My biggest concern now that Tavares signed with the Leafs is whether I should be annoyingly cocky towards other fanbases or annoyingly humble and passive aggressive.
- TheMussel

Stick with the bipolar thingy.

Agreed. People say trade Nylander for a young, top pairing D...but are never specific. Who? Unless you were trading for a true upcoming star DMan, Nylander is going to be the best player in that kind of deal. I think they can improve the D a lot internally and with some prudent additions rather than a big splash kind of deal.

We already saw the Pens and freaking Vegas win and/or be contenders without a big, star D (Pens won without Letang). Trading Nylander is such a Chia on XBox idea.
- Zezel

Sign De Haan, he's underrated. Free.

We have Liljegren waiting. Plus the option of trading Kap at the deadline for a UFA d is there....

Also I feel the Leafs team defence may improve because of their forward group changes. Addition by subtraction by removing JVR and Bozak as much as I like those players, they don't play D. And the very young forward group getting better at defence with experience and coaching. As can the current D corps itself.

You must be new here.
- gravyface

I'm just curious. 'Cause I've always loved Rick Nash.

I am absolutely loving Hockeybuzz at the moment.

I am absolutely loving Hockeybuzz at the moment.
- walshyleafsfan

It's thoroughly good right now. Profoundly tasty.

Agreed. People say trade Nylander for a young, top pairing D...but are never specific. Who? Unless you were trading for a true upcoming star DMan, Nylander is going to be the best player in that kind of deal. I think they can improve the D a lot internally and with some prudent additions rather than a big splash kind of deal.

We already saw the Pens and freaking Vegas win and/or be contenders without a big, star D (Pens won without Letang). Trading Nylander is such a Chia on XBox idea.
- Zezel

There's been a few that give pause: Nylander for Faulk? No way. Nylander for Hanifin? Ekblad? Trouba? I'd really have to think about that hard.

There's been a few that give pause: Nylander for Faulk? No way. Nylander for Hanifin? Ekblad? Trouba? I'd really have to think about that hard.
- gravyface

trouba would be interesting....maybe now that stasny walked it's possible?

Is this just your opinion or was this said by somebody in the know?
- GreatGigInTheSky

Also I feel the Leafs team defence may improve because of their forward group changes. Addition by subtraction by removing JVR and Bozak as much as I like those players, they don't play D. And the very young forward group getting better at defence with experience and coaching. As can the current D corps itself.
- Zezel

This is what people are forgetting.

Crosby/Malkin/Bonino was very effective in shutting down the opposition, just by smothering them with offense: it wasn't that Bonino was amazing, it was that Kessel was on that line with some worker bees who'd get him the puck.

I think we can do the same, and Kadri is a step above Bonino, plus our wingers are better than anything that Crosby has played with outside of Neal and maybe one year of Kunitz.

Quick, fast-moving D who can make that first pass is what the Leafs do have on D in abundance and that just feeds to the offensive machine.

Are they going to get hemmed in? Sure, every team does, but so much of that is forwards positioning and collapsing down low, not flying the zone too early... and all of our forwards are capable of learning to play that way.

This is what people are forgetting.

Crosby/Malkin/Bonino was very effective in shutting down the opposition, just by smothering them with offense: it wasn't that Bonino was amazing, it was that Kessel was on that line with some worker bees who'd get him the puck.

I think we can do the same, and Kadri is a step above Bonino, plus our wingers are better than anything that Crosby has played with outside of Neal and maybe one year of Kunitz.

Quick, fast-moving D who can make that first pass is what the Leafs do have on D in abundance and that just feeds to the offensive machine.

Are they going to get hemmed in? Sure, every team does, but so much of that is forwards positioning and collapsing down low, not flying the zone too early... and all of our forwards are capable of learning to play that way.
- gravyface

The fact that we can compare our team to the Penquins is giving me a raging boner.

There's been a few that give pause: Nylander for Faulk? No way. Nylander for Hanifin? Ekblad? Trouba? I'd really have to think about that hard.
- gravyface

Ekblad I'd do in a second. Hanifin I wouldn't do at all. And Trouba I don't know. He'd probably want too much money and people have said that he wants to be in the States.

- MaximusAurelius

Oh.

Anyone else have to seek medical treatment for lasting more than 4 hours last night?Funny thing was the emergency room was full of fellow leaf fans with the same issue. Sure made for some awkward chest bumps

Rielly-De Haan
Gardiner-Z
Dermott-Hainsey
Holl

I like it, De Haan can play the right side. He's a new age defensive d man.

Hainsey has his mins reduced, but still plays a ton of PK mins

Also I feel the Leafs team defence may improve because of their forward group changes. Addition by subtraction by removing JVR and Bozak as much as I like those players, they don't play D. And the very young forward group getting better at defence with experience and coaching. As can the current D corps itself.
- Zezel

But our forward group wasnt great defensively either.
Need to get Gardiner under 15 mins per game.

Anyone else have to seek medical treatment for lasting more than 4 hours last night?Funny thing was the emergency room was full of fellow leaf fans with the same issue. Sure made for some awkward chest bumps
- TonkaPhaneuf

But the circle jerk went ok?
Or did you guys do chair skiing?

Is UG ok after being embarrassingly wrong

Is UG ok after being embarrassingly wrong
- LeftCoaster

He wanted JT to sign with the leafs as well.
So im sure hes fine.

He wanted JT to sign with the leafs as well.
So im sure hes fine.
- Fakepartofme

Ok man

He wanted JT to sign with the leafs as well.
So im sure hes fine.
- Fakepartofme

At least that's what he said last night...

Lost in everything yesterday was the fact that The Geek signed marincin and jordan subban.

Facking marincin.

Ok man
- Santo_44

He did. Mentioned it several times.
It just got lost in all the other negative stuff.

He did. Mentioned it several times.
It just got lost in all the other negative stuff.
- Fakepartofme

Cool

Doesn't change a damn thing.

Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Kadri-Brown/Kapanen
Engvall-Lindholm-Brown/Kapanen