Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core

[ToneDog]

I want Malgin back.
He made a huge step forward this season.

(maybe I just want to have a Swiss player... Something around Josi for Marner?)

We haven't had much luck with Swiss players. How's Luca Cereda doing these day ?

 

[Morbo]

I can't do it because I never would have signed the deal with the 3 pretty boys or Tavares. Never would have gotten rid of Brown, Moore, Hyman, Bozak, Kapanen or Kadri. Never would have signed the deals that Dubas did to try and make up for his mistakes. Now, you want me to fix the mess that he got the team into, it'll take time and a lot of money. You don't have the money and at my age, I don't have the time.

nothing but a cop out. I asked you a simple question -- you want to get rid of Marner now, show me how you do it while making the team better.

all you do is complain but you never have any real solutions.

 

[ACC1224]

nothing but a cop out. I asked you a simple question -- you want to get rid of Marner now, show me how you do it while making the team better.

all you do is complain but you never have any real solutions.

Solutions are what the teams management is paid to provide. It's not the fans job, IMO.

 

[Mess]

I think it's going to be a very busy and interesting summer in Leaf land.
I'd expect at least 1/2 the team to turnover, maybe more.
Anyone know what percentage of the team was turned over last year?

Essentially (excluding real spare part players)

Zach Hyman, Joe Thornton, Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Bogosian, Frederik Andersen & @ TD Nick Foligno OUT
vs.
Michael Bunting, Ondrej Kase, David Kampf, Petr Mrazek & Nick Ritchie(-> Ilya Lyubushkin )& TD Mark Giordano IN

 

[keonsbitterness]

I know emotions are still running hot around here, but I personally believe that is the right call at this point in time. I don't think throwing a grenade for the sake of sending a message makes sense unless it will improve the team.

If we can upgrade our goaltending and replace guys like Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Kase, and Holl with grittier players that can have more of an impact in the playoffs, it's worth giving it one more try.

My theory has to do with the fact that Matthews and Nylander can sign new deals July 1, 2023. Informal talks need to start about a year from now to see where their heads are at. If one or both show no interest in re-signing, they have to be traded before their NMCs kick in July 1. Upper management will have to decide whether or not they want Shanahan and Dubas to handle it, and I believe that will depend on 22-23 results.

I could be wrong of course.

 

[ACC1224]

Essentially (excluding real spare part players)

Zach Hyman, Joe Thornton, Alex Galchenyuk, Zach Bogosian, Frederik Andersen & @ TD Nick Foligno OUT
vs.
Michael Bunting, Ondrej Kase, David Kampf, Petr Mrazek & Nick Ritchie(-> Ilya Lyubushkin )& TD Mark Giordano IN

So just under 1/3. 1/2 seems realistic this time around.

 

[Morbo]

Solutions are what the teams management is paid to provide. It's not the fans job, IMO.

this really has nothing to do with anything. this is a discussion board.

 

[ACC1224]

this really has nothing to do with anything. this is a discussion board.

Now you're getting it.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I think it's going to be a very busy and interesting summer in Leaf land.
I'd expect at least 1/2 the team to turnover, maybe more.
Anyone know what percentage of the team was turned over last year?

Half is a lot. The only time we turned over something close to that may have been 15/16 to 16/17.

 

[Morbo]

Now you're getting it.

it's not me that doesn't get it.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Gotta find them first! They're mysterious.

Be funny at the GM's meeting when there are 31 GM's there and the Illuminati have dialed in on microsoft teams from an encrypted phone.

 

[Trapper]

Gaining respect? LOL. What a loser attitude that was by Keefe. I like the way Sutter thinks the guy who has won cups

When you have a culture of losing (cough, cough Leafs) people will grasp at anything to not look so irrelevant.
We’ve gone from joke to pity. That’s worse.

 

[PanniniClaus]

We haven't had much luck with Swiss players. How's Luca Cereda doing these day ?

Coaching i believe. A little bit of Malgin goes a pretty long way.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Solutions are what the teams management is paid to provide. It's not the fans job, IMO.

Exactly.. If I had a team.of experts and scouts and contacts like any GM has....
We're supposed to.provude instant answers as fans though?

 

[ACC1224]

Half is a lot. The only time we turned over something close to that may have been 15/16 to 16/17.

Yeah it is but that's really just a thrown out number.
Good chance Nylander goes, most if not all of the bottom 6 plus Holl and the Goalies.
That gets them pretty close.

it's not me that doesn't get it.

It's a pointless exercise but you're certainly welcome to have at it.
Knock yourself out.

 

[Trapper]

We haven't had much luck with Swiss players. How's Luca Cereda doing these day ?

These are all putting bandaids on a gushing wound.
This team needs an impact move this summer. Something that flips the dynamic and mindset.

 

[PanniniClaus]

These are all putting bandaids on a gushing wound.
This team needs an impact move this summer. Something that flips the dynamic and mindset.

woulda had me goin there... if you didn't know Denis..

 

[killer1980]

nothing but a cop out. I asked you a simple question -- you want to get rid of Marner now, show me how you do it while making the team better.

all you do is complain but you never have any real solutions.

It isn't a cop out. I am not a GM and neither is Dubas. My solution is to hire a professional who will get the team out of the mess your hero put us in. You want a great sports TV show, hire me. You want the Leafs to go to the next level, hire a professional General Manager that can do that.

 

[Mess]

So just under 1/3. 1/2 seems realistic this time around.

More like 5 potentially OUT ... UFAs .. Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Spezza, Ilya Lyubushkin, Mark Giordano & Jack Campbell

*** Unless some are signed and return.

Your 2023 Toronto Maple Leafs

Bunting -------- Matthews ---- Marner
Kerfoot -------- Tavares ------- Nylander
Engvall (RFA) --- Kampf ------- Kase (RFA)
Clifford -------- Abruzzese ---- Simmonds
Nick Robertson,

Rielly --- Brodie
Muzzin -- Holl
Sandin (RFA) -- Liljegren (RFA)

Mrazek
Erik Källgren

That comes to $74,439,783 under contract with 4 X RFA excluded = $7,847,717 (free cap) of $82,500,000.

Once the Leafs re-sign their own RFAs (@ $4.5 mil combined) = about $3 mil free cap space for next year before trades.

 

[leafsfan5]

My problem is the following:

Say we run it back, keep Keefe/Dubas and slightly tune the edges, what's to stop our first round opponent next year from using the strategy that Tampa used in game 7 (the same method used to beat us back in 2020 by CBJ)? I mean sure, our opponent might end up being someone like FLA who can't effectively implement that style, but we'll eventually run into a team who can do that in the later rounds.

How will we counter it? Its been 3 years and it's clear Keefe doesn't know how to. We still love overpassing and not throw pucks to the net. Will that suddenly change next year? I don't think so. The book is out on how to beat us and keeping everything status quo will allow it to be exploited next year

 

[myleafs]

Please please please, DO NOT sign Subban for even minimum. He is a cancer and not worth even minimum salary.

I watched a few games of nj this year and Subban played pretty good defensively from what I saw, uses his stick well and passes were good and has a decent shot from the point. He will stick up for teammates and fight if needed. However his foot speed was worse than Tavares....slow slow slow.....like painfully slow.

 

[Clark4Ever]

If I'm not mistaken, we have the following players under contract or under control as RFAs beyond this season from our roster:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Kase
Clifford-xxxx-Simmonds

Rielly-Liljegren
Muzzin-Brodie
Sandin-Holl

Mrazek (LTIR)
Kallgren

That's a pretty solid base to build on outside of goaltending. Upgrading our goaltending will be the most significant challenge this off season. Beyond that, if we can move Kerfoot, Holl, and Mrazek that alone frees up 9.3 million in cap space which could be put to better use with a few wily UFA acquisitions that Dubas has been able to manage in the past. We also have a few kids on the Marlies that might be ready to challenge for spots on their ELCs.

Big picture, I think it makes a lot of sense to give it one more try with the existing core.

 

[Superstar]

We haven't had much luck with Swiss players. How's Luca Cereda doing these day ?

Who?

 

[Morbo]

And you enjoy many more years of mediocrity under your hero's guidance.

Just post something constructive or worthwhile.

try it, you might like it

 

[Superstar]

My problem is the following:

Say we run it back, keep Keefe/Dubas and slightly tune the edges, what's to stop our first round opponent next year from using the strategy that Tampa used in game 7 (the same method used to beat us back in 2020 by CBJ)? I mean sure, our opponent might end up being someone like FLA who can't effectively implement that style, but we'll eventually run into a team who can do that in the later rounds.

How will we counter it? Its been 3 years and it's clear Keefe doesn't know how to. We still love overpassing and not throw pucks to the net. Will that suddenly change next year? I don't think so. The book is out on how to beat us and keeping everything status quo will allow it to be exploited next year

It will only change if there's a new coach. Get Trotz in here...guy turned an Isles team that can't score to back-to-back appearances in the Conference Finals.