Seravalli: Tatar to the Leafs?

[CupInSIX]

Watch him score 40 with the Leafs.
Playoffs? Maybe a different story.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

It's not a great looking forward group.

Probably in a battle for a wild card spot, Boston, Tampa and Florida are clearly better.

It's the same forward group as last year exit Hyman-Thornton.. Foligno played like 7 games regular season and didn't change the trajectory. We added Kampf, Bunting. Goals in-out.. we're not that fair off.

Leaf fan base over-reaction.

 

[TimeZone]

It's the same forward group as last year exit Hyman-Thornton.. Foligno played like 7 games regular season and didn't change the trajectory. We added Kampf, Bunting. Goals in-out.. we're not that fair off.

Leaf fan base over-reaction.

They literally have replaced Hyman with absolutely nobody as of right now.

That's a problem. They're a Tatar and another legitimate middle six forward away from having a legitimate, dangerous forward group. As things stand right now they're both soft and lacking depth.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

They literally have replaced Hyman with absolutely nobody as of right now.

That's a problem. They're a Tatar and another legitimate middle six forward away from having a legitimate, dangerous forward group. As things stand right now they're both soft and lacking depth.

They have Robertson, Bunting and Kerfoot who can slide up. We do need another top 9 LW or 3C. I don't think it's nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. Kampf will likely be more effective than Thornton. If you're assuming Bunting does not make the roster and puts up 0 goals sure.

We lost a supplementary player and have 4 elite legitimate scoring threats. Let's not pretend we're back in the Kessel-Bozak days.

 

[webersshot]

Not a fan of taking Montreal's sloppy seconds. If he's not good enough for them he's not good enough for Toronto

Too late. You took chucky and he thought he was still playing for us in game 5

 

[inthe6ix]

**** Tatar

Saad please

 

[NewEraGM]

Not a fan of taking Montreal's sloppy seconds. If he's not good enough for them he's not good enough for Toronto

Lol we just wrecked you in the playoffs in historic fashion

 

[Michoulicious]

Is there something I am missing? They have 80.6 millions on the cap.

No way they can afford Tatar.

 

[Rob Brown]

Lol we just wrecked you in the playoffs in historic fashion

Teams have come back from 3-0, so I wouldn't really call it historic.

 

[Turbo13]

id rather have saad but that wont happen so why not take a chance slot him in top 6 see whats happens .If money is right nothing to lose . and leafs skating coaches can work with him . Wait how is he in dressing room?

 

[TimeZone]

They have Robertson, Bunting and Kerfoot who can slide up. We do need another top 9 LW or 3C. I don't think it's nearly as bad as people are making it out to be. Kampf will likely be more effective than Thornton. If you're assuming Bunting does not make the roster and puts up 0 goals sure.

We lost a supplementary player and have 4 elite legitimate scoring threats. Let's not pretend we're back in the Kessel-Bozak days.

Zero reason to believe Robertson is ready yet, he likely needs to at the very least start the Season with the Marlies. Bunting is a solid addition, but he doesn't belong on the first or second line.

The Leafs have an obvious need for a top six six winger, and likely another middle six forward on top of that. Tatar would fill the need of a top six winger, but they'd still need something and I don't believe the cap space is there for anything else.

The lack of depth is a major concern, if one of the big boys go down it could get real, real ugly with that lack of scoring depth.

 

[pepperMonkey]

I like Tuna. He was great (for his price) for us and probably will do very well in Toronto...till the playoffs. Just my opinion but I just think his compete level stays the same whether in the regular season or the playoffs. So while in the playoffs, everyone is trying harder, he stays the same so his production just falls off the cliff. Did it with Montreal, did it everywhere else as well.

For the sake of the Leafs, I wouldn't touch him. Much better to get someone who does nothing during the regular season and turns into a monster in the playoffs (whoever that may be), than to get someone who is really good during the regular season and turns into a ghost during the playoffs. Course, if the Leafs play the Habs again in the playoffs, please take Tuna and play him against us ...course, not even sure either team will make the playoffs next season...

 

[General Disarray]

Yes because we need more playoff ghosts...

 

[Blue Chip Prospect]

Can’t see them saying they need someone with a killer instinct and then sign Tatar.

 

[frederixx]

A lot of jokes about Tatar here, but he is a legitimately good two-way winger. The Tatar-Danault-Gallagher line was one of the best in the league and drive goal and shot/chance differentials. I think he's probably signing a cheap contract because of his "reputation".

Tatar 2-way? Absolutely not and it was the main reason why he got benched for the entire playoffs and some other important games. He becomes lazy and changes his play when the games tighthen up. He'd be a great addition for the regular season and would be a very poor man's Marner for the playoffs. I couldn't think of a worst match for the leafs. He got 5pts in his last 23 playoff games...

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Zero reason to believe Robertson is ready yet, he likely needs to at the very least start the Season with the Marlies. Bunting is a solid addition, but he doesn't belong on the first or second line.

The Leafs have an obvious need for a top six six winger, and likely another middle six forward on top of that. Tatar would fill the need of a top six winger, but they'd still need something and I don't believe the cap space is there for anything else.

The lack of depth is a major concern, if one of the big boys go down it could get real, real ugly with that lack of scoring depth.

Galy didn't belong in the top 6 yet he played consistently with Tavares/Nylander. It's not about having legitimate top 6 talented played with the 4 core players. Instead, a combination of top 9 players that can slot in on the wings who fit! This has been the strategy for year and Hyman developed into a greater role because of it.

Kerfoot belongs on the LW IMO. This leaves us with either another Top 9 LW or 3C. Robertson could challenge agreed though likely too early. Bunting will get his shot in the top 6 like it or not - we didn't bring him in to play 4th line.

 

[613Leafer]

would make sense. doesn't show up when it matters

"Killer instinct" was mentioned like 50X by Dubas and Shanahan in the end of season press conferences. And the solution is.... Tatar?

Hard to think of a guy with a worse reputation than Tatar for disappearing in the playoffs.. 12 points in 40 games, and a healthy scratch by both Montreal and Vegas for significant stretches in the playoffs.

 

[TimeZone]

Galy didn't belong in the top 6 yet he played consistently with Tavares/Nylander. It's not about having legitimate top 6 talented played with the 4 players. Instead, a combination of top 9 players that can slot in on the wings. This has been the strategy for year and Hyman developed into a greater role because of it.

Galy was carried and a defensive liability on the ice after a quick, effective start. For everyone Zach Hyman there are a dozen Galchenyuk's, the strategy clearly hasn't been working and now we're heading in after ANOTHER failed season with an inferior roster.

How anyone can sit back and be content with this after watching Boston and Florida improve is just plain mind boggling. This team will compete for a wild card spot as things currently stand.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Tatar is a solid player. Not the near PPG one he was last year but also he should provide more than he's showed in the playoffs. It's kind of an enigma to me as Tatar is not the kind of player who's going to shy away from contact or anything but somehow his production tends to disappear when the stakes get high.

The trashing of Tatar ITT is a bit unfair IMO. You could do much worse than him as a complementary top 6 winger which is what the Leafs are likely looking for after losing Hyman.

 

[TimeZone]

"Killer instinct" was mentioned like 50X by Dubas and Shanahan in the end of season press conferences. And the solution is.... Tatar?

Hard to think of a guy with a worse reputation than Tatar for disappearing in the playoffs.. 12 points in 40 games, and a healthy scratch by both Montreal and Vegas for significant stretches in the playoffs.

We spent our cap space on fourth liners and buns. Tatar is the best, most realistic target available for our limited cap space at the moment.

 

[Hockeyholic]

A joke of a player signing with a joke of a franchise.

Match made in heaven.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Galy was carried and a defensive liability on the ice after a quick, effective start. For everyone Zach Hyman there are a dozen Galchenyuk's, the strategy clearly hasn't been working and now we're heading in after ANOTHER failed season with an inferior roster.

How anyone can sit back and be content with this after watching Boston and Florida improve is just plain mind boggling. This team will compete for a wild card spot as things currently stand.

Agree to disagree. The off-season is young and I see Hyman as the only role for us to replace. I don't see Bogosian, Foligno, Thornton out for Bunting, Kampf, Liljegren/Biega is really the difference maker. The difference is:

1) Not losing a core player 10 minutes into game 1 and for the rest of the series
2) Having 1/3 of the remaining core up front putting up lackluster performances.

Points in/Points out. There won't be massive drop off and again I do think Kerfoot should be playing in the top 6 on the LW. He's played much more effective on wing than at C.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Tatar is a solid player. Not the near PPG one he was last year but also he should provide more than he's showed in the playoffs. It's kind of an enigma to me as Tatar is not the kind of player who's going to shy away from contact or anything but somehow his production tends to disappear when the stakes get high.

The trashing of Tatar ITT is a bit unfair IMO. You could do much worse than him as a complementary top 6 winger which is what the Leafs are likely looking for after losing Hyman.

I think there's less pressure for Tatar to really score compared to Montreal which a score by committee. We need the odd supplementary player to pull through / execute on chances. Personally, I think Tatar is a great fit on the Leafs and would pay nicely in the top 6.

 

[TimeZone]

Agree to disagree. The off-season is young and I see Hyman as the only role for us to replace. I don't see Bogosian, Foligno, Thornton out for Bunting, Kampf, Liljegren/Biega is really the difference maker. The difference is:

1) Not losing a core player 10 minutes into game 1 and for the rest of the series
2) Having 1/3 of the remaining core up front putting up lackluster performances.

Points in/Points out. There won't be massive drop off and again I do think Kerfoot should be playing in the top 6 on the LW. He's played much more effective on wing than at C.

The issue is Dubas has said he doesn't envision a trade coming to fruition when he was asked yesterday and we've got a pretty pathetic 2 million dollars in Cap space. If this were a one off and the Leafs battled hard I'd far more inclined to give the Leafs the benefit of the doubt, it wasn't. The Leafs blew a 3-1 series lead and generated a pitiful 1 High Danger Scoring Chance in game 7.

This isn't a team that anyone should have confidence in heading into the season. I'm fine with Kerfoot playing LW, but I'm not fine going into the Season with this current forward group.

 

[ottomaddox]

Not a fan of taking Montreal's sloppy seconds. If he's not good enough for them he's not good enough for Toronto

Jesus find another phrase to use!

He played for the team. He didn't date them!