The Core Has To Go

[rumman]

Yep, there is a warped perception of what quantifies someone as elite. These guys love to pile on the points when the going is easy, because that’s how they make their money.

They’d rather have a long summer than compete for the cup, of this I am certain………

 

[MCR74]

Yep, there is a warped perception of what quantifies someone as elite. These guys love to pile on the points when the going is easy, because that’s how they make their money.

l get the impression they quit playing once the cheques stop in April. Matthews and Marner are skilled, but they're floaters.

 

[rumman]

l get the impression they quit playing once the cheques stop in April. Matthews and Marner are skilled, but they're floaters.

As in turds????

 

[crowsnestmcgee]

There is only one good option. Trade marner to improve the rest of the team

 

[MCR74]

As in turds????

They sure played like it vs. Florida.

 

[Ports]

And we continue to lose in the playoffs. Great strategy...

 

[andora]

I am not convinced that handing out eight year contracts with full NMC is the smart thing to do. What’s wrong with 5-6 years at a lower cap hit leaving more $$ to build a better team around them?

Because 5 wont be lower than 8

 

[Ports]

I also think Nylander's extension will likely be the easiest. He'll almost certainly push for 8 years of term, and there's fairly clear comparables or similar players. The team will then just have to decide if they want to pay or not.

The biggest obstacle for him I think is if the draw for bigger opportunity on another team is more alluring, but of course that's just speculation. At the moment I think he's extended the summer. And Shanny gets Pridham to work his magic to fit everyone under the cap until they get JT off the book in July of 2026.

am not convinced that handing out eight year contracts with full NMC is the smart thing to do. What’s wrong with 5-6 years at a lower cap hit leaving more $$ to build a better team around them?

 

[Funk21]

LOL. Ranta scored 55 goals this year and is making 9.5m. Pasta just scored 62 and 115 points and got $250k more than Marner for 8 f***ing years and bonuses nowhere near what 16, 34 and 91 got. This after coming off a contract that paid him less than Willie Nylander. Willie scored 40 and is going to ask for $10m (LOL). Robertson scored 41 last year and 46 this year and got 7+m last summer. We can't compete with these proven playoff duds eating up 50% of the cap. Move them. If they are such great players, GMs will be lining up to overpay for them.

This, if Marner thinks he is getting a cent over 12, 2 years from now he is smoking something. This got severely overpaid and that mistake won’t happen again. You either take less and want to be here or time to move on and we’re you are a UFA you can come back to your hometown at a reduced rate because you want to be here. By then the picks and prospects we got should be NHL regulars.

 

[Ports]

Because 5 wont be lower than 8

Of course it will. It won’t be low though. I can see a scenario where they might want to move on from the player after 5-6 years.

 

[Trapper]

am not convinced that handing out eight year contracts with full NMC is the smart thing to do. What’s wrong with 5-6 years at a lower cap hit leaving more $$ to build a better team around them?

I don’t think I can take these guys for another 8 years.
5 is pushing it, but it’s better. If they can’t get anywhere in the next 5 years, goodbye to all. And if they can make big strides, then re-signing them again because of that is not a problem.

 

[MCR74]

This, if Marner thinks he is getting a cent over 12, 2 years from now he is smoking something. This got severely overpaid and that mistake won’t happen again. You either take less and want to be here or time to move on and we’re you are a UFA you can come back to your hometown at a reduced rate because you want to be here. By then the picks and prospects we got should be NHL regulars.

Anyone who pays Marner $12M is also smoking something.

 

[GoonieFace]

Anyone who pays Marner $12M is also smoking something.

If Pastrnak is worth $11.5, Marner is worth about $9 at the most and Matthews $11. The massive overpays must stop

 

[Maple Leaf]

There is only one good option. Trade marner to improve the rest of the team

Just need to trade tavares and we got soemthing going

 

[baton elevated]

I'm fine with a shorter term on AM, his health and lack of success at winning make me a little nervous for a long term deal. If we have an old style owner who would not be dictated to by any player (Wirtz, Jacobs) this conversation would not be happening period.
Bruins shipped out non bruin players without a blink and they were high profile too.
Jumbo, Kessel, Hamilton.
I've never seen the leafs ship anybody of consequence out, they are too afraid of the optics when the team inevitably loses anyway. Losing players to free agency has always been a big bugaboo for me . Assest management is by far the worst in the league with this team. Other teams don't have a problem with it. I like St.Louis model for that. Bold moves !

 

[Ports]

Worth noting, a sizeable group of Leafs fans has been saying the exact same thing about the Leafs every year for as long as I can remember, at least the last 20+ years. Many, many different groups of players, but always the same comments. Is it really that the Leafs have just been overly soft/lazy/country-clubby for 20+ straight years, or is it simply the first explanation some fans reach for when we lose?

FWIW, this playoffs we outhit the Panthers, and were only a hair behind the Lightning

The Leafs are in a bind with this core.

1. Over 82gp regular season games the Leafs core is likely the most entertaining and exciting in the NHL. They are fun players to watch, win a lot of games, and make the Leafs relevant. They seduce you with their talent and continually give you hope that this is finally the year they put it all together and make a Cup run.

2. If you breakup the core and ice a team that is less exciting during the season, there's still no guarantees you win a Cup. So you're sacrificing 82 games worth of high-tempo excitement for a new hope of winning. This could easily backfire.

3. The Leafs cannot afford to make a mistake in any trade involving the core 4. They absolutely must make the team immediately better without losing anything in the process. This means we are at the mercy of other teams willing to offer a fair return. Kids like Matthew Tkachuk likely only get traded once -- we missed the boat with him. Do we truly want to deal a Marner, Matthews, or Nylander for a bucket full of multiple "meh" pieces? I don't. Unless these kids price themselves off the team, then the Leafs are completely screwed.

The Leafs brass realize only one team out of 32 get to win a Cup each year, so the odds are heavily stacked against them. But they realize they have an uber exciting team that keeps the fans excited and engaged in the product full-time. They don't want to mess that up. They also have invested a ton in this core and hope to see their investments pay off.

I’d rather be excited watching a more boring team win or at least challenge for a cup than have exciting regular seasons. Been there done that. Build a team that just gets in but excels in playoff style hockey.

 

[baton elevated]

I’d rather be excited watching a more boring team win or at least challenge for a cup than have exciting regular seasons. Been there done that. Build a team that just gets in but excels in playoff style hockey.

I agree, give me a more challenged team that gives effort over spoiled entitled brats any day. It's about the crest not the players. I'm fine with no superstar moody players. Build the team organically with players that want to play hockey not live the high life that they take for granted!

 

[MCR74]

Bring this core back, and they'll f*** up again come playoff time. That's a fact of life.

 

[ULF_55]

Give the C to Rielly and the A to the first of the Core 4 to re-sign for less than double digits.

 

[andora]

Of course it will. It won’t be low though. I can see a scenario where they might want to move on from the player after 5-6 years.

Ecplain to me how shorter term for his best years is lower than full term that includes some declining years

 

[Menzinger]

am not convinced that handing out eight year contracts with full NMC is the smart thing to do. What’s wrong with 5-6 years at a lower cap hit leaving more $$ to build a better team around them?

I think Nylander will likely get a limited NTC more so than a NMC. That said, you ask a fair question. Though in the case of Nylander I think an 8 year deal will likely lead to a lower caphit than a shorter term deal would.

 

[rumman]

They sure played like it vs. Florida.

Roger that…….

 

[arso40]

Give the C to Rielly and the A to the first of the Core 4 to re-sign for less than double digits.

I strongly agree

 

[myleafs]

Bring this core back, and they'll f*** up again come playoff time. That's a fact of life.

leafs are lucy and the rest of us fans are Charlie Brown

 

[Gabriel426]

am not convinced that handing out eight year contracts with full NMC is the smart thing to do. What’s wrong with 5-6 years at a lower cap hit leaving more $$ to build a better team around them?

Only works if the cap hit for 5-6 yrs are quite a bit lower than 8 yrs.