Future of the team is incredibly bleak

[GlitchMarner]

The team, as it's constructed, isn't getting it done. That should be obvious.

But assuming Matthews recovers from whatever the hell is wrong with him, I do think it's possible to put together a team that can go deep before he gets old.

BOS has fallen off, OTT and MTL are still improving and haven't peaked, TB can't seem to get it done in the playoffs anymore, DET continues to miss the playoffs and BUF remains a joke. FLA is good, but I think this may be their last deep run for a while. Like Tampa after 2022, I can see them falling off after three straight deep playoff runs. They may lose guys in the summer.

I wouldn't give up on trying to make it out of that division, but they seriously need to make some changes (not just replacing depth guys but really shaking things up) before OTT and MTL really become good teams and threats.

 

[LeafGrief]

Cannot let the state of the futures cupboard change the fact that this core is all fired and must not play in Leafs jerseys next year.

How much is it worth it to get these losers away from Knies? How much is it worth to inject some accountability into the room?

 

[DuncanMacpherson]

Personally I’m excited for the post marner era. Big offseason for the Leafs coming up, they are gonna have a lot of cap space to play with.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Personally I’m excited for the post marner era. Big offseason for the Leafs coming up, they are gonna have a lot of cap space to play with.

I think that Treliving will make a few moves, the cap space could be used at trade deadline. It's been a long time since TOR had cap space at the TDL.

 

[namttebih]

I am completely apathetic. I've really tried to care for this team this year, but there really wasn't anything left in the tank for me. I watched the regular season without much interest. Was excited at times during the last few weeks. I was excited for puckdrop tonight. Half way through the game I felt nothing. No anger, no sadness - not even dispoinment - pure apathy.

This core doesn't have it and the majority of fans have seen the writing on the wall for half a decade now. Twice the talent as the Wendel/Dougie and Mats/Roberts eras, with a tenth of the heart.

No picks, very limited prospects. Basically no tradable assets who don't have a NMC who are worth anything. 40% of the top six might walk for nothing.

Even the McDavid pipe dream feels completely over, as realistic or unrealistic as it might have been to begin with.

Mediocrity.

 

[namttebih]

I think that Treliving will make a few moves, the cap space could be used at trade deadline. It's been a long time since TOR had cap space at the TDL.

We might be sellers at the TDL. Even if we end up with $25-30M in cap, the UFA market is not good this year.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Now that the season is over, we can circle back to the unfortunate bleakness we were dreading for this upcoming summer.


No first round picks in the next three drafts.

Marner is likely walking into a weak free agent pool. Lots of cap space to go around, not many high end players available. Options are slim.

Outside of maybe Cowan, not many prospects knocking on the door. Not much capital there for trades either.

Big changes are needed, but how to do it?

Could be a tough off-season and a tougher next season for the Boys in Blue and White.

 

[The Shadow]

There’s a very real possibility they don’t even make the playoffs next year. The East is very good good and teams like Montreal and Ottawa were on their way up

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

The team, as it's constructed, isn't getting it done. That should be obvious.

But assuming Matthews recovers from whatever the hell is wrong with him, I do think it's possible to put together a team that can go deep before he gets old.

BOS has fallen off, OTT and MTL are still improving and haven't peaked, TB can't seem to get it done in the playoffs anymore, DET continues to miss the playoffs and BUF remains a joke. FLA is good, but I think this may be their last deep run for a while. Like Tampa after 2022, I can see them falling off after three straight deep playoff runs. They may lose guys in the summer.

I wouldn't give up on trying to make it out of that division, but they seriously need to make some changes (not just replacing depth guys but really shaking things up) before OTT and MTL really become good teams and threats.

That piece of shit just blamed his teammates for the loss and you want him on the team?

 

[hockeyguy0022]

Wait until the flames give Knies a 7-8yr/ 9-10 Mil offer sheet....

Yikes for the leafs, low/no risk, very high reward for the flames, fits right in with the age group they want.

 

[PanniniClaus]

That piece of shit just blamed his teammates for the loss and you want him on the team?

He needs to go. Just waive and let's get this done at the draft table.

 

[hockeyguy0022]

JT wouldn't have blamed the passengers tonight... that's forsure, but more class.

Matthews is in over his head IMO.

 

[HOTD]

Wait until the flames give Knies a 7-8yr/ 9-10 Mil offer sheet....

Yikes for the leafs, low/no risk, very high reward for the flames, fits right in with the age group they want.

Leafs match in a heartbeat. He’s the future here. Also, the player has to want to go to Calgary…

 

[NMacrules]

Who wants to bet Marner signs with Pittsburg?

 

[keonsbitterness]

Who wants to bet Marner signs with Pittsburg?

I do. They don't have the cap space.

 

[Turin]

I do. They don't have the cap space.

Yes they do. But I still wouldn’t bet on it

 

[Nineteen67]

It’s starting to look better now that Marner is out the door

 

[Ianturnedbull]

We might be sellers at the TDL. Even if we end up with $25-30M in cap, the UFA market is not good this year.

Impossible. There are too many key players signed. They are not going to get everything in free agency, but they can be buyers with all that cap space. Treliving can round out the team then.

Without Mitch and JT, they still should make the playoffs next season.

Why would TOR go from Atlantic Champs and 2 rounds of playoffs to sellers?

 

[kevsh]

 

[leafs in five]

Impossible. There are too many key players signed. They are not going to get everything in free agency, but they can be buyers with all that cap space. Treliving can round out the team then.

Without Mitch and JT, they still should make the playoffs next season.

Why would TOR go from Atlantic Champs and 2 rounds of playoffs to sellers?

are we trading 2030/31 1sts at the deadline in this scenario?

 

[New User Name]

A lot of this is hockey culture. We need players that are proud to wear the Leafs sweater. I really don't see that in this bunch. Game 5 and 7 to be completely dominated shows lack of effort and caring. There's very little fight in this team and that's been evident for almost a decade.

The Leafs organization is top notch in providing A+ contractual terms, other perks for players and families, and this is how the current bunch show appreciation?

 

[The Panther]

...hockey is a past-time.

As the Leafs' franchise goes these days, your Freudian slip is apt.

 

[New User Name]

Here is what concerns me with JT. Everything I have heard is he wants to be here because his family is here, his kids love it here. He loves playing for the Leafs. All great things.

Where in any of that does he mention he wants to play here because he thinks he can help bring home the cup? All of the above sounds like the Leafs are a retirement community. Come live like a rock star for top dollar with no expectations of actually winning anything

The bolded is what I find very sad. I respect John for wanting to play at home. For the team he cheered for growing up. In front of parents, siblings, friends.

What's sad is he is definitely is in the minority. Most Canadian players prefer to play and live in the US and retire there. Reasons could be taxes, weather, not being bugged in the community, or something else.

Funny how most American players on Canadian teams return home and European players do as well.

Even in baseball and basketball. Most players have homes in the US. When they retire they go back permanently.

 

[hullsy47]

JT wouldn't have blamed the passengers tonight... that's forsure, but more class.

Matthews is in over his head IMO.

Classless pointing at willy .no question they threw nylander under the bus
Doesnt ted rogers control this mess now
With 75% ownrrship he can bring in a new hockey czar
They made enough monry off 7 playoff games to fire everybody
Chump change for a billion dollar corp

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Personally I’m excited for the post marner era. Big offseason for the Leafs coming up, they are gonna have a lot of cap space to play with.

Same here. Tre (almost) fixed the D and goaltending. Why can't he fix the forward group? He needs to find warriors. He will.

Also, Cowen has surpassed my expectations. His playoffs were unreal. Talk about clutch! I think he's going to be more impactful than what I thought a year ago.