The Masters
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- Jun 30, 2018
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GDT: Free Agent Frenzy 2022
- Thread starter BertCorbeau
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SprDaVE
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- Sep 20, 2008
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I think he's strong on the forecheck because he's a fast skater, not sure about defensive aspect of his game. He's a versatile forward that can probably give you a good 10-15 goals on the bottom lines.
ULF_55
Moderator
Other teams picked up Leafs' sloppy seconds.
Leafs players will still get better, other than Tavares who is Kadri's age. And players don't get better after age 30, do they?
I do suggest, the scouting staff is on trial now. Teams should be able to support their growth internally, even if it is just the bottom 6. And the players the Leafs lost did exactly what in the playoffs? 3 goals, 2 into empty nets.
Why would you defend those players?
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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TheDoldrums
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Balcers has been linked with Florida, not sure if its confirmed but I think he's going there. I would've been fine if we claimed him on waivers
kb
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And this was last night's opening night roster. How people can say it's a step back if the only real loss is Mikheyev, who missed half a season anyway.
kb
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The fact that regardless of what people think and how painful it is to realize, there is almost no $2 million or less RD out there right now who is better than Holl.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Soup just signed for 5x5. Ottawa paid us to take Murray and Samsonov was thrown to the curb by Washington. Right now, we downgraded. Not saying that is how it is going to play out.
Kase was great until he was concussed. Mik score 20+ and signed 4x4.5.
Gaudette, Keubel were signed for 1.75K. Would you have traded Mik and Kase for Gaudette and Kubel last year??
kb
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So the Leafs losing one player from their bottom 6 is worse than teams like TB losing top matchup D andtop-6 forwards? Or Florida losg 2 top-6 forwards?
Isaac Nootin
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- Sep 28, 2017
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What is Statsny looking at contract wise? And how is he defensively? Is he a legit 3C/4C veteran option?
SprDaVE
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One defenseman I could see the Leafs adding is Michael Stone. He's a depth RHD veteran at this point. Surprisingly really good production despite not playing much. He did play 9 games for the Flames in the playoffs too.
kb
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How you get your players has no bearing on how they will play. And no, it's not a downgrade until you play.
There was literally only a couple of teams with worse goaltending than the Leafs after New Years.
Still on the Chris Tierney train for a bounce back at #3C
Skullz
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- Jul 5, 2013
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Big hole is still on LW. We should strongly look at Heinen. Other young forward options to add for cheap, are Steel, Milano, Strome, Balcers.
Could consider Tierney, Rask, Janmark, Jarnkok etc. for added C depth if they come cheap. Some of them likely too expensive.
Does anyone think Radulov has enough left in the tank?? Could play third line RW.
Could consider Tierney, Rask, Janmark, Jarnkok etc. for added C depth if they come cheap. Some of them likely too expensive.
Does anyone think Radulov has enough left in the tank?? Could play third line RW.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Mik, Soup and Lub are not sloppy seconds. We did not throw them to the curb. We no longer could afford them just like we could not afford Hyman last year.
Yes, 16, 34 and 88 have not reached their ceiling but can they be good enough to win with virtually no supporting cast ?
Yes other than Kampf our bottom 6 did not do much. Kubel won a cup but had zero points in 14 playoff games. Gaudette was dumped by the Sens. We are not better today.
Barring any trades (~2.8 to get Sandin and Engvall done), and based on Keefe's comment
Top 6 is back as is, NAK with Engvall and Kampf for a shutdown 3rd line,
4thline a mix of Clifford/Simmonds/Gaudette/Malgin/Robertson/Steeves/Abruzzese/Holmberg / unsigned players. Based on the skill and potential in that group it's also possible that we hit the blender have more of a top 9 with an exceptionally good defensive 4th line
Top 6 is back as is, NAK with Engvall and Kampf for a shutdown 3rd line,
4thline a mix of Clifford/Simmonds/Gaudette/Malgin/Robertson/Steeves/Abruzzese/Holmberg / unsigned players. Based on the skill and potential in that group it's also possible that we hit the blender have more of a top 9 with an exceptionally good defensive 4th line
SprDaVE
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I think the point they are making is that those players missed a large portion of the season and the Leafs didn't skip a beat. Other teams lost significant players that played a lot of minutes, which is to be expected when the salary cap catches up. It's basically that our losses weren't as big as the other teams losses, right?
Mikheyev is really good. He will be missed. He can be replaced though as they did for the large parts of the season he missed. Same for Campbell. Lyubushkin barely had an impact and I wouldn't call him much of a loss but he was a fun player to have.
Leafs added Giordano to essentially replace Dermott over a full season. And they replaced Mrazek with Samsonov... things you just glanced over I am sure right?
The Leafs aren't done improving their team, much like I am sure other teams aren't done.
Mickey Marner
Registered User
Every year I want to sign this guy, but we never do. You'd think a GM who never carries a 23-man roster would love a utility player that plays both forward and defense.
Magic Man
Registered User
On defense compared to last season. Gio in over Dermott is a major upgrade. Sandin and Liljegren are another year more experienced and proven. The defense looks better this year than it did last year. They have a top-5 league defensive unit.
At forward they've lost Mikheyev, Kase and Spezza. They are players that can bring a lot of offense and they brought good defensive ability and the ability to PK. They've replaced them with Malgin, Aube-Kubel and there may still be another forward out there that they may sign. If they don't sign anyone, I would assume the other roster spot is Robertson's to lose. This is a big question mark going into the season. How much can you get from these guys. Even, if you sign a Motte, ZAR or Strome.
In net I think we came away with an upgrade at the backup position. If you told me at the start of the off-season that Samsonov or Murray would replace Mrazek I would have been fine with that. When it comes to one of them being a starter I'm very nervous that either of them can pull it off. I think Jack was a gamble to maintain his high level of play, but either of these goalies are far more risky.
In summary, I think the defense being pretty much perfect on paper to start the season and the big 4 being in top form should carry us to the playoffs rather easily. Goaltending and bottom-6 forward quality are big concerns going into the season. They may need to address both before the deadline.
At forward they've lost Mikheyev, Kase and Spezza. They are players that can bring a lot of offense and they brought good defensive ability and the ability to PK. They've replaced them with Malgin, Aube-Kubel and there may still be another forward out there that they may sign. If they don't sign anyone, I would assume the other roster spot is Robertson's to lose. This is a big question mark going into the season. How much can you get from these guys. Even, if you sign a Motte, ZAR or Strome.
In net I think we came away with an upgrade at the backup position. If you told me at the start of the off-season that Samsonov or Murray would replace Mrazek I would have been fine with that. When it comes to one of them being a starter I'm very nervous that either of them can pull it off. I think Jack was a gamble to maintain his high level of play, but either of these goalies are far more risky.
In summary, I think the defense being pretty much perfect on paper to start the season and the big 4 being in top form should carry us to the playoffs rather easily. Goaltending and bottom-6 forward quality are big concerns going into the season. They may need to address both before the deadline.
Hoglund4MvP
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Who the hell is Ilya Mik to be compared to teams losing players like marchment. Get over mik already
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Agree. I believe having 16, 34, 88, 91 with a solid D masks some of the problems and they are only exposed in the playoffs.
The fact that we are replacing players signing for $4m-$5m with $1m dollar players is starting to catch up to us IMO. How much thinner can we make the supporting cast before the core can no longer carry them is what concerns me.
Mrazek was garbage but I like Samsonov's upside so that is an upgrade although from listening to some of the experts, perhaps the Caps had good reason not to qualify him.
Jury is out on the team until we see the on ice product.
kb
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Thank you for typing out the logic. I hope people can understand this.
zeke
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Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Kerfoot - Kampf - Engvall
Kubel/Abruzzese/holmberg/steeves/gaudette/simmonds/clifford/douglas/malgin/UFA
supermann_98
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I would love if we could get Stastny as our 3rd line C to play with Nylander and Engvall. Engvall and Willy had some chemistry last year and as much as I appreciate what Kampf brings he’s just not offensively gifted enough to center a line like that.
Stastny would fit like a glove on that line and Kampf would be the best 4C we’ve had in quite awhile
Stastny would fit like a glove on that line and Kampf would be the best 4C we’ve had in quite awhile
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The Podium
Registered User
Who cares what Soup was signed for? Do you honestly thing he was worth 5x5? The guy we were begging to upgrade on at the TDL. Some revisionist history going on.
I’m not saying Murray and Samsonov are without question marks, but this team was 29th in 5v5 save% and 25th in overall save%, the bar isn’t set too high. We pretty much went from a Hynduai to a Nissan. Not great, not reliable, but pretty much the same.
Obviously losing Mikheyev hurt, but the off-season isn’t done. There still seems like there will be movement upfront.
This seems like the off-season of lateral movements.
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