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

[Fatass]

Where are they going to get the cap space to sign both Marner and Knies?

Leafs will sign Knies (9.5 x 8) and clear Marner’s cap July 1. I think they keep Tavares too. 6 mil x 3 years.

 

[Winston Wolf]

Sell off the Core 4 and build around Laughton.

 

[Fatass]

You can sign him in hopes of trading him for atleast some return. Bottom line is he’ll be an overpaid 90-100 point player. That could be useful for teams desperate to take the next step and make the playoffs, or rebuilding teams where Marner will be used as someone who puts fans in seats and helps develop young prospects, particularly mentoring playmakers. Can’t let star players walk for nothing, no matter how justifiable.

Marner is a UFA July 1. Trading for his rights would be (maybe?) a late round pick.
Not too sure there’s any real advantage in a club doing that though.

 

[Summer Rose]

Marner is a UFA July 1. Trading for his rights would be (maybe?) a late round pick.
Not too sure there’s any real advantage in a club doing that though.

I see it happening sometimes, and I think the logic is just making it clear that you really want to sign the player, plus it gives you a bit of extra negotiating time. Not the worst thing you can do with a pick that will most likely barely ever play in the NHL, if even for your team, or at all.

I don't really remember it happening for a big-name free agent. Usually middle-tier guys (lower-tier guys you can find anywhere so it's unnecessary).

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

Marner is a UFA July 1. Trading for his rights would be (maybe?) a late round pick.
Not too sure there’s any real advantage in a club doing that though.

Sign him July 1 to whatever amount he wants, as long as no NMC, then trade him for anything useful.

 

[Sniper99]

Be bold, trade Matthews. Ain't winning with him anyways.o

Who wants that shitty contract for a player that is a walking band aid?

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Knies is American. He is signing a ludicrous bridge and is out when his sentence is up. Marner is gone, maybe JT. No draft picks, 1 B+ prospect is only immediate possible help. Not a destination anymore. Solid, but aging defense with no help on the way. The future is bleak.

 

[sampollock]

how about his
quit trading #1 picks away

 

[sampollock]

Knies is American. He is signing a ludicrous bridge and is out when his sentence is up. Marner is gone, maybe JT. No draft picks, 1 B+ prospect is only immediate possible help. Not a destination anymore. Solid, but aging defense with no help on the way. The future is bleak.

love for a American team sign a offer sheet

 

[BeranekAndNeck]

-Let Marner walk. Opens up $14M and changes the culture instantly.
-Trade Matthews for two forwards who fit Berube's identity. Culture reset done.
-Make Nylander 1C.
-Bring back Tavares, run him at 2C.
-Back the Brinks truck up to Knies for an extension.
-Re-up Robertson and give him a f***ing chance.

Knies-Nylander-?
McMann-Tavares-?
Robertson-Domi-Jarnkrok
Laughton-Kampf-Lorentz

Rielly-Tanev
OEL-Carlo
McCabe-Benoit
Myers

Stolarz
Woll

No it won't be as sexy a "core", but if the Leafs can find the right two forwards to replace Matthews, the above should be a harder and more resilient group to play against come playoff time, and that's what really matters.

 

[BLONG7]

how about his
quit trading #1 picks away

LOL...........so true.
2025 2026 2027 NO first round picks!!! LOL...............they are doomed.

 

[nORRis8]

Who wants that shitty contract for a player that is a walking band aid?

True.
He broke his Femur 11 years ago.
In junior he missed games due to a bad back plus a bad shoulder.
Wrist surgery early in his NHL career.
Other injuries of late are undisclosed.

Germany is known for its back specialists of which Matthews has gone to during the season.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

Nylander has been tried at C multiple times, none longer than a few games. Not a lot of systems that make up for your C standing in the neutral zone waiting for break-out while everyone else is trying to cover people in the D zone. Making him 1C is not a realistic option.

 

[Mr Positive]

Let Marner walk and use the cash to bring in 2-3 depth pieces with a history of good playoffs. Maybe Tavares can come back at a steep discount. Additions don't have to be UFAs. Trades too

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Marner walks this summer. Matthews gets traded in his final year with the Leafs. He probably goes to LA. Maybe even trade him next summer if the right deal comes along.

There's zero chance Matthews signs another extension in Toronto.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

Knies is American. He is signing a ludicrous bridge and is out when his sentence is up. Marner is gone, maybe JT. No draft picks, 1 B+ prospect is only immediate possible help. Not a destination anymore. Solid, but aging defense with no help on the way. The future is bleak.

Really depends who you ask

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Letting Marner walk would likely be a poor option. Whatever they sign for UFA in place of him would likely not come even close.

In 17 games 5, 6, and 7 Marner has 0 goals and 5 assists. I think they can find someone else to produce like that for less than $14M

 

[Mr Nogatco]

-Trade Matthews for two forwards who fit Berube's identity. Culture reset done.

Like who?

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Knies is American. He is signing a ludicrous bridge and is out when his sentence is up. Marner is gone, maybe JT. No draft picks, 1 B+ prospect is only immediate possible help. Not a destination anymore. Solid, but aging defense with no help on the way. The future is bleak.

How much more bleak can it get?

 

[Schennanigans]

Kick the tires on what you’d get for Matthew’s that’s if he’d be willing to waive. Don’t re-sign Marner.

 

[Pizza!Pizza!]

we've gone from "Plan the Parade" to pre-emptive choke threads. my how the turntables.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Like who?

Schenn and Holloway.

 

[Evilhomer]

Did someone just recycle this thread from the one that was started after game 5 of the Ottawa series? I'm looking forward to the one that gets started when the Leafs go down a game to Carolina in the ECF.

 

[The Panther]

Watching Verhaghe, Hyman, Marchment, Brown, Andersen these playoffs, Kadri when they Colorado won the cup, one can say they blew it up already.

In my opinion, this is really it. The Leafs blew it by letting their 'grind' guys go and locking down three pretty soft forwards as their big guys (I omit Tavares here as he actually has some grit).

The players you mention are all very hard to play against, and I don't think the Leafs' top minutes guys are hard enough to play against.

As to what they do IF they lose this round... Ehh... it's difficult to move big contracts in the Cap world.

 

[HabsAddict]

I live in GTA and tomorrow late night i will make a point of it to not walk under tall buildings...without an umbrella...



(Before someone calls me heartless, in 2021 I couldn't fly a Habs flag without the risk of my car getting keyed)