Nylander > Marner at EV.
- Dongull_Trump

I'm going to conveniently throw out Nylander's first year, because: a) the Leafs sucked: and b) it was only 22 games.

Over the last two seasons, Nylander has one more goal than Marner. Marner has 9 more assists (Nylander has 4 more games).

0.82 ppg for Marner
0.75 ppg for Nylander

Marner averages 15 seconds more per game.

In my humble opinion, they should get the same deals.

So if I'm the Leafs, I'd go at Marner hard. Play the hometown boy angle - take less to bring the cup home. Be the man.

Sign Marner first to box in Nylander.

I know you are reading this, Dubas.

You're welcome.

Pretty sure he signed him so he'd be on the team.

If he wasn't convinced, he would have offered a two-way contract or just an invitation to camp.
- Scabeh

At 650K, it's pretty much a two-way contract, just guarantees he gets paid big league money if he gets sent down and won't affect the cap because it's an amount that can be buried.

Waste of a roster spot as far as I'm concerned. He has 16 goals in the past 3 years combined and he's possibly the smallest player in the league. He brings nothing to the table that the Leafs don't already have too much of.

Camp is just barely starting much less over yet. He shouldn't be saying he's on the team full time yet. He basically handed him a spot by the sound of it and he's done (frank) all to earn one. Signing him is one mistake, handing him a spot is another one.
- Unholy_Goalie

If you were Dubas, what would you tell the media?

Realistically, you are going to take every chance to make people believe the signing was a good one..
If he plays, that's awesome.. If he doesn't, oh well.. To MLSE, $650k is like finding change in the couch cushions.

According to you everything they do is a mistake.
- shack67

What else is he gonna say?

Honestly?

We signed him, because we feel like he will provide absolutely no value?
- PatC80

Dude is not fan. Never read a positive thing in the 2 months I have been on here, from that guy.

I'm going to conveniently throw out Nylander's first year, because: a) the Leafs sucked: and b) it was only 22 games.

Over the last two seasons, Nylander has one more goal than Marner. Marner has 9 more assists (Nylander has 4 more games).

0.82 ppg for Marner
0.75 ppg for Nylander

Marner averages 15 seconds more per game.

In my humble opinion, they should get the same deals.

So if I'm the Leafs, I'd go at Marner hard. Play the hometown boy angle - take less to bring the cup home. Be the man.

Sign Marner first to box in Nylander.

I know you are reading this, Dubas.

You're welcome.
- Atomic Wedgie

Not a bad idea, but.... Why would Marner sign now?

According to you everything they do is a mistake.
- shack67

Exactly right.

Pretty sure he signed him so he'd be on the team.

If he wasn't convinced, he would have offered a two-way contract or just an invitation to camp.
- Scabeh

Leafs don't use two-way contracts with vets - it's one way they are using their financial might to gain an advantage.

See Clune, Rich.

I'm going to conveniently throw out Nylander's first year, because: a) the Leafs sucked: and b) it was only 22 games.

Over the last two seasons, Nylander has one more goal than Marner. Marner has 9 more assists (Nylander has 4 more games).

0.82 ppg for Marner
0.75 ppg for Nylander

Marner averages 15 seconds more per game.

In my humble opinion, they should get the same deals.

So if I'm the Leafs, I'd go at Marner hard. Play the hometown boy angle - take less to bring the cup home. Be the man.

Sign Marner first to box in Nylander.

I know you are reading this, Dubas.

You're welcome.
- Atomic Wedgie

However, Marner played with some garbage players whom he carried on his back. Babcock's logic was that Marner was good enough to drive a line by himself. And he was right because that's exactly what Marner did, specifically for JVR.

Nylander, on the other hand, plays with Matthews. So all of Nylander's numbers, as good as he is, have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Hyman isn't a 15 goal scorer without Matthews either.

If anything, get Marner his deal and Nylander should make a touch less.

But Marner, having the chance to play with Tavares, no (frank)ing way he signs a deal before this year is over. Same with Matthews. They want those numbers as inflated as they can get them. I wouldn't be surprised to see them take nights off defensively to cheat up ice and score more goals / points, turn the games into 7-6 pond hockey games.

They may sit him for a while and make an example of him.
- Ear Hole

That’d be stupid.

I feel like there are a lot of bad takes on these boards unfortunately.

If you were Dubas, what would you tell the media?

Realistically, you are going to take every chance to make people believe the signing was a good one..
If he plays, that's awesome.. If he doesn't, oh well.. To MLSE, $650k is like finding change in the couch cushions.
- PatC80

1. Don't sign Ennis.

2. If you do sign Ennis, say he's got to battle for his spot and nothing is guaranteed.

If Dermott has to battle for his spot, Ennis can fight for his spot too.

And yes, 650K is pocket change. Either they get a 4th liner cheap or a boost to the Marlies. They're flexing their financial power because Ennis would probably tear up the AHL but wouldn't do it for 80K.

However, Marner played with some garbage players whom he carried on his back. Babcock's logic was that Marner was good enough to drive a line by himself. And he was right because that's exactly what Marner did, specifically for JVR.

Nylander, on the other hand, plays with Matthews. So all of Nylander's numbers, as good as he is, have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Hyman isn't a 15 goal scorer without Matthews either.

If anything, get Marner his deal and Nylander should make a touch less.

But Marner, having the chance to play with Tavares, no (frank)ing way he signs a deal before this year is over. Same with Matthews. They want those numbers as inflated as they can get them. I wouldn't be surprised to see them take nights off defensively to cheat up ice and score more goals / points, turn the games into 7-6 pond hockey games.
- Unholy_Goalie

Perhaps you missed the line about playing the hometown boy angle.

Marner is not even close to an 11 mil player..
- ClarksonDavid

If he scores 80 or 90 points this year and Tavares got 11 million, you can bet your ass his agent is going to sell him as an 11 million dollar player.

As an RFA and through negotiations it'll come down but if he has a big year, his agent will start at 11 million just like Nylander is starting at 8 million. Eventually that number comes closer to the middle ground but that's where the negotiations will start.

If you were Dubas, what would you tell the media?

Realistically, you are going to take every chance to make people believe the signing was a good one..
If he plays, that's awesome.. If he doesn't, oh well.. To MLSE, $650k is like finding change in the couch cushions.
- PatC80

he would have signed Vermette instead

If he scores 80 or 90 points this year and Tavares got 11 million, you can bet your ass his agent is going to sell him as an 11 million dollar player.

As an RFA and through negotiations it'll come down but if he has a big year, his agent will start at 11 million just like Nylander is starting at 8 million. Eventually that number comes closer to the middle ground but that's where the negotiations will start.
- Unholy_Goalie

So in other words... he’s not an 11 million dollar player..

Perhaps you missed the line about playing the hometown boy angle.
- Atomic Wedgie

I saw it but how much per year you think that takes off? 500K? 1 million?

There's a fine line between getting paid like the hometown boy and the hometown hero. Who's side do you think the fans take?

1. Don't sign Ennis.

2. If you do sign Ennis, say he's got to battle for his spot and nothing is guaranteed.

If Dermott has to battle for his spot, Ennis can fight for his spot too.

And yes, 650K is pocket change. Either they get a 4th liner cheap or a boost to the Marlies. They're flexing their financial power because Ennis would probably tear up the AHL but wouldn't do it for 80K.
- Unholy_Goalie

So, you would tell the media; "Well first, I regret signing him, and secondly; we feel Ennis might be good for the Marlies."

Kevin Papetti
‏ @KPapetti
Sep 16

Over/Under points per 82 games:

1. Tavares: 81.5
2. Matthews: 81.5
3. Marner: 72.5
4. Nylander: 67.5
5. Kadri: 54.5
6. Marleau: 45.5
7. Hyman: 34.5
8. Johnsson: 33.5
9. Kapanen: 29.5
10. Brown: 28.5
11. Ennis: 26.5
12. Lindholm: 18.5

Let's hear your predictions

So in other words... he’s not an 11 million dollar player..
- ClarksonDavid

He could very well be. People have said he's the next P. Kane. If he is, that's 11 per year. I think he can be as good as setting up goals as Matthews is at scoring them. He plays hard, he backchecks, may of been their best playoff player last year. He's a bit small but he's a wizard with the puck. Reality is, kids are going to get paid.

he would have signed Vermette instead
- senstroll

Dubas: "We felt like we were getting ripped off.. Vermette feels like he is worth $800k and we couldn't justify paying him that much."

1. Don't sign Ennis.

2. If you do sign Ennis, say he's got to battle for his spot and nothing is guaranteed.

If Dermott has to battle for his spot, Ennis can fight for his spot too.

And yes, 650K is pocket change. Either they get a 4th liner cheap or a boost to the Marlies. They're flexing their financial power because Ennis would probably tear up the AHL but wouldn't do it for 80K.
- Unholy_Goalie

maybe just a different way to motivate players?

you can say you expect someone to be in the lineup, but there are no weak spots..so he has to preform and earn it, they wont just give him a spot.

honestly though..these preseason comments are pretty useless and just ignore them

So, you would tell the media; "Well first, I regret signing him, and secondly; we feel Ennis might be good for the Marlies."
- PatC80

I wouldn't have signed him, first. But since he did, just say he has to earn a spot, not that he's expected to be on the team all year. It's a kick in the balls to all the Marlies fighting for a spot when some garbage signing is being handed a full time spot.

He could very well be. People have said he's the next P. Kane. If he is, that's 11 per year. I think he can be as good as setting up goals as Matthews is at scoring them. He plays hard, he backchecks, may of been their best playoff player last year. He's a bit small but he's a wizard with the puck. Reality is, kids are going to get paid.
- Unholy_Goalie

Was almost as good as Plekanec!

1. Don't sign Ennis.

2. If you do sign Ennis, say he's got to battle for his spot and nothing is guaranteed.

If Dermott has to battle for his spot, Ennis can fight for his spot too.

And yes, 650K is pocket change. Either they get a 4th liner cheap or a boost to the Marlies. They're flexing their financial power because Ennis would probably tear up the AHL but wouldn't do it for 80K.
- Unholy_Goalie

Yes, I'm sure that once he heard that come out of Dubas' mouth, he immediately pounded back a meat lovers' pizza and 2 pitchers. He knows he doesn't have to work anymore - he has sewn up his roster spot.

https://www.theglobeandma...-career-with-maple-leafs/

With 105 goals and 153 assists in 492 career games, Ennis has made a living by finding and creating space for himself.

He doesn’t plan to change that formula.

“I’m obviously not the biggest guy,” he said. “I’ve kind of learned growing up just to always be moving and shake defenders.”

Should he make the Leafs, Ennis will no doubt be pushed further down the lineup when Nylander eventually returns to the fold, but he’s made some early waves with teammates, including a shot block in one of the scrimmages at camp in Niagara Falls, Ont.

“I’m going to sell out,” he said. “If I’m not working hard and I’m not going the extra mile ... I know what I’m up against. I have to work twice as hard to gain respect again and show people I’m ready to put the effort in.”

Ennis knows full well that he could be running out of chances in a league that continues to get faster and younger.

“I don’t feel pressure, I feel excitement,” Ennis said. “I’m a little bit older and experienced now. I’ve had situations growing up dating back as a kid where you’ve had to earn a lineup spot.

“I just have to work hard and show people what I can do.”