Confirmed with Link: TOR sign F Zach Aston-Reese to a PTO

[All Mod Cons]

You're just finding reasons to crap on the leafs for.
Lol
I'll say it again.

Healthy competition.

Crap on the Leafs?

I'm talking about our elite prospects we have. Guys like Robertson, Steeves, SDA, Knies (understably wouldn't be available), Tverberg, Hirvonen, Miettinen, Holmberg. These aren't guys found in other organizations.

Surely they are better than NAK, Gaudette, ZAR?

It's our management's biggest strength.

 

[LeafChief]

I thoroughly enjoy the meltdowns from the usual suspects over a PTO signing.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I thoroughly enjoy the meltdowns from the usual suspects over a PTO signing.

I don't think it's a meltdown. Nor do I think it's a PTO (other than it being called that at the moment).

I don't understand why we never play our prospects. There never seems to be a chance for them. A few of them get half a dozen games a year, and that's it.

 

[LeafChief]

I don't think it's a meltdown. Nor do I think it's a PTO (other than it being called that at the moment).

I don't understand why we never play our prospects. There never seems to be a chance for them. A few of them get half a dozen games a year, and that's it.

I'd like to see our prospects get a solid amount of games this year too. Particularly Robertson and Steeves (I don't really have much love for Anderson to be honest).

With that said, nothing wrong with insulating them in case they can't hack it. Realistically, if ZAR is going to win a spot, it's not going to be from stealing a spot from Robertson. Robertson is going to have to win a top 9 spot if he wants to play. He doesn't really bring anything you'd want in a 4th liner. ZAR does.

There's nothing wrong with having good conversation. When you start throwing snarky comments around suggesting that people believe the Leafs have the best prospects in the world, people aren't going to take you all that seriously. You become a jester.

 

[Fogelhund]

Earn your ice time. That’s it. If our prospects can’t beat a PTO, they either aren’t good enough (yet), or haven’t put in the effort. Some people really either need to relax, or quit looking for reasons to push a narrative.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I'd like to see our prospects get a solid amount of games this year too. Particularly Robertson and Steeves (I don't really have much love for Anderson to be honest).

With that said, nothing wrong with insulating them in case they can't hack it. Realistically, if ZAR is going to win a spot, it's not going to be from stealing a spot from Robertson. Robertson is going to have to win a top 9 spot if he wants to play. He doesn't really bring anything you'd want in a 4th liner. ZAR does.

There's nothing wrong with having good conversation. When you start throwing snarky comments around suggesting that people believe the Leafs have the best prospects in the world, people aren't going to take you all that seriously. You become a jester.

Have you not read how fantastic all of our prospects are on these boards? All of them are gems and steals. Started with Timashov and has gone through every pick since.

Anywho. Who we kidding? The prospects are not making the team.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kampf Jarnkrok
Clifford ZAR NAK

There's no room. Maybe 1 player (read Abruzzese) makes it.

There's nowhere for our prospects to go. It's been like that for a few years.

 

[LeafChief]

Have you not read how fantastic all of our prospects are on these boards? All of them are gems and steals. Started with Timashov and has gone through every pick since.

Anywho. Who we kidding? The prospects are not making the team.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kampf Jarnkrok
Clifford ZAR NAK

There's no room. Maybe 1 player (read Abruzzese) makes it.

There's nowhere for our prospects to go. It's been like that for a few years.

Is it surprising to you that the largest fan base in the NHL is going to have a lot of fans talking about their prospects?

If you take chatter from the loud minority as a reflection of the fanbase as a whole, that's on you.

We're two weeks from camp. Lots can change. Clifford might be the 13th forward. ZAR isn't a centre and doesn't have a contact. Kerfoot may still be moved. We have a lot of good, established players. I don't want prospects playing over a lot of those players in that hypothetical lineup. Definitely not ahead of any in that top 9.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Earn your ice time. That’s it. If our prospects can’t beat a PTO, they either aren’t good enough (yet), or haven’t put in the effort. Some people really either need to relax, or quit looking for reasons to push a narrative.

It's not a narrative. It's not an agenda. It's not about the GMs age, glasses or clothing choices.

It's about our prospects being blocked every year by 4th line players that come in an sign a 1 or 2 year contract. Reward your prospects. That way, we might not lose guys like Marchment.

Is it surprising to you that the largest fan base in the NHL is going to have a lot of fans talking about their prospects?

If you take chatter from the loud minority as a reflection of the fanbase as a whole, that's on you.

We're two weeks from camp. Lots can change. Clifford might be the 13th forward. ZAR isn't a centre and doesn't have a contact. Kerfoot may still be moved. We have a lot of good, established players. I don't want prospects playing over a lot of those players in that hypothetical lineup. Definitely not ahead of any in that top 9.

Fans that have been putting Sandin in the top 4 for a few years are also happy that there's no room for him. Makes no sense.

 

[Its not your fault]

Any thoughts on why he accepted a PTO?
Shirley some team must have offered him at least a minimum contract.

Wants to go to a contender with mutual interest.

 

[LeafChief]

It's not a narrative. It's not an agenda. It's not about the GMs age, glasses or clothing choices.

It's about our prospects being blocked every year by 4th line players that come in an sign a 1 or 2 year contract. Reward your prospects. That way, we might not lose guys like Marchment.


Fans that have been putting Sandin in the top 4 for a few years are also happy that there's no room for him. Makes no sense.

For the most part, fans are very emotional and for lack of a better word, dumb. Once you figure that out you'll be far less concerned with the opinions of the people that talk out of both sides of their mouths.

 

[Menzinger]

Have you not read how fantastic all of our prospects are on these boards? All of them are gems and steals. Started with Timashov and has gone through every pick since.

Anywho. Who we kidding? The prospects are not making the team.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kampf Jarnkrok
Clifford ZAR NAK

There's no room. Maybe 1 player (read Abruzzese) makes it.

There's nowhere for our prospects to go. It's been like that for a few years.

Robertson likely has a healthy chance at making the top 9 depending on how his camp does.

The fact is though the Leafs are in a spot where they're seeking to be as competitive as possible, not develop younger talent (especially for depth positions). When the team was in the earlier stages of the rebuild tons of Marlies graduated because there was more room/opportunity. Right now the best player gets the roster spot, be it free agency or internal promotion.

 

[Felix the Cat Potvin]

This soft player was top 20 in the league in hits per 60.

A lot of posters providing some good material for why to never judge a player based purely on statistics, following Dubas's failed philosophy like lemmings.

From fans who actually have watched ZAR play:

He makes the bare-minimum impact to get credited with a hit. Once in a blue moon he'll really truck someone, but most of those hits are just light bumps.

Still an effective player IMO but his hit totals are misleading as far as the type of player he is.

Agreed. He can add a reliable zone presence to the 4th line. Low maintenance and no frills. He plays a soft game which isn't quite picked up by his stats. Yes he's bland and plays a softer game but he was trusted by the pens coaching staff.

If the perception is he's a punishing player, it's wrong. His "hits" are the type that are more about getting in there and finishing your check like your coach tells you to do since bantam hockey. They're not bone-jarring types that keep the opposing defense looking over their shoulders.

And ask yourself, why a contending playoff team intentionally got rid of him prior to the playoffs. Our team is SOFT and getting SOFTER.

 

[keonsbitterness]

We'll see, but I think I disagree.

Not that I think he's going to get 4 million. I just feel like there is regular contracts/negotiations, and there's Dubas.

Okay, so what do you think he's getting in this secret contract?

 

[Jerkbait]

A lot of posters providing some good material for why to never judge a player based purely on statistics, following Dubas's failed philosophy like lemmings.

From fans who actually have watched ZAR play:







And ask yourself, why a contending playoff team intentionally got rid of him prior to the playoffs. Our team is SOFT and getting SOFTER.

He wasn't intentionally traded LOL..he was traded as part of a package for an upgraded winger ....do you think every player traded is useless?? He was traded at the most common time of year with the trade dealime approaching, much like hundreds of other players over the years. His playoff performance or lack therefore of obviously didn't help the penguins who again lost in the first round. ZAR adds some defensively responsible mins and is low maintenance. Dubas knows this and he is better than Simmonds and more responsible. My guess is ZAR earns a league min one way deal with the leafs as a 4th line defensive forward.

 

[ACC1224]

Wants to go to a contender with mutual interest.

and if he doesn’t make the team?

 

[ACC1224]

I thoroughly enjoy the meltdowns from the usual suspects over a PTO signing.

I haven’t seen anyone having a ‘meltdown’. Which posts are you referring to?

 

[Fogelhund]

It's not a narrative. It's not an agenda. It's not about the GMs age, glasses or clothing choices.

It's about our prospects being blocked every year by 4th line players that come in an sign a 1 or 2 year contract. Reward your prospects. That way, we might not lose guys like Marchment.


Fans that have been putting Sandin in the top 4 for a few years are also happy that there's no room for him. Makes no sense.

Did you just try and use Marchment as an example of a guy we lost, due to depth guys brought in? That’s a whole lot of not understanding the prospect, nor the team at the time.

 

[stickty111]

He wasn't intentionally traded LOL..he was traded as part of a package for an upgraded winger ....do you think every player traded is useless?? He was traded at the most common time of year with the trade dealime approaching, much like hundreds of other players over the years. His playoff performance or lack therefore of obviously didn't help the penguins who again lost in the first round. ZAR adds some defensively responsible mins and is low maintenance. Dubas knows this and he is better than Simmonds and more responsible. My guess is ZAR earns a league min one way deal with the leafs as a 4th line defensive forward.

Why is a contending team like Tampa trading McDonough? He must be pretty awful. Tampa is soft and getting softer.

 

[Jerkbait]

Why is a contending team like Tampa trading McDonough? He must be pretty awful. Tampa is soft and getting softer.

Who said McDonough was awful ??? We know why he was traded!!! Tampa is softer than before but still not as soft as Pittsburgh or Toronto!!!

 

[saltming]

Agreed but that's not what's happening here.

Why not?
If it's correct that he passed on signing with other teams he could see the Leafs as his best chance

 

[saltming]

Have you not read how fantastic all of our prospects are on these boards? All of them are gems and steals. Started with Timashov and has gone through every pick since.

Anywho. Who we kidding? The prospects are not making the team.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kampf Jarnkrok
Clifford ZAR NAK

There's no room. Maybe 1 player (read Abruzzese) makes it.

There's nowhere for our prospects to go. It's been like that for a few years.

Just to counter your thoughts,
Matthews Marner Nylander Engvall Holl liljegren Rielly Sandin we're all leafs prospects that made the team.

Internal competition is good

 

[stickty111]

Who said McDonough was awful ??? We know why he was traded!!! Tampa is softer than before but still not as soft as Pittsburgh or Toronto!!!

Oh I know. I'm just using the same logic the user you responded to was using.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Just to counter your thoughts,
Matthews Marner Nylander Engvall Holl liljegren Rielly Sandin we're all leafs prospects that made the team.

Internal competition is good

Internal competition is fantastic. Bit we bring in external competition of which most of them (not all of them) have very, very little difference about them.

I'm all for internal competition. That's what I'm wanting to see. We've signed (assuming ZAR signs) about half a dozen external guys. That's my point.

Either way, nothing is going to change. We're going to carry on drafting guys, over-hyping them, never really get to see them play for the Leafs, and then move on to the next batch. It is what it is.

 

[ACC1224]

Why not?
If it's correct that he passed on signing with other teams he could see the Leafs as his best chance

He has to make the team first

 

[Ianturnedbull]

And it is the same poor, tired arguments that are constantly proven to be hyperbolized or wrong... And yet they continue to be brought up to push a terribly inaccurate narrative.

Dubas has managed the cap better than most GM's in the league. It took 3 serious groin injuries in a short period of time to a goalie who has had a mostly clean bill of health for him to have to pay to get out of one of his signings, and he has certainly not overpaid someone of ZAR's caliber at any point. Most GM's can't make those claims.

ZAR is getting slightly above league average if he signs here, which is no more than he'd get from any other team in the league. He would have signed already if he was getting a better deal than that, because he is not worth much as a defensive 4th liner who doesn't take draws.

But no, we don't need to re-visit the debate once more. It always goes and ends the same way, and this board has enough poor, lazy narratives as it is.

Ok. How did Dubas do last year at the trade deadline? Who did he acquire to help bolster TOR's roster for the playoff push?

If KD is doing so well at managing the cap then why did he have to trade 1st round picks to rid of contracts?

Also why did KD have to take a reclamation project in Murray for a starting goalie role?

It's just so easy to present this stuff.