Nylanderthal
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- Jun 9, 2010
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Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core
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notDatsyuk
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- Jul 20, 2018
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- 10,170
I'm not saying Marner can't play away from Matthews, just to not put him with Tavares.
Realistically, Tavares is mainly a 'shooting threat' on the PP, which is fine.
I think it's time we stopped focusing on trying to get Tavares going.
MattySnipes
Registered User
We know Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly and JT are locks.
We need younger versions of Clifford/Simmonds type to pump in top 6. Need it to be little meaner and additional scoring touch.
Bring Giordano back.
The goalie tandem will be interesting. I'm sure they'll sign Campbell and bring a more stable back-up incase Campbell has some inconsistencies/struggle.
Muzzin will have to be re-evaluated and Leafs will have to decide what they wanna do with him. No doubt he is aging and has some concussion issues. But he is still a gamer when you need him, question will be how much can he play going forward?
I'm happy with a D-core of: Rielly-Brodie-Muzzin-Sandin-Liljegren-Gio.
I also want the team to focus on practicing odd-man rushes specifically 2on1, 3on1, 3on2. Both offense and defensive ends.
Also have to look into why special teams struggling after being so effective all year?
+ to bring back - our shorthanded goals. That was FANTASTIC
We need younger versions of Clifford/Simmonds type to pump in top 6. Need it to be little meaner and additional scoring touch.
Bring Giordano back.
The goalie tandem will be interesting. I'm sure they'll sign Campbell and bring a more stable back-up incase Campbell has some inconsistencies/struggle.
Muzzin will have to be re-evaluated and Leafs will have to decide what they wanna do with him. No doubt he is aging and has some concussion issues. But he is still a gamer when you need him, question will be how much can he play going forward?
I'm happy with a D-core of: Rielly-Brodie-Muzzin-Sandin-Liljegren-Gio.
I also want the team to focus on practicing odd-man rushes specifically 2on1, 3on1, 3on2. Both offense and defensive ends.
Also have to look into why special teams struggling after being so effective all year?
+ to bring back - our shorthanded goals. That was FANTASTIC
Dreakmur
Registered User
The problem is this, and also trading away a bunch of your draft picks and a few of the prospects too. If you have more picks, you have more chances to find a good player. It puts more pressure on you for the ones you do have to succeed, and that hasn't been happening.
Nylanderthal
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2010
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Lol one example a decade ago. Sounds like a recipe for long term success. I have no clue why all teams don’t aspire to finish in the last playoff spot. Truly groundbreaking stuff
Dreakmur
Registered User
LA and wasn't St.Louis Blues was like 12th spot in December to barely getting a spot during their championship year?
Nylanderthal
Registered User
- Jun 9, 2010
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They still finished in a top 3 divisional spot, LA is the only answer and it was a one off a decade ago. It was also a coaching change mid season that year where they started slow and took off.
I still think my point stands that building towards a strong regular season puts you in the best position to have post season success
Dreakmur
Registered User
St. Louis was 31st in the league in December. They ended up 12th in the league by the end.
Having good regular seasons puts you in a position to play lower seeds, so yes it is clearly helpful.
ShaneFalco
Registered User
thusk
Registered User
Its like you saying a footballl player are so skill because hes running fast. Its athletism not skill... you can skate fast and being completly awful because you didn't have any hockey skill like you can run really fast and being awful as football player because you didn't have any football skill
BodaciousBeefBazooka
Go Leafs Go
Kerfoot, kampf, kase, holl, Engvall, spezza, simmonds, muzzin etc should all be retooled. Our 'support' players need to be re-tinkered with
The Masters
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- Jun 30, 2018
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Muzzin has a NTC which is dumb. Would have been nice to move on from him this offseason and get another defender in there.
Torontonian
Registered User
58 - 34 - 16
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Toronto needs to find 5 wingers, those could be Engvall back and Kase, but for our 4th line, we need better players then Clifford/Simmonds that provide the same thing as them, our 4th line needs to be better on the forecheck and can hit and somewhat make a basic play.
I think for goaltending there going to go after a guy like Georgiev, Blackwood, Korpisalo.
XXX - 91 - 88
XXX - 64 - XXX
XXX - 11 - XXX
44 - 78
8 - 37
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Toronto needs to find 5 wingers, those could be Engvall back and Kase, but for our 4th line, we need better players then Clifford/Simmonds that provide the same thing as them, our 4th line needs to be better on the forecheck and can hit and somewhat make a basic play.
I think for goaltending there going to go after a guy like Georgiev, Blackwood, Korpisalo.
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justashadowof
Registered User
- Aug 15, 2020
- 4,025
- 4,230
I'm predicting:
1. Most of Kerfoot, Engvall, Mrazek, Campbell, Mikheyev, Lybushkin, Giordano, Holl out.
2. Liljegren and Sandin signed to 3 year deals.
3. Several goalies signed.
4. One experienced defenseman acquired
5. About 3 free agent forwards signed, maybe Blackwell and Kase returning
I mean if you like the core why would you do anything different than what you've done in previous summers?
1. Most of Kerfoot, Engvall, Mrazek, Campbell, Mikheyev, Lybushkin, Giordano, Holl out.
2. Liljegren and Sandin signed to 3 year deals.
3. Several goalies signed.
4. One experienced defenseman acquired
5. About 3 free agent forwards signed, maybe Blackwell and Kase returning
I mean if you like the core why would you do anything different than what you've done in previous summers?
Dreakmur
Registered User
Running is an important skill for football. Just because it’s a skill that is useful in other sports doesn’t change that.
justashadowof
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- Aug 15, 2020
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Things to consider:
1. Giordano's legs seem to have just about had it. He's getting by on veteran savvy at this point. Probably best to stay away unless there are no other options.
2. Engvall has the numbers to get a raise that I don't think the Leafs can afford (~$2.5M aav). He may be gone.
3. Kase is the same situation. Qualifying Kase is a commitment to arbitration and undoubtedly Kase would get even more money than Engvall in arbitration.
4. Kerfoot has a modified NTC that kicks in July 1. Holl is already on a modified NTC.
5. Mikheyev is up for an even bigger raise (>$3M aav).
6. Muzzin has a full NTC. He's not going anywhere.
7. Leafs should have a real shot at re-signing Lybushkin and Blackwell if those both parties wish to make a deal.
8. A Bird in the Hand etc. etc. Be careful what you end up with when you reject Jack Campbell in favour of the unknown.
1. Giordano's legs seem to have just about had it. He's getting by on veteran savvy at this point. Probably best to stay away unless there are no other options.
2. Engvall has the numbers to get a raise that I don't think the Leafs can afford (~$2.5M aav). He may be gone.
3. Kase is the same situation. Qualifying Kase is a commitment to arbitration and undoubtedly Kase would get even more money than Engvall in arbitration.
4. Kerfoot has a modified NTC that kicks in July 1. Holl is already on a modified NTC.
5. Mikheyev is up for an even bigger raise (>$3M aav).
6. Muzzin has a full NTC. He's not going anywhere.
7. Leafs should have a real shot at re-signing Lybushkin and Blackwell if those both parties wish to make a deal.
8. A Bird in the Hand etc. etc. Be careful what you end up with when you reject Jack Campbell in favour of the unknown.
Torontonian
Registered User
Tend to agree with most of this, I think Gio is back in replacement of Holl, and that’s the D rounded out, that’s our least question mark going into the off season. I tend to think our D will be better this season without having Holl and Lybushkin in the lineup.
I can see Engvall / Kase back as they won’t be expensive with Micky/Kerfoot/Spezza all gone.
- Dec 12, 2017
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Seth Jarvis is playing and getting points in round 2 for Carolina….
The Masters
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- Jun 30, 2018
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This is not addressing it. You are simply stating that teams have bad contracts that they have to navigate through. No kidding.The problem is we have 4 players that take up heavy cap with JT being the worst one at $11M. No other teams have that. Thus why again ,,,,,, Dubas is in trouble with the bottom 6 with his revolving door of players and always trying to hit every off-season. He's playing the lottery. He did good last year with Kase / Kampf / Bunting but failed in previous years with guys (and failed with Ritchie and Mrazek).
- Dec 12, 2017
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We all saw how Blackwell had to push Paul into Campbell in game 7 and because of that size difference, Paul just took the opportunity. Which is fine.
My question, why can’t Engvall be a 6’4” 220+ lb force that destroys people?
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Comes down to drafting and development. Because we have not been good at it, we have to go dumpster diving every summer to fill out the roster and we have yet to find a combination that can help us win a round. Hunter was bad but Dubas has been here the years Hunter was here and the years after Hunter left so it is not all on Hunter. Sandin and Lily are the closest and they were not good enough to play in game #7.
Gary Nylund
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- Oct 10, 2013
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If it's a problem that every team has, then what's the big deal? If we're no worse off than other teams then there is no problem, that's the simple answer and many teams have much worse contracts than we do.
Every team has turnover and bottom 6 guys are the easiest players to replace. TB had the best 3rd line in the NHL last season and they had to replace them all. Some people thought that would be a huge problem but it hasn't turned out that way, has it?
If Nylander and Matthews leave two years from now, that's a problem but replacing a few bottom 6 guys is no problem as is something most teams do every year.
The Masters
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- Jun 30, 2018
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I just explained it. The difference is we have 4 heavy guys on the cap with JT being the biggest liability. Teams dont have 4 guys making that much, that's the difference. It's a problem for the rest of the bottom 6 and filling out the roster. Teams are not constantly changing their bottom 6 every year, especially the good ones. So now Dubas has pressure every year to keep chasing and trying to hit. He's been burned lots already, even as recent as last year with Mrazek and Ritchie - and that was one of his better off-seasons. Add to the fact the team was good in the health department and with no development coming up from the marlies - it's a problem. Tampa won 2 cups and had to change their bottom 6 due to the cap. They are not changing it every year like we are. 2 different things.
I am not mentioning things that are out of realm. We just lost to Tampa because their bottom 6 produced and was better than ours. Those are the things that win you a series, which is why we haven't done it in 6 attempts.
