Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core

[Mickey Marner]

This isn’t the first time McDavid/Draisaitl have been to the 2nd round either. They also beat the Ducks in 16/17. The Oilers team just sucked beyond these 2 for a few years.
We have yet to win 1 with this team/core.

They did it with Hyman, Ceci and Barrie as well. Funny how all the scapegoats used to absolve our core of blame end up winning series elsewhere.

 

[Bomber0104]

You understand that you can get the same result while still showing some improvement right? I already acknowledged the Habs series was a brutal choke. The Leafs made some acquisitions heading into this season. The Leafs played a much better series overall this year against a much better opponent despite the loss. They also have another year before you either have to commit to this core or blow it up and start over. I'm taking you to the water; it's up you whether you drink or not.

Yeah, that water is looking/smelling a little too much like:

 

[rocketman588]

You understand that you can get the same result while still showing some improvement right? I already acknowledged the Habs series was a brutal choke. The Leafs made some acquisitions heading into this season. The Leafs played a much better series overall this year against a much better opponent despite the loss. They also have another year before you either have to commit to this core or blow it up and start over. I'm taking you to the water; it's up you whether you drink or not.

Who cares if we lose by putting together a better effort it's still round one we're trying to win a cup. Winning round one shouldn't have even been the standard

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

At the end of the day individual series wins don't matter; Cup wins do

It's unfortunate for the Leafs that the former is a prerequisite for the latter.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

No I just don't think you can trade one of the core 4 and get back enough immediate help to get us over the hump. I would trade all of them if it meant we win the cup even once.

I'll bookmark this for next year; maybe you can dunk on us for saying we need to be proactive, or maybe we will falter and come up short again. We will see.

 

[Drytoast]

Sure, just like they were in 2017 against Washington. Give me a break, this team has not progressed much since then if we are taking about moral victories against another great team. Give me some players who can win when it matters.

We are cursed with being in the most brutal division in all of hockey. It's death row. Tampa/Toronto was a 50/50 odds series. What I saw was a team that put it all on the ice. I have no regrets.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The only realistic core piece we can trade is Nylander, and we would likely be on the losing end of that deal, without clearing enough cap space to really upgrade the roster.

For starters, it would make much more sense to move the likes of Mrazek, Kerfoot, and Holl to clear over 9 million in cap space.

 

[Nineteen67]

No I just don't think you can trade one of the core 4 and get back enough immediate help to get us over the hump. I would trade all of them if it meant we win the cup even once.

What if they were able to trade Nylander, Reilly, Muzzin, Kerfoot and Mrazek and got a proven #1 goalie and proven #1 d man?

 

[Bomber0104]

Who cares if we lose by putting together a better effort it's still round one we're trying to win a cup. Winning round one shouldn't have even been the standard

It's getting repetitive saying this each and every year but imagine being told in 2016, after drafting Matthews 1st overall, that we'd spend the next 6 seasons without a playoff round win.

99.9% of fans, including Maplebeasts, would have suggested that'd absurd and called it a colossal failure.

Yet here we are and there's an alarmingly sizeable portion of the fanbase congratulating the team on it.

 

[Maplebeasts]

It's unfortunate for the Leafs that the former is a prerequisite for the latter.

Yeah it is unfortunate they lost. They're still a good team though and maybe won't lose next time.

Yeah, that water is looking/smelling a little too much like:

It's just rational. I get it. You guys want to move a core piece and won't be satisfied unless we do. I just don't think it's possible to win any of those trades and win the cup before shit hits the fan and Matthews is a pending UFA.

Who cares if we lose by putting together a better effort it's still round one we're trying to win a cup. Winning round one shouldn't have even been the standard

Of course not. The goal is the cup. The answer right now however is not to trade a core piece unless you get an immediate upgrade. Something that is highly atypical when trading players with these contracts and talent levels.

What if they were able to trade Nylander, Reilly, Muzzin, Kerfoot and Mrazek and got a proven #1 goalie and proven #1 d man?

Then do it. I think that helps us win a cup.

 

[pcruz]

They did it with Hyman, Ceci and Barrie as well. Funny how all the scapegoats used to absolve our core of blame end up winning series elsewhere.

Barrier was not a positive factor in that series.
Ceci was.
Hyman was what we know him to be - solid.

However, the Kings were not expected to make the playoffs coming into the season, and then they went and lost Doughty on top of that. It wasn't the cup contending team wearing the black and white.
And even then, Edmonton rode McDavid's coattails in order to make it.

Toronto played the back to back cup winners and had a big discrepancy with the officials.

 

[Maplebeasts]

It's getting repetitive saying this each and every year but imagine being told in 2016, after drafting Matthews 1st overall, that we'd spend the next 6 seasons without a playoff round win.

99.9% of fans, including Maplebeasts, would have suggested that'd absurd and called it a colossal failure.

Yet here we are and there's an alarmingly sizeable portion of the fanbase congratulating the team on it.

Nobody's congratulating the team for losing and I assure you no one here is happy they lost either. Since 2016 however they have become a regular season powerhouse and look closer than ever before to translating that success to the playoffs based on the series that just happened. Unless you can improve the team immediately by trading a core piece why wouldn't you run it back with minor tweeks?

 

[AvroArrow]

The only realistic core piece we can trade is Nylander, and we would likely be on the losing end of that deal, without clearing enough cap space to really upgrade the roster.

For starters, it would make much more sense to move the likes of Mrazek, Kerfoot, and Holl to clear over 9 million in cap space.

Nylander at 6.9M is one of the most valuable assets in the league

 

[Makaveli]

Stick with the core, they will break through.

 

[ACC1224]

Nylander at 6.9M is one of the most valuable assets in the league

He should return a boat load then.
It's like buying a used car from an old lady. Very little hard miles driven.

 

[ULF_55]

I can see him signing 'cheap', but definitely not in the 1 mil range. But at the same time, probably not too much more

1-2 years at 2-3ish mil likely gets it done.

Yeah, don't see a Spezza deal for him as he's still a top 4 on the Leafs if you disregard RD/LD.

 

[AvroArrow]

He should return a boat load then.
It's like buying a used car from an old lady. Very little hard miles driven.

I don't believe moving him is the answer. I firmly believe we were the better team and deserved to advance. Last year we choked, CBJ we choked. We were much better, just brutal calls and non-calls in game 6-7. We are not far off, blowing up the core isn't the answer.

Move on from Muzzin/Holl, promote Sandin/Lily/ re-sign Gio

Move on from Simmonds/Clifford, promote Robertson, try to re-sign Miky

 

[Apex Predator]

So if Friedman is speaking the truth and Campbell won’t be back I wonder what options are for goalies next season? They try to sign Fleury? Kuemper?

 

[Brown Dog]

I'll always love JT for choosing to come to his hometown team to bring a Cup to Toronto. He could've been a coward like Stamkos and hidden away in anonymous comfort, but he chose to accept the challenge of chasing a Cup in this market where it would actually mean something.

...that said, it is probably time for him, as captain, to answer for this team's constant inability to live up to its promise in the last four years. Surrounded by Matthews and Marner, he's never been asked to be "the guy" and has always been given high-end support. They've even gone out of their way to supplement the leadership group with other high-profle veterans throughout the lineup. Despite this, the team has been unable to get over the hump of winning even a single round, and Tavares's own play has been inconsistent at times during those playoff losses.

It may be impossible to trade him, but I think it's something you at least have to explore. If not, the next option should be asking him to relinquish his captaincy.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Barrier was not a positive factor in that series.
Ceci was.
Hyman was what we know him to be - solid.

However, the Kings were not expected to make the playoffs coming into the season, and then they went and lost Doughty on top of that. It wasn't the cup contending team wearing the black and white.
And even then, Edmonton rode McDavid's coattails in order to make it.

Toronto played the back to back cup winners and had a big discrepancy with the officials.

It's not just them though, it's everyone. Anybody that has ever received blame for us losing (Lamoriello, Babcock, Andersen, Kadri, Gardiner, Marleau, Komorov, Hainsey etc.) has won a series elsewhere.

The quality of opposition excuse went out the window after losing to Montreal. We've run the gamut of playoff opposition and come up short every time.

Four players have been here for all six losses, Matthews, Marner, Nylander & Rielly, plus Shanahan and Dubas in the front office. They are the problem. It's not coaching, goaltending, defense or depth, never was. It's our core and those who are responsible for sticking with it.

 

[rocketman588]

He should return a boat load then.
It's like buying a used car from an old lady. Very little hard miles driven.

He won't because we're desperate and everyone knows it

 

[Nineteen67]

So if Friedman is speaking the truth and Campbell won’t be back I wonder what options are for goalies next season? They try to sign Fleury? Kuemper?

That’s the problem with not having enough cap dollars to allocate.

 

[The Masters]

 

[rocketman588]

Last year was supposed to be the "summer of kawhi" and we did nothing

Why are we letting Dubas make the franchise changing mood when he's f***ed this up so much

 

[Apex Predator]

That’s the problem with not having enough cap dollars to allocate.

If the leafs plan to keep their structure of salary cap allocation they will always have to settle for an average goalie who you hope come playoff time can get hot. That’s just the reality of how our team is set up. It’s possible it could happen.