Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core

[SeaOfBlue]

Trade:
Kerfoot
Holl
Mrazek
(Saves 9.3 mil)

Let Walk:
Mikheyev
Engvall
Kase
Blackwell
(Saves 4.875 mil)

Additional savings:
Kessel & Cap increase
(Extra 2.2 mil)

Re-sign:
Giordano (2mil x 2yrs)
Lyubushkin (1.5mil x 3yrs)
Sandin & Liljegren (1.2mil x 2yrs)
Campbell (4mil x 5yrs)
Spezza & Clifford @ league minimum
Sign in UFA:
Kadri (6mil x 3yrs)
Marchment (2.5mil x 4yrs)
(Bring back the hometown boys with grit in their game. Naz never wanted to leave. Handshake agreement on having him retire a Leaf with a cheaper next contract in his mid 30s)

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Tavares-Kadri-Nylander
Marchment-Kampf-Robertson
Clifford-Blandisi-Simmonds/Spezza

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Liljegren
*Sandin rotates in with Lilly and Lyubushkin...Muzzin bound to be injured at some point as well*

Campbell
Kallgren

I highly doubt Kadri is signing for 6 mill after the year he just had, and especially not for 3 years. It will likely be a 5 year deal for something starting with an 8, and that is an easy 'no'.

We are not going to let Engvall and Kase walk (unless Kase is just going to retire) and the 4th line sucks.

Finally, you just dumped 4 PKing forwards and maybe added one if you think Robertson can handle it like he did in the AHL. Marchment, Kadri, Clifford, Simmonds, Blandisi, etc. do not PK.

 

[Stephen]

Google how long it took Ovechkin to win it

Do you want to do this same thing for another 8 years?

 

[Drytoast]

Do you want to do this same thing for another 8 years?

This is our team. It's built around Matthews Marner Rielly and now Bunting. They showed HUGE improvement this year and are all still young.

You wanna trade em? Tank next year and hope we get another Matthews? What are you proposing we do here?

 

[notDatsyuk]

If he shows no interest in re-signing and the Leafs trade him by June 30, 2023 before his NMC kicks in, so be it. But I don't see it.

Maybe he'll pull a Tavares and say he'll resign here, just so he doesn't get traded, and then go and sign wherever he wants.

 

[Al14]

The puck got past Vas and into the net twice. This much is true.

One was a goal, and the other wasn't. This is also true.

It could be reasonably argued that Tavares would not have even had the scoring chance if not for the (illegal) pick.

If that 'illegal' pick was called EVERY SINGLE TIME, I have no issues with it being called against Holl.

Holl has the right to his ice space too, and in my opinion, he really did NOT skate out of his way to block the Tampa player. If he side-stepped to get in the Tampa players way, it's a penalty. He was skating in a straight line to the net, and was almost stopped when the two players made contact. IMO, is was simply incidental contact.

Also, I believe it was a case of the Refs just looking to call a penalty on our Leafs at every opportunity. There were plenty of holding the stick, and other infractions, that they let Tampa get away with. Bettman got what he wanted, an all Florida playoff series !!!

Edit: The Tampa player skated into Holl on purpose too. He was responsible for contact as well, He should have been called for diving when he fell like he had been shot when Holl was nearly stopped when contact was made !!!

 

[Menzinger]

Pretty sure we allowed less goals than Tampa in our series. I wouldn't say their lines were any more defined than ours either.

Allowed less goals against during the Habs series too.

The Leafs postseason problem has been goals scoring during must win games

 

[notDatsyuk]

Two trades to help the leafs.

To
Toronto
2022 1st 13th overall
Wahlstrom
Mayfield

Islanders
Nylander
Sandin

To
Toronto
Gibson
Comtois

Ducks
2022 1st 26th-28th overall
Robertson
2024 2nd
Kerfoot
Mrazek

I'm not sure I understand the Islanders trade. We give up a lot of offence for physicality at forward, and give up both physicality and talent on defence, plus get older, for the sake of a mid first round pick?

 

[Trapper]

I think having Hyman still in our lineup might have been the difference needed to get by Tampa.

Should have dumped Kerfoot and Holl and kept Hyman. Hyman has made a real difference with the Oilers, while Kerfoot's mistakes, and Holl's brain farts, did our Leafs in !!!

JMHO !!!

Hyman, Brown, Kadri, Kapanen, Johnsson, a draft pick between Matthews/Marner drafting (2016 to 2022) featuring a prominent role…sure.

 

[notDatsyuk]

If that 'illegal' pick was called EVERY SINGLE TIME, I have no issues with it being called against Holl.

Holl has the right to his ice space too, and in my opinion, he really did NOT skate out of his way to block the Tampa player. If he side-stepped to get in the Tampa players way, it's a penalty. He was skating in a straight line to the net, and was almost stopped when the two players made contact. IMO, is was simply incidental contact.

Also, I believe it was a case of the Refs just looking to call a penalty on our Leafs at every opportunity. There were plenty of holding the stick, and other infractions, that they let Tampa get away with. Bettman got what he wanted, an all Florida playoff series !!!

Edit: The Tampa player skated into Holl on purpose too. He was responsible for contact as well, He should have been called for diving when he fell like he had been shot when Holl was nearly stopped when contact was made !!!

No need to put 'illegal' in quotes. It was illegal.

Sure, they don't call all picks, but that was a blatant one that resulted in a clear scoring chance, so it was an obvious one.

Other than that, it's just your opinion versus the ref's opinion, and a non-existant conspiracy doesn't give yours the edge.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I'm not sure I understand the Islanders trade. We give up a lot of offence for physicality at forward, and give up both physicality and talent on defence, plus get older, for the sake of a mid first round pick?

We get two wingers with size who can score at LW and RW, a big and nasty top 4 d, and a quality starting goalie while dumping mrazek losing Nylander and sandin. We lose some offense but gain a quality starter and a very solid top 4 d who is very physical.

 

[Mess]

Starting today, how many seasons before the Leafs can realistically peer into a championship window?

Brendan Shanahan was hired as president of the Maple Leafs in April of 2014, when he implemented his Shan-A-Plan and now 8 years later, his plan has failed to deliver even a single playoff round win with a core player group that has lost 6 straight round #1, which places them last overall with 30 other NHL teams during that time at least finding at least 1 round of success.

So the answer to your question, is a minimum of 9 seasons starting next year, because we already know the final results of the past 8.

According to Shanahan from his last press conference from a few days ago, he believes his plan is on schedule, and he likes the management team and the progress being made.

If Shanahan had opened his presser back in 2014, asking for patience, and requesting that he will need nearly a decade's time to win a single playoff round, let alone realistically peer into a championship window, I can't imagine that would have gone over too well with a fan base that had just endured only 1 playoff appearance (in a lockout shortened year) over the past 10 years prior and now up to 18 years and counting.

 

[Trapper]

Brendan Shanahan was hired as president of the Maple Leafs in April of 2014, when he implemented his Shan-A-Plan and now 8 years later, his plan has failed to deliver even a single playoff round win with a core player group that has lost 6 straight round #1, which places them last overall with 30 other NHL teams during that time at least finding at least 1 round of success.

So the answer to your question, is a minimum of 9 seasons starting next year, because we already know the final results of the past 8.

According to Shanahan from his last press conference from a few days ago, he believes his plan is on schedule, and he likes the management team and the progress being made.

If Shanahan had opened his presser back in 2014, asking for patience, and requesting that he will need nearly a decade's time to win a single playoff round, let alone realistically peer into a championship window, I can't imagine that would have gone over too well with a fan base that had just endured only 1 playoff appearance (in a lockout shortened year) over the past 10 years prior and now up to 18 years and counting.

This team isn’t about the fans anymore. It’s about an obsession to prove we can and we will. Almost a decade of the Shanaplan is now Captain Ahab.

 

[ULF_55]

Lightning have stymied the highest scoring team in the NHL (in their own barn), after they dispatched the 2nd. highest scoring team.

I really think the Leafs are perhaps 2 players away.
And I really think we're talking Corey Perry and Patrick Maroon (Type examples).

 

[Stephen]

This is our team. It's built around Matthews Marner Rielly and now Bunting. They showed HUGE improvement this year and are all still young.

You wanna trade em? Tank next year and hope we get another Matthews? What are you proposing we do here?

No, I said I’m against mandated changes at the management and player level. Change for the sake of change. But I don’t think we can do the same thing over and over with this recipe without some serious internal examination.

 

[ToneDog]

Lightning have stymied the highest scoring team in the NHL (in their own barn), after they dispatched the 2nd. highest scoring team.

I really think the Leafs are perhaps 2 players away.
And I really think we're talking Corey Perry and Patrick Maroon.

I'm thinking Brodeur and Pronger.

 

[Drytoast]

No, I said I’m against mandated changes at the management and player level. Change for the sake of change. But I don’t think we can do the same thing over and over with this recipe without some serious internal examination.

If they look like they are getting better which they did this year...you keep pushing forward and hope your stars like stars of the past, figure it out.

 

[ULF_55]

I'm thinking Brodeur and Pronger.

How many suspensions would Pronger get playing for the Leafs?

I'd be more inclined to go crazy and say Lidstrom, who could still play in this era.

Heck, why don't we just go all Leaf and take Salming?

 

[Stephen]

If they look like they are getting better which they did this year...you keep pushing forward and hope your stars like stars of the past, figure it out.

No, because because we can't run it back with this group due to cap.

So the first set of questions are how many steps backwards need to be taken with the middle of the roster, how many bluechip pieces can we add, how many long bets need to be made, how much internal growth is there. And are we a 115 point team and how many rounds do they have in them next year.

Next question is are we on an upward trend with all this factored in, treading water or poised to take a step back?

 

[ToneDog]

If they look like they are getting better which they did this year...you keep pushing forward and hope your stars like stars of the past, figure it out.

Problem is you have a backup goalie making 2x3.8m that can't play and you need to sweeten to get rid of. Your #1 probably walks because somebody will outbid you. You have 3 draft picks this year and how many last year ?? Your top prospects are at least a year away.

Your bottom 6 needs serious tweaking because most are too soft and can't get it done in the playoffs. You have a declining $11m #2C who does not gel with his $7m RWer who disappears too often.

Your top 6 is softer than a baby's bottom and can't get it done in series clinching games.

I thought Dubas had it easier this year with Kampf and Bunting signed for two years but with Soup and Mikheyev walking and needing to dump Mrazek and probably Kerfoot, he has his work cut out for him IMO.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Depends on what your goal is. If all you want to do is win one playoff round, then I suppose your concept has some merit.

If you want to go deep in the playoffs, or win a Cup, then you are going to have to beat some really good teams anyhow.

You got to beat the best to be the best.

True, but I can see the attraction of winning *something*, and at least putting that "can't get out of the first round" monkey to sleep.

 

[Stephen]

How many suspensions would Pronger get playing for the Leafs?

I'd be more inclined to go crazy and say Lidstrom, who could still play in this era.

Heck, why don't we just go all Leaf and take Salming?

You can go with a more hard nosed recipe, but it would require 3-4 adds who all play hard and commit high volume infractions so the play style is inherently different.

I notice so many times the officiating picks up on when a player is trying to play within the rules but gets their stick caught between someone's legs. It stands out like a penalty. But if you have defenders who consistently seal off the wall, and then make 3-4 push off, crosschecks in increasing severity to a players lower back, finish off with a punch here and there after a whistle, meh. Just competition.

 

[myleafs]

Google how long it took Ovechkin to win it

Then google how many series wins he was part of before winning it.....hint.... it isnt zero

 

[ULF_55]

Problem is you have a backup goalie making 2x3.8m that can't play and you need to sweeten to get rid of. Your #1 probably walks because somebody will outbid you. You have 3 draft picks this year and how many last year ?? Your top prospects are at least a year away.

Your bottom 6 needs serious tweaking because most are too soft and can't get it done in the playoffs. You have a declining $11m #2C who does not gel with his $7m RWer who disappears too often.

Your top 6 is softer than a baby's bottom and can't get it done in series clinching games.

I thought Dubas had it easier this year with Kampf and Bunting signed for two years but with Soup and Mikheyev walking and needing to dump Mrazek and probably Kerfoot, he has his work cut out for him IMO.

Is a 1st. round pick important to this team over the next 3 years?

If the team is worried more about 4-5 years down the road than they are about next year, it is time to consider moving more than just Nylander. It's already over if the focus is on post-Matthews.

Lightning depth players won the series against the Leafs.

 

[Al14]

No need to put 'illegal' in quotes. It was illegal.

Sure, they don't call all picks, but that was a blatant one that resulted in a clear scoring chance, so it was an obvious one.

Other than that, it's just your opinion versus the ref's opinion, and a non-existant conspiracy doesn't give yours the edge.

Yes I agree now. Now that I have looked at it again, it was clearly on purpose by Holl. So yes, it's illegal and a penalty. But please, call it every single time, and not let some go!

Whether you believe it or not, the refereeing conspiracy against our Leafs is definitely real. Bettman and Jacobs want to SELL NHL hockey to Americans, even the ones in NASCAR country. Having Canadian teams competing for the Stanley Cup does NOT HELP sell hockey in the U.S. of A.

Until Hockey in the south sells out and has lucrative TV contracts, expect our Leafs to be unfairly treated as long as MLSE continues to make money and pays into revenue sharing.

 

[Trapper]

Brendan Shanahan was hired as president of the Maple Leafs in April of 2014, when he implemented his Shan-A-Plan and now 8 years later, his plan has failed to deliver even a single playoff round win with a core player group that has lost 6 straight round #1, which places them last overall with 30 other NHL teams during that time at least finding at least 1 round of success.

So the answer to your question, is a minimum of 9 seasons starting next year, because we already know the final results of the past 8.

According to Shanahan from his last press conference from a few days ago, he believes his plan is on schedule, and he likes the management team and the progress being made.

If Shanahan had opened his presser back in 2014, asking for patience, and requesting that he will need nearly a decade's time to win a single playoff round, let alone realistically peer into a championship window, I can't imagine that would have gone over too well with a fan base that had just endured only 1 playoff appearance (in a lockout shortened year) over the past 10 years prior and now up to 18 years and counting.

The Rangers were in the finals in 2014, completely rebuilt the team, finished this year (after missing last year) with 110 points and are currently in the 2nd round. We are just happy we didn’t lose the 1st round badly.