If it's a fair deal, you get what you pay for. Yeah, obviously you can try to rip off another team but if you're talking about making a hockey trade, Nylander gets you something legit. And that's the last piece this team needs, is a legit top pairing D. It's worth paying for.
- Unholy_Goalie

You can look for a good opportunity instead of jumping to use your most valuable trade asset. Would much rather package kapanen or Johansson with a 1st to get something. If someone like ekblad came available and it was gonna cost you Nylander sure.

Is it a foregone conclusion that Tavares will be named captain before the season starts or during training camp?

I'm thinking it might be fair to everyone (especially Matthews and to a lesser extent Kadri, Rielly and Marner) if they played one more season with no captain and let the room sort itself out before a captain is chosen by the players themselves.

of course Nylander was part of the sell.

I'm not the biggest fan of Nylander - he's a very good player, but not Matthews-Marner level.
However, at this point, you keep Nylander.
Toronto will be a posession team, and with Tavares there now, in addition to the young guys still developing (defensively), less issues with Leafs' D weakness.
- MaximusAurelius

Nylander wasn't as good as Marner last year but I think he still has that potential I want to see another year or two of him.

Is it a foregone conclusion that Tavares will be named captain before the season starts or during training camp?

I'm thinking it might be fair to everyone (especially Matthews and to a lesser extent Kadri, Rielly and Marner) if they played one more season with no captain and let the room sort itself out before a captain is chosen by the players themselves.
- Unholy_Goalie

Seems pretty likely that the Captaincy is his. Lou was the guy with all of the hair restrictions and weird omens.

Shore (#4C)
Cogliano (LW for Kadri line - trade some guy)
Lehner (backup goalie)

Leafs add these 3, and I'm happy.
The addition of a D-man can still happen trade deadline if necessary.
If Leafs can work a Gardiner ++ trade for Manson or Myers, that would be awesome.
- MaximusAurelius

Seek help

#Bellletstalk

of course Nylander was part of the sell.

I'm not the biggest fan of Nylander - he's a very good player, but not Matthews-Marner level.
However, at this point, you keep Nylander.
Toronto will be a posession team, and with Tavares there now, in addition to the young guys still developing (defensively), less issues with Leafs' D weakness.
- MaximusAurelius

Unless a stupid deal presents itself, you don't trade Nylander right away because he could increase his value even further. But at some point, trading him may not only be beneficial to the team in acquiring stronger defenders but also a necessity financially.

Don't lie to me like that. I don't like liars.
- Unholy_Goalie

Is it a foregone conclusion that Tavares will be named captain before the season starts or during training camp?

I'm thinking it might be fair to everyone (especially Matthews and to a lesser extent Kadri, Rielly and Marner) if they played one more season with no captain and let the room sort itself out before a captain is chosen by the players themselves.
- Unholy_Goalie

Gotta see how the locker room plays out before making that call. It will be Tavares though. If Matthews is still around after the 7 years then he'll get it.

You can look for a good opportunity instead of jumping to use your most valuable trade asset. Would much rather package kapanen or Johansson with a 1st to get something. If someone like ekblad came available and it was gonna cost you Nylander sure.
- HealthyScratch6

Obviously, you'd want to pay less and get more but how often does that happen? I think it's a more reasonable expectation to make a fair hockey deal and move Nylander for a guy as good as him but on the blueline to a team that can afford (or forced to) move one.

And like I said before, I wouldn't move Nylander right away because a season with Tavares and his value could shoot up and bring you back an even better return. But eventually, moving Nylander may become both beneficial as well as necessary.

Seems pretty likely that the Captaincy is his. Lou was the guy with all of the hair restrictions and weird omens.
- AdamFrench

I don't know if that's best for the team. He's obviously the star player who came home with the big contract, but is that what the room whats? The solution could be really easy and Matthews could not care to be captain and that's that. But if he desires to be captain, maybe it's best to play another year without a captain and let the room pick one. Because at least that way it's a decision made by his peers and not Babcock or management considering the supposed rough patch they had in the playoffs.

i think Johnsson will sign a 2y deal for a bit over 1mln/year caphit.
a contract like Carrick for example (1.3mln)

if you give Tavares and Matthews lines 18mins per game, and Kadri line 14mins / game... leaves 8 minutes for the 4th line players.

Seems that Johnsson and Kapanen will start on the 4th line, with alot of defensive zone starts, and will be the top PK forwards.
Brown and Hyman will get quite a bit of PK time as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if Leafs would sign Nick Shore to a deal for just under a million, to center that line and be key part of the Toronto penalty kill.

Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Matthews - Nylander
??? - Kadri - Brown
Johnsson - Shore - Kapanen
13th FW: Martin (have to keep Tavares and Marner happy ).

In my opinion, Leafs still need a 2nd/3rd line LW.

Trade for a guy like (in order of my preference) would be great, in particular if not too many assets need to be given up:
A. Cogliano
Zucker
Lowry
McCann

with two additions like that, Leafs FW group would be in terrific shape.
- MaximusAurelius

Neal would be a nice fit

I don't know if that's best for the team. He's obviously the star player who came home with the big contract, but is that what the room whats? The solution could be really easy and Matthews could not care to be captain and that's that. But if he desires to be captain, maybe it's best to play another year without a captain and let the room pick one. Because at least that way it's a decision made by his peers and not Babcock or management considering the supposed rough patch they had in the playoffs.
- Unholy_Goalie

Maybe Matthews wants him the room for some tax advice

I don't know if that's best for the team. He's obviously the star player who came home with the big contract, but is that what the room whats? The solution could be really easy and Matthews could not care to be captain and that's that. But if he desires to be captain, maybe it's best to play another year without a captain and let the room pick one. Because at least that way it's a decision made by his peers and not Babcock or management considering the supposed rough patch they had in the playoffs.
- Unholy_Goalie

They have Marleau on the squad who had his C stripped. Nobody has captained a professional team other than he or Tavares. It's a pretty unique situation. Just by his rep, I think nobody would have an issue with Tavares as captain. Especially since Kadri would probably be a huge supporter.

Neal would be a nice fit
- LeafsFan23

Fuk that jackass...Dont need that trash anywhere near what we are building..

Maybe Matthews wants him the room for some tax advice
- Tumbleweed

They have Marleau on the squad who had his C stripped. Nobody has captained a professional team other than he or Tavares. It's a pretty unique situation. Just by his rep, I think nobody would have an issue with Tavares as captain. Especially since Kadri would probably be a huge supporter.
- AdamFrench

*gets ready for 3 months of captain garbage..

*gets ready for 3 months of captain garbage..
- Fruitcakenipple

Matthews is leaving for Arizona the second Tavares is named captain

*gets ready for 3 months of captain garbage..
- Fruitcakenipple

No doubt. Get the Dreger quotes

Fuk that jackass...Dont need that trash anywhere near what we are building..
- Fruitcakenipple

Aaaalllllllrighty then..

No doubt. Get the Dreger quotes
- AdamFrench

*gets ready for 3 months of captain garbage..
- Fruitcakenipple

Just make him the captain and be done with it.

- Fruitcakenipple

Matthews is leaving for Arizona the second Tavares is named captain
- HealthyScratch6

Thats fine OEL+ will be coming back..

They have Marleau on the squad who had his C stripped. Nobody has captained a professional team other than he or Tavares. It's a pretty unique situation. Just by his rep, I think nobody would have an issue with Tavares as captain. Especially since Kadri would probably be a huge supporter.
- AdamFrench

Kadri has seniority and once upon a time thought he could be as good as Tavares.

I think it's something they should decide after a year of playing together if there's any question marks. If they just all decide that Tavares is the guy, then so be it, I'm just saying if it's not so clear early in the year, I'd rather Babcock and/or management let them play it out and not force anything.