Leafs Offseason: Alot of big decisions, 17 key ones [Dubas(gone), Matthews, Marner, Nylander are biggies]

[hockeywiz542]

Insider Says Fans Should Brace for Multiple Maple Leafs Bombs - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

One reporter said Kyle Dubas' comments and locker room clean-out day gave off an aura that multiple bombs might be coming to the Maple Leafs.

thehockeywriters.com

Expect Multiple Bombs Says Insider

Chris Johnston of TSN was on OverDrive and discussed Dubas’ comments. When asked if he thought there would be change, either at the coach, GM, or Presidency level, Johnston responded, “We should be bracing for a bomb and potentially multiple bombs.” He then went on to say that he’s been around a lot of locker room clean-out days in Toronto and this was by far “the most unusual day I’ve spent down there.”

He noted it was a departure from years past when everything was quite organized and said it felt like a lot was up in the air. “It speaks to where they’re at as an organization, they’re hour by hour right now.” As of now, the Leafs don’t know who their GM is going to be, and “the summer is coming quick.” Johnston said that even if Dubas comes back, this is the first time the GM has been on record saying he would even contemplate trading one of his “core four”.

 

[ShaneFalco]

wait - what? "Leverage"?

 

[IPS]

I swear to god we're doomed with this guy for the rest of this franchise's history.

 

[francis246]

I don't hate that but I would also ask you this

How do we know that if you brought back the exact same roster, and I do mean the EXACT same roster, but instead of Sheldon Keefe you have Quinnville, Or Mike Sullivan, or Peter Laviolette, or Gerard Gilliant behind the bench how do we know that's not enough.

Now to be clear I don't want to bring back the EXACT same roster because that would mean Kerfoot and Holl come back and they both HAVE to go.

But I've been watching 22 years, this is BY FAR the most talented roster I have ever seen it's not even REMOTELY close, and I don't Keefe has been able to to take advantage of that talent properly.

Sheldon Keefe has consistently been out coached and yes that's a Keefe issue.

I'm not convinced Quinnville or Sullivan, or Laviolette, or Gilliant couldn't get more out of this level of talent

I don’t disagree with you but that revelation should have been made after the Montreal loss. How does a 3-1 blown lead coach keep his job? I used to be on your side of the fence. Keep this group together as long as possible. But I’ve kind of seen enough. It’s clear you can’t win with this group together. Plus we need a stud on the back end. Not that I want Marner traded but I actually think it’s necessary to win. I think one of them has to go.

 

[pspot]

Marner for Scheifle and Pionk ? retain on Pionk to make salaries equal

 

[ShaneFalco]

The MLSE board is finally willing to grant Dubas a contract extension after declining to do so last summer, but there’s a desire to wrap things up quickly. We’re talking as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to sources.

Unbelievable

 

[MarMarSab3]

If we don’t resign ROR, make Willy the #3 centre.

I think you spelled Tavares wrong

Marner for Scheifle and Pionk ? retain on Pionk to make salaries equal

No thx, Scheifle is a head case

 

[hockeywiz542]

wait - what? "Leverage"?

How did Kyle Dubas end up with leverage on the Maple Leafs?

Dubas suggesting he might not want to stay was an unexpected development of the Maple Leafs' offseason.

theathletic.com

It was an unexpected development — Dubas suggesting he might not want to stay — and you have to wonder if it took the higher ups by surprise.

It does feel like Dubas is suddenly dictating terms.

The Leafs need him more than he may need them, what with a series of seismic decisions to be made and not much time to do so.

It’s already the middle of May. If Dubas walks away, the Leafs will have to locate a new GM, a new coach, potentially, and get about overhauling the roster in a major way. All this in a matter of weeks.

The draft, beginning on June 28 in Nashville, is only six weeks away. Free agency begins a few days after that on July 1.

......................

They could have simply extended Dubas last summer and if things went awry, fired him. (You could argue leverage began trending in Dubas’ direction as soon as that decision was made last offseason.)

Also: What is or was the backup plan if Dubas decided not to stick around?

Dubas’ No. 2 Brandon Pridham feels likely to be the go-to option. He’s also Dubas’ guy. The two are close and have been since Lou Lamoriello was still running the show. It would be his first GM job in the NHL.

Jason Spezza has NHL GM written all over him one day. But not yet. Not after one season in a managerial role.

What other alternatives are out there that can handle a job this large?

Brad Treliving didn’t have much playoff success running the Flames. Marc Bergevin got the Habs to the Final, but made a series of head-scratching moves along the way. Jason Botterill? John Chayka?

The Leafs could seek out analytics guru Eric Tulsky, a marquee figure in the Hurricanes’ front office. He’s also in consideration for the Pittsburgh Penguins GM opening. Would he want the limelight that comes with being GM of the Leafs?

Are any of those options upgrades over Dubas? Are any, outside of Pridham, better prepared to execute for the Leafs this offseason? That’s another point of leverage in Dubas’ corner. It might, among other things, help him procure more control over the direction of the team.

Of course, it’s possible he simply doesn’t have the bandwidth at the moment to keep doing the GM job in Toronto, what with all of its stresses and scrutiny and the impact that it has on him and his family.

If not, it sure feels a lot like the upper hand is his.

 

[mobilus]

I think you spelled Tavares wrong

I believe Tavares is spelt "left wing."

 

[hockeywiz542]

LeBrun rumblings: NHL offseason in full swing for 28 teams, with big changes coming in Toronto, Pittsburgh

Who will Pittsburgh's next GM be? What's next for Kyle Dubas? Which core Toronto player makes most sense to move? The summer fun begins.

theathletic.com

The question is: Who could it be getting dealt?

I think Auston Matthews is probably off the table. It’s pretty much impossible to replace a top-five player in the world. The Leafs will focus 100 percent on signing him to an extension, and No. 34 made it clear in his end-of-season media availability that he wants to sign and stay (although the price point on said extension remains an interesting conversation to be had).

John Tavares also said Monday he planned to play out the remaining two years on his contract when I asked him how he would react if management approached him about possibly waiving his no-move. And good for him. As I always say, players who negotiate no-move clauses into their contracts should absolutely use them if they don’t want to go anywhere. That’s their right and no one should ever criticize them for that.

William Nylander is a possibility, but the fact that he has just one year left on his contract creates the complication of having to trade him with an extension done to maximize trade value. That means involving the player’s agent, and it does limit the field. Tkachuk, for example, gave the Flames five teams he wanted to be traded to last summer — because as a restricted free agent, obviously, the return would be greater if signed to an extension. Just like that, there’s no way Nylander’s camp would invite the Leafs to talk to 31 teams. They would have a short list. That doesn’t rule him out as a possible trade candidate; it just means it’s more complicated.

And then there’s Mitch Marner. Because he’s got two years left on his deal, his no-move doesn’t kick in until July 1 and there wouldn’t be an extension in play, he’s the cleanest transaction on the table. Teams would see natural value in Marner having two more years. And the Leafs would have the entire NHL market at their disposal before July 1.

But what would entice the Leafs to move a player of Marner’s immense talent? What would it take for them to consider it a franchise-forwarding deal?

To me, that’s a deal that has to at least net a top-pairing defenseman.

There isn’t anything that pops to mind right now as I look around the NHL trade market. But I would also say this: I don’t think anyone saw a Tkachuk for Huberdeau/Weegar trade as a remote possibility last May. It happened two months later and sent shock waves.

If the Leafs do decide to put feelers out on Marner, I think all bets are off as far as some teams being willing to move players you thought were untouchable.

That’s if the Leafs would move Marner. That remains to be seen.

All we know is that if Dubas remains GM, he’s willing to listen on anything. That’s his declaration from Monday. And it’s a pretty dramatic one.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Pretty funny that it says nothing about Shanahan re-signing Dubas but the MLSE Board.

Fire MLSE, amirite?

 

[TheDoldrums]

Marner for Scheifle and Pionk ? retain on Pionk to make salaries equal

Ehlers, Lowry and a 1st

 

[Martin Skoula]

Pretty funny that it says nothing about Shanahan re-signing Dubas but the MLSE Board.

Fire MLSE, amirite?

What exactly does Shanny do anyway?

 

[Ronellis]

What exactly does Shanny do anyway?

Shanny is responsible for choosing goal song as well as making sure everyone refers to Haley Wickenheiser as Dr Haley Wickenheiser.

 

[HolyCrap]

Just read on MSN sports that insiders report O Reilly won’t sign with the Leafs. Not a big deal prob best for both sides. He wants to go deep in post season and Leaf’s need to do a retool at the very least.

 

[Anthrax442]

Just read on MSN sports that insiders report O Reilly won’t sign with the Leafs. Not a big deal prob best for both sides. He wants to go deep in post season and Leaf’s need to do a retool at the very least.

I'd love to have him back, but not willing to give him the money + term he will be seeking

 

[hockeywiz542]

Just read on MSN sports that insiders report O Reilly won’t sign with the Leafs. Not a big deal prob best for both sides. He wants to go deep in post season and Leaf’s need to do a retool at the very least.

Insider Says Ryan O’Reilly Won't Re-sign with Maple Leafs

Ryan O'Reilly was a solid rental for the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, he won't resign with the team. Why not? Where might he land?

nhltradetalk.com

Toronto’s Salary Cap Constraints Are Prohibitive

O’Reilly is now 32 years old and he’s on an expiring contract. He has a high hockey IQ; and, given his resume, he’ll be attractive for another organization looking for experienced leadership and secondary scoring. It’s likely that this next contract will be O’Reilly’s last big one.

That puts him out of touch with Toronto’s salary cap situation. O’Reilly will be looking for a team that has salary cap space enough to pay him the larger contract he desires. Who might that be?

For sure, as Marek notes, it won’t be the Maple Leafs. O’Reilly’s contract ask is above what the Maple Leafs can pay. While he would be an excellent fit on the Maple Leafs’ roster, financial constraints won’t allow the Maple Leafs to clean off a landing spot for the skilled forward.

So, for Those Who Care, Where Might O’Reilly Find a Landing Spot?

Because O’Reilly won’t re-sign with the Blues or find a suitable agreement with the Maple Leafs, other teams could emerge as potential destinations. For example, for Marek, the New York Islanders are always close to the playoff picture and might desire to bolster their roster. O’Reilly could be an appealing addition to their lineup.

However, Marek notes that the Chicago Blackhawks might also be a factor. The Blackhawks’ fortunes changed dramatically with their draft lottery win and the upcoming acquisition of top prospect Connor Bedard. Surrounding Bedard with experienced veterans like O’Reilly would be crucial. And, O’Reilly’s professionalism and skillset could make him an ideal candidate in Chicago.

Although questions remain about O’Reilly’s contract and its length and numbers, suddenly fitting in with the Blackhawks makes sense.

 

[thewave]

You mean Willy right?

He can play C. Pretty confident of that.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[nsleaf]

there is "zero" chance that dubas is going to do anything that is going to benefit the team. if he wanted he would have done it after the habs series.

he is invested in the so called core4; he has handed out NMCs.

He is once again going to open a blank cheque to all of matthews, marner and nylander and we are going to go back to square one even when JT's contract expires.

He also strategically set up the contracts for matthews, nylander and marner to help his own contract negotiation. It can't be pure co-incidence. That is not a healthy way to run the organization IMO.

What team will you be chearing for if Dubas stays? Pretty sad to drop your fav team because of the GM.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[capfit9]

sad organization

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don’t disagree with you but that revelation should have been made after the Montreal loss. How does a 3-1 blown lead coach keep his job? I used to be on your side of the fence. Keep this group together as long as possible. But I’ve kind of seen enough. It’s clear you can’t win with this group together. Plus we need a stud on the back end. Not that I want Marner traded but I actually think it’s necessary to win. I think one of them has to go.

I guess what I don't want is William Nylander to Pittsburgh for say the 14th overall pick and and a future 2nd.

What I would get behind is Nylander for Guntzel

Or a Nylander/Ehlers deal with Winnipeg.

or maybe a Marner + Samsonov+ whateverto either Winnipeg or Calgary for either Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebyuck

Or Marner + Samsonov + whatever for Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom.

Or maybe Marner + whatever to Philadelphia for Konecny and proarov.

If you want to trade a core piece that is fine but IF you do that it, it needs to be a retool and not a rebuild and there is a MAJOR difference.

And let me say this, I threw Samsonov into those deals because I don't see what he did to deserve to be the guaranteed #1 goalie next season.

You might say " well he beat Tampa." and he did and that's fantastic but if we are culture change, MAJOR change then a guy that gave up 3+ goals 6 times in the 8 games he finished MUST be on the table because the fact is he wasn't very good

 

[hullsy47]

I guess what I don't want is William Nylander to Pittsburgh for say the 14th overall pick and and a future 2nd.

What I would get behind is Nylander for Guntzel

Or a Nylander/Ehlers deal with Winnipeg.

or maybe a Marner + Samsonov+ whateverto either Winnipeg or Calgary for either Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebyuck

Or Marner + Samsonov + whatever for Elias Lindholm and Jacob Markstrom.

Or maybe Marner + whatever to Philadelphia for Konecny and proarov.

If you want to trade a core piece that is fine but IF you do that it, it needs to be a retool and not a rebuild and there is a MAJOR difference.

And let me say this, I threw Samsonov into those deals because I don't see what he did to deserve to be the guaranteed #1 goalie next season.

You might say " well he beat Tampa." and he did and that's fantastic but if we are culture change, MAJOR change then a guy that gave up 3+ goals 6 times in the 8 games he finished MUST be on the table because the fact is he wasn't very good

I love the proposed trade to Colorado. Toews and nehook

 

[Blanche Blanche]

I don’t disagree with you but that revelation should have been made after the Montreal loss. How does a 3-1 blown lead coach keep his job? I used to be on your side of the fence. Keep this group together as long as possible. But I’ve kind of seen enough. It’s clear you can’t win with this group together. Plus we need a stud on the back end. Not that I want Marner traded but I actually think it’s necessary to win. I think one of them has to go.

3-1 blown lead vs top teams… sure. It’s bad.

But this was best by a rebuilding retooling Habs team that only made the playoffs due to the Pandemic divisions.

I agree. That’s when Keefe should’ve been fired. And Dubas maybe could’ve had a coach to get us past 2 rounds.

If Dubas is so stubborn. He can GTFO. Logo first