There is only so much cap hit and Toronto doesn't need more scoring

[Orfieus]

Even if Toronto could acquire Hall for free I wouldn't take that offer, Toronto cap hit would be better spent on a bottom6 center who can win faceoffs, pk and crash the net

Toronto has one of the best top6 in the league and I think it is absolutely pointless to spend more cap on it.

Click to read more...

 

[ottomaddox]

 

[Suntouchable13]

I really don't want Hall specifically but Thornton and Simmonds on the top 2 lines is a glaring weakness.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Thornton and Simmonds are in the top 6, so it's a very weird myth to say it cannot be improved in any way

 

[ACC1224]

They need all 4 and cap won’t be a problem.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Memo to all :
Franchises , teams , Management, Ownership, GMs , Coaching staff ,...

Always try with everything you have at your disposal to win the “Championship “ for your players , group , yourselves , city , and fans every single friken year !!!

From :
Leaf fans that are tired of not winning and loosing
And
to all fan bases of all sports in the same predicament!

 

[Stephen]

The Edmonton and Winnipeg series will be a good barometer of what kind of forward balance we need. Are we turning into a team that needs just little more scoring pop and someone relatively non impactful like Mikael Granlund could help solve those issues, or do the Leafs need to be one of those teams that has to wrestle an offensive run and gun opponent to the mat and win a 3-1 game? Maybe then you need more of a matchup 3rd line center.

Thornton was a good novelty early in the season but he looks cooked lately. Not sure if less ice time is the answer, but I'm not sure we'll get a Spezza level contribution out of him going forward.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Any 3C we get is going to be a marginal upgrade compared to Kerfoot at best. I really don’t get the obsession with a 3C.

 

[zeke]

Actually I think we clearly need one more scoring forward. We have 5 legit top 6 forwards (and they're awesome and more than just top 6 forwards) but we should really get one more to complete the top 6.

Our defense is very good and nobody there needs an upgrade.

We might want to replace fred tho.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

We definitely need another scoring forward. Tavares and Nylander are being outscored 5 on 5 by Spezza. And Spezza is great don’t get me wrong, but that’s not acceptable from JT and Willy and it’s not acceptable for the team.

Defence needs another body in case of injury. Goaltending with Fred is a mystery but every possible option seems to be injured.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Actually I think we clearly need one more scoring forward. We have 5 legit top 6 forwards (and they're awesome and more than just top 6 forwards) but we should really get one more to complete the top 6.

Our defense is very good and nobody there needs an upgrade.

We might want to replace fred tho.

wow zeke ! Totally agree with you on everything except replacing Fred until after the parade

 

[Menzinger]

I think you can make a reasonable case for both.

But a guy who will play on the top couple lines will get more icetime and therefore a chance to impact the game more often.

And I also don't think the bottom couple lines have been a problem for the team, especially lately.

 

[Buds17]

No cap in the playoffs!

There are many factors to consider. The return in trade, the fit for the team, etc. It's not necessarily an incorrect move to bolster a strength though if things align well enough. I imagine there being a number of irons in the fire. We'll have to see what comes to fruition.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Even if Toronto could acquire Hall for free I wouldn't take that offer, Toronto cap hit would be better spent on a bottom6 center who can win faceoffs, pk and crash the net

Toronto has one of the best top6 in the league and I think it is absolutely pointless to spend more cap on it.

They should do what they can to improve any position based on the trade value. For me, it doesn't need to specifically be a particular position just an improvement. I agree, goal scoring isn't their weakness per se.

I see D Men who might be even more valuable come playoffs where the game becomes more physical and tighter. Guys like Savard from CBJ, for example, would be a perfect, shutdown man for a playoff run.

IMO I wouldn't waste a Cap dollar, nor a prospect on Taylor Hall. I would much rather a Grandlund or Foligno up front. My preference would be a Foligno-type all things being equal.

It's clear this team will be in the playoffs. Time to top up what is lacking to make it more difficult for any team they may face.

 

[hamzarocks]

Our top end scoring is terrible outside if Matthews and Marner and even they're cooling off

The next three guys are having disapointing years:

Nylander is on a 59 pt pace right now. He is having a poor year and needs to change the heavy cycle style he is trying to play

Rielly is on a 59 pt pace another poor year with him expected to produce more and be more impactful. Guys like Fox/Hedman/Petry/Barrie are producing higher and he needs to be same level offensively as them

Tavares on a 67 pt pace. Extremely underwhelming production from our captain. Just a terrible year. Can not score goals and isnt an elite play maker to compensate for that. He is playing like a 2C not an elite 11M 1C we signed him to be


These three guys need to be much better and we need to add to our top 6

Joe, Simmonds are old and depth guys.

Kerfoot/Mik/Engvall are poor offensive players who constantly miss easy chances. Need to add some finishers onto the te who can score when the big guys are locked up(which happens often come playoffs)

 

[barilko05]

Our top end scoring is terrible outside if Matthews and Marner and even they're cooling off

The next three guys are having disapointing years:

Nylander is on a 59 pt pace right now. He is having a poor year and needs to change the heavy cycle style he is trying to play

Rielly is on a 59 pt pace another poor year with him expected to produce more and be more impactful. Guys like Fox/Hedman/Petry/Barrie are producing higher and he needs to be same level offensively as them

Tavares on a 67 pt pace. Extremely underwhelming production from our captain. Just a terrible year. Can not score goals and isnt an elite play maker to compensate for that. He is playing like a 2C not an elite 11M 1C we signed him to be


These three guys need to be much better and we need to add to our top 6

Joe, Simmonds are old and depth guys.

Kerfoot/Mik/Engvall are poor offensive players who constantly miss easy chances. Need to add some finishers onto the te who can score when the big guys are locked up(which happens often come playoffs)

A 60 point pace for a defenseman is a POOR year? Jesus wtf do you want? Bobby Orr winning the Art Ross? Granted, his D play is still a nightmare, but then so was Karlsson for a good portion of his career and he won a Norris. And FFS...do you really think bringing Barrie into this convo is wise? We've all seen that movie and believe me, I'll take Rielly over that disaster any day.

 

[hamzarocks]

A 60 point pace for a defenseman is a POOR year? Jesus wtf do you want? Bobby Orr winning the Art Ross? Granted, his D play is still a nightmare, but then so was Karlsson for a good portion of his career and he won a Norris. And FFS...do you really think bringing Barrie into this convo is wise? We've all seen that movie and believe me, I'll take Rielly over that disaster any day.

His production should be right thee with the highest producing defenseman in the league. He is a top 3 offensive d-man IMO. Agree on Barrie sucks and don't want him back but just pointing out he is producing this year. Rielly should be competing for the Norris this year. He has an excellent partner who fits his playstyle in Brodie. He has to be producing more to be in the running and needs to tighten some of the defensive lapses, but defensively he has been solid this year despite what people are seeing.

Offensively I expect Morgan Rielly to be better, he has been closer to his production expectation/capability than Nylander and JT but he has more to give.

 

[ponder]

Actually I think we clearly need one more scoring forward. We have 5 legit top 6 forwards (and they're awesome and more than just top 6 forwards) but we should really get one more to complete the top 6.

Our defense is very good and nobody there needs an upgrade.

We might want to replace fred tho.

Agreed. This is a great season to go all in, a goalie and a top 6 winger would make us strong cup contenders.

Someone like Ullmark or Kuemper would be a great goalie acquisition, and I think Nick Foligno could be a great winger to nab if he’s available. The 2 week quarantine sucks, but pull the trigger soon and there’s still plenty of games for them to get used to our systems before the playoffs.

I see Liljegren, Dermott and picks as our trade pieces - Sandin sounds like he’s not TOO far from returning, could step in as the 6D if we deal Dermott. Wouldn’t want to deal Sandin or Robertson, personally.

 

[Guided by Veseys]

Would be nice to get another defenceman with some scoring touch. We are second last in the league for goals from defencemen. For some teams that might not be a problem but our forwards dish to these guys in prime spots game after game. Probably too late to add a scoring D to the lineup though. Too risky at this point if they don’t mesh defensively.

 

[zeke]

Would be nice to get another defenceman with some scoring touch. We are second last in the league for goals from defencemen. For some teams that might not be a problem but our forwards dish to these guys in prime spots game after game. Probably too late to add a scoring D to the lineup though. Too risky at this point if they don’t mesh defensively.

That's interesting - I agree the need on the backend would be more offensive than defensive.

That may be something people don't realize about Ekholm - he'd be our 2nd best offensive dman in addition to being a stud defensively.

 

[Le Cobra]

Would be nice to get another defenceman with some scoring touch. We are second last in the league for goals from defencemen. For some teams that might not be a problem but our forwards dish to these guys in prime spots game after game. Probably too late to add a scoring D to the lineup though. Too risky at this point if they don’t mesh defensively.

this is the weakest link in the chain alright

 

[Le Cobra]

I think Dubas might pick up Goligoski from ARI or Merrill from DET. Both are defensively competent and are budget picks.

from ESPN

Goligoski, 35, has been positioned as the "option B" behind Mattias Ekholm for teams seeking a defensive defenseman but not wanting to pay Mattias Ekholm prices.

A steal for some thrifty shopper out there, Merrill has arguably been the Red Wings' best defenseman this season. He skates over 19 minutes per game on average, and is their top defenseman in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5 (46.25%, on a terrible team)
.

 

[unitedstars87]

Nylander - Matthews - Marner
Galchenyuk - Tavares - Hyman
Mik - Granlund - Simmonds
Thornton - Engvall - Spezza

Ekholm - Brodie
Reilly - Bogo
Muzzin - Holl

Campbell
Andersen

 

[OB34KNH]

The Edmonton and Winnipeg series will be a good barometer of what kind of forward balance we need. Are we turning into a team that needs just little more scoring pop and someone relatively non impactful like Mikael Granlund could help solve those issues, or do the Leafs need to be one of those teams that has to wrestle an offensive run and gun opponent to the mat and win a 3-1 game? Maybe then you need more of a matchup 3rd line center.

Thornton was a good novelty early in the season but he looks cooked lately. Not sure if less ice time is the answer, but I'm not sure we'll get a Spezza level contribution out of him going forward.

The guy is 41 years old. It's over for him, it never started. You need to take the agepill. We need to drop Thornton from our lineup ASAP. We don't need to show loyalty to him at all. Maybe, if he came to the leafs before he was 100 years old, I would have sympathy and kept him on the roster ---- but no, please dump him.

Trade for 1 of Rakell / Palmeri / Foligno / Granlund (or if possible, maybe Hall), and send Thornton back the other way along with some futures.

 

[OB34KNH]

Nylander - Matthews - Marner
Galchenyuk - Tavares - Hyman
Mik - Granlund - Simmonds
Thornton - Engvall - Spezza

Ekholm - Brodie
Reilly - Bogo
Muzzin - Holl

Campbell
Andersen

I would much rather keep Kerfoot on the team. Trade for Foligno/Granlund/Iafallo (retained) and send Thornton + picks back the other way. Kerfoot is actually a decent player.