Where do the Leafs go if they blow it yet again?

[Gil Gunderson]

Change is needed.

Trading Matthews would be the worst move in franchise history

I agree it would be dumb and basically strip the Leafs of any competitive advantage they have over other teams their competing with.

But they probably need to trade someone with real value to extend that window. The d-core is ancient.

 

[AvroArrow]

At least we can draft some young talent in the next 3 years, oh wait we gave away all our 1sts

 

[NVious]

Everyone on the team has some form of NMC.
Even David Kampf. Seriously.

Matthews' is 100%. So he's only going somewhere if he wants to, and there's no chance MLSE wants to move him. Or any of them.

The best thing for this franchise is to just wait out his contract, go full rebuild mode and hope they win a draft lottery when the next Crosby hits 17.

Actually I could see Matthews waiving, why would he want to stay in a place where he is hated? What does he personally gain from that?

 

[Divine]

Let Marner walk hopefully

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Tear it down and rebuild around the new core 4: Robertson Minten Cowan & Dildoeby

Dildoeby had me rollin

 

[Breakers]

Tavares is done in TO

Good player. But he has the personality of a rock, and zero emotion. Just not built for playoff hockey

 

[Divine]

Since 2016/17 Marner and Matthews are 8th and 9th in league scoring. Matthews is 1st in goal scoring and probably retires with 600+ goals. It's absolutely insane how terrible they are in the playoffs while being paid some of the highest salaries in the league. Trade Matthews and let Marner walk. Matthews wants to be a celebrity, send him off to a perennial loser so he can cash out

Sounds a lot like they said about Ovechkin and Yzerman until they won.

 

[jackjohnson]

They showed up flat to a pivotal game 5 at home after blowing a 2-0 series lead... if they get bounced this year, what can the Leafs do at this point? The effort displayed in this game ON HOME ice is absolutely pathetic.


Are the "big 4" the biggest collection irredeemable chokers in the NHL and maybe of all time? Do the Leafs finally break them up and start shipping out some big pieces?

Marner will be let go I think

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Actually I could see Matthews waiving, why would he want to stay in a place where he is hated? What does he personally gain from that?

The prospect of bringing a Cup to Toronto is appealing to some. Would basically be a modern folk hero.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Sounds a lot like they said about Ovechkin and Yzerman until they won.

Oh ok, wait it out then i guess.

 

[TMLegend]

There's no easy way out of this. They sold their future for the present which doesn't appear to be good enough. If they let Marner and Tavares walk they risk taking a step back and giving up lottery picks in the process in a worst case scenario. If they keep them it's likely we've seen the ceiling of this group. They're in a extremely tough spot.

 

[Divine]

Oh ok, wait it out then i guess.

One by one. Let Marner walk. Matthews scored 69 goals without Marner on his line.

Let Matthews heal his wrist so he can take wrist shots again.

Increase the depth scoring with Marner’s cap hit.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Tavares is done in TO

Good player. But he has the personality of a rock, and zero emotion. Just not built for playoff hockey

Time to charge up that amulet

 

[NVious]

The prospect of bringing a Cup to Toronto is appealing to some. Would basically be a modern folk hero.

Honestly as somebody who watched him for nearly a decade, I don't think Matthews cares in the slightest. I think if you had his talent level (and I don't know you) and were on the Leafs, you'd care more.

Matthews has never shown the level of intensity that guys like Mack/McD/Crosby/Ovie showed
Matthews has never elevated a previously meh part of his game to take the next step like the others have
Matthews in the media has always been like Tavares 2.0 with some snark, a passionless sassy little robot

He's just a naturally blessed athlete that is good at Hockey. He's in between those guys and Laine, not that he's gone laze around doing nothing like Laine, but he's not going to kill himself like those other guys.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

The single best move the Leafs can do this summer is try to sign Bennett. Doubt he will sign with a Canadian team again. He loves it in Florida and will resign there.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I agree it would be dumb and basically strip the Leafs of any competitive advantage they have over other teams their competing with.

But they probably need to trade someone with real value to extend that window. The d-core is ancient.

They have almost 30 million in cap space.

Their defense is set beyond MAYBE a new #7 and even then I'm OK with Phil Myers as the #7.

Their goalie tandem is set, beyond MAYBE a new #3.

So all that cap space can be used on forwards.

That's the advantage of this off season the defense and goaltending are set the focus can be and likely will be entirely on offense

 

[pigpen65]

Tavares, Reilly, and Nylander all choke just as bad as the others

 

[IronHookem]

Honest question from a non-leaf fan. How deep into the playoffs to the Leafs have to get before it isn't considered blowing it?

Start of the year I would've said ECF, but considering how weak the Metro has been, anything but a finals appearance is a failure at this point.

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

Death, taxes and treliving letting a high market UFA walk for nothing.

 

[CupsOverCash]

No just keep doing the same things. Have faith in the leafs parade plan.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

They'll blow it
Run it back

 

[NVious]

Death, taxes and treliving letting a high market UFA walk for nothing.

Marner actually refused to waive.

In Mitch's character (him being a God and us being lowly peasants who worship him), he decided to go wrathful mode and f*** Leafs fans one last time.

 

[AvroArrow]

They have almost 30 million in cap space.

Their defense is set beyond MAYBE a new #7 and even then I'm OK with Phil Myers as the #7.

Their goalie tandem is set, beyond MAYBE a new #3.

So all that cap space can be used on forwards.

That's the advantage of this off season the defense and goaltending are set the focus can be and likely will be entirely on offense

We still don't have a true #1 D man, which is essential to a Cup win, but I don't see anyone who's available

 

[Bizz]

Fire sale followed by 15 years of no playoffs.

 

[jetsforever]

Seems like that could be it for Marner if they lose