What’s the team need?

[Budz]

The biggest need is a 2C.
Second is a true 1D - nasty effer.

JT is washed, he’s at best a 3C with a no trade clause.

 

[stats1]

JT is dead cap space. He can’t be traded cause of his NMC and he literally can’t skate with power anymore. He’s an 11 million dollar 3rd liner which is an abomination

 

[authentic]

Just change the game to something the Leafs can win… great idea!

Well it's the only league in the world where cheating and POS plays become a premium over actual skill in the playoffs

 

[stats1]

This is why Dubas can’t be back. He lived and died on Tavares…. Tavares hasn’t delivered so good night Dubas

 

[Dreakmur]

Well it's the only league in the world where cheating and POS plays become a premium over actual skill in the playoffs

It’s called playing on the line. Just because the leafs don’t do it doesn’t make it cheating.

 

[Antropovsky]

This is why Dubas can’t be back. He lived and died on Tavares…. Tavares hasn’t delivered so good night Dubas

Tavares has been fine since he was signed. You have to overpay for a franchise elite goalscoring UFA center who's only 27-28. He was worth every bit of that money in his first year with Babs. Not so much under Keefe... But still adequate.

When you pay your RFA's 11+ million and they don't produce, that's a problem.

This teams problem is Keefe and his new age system. Reminds me of when Wilson coached his players to never take two hands off their stick lol.

 

[Maximus74]

The team needs heart and balls. When Knies went down and no one did shit, I knew this team was done.

 

[stats1]

Tavares has been fine since he was signed. You have to overpay for a franchise elite goalscoring UFA center who's only 27-28. He was worth every bit of that money in his first year with Babs. Not so much under Keefe... But still adequate.

When you pay your RFA's 11+ million and they don't produce, that's a problem.

This teams problem is Keefe and his new age system. Reminds me of when Wilson coached his players to never take two hands off their stick lol.

When you pay your RFA’s they are still 21-23 years old they are literally entering their prime years so the future cost is taken care of. We paid for prime years of Tavares when he used it all up already.

Tavares has been fine since he was signed. You have to overpay for a franchise elite goalscoring UFA center who's only 27-28. He was worth every bit of that money in his first year with Babs. Not so much under Keefe... But still adequate.

When you pay your RFA's 11+ million and they don't produce, that's a problem.

This teams problem is Keefe and his new age system. Reminds me of when Wilson coached his players to never take two hands off their stick lol.

Sorry I thought you said RFA not UFA

 

[authentic]

It’s called playing on the line. Just because the leafs don’t do it doesn’t make it cheating.

Wonder why they don't do it...

 

[Dreakmur]

Wonder why they don't do it...

Because it’s hard to do and they don’t want to do it…

That’s why players can’t do this for 82 games. It’s really hard on the body.

 

[horner]

his cap hit was 1.875 this year.. quite the pay raise

Take a look again.
That's his cap hit after we acquired him from st Louis

 

[stats1]

Honest opinion, refs let go a ton of Leafs crap to make up for their blantant ignorance on other teams.

 

[stats1]

I blame this roster for every single thing, but the non call, the Gudas clear holding stick calll. I mean we weren’t going to win. But at what point does it become rules over body? Like we all know league wants bodies (florida) but rules say (leafs)

Gudas holds the stick, we got a no goal call. We can’t buy a PP like legit as much as we sucked Florida got bailed out hard core

Like Carolina will destroy Florida.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Depends on how much you think sweeping changes are needed?

I'll start with defense and goaltending because I do not think sweeping changes are really needed there:

Trade Murray @ 50% retained for a mid-round pick.
I believe that is more than possible with the goalie options out there right now, and 2.3 mill for him as a 1B is a great deal for only a mid-round pick. I think it is better to just eat it this year than have it drag out over 2 years.

Ilya Samsonov - 3 years x 5 mill.
Similar deal to what Husso got from DET.

Luke Schenn - 1 years x 1.25 mill.
Reasonable price for a guy who will still need to prove he can keep a top 6 spot full time next year, but is a nice bump in pay from what he has been getting recently. He is turning 34 so I wouldn't give him term or much more money than this, and we may need to look at someone better if we do not have a ton of trust in Timmins or someone from the Marlies to potentially take on a full time job next year (I think Rielly, McCabe, Brodie, and Liljegren are locks next year, but there are question marks surrounding Schenn and Giordano).

Nic Meloche & Parker Wotherspoon - 1 year x 775k each
I have liked Meloche since his draft year in 2015. Thought we should have taken him over Dermott. That being said, he hasn't developed perfectly. He is physical and can play a solid, yet simple, two-way game. Much of the same can be applied to Wotherspoon on the left side. I think there is some untapped potential in both and I wouldn't be surprised if both receive some decent interest from a number of teams this offseason, nor would I be surprised if both lock down full time NHL jobs at some point too. Could even be here if there are injuries or if Gio/Schenn struggle down the stretch and Timmins is not capable of taking over.

Filip Kral & Mac Hollowell - 1 year x 775k each
Hollowell is more AHL familiarity and continuity rather than anyone I think will contribute at the NHL level, but he is fine for a lower role in the AHL and I think he would be a fine partner for a guy like Kokkonen to get acclimated to the AHL in what I hope is a permanent stay with the Marlies next year. Kral had some injuries and inconsistency this year, and with the signing of Wotherspoon, he is going to have competition for NHL opportunities next year. That being said, between Meloche, Wotherspoon, Kral, Timmins, and potentially even some call ups for Villeneuve/Niemela, I do not think the Leafs will have any depth concerns next year.

Keith Kinkaid - 1 year x 775k
Kallgren is a Group 6 UFA and he should garner a better shot elsewhere as a #3 with a more clear path to a potential NHL job, especially since he has waiver exemption. He also was really bad last year so I think the Marlies can do better. Enter Kinkaid. He is older and he is nothing special, but he was solid in a similar 3-goalie tandem role with Providence this past year before getting dealt to Colorado to take on a similar role in their system. Ideally he never plays in the NHL, but he is the perfect balance of not being the worst option if Hildeby and Petruzzelli do not look ready for an NHL chance without blocking their development and giving them a chance to be the #3 goalie on our depth chart.

Marshall Rifai & Tommy Miller - AHL deal
I liked how both of them played this past year. Rifai could be in line for an ELC if he has a solid start to next year, but in the meantime should be brought back on the Marlies defense. Similar for Miller on the right side, albeit in more limited opportunities. Given the right side is crowded, Miller may need to start in Newfoundland or as the #9 before likely getting more chances throughout the season as injuries pop up, just like the already-signed Jonny Tychonick.

Rielly - Schenn
McCabe - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren
Timmins

Samsonov - Woll
---

Wotherspoon - Meloche
Kral - Niemela
Rifai - Villeneuve
Kokkonen - Hollowell
Tychonick - Miller (primary ECHL call ups)

Petruzzelli - Hildeby
Kinkaid

Up front is more complicated. It starts with the Core 4 and what happens with them. I will keep it simple.

Ryan O'Reilly - 3 years x 5.5 mill
Would not be surprised if he gets better than this in UFA, and it is certainly a lot for him. He is 32 so this deal would be done at 35, but at the same time, he does give us 3 really good centers down the middle assuming we keep Matthews. I also considered Compher and Haula, but this is the toughest spot for me to fill.

David Kampf - 3 years x 2 mill + Noel Acciari - 2 years x 1.5 mill
Kampf, Lafferty, and Acciari form to be our new shutdown line. There are solid alternatives out there if either of these guys want to chase more money or do not want to sign, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure these spots out.

Konstantin Okulov - 1 year x 950k + Performance Bonuses
I do not like most of the guys out in UFA this year. However Okulov is a major wild card who can really help with our depth offense and to inject some speed and skill back into the lineup without breaking the bank. 3-time Gagarin Cup winner and a huge playoff performer. Could be the next swing that really pays off, and worst case, we have some good guys on the Marlies who could be ready to take that spot if he fails.

Re-sign Nick Abruzzese + Semyon Der-Arguchintsev + Pontus Holmberg - 1 year x 775k each
Couple of solid potential call-ups who should compete for Robertson's spot in camp. Wouldn't be surprised if more than one ends up cracking the lineup full time at some point next year, but for now they find themselves in the Marlies top 6.

Joseph Blandisi, Marc Johnstone, and Graham Slaggert - AHL contracts
Slaggert and Johnstone were solid 4th line depth guys. Not against bringing them back for another year. Blandisi has been an effective and versatile veteran who should continue being a veteran presence for what should be a fairly inexperienced forward group next year.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Jarnkrok - Tavares - Nylander
Robertson - ROR - Okulov
Lafferty - Kampf - Acciari
McMann

---

Abruzzese - Shaw - SDA
Steeves - Holmberg - Ellis
Hirvonen - Blandisi - Voit
Clifford - Slaggert - Johnstone
Ovchinnikov - Kressler - Tverberg

 

[thewave]

Honest opinion, refs let go a ton of Leafs crap to make up for their blantant ignorance on other teams.

I think there is a lot of gambling money up for grabs from die hard Leafs fans.

Honest opinion, Canada not winning a cup in 30 years since hiring Bet99man should prompt an investigation to fairness of the competition. There should a report produced identifying how such an anomaly could happen. Is it the taxes? What is the reason for this strange situation.

 

[stats1]

I got Carolina in 5. Watch Bob turn into a complete ass now

I think there is a lot of gambling money up for grabs from die hard Leafs fans.

Honest opinion, Canada not winning a cup in 30 years since hiring Bet99man should prompt an investigation to fairness of the competition. There should a report produced identifying how such an anomaly could happen. Is it the taxes? What is the reason for this strange situation.

There is no way Bet99 had been involved for 30 years. If what you said is correct, you would have a league in complete and utter dispair to the point of bankruptcy

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Why not try to put two power forwards around Auston Matthews and recreate the 2024 version of a Legion of Doom Line? Matthews is a bit of a chameleon in the sense that he can be a power forward, a defensively conscious forward, a skilled based finesse sniper, etc.

In the playoffs, I think Matthews and Marner reinforce the weaker aspects of their mid pacing finesse game. Maybe we need two 6'4" beasts who can be wrecking balls and create space for Matthews to operate.

Ottawa is the team with an abundance of those guys on the roster and in the system. They can use a Marner as the "star" they're missing for promotion of their new team/arena and the guy who can propel them forward into the playoffs.

 

[Trapper]

You don't need 40 million dollar forwards. Look at Seattle, how are they scoring 6 goals in Oettenger in an elimination game? You need a well balanced lineup, not the top heavy bs we were running

Can you be GM please.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Tavares can be traded. No one wants to stay where they are not wanted. He can be moved. May not be a glorious return but he can be moved.

Ottawa is the team with an abundance of those guys on the roster and in the system. They can use a Marner as the "star" they're missing for promotion of their new team/arena and the guy who can propel them forward into the playoffs.

Marner should go to the West

 

[Dekes For Days]

Just change the game to something the Leafs can win… great idea!

I don't want to change the game. I want the NHL to stop destroying the game. Every hockey fan should.

 

[WillyC]

They should remove tik tok as a sponsor from the helmets.

It’s worse than the gambling ads.

 

[Dreakmur]

I don't want to change the game. I want the NHL to stop destroying the game. Every hockey fan should.

A handful of missed calls isn’t destroying the game. Too many are just so eager to be a victim.

 

[BraveCanadian]

A coach and good players with sandpaper in the top 6 and top 4. You need that element in the playoffs and it has to be in players who actually get the ice time. That is the lesson Dubas finally learned too late and why he’ll probably be a good GM in his next stop.

Can’t rely on only your depth players for physicality and heart.

 

[Maple Leaf]

They should get rid of all refs who are rigging it

 

[Dreakmur]

I blame this roster for every single thing, but the non call, the Gudas clear holding stick calll. I mean we weren’t going to win. But at what point does it become rules over body? Like we all know league wants bodies (florida) but rules say (leafs)

Gudas holds the stick, we got a no goal call. We can’t buy a PP like legit as much as we sucked Florida got bailed out hard core

Like Carolina will destroy Florida.

The Gudss hold is probably a missed call, but it wasn’t that obvious. If Jarnkrok made any attempt to pull his stick out, it would have been more clear. Even with replays, nobody noticed it until well after the game ended. I didn’t see it, and I even specifically commented to my friend that Gudss going to the net and pulling the d’s stick to the side was really clever.

The no goal sucked, since it was likely in… but rules as they are, it was the right call.