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

[Beville]

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

Be interesting to see how they rank in playoff scoring in that time, as well.

 

[DFC]

I think you can afford to have one skill guy with no fight in him at that price. Matthews. But you have to build a nasty team around him and hope he develops an edge.

 

[BruinLVGA]

A deep dark hole somewhere far, far away.

Sounds like the beginning of a Star Wars movie.

 

[Hank Plank]

Remember when people were saying McDavid is going to demand a trade to Toronto? lol.

 

[atlanticobserver]

Funny thing is Tavares might actually have won a cup if he stayed with the Isles lmao

 

[SI90]

 

[The McMafia]

Funny thing is Tavares might actually have won a cup if he stayed with the Isles lmao

Should've signed with the Sharks in 2018. Oh well...

 

[phillyb]

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

You mean, like which golf course?

 

[lawrence]

love the leafs or not, its really not over yet guys. the final game is the hardest one. Leafs will come out ready.

 

[Divine]

Funny thing is Tavares might actually have won a cup if he stayed with the Isles lmao

There’s no chance that happens. The Atlantic beat the Metro every playoffs since Tavares was still an Islander.

Metro is easier to win rounds in because the top teams are worse than the Atlantic. The Metro hasn’t beat the Atlantic since Washington won in 2018… back when Tavares was still in the Metro.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Funny thing is Tavares might actually have won a cup if he stayed with the Isles lmao

I always thought the Islanders ended up being better off not signing Tavares. The only travesty was them not being able to cash in on him threw a trade.

 

[atlanticobserver]

There’s no chance that happens. The Atlantic beat the Metro every playoffs since Tavares was still an Islander.

Metro is easier to win rounds in because the top teams are worse than the Atlantic. The Metro hasn’t beat the Atlantic since Washington won in 2018… back when Tavares was still in the Metro.

Fine. He would’ve had a better chance. Fixed it

 

[Divine]

Fine. He would’ve had a better chance. Fixed it

Not if he signs for the 11.25M they offered him. You’re assuming you’d get him at league min. and add him on the capped out Islanders.

Adding Tavares to that Isles team at the cap hit he was offered likely means they lose 2/3 prominent players from that team.

Leafs would have a better chance at the Cup too if Tavares’ cap hit didn’t count against the cap.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Sounds like the beginning of a Star Wars movie.

If Matthews was Luke Skywalker, he would have just let the X-Wing stay buried in the swamp and catch a ride to the nearest cantina to party.

 

[atlanticobserver]

Not if he signs for the 11.25M they offered him. You’re assuming you’d get him at league min. and add him on the capped out Islanders.

Adding Tavares to that Isles team at the cap hit he was offered likely means they lose 2/3 prominent players from that team.

Leafs would have a better chance at the Cup too if Tavares’ cap hit didn’t count against the cap.

you can make this same argument about Matthews and Marner and it’s probably more compelling than Tavares based on playoff impact

 

[Divine]

you can make this same argument about Matthews and Marner and it’s probably more compelling than Tavares based on playoff impact

Sure but you’re talking about Tavares aren’t you?

Any time you can have a 11M+ player added to an already capped out team while ignoring the cap hit it would be an advantage, it doesn’t matter who that team is.

 

[Mulletman]

My Leafs need to sign Marner, they can't let a player like that walk for free.
Let Tavares walk instead.
The one to trade is Nylander. Nylander has that beta male energy that brings the whole team down. Trade him to Washington for a real man like Tom Wilson. A guy like Wilson would have a positive impact on guys like Matthews and Marner as they've never been around a guy with that much testosterone.
On top of that my Leafs should target someone like Jason Robertson since the Stars will have to get rid of one of their top guys because of the cap. Getting Robertson could help his broher elevate his game to a whole new level as he's probably desperate to prove himself to his brother.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Funny thing is Tavares might actually have won a cup if he stayed with the Isles lmao

No because the Islanders used that Tavares money to get deeper, they would've been the same team they were when JT was there if Tavares stayed with the Islanders

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Nothing that you can do when the other team cripples your goalie and probably destroys the rest of his life without any penalty from the league.

Stay the course, because it's a good one.

“Destroys the rest of his life”

Get a grip dude

My Leafs need to sign Marner, they can't let a player like that walk for free.
Let Tavares walk instead.
The one to trade is Nylander. Nylander has that beta male energy that brings the whole team down. Trade him to Washington for a real man like Tom Wilson. A guy like Wilson would have a positive impact on guys like Matthews and Marner as they've never been around a guy with that much testosterone.
On top of that my Leafs should target someone like Jason Robertson since the Stars will have to get rid of one of their top guys because of the cap. Getting Robertson could help his broher elevate his game to a whole new level as he's probably desperate to prove himself to his brother.

Mulletman dropping truth bombs

 

[Leafshater67]

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?

My Leafs need to sign Marner, they can't let a player like that walk for free.
Let Tavares walk instead.
The one to trade is Nylander. Nylander has that beta male energy that brings the whole team down. Trade him to Washington for a real man like Tom Wilson. A guy like Wilson would have a positive impact on guys like Matthews and Marner as they've never been around a guy with that much testosterone.
On top of that my Leafs should target someone like Jason Robertson since the Stars will have to get rid of one of their top guys because of the cap. Getting Robertson could help his broher elevate his game to a whole new level as he's probably desperate to prove himself to his brother.

Nylander is the only one who shows up in the playoffs and it isn’t just this year, it’s every year. Plus he has a NMC.

They also can’t let Tavares walk unless they get a 2C. They’re weak up the middle. Sam Bennett is the epitome of what they need though.

 

[Leafshater67]

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?

I’d be ok with them right now losing the series if their stars showed up and everyone played hard. You can’t win them all but they quit every single year like clockwork

 

[pb1300]

They need a Tkachuk move, like the Panthers did with Huberdeau. The problem is, that does not happen often. The Leafs had that moment, when Marner nixed an apparent deal for Rantanen. That move would have changed the culture of the team.

Without a culture changing scenario, it starts and ends with Matthews and Nylander, if Marner leaves. If they do not adjust, and are unwilling to play playoff hockey, they will never be more than a 1-2 round winner each playoffs.

 

[DamonDRW]

love the leafs or not, its really not over yet guys. the final game is the hardest one. Leafs will come out ready.

for game 6. Game 7 will e a different story

 

[xMOHAWKx98]

here's whats gonna happen. they will play the best game of their life in Florida. win. only to bring it home for game 7 and get shit on at home. calling it.

 

[jaa]

When a team is under-performing when going gets rough, maybe the leadership or team mental is not good enough. It was always strange that Matthews has C in his jersey, he is maybe the biggest choker in playoffs, and his aura doesn't scream leadership. For captain, you want the player who either works the hardest, makes clutch plays or who electrifies his team with something (a nice hard check for example).

This core and playoffs are pretty iconic duo, it keeps on amusing. But I'd actually trade Matthews and would let Marner go. It is super hard to get 1c and 1w, but still. You could get tons of pieces with trading Matthews, then it is a matter of luck to acquire legit 1C for the team.