How much faith do you have in the core 4?

[Thissiteisgarbage]

All four are creampuffs. Seriously, having watched the effort needed by the Lightning and Habs, I can't see these guys EVER having that commitment given their nonchalance personas. They will always win best-dressed on the way to the rink awards though...

 

[egd27]

I believe Matthews has improved since then. Not taking away from Marner's ability to elevate linemates.

I think he has as well.

While it's obviously a combination, I think Matthews goal totals are more impacted by Marner, than Marner's assist totals are impacted by Matthews.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I think he has as well.

While it's obviously a combination, I think Matthews goal totals are more impacted by Marner, than Marner's assist totals are impacted by Matthews.

I think Matthews overall goals are actually hindered by Marner.

MM controls the PP, which was abysmal for more than half the year and into the playoffs.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I think Matthews overall goals are actually hindered by Marner.

MM controls the PP, which was abysmal for more than half the year and into the playoffs.

It's so predictable! Cover AM and MM and Hyman aren't a threat.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Yeah MTL really won decisively not outscoring toronto and relying on 3 one goal games (g1, 5, 6) including two games that went to OT - one of those games having Mikheyev miss an empty net - the other having the leafs dominating OT in shots 12-2 before Kotkaniemi shoots from just inside the point going off a defenseman's foot and in the net.

Game of inches. Is what it is - I'm betting on talent to eventually break through.

Buddy difference is Leafs just find ways to lose instead of finding ways to win.
That's a loser mentality and we have shown we only have that

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Marner for Tkachuk is the exact move we need

 

[rumman]

Marner for Tkachuk is the exact move we need

I'd love to have Tkachuk, but something about that deal doesn't feel right, no idea why I feel that?

 

[darrylsittler27]

We need Tavares to retire and trade Marner. It's too soon to give up on Mathews and Nylander showed up.

 

[Aashir]

Marner for Tkachuk is the exact move we need

Not Matthew, he’s also a playoff choke. He plays for the leafs of the west. He has 5 in 15, that’s a 27 point pace, keep him away from this team

Brady’s too expensive, Ottawa isn’t dealing him unless it’s Marner+ so I’d pass on him.

 

[egd27]

I think Matthews overall goals are actually hindered by Marner.

MM controls the PP, which was abysmal for more than half the year and into the playoffs.

That's an interesting thought.

 

[Racer88]

We need Tavares to retire and trade Marner. It's too soon to give up on Mathews and Nylander showed up.

I think if Tavares retires during his contract a percentage of the remaining contract still counts against the cap……bottom line is we are stuck with his contract

 

[ACC1224]

We need Tavares to retire and trade Marner. It's too soon to give up on Mathews and Nylander showed up.

Why do they need Tavares to retire?

 

[Menzinger]

Yup except Kutch's 9.5m AAV did not count against the cap during the season. Now let's see what they do when they have to include his cap hit during the season.

They'll likely be shedding 2-4 roster players

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I think if Tavares retires during his contract a percentage of the remaining contract still counts against the cap……bottom line is we are stuck with his contract

I believe that only applies to contracts signed when a player is over 35. Like the Marleau contract. That being said, I don’t see Tavares retiring before he’s 34, when his contract expires. Unless that injury is way worse than they’re making out.

 

[Trapper]

They'll likely be shedding 2-4 roster players

Personally I’d move on from Stamkos.
You got 2 guys up front, Point and Kucherov as your prime and Hedman, Vas on the back. That’s plenty to keep the engine going around it.

 

[ULF_55]

marner gets another kick at the can.

marner produces in the real season or a major piece is moved to insulate marner.

 

[rumman]

Personally I’d move on from Stamkos.
You got 2 guys up front, Point and Kucherov as your prime and Hedman, Vas on the back. That’s plenty to keep the engine going around it.

It’s the smart move, however NMC and captain pretty much guarantee he’ll be going nowhere. Leaf fans should rejoice because it makes Tampa a weaker team. That’s how good Tampa is.

 

[Stephen]

We need Tavares to retire and trade Marner. It's too soon to give up on Mathews and Nylander showed up.

I wonder if Tavares gives us the Spezza hometown discount when this current deal expires?

 

[keonsbitterness]

They'll likely be shedding 2-4 roster players

Personally I’d move on from Stamkos.
You got 2 guys up front, Point and Kucherov as your prime and Hedman, Vas on the back. That’s plenty to keep the engine going around it.

I think Tyler Johnson goes this summer and Stamkos after 21-22.

 

[Mess]

Yeah but the Leafs are good during the regular season

Its good that fans have short memories, because when the pandemic first hit and the season ended at 70 games the Leafs were ranked #8 on pts% and would have been the last team in the East that would have qualified for the playoffs, without the play-in round. Still despite having the #3rd highest scoring team thanks to that core 4, still lost to the 3rd lowest scoring team and team ranked below them.

The all CDN Div this past seems have given the fan base a false sense of security, where Leafs only played 6 other CDN teams in the regular season to claim the Div only to lose in round #1 to the #18th ranked team where in a normal season only 16 teams qualify.

So far the only thing the core 4 have been good enough at is scoring a lot of regular season points, which is buying the Leafs a playoff spot (even if it was a close call), but required spending 1/2 your cap to do it, which every other playoff team East and West is not required to do, to secure their playoff birth.

Now we return to normalcy of a full 82 game season and play the entire NHL again and re-join the Atlantic where the 2 teams that competed for the Cup this year reside.

This year will be the true test of the core 4 if they can carry the team to a playoff spot as the QofC gets cranked up and the margin for error small. If the Leafs fail to make the playoffs or are again another easy out in round #1 we will have our answer as to how much faith one has in this core because the results will speak for themselves and the experiment will officially be over thereafter.

PS. As of today and current roster construction I see our Leafs in a season long battle for a wild card spot with a group of teams in that same boat just to get in to the playoffs.

 

[Luminiferous]

we'll see how well they do this year when they lose the huge cap advantage they had this year.

Why do you bring this up often ? Their advantage doesnt matter. Tampa won twice, and has had much more regular season success over a way longer period of time. I am sure Tampa fans would love more cups, but I am sure they are happy and content their team has been wrecking the NHL for years.

 

[BigBlu]

I wonder if Tavares gives us the Spezza hometown discount when this current deal expires?

Yes he will of course. He will be worse than Thornton.

 

[Stonehands1990]

All four are creampuffs. Seriously, having watched the effort needed by the Lightning and Habs, I can't see these guys EVER having that commitment given their nonchalance personas. They will always win best-dressed on the way to the rink awards though...

Matthews led the team in hits, shots, blocked shots and takeaways. Let’s not lump him in with the softies. Marner is an anchor on his line

 

[mikeyz]

Its good that fans have short memories, because when the pandemic first hit and the season ended at 70 games the Leafs were ranked #8 on pts% and would have been the last team in the East that would have qualified for the playoffs, without the play-in round. Still despite having the #3rd highest scoring team thanks to that core 4, still lost to the 3rd lowest scoring team and team ranked below them.

The all CDN Div this past seems have given the fan base a false sense of security, where Leafs only played 6 other CDN teams in the regular season to claim the Div only to lose in round #1 to the #18th ranked team where in a normal season only 16 teams qualify.

So far the only thing the core 4 have been good enough at is scoring a lot of regular season points, which is buying the Leafs a playoff spot (even if it was a close call), but required spending 1/2 your cap to do it, which every other playoff team East and West is not required to do, to secure their playoff birth.

Now we return to normalcy of a full 82 game season and play the entire NHL again and re-join the Atlantic where the 2 teams that competed for the Cup this year reside.

This year will be the true test of the core 4 if they can carry the team to a playoff spot as the QofC gets cranked up and the margin for error small. If the Leafs fail to make the playoffs or are again another easy out in round #1 we will have our answer as to how much faith one has in this core because the results will speak for themselves and the experiment will officially be over thereafter.

PS. As of today and current roster construction I see our Leafs in a season long battle for a wild card spot with a group of teams in that same boat just to get in to the playoffs.

I think alot of people are going to be shocked when we struggle to make the playoffs next year under a normal season. I think it's going to be touch and go the whole way through.

 

[makbeer]

All i'm sure of at this point:

1. We are quite far from being a cup contender and no one really has the answers
2. zeke is Kyle Dubas