I've read this a few times. JT talked to a lot of people about where he might go and he mentioned Marleau talking to him about the difficulty in leaving your first team that you've played with for a long team, as well as telling him how much fun he'd have in Toronto. - Thecakeisalie
Yep, there's no question he would.
It's (frank)ing great. What a great weekend for Leafs fans.
All we need is De Haan and I will be thrilled and could care less what Dubas does from now until opening day
we're back to knowing everything again after being defeated by an impossibility (Leafs got lucky), but still being somehow right, just 1 day earlier. cool - daeth
Fixed as per UG's instructions.
Like Tanner, when he's wrong, it's cause things didn't go the way they should've and we got too lucky, but he was really right cause it should've gone differently.
Now that the Leafs have a promising future I wouldn't be surprised to see other players born in this area make the same decision he made.
For the longest time, Leafs were horrible so I don't blame UFA's for not giving it a thought.
Times are different now. - LeafGuy89
I think this is it entirely. What star would want to come "save" the team when it was garbage and they'd just fail spectacularly? Instead of being a hero, they'd have been made into a goat by media and disappointed fans. It's like Tavares in Long Island. He was great, but not enough with the poop team around him.
Now that the team actually has a promising future, who wouldn't want to be a part of it?
That's the thing with the whole "pressure and tough place to play" stuff. It's only tough if the team sucks. If they are good, you get idolized like Gilmour, Sundin, Clark, and all the guys on legends row. Those guys get brought back for ovations when they can barely get around with walkers.
Marleau is a better asset to have than JVR for a bunch of reasons-
1) offensively they’re about par. JVR had a huge season last year, but he generally scores just a hair under 30. Neither is a big playmaker
2)The tiny edge JVR has offensively is greatly outweighed by Marleau’s defensive ability. He is a legitimate shutdown winger.
3) Marleau is a hard-working player, with tons of experience to go with his skill. He’s already taken a few of the Leafs’ youngsters under his wing. What does giving JVR a big contract teach guys? Be good at one thing and don’t give a (frank) about any other aspect of the game, and we’ll reward you? Great example.
4) Marleau is cheaper, with less time left on his contract. When Matthews and Marner’s contracts kick in, he’ll have one year left, with most of his money being paid July 1st. If the Leafs need to clear cap badly, he’s a lot easier to work with than what would be 4 more years of a declining, more expensive asset in JVR.
And make no mistake, when JVR starts to go, it won’t be the slow and steady decline like Marleau. JVR’s game is based on one trait- tipping picks. It’s not easy, and he’s one of the best at it, but if he can’t get moving fast enough to get in position, and is getting caught behind the play more and more frequently, he will struggle, and his team will regret the contract. Marleau is a cerebral player who contributes quite a bit even when he’s not scoring. - Feeling Glucky?
Location: The centre of the hockey universe Joined: 07.31.2006
Jul 2 @ 6:21 PM ET
Tavares still signs with or without Marleau. Every writer in the Toronto media needs a fluff piece right now. - Unholy_Goalie
I find it facinating that three days ago you were an expert on why Tavares was not coming to Toronto, and today you are an expert on why Tavares is coming to Toronto.
Location: Its better to let people think you're an idiot, than to open your mouth and confirm their suspicions, NS Joined: 07.05.2010
Jul 2 @ 8:15 PM ET
Also, the Marleau contract was stupid and cost us JVR.
JVR signed for 7 million a year for 5 years. Would much, much, much rather have JVR during his prime years (and no poopty 6th and 7th year either) than Marleau right now on his last legs.
JVR, Tavares, Marner, Matthews and Nylander on the PP. - Unholy_Goalie
Location: God Leafs Satan The Oneness, ON Joined: 02.28.2011
Jul 2 @ 8:56 PM ET
Havent been able to comment on the JT hoopla because I've been away for the weekend.
So here it is.
Congrats Toronto. As much as (Lots of) you guys thought you could do it last year, I never gave you a chance.
And as much as you guys think you can do it this year.............
Yeah, I give you a chance. A big one.
I'm almost happy he signed with you guys just so we dont have to hear about another big name free agent always somehow landing there (But never landing there)
A jokes aside. Leafs are arguably the deepest team in the league at Centre now and With a the addidtion of one more blue liner be it now, during the season or the deadline, You guys are essentially right there.
Your team is not as dislikeable as they were a decade ago. They're young, fast and fun. Your fans are still a pain in the side but the team aint too bad
Not to mention the old regime vs the new is night and day in terms of the way the franchise is run.
Good luck, ladies and gents. Could be a fun few years in TO
Cheers. - vancity787
Classy sportsmanlike take, cheers Van. That Boeser is a gem.
Location: usually UG offends everyone by telling the truth - dt99999, ON Joined: 08.23.2006
Jul 2 @ 9:52 PM ET
Marleau is a better asset to have than JVR for a bunch of reasons-
1) offensively they’re about par. JVR had a huge season last year, but he generally scores just a hair under 30. Neither is a big playmaker
2)The tiny edge JVR has offensively is greatly outweighed by Marleau’s defensive ability. He is a legitimate shutdown winger.
3) Marleau is a hard-working player, with tons of experience to go with his skill. He’s already taken a few of the Leafs’ youngsters under his wing. What does giving JVR a big contract teach guys? Be good at one thing and don’t give a (frank) about any other aspect of the game, and we’ll reward you? Great example.
4) Marleau is cheaper, with less time left on his contract. When Matthews and Marner’s contracts kick in, he’ll have one year left, with most of his money being paid July 1st. If the Leafs need to clear cap badly, he’s a lot easier to work with than what would be 4 more years of a declining, more expensive asset in JVR.
And make no mistake, when JVR starts to go, it won’t be the slow and steady decline like Marleau. JVR’s game is based on one trait- tipping picks. It’s not easy, and he’s one of the best at it, but if he can’t get moving fast enough to get in position, and is getting caught behind the play more and more frequently, he will struggle, and his team will regret the contract. Marleau is a cerebral player who contributes quite a bit even when he’s not scoring. - Feeling Glucky?
In the next 5 years, JVR will score more goals than Marleau and he's not going to fall apart in the next 5 years, Marleau is the one who is 38 going on 39, remember that. Unless the Leafs win the Cup in the next two years and Marleau is a huge part of it, they are better off with JVR.
Location: usually UG offends everyone by telling the truth - dt99999, ON Joined: 08.23.2006
Jul 2 @ 9:52 PM ET
Oh come on guys, so he didn't really believe JT would sign here, it's not like he was some sort of high and mighty douche bag constantly suggesting any reasons for Tavares to sign with the Leafs were idiotic, right?
Oh wait.
Hmm, looks like he did just do all that.
Oh and wait, what's this?
This is great. - Thecakeisalie
It's great because you still had no proof to believe any of that and history, 99 times out of 100, went the opposite way.
In the next 5 years, JVR will score more goals than Marleau and he's not going to fall apart in the next 5 years, Marleau is the one who is 38 going on 39, remember that. Unless the Leafs win the Cup in the next two years and Marleau is a huge part of it, they are better off with JVR. - Unholy_Goalie
I wouldn't be surprised if Marleau is a valuable contributor for longer than JVR, but the shortness of Marleau's contract is one of the pluses he has over JVR. We couldn't afford him long-term anyways, with Tavares signed + the big-3 needing contracts, and upgrades to be made on the defense.
