It's time to have the conversation.

[Fogelhund]

About a week ago, after the Habs had just finished dismantling the Canucks, @reporterchris. (Chris Johnston TSN) posted this on Twitter.

A shortened season requires us to draw earlier conclusions: The #habs look like a juggernaut.

The Habs weren't a juggernaut then, and after playing some of the weaker teams, it's not time for us to properly judge where we are either.

We’ve played the Canucks now, and Ottawa. Now it’s time to see how we stack up against the Habs, against the Jets with PLD. Let’s see what this team is made of, after playing the better teams in the division.

The trade deadline is April 12th. I think we will know by March 13th, after we’ve played Montreal and the Jets three times each, where we stand and what we need. Right now, we are still trying to figure out who should even be in the lineup.

 

[29Potvin]

I would like to see us add E.Staal and a guy like Deslaurier. Add some sandpaper in the bottom six for cheap and depth at C in AM34,JT,Staal,Speeza Jumbo sounds good!

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

We still have a goalie issue but our offense and defense are set for years to come.

Imagine if we had Thornton, Robertson and Simbot in there. It could've easily been 5-1

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

I would like to see us add E.Staal and a guy like Deslaurier. Add some sandpaper in the bottom six for cheap and depth at C in AM34,JT,Staal,Speeza Jumbo sounds good!

Spezza is just outstanding for the bottom 6. The best thing is that he just wants to play here too regardless of the money. Haha he is my favorite player on the team right now.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We still have a goalie issue but our offense and defense are set for years to come.

Imagine if we had Thornton, Robertson and Simbot in there. It could've easily been 5-1

I don't think there is a goalie issue, I think Freddy got off tp a slow start like he does every year and is now settling in.

 

[Notsince67]

I think adding a piece this season shows them we are going for it, I think that sends a positive messege

Trade anybody who doesnt know they are going for it then.

 

[Walshy7]

This probably isn’t realistic but what about Hall and Staal both 50% retained for Kerfoot Engvall 1st + at the deadline when we may have enough cap if possible.

It addresses top 6 winger and is two childhood leaf fans hungry for a cup. Ideally they can play more physical for us.

count me in I like that they all rhyme. Maybe add holl for a little bit mor rhyming?

hall + stall for engvall + holl

 

[francis246]

We need to upgrade that 3rd line Center spot. I think you have to explore moving Kerfoot for an upgrade

 

[Gary Nylund]

Too early for a detailed conversation. See who's healthy and how we look 4-6 weeks from now,

In general, I think it's a bad idea to trade futures to win now since no matter how good you are, the chances of winning in any given years are slim. This year is a bit different seeing as we have an easier path the first two rounds but still, it's not that much different so best to not get too carried away. As good as we've been, look at Boston and TB who are just killing it against much tougher opposition then we're facing. Winning the cup is hard and every time you trade futures to win now, if you don't win now you've hurt your chances for the future.

Slow and steady, don't trade 1st rounders for short term help and look to stay a contender year after year will give us the best chance of breaking through and winning it all one day.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Too early for a detailed conversation. See who's healthy and how we look 4-6 weeks from now,

In general, I think it's a bad idea to trade futures to win now since no matter how good you are, the chances of winning in any given years are slim. This year is a bit different seeing as we have an easier path the first two rounds but still, it's not that much different so best to not get too carried away. As good as we've been, look at Boston and TB who are just killing it against much tougher opposition then we're facing. Winning the cup is hard and every time you trade futures to win now, if you don't win now you've hurt your chances for the future.

Slow and steady, don't trade 1st rounders for short term help and look to stay a contender year after year will give us the best chance of breaking through and winning it all one day.

You can't keep every 1sy round pick eventually you have to move one.

I'm not saying be Pittsburgh and trade ALL the 1st round picks, but you got Sandin, Robertson, Lilly, Amirov, and Hallinder as your top 5 prospects the cupboard is FAR from empty they can afford to move a 1st round pick.

If they can land a David Savard for 2 2nds I'm cool with that too, but they can afford to move a 1st they don't need it.

 

[GoonieFace]

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but this year is no measuring stick of how good or bad this team is. I mean they only play 6 other teams in the league and all but 2 of them are garbage.

 

[ShaneFalco]

The Nylander-Tavares “Pair” — Here’s a list of their most common linemates this season courtesy of Natural Stat Trick:

• Jimmy Vesey
• Ilya Mikheyev
• Wayne Simmonds

The Nylander-Tavares pairing hasn’t looked as dangerous offensively as we’ve come to expect this season, and I think it has to do a lot with the team’s lack of options at left wing. Heck, it wasn’t until Hyman joined them for a shift in the third period that they actually started to open up some space in the offensive zone.
We know the Leafs are interested in adding a winger; Elliotte Friedman said as much during the intermission tonight. I’d imagine that winger gets a long look in the top six considering how poorly the other options have looked in that spot.
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021...le-leafs-win-with-their-c-game-sweep-canucks/

I missed that but yeah they're going to need to upgrade there and cut Vesey loose

 

[paulhiggins]

Our GM just has to do more of what we've been telling him to do for the past few years, most of which when he wasn't listening. Dubas became less stubborn over the summer and (hello!) look what happened. Improve defensive aspects, improve coaching and add players that are big, strong and tough to play against.

 

[Critical13]

You can't keep every 1sy round pick eventually you have to move one.

I'm not saying be Pittsburgh and trade ALL the 1st round picks, but you got Sandin, Robertson, Lilly, Amirov, and Hallinder as your top 5 prospects the cupboard is FAR from empty they can afford to move a 1st round pick.

If they can land a David Savard for 2 2nds I'm cool with that too, but they can afford to move a 1st they don't need it.

You would pay 2 2nds for a rental David Savard? Devon Toews got 2 2nds this past off season...Moving a 1st for Savard is absurd in my opinion.

Savard doesn't really move the needle much, in my opinion.

 

[Gary Nylund]

You can't keep every 1sy round pick eventually you have to move one.

I'm not saying be Pittsburgh and trade ALL the 1st round picks, but you got Sandin, Robertson, Lilly, Amirov, and Hallinder as your top 5 prospects the cupboard is FAR from empty they can afford to move a 1st round pick.

If they can land a David Savard for 2 2nds I'm cool with that too, but they can afford to move a 1st they don't need it.

Anything's tradeable depending on the return but if we're trading a 1st, I don't think it will be for a short term fix. Trading the future for the present makes sense when you're cup window starts to close, we're nowhere close to that.

Manage assets wisely and I see no reason to think we can't contend for the next decade.

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but this year is no measuring stick of how good or bad this team is. I mean they only play 6 other teams in the league and all but 2 of them are garbage.

Exactly! I don't want to be a downer either (and I'm very happy with how we're playing) but I look at how TB and Boston are doing against much tougher competition and I can't form a good argument that we're better than they are. We're right there with them though, it's all good.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Our GM just has to do more of what we've been telling him to do for the past few years, most of which when he wasn't listening. Dubas became less stubborn over the summer and (hello!) look what happened. Improve defensive aspects, improve coaching and add players that are big, strong and tough to play against.

Babcock was the stubborn one, not Dubas.

 

[zeke]

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but this year is no measuring stick of how good or bad this team is. I mean they only play 6 other teams in the league and all but 2 of them are garbage.

Funny how everyone was saying that the leafs were no better than edm/cgy/van/wpg coming into the season.

 

[zeke]

A
Exactly! I don't want to be a downer either (and I'm very happy with how we're playing) but I look at how TB and Boston are doing against much tougher competition and I can't form a good argument that we're better than they are. We're right there with them though, it's all good.

Much tougher?

TB vs DET/CHI/NSH: 7-0-0
TB vs DAL/CAR/CBJ/FLA: 1-1-1

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

You would pay 2 2nds for a rental David Savard? Devon Toews got 2 2nds this past off season...Moving a 1st for Savard is absurd in my opinion.

Savard doesn't really move the needle much, in my opinion.

Yes I would pay 2 2nds for Savard because that gives you.

Rielly-Brodie

Muzzin Savard

Holl Dermott

Bogosian Sandin Lehtonen

That's 5 top 4 D men and 8, possibly 9 guys capable of playing in the top 6.

That is a championship level defense and if that costs 2 2nds then so be it.

I think this team is 1 or 2 players away

 

[Critical13]

Yes I would pay 2 2nds for Savard because that gives you.

Rielly-Brodie

Muzzin Savard

Holl Dermott

Bogosian Sandin Lehtonen

That's 5 top 4 D men and 8, possibly 9 guys capable of playing in the top 6.

That is a championship level defense and if that costs 2 2nds then so be it.

I think this team is 1 or 2 players away

I think that's a bad use of assets for 1 push, but to each their own.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Funny how everyone was saying that the leafs were no better than edm/cgy/van/wpg coming into the season.

Everyone? Or just haters on the main boards?

Much tougher?

TB vs DET/CHI/NSH: 7-0-0
TB vs DAL/CAR/CBJ/FLA: 1-1-1

OK so based on that, maybe not "much" tougher in the case of TB, admittedly I just had a quick look at the divisions, not the schedules to this point.

I will point out though that you posted the schedule for TB so far, is that because Boston's schedule has indeed been "much" tougher? At least it seems much tougher with 8 games so far against PIT/PHI/WSH, then 1 vs NYI and 2 vs NJ.

 

[zeke]

Everyone? Or just haters on the main boards?



OK so based on that, maybe not "much" tougher in the case of TB, admittedly I just had a quick look at the divisions, not the schedules to this point.

I will point out though that you posted the schedule for TB so far, is that because Boston's schedule has indeed been "much" tougher? At least it seems much tougher with 8 games so far against PIT/PHI/WSH, then 1 vs NYI and 2 vs NJ.

You find it interesting how everyone said edm/cgy/wpg were as good or better than the leafs last year and coming into this year and now suddenly they're crap fodder?

 

[Stephen]

Getting a quality, physical winger for the Tavares-Nylander line would be good.

If we all like Wayne Simmonds, imagine what Tom Wilson could do for the Leafs.

 

[Gary Nylund]

You find it interesting how everyone said edm/cgy/wpg were as good or better than the leafs last year and coming into this year and now suddenly they're crap fodder?

I didn't notice everyone saying it so I really don't know. I know the bookies had us favoured to win the North, I agreed and when people say dumb shit I tend to just ignore them for the most part.

 

[zeke]

I didn't notice everyone saying it so I really don't know. I know the bookies had us favoured to win the North, I agreed and when people say dumb shit I tend to just ignore them for the most part.

How quickly we forget that nobody in the hockey world thought the leafs were a cut above this competition coming in.

Anyways, we're winning at a 133pt pace which is impressive regardless of the competition.