Leafs need Tom Wilson or.....?

[AustonMarner]

I hope the irony is not lost on all the Leaf's fan base that is now clamoring for a tougher leafs team... which is what coach Babcock at the time indicated to his boss Dubas and Shanahan was the main issue and still is...

Let's be honest... the leafs didn't lose to the Panthers in 5 games... they lost the series the second Bennett closed lined and slamed a rookie Knies to the ice with ZERO retribution!

That's kind'a Keefe's fault because he should have played Simmonds (second toughest guy in league behind Reeves) that very next game... Schenn only fights when he has to, Simmonds would have killed Bennett or someone in return guaranteed. Doubt Bennett would have done it at all if Simmonds was in that game... but that can't be proven of course

Keefe is a trash playoff coach who literally made no adjustments in the Florida series besides playing 11 - 7 just too smart for his own good it seems...

Look no further than the two cup finalist almost every year to see what type of team tends to prevail in the playoffs when its a completely different game

 

[Racer88]

I hope the irony is not lost on all the Leaf's fan base that is now clamoring for a tougher leafs team... which is what coach Babcock at the time indicated to his boss Dubas and Shanahan was the main issue and still is...

Let's be honest... the leafs didn't lose to the Panthers in 5 games... they lost the series the second Bennett closed lined and slamed a rookie Knies to the ice with ZERO retribution!

That's kind'a Keefe's fault because he should have played Simmonds (second toughest guy in league behind Reeves) that very next game... Schenn only fights when he has to, Simmonds would have killed Bennett or someone in return guaranteed. Doubt Bennett would have done it at if Simmonds was in that game... it was like what Perry did to Tavares a few years back in a way...

Keefe is a trash playoff coach who literally made no adjustments in the Florida series besides playing 11 - 7 just too smart for his own good it seems...

Look no further than the two cup finalist almost every year to see what type of team tends to prevail in the playoffs when its a completely different game

Babs was right but the way he went about handling the players in an underhanded way was wrong

 

[AustonMarner]

Babs was right but the way he went about handling the players in an underhanded way was wrong

Babs knew better but his ego was definitely poisonous, I agree

 

[Racer88]

Just getting 1 or 2 tough players will not make any difference…….everyone on the team has to play rough and mean.
Both teams in the finals are rough and tough to a man…….everyone of them is nasty.
watching this series show how far away and unprepared the Leafs are for a cup run.
there is going to be a lot of pain before anyone can turn around this failed build

 

[baton elevated]

Attempting to bolt on XYZ aspect of what this team is missing hasn't worked. It didn't work with adding leadership, it didn't work with adding physicality in the bottom six, we're not going to become hard to play against even if we add the biggest psycho in the league. Our softness is an identity problem, not a personnel problem. We ran a bottom six and blueline absolutely chock full of hitters and bruisers, and it didn't mean squat because the core are what drive the team and they're not killers.

Add Wilson and subtract Marner, and now we're starting to cook a team that's nasty. We also desperately need the Muzzin replacement #2D who can handle big minutes and is an imposing physical presence. We need a little bit of the ol' Burke era testosterone, pugnacity, and truculence, and it needs to come from the core. Wilson works in Washington because it's Ovi's team and Ovi was an absolute wrecking ball in his heyday.

Zadorov?

Just getting 1 or 2 tough players will not make any difference…….everyone on the team has to play rough and mean.
Both teams in the finals are rough and tough to a man…….everyone of them is nasty.
watching this series show how far away and unprepared the Leafs are for a cup run.
there is going to be a lot of pain before anyone can turn around this failed build

How about John Wick on defense

 

[Racer88]

Zadorov?


How about John Wick on defense

Ok, that might help, then add Chuck Norris

 

[keonsbitterness]

Just getting 1 or 2 tough players will not make any difference…….everyone on the team has to play rough and mean.
Both teams in the finals are rough and tough to a man…….everyone of them is nasty.
watching this series show how far away and unprepared the Leafs are for a cup run.
there is going to be a lot of pain before anyone can turn around this failed build

The easiest solution is for the core to match or even occasionally exceed regular season production in the playoffs. We would have seen deep runs and maybe Cups if they could do that.

 

[Racer88]

The easiest solution is for the core to match or even occasionally exceed regular season production in the playoffs. We would have seen deep runs and maybe Cups if they could do that.

I agree but I just don’t think they have it in them. The minute things get a little rough they bail out.

 

[ponder]

I think he'd be a good add, and possibly a realistic target (at the trade deadline), because:

- He's on the last year of his deal. If the Caps continue to decline, and look like they won't make the playoffs (very likely IMO), he'll probably be available at the trade deadline

- He's got a modified NTC (10 team no trade list), and he's from Toronto, so we're probably one of the teams he'd accept a trade to

- His $5.17 mil AAV wouldn't be too hard to squeeze in at the deadline

I don't like him on the Caps, but I'm sure I'd get over that if he were a Leaf He'd certainly be a scary dude for us in the playoffs, and he's got the skill to play in our top 6 as well.

Nylander - Matthews - Tom Wilson
<TBD> - Tavares - Marner

My guess is he won't be available until the trade deadline, though. I think the writing is on the wall for the Caps, but while Ovie is still a high impact player, they're not gonna give up on a season before it starts. Most likely they'll do something very similar to what they did last year:
- Make "win now" moves in the offseason
- Be outside the playoffs anyways at the trade deadline
- Become sellers at the deadline

 

[keonsbitterness]

I agree but I just don’t think they have it in them. The minute things get a little rough they bail out.

Problem is it's not hard for any GM to fall in love with their talent, and getting equal value in a trade is difficult. Which makes re-signing them and hoping for a playoff turnaround the easiest path. I also get the impression ownership really wants to keep our star players.

 

[Racer88]

Problem is it's not hard for any GM to fall in love with their talent, and getting equal value in a trade is difficult. Which makes re-signing them and hoping for a playoff turnaround the easiest path. I also get the impression ownership really wants to keep our star players.

You’re not wrong but sometimes it’s not about getting equal value on an individual basis it’s about changing the mix and the results can be better. The problem I have is giving this failing core anymore money than they already make…….they dont even deserve what they are getting now.

 

[Nineteen67]

Caps fans have a very high ask of him, it’s gonna be hard to pry him from them

I’d like for us to draft player this draft who could become a Wilson like player, but that will take 2-3 years to develop.

I’d also look into a holl replacement, mayfield jumps out but he may get a bit more than we can afford

Acciari and Schenn should be brought back on good deals

If we let go of bunting we need to grab another top 6 winger. I’d pencil Robertson in as the 3LW at the very least to start next season. He needs to start playing more and hopefully not get injured, Robertson and knies should be 2 of the 3 top 9 LW’s.

Maybe they could ask the GM, he might not ask for as much.

 

[Trapper]

Ok, that might help, then add Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris once scored a field goal, using a hockey stick!

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Maybe they could ask the GM, he might not ask for as much.

My point is I think he holds more value to that organization than he should.

He’s a 50 point guy who would only be dealt for Marner or nylander, far superior players who are younger. Wilson is almost 30 and is going into his last contract season. He’s great value at around 5, but will be mediocre value at the 7-8 he will want after this year. Injury concerns and overall play decline is going to become an issue.

Speaking more towards Washington, caps aren’t gonna want futures, and both the guys mentioned above help Ovi get the goal record which is what has been Washingtons goal for a few years now.

Wilson has such value because they got peak years of him without paying any assets apart from the pick. We could use Wilson, but not at the expense of an overpay, he’s not that type of game changer. What we really need is the next Wilson, or our own Wilson. I guy we draft who gives us his level production on his 2nd contract

 

[Martin Skoula]

I hope the irony is not lost on all the Leaf's fan base that is now clamoring for a tougher leafs team... which is what coach Babcock at the time indicated to his boss Dubas and Shanahan was the main issue and still is...

Let's be honest... the leafs didn't lose to the Panthers in 5 games... they lost the series the second Bennett closed lined and slamed a rookie Knies to the ice with ZERO retribution!

That's kind'a Keefe's fault because he should have played Simmonds (second toughest guy in league behind Reeves) that very next game... Schenn only fights when he has to, Simmonds would have killed Bennett or someone in return guaranteed. Doubt Bennett would have done it at all if Simmonds was in that game... but that can't be proven of course

Keefe is a trash playoff coach who literally made no adjustments in the Florida series besides playing 11 - 7 just too smart for his own good it seems...

Look no further than the two cup finalist almost every year to see what type of team tends to prevail in the playoffs when its a completely different game

Babe sat Martin in the playoffs when he was still a viable NHLer compared to Simmonds, why would he suddenly do a 180 on his philosophy?

 

[AustonMarner]

Babe sat Martin in the playoffs when he was still a viable NHLer compared to Simmonds, why would he suddenly do a 180 on his philosophy?

Ummm, I completely disagree with everything you just said
There was no response to what happened to Knies. PERIOD.
Martin was barely ever an nhl player lol
Cheers

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Chuck Norris once scored a field goal, using a hockey stick!

 

[Racer88]

Chuck Norris once scored a field goal, using a hockey stick!

While fighting a bear

 

[LeafSteel]

Maybe they could ask the GM, he might not ask for as much.

This.

I never understand why anyone gives a rip what other team's fans say about trade values.

Forget the fact that our players always are worthless trash with no value until they become players of other teams, while everything we offer is laughable because "Leafs fans waaaaaaaaaaaay over-value their own players".

Trades get made by GM's. What the average fan thinks isn't worth a damn and validates nothing, so why bother caring what another fanbase thinks?

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

They could bring in Chuck Norris and it wouldn't make a difference.

What a group of entitled overpaid athletes Shanahan has assembled.

They're all a bunch of spoiled rich kids. With faces that look like targets for a big fat fist. They're all so full of themselves I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see them floating by in this year's Christmas parade.

That's the only parade fans can look forward to.

Ragdoll Matthews lets himself get tossed around. Two soft wingers who won't stand up for themselves or anyone else. And a Captain who sets the standard leading by example.

Tavares gets punched in the face and all you can see is the backs of five Leafs sweaters as they skate away after.

They got back to the bench and laughed it off. Meanwhile the rest of the league is laughing at how soft these guys are. Salivating, drooling, at the thought of meeting them in the playoffs every year. If it happens again this year I really hope they run all their yellow asses right out of town.

This is what happens when your POHO is a pacifist wimp.

 

[Racer88]

They could bring in Chuck Norris and it wouldn't make a difference.

What a group of entitled overpaid athletes Shanahan has assembled.

They're all a bunch of spoiled rich kids. With faces that look like targets for a big fat fist. They're all so full of themselves I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see them floating by in this year's Christmas parade.

That's the only parade fans can look forward to.

Ragdoll Matthews lets himself get tossed around. Two soft wingers who won't stand up for themselves or anyone else. And a Captain who sets the standard leading by example.

Tavares gets punched in the face and all you can see is the backs of five Leafs sweaters as they skate away after.

They got back to the bench and laughed it off. Meanwhile the rest of the league is laughing at how soft these guys are. Salivating, drooling, at the thought of meeting them in the playoffs every year. If it happens again this year I really hope they run all their yellow asses right out of town.

This is what happens when your POHO is a pacifist wimp.

This is so true. They are such a disappointment compared to both teams in the finals right now……..what a discrace our core is

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

This is so true. They are such a disappointment compared to both teams in the finals right now……..what a discrace our core is

It's gets hard to cheer for them when I see stuff like this every playoffs:

 

[Notsince67]

It's not that the refs are necessarily specifically punitive towards us, it's that they always look to equalize the penalty calls. So if you have a clean, soft team vs a dirty physical team (like the Panthers), you'll still end up with the penalties relatively even.

So if Wilson is going to the box a lot, then our opponent will be going to the box more as well, which would bode well for us given our quality special teams.

Suspensions though...yeah, while Parros is in charge there's no avoiding that.

Totally agree on both points.

 

[Racer88]

It's gets hard to cheer for them when I see stuff like this every playoffs:

View attachment 715529

I hear ya. What really gets me is watching how good some of the other teams are with no 11 million dollar stars and then listening to the narrative from some the we could never trade any of them because we would automatically lose that trade.
Who cares if we lose that trade on paper if we get a more committed core and the team gets better

 

[Nineteen67]

It's gets hard to cheer for them when I see stuff like this every playoffs:

View attachment 715529

A younger Tom Wilson and a younger Ryan Reaves prevent this from happening. That little ragdoll incident was so emblematic of the deeper problems this team has.