Sure.

To people who luv hawt takes and know little about hockey.
- Tumbleweed

Gotta be a little proud to take the Cup Champs to Game 7.

Maybe shows they aren't as far away as they feel right now.

First, bring back Curtis and send Sparks to the Lightning for a ZIPPO signed by Stamkos.

Second, see about trading Nylander for a big D of not the expensive variety.

Third, keep Kadri but tell the guy behind the bench to either keep him in check or keep him off the ice.

Fourth, discontinue the Gauthier experiment.
- sokosteve

Moving Nylander now is classic selling low. I don't need to explain why that's poor asset management.

The Goat looked better than ever, it's not an experiment it's development.

How does anyone keep a hot-tempered guy in check 100% of the time. Marleau gets hit directly in front of him, does Babs run out and reel him in?

The suspension was dumb, he deserved it, but at least Kadri gives a damn out there and will put in on the line.

First, bring back Curtis and send Sparks to the Lightning for a ZIPPO signed by Stamkos.

Second, see about trading Nylander for a big D of not the expensive variety.

Third, keep Kadri but tell the guy behind the bench to either keep him in check or keep him off the ice.

Fourth, discontinue the Gauthier experiment.
- sokosteve

Joseph?

Torn on Sparks, it wasn't a great year. He is signed cheap for another year and this is a 25yo Calder Cup winner.

For all the chatter about giving up on guys too soon, it would be pretty Leafy for him to go on to become a quality tender.

Goalie is such a hard position to hide a players struggles though so I have mixed opinions on that.

Torn on Sparks, it wasn't a great year. He is signed cheap for another year and this is a 25yo Calder Cup winner.

For all the chatter about giving up on guys too soon, it would be pretty Leafy for him to go on to become a quality tender.

Goalie is such a hard position to hide a players struggles though so I have mixed opinions on that.
- Blazed

Here's two reasons why Sparks doesn't really matter.

1) He's garbage and his future is a back-up, at best.

2) Andersen is the starter and we don't need a starter. A solid back-up is good enough.

And if Andersen walks as a UFA in a couple years, Sparks shouldn't ever be considered a long term option to replace him. He did alright in the AHL but his NHL future is fundamentally low ceiling.

Unlike previous goalie mistakes the Leafs have made, this guy doesn't actually have the potential.

Torn on Sparks, it wasn't a great year. He is signed cheap for another year and this is a 25yo Calder Cup winner.

For all the chatter about giving up on guys too soon, it would be pretty Leafy for him to go on to become a quality tender.

Goalie is such a hard position to hide a players struggles though so I have mixed opinions on that.
- Blazed

Who gives a (frank). He poop the bed in the NHL.

I don’t understand why some people are so comfortable with mediocrity. Things happen fast now in hockey and you have to try to win every year. Trim the fat every offseason, and add where you think you lack.

Who gives a (frank). He poop the bed in the NHL.

I don’t understand why some people are so comfortable with mediocrity. Things happen fast now in hockey and you have to try to win every year. Trim the fat every offseason, and add where you think you lack.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Hey I'm not in love with the guy, but what if he is a top 10 backup next year hypothetically? Would it be smart to move on from that guy just because?

In a cap crunch year where he's signed for 750K.

Here's two reasons why Sparks doesn't really matter.

1) He's garbage and his future is a back-up, at best.

2) Andersen is the starter and we don't need a starter. A solid back-up is good enough.

And if Andersen walks as a UFA in a couple years, Sparks shouldn't ever be considered a long term option to replace him. He did alright in the AHL but his NHL future is fundamentally low ceiling.

Unlike previous goalie mistakes the Leafs have made, this guy doesn't actually have the potential.
- JohnFergusonJr

Somebody was just complaining that we let go of Scott Harrington. I don't think anyone on these boards is qualified to judge goalie potential to be fair.

Hey I'm not in love with the guy, but what if he is a top 10 backup next year hypothetically? Would it be smart to move on from that guy just because?

In a cap crunch year where he's signed for 750K.
- Blazed

Just because he sucks.

Hutch looked far better at the NHL level, they don’t need to go find another backup.

Happy with Dubas but my god I respect the poop out of Lou. What a boss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVe_8rZ5T0Y

A bookmarked gem.

Just because he sucks.

Hutch looked far better at the NHL level, they don’t need to go find another backup.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Hutchinson isn't the answer either.
Top part of the goal shots 9 out of 10 go in.
(yes, he's much better than Sparks).

Leafs need to invest in quality backup goalie.
there really aren't a lot of options out there though..
probably best would be Brian Elliott - but he would come at 1.75mln AAV, and probably a 2y contract.
He's not great.
But at least he's an NHL goalie that can play 25 games and more if needed in case of injury of Andersen.

Hutchinson isn't the answer either.
Top part of the goal shots 9 out of 10 go in.
(yes, he's much better than Sparks).

Leafs need to invest in quality backup goalie.
there really aren't a lot of options out there though..
probably best would be Brian Elliott - but he would come at 1.75mln AAV, and probably a 2y contract.
He's not great.
But at least he's an NHL goalie that can play 25 games and more if needed in case of injury of Andersen.
- MaximusAurelius

Curtis McIllhenney is a UFA this summer. Could be got for the same as Sparks and he was solid for us.

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

Cool, now tell us why Winnipeg hasn't won a cup in like ever.

Who would take Willy now? Maybe someone but the return will stink. Should have been traded prior to signing as there were teams interested. Either way 10 million for a 21 year old RFA while your sitting in 2nd overall is lunacy. Then factor in the 10 million made it so they couldn't trade for a rental even if they wanted to or needed to. If any contender had lost a top 4 d man in february you can bet they would have grabbed a rental. I think they are stuck with Willy now. The cap situation is so bad next year. And people can blame the Marleau deal all they want, but Dubas was well aware that it was there and still caved.
- aminnes

The contract stopped them from getting another player this year, except for the fact they got muzzin?

Derp

Blue Jackets in 5.

I’d love to know how many years I’ll lose off my life expectancy because of playoff hockey

Babcock comes off exceptionally bad in this locker clean out media presser. Just awful.

Preaches accountability and then throws blame everywhere else and thinks he did everything 100% right. Contrast with dubas who took blame for everything, including the pk.

He held back Matthews minutes, trailing in the 3rd and he has the balls to complain about not having enough players.

Babcock comes off exceptionally bad in this locker clean out media presser. Just awful.

Preaches accountability and then throws blame everywhere else and thinks he did everything 100% right. Contrast with dubas who took blame for everything, including the pk.

He held back Matthews minutes, trailing in the 3rd and he has the balls to complain about not having enough players.
- burn

The part that made me give the 'Nick Nurse three second violation face' was when Babcock talked about all of the 'adjustments' he made. Really, Mike?? GTH, buddy.

The part that made me give the 'Nick Nurse three second violation face' was when Babcock talked about all of the 'adjustments' he made. Really, Mike?? GTH, buddy.
- fifty__missions

Yes, all the adjustments:

.
.
.
.


*end of list*

Yes, all the adjustments:

.
.
.
.


*end of list*
- burn

matthews was extra shifted buddy.
i guess you wanted him to play 25mins??

Gotta be a little proud to take the Cup Champs to Game 7.

Maybe shows they aren't as far away as they feel right now.
- JohnFergusonJr

I agree with this, generally you want to get beat by the best and wishing luck to your opponent is sporting. It just makes me chuke cause I'm spiteful and full of hate.

matthews was extra shifted buddy.
i guess you wanted him to play 25mins??
- MaximusAurelius

He played 18mins.

6mins while trailing in the 3rd.

Not much more than marleau or the goat.


Umm, sure play your best players a lot. More chance of success.

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

Gotta be a little proud to take the Cup Champs to Game 7.

Maybe shows they aren't as far away as they feel right now.
- JohnFergusonJr

If it was conference finals that they lost to Boston in game 7 and Boston would go to win the cup then maybe.

Losing first round again though doesn’t help anything.

He played 18mins.

6mins while trailing in the 3rd.

Not much more than marleau or the goat.


Umm, sure play your best players a lot. More chance of success.
- burn

Not to mention bummed knee hyman played more then Matthews and there were no penalty kill minutes for hyman. And hyman doesn’t play pp. they should’ve double shifted Matthews with marner and hyman.

Also hyman not being able to put pressure on his knee and taking pk draws and losing continuously and ending up in the back of net is frustrating. Should have made adjustments!

If the Leafs did what I think, they would have beat Boston, easily.