End of Season Pressers (Monday May 15)

[Gabriel426]

JT is not going to waive his NMC IMO. He has a young family, he is "settled" so to speak.

Also, if you look at Tavares' point production on even strength in the regular season he is not even top 50 in points/game. He got most of his production on powerplay. I don't think Tavares is going to carry this team on even strength.

I would start by trading Marner, really put in the effort to see what Matthews wants. If the ask from Matthews is ridiculous then I'd trade him too.

I am convinced that Matthews, Marner and Nylander together is not the "core" that is going to produce in the playoffs. They work well when there is time and space. In playoffs when time and space is not available they can't do much because they can't create space for themselves.

We need a different team composition IMO. If that takes two years or more than two years thats fine.

People keep using Ovi as an example, but they fail to mention how Ovi plays. The dude hits, finishes his checks and is a monster. The Ovi narrative is like comparing chalk and cheese.

In terms of Avs, yes they traded 2 of their core pieces because they made a decision that the core isn't getting it done and they need a different team composition. They achieved that by retooling.

I think we can retool faster than that depending on if Matthews is willing to re-sign at a reasonable AAV (same with Willy).

I agree with some of what you said, esp the OVI part bc he was never a no show in playoffs.

I still think you have to try to move JT before moving AM, MM and Willie.

 

[Racer88]

All I can say is if the Leafs have actually offered him a contract and they are just waiting to hear back from him and he needs to think about it it proves that he does not have what it takes to be a GM in the big leagues. He needs to go back to the Marlies or the Soo.
He will never get a job in the NHL again

 

[Dayjobdave]

We should know today per Johnston how the Leafs and Dubas will proceed. Sounds like MLSE approved an extension for Dubas but he wanted to think on it as he said.

If Dubas decides to step down, he links Pridham as the likely successor in some capacity.

I’ve been pretty pro Dubas, but this has not been a good look for him. The media in this market will key on this over and over if he stays. One thing Dubas will need to learn in this kind of a public role is how to deflect. That’s an art.

Hopefully this gets resolved one way or another tomorrow. It won’t age well through the weekend. Shanny is not looking good here either.

 

[GoonieFace]

Dubas new vision, trade Marner and Matthews. Sign Holl and Kerfoot to 8year/$96 million matching deals, they are now part of the new and improved core 4

 

[PromisedLand]

I agree with some of what you said, esp the OVI part bc he was never a no show in playoffs.

I still think you have to try to move JT before moving AM, MM and Willie.

I think MM will fetch more value than Tavares. Tavares is a declining asset, we may actually have to pay to move Tavares even if he agreed to move.

IMO Marner's game just doesn't translate well in the playoffs when there is no time and space. he may benefit playing in another team where his linemates can create space for him. I don't expect Matthews and Nylander to create space for marner because they can't even create space for themselves in the playoffs.

IMO we need a new look and a retool. AM, MM, Willy together is still not a gritty enough core. Individually they are fantastic players but together as a "core" I think they are not good enough. We need a different core IMO

 

[Trapper]

This is a bizarre organization.
So much drama for so little playoff success.

 

[BallardEra]

This is a bizarre organization.
So much drama for so little playoff success.

Yep. You'd think as this point that they had lost in the Finals and were waiting for Dubas to come back and finish the job.

This is looking more and more like a soap opera.

 

[Leaf Fans]

This is a bizarre organization.
So much drama for so little playoff success.

The teams hasn't created any drama. It is the board and the media making the drama. Discussing things on the board is what we do, and the meida has to sell an audience to advertisers, but it is not the organization that is creating the drama.

 

[PromisedLand]

All I can say is if the Leafs have actually offered him a contract and they are just waiting to hear back from him and he needs to think about it it proves that he does not have what it takes to be a GM in the big leagues. He needs to go back to the Marlies or the Soo.
He will never get a job in the NHL again

I've liked may be 10% of what Dubas has done and absolutely hated 90% of what he has done as a GM.

But I don't mind this tbh as long as decisions are made fairly quickly. I'd rather Dubas say he wants a break to re-fuel, deal with family issues or whatever the case may be; instead of coming to a job with his mind on other things where he isn't thinking clearly.

 

[GoonieFace]

The teams hasn't created any drama. It is the board and the media making the drama. Discussing things on the board is what we do, and the meida has to sell an audience to advertisers, but it is not the organization that is creating the drama.

Well, Dubas is part of the organization and he was the one that was speaking at that awkward press conference. If he ad libed that, than it’s even weirder.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Well, Dubas is part of the organization and he was the one that was speaking at that awkward press conference. If he ad libed that, than it’s even weirder.

Yeah, and then nothing. We and the media are reading into it. There is nothing wrong with that; it is what we do. It is just not the organization creating the drama.

 

[29Potvin]

If things are this f***ed they should hire someone to oversea everything.

Has anyone seen or heard from shanny

He should be the first one to go! Was never a Leaf and has no ties here outside his current role. He was a politician when he worked for the NHL and has done the same here.
How has he never called out the NHL or PS for the way they handle the Leafs?
He was the one that ran players safety before George and the Leafs have taken the worst h over the last 6 years.
Bring in someone who leads from the front!

 

[Gabriel426]

I think MM will fetch more value than Tavares. Tavares is a declining asset, we may actually have to pay to move Tavares even if he agreed to move.

IMO Marner's game just doesn't translate well in the playoffs when there is no time and space. he may benefit playing in another team where his linemates can create space for him. I don't expect Matthews and Nylander to create space for marner because they can't even create space for themselves in the playoffs.

IMO we need a new look and a retool. AM, MM, Willy together is still not a gritty enough core. Individually they are fantastic players but together as a "core" I think they are not good enough. We need a different core IMO

I agree with almost everything you said. I think all four are great players but together, they just won't work.

I don't think JT is a declining asset though. Bc nomatter where he goes, he will be on the PP, and teams will trade him to put on their PP to max his value.
He still got star credentials and the buzz factor around him.

Ideally, I would trade JT to Vancouver for JT Miller.

TJ to Oilers for picks

Sign Orlov

Resign, Acciari, ROR, Kampf and Schenn

Will hold on to MM, as need him to be on a line to create offence for ROR and Knies.

 

[The Masters]

 

[-DeMo-]

You're correct, and considering how much of a disaster Keefe has been, if Dubas doesn't plan on firing him then Ownership should have cut Dubas loose yesterday.

Isn’t that basically doing exactly what I said was wrong? You basically just said that ownership should fire Dubas if he doesn’t fire the coach. That’s them doing the GM’s job. The results of the season should solely determine Dubas fate nothing else, unless he’s way over spending his budget or something like that. Him firing or keeping Keefe should be solely Dubas decision if he’s kept.

 

[SprDaVE]

Well said really. Can't argue with any of it. That podcast was great.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Isn’t that basically doing exactly what I said was wrong? You basically just said that ownership should fire Dubas if he doesn’t fire the coach. That’s them doing the GM’s job. The results of the season should solely determine Dubas fate nothing else, unless he’s way over spending his budget or something like that. Him firing or keeping Keefe should be solely Dubas decision if he’s kept.

I think that decision has already been made.

No doubt on top of extensions, Shanahan/the brass have spoken to Dubas about what his vision/plans are if he's re-siged. They would have to align with what they're thinking.

Not sure what that decision is right now

 

[Jmo89]

Isn’t that basically doing exactly what I said was wrong? You basically just said that ownership should fire Dubas if he doesn’t fire the coach. That’s them doing the GM’s job. The results of the season should solely determine Dubas fate nothing else, unless he’s way over spending his budget or something like that. Him firing or keeping Keefe should be solely Dubas decision if he’s kept.

I'm saying if Dubas can't make the obvious choice then they shouldn't trust him. The decision to fire Keefe should be so clear no one on the board should have to give Dubas direction to do it.

That is based on the results of the past 3 seasons.

 

[capfit9]

I’ve been pretty pro Dubas, but this has not been a good look for him. The media in this market will key on this over and over if he stays. One thing Dubas will need to learn in this kind of a public role is how to deflect. That’s an art.

Hopefully this gets resolved one way or another tomorrow. It won’t age well through the weekend. Shanny is not looking good here either.

Only alternate I can think of is that Shanny is waiting on Dubas to actually decide his own future with MLSE because the situation with the board is reportedly so toxic. Essentially, if Dubas leaves so does Shanahan.

 

[Stephen]

Well said really. Can't argue with any of it. That podcast was great.

It's quite something when CJ is spitting the hard truths. He's usually quite supportive of that team.

I think what we're seeing is a group of Big 4 guys being told that there is Belief that they will have success, so it feels inevitable if they do the same thing over and over as players and don't need to be different, be resilient, sacrifice, evolve. They just... don't get it.

 

[Shooter2x]

Was hoping for an extensive Mitch Marner injury reveal. It's horrifying if he was fully healthy in the Panthers series.

 

[-DeMo-]

I'm saying if Dubas can't make the obvious choice then they shouldn't trust him. The decision to fire Keefe should be so clear no one on the board should have to give Dubas direction to do it.

That is based on the results of the past 3 seasons.

Well if Dubas is not fired would that not indicate that MLSE isn’t unhappy with the job he’s done and therefore why would they have a problem keeping Keefe.

 

[BallardEra]

Was hoping for an extensive Mitch Marner injury reveal. It's horrifying if he was fully healthy in the Panthers series.

Thumb blisters from Fort Nite marathon sessions.

 

[The Masters]

Johnston was bang on. We all agree on the lack of culture and accountability and the Charmin treatment of these kids. It's over now. Time to blow it up.

 

[Superstar]

It's quite something when CJ is spitting the hard truths. He's usually quite supportive of that team.

I think what we're seeing is a group of Big 4 guys being told that there is Belief that they will have success, so it feels inevitable if they do the same thing over and over as players and don't need to be different, be resilient, sacrifice, evolve. They just... don't get it.

They were probably told to just be themselves and everything will work out...