He’s a complete winger with all the qualities that you want in a player, Craig Button - TSN 2018



How do these assclowns have jobs?
- JohnFergusonJr

Oh he's a really good player and going to be an NHLer...but do you really want Hyman at 3rd overall?


Don't answer that Max.

Defense next year:

Reilly - (New Dman)
Muzzin - Zaitsev
Sandin - Dermott

Hainsey/Lilje
- AngryWhiteMale

Dubas just signed Calle Rosen to an extension. Think he figures in the d-core next season. May even start if Sandin is not ready. Don't know if Hainsey comes back but if he does will be on a 1yr deal and be a 6/7 and not play the minutes he did this year. Liljegren may be traded as a piece to acquire the New Dman.

1. I don’t think Babcock not playing Matthews in 3rd period enough cost them the series. That said, I resent Babcock’s attitude he didn’t do anything wrong to lose the series and it’s all someone else’s fault. Contrast his attitude with Nick Nurse’s after Raptors game 1 loss.

2. Dubas’ inability to sign Nylander and Matthews and soon Marner to a team friendly contract will drag Leafs forever. I can’t believe Leafs are paying that kind of money to a 2nd line winger who has no history of playoff performance, and Matthews can walk to the highest bidder in short 5 years. I mean if you are going to pay market values to every player why do you need a negotiation? Dubas seems a good man, but not sure if he has what it takes to create a winner.

Very interesting.

https://www.tsn.ca/toront...t-came-up-short-1.1296176

That brings me back to the Boston series. I know people want to focus on Babcock’s usage and deployment, or a ghastly penalty kill, or the organization’s failure to address the blueline – all topics worthy of discussion. But the part that leaves me mystified more than anything else is the fact that the Maple Leafs were outclassed at even strength by the Bruins. Most of Toronto’s star players either couldn’t get out of the defensive zone, couldn’t sustain time in the offensive zone, or a combination of sorts.

This wasn’t a series about lucky bounces. Toronto was outscored 16 to 13 at even strength (44.8 per cent) and that was probably a touch generous. Expected goals (blind to goaltender performance) in the series were 20 to 15 at even strength (42.9 per cent) in favour of Boston. Keep in mind that this is a Toronto team that owned 54.1 per cent of the goals at even strength over the regular season with the league’s second-most explosive offence.

So which players dragged Toronto down in the series? Well, that’s the thing. We can nitpick at the depth all day long, but it was largely the top-tier players who were taken out of most of the games:

Embedded Image

The list of players who owned a pitifully low percentage of the expected goals – guys like Matthews, Nylander, Gardiner, Muzzin, Tavares, Rielly, and Marner – also just so happen to be the core group of players who have driven the Leafs to where they are today.

It’s worth repeating that the goal differentials we did see were largely mirror images of how the game was played territorially. Of Toronto’s 12 most-utilized skaters in the series, only one – embattled defender Hainsey – actually drove a positive on-ice goal differential in the series. That’s also true if you isolate it to just expected goals. The rest of Toronto’s key players were either a wash in the minutes they played or were considerable negatives.

Toronto has had some frustrating postseason exits in the past, but this one is particularly problematic. How much do you weigh a seven-game series? That’s the question that the Maple Leafs front office needs to answer in short order. Because for as much as we talk about how talented their core players are (and make no mistake, they are absurdly gifted), this group was noticeably outskated by an older Boston team that shouldn’t have been able to match speed or skill against Toronto at evens.

It will be a fascinating summer in Toronto. Changes were coming well before their first-round exit, and now we sit back and see if this year’s exit – where Boston’s best simply outplayed Toronto’s best – increases the scale and magnitude of what Kyle Dubas and company plan on accomplishing.
- JohnFergusonJr

meh. Boston won because rask played great and coyle, nordstrom and krejci all shot +20%.

Boston is poop and got lucky. they about to get run the (frank) over by c-bus.

Very interesting.

https://www.tsn.ca/toront...t-came-up-short-1.1296176

That brings me back to the Boston series. I know people want to focus on Babcock’s usage and deployment, or a ghastly penalty kill, or the organization’s failure to address the blueline – all topics worthy of discussion. But the part that leaves me mystified more than anything else is the fact that the Maple Leafs were outclassed at even strength by the Bruins. Most of Toronto’s star players either couldn’t get out of the defensive zone, couldn’t sustain time in the offensive zone, or a combination of sorts.

This wasn’t a series about lucky bounces. Toronto was outscored 16 to 13 at even strength (44.8 per cent) and that was probably a touch generous. Expected goals (blind to goaltender performance) in the series were 20 to 15 at even strength (42.9 per cent) in favour of Boston. Keep in mind that this is a Toronto team that owned 54.1 per cent of the goals at even strength over the regular season with the league’s second-most explosive offence.

So which players dragged Toronto down in the series? Well, that’s the thing. We can nitpick at the depth all day long, but it was largely the top-tier players who were taken out of most of the games:

Embedded Image

The list of players who owned a pitifully low percentage of the expected goals – guys like Matthews, Nylander, Gardiner, Muzzin, Tavares, Rielly, and Marner – also just so happen to be the core group of players who have driven the Leafs to where they are today.

It’s worth repeating that the goal differentials we did see were largely mirror images of how the game was played territorially. Of Toronto’s 12 most-utilized skaters in the series, only one – embattled defender Hainsey – actually drove a positive on-ice goal differential in the series. That’s also true if you isolate it to just expected goals. The rest of Toronto’s key players were either a wash in the minutes they played or were considerable negatives.

Toronto has had some frustrating postseason exits in the past, but this one is particularly problematic. How much do you weigh a seven-game series? That’s the question that the Maple Leafs front office needs to answer in short order. Because for as much as we talk about how talented their core players are (and make no mistake, they are absurdly gifted), this group was noticeably outskated by an older Boston team that shouldn’t have been able to match speed or skill against Toronto at evens.

It will be a fascinating summer in Toronto. Changes were coming well before their first-round exit, and now we sit back and see if this year’s exit – where Boston’s best simply outplayed Toronto’s best – increases the scale and magnitude of what Kyle Dubas and company plan on accomplishing.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'm game for the nuclear option. Leafs have something like 12 spots to fill with about 14 million give or take for next year.

1. I don’t think Babcock not playing Matthews in 3rd period enough cost them the series. That said, I resent Babcock’s attitude he didn’t do anything wrong to lose the series and it’s all someone else’s fault. Contrast his attitude with Nick Nurse’s after Raptors game 1 loss.

2. Dubas’ inability to sign Nylander and Matthews and soon Marner to a team friendly contract will drag Leafs forever. I can’t believe Leafs are paying that kind of money to a 2nd line winger who has no history of playoff performance, and Matthews can walk to the highest bidder in short 5 years. I mean if you are going to pay market values to every player why do you need a negotiation? Dubas seems a good man, but not sure if he has what it takes to create a winner.
- gamerdoc

Yup.

Mathews isn't ready and JT should not be, it will be another year.
- bobbyisno1

Isn't ready???...At what age did Crosby, Toews, McDavid become Captains?? Why is Matthews pampered so much???

Won't name him Captain....doesn't play 1st PP unit.....ice time several minutes a game behind other league star forwards.....

No, there is something bigger here....something Babs or Leaf management think is flawed in Matthews. I am not sure what it is, but no other STAR player on other teams are treated, or babied, like Matthews is......crazy!

meh. Boston won because rask played great and coyle, nordstrom and krejci all shot +20%.

Boston is poop and got lucky. they about to get run the (frank) over by c-bus.
- Tumbleweed

Far from it.

Actually makes the Leafs look bad if Boston was poop (they aren't).

Not sure Columbus will have an easy time with Boston either.

Isn't ready???...At what age did Crosby, Toews, McDavid become Captains?? Why is Matthews pampered so much???

Won't name him Captain....doesn't play 1st PP unit.....ice time several minutes a game behind other league star forwards.....

No, there is something bigger here....something Babs or Leaf management think is flawed in Matthews. I am not sure what it is, but no other STAR player on other teams are treated, or babied, like Matthews is......crazy!
- hawk35

The captaincy may have gone out the window with his 5 year contract.

Do they want to give the captaincy to a guy who won't commit to 8 years?

Not sure.

Very interesting.

https://www.tsn.ca/toront...t-came-up-short-1.1296176

That brings me back to the Boston series. I know people want to focus on Babcock’s usage and deployment, or a ghastly penalty kill, or the organization’s failure to address the blueline – all topics worthy of discussion. But the part that leaves me mystified more than anything else is the fact that the Maple Leafs were outclassed at even strength by the Bruins. Most of Toronto’s star players either couldn’t get out of the defensive zone, couldn’t sustain time in the offensive zone, or a combination of sorts.

This wasn’t a series about lucky bounces. Toronto was outscored 16 to 13 at even strength (44.8 per cent) and that was probably a touch generous. Expected goals (blind to goaltender performance) in the series were 20 to 15 at even strength (42.9 per cent) in favour of Boston. Keep in mind that this is a Toronto team that owned 54.1 per cent of the goals at even strength over the regular season with the league’s second-most explosive offence.

So which players dragged Toronto down in the series? Well, that’s the thing. We can nitpick at the depth all day long, but it was largely the top-tier players who were taken out of most of the games:

Embedded Image

The list of players who owned a pitifully low percentage of the expected goals – guys like Matthews, Nylander, Gardiner, Muzzin, Tavares, Rielly, and Marner – also just so happen to be the core group of players who have driven the Leafs to where they are today.

It’s worth repeating that the goal differentials we did see were largely mirror images of how the game was played territorially. Of Toronto’s 12 most-utilized skaters in the series, only one – embattled defender Hainsey – actually drove a positive on-ice goal differential in the series. That’s also true if you isolate it to just expected goals. The rest of Toronto’s key players were either a wash in the minutes they played or were considerable negatives.

Toronto has had some frustrating postseason exits in the past, but this one is particularly problematic. How much do you weigh a seven-game series? That’s the question that the Maple Leafs front office needs to answer in short order. Because for as much as we talk about how talented their core players are (and make no mistake, they are absurdly gifted), this group was noticeably outskated by an older Boston team that shouldn’t have been able to match speed or skill against Toronto at evens.

It will be a fascinating summer in Toronto. Changes were coming well before their first-round exit, and now we sit back and see if this year’s exit – where Boston’s best simply outplayed Toronto’s best – increases the scale and magnitude of what Kyle Dubas and company plan on accomplishing.
- JohnFergusonJr

That guy needs to watch the games.

The captaincy may have gone out the window with his 5 year contract.

Do they want to give the captaincy to a guy who won't commit to 8 years?

Not sure.
- JohnFergusonJr

He wanted eight years.

He wanted eight years.
- shack67

Why didn't he get 8 years then?

Because he wanted more than 11.6 AAV and that AAV is already too high.

meh. Boston won because rask played great and coyle, nordstrom and krejci all shot +20%.

Boston is poop and got lucky. they about to get run the (frank) over by c-bus.
- Tumbleweed

Boston is all over Columbus right now. Out shooting them 10-1 with a SH goal.

I know Columbus was down 3-0 to Tampa Bay after their 1st period but Boston does not look bad against Columbus at all right now.

This is going to be a tough, long series.

Why didn't he get 8 years then?

Because he wanted more than 11.6 AAV and that AAV is already too high.
- JohnFergusonJr

The more years the higher the yearly salary. You know this. And 11.6 is not too high for Matthews.

The captaincy may have gone out the window with his 5 year contract.

Do they want to give the captaincy to a guy who won't commit to 8 years?

Not sure.
- JohnFergusonJr

It is Dubas’ incompetency to “negotiate” these horrible player friendly contracts. If the Leafs don’t win within next 5 years, do you think Matthews will come back? Or at any case, will give a home town discount?

The captaincy may have gone out the window with his 5 year contract.

Do they want to give the captaincy to a guy who won't commit to 8 years?

Not sure.
- JohnFergusonJr

Absolutely FALSE! Matthews would have signed for 8 in a split second, IF the Leafs would have paid him 13 or 14 million per (to account for the THREE extra years of FA status). Leafs were trying to save on the CAP hit, so 5 years was all they could afford. Marner's contract will be the same....5 or 6 years MAX. If they want Marner for 8, it will cost north of 13 million.

No, Matthews not being named Captain has ZERO correlation to the contract he signed. They have been babying him since day 1. Not sure why....but they have!

The more years the higher the yearly salary. You know this. And 11.6 is not too high for Matthews.
- shack67

11.6 was high enough for 8 years. Too high for 5 years.

He has nothing to his name to earn more than that outside of a Calder Trophy.

The more years the higher the yearly salary. You know this. And 11.6 is not too high for Matthews.
- shack67

Again you are talking fair market value. Keep signing your restricted FA to fair market values and see where your team goes in a salary cap league. There certainly won’t be any money left to address other needs.

It is Dubas’ incompetency to “negotiate” these horrible player friendly contracts. If the Leafs don’t win within next 5 years, do you think Matthews will come back? Or at any case, will give a home town discount?
- gamerdoc

No chance. I think he's gone unless the Leafs are the highest bidder and even that might not matter. See J. Tavares.

Holy Mackinaw, will Marleau be headed to Robideaux island. No comment from Johnny Toronto? He was probably ecstatic that he just made it to the playoffs. Marner should be the Leafs highest payed player because he's the Leafs best player. Kadri having 5 suspensions for dirty play but he claims he doesn't play this way? Now does Dubas ask daddy Shanahan what do I do next. All this with the harshest media and most critical fans scrutinize every move the team does. No wonder this team hasn't won the cup in 52 years, and counting.
- islansjet

Troll alert. Sorry to hear you are still sore your proverbial girlfriend left you. She has had her ups and downs over the last 10 months but she is happy and in a better place. She is happy you are doing well but thinks you really need to move on with your life.
Hopefully the Isles will get more than 10000 fans for the next round. Go Uncle Leo!

Absolutely FALSE! Matthews would have signed for 8 in a split second, IF the Leafs would have paid him 13 or 14 million per (to account for the THREE extra years of FA status). Leafs were trying to save on the CAP hit, so 5 years was all they could afford. Marner's contract will be the same....5 or 6 years MAX. If they want Marner for 8, it will cost north of 13 million.

No, Matthews not being named Captain has ZERO correlation to the contract he signed. They have been babying him since day 1. Not sure why....but they have!
- hawk35

Hasn't earned that price tag yet.

Dubas just signed Calle Rosen to an extension. Think he figures in the d-core next season. May even start if Sandin is not ready. Don't know if Hainsey comes back but if he does will be on a 1yr deal and be a 6/7 and not play the minutes he did this year. Liljegren may be traded as a piece to acquire the New Dman.
- floater_willy

Forgot about Rosen, yeah he will get a chance as well. Here might even start ahead of Sandin as he's still young and there's no need to rush him. That was his first year in the Pros.

Hasn't earned that price tag yet.
- JohnFergusonJr

That applies much more to the Nylander 7 million than the Mathews 11.5

I don’t know why Toronto sports teams keep hiring young executives without any experience at the helm? I mean this is not a small market to get your feet wet?

AA gave fans 2 playoffs but pretty much killed off the Jays franchise for a foreseeable future with his all-in rash bets.

Now Dubas acts as if he is agents for these players with his millennial sensibility. let’s sell the farm for these top 4... who cares if there is no money left for defense or anything else.

Raptors on the other hand, has someone with brain and sound judgment. Enviable.

That applies much more to the Nylander 7 million than the Mathews 11.5
- hawk35

It applies to both. McDavid is the standard at 12.5 million for being a legit MVP.

Getting 900K less than that for 40 goals, on a 5 year deal, is kind of ridiculous.

11.6 AAV was the right number for an 8 year deal.