Where do the Leafs go?

[The don godfather]

Maybe resign marner trade Mathews for a bucket loads of young players picks prospects. This way you dont lose 100 point guy for nothing. 100 point guys dont come often on free agency for nothing.

 

[La Bamba]

Chris Johnston just spoke about how Marner has been personally harassed multiple times by Leaf fans over the years, and that another incident occurred after last night's game too. How the hell can anyone hear stuff like this and not think that Toronto as a market isn't a big part of the problem? How can anyone think that players aren't going to hear about Marner and his family being personally harassed by fans consistently throughout the years and not think twice about coming to play in Toronto? You actually have to be delusional to think this garbage doesn't make an impact.

Toronto is a disgusting place to play and live. I feel bad for Marner, especially since he has an infant at home (I think?). I wouldn't want to raise a family in that toxic environment.

Edmonton is a good place to play and live for him. The true hockey mecca

 

[BeranekAndNeck]

Chris Johnston just spoke about how Marner has been personally harassed multiple times by Leaf fans over the years, and that another incident occurred after last night's game too. How the hell can anyone hear stuff like this and not think that Toronto as a market isn't a big part of the problem? How can anyone think that players aren't going to hear about Marner and his family being personally harassed by fans consistently throughout the years and not think twice about coming to play in Toronto? You actually have to be delusional to think this garbage doesn't make an impact.

Johnston’s job is to glaze the Leafs and their core. That the absolute worst thing he can point to after playing/living in a hockey mad city like Toronto for ten years is some vague “harassment” should tell you everything you need to know about the agenda he’s being told to push. Too bad CJ can’t play D this well on the ice, maybe they’d have a third round appearance by now.

 

[HofT]

Is Cliff Fletcher still around?

 

[Captain Controversy]

Leafs need to scorch retool as in get rid of everyone but Nylander,Knies,Macann and domi.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Leafs need to scorch retool as in get rid of everyone but Nylander,Knies,Macann and domi.

That's a full on rebuild then, not a retool. That would be a dog shit team. Nylander would get eaten alive as the top guy with his one-dimensional play.

 

[Cool Hand Puke]

They’re trying to build a team that can make the playoffs first.

And to eventually win in the playoffs. Keep in mind the Ducks have had more recent success than the Leafs… they have a cup on this side of the millennium.

 

[RorschachWJK]

That's a full on rebuild then, not a retool. That would be a dog shit team. Nylander would get eaten alive as the top guy with his one-dimensional play.

Yes, he would. Every team would start to hit him without mercy at every turn. He would be in tears rather quickly. The guy is as tenacious and tough as a can of Ben & Jerry after couple hours in July sun.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Then the passenger comments after their lucklaster performances was just....wow....

Turns out they were all passengers.. like a self driving car

 

[HabzSauce]

Turns out they were all passengers.. like a self driving car

They should replace their ambassador Bieber with Elon Mucks. Way more fitting

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Toronto is a disgusting place to play and live. I feel bad for Marner, especially since he has an infant at home (I think?). I wouldn't want to raise a family in that toxic environment.

Edmonton is a good place to play and live for him. The true hockey mecca

There are psychotic fans in just about every Canadian fanbase.. Ottawa is the only one I’ve never seen really cross the line..

Edmonton seems to have its own special brand of messed up fan vitriol, I’d personally rather play in Toronto 10 times out of 10.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

There are psychotic fans in just about every Canadian fanbase.. Ottawa is the only one I’ve never seen really cross the line..

True. Ottawa fans just get drunk, shout "Leafs suck!", try to high five a lamppost, and pass out on the street.

 

[La Bamba]

There are psychotic fans in just about every Canadian fanbase.. Ottawa is the only one I’ve never seen really cross the line..

Edmonton seems to have its own special brand of messed up fan vitriol, I’d personally rather play in Toronto 10 times out of 10.

Examples other than your vague post lol?

Yes there’s bad fans in every city but Toronto is next level toxicity plus you’re stuck in traffic for hours to deal with it even longer. Gross place to play and live

 

[Captain Controversy]

That's a full on rebuild then, not a retool. That would be a dog shit team. Nylander would get eaten alive as the top guy with his one-dimensional play.

Sorry I should have been more clearer. Use the cap space to go after other great and reliable forwards and defensemen.

 

[I am Canadian]

Toronto is a disgusting place to play and live. I feel bad for Marner, especially since he has an infant at home (I think?). I wouldn't want to raise a family in that toxic environment.

Edmonton is a good place to play and live for him. The true hockey mecca

For sure, definitely no weird fans in Edmonton.
Let's be real - Edmonton would be no better. He's going to a place where people don't recognize him in public.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Examples other than your vague post lol?

Yes there’s bad fans in every city but Toronto is next level toxicity plus you’re stuck in traffic for hours to deal with it even longer. Gross place to play and live

The least civil discussions I’ve seen on this site have been Edmonton GDT’s when they are going through a rough stretch and the team isn’t playing well.

Fans at each others throats, racial slurs directed at players on the team, religious slurs against Bettman, just disgusting low vibe behavior. Yeah it’s a very small minority of the fanbase but it’s telling when people feel like that’s the kind of thing they can say with no repercussions. Used to be my favorite western conference team but was completely turned off by that type of BS.

 

[Goatlender]

Toronto is a disgusting place to play and live. I feel bad for Marner, especially since he has an infant at home (I think?). I wouldn't want to raise a family in that toxic environment.

Edmonton is a good place to play and live for him. The true hockey mecca

Edmonton is a beautiful city too, I’m sure he’d love it there

 

[La Bamba]

For sure, definitely no weird fans in Edmonton.
Let's be real - Edmonton would be no better. He's going to a place where people don't recognize him in public.

That’s tame considering Marner got car jacked at gun point in Toronto

 

[WolfgangPuck]

Leafs had too much of their salary tied up on their top 4 forwards. If they lose JT and Marner can finally pay more better depth and defense

 

[wunderpanda]

kokomo

 

[Drytoast]

I’d start with a new FO and GM. Seems they aren’t attracting the right people to properly construct a winning roster.

You don't think Berube and Treliving are the right people?

 

[Mobiandi]

I don’t know where they’ll go but having Treliving handle this retool with no 1sts might send the Leafs into the shadow realm for a while

 

[Brownies]

A lot of people (myself included) had written off Washington before they got their cup. They were playing too cute before IMO and really took it up a notch that year. Winning the cup is really hard of course, but some people seems to underrate simply being able to at least compete for it (meaning making the Playoffs year after year with a competitive team).

Sure, it must sucks to be a leaf fan and I'd probably be happy to see the GM blow it up a bit if I was a fan of the team because as fans it's hard to root for underachievers but as a neutral fan it's probably best to tweak it a bit and hope for the best.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The Leafs don't have their first round draft pick in 2025, 2026 or 2027. They don't even have their 2nd round pick in 2026. They basically have to keep trying. It's possible by 2027-28, Matthews will be ready to move on (last year of contract), Nylander will show some sign of aging (will turn 32 before the 2027-28 playoffs), the defense will fall off a cliff and at that point they can kick off a new rebuild to enter into a tank cycle with a Knies trade. Not much point in trying to get out ahead of it, too many NMCs at the moment. For now though, they basically have to stay aggressive for the next two years and try to maximize what they can out of this window.

 

[Lshap]

The Leafs don't have their first round draft pick in 2025, 2026 or 2027. They don't even have their 2nd round pick in 2026. They basically have to keep trying. It's possible by 2027-28, Matthews will be ready to move on (last year of contract), Nylander will show some sign of aging (will turn 32 before the 2027-28 playoffs), the defense will fall off a cliff and at that point they can kick off a new rebuild to enter into a tank cycle with a Knies trade. Not much point in trying to get out ahead of it, too many NMCs at the moment. For now though, they basically have to stay aggressive for the next two years and try to maximize what they can out of this window.

This is totally logical, but I think market pressure will push them into a major trade. Until now, the same market pressure prevented them from trading their core players, but it feels like the team has finally run out of excuses to avoid change. Besides, if Marner walks they have no choice but to reshuffle their lineup.