If people don't think this team is dangerous, there was only one other team that took Bawston to seven games.
- bobbyisno1

So one of half the that teams took Boston to 7...

Safe picks made by competent management groups, which Dubas seems to be at the draft with his previous two late 1st round picks of defensemen. You're reaching. Come on now.

The Leafs got better by keeping their 1st round picks. Now they're starting to trade them. It's better to keep them. That's my point.
- JohnFergusonJr

Yeah Liljregren was such a safe pick.

Thats why he dropped from #2 to #17 in a year.

Yeah stop reaching.

Told ya Marleau was gone though.

Done in one of the worst possible ways but the writing was always on the wall.

I think the #1 reason it cost them a 1st round pick was because it's June 22nd.

That means Carolina has to pay his bonus.

And the Leafs couldn't wait until July 1st to pay the bonus because of the threat of offersheets and potentially being unable to match one.
- JohnFergusonJr

The only thing that bothers me is it's kinda handcuffed them in the ability to add a first in a trade for a good Dman. Other then that oh well..

Devils with another trade john hayden for John quenneville

could cost them an unprotected 1st in '21...
- 21peter

like a ham sandwich without the mustard

no they couldn't wait to trade him b/c the buyout period ends. He was only waiving NMC for a buyout.
- The Law

The first buyout period, there's another around arbitration time but it's more complicated.

My point is, any team taking Marleau has to pay his bonus and that likely helped the case for the Leafs being forced to give up a 1st round pick.

Is Brian Lawton drunk? Or does he always slur his words?
- gergeswillems

He always seems really stoned to me, I always crack up when hes talking

The first buyout period, there's another around arbitration time but it's more complicated.

My point is, any team taking Marleau has to pay his bonus and that likely helped the case for the Leafs being forced to give up a 1st round pick.
- JohnFergusonJr

leafs will be active in FA, need to be sure they have capspace.

The only thing that bothers me is it's kinda handcuffed them in the ability to add a first in a trade for a good Dman. Other then that oh well..
- Buck Norris

Yeah it definitely does that.

But this year, it looks like they have to take a step backwards, bite the bullet and go at it next year.

I trust that you have proof of this?
- lumlums

That's a no then...

Interesting the LA Kings drafted Tobias Bjornfot with the 1st round pick they got from the Leafs for Muzzin.

He projects to be a Hjarlmarsson. Usually those "low ceiling but safe" picks turn into solid NHLers. Would have been interesting to add a Bjornfot type to the Sandin and Liljegren mix they had going on.

Some other interesting names on the board at 22 as well, like McMichael, Foote and Sukuzi.

Not sure if it was worth it for a year and a half of Muzzin.

Now that 1st round pick to get rid of Marleau, that's going to be two years in a row. Not good.
- JohnFergusonJr

If they sign Muzzin then it’s probably worth it. The first hurts, I’d almost rather they dealt a Johnson or Kapanen for a first/ prospects and deal with the Marleau contract for one last year than lose more future assets. It does keep the team together but the pressure is really on for this roster to go far in the playoffs, there isn’t much help coming.

That's a no then...
- lumlums

leafs will be active in FA, need to be sure they have capspace.
- MaximusAurelius

They can't afford any good ones.

The only UFAs they'll be getting are from the scrap heap. They barely have enough money to keep their own RFAs, never mind overpay to get any high quality UFAs.

If you haven't learned this lesson yet (that UFAs almost always get overpaid) I don't know what to tell you.

They can't afford any good ones.

The only UFAs they'll be getting are from the scrap heap. They barely have enough money to keep their own RFAs, never mind overpay to get any high quality UFAs.

If you haven't learned this lesson yet (that UFAs almost always get overpaid) I don't know what to tell you.
- JohnFergusonJr

yes they can.
leafs are still going to trade kadri and nylander.
plenty of room.

If they sign Muzzin then it’s probably worth it. The first hurts, I’d almost rather they dealt a Johnson or Kapanen for a first/ prospects and deal with the Marleau contract for one last year than lose more future assets. It does keep the team together but the pressure is really on for this roster to go far in the playoffs, there isn’t much help coming.
- 13sundin13

Signing Muzzin means signing a 31 year old with a lot of miles who will likely want to test the market or get paid like he's a UFA. Either way, signing or not signing Muzzin, doesn't really help the Leafs.

What they really need is a 21 year old version of Muzzin who gets paid less than 3 million dollars. That's got to be the focus for the next year or two.

yes they can.
leafs are still going to trade kadri and nylander.
plenty of room.
- MaximusAurelius

But why?

Why shatter all of the centre depth that we have?

This literally makes no sense...

yes they can.
leafs are still going to trade kadri and nylander.
plenty of room.
- MaximusAurelius

If they trade Kadri, they're actually stupid. Given their cap situation, guys with really good value contracts don't get moved unless they're really, really, REALLY stupid.

If they trade Nylander, it should be to fill a need in their lineup and therefore will not need to overpay for UFAs.

Signing Muzzin means signing a 31 year old with a lot of miles who will likely want to test the market or get paid like he's a UFA. Either way, signing or not signing Muzzin, doesn't really help the Leafs.

What they really need is a 21 year old version of Muzzin who gets paid less than 3 million dollars. That's got to be the focus for the next year or two.
- JohnFergusonJr

Sigh

If they trade Kadri, they're actually stupid. Given their cap situation, guys with really good value contracts don't get moved unless they're really, really, REALLY stupid.

If they trade Nylander, it should be to fill a need in their lineup and therefore will not need to overpay for UFAs.
- JohnFergusonJr

Its impossible for the Leafs to get a good contract back.

Impossible.

I heard it is illegal.

But why?

Why shatter all of the centre depth that we have?

This literally makes no sense...
- lumlums

leafs have 4 centers, and none of them are killing penalties.
doesn't make any sense - creates an issue for the PK from the faceoff.
nylander and kadri are too expensive for #3C position on this leafs team (with approx 40% of capspace invested in matthews-marner-tavares).
makes more sense to trade these guys and go after a guy like anders lee.

leafs have 4 centers, and none of them are killing penalties.
doesn't make any sense - creates an issue for the PK from the faceoff.
nylander and kadri are too expensive for #3C position on this leafs team (with approx 40% of capspace invested in matthews-marner-tavares).
makes more sense to trade these guys and go after a guy like anders lee.
- MaximusAurelius

That's on Babs...

But why?

Why shatter all of the centre depth that we have?

This literally makes no sense...
- lumlums

With no 1sts. The only way to get a decent Dman is via trade of a good player now. Someone has to go or it's resign Gardner. You pick....

If they sign Muzzin then it’s probably worth it. The first hurts, I’d almost rather they dealt a Johnson or Kapanen for a first/ prospects and deal with the Marleau contract for one last year than lose more future assets. It does keep the team together but the pressure is really on for this roster to go far in the playoffs, there isn’t much help coming.
- 13sundin13

To get rid of Marleau I would rather give up the first than Kapanen or Johnsson.

The Leafs will likely have this core for 5 years. In that time there will need to be movement or decisions on Kadri, Rielly, Andersen, and Kapanen and Johnsson, again.

After the 5 years, the whole thing is a big question mark again depending on what Matthews or Marner chooses to do.

So, they are in win now, and Johnsson or Kapanen is worth more than next year's first.

gonna be hard to fill out the roster with cheap young players if you have no first round picks. not seeing the strategy here.

The first buyout period, there's another around arbitration time but it's more complicated.

My point is, any team taking Marleau has to pay his bonus and that likely helped the case for the Leafs being forced to give up a 1st round pick.
- JohnFergusonJr

Just clarifying ..second buyout window wasn't available for Marleau. It's limited to lower AAV's. It was now or never for Dubas. But ya the fact that Carolina has to buy the whole thing out would impact the price the Leafs had to pay.