Official Training Camp Thread

[Tufted Titmouse]

Might be something we see in exhibition.

Hmm.

Mo - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Sandin - Gio?

There is a distinct lack of speed in that group. Losing Lilly will hurt.

Forwards will need to focus on getting back again, which is fine, since they are quite a responsible group.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Maybe management and the coaches told him he’s expected to sacrifice his body and compete when needed in the playoffs.

That would be kind of weird since I'm sure they're aware he's already been doing that.

 

[francis246]

Looks like Kyle finally was put on notice. I expect Kyle to go for it this year. No more of this own rentals bullshit.

 

[zeke]

Looks like Kyle finally was put on notice. I expect Kyle to go for it this year. No more of this own rentals bullshit.

if he's going for it, why would he trade away impending UFA at the deadline?

 

[francis246]

Mikheyev got $4.75 mil. (career high 32 points) Palat got $6 million. (career high 52 points, 49, 46, 41 last three years)

Bunting had 63 points last year.

If he repeats, he could get $6-7.5 mil as a UFA..... We certainly should not be trying to sign that contract. Is even a team discount of $5 mil wise? Are AM and MM willing to take the same, or less than their current deal, to keep that line together? Doubt that to be honest. Bunting is very good, but I don't consider him a core player.

I get your point on Muzzin, but if Muzzin is done, we will need to fill his physicality shoes somehow, and that likely won't be cheap either.

I think bunting would easily take the Hyman deal. I think he loves playing at home and along side Matthews and it’s not the same as Hyman because the opportunity to bolt and go play along side another young superstar Center isn’t there.

Honestly if Hyman didn’t have the option to go play along McDavid I doubt he leaves. The money was nice, but I think the fact that he would get to play beside one of McDavid or Draisaitl and take more money was a no brainer.

 

[zeke]

Hmm.

Mo - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Sandin - Gio?

There is a distinct lack of speed in that group. Losing Lilly will hurt.

Forwards will need to focus on getting back again, which is fine, since they are quite a responsible group.

I don't know why everyone forgets that we ended the season with Muzz-Brodie as the matchup shutdown pairing and they were great together.

 

[francis246]

if he's going for it, why would he trade away impending UFA at the deadline?

I mean in the sense not just settling for our own rentals. Go out and get someone of significance

 

[Fogelhund]

Looks like Kyle finally was put on notice. I expect Kyle to go for it this year. No more of this own rentals bullshit.

That's a weird take. He's going for it, so he'll trade away UFA's? Did you mean something else?

If anything, trading for rental players, using prospects and picks will be under great scrutiny this year, and may require approval.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I don't know why everyone forgets that we ended the season with Muzz-Brodie as the matchup shutdown pairing and they were great together.

Mainly because Keefe is stubborn and I am almost positive he will go with what he seems to revert to - Muzzin-Holl.

 

[Fogelhund]

I don't know why everyone forgets that we ended the season with Muzz-Brodie as the matchup shutdown pairing and they were great together.

While that's true, Rielly and Lyubushkin ended up together, and the results were a bit mixed. Rielly and Liljegren worked well, but that's out of the question for about two months. We might need to shake things up a bit, particularly with either Sandin or Gio playing their offside in all probability. I don't know Gio's history on his offside, so I can't comment on that. Sandin, i don't recall playing much on the right.

 

[francis246]

That's a weird take. He's going for it, so he'll trade away UFA's? Did you mean something else?

If anything, trading for rental players, using prospects and picks will be under great scrutiny this year, and may require approval.

I meant not just settling for our own rentals, but maybe making a deal where we add a player with term at the deadline or even before then. I think he needs to go for it. Ala Tampa, sometimes you just have to take some risks.

 

[francis246]

I don't know why everyone forgets that we ended the season with Muzz-Brodie as the matchup shutdown pairing and they were great together.

I think the biggest mistake they made last year was splitting up Rielly-Brodie. It worked, why mess with it. Give Muzzin, Sandin and allow Gio and Liljegren to continue their good play.

 

[Fogelhund]

I think bunting would easily take the Hyman deal. I think he loves playing at home and along side Matthews and it’s not the same as Hyman because the opportunity to bolt and go play along side another young superstar Center isn’t there.

Honestly if Hyman didn’t have the option to go play along McDavid I doubt he leaves. The money was nice, but I think the fact that he would get to play beside one of McDavid or Draisaitl and take more money was a no brainer.

7 years x 5.5 mil..... I don't think that makes much sense for the Leafs, unless they are forced into it. We have Robertson, Knies, Amirov, Hirvonen, Holmberg, Voit all potential LWers for us in the future. Unless these guys all bomb (or health issues), I think that going with the prospects is the way to go... but this season will tell us a lot about that.

I don't think we can afford much more than $4 mil, for a complimentary player, especially when we have depth in prospects in that position.

I think the biggest mistake they made last year was splitting up Rielly-Brodie. It worked, why mess with it. Give Muzzin, Sandin and allow Gio and Liljegren to continue their good play.

Muzzin and Sandin... two slower skaters... and can either play the right side? I guess we find out soon enough.

 

[francis246]

7 years x 5.5 mil..... I don't think that makes much sense for the Leafs, unless they are forced into it. We have Robertson, Knies, Amirov, Hirvonen, Holmberg, Voit all potential LWers for us in the future. Unless these guys all bomb (or health issues), I think that going with the prospects is the way to go... but this season will tell us a lot about that.

I don't think we can afford much more than $4 mil, for a complimentary player, especially when we have depth in prospects in that position.



Muzzin and Sandin... two slower skaters... and can either play the right side? I guess we find out soon enough.

I think Sandin did fine on the right side. The problem was both Sandin and Morgan want to jump up in the play. So that wasn’t a fit. I think Sandin with a guy who’s more defensively responsible would be fine on the right.

The problem is, none of those other guys are proven. And Matthews loves Bunting. So if that’s who Matthews wants on his wing. Pay him and keep our guy happy. Additionally with the cap going up, bunting at 5/5.5 or even 4.5 is still a value signing.

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[zeke]

While that's true, Rielly and Lyubushkin ended up together, and the results were a bit mixed. Rielly and Liljegren worked well, but that's out of the question for about two months. We might need to shake things up a bit, particularly with either Sandin or Gio playing their offside in all probability. I don't know Gio's history on his offside, so I can't comment on that. Sandin, i don't recall playing much on the right.

Eh. Pretty much since the day we got Gio, Muzz-Brodie was a pair.

Rielly played with all of Sandin, Lilly, and Boosh. So did Gio.

I think the biggest mistake they made last year was splitting up Rielly-Brodie. It worked, why mess with it. Give Muzzin, Sandin and allow Gio and Liljegren to continue their good play.

Muzz-Brodie was awesome. Completely shut down tampa's top forwards in the playoffs.

Mo-Lilly and Gio-Holl were also damn good but we felt the need to play fricken BOOSH with Mo instead.

 

[Fogelhund]

The problem is, none of those other guys are proven. And Matthews loves Bunting. So if that’s who Matthews wants on his wing. Pay him and keep our guy happy. Additionally with the cap going up, bunting at 5/5.5 or even 4.5 is still a value signing.

Bunting wasn't proven until he was, just last year.... Robertson has this year to prove himself... Knies may get a chance later this year and in the playoffs. It sounds like Amirov will be with the org later this year, though his health will determine in what capacity. (It was said that the Leafs would like to bring him over, after his final chemo treatment... it's a pretty vague statement though, so who knows what that means). Holmberg will have a chance this year to prove his value too. We don't know much now... but we will by the end of the year.

Ya, I agree that Matty and Marner have a good bond with Bunting. Only so much money to go around though. It's almost as if you wish you could sit them down, and ask them how they see what they get paid next, and how they want to make that work to field a competitive team.

 

[francis246]

Bunting wasn't proven until he was, just last year.... Robertson has this year to prove himself... Knies may get a chance later this year and in the playoffs. It sounds like Amirov will be with the org later this year, though his health will determine in what capacity. (It was said that the Leafs would like to bring him over, after his final chemo treatment... it's a pretty vague statement though, so who knows what that means). Holmberg will have a chance this year to prove his value too. We don't know much now... but we will by the end of the year.

Ya, I agree that Matty and Marner have a good bond with Bunting. Only so much money to go around though. It's almost as if you wish you could sit them down, and ask them how they see what they get paid next, and how they want to make that work to field a competitive team.

I hear you, we have a lot of guys coming in. But just to keep in mind both Holl and Kerfoot are expiring and that money can be used to keep bunting, meanwhile still bringing in those guys on ELC’s to fill roles.

Agreed, I really hope they think about that in the next negotiations. I think Matthews and Marner as locks to stay here. I think Nylander is the guy we probably lose to UFA. He’s a first line guy, will probably go to a quieter market or I can even see him going to a market like NYR and lighting it up. I love Nylander though.

 

[Fogelhund]

I hear you, we have a lot of guys coming in. But just to keep in mind both Holl and Kerfoot are expiring and that money can be used to keep bunting, meanwhile still bringing in those guys on ELC’s to fill roles.

Agreed, I really hope they think about that in the next negotiations. I think Matthews and Marner as locks to stay here. I think Nylander is the guy we probably lose to UFA. He’s a first line guy, will probably go to a quieter market or I can even see him going to a market like NYR and lighting it up. I love Nylander though.

We shall see on Nylander. I think the money will be here, if he wants to stay. It will depend on whether the team has successes or not though. If they don't, there will be changes after this year, so all bets off. If we have success, I can see the band staying together. Tavares is going to be 35 at the start of his next contract. If we have success, and he is still an ok player, I see him signing for three years at $4-5 mil., transition to a power play guy, and 3C. I'd work on turning Nylander into a 2C, and giving him the tools to succeed there, continue to focus on his D game too.

 

[zeke]

Gio's first game (Muzz and Sandin both injured):

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Brodie - Holl
Giordano - Liljegren

Gio Game 8 (Muzzin returns, Boosh first one to sit):

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Gio - Liljegren


Gio Game 9 (Boosh comes back in for Lilly)

Rielly - Boosh
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl


Gio Game 11 (Muzz rested)

Rielly - Lilly
Brodie - Holl
Gio - Boosh

Gio Game 12 (Muzz back, Holl sits)

Rielly - Boosh
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Lilly

Gio Game 13 (Muzz out again)

Rielly - Boosh
Brodie - Holl
Gio - Lilly

Gio Game 18

Rielly - Boosh
Gio - Brodie
Dahlstrom - Holl

Gio Game 19 (Muzz back)

Rielly - Boosh
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Lilly



Playoffs Game 1:

Rielly - Boosh
Muzz - Brodie
Gio - Lilly


Game 3:


Rielly - Boosh
Muzz - Brodie
Gio - Holl

 

[Fogelhund]

Leafs provide health updates on opening day of camp

Maple Leafs training camp got underway on Wednesday morning, beginning...

theleafsnation.com

A good summation on the injuries, status, what ZAR was brought in, update on Amirov, who they hope to bring over, and perhaps play here later in the year.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

To all the Doubting Thomases and Worry Warts of the world. Matthews made a mic dropping quote this morning:

"I love playing here, I consider it my home".

You can rest for the rest of the year and the end of his 2nd contract.

But honestly...c'mon...was it any surprise to you?

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I remember Gaudette having a lot of hype coming out of the NCAA. I think he showed some good stuff at the World Championships too.

I think he's got the inside track to a 4th line role at the very least.

He was good with the Canucks then his game fell off a cliff in the blink of an eye. It seemed really weird that he lost his game so quickly until the host of a local sports radio station explained in detail his stomach issue. After hearing what he was going through it was no surprise his energy and stamina couldn't cut it. He may have needed last season just to get back on track. If Gaudette can return to his level of play from a few years ago he'll provide a much needed boost to the bottom 6 in the skill department, not to mention some serious bang for our buck for a minimal cap hit. Outside of the goaltenders, Gaudette is in my opinion the most likely of all the new faces to make an impact.

 

[IPS]

""

Gio is too old to be doing that. It's gonna hurt more than it helps IMO.

 

[zeke]

Gio is too old to be doing that. It's gonna hurt more than it helps IMO.

With our defense corps, Gio gets to be the secondary supporting partner on a defense pair for the first time in his career. By his microstats his defensive and puck retrieval game is still top notch, which makes him a very nice partner for a mobile attacking dman (like, say, Rielly). If he still had to be the lead guy on his pairing I might agree with you but as the support guy who's already changed his game in recent years I think he might be able to pull it off perfectly.