Well, considering Barrie is already tweeting about what a great fit this is for him, perhaps he will want to re-sign here. We'll have Ceci off the books after next season unless he plays amazeballs and we re-up his contract, so there's 4.5m to help re-sign Barrie.

I think we'll be able to easily re-sign either Barrie or Muzzin, but I don't know if we can keep both. Although I think Muzzin will be 31 at that point, so unless it was a short deal, it'd be a bit risky to give him a big contract anyways, where as Barrie is I think 3 years younger?
- Thecakeisalie

I think you're right it would be one or the other. I'd keep Barrie due to RHD.
Muzzin likely looking for term over dollars since itll be his last contract.

you could say that again!!
- daeth

Damn, you caught the second post before I deleted it.
It's happened to me several times today. So annoying.

How long have Leaf fans been saying they need a top 4RHD?
They traded away from a position of strength (still got back a solid player to replace him) and got back their top 4RHD....

Some people think you can just pickup a top 4RHD from Walmart.....

Had to for cap. Is that a choice they willingly made to keep Nylander over Kadri? Probably, but we'll never know what was offered or not. Maybe they see Nylander as a centre? I'm not thrilled with that right now.
- aminnes

Difference is, Kadri gets you a guy who can walk after a year.

If they build up Nylander and wait another year, they get a better player and one who has a better contract situation.

Nylander at center is borderline hilarious after how he played last year.

Difference is, Kadri gets you a guy who can walk after a year.

If they build up Nylander and wait another year, they get a better player and one who has a better contract situation.

Nylander at center is borderline hilarious after how he played last year.
- JohnFergusonJr

It would appear they are in on Nylander for the long haul. Never know though. Maybe they could sucker Wilson into considering Vlasic for Nylander.

A guy can dream.

Damn, you caught the second post before I deleted it.
It's happened to me several times today. So annoying.
- Thecakeisalie

i think it just does it on its own sometimes, i swear i've had it do that without even hitting submit twice

Based solely on last last year, he showed that he could score 30 at #2. He could score 16 at #3. That makes his salary ok. But since he can play up in the line-up in case of emergency, that makes him valuable, but potentially expendable.

Based on the last two years, he couldn't learn from his mistakes.

I have never thought of Kadri as brave. I have always, regardless of recent actions or not, thought of him an opportunistic retaliator. He's dropped the gloves a few times, so it's not like he's a horrible coward, but he's not this brave tough gritty guy who can score 30 . . he's not Neely! I will also say that I don't really recall Naz ever being the one who initiates the conflicts, but the way he chooses to "finish" them is not the best.
- Monkeypunk

The fact that he can score 30 in a top-six position is very important when you're #1 C has had injury troubles. It's also more likely than not that he can score more than 16 as the #3C. He was rather snakebitten last year.

Whether it's retaliatory or not doesn't really matter. Sticking up for a teammate is by nature retaliatory and it's celebrated when done right. Yes, he made mistakes in the playoffs but those are lessons he could learn from.

How long have Leaf fans been saying they need a top 4RHD?
They traded away from a position of strength (still got back a solid player to replace him) and got back their top 4RHD....

Some people think you can just pickup a top 4RHD from Walmart.....
- Cooshie

This is all true, but Leafs fans love to female dog. Stop ruining their fun!

We've been steeped in misery so long, many have forgotten how to live any other way.

The fact that he can score 30 in a top-six position is very important when you're #1 C has had injury troubles. It's also more likely than not that he can score more than 16 as the #3C. He was rather snakebitten last year.

Whether it's retaliatory or not doesn't really matter. Sticking up for a teammate is by nature retaliatory and it's celebrated when done right. Yes, he made mistakes in the playoffs but those are lessons he could learn from.
- JohnFergusonJr

Can he? He certainly didn't learn after the first suspension.

We've likely taken a slight downgrade in center depth to address our greater need on defense. I'll take it.
And I bet we re-sign Barrie.

This is all true, but Leafs fans love to female dog. Stop ruining their fun!

We've been steeped in misery so long, many have forgotten how to live any other way.
- Thecakeisalie

Well, put it this way - when the majority of none Leaf based fans are saying the Leafs won the trade - you can bet your (frank)ing ass that the leafs won the trade!!

Well, put it this way - when the majority of none Leaf based fans are saying the Leafs won the trade - you can bet your (frank)ing ass that the leafs won the trade!!
- Cooshie

the opposite of what they say is always true though. leafs lost the trade. (frank)!

the opposite of what they say is always true though. leafs lost the trade. (frank)!
- daeth

The fact that he can score 30 in a top-six position is very important when you're #1 C has had injury troubles. It's also more likely than not that he can score more than 16 as the #3C. He was rather snakebitten last year.

Whether it's retaliatory or not doesn't really matter. Sticking up for a teammate is by nature retaliatory and it's celebrated when done right. Yes, he made mistakes in the playoffs but those are lessons he could learn from.
- JohnFergusonJr

To start with, I'm not glad Kadri is gone. I did like him.

I just find our reasons for wishing he hadn't gone aren't perfect. I also felt he had a great contract. But when I face the fact that he is a #3C, is it still a great contract (ignore the quality of the player, and look at the value of the role)? To me, not as much.

I never found him gritty, I hated his diving, and really hated just how much he fell down in general. So to me, as a Leaf fan, I'm maybe less affected by him moving out than others who were less irritated by this.

But while I did like him, I really like that we picked up Barrie and Kerfoot. That's wonderful in terms of addressing our needs and cutting our costs.

the opposite of what they say is always true though. leafs lost the trade. (frank)!
- daeth

I thinks it's a great trade for both teams.

Can he? He certainly didn't learn after the first suspension.

We've likely taken a slight downgrade in center depth to address our greater need on defense. I'll take it.
And I bet we re-sign Barrie.
- Thecakeisalie

For 1 year. Would rather have waited to get something with a better contract situation. Or rebuild Nylander and use him instead for a better return and more cap space.

That's a pretty bad bet.

Unless they overpay him.

Him saying Toronto is a perfect fit is probably because he's playing in a contract year on a team full of offensive weapons he can make more money off of when he puts up 60+ points again and starts asking for 8+ as a UFA.

To start with, I'm not glad Kadri is gone. I did like him.

I just find our reasons for wishing he hadn't gone aren't perfect. I also felt he had a great contract. But when I face the fact that he is a #3C, is it still a great contract (ignore the quality of the player, and look at the value of the role)? To me, not as much.

I never found him gritty, I hated his diving, and really hated just how much he fell down in general. So to me, as a Leaf fan, I'm maybe less affected by him moving out than others who were less irritated by this.

But while I did like him, I really like that we picked up Barrie and Kerfoot. That's wonderful in terms of addressing our needs and cutting our costs.
- Monkeypunk

For 1 year. Basically a rental. And while he'll replace Gardiner offensively, his defensive ability is rather limited which is a far more important issue. Yeah, he plays the right side but they really needed a guy to keep the puck out of the net. They already have Rielly to put up the points.

Hopefully they pry a number two good defender (in his own end), to play with Reilly off another team.

No not Phaneuf, he's a number two but not the one I'm talking about.

For 1 year. Would rather have waited to get something with a better contract situation. Or rebuild Nylander and use him instead for a better return and more cap space.

That's a pretty bad bet.

Unless they overpay him.

Him saying Toronto is a perfect fit is probably because he's playing in a contract year on a team full of offensive weapons he can make more money off of when he puts up 60+ points again and starts asking for 8+ as a UFA.
- JohnFergusonJr

You wouldn't get a defender of Barrie's caliber if they were signed long term for a decent price, plus someone like Kerfoot, for Kadri.

And if you dislike Nylander so much, why would anyone trade some great defender signed with term on a cheap contract for him either? And we needed to make moves now, not after waiting a year or so in the hopes Nylander raises his trade value so you can then trade him for a defender.

I doubt Dubas has made this trade with the intention of having Barrie walk on him. How much it'll cost, who knows? Hopefully Dubas knows, and it's a workable amount.

For 1 year. Basically a rental. And while he'll replace Gardiner offensively, his defensive ability is rather limited which is a far more important issue. Yeah, he plays the right side but they really needed a guy to keep the puck out of the net. They already have Rielly to put up the points.
- JohnFergusonJr

Yup. This can't be all they do. It's not near enough to go deep.

You wouldn't get a defender of Barrie's caliber if they were signed long term for a decent price, plus someone like Kerfoot, for Kadri.

And if you dislike Nylander so much, why would anyone trade some great defender signed with term on a cheap contract for him either?

And we needed to make moves now, not after waiting a year or so in the hopes Nylander raises his trade value so you can then trade him for a defender.

I doubt Dubas has made this trade with the intention of having Barrie walk on him. How much it'll cost, who knows? Hopefully Dubas knows, and it's a workable amount.
- Thecakeisalie

If Nylander's value was rebuilt, maybe they could.

I don't dislike him, he just gets the team more in return if they rebuild his value.

What's the rush?

It's either walk or overpay. Neither is good.

Yup. This can't be all they do. It's not near enough to go deep.
- aminnes

Maybe they move Nylander for another RHD too and go for it all this year.

Maybe they move Nylander for another RHD too and go for it all this year.
- JohnFergusonJr

That's why I don't mind the deal in principle. If this is all they do for the defence, it's not enough. Way to weak physically overall and not enough defensive acumen. I have to believe the club sees this. Shanny should know as well as anyone. So I'm hoping they see the reality that trading Nylander isn't going to devastate the forward depth, even less than moving Kadri will with their depth on the wings. I'm hoping there's a GM out there wiling to give up quality for Nylander. Maybe even Nylander and a prospect or two of there's term. Ya, go for it, if you can.

Hopefully they pry a number two good defender (in his own end), to play with Reilly off another team.

No not Phaneuf, he's a number two but not the one I'm talking about.
- aminnes

what would that cost though

so it's gardiner for barrie.
makes sense because barrie is rhd - players are same mold (good offensively, bad defensively).
ceci for zaitsev - downsgrade if ceci plays.
get rid of brown and kadri - get kerfoot ; needed to get additional capspace for marner and leafs got depth to replace brown.
would rather have a #3c that can kill penalties and is more of a 2way player - maybe leafs can use kerfoot in a trade for a different c..

all by all the moves clear up capspace but dont necessarily make leafs a better team.
decent moves but i find it hard to understand the euphoria after these sideways moves

Nylander for Manson+ ?