Even if he didn't, the Leafs would still have 31.5 million (plus 5.3 million in LTIR) to sign Matthews, Marner and Karlsson. That's 36.8 million total. And it's assuming the cap stays exactly the same which it never does. Even if it goes up only 1 million per year, they'd be perfectly fine. Hyman and Brown can both be traded and replaced with ELC players. That's another 4.5 million cleared. Zaitsev can be traded, another 4.5 million cleared and replaced with an ELC if absolutely necessary (which it wouldn't be).
- Unholy_Goalie

Yes, let’s trade every player and replace them all with rookies. Brilliant. Dynasty incoming. Why aren’t you a GM? You clearly have surpassed every NHL GM with your mad NHL 18 Franchise mode skills.

What if they trade for him, lock him up for his 8yrs at 11mil and he's still garbage at defending? You know like how Gards is but with him it's only for 1 more cheap year
- Puck-us-all

Karlsson is always on the ice for more goals for than against. Karlsson has had seasons where he was on the ice for 120-130 goals for and only 80-90 against. He is literally twice the player that Gardiner is. He drives the play out of his zone and with the right forwards in front of him, he won't be spending much time in his own zone at all.

Tavares was on the ice for 114 goals against last year (worst total by a center in the past 10 years) but was a spectacular signing. But Karlsson "can't play defense" even though he's routinely on the ice for more goals for than against but stay away from him.


- Unholy_Goalie

I think it has more to do with trading away a ton of assets and paying him 11mil that turns people off.. plus we kind of need defense not more offense

Karlsson is always on the ice for more goals for than against. Karlsson has had seasons where he was on the ice for 120-130 goals for and only 80-90 against. He is literally twice the player that Gardiner is. He drives the play out of his zone and with the right forwards in front of him, he won't be spending much time in his own zone at all.
- Unholy_Goalie

Unless he twists his ankle?

Yes, let’s trade every player and replace them all with rookies. Brilliant. Dynasty incoming. Why aren’t you a GM? You clearly have surpassed every NHL GM with your mad NHL 18 Franchise mode skills.
- Steven_Seagull

The beautiful part about having players like Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Karlsson is that, as expensive as they are, they make everyone around them better. That's something that most players can't do. So yeah, get a kid on an ELC with some skill and put him with any one of the star players we have and they'll perform above their pay grade.

The beautiful part about having players like Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Karlsson is that, as expensive as they are, they make everyone around them better. That's something that most players can't do. So yeah, get a kid on an ELC with some skill and put him with any one of the star players we have and they'll perform above their pay grade.
- Unholy_Goalie

Awesome, 9 rookies up front, and 5 on defense. Nothing will go wrong.

The beautiful part about having players like Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Karlsson is that, as expensive as they are, they make everyone around them better. That's something that most players can't do. So yeah, get a kid on an ELC with some skill and put him with any one of the star players we have and they'll perform above their pay grade.
- Unholy_Goalie

*Hopfully*

I think it has more to do with trading away a ton of assets and paying him 11mil that turns people off.. plus we kind of need defense not more offense
- Puck-us-all

Trading assets for nothing makes no sense. Trading assets for another area of need is a different story.

Again, people have this stupid idea in their head they need a shot blocker or a shutdown player. Fact is, guys like that (Polak) are garbage. Would it be nice if Karlsson could be like Doughty. Of course it would be. But it doesn't mean that Karlsson can't keep the pressure out of the Leafs zone simply by being in the other teams attacking zone. This guy almost beat the Penguins by himself two years ago for (frank) sakes because they couldn't stop him.

Awesome, 9 rookies up front, and 5 on defense. Nothing will go wrong.
- Steven_Seagull

And what's the current plan? Kapanen, Johnsson, Dermott, Ozy, Liljegren; how exactly are these guys going to be any different? Hoping for a miracle that one of them turn into a Karlsson grade player?

Trading assets for nothing makes no sense. Trading assets for another area of need is a different story.

Again, people have this stupid idea in their head they need a shot blocker or a shutdown player. Fact is, guys like that (Polak) are garbage. Would it be nice if Karlsson could be like Doughty. Of course it would be. But it doesn't mean that Karlsson can't keep the pressure out of the Leafs zone simply by being in the other teams attacking zone. This guy almost beat the Penguins by himself two years ago for (frank) sakes because they couldn't stop him.
- Unholy_Goalie

So then take those assets that you want to trade so bad and pick up Brent burns.. heard he's okish

*Hopfully*
- Puck-us-all

It's more than a hope. Tavares has proven he can elevate the game of those around him. Matthews has been carrying Hyman on his back for two years. Marner carried JVR and Bozak for two years. Karlsson carried an entire poop bag Ottawa team to within one OT goal away from beating Pittsburgh and going to the Cup Finals. These guys have proven they can take lower paid, lower grade players and make them overachieve.

And what's the current plan? Kapanen, Johnsson, Dermott, Ozy, Liljegren; how exactly are these guys going to be any different? Hoping for a miracle that one of them turn into a Karlsson grade player?
- Unholy_Goalie

Don’t need a Karlsson. That’s the beauty of having one of/if not the best top-9 forward group.

So then take those assets that you want to trade so bad and pick up Brent burns.. heard he's okish
- Puck-us-all

Sharks have zero interest in trading him which means he'd probably cost you twice as much as Karlsson who has Ottawa stuck between a rock and a hard place. There's no chance you get Burns for the same price as Karlsson right now.

Don’t need a Karlsson. That’s the beauty of having one of/if not the best top-9 forward group.
- Steven_Seagull

Delusional as ever.

Trading assets for nothing makes no sense. Trading assets for another area of need is a different story.

Again, people have this stupid idea in their head they need a shot blocker or a shutdown player. Fact is, guys like that (Polak) are garbage. Would it be nice if Karlsson could be like Doughty. Of course it would be. But it doesn't mean that Karlsson can't keep the pressure out of the Leafs zone simply by being in the other teams attacking zone. This guy almost beat the Penguins by himself two years ago for (frank) sakes because they couldn't stop him.
- Unholy_Goalie

The stupid idea rolling around in my noggin has more to do with a defenseman who can play big shutdown minutes aka a need not a want (which Karlsson is)

Sharks have zero interest in trading him which means he'd probably cost you twice as much as Karlsson who has Ottawa stuck between a rock and a hard place. There's no chance you get Burns for the same price as Karlsson right now.
- Unholy_Goalie

Pfft you didn't even make an offer?

Delusional as ever.
- Unholy_Goalie

Washington Capitals.

The stupid idea rolling around in my noggin has more to do with a defenseman who can play big shutdown minutes aka a need not a want (which Karlsson is)
- Puck-us-all

This isn't 1994 anymore. A "shutdown" player like Polak is useless in the NHL now. Players like that spend most of the game in their own zone, chasing the play and giving up more chances than they create. Karlsson consistently generates more offense than he gives up. The more time you spend in the attacking zone, the less time you spend in your own zone. Karlsson doesn't chase the play, he drives the play.

Washington Capitals.
- Steven_Seagull

Had the #1 offensive defenseman on their team this year in John Carlson.



Thanks for coming out.

This isn't 1994 anymore. A "shutdown" player like Polak is useless in the NHL now. Players like that spend most of the game in their own zone, chasing the play and giving up more chances than they create. Karlsson consistently generates more offense than he gives up. The more time you spend in the attacking zone, the less time you spend in your own zone. Karlsson doesn't chase the play, he drives the play.
- Unholy_Goalie

Why do you keep bringing up polak? If that's your idea of a top line shut down guy, no wonder you think they're useless

Had the #1 offensive defenseman on their team this year in John Carlson.



Thanks for coming out.
- Unholy_Goalie

Carlson>Karlsson
Karl son

Why do you keep bringing up polak? If that's your idea of a top line shut down guy, no wonder you think they're useless
- Puck-us-all

Who else is available?

Would it be better if the Leafs could get Doughty, Hedman, Ekblad, Josi, Pietrangelo etc.? Of course. But those guys aren't available because they're happy where they are and their teams are happy with them. Outside of maybe Pietrangelo who only has 2 years left on his deal, Karlsson is the only guy openly available.

Any other "shutdown" player out there is going to be less effective than Karlsson because A) they spend too much time in their own zone chasing the play and B) aren't capable of being on the attack, driving the play and keeping the puck in the opposite end and thus, as far away from your own net as possible.

Carlson>Karlsson
Karl son
- Puck-us-all

Quite the opposite. Carlson had a career year. Karlsson at 68 points is an off year. If Karlsson played a full season, even on a poopty lottery team where a teammate's fiance was harassing him about his dead unborn child, he still would have scored more than Carlson.

Who else is available?

Would it be better if the Leafs could get Doughty, Hedman, Ekblad, Josi, Pietrangelo etc.? Of course. But those guys aren't available because they're happy where they are and their teams are happy with them. Outside of maybe Pietrangelo who only has 2 years left on his deal, Karlsson is the only guy openly available.

Any other "shutdown" player out there is going to be less effective than Karlsson because A) they spend too much time in their own zone chasing the play and B) aren't capable of being on the attack, driving the play and keeping the puck in the opposite end and thus, as far away from your own net as possible.
- Unholy_Goalie

You know we're not trading for and signing Karlsson right? I'm ok with it, you should be ok with it too!

Had the #1 offensive defenseman on their team this year in John Carlsson.



Thanks for coming out.
- Unholy_Goalie

Leafs were 1 of 3 teams to have 2 50+ point dman.