I'd take Ristolainen for Willy. He played almost 30 minutes a game on a bad team. He plays PP and PK plus plays with an edge. He's a right shot with size. Play him 22 minutes a night and you'd have a top 4 defender on a contending team. Tampa was after him at the trade deadline, so someone must have seen something that they could use in a playoff series. Willy was a no-show for the Leafs, after getting paid.
- PrinceLH

huge pass on him.

Sure he plays on a bad team, but maybe he contribues to the badness

I just looked and he is a career -143 in 424 games
Thats seems bad...if you put stock into plus minus

Jake Gardiner who is bad is a +9 in his career in 550 games

(frank) the Bruins.

That is all

Jesus facking Christ.
Although he got points, he wasn't great defensively in Toronto. Made a lot of mistakes.
Cliff Fletcher traded him, not the fans. Fletcher made the horrible trade. To a Stanley cup contending team.
- Fakepartofme

Murphy was terrible in Toronto because other teams would double-forecheck him, while the Leafs forwards waited at the opposite blueline for the outlet pass. Murphy had a choice: make a risky pass or be murdered behind the net - 30 times a night.

Cliff Fletcher traded him as an act of mercy - this is very, very well documented.

The idiot fans - and I was one of them - tarred and feathered the poor bastard.

Most fans would scream “woot woot woot” whenever he touched the puck. My brother and I would scream “Larry Alert! Larry Alert!”

We should all feel shame.

You guys put up a hypothetical lineup with the cap. Maybe some of those guys need to be moved, since the Leafs weren't good enough to beat the Bruins in the 1st round. Do we really need to keep all of the small forwards and pay them bigger money? The same thing will happen in perpetuity if you keep this team together. Moving out a Brown or a player like him does nothing to make this team better. It's already worse with Gardiner, who needed to leave, not coming back. Time to amp up, get bigger and show more grit along the boards and on the back end, if the Leafs ever want to get out of the first round. Too many armchair quarterbacks have fallen in love with this roster. It is what it is......built for the regular season, not the playoffs. Sounds allot like the Ottawa Senators 15 to 20 years ago.

You guys put up a hypothetical lineup with the cap. Maybe some of those guys need to be moved, since the Leafs weren't good enough to beat the Bruins in the 1st round. Do we really need to keep all of the small forwards and pay them bigger money? The same thing will happen in perpetuity if you keep this team together. Moving out a Brown or a player like him does nothing to make this team better. It's already worse with Gardiner, who needed to leave, not coming back. Time to amp up, get bigger and show more grit along the boards and on the back end, if the Leafs ever want to get out of the first round. Too many armchair quarterbacks have fallen in love with this roster. It is what it is......built for the regular season, not the playoffs. Sounds allot like the Ottawa Senators 15 to 20 years ago.
- PrinceLH

Nylander + 2nd rounder for Lucic?

Do you really think Babs is a big enough POS to do that to a hall of famer? He's a Leaf, he will play, he isn't going anywhere. And Dubas knew this when he negotiated the contracts he negotiated.
- aminnes

You mean Lou not Dubas right...

You guys put up a hypothetical lineup with the cap. Maybe some of those guys need to be moved, since the Leafs weren't good enough to beat the Bruins in the 1st round. Do we really need to keep all of the small forwards and pay them bigger money? The same thing will happen in perpetuity if you keep this team together. Moving out a Brown or a player like him does nothing to make this team better. It's already worse with Gardiner, who needed to leave, not coming back. Time to amp up, get bigger and show more grit along the boards and on the back end, if the Leafs ever want to get out of the first round. Too many armchair quarterbacks have fallen in love with this roster. It is what it is......built for the regular season, not the playoffs. Sounds allot like the Ottawa Senators 15 to 20 years ago.
- PrinceLH

Maybe Boston is just a really good team.
I read on here how Heavy Columbus would fare better since they play the right game for the playoffs...or something

they lasted 6 games.

Its an overreaction to a coin flip series. Dubas will stay the course and keep plugging away at building a deep skilled team. He hasnt really got his stamp on the Leafs yet

Nylander + 2nd rounder for Lucic?
- Atomic Wedgie

Nylander for a top 4 defenseman that shoots right. The Leafs can back-fill from the Marlies. Marchment needs a shot, as do the two Russians that just signed with the Leafs. They all have size and the ability to go to the net. The Leafs have too many perimeter players and are easily boxed out, once the opposition defense take away their passing lanes. The Leafs need players that can go to the dirty areas and win puck battles. I'm tired of the Bolshoi out there, when they run into a bigger, tougher opponent.

Nylander + 2nd rounder for Lucic?
- Atomic Wedgie

You guys put up a hypothetical lineup with the cap. Maybe some of those guys need to be moved, since the Leafs weren't good enough to beat the Bruins in the 1st round. Do we really need to keep all of the small forwards and pay them bigger money? The same thing will happen in perpetuity if you keep this team together. Moving out a Brown or a player like him does nothing to make this team better. It's already worse with Gardiner, who needed to leave, not coming back. Time to amp up, get bigger and show more grit along the boards and on the back end, if the Leafs ever want to get out of the first round. Too many armchair quarterbacks have fallen in love with this roster. It is what it is......built for the regular season, not the playoffs. Sounds allot like the Ottawa Senators 15 to 20 years ago.
- PrinceLH

Your assumption is that the team is in stasis, whereas the core of the team is very young and continuing to get better. They are, typically, years away from their physical peak yet.

That's Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Johnsson, Kapanen, Rielly and Dermott all under the age of 25 (Rielly did just turn 25 in March). That skilled group is getting better. The only player in historical physical decline on the team is Marleau (not to mention obvious physical decline).

In other words, if you did nothing and let the same team grow another year, they would very likely be better. The speed bumps come in the form of replacing experience with rookies.

Maybe Boston is just a really good team.
I read on here how Heavy Columbus would fare better since they play the right game for the playoffs...or something

they lasted 6 games.

Its an overreaction to a coin flip series. Dubas will stay the course and keep plugging away at building a deep skilled team. He hasnt really got his stamp on the Leafs yet
- senstroll

There are many skills. Skating is one, another is team defense. Another is building a great Power Play and a great Penalty Kill. The Leafs are pretty one dimensional, right now. They lack toughness to go with the skill and to build a cohesive team. In other words, the Leafs need to diversify.

Your assumption is that the team is in stasis, whereas the core of the team is very young and continuing to get better. They are, typically, years away from their physical peak yet.

That's Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Johnsson, Kapanen, Rielly and Dermott all under the age of 25 (Rielly did just turn 25 in March). That skilled group is getting better. The only player in historical physical decline on the team is Marleau (not to mention obvious physical decline).

In other words, if you did nothing and let the same team grow another year, they would very likely be better. The speed bumps come in the form of replacing experience with rookies.
- Monkeypunk

Out of that list of core players, you only have one star defenseman. I beg to differ on Nylander, because his point totals were skewed by playing with a true Superstar player. On his own, he's only noticed because of poor judgement on the ice. He's the forwards version of Jake Gardiner. Look good skating and handling the puck, but when he's off, he's off and a turnover machine. At just under $7M, he's expendable.

Out of that list of core players, you only have one star defenseman. I beg to differ on Nylander, because his point totals were skewed by playing with a true Superstar player. On his own, he's only noticed because of poor judgement on the ice. He's the forwards version of Jake Gardiner. Look good skating and handling the puck, but when he's off, he's off and a turnover machine. At just under $7M, he's expendable.
- PrinceLH

And here's the thing with Nylander that everyone conveniently ignores when having this conversation: There doesn't seem to be a star defenseman available for trade using Nylander as bait that's going to come in at around $7m / year.

Nylander isn't a superstar, and I don't think that's the claim. But he is a very good player. There certainly recency bias towards his performance this year stating otherwise, but I think you have rust and the pressure of living up to the contract as issues there.

Next year he has to perform. I'm not ignoring some of the signs I see. I used to call it "Samsonov disease". You have a skilled player who just gets pushed more and more to the perimiter until they are completely out of the picture. We don't know the future, obviously, but I'd bet that Nylander has more battle in his game.

Now, if the opportunity to acquire a true star RHD-man arose, Dubas would be a fool not to take it. But that opportunity isn't there and likely won't be.

It's a fantasy to blame Nylander for the absence of a star RHD on this team. He isn't the reason we don't have one.

Nylander for a top 4 defenseman that shoots right. The Leafs can back-fill from the Marlies. Marchment needs a shot, as do the two Russians that just signed with the Leafs. They all have size and the ability to go to the net. The Leafs have too many perimeter players and are easily boxed out, once the opposition defense take away their passing lanes. The Leafs need players that can go to the dirty areas and win puck battles. I'm tired of the Bolshoi out there, when they run into a bigger, tougher opponent.
- PrinceLH

I actually agree with this post.

I actually agree with this post.
- Atomic Wedgie

2nd'ed

I actually agree with this post.
- Atomic Wedgie

enjoy your ban

And here's the thing with Nylander that everyone conveniently ignores when having this conversation: There doesn't seem to be a star defenseman available for trade using Nylander as bait that's going to come in at around $7m / year.

Nylander isn't a superstar, and I don't think that's the claim. But he is a very good player. There certainly recency bias towards his performance this year stating otherwise, but I think you have rust and the pressure of living up to the contract as issues there.

Next year he has to perform. I'm not ignoring some of the signs I see. I used to call it "Samsonov disease". You have a skilled player who just gets pushed more and more to the perimiter until they are completely out of the picture. We don't know the future, obviously, but I'd bet that Nylander has more battle in his game.

Now, if the opportunity to acquire a true star RHD-man arose, Dubas would be a fool not to take it. But that opportunity isn't there and likely won't be.

It's a fantasy to blame Nylander for the absence of a star RHD on this team. He isn't the reason we don't have one.
- Monkeypunk

Nylander needs some red rover practice.

Nylander needs some red rover practice.
- TheMussel

He came all over.

I've been really enjoying pecans and sunflower seeds. I like raw pecans and toasted sunflower seeds. Both unsalted. They are great as a snack on their own, and you can sprinkle them on just about anything too! Nutritious, tasty nuts and seeds.

I've been really enjoying pecans and sunflower seeds. I like raw pecans and toasted sunflower seeds. Both unsalted. They are great as a snack on their own, and you can sprinkle them on just about anything too! Nutritious, tasty nuts and seeds.
- Zezel

Speaking of . . . Nylander coming all over your nuts?

c'mon, it'd be fine

you guys can have a thread where you dutch rudder each other while whispering things like "fire dubas" and "virtue signal"
- TheMussel

Lmao

Speaking of . . . Nylander coming all over your nuts?
- Monkeypunk

I'm sick of Nylander, we should trade him for a 2nd pairing D.





























NOT!

He came all over.
- AdamFrench

And here's the thing with Nylander that everyone conveniently ignores when having this conversation: There doesn't seem to be a star defenseman available for trade using Nylander as bait that's going to come in at around $7m / year.

Nylander isn't a superstar, and I don't think that's the claim. But he is a very good player. There certainly recency bias towards his performance this year stating otherwise, but I think you have rust and the pressure of living up to the contract as issues there.

Next year he has to perform. I'm not ignoring some of the signs I see. I used to call it "Samsonov disease". You have a skilled player who just gets pushed more and more to the perimiter until they are completely out of the picture. We don't know the future, obviously, but I'd bet that Nylander has more battle in his game.

Now, if the opportunity to acquire a true star RHD-man arose, Dubas would be a fool not to take it. But that opportunity isn't there and likely won't be.

It's a fantasy to blame Nylander for the absence of a star RHD on this team. He isn't the reason we don't have one.
- Monkeypunk

I agree with you. Nylander deserves another year to prove he's worth the money. I think he needs a pass for this season.
We can obtain an RHD via trade or UFA. It doesn't have to be a big name either, just someone that shoots right and is better than Hainsey.

*anticipating running Matthews out of town*
- AdamFrench

He’s already been traded for a right handed D. Doesn’t have to be a first pairing, we don’t need Matthews. Not gritty enough