I guess I woke up a bit grumpy this morn, but I'm kinda siding with
@LaPlante94 and the 3 11M can't push it over the line argument, which soon becomes 4 at 11M...shakes head in disgust.
Question: What do the following numbers represent?
18, 32, 53 and 95?
Answer: Where our best players sit on the list of P/60 in the playoffs over the last 5 seasons. Nylander 18th, Matthews 32nd, Marner 53rd and JT 95th.
ESP/60 last 5 playoffs: Willy sits 11th overall, Matthews 26th, 53rd for Marner (how's that for consistency?) and 99th for JT.
Of course there are 'reasons' why they've scored at such a poor rate. Really? Over a 5 year period? The 2nd highest paid player, soon to be the highest paid player, sitting at 32nd and 26th and there are reasons for this continuing disappointment? FFS, in G/60 over the past 5 playoffs the best goal scorer in the NHL sits in 64th place - behind JT for crying out loud (57th) - and there are reasons? MM and his sterling 192nd place position, reasons...really? Credit to Willy sitting in 9th place.
Of the 4 JT would be the obvious choice for me to move, but also the hardest to move not just because of his NT clause. I might try to convince him to go for 1 year and promise to bring him back at a lower cap hit, take one for the team JT, but it is hard to imagine.
MM falls into second place, and is the more probable candidate to be traded. It just hasn't worked here. In the playoffs he has been a failure for the TMLs, full stop. I know it's been discussed in this thread, but to my eyes if Chicago were willing I'd move him for Seth Jones + in a heartbeat. Use the 1.5M extra and Brodie's 5M and sign a RD of some quality. I don't care if it's Demelo, Roy, Montour, Pesce, pick your poison (I hesitate on Tanev due to age) and move on. A right side having Jones, one of the above, and Lily/Boosh/whomever, is better than anything I've seen in years. And heck, if you can do better than Jones +, by all means do it. But, please move MM.
Willy, Willy, Willy...what to do with Willy? 11.5M dollar/28 year old Willy. Signed until the 31/32 season is over Willy. IMO the most talented, overall, of the core 4 Willy. The guy who can pull me out of my seat better than the others, and who I suspect causes more coaching grey hairs than any of the others, Willy. People moaning about JT's contract and how it is tying the hands of the team today I think will be slitting their wrists when William's contract nears its end. To be fair (Letterkenny anyone) he's been our best playoff performer, which ain't saying much, but to be fair his results in the playoffs, especially at his expired contract number, have been good. But for me, not good enough to warrant 11.5M through 31/32. Yet, here we are. And for heavens sake, if there is anyone in the organization who thinks WN can play C, then give him the opportunity over an extended period of time, not this rinky dink shyte that we've witnessed. I think the hardest to move.
Leaving AM. Arguably, the finest player to wear the Maple Leaf crest, ever. Certainly, the finest goal scorer. But not in the playoffs relative to his regular season production. While I hugely admire his scoring ability, for me his defining moment as a player came during the Montreal series when he was grabbed from behind and manhandled behind the Montreal net (can't remember who it was, Savard?) and all he did was smile. Perhaps an unfair assessment of a player's future, but for me it was the moment I said to myself that this wasn't going to be the player to lead this team to a Cup. I just couldn't connect that reaction to that moment in time and come up with something that resembled a guy that could lead a team and that the team could rally around. I still don't see it. I'd trade him. Identify the best potential young C you can, on a team that would be attracted to what AM can offer, and make the change. As an example:
Matthews to LA for Kempe, Byfield, 1st, + ... adjust as required.
If LA could ever fix the head case that is PLD, their C depth would be frighteningly good. If they terminate or are able to trade him, it's still frightening, and minus Kempe's number, the resigning of Byfield, Clarke taking over from whatever Roy will be signing for this FA season, it's doable.
If the Leafs identify Byfield as a future #1C, grab him and sign him to a much friendlier deal than what Dubas offered the kids when they hit RFA status. Sign Lindholm and run with something like
Kempe Lindholm Nylander
McMann Tavares Jarnkrok
Knies Byfield Robertson/Cowan...I would expect that this line is sheltered, but eventually pushes to 2nd line status as the season progresses or by next season, with Cowan eventually earning the RW spot over Robertson whether this year or next.
I covet Jack McBain and would push hard to acquire him.
Minten McBain Dewar/Reaves...As Minten matures into what he should be, I can see him and McBain offering solid 3rd/4th line C value for many years to come.
Rielly Demelo
McCabe Jones
Benoit Liljegren
Talbot/Brossoit/Nedeljkovic
Woll
Jones/Murray
******
And while I'm at it, because I'm grumpier after having written this crap, I'd dangle the 2 1sts and whatever to Seattle if I could get Shane Wright. Moving forward, cost controlled C depth of Lindholm, Byfield (if he's the guy), Wright, McBain, Minten, ohh it is to dream.
Goddamit, why do I waste my time and yours, now I'm really grumpy. This fricken team.
