Trades & Free Agency Thread - Too Soon Off-Season Edition

[Pi]

Wonder what our GAA would be in 7 games if we played the AVs or Lightning ?

Who knows? To play those teams the Leafs would have to learn to not choke their first round match ups.

 

[SFKingshomer]

I think they need a leader like Kopitar, someone who actually shows up. Hoping JT and AM will become that.

On the ice Kopitar is a leader but the Kings teams had a lot of leadership to help him along.

Richards
Mitchell
Williams
Regehr
Scuderi
Carter

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Wonder what our GAA would be in 7 games if we played the AVs or Lightning ?

Probably bad.

 

[Cor]

Serious question, and I don't know the answers.

What's the average lifespan of a GM over the past 15 years? How about a coach? Maybe we go back to the "Great lockout"

I see 7 coaches and 7 GMs (counting Dubas/Hunter/Shanny combo uniquely) over a 16-season span. That seems like a significant amount of turnover

Even Pat Burns only lasted 3.5ish seasons in Toronto.

 

[SFKingshomer]

That might be true against the better teams in the league like Avs, Bruins, Lightning etc. but as much as you dissect the roster, it really came down to the stars choking.

If Matthews has another goal and Marner has 1-2 goals, this series is over in 5 or 6. Leafs weren't asking them to put up 2 PPG or anything crazy like MacKinnon is doing. Just play about 80-90% of your regular season stats, they didn't even have to "elevate" their play to win this series. They just choked.

I agree but I also think it's unfair to throw it all on 2 kids. Losing 2 from the older leadership group absolutely killed. No Muzzin to throw a big hit to get their mojo back and no Captain. The Kings and Hawks teams were loaded with leaders in multiple age groups to help the kids along.

 

[Gallagbi]

Even Pat Burns only lasted 3.5ish seasons in Toronto.

Feels like that was a different time for coaches though with the Mike Keenan's of the world getting 2-3 years before burning out

 

[4thline]

Good points. The only question is did their teams make strides each year or did they regress ?? So far we have regressed for 3 playoff series in a row under Dubas. Lost 4-3 to Boston after being up 3-2. Lost to offensively challenged Jackets team 3-2 at home. Lost to weakest team in the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead (at home) and the fanbase is in arms.

Tampa regressed in year 2 and 3, .628 (3rd round) -> .512 (miss) -> .417 miss
Colorad0 regressed year 2, 3, and 4 .683 (1st round) -> .549 (miss) -> .500 miss -> .293 miss

Drastically worse short term results.

The real question is whether or not you like the program in the background. President/GM are long term roles.
Are we good at identifying talent?
Are we good at recruiting/acquiring talent?
Are we good at developing talent?
Are we maintain inter-year cap flexibility?

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

I wonder if Bogosian wants any of this shit again. What a let down from the stars!

 

[Gabriel426]

On the ice Kopitar is a leader but the Kings teams had a lot of leadership to help him along.

Richards
Mitchell
Williams
Regehr
Scuderi
Carter

Would add Quick to the list too.
Leafs got leaders in Muzzin, Jumbo, Simmonds, Spezza, even TJ but one of the Big Four need to step up and lead.

 

[Pi]

On the ice Kopitar is a leader but the Kings teams had a lot of leadership to help him along.

Richards
Mitchell
Williams
Regehr
Scuderi
Carter

And that's the issue, the Leafs tried to bring over the hill vets and grit like Simmonds, Foligno, Thornton etc. You can't do that. They tried to manufacture grit but it doesn't work like that.

Mike Richards, Carter etc were in their prime.

That 2012 cup run by the Kings is still fresh in my mind, they were the 8th seeded team but they were a frightening team that just bulldozed you to the Cup.

I don't expect the Leafs to play like that with more talent than grit on their roster, but I'd love it if the players weren't shy to take a hit. Marner is simply afraid to get hit. He hurries plays because he feels like he's about to get hit when he's got plenty of time and space. You just can't win with that.

 

[LeafsFan89]

Change all the coaches and front-end staff you want (like we have how many times now?). Until the core pieces that don't give a shit get shipped out and pieces who care (the Hymans, Spezzas etc) are brought in, it will be the same.

You can't teach someone to give a shit. It has to be there intrinsically.

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Bring back Bogo, Spezza and Simmonds on cheap deals

Bogo and Spezza for sure, not understanding all the love for Simmonds though. He didn't do what he was brought in for and did basically nothing after his injury.

 

[4thline]

and ahhh,,,what teams did sak/yzerm inherit?

did they have 3 super paid players? 4 supposed offensive STUDS and a offensive #1 D? you get the jist

Colorada was a 112 point team in Sakics first year, featuring Mackinnon/Duchene/O'reilly/Stastny up front, Johnson/Barrie as the 1 2 on defense
Tampa was a 103 point team that went to the conference finals, featuring Stamkos/St.louis/Lecavalier up front, Hedman on defence.

 

[TMLAM34]

I wonder if Bogosian wants any of this shit again. What a let down from the stars!

Hopefully. He was fantastic for the third pair and PK role. Hope we can re-sign him.

 

[Gallagbi]

Would add Quick to the list too.
Leafs got leaders in Muzzin, Jumbo, Simmonds, Spezza, even TJ but one of the Big Four need to step up and lead.

I'd consider JT a leader, especially by example, but he wasn't in the line-up

 

[Pi]

Colorada was a 112 point team in Sakics first year, featuring Mackinnon/Duchene/O'reilly/Stastny up front, Johnson/Barrie as the 1 2 on defense
Tampa was a 103 point team that went to the conference finals, featuring Stamkos/St.louis/Lecavalier up front, Hedman on defence.

That Colorado team was a mirage and Sakic was smart enough to realize that and to save his reputation he let Patrick Roy resign/quit instead of firing him.

 

[Gabriel426]

Colorada was a 112 point team in Sakics first year, featuring Mackinnon/Duchene/O'reilly/Stastny up front, Johnson/Barrie as the 1 2 on defense
Tampa was a 103 point team that went to the conference finals, featuring Stamkos/St.louis/Lecavalier up front, Hedman on defence.

Look at both teams now and then, their core are different.

 

[Gabriel426]

I'd consider JT a leader, especially by example, but he wasn't in the line-up

JT is too quiet as THE leader. There are just too many times JT could have done something to spark the team but he either didn't or couldn't.

 

[stickty111]

Trade Dubas for a respected, capable GM.

He is respected and capable. Lets be honest, if Dubas had sent Sandin and Lilly to Sweden or whatever, you wouldn't be calling him to be fired. You aren't fooling anyone

 

[mydnyte]

Good points. The only question is did their teams make strides each year or did they regress ?? So far we have regressed for 3 playoff series in a row under Dubas. Lost 4-3 to Boston after being up 3-2. Lost to offensively challenged Jackets team 3-2 at home. Lost to weakest team in the playoffs, blowing a 3-1 lead (at home) and the fanbase is in arms.

Dubas didnt lose squat ...he gave the coach(s) the players that put them ahead, and in those positions to win. That is his job, and he did his job.

more than once the players were not 'ready' to play, and thats on both, the players and the coach. We have a team with such a potent offense, the first 10 mins should set the tone of the game, and we should come out of the gate like gangbusters and be up a few goals if the other team isnt ready to defend.

the PP was a hot mess the last 3rd of the season, thats 100% on the coach(s).

how they went from top PP in the league to worst and started using the drop back rush play when the first half of the season the PP was clicking without it, astounds me.
Matthews was the trigger man and was doing great until he got hurt, then they 'changed' the PP and after he was better, rather than go back to what worked, they kept adjusting things and it never got back on track. 100% coaches.

 

[TMLAM34]

We were surprisingly pretty good defensively but I’d still want to upgrade on the second pair. Rielly and Brodie were fantastic, I’d want Jones to replace Rielly ideally but that probably isn’t happening, so I’m fine with that top pair. Holl was good all season long but an upgrade on him would be fantastic in case one of the top 3 dman go down like we just saw. Holl is no more than a 4th and probably more suited for the third pair unless he’s carried by someone like Muzzin.

Hopefully we can re-sign Bogo and run a Sandin - Bogosian third pair. Sandin will be a stud, he needed more games in during the regular season instead of just being thrown into the playoffs.

 

[Americanadian]

Trade Marner for Heiskanen 1 for 1 then trade Rielly for Copp.

 

[mydnyte]

Bogo and Spezza for sure, not understanding all the love for Simmonds though. He didn't do what he was brought in for and did basically nothing after his injury.

i dont understand the love for Bogo ...dont get me wrong, he played great defense, but, i expected 'angry' and 'scary' Bogo, but, we got barney the dino Bogo

what this team lacks is a defenseman that makes forwards afraid to go into the corners and punishes them.

Muzzin also slacked off in that regard, but, slightly less so, as the threw the odd check.

Simmonds was getting into a groove and then he had his injury and wasnt the same player. I dont try to resign him either, if you cant count on vet's in the clutch, or they dont do anything more than fill a roster spot, they shouldnt be holding back youth.

 

[Not My Tempo]

If he doesn’t re-sign in Colorado, I’d love to take a stab at Brandon Saad.

 

[Not My Tempo]

Trade Marner for Heiskanen 1 for 1 then trade Rielly for Copp.

Are the Stars looking to move him?