever.

 

[Community]

I do agree that if he doesn't want to sign they can't force him to. There never has been any talk about him wanting to leave Edmonton. IMO McDavid will do the same as Stamkos.

Stammer was a superstar, but not the best player in the league. McDavid doesn't need to play hardball with Edmonton for a contract extension so I don't really see him re-signing just days before free agency.

Either re-sign this offseason (very likely) or he goes to UFA in my opinion... small chance that he re-ups in-season I guess, but why?

I honestly think his mind is probably already made up so why wait if he's decided to re-sign with Oilers? I'd be shocked and very interested if he doesn't re-sign in July.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

He is coming home. York Regions boys come home more often than not. McDavid Maple Leafs Forever.

Don't do this to yourself, man.

Hope will drive a man insane.

 

[thewave]

Don't do this to yourself, man.

Hope will drive a man insane.

He won't make the mistake Gretzky did. Gretzky wanted to be a Leaf. He wanted to win it here.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Agreed. Tavares was an outlier. Most top players stay with their teams now.

IMO some are having a hard accepting this is the end of this era of Leafs. They will likely take a few steps back til Matthews leaves and a rebuild starts again

Indeed.

The moment we get our picks back and Matthews is gone (realistically he won't be re-signed at this rate) this whole thing will be blown to smithereens.

Major retooling can, and will, be done in the meantime but you can't tank when you have no picks.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

He won't make the mistake Gretzky did. Gretzky wanted to be a Leaf. He wanted to win it here.

Shouldn't Stavros shoulder a hefty portion of the blame for the Gretz debacle?

 

[thewave]

Shouldn't Stavros shoulder a hefty portion of the blame for the Gretz debacle?

Yes. He screwed that one up. It was one of his only mistakes but it was pretty hefty

 

[Dayjobdave]

Hypothetically speaking...IF we can re-sign Tavares on a team friendly deal and sign Bennett and Marchand for the same money that Marner would get in the open market, I think we would be in a much better position to go further in the playoffs next season.

I’d love to have them here. A few skilled player with real grit and compete would really help.