Pays to have the guy that literally help write the CBA. Love it
- burn

Agree, while the cap limits player payroll, at least the Leafs can spend money on Management .

Pays to have the guy that literally help write the CBA. Love it
- burn

A proper answer to Boston's dirty tricks

You didn't prove anything other than your lack of understanding. You're doing nothing but trolling, and poor job at that. When someone says "I'm just here to talk hockey, not stir poop up" it's a giant flashing light for a troll. Can see it a mile away.

How are they worse than last year? Who have they lost this offseason that they haven't replaced? They have gone from a team that everyone said was in cap hell to a team picking up guys that won't play for them for picks. They have done a complete 180, but simpletons like you trying to say he hasn't done anything.
- burn

It is fine to disagree.

You obviously think Barrie, Spezza, Ceci and Kerfoot
are far better than...
Gardiner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Brown and Kadri.

I think not.

It is fine to disagree.

You obviously think Barrie, Spezza, Ceci and Kerfoot
are far better than...
Gardiner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Brown and Kadri.

I think not.
- hawk35

This is the most over-simplified and dumbest stance I've seen in a long time.
You willfully neglect how our CAP situation looked with those players because you know we're in a better position for it, and neglect the fact that this team isn't even set yet. It's (frank)ing July. Come back in November when we start 0-20

It is fine to disagree.

You obviously think Barrie, Spezza, Ceci and Kerfoot
are far better than...
Gardiner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Brown and Kadri.

I think not.
- hawk35

Please explain....pretty sure that the incoming guys had more pts than the outgoing. And are certainly less costly, which helps resign marner.

It is fine to disagree.

You obviously think Barrie, Spezza, Ceci and Kerfoot
are far better than...
Gardiner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Brown and Kadri.

I think not.
- hawk35

Comparing last season day 1 to this season's day 1 ....

Kerfoot/Spezza in and Kadri/Brown out .....yes, a step backwards.

top 4 D last year was Rielly-Hainsey / Gardiner-Zaitsev ....this year it's Rielly-Ceci / Muzzin-Barrie .....yes, a step forward.

The moves, starting with Muzzin, were all aimed at keeping the d competitive in the face of having to sign all these young elite players to new deals.

I think he did a hell of a job and he's set them up really well going forward.

This is the most over-simplified and dumbest stance I've seen in a long time.
You willfully neglect how our CAP situation looked with those players because you know we're in a better position for it, and neglect the fact that this team isn't even set yet. It's (frank)ing July. Come back in November when we start 0-20
- UsernameUnknown

You won't be 0-20, you will just be no better than last year. Leafs will be a Top 3 in the Atlantic again and Top 6-7 overall. No regular season worries. Getting deeep in the playoffs won't be seen until May??....or, dare I say...June???

It is fine to disagree.

You obviously think Barrie, Spezza, Ceci and Kerfoot
are far better than...
Gardiner, Marleau, Zaitsev, Brown and Kadri.

I think not.
- hawk35

...and I think what you're leaving out of the equation is that Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Johnsson, Kapanen, etc .....are all expected to keep getting better.

Your list above also includes about 22 million going out and 11 million coming in. That 10+ million in cap room enables the Leafs to pay the young stars.

The Leafs have to make roster moves with the cap in mind because they have a lot of talent. Next.

You won't be 0-20, you will just be no better than last year. Leafs will be a Top 3 in the Atlantic again and Top 6-7 overall. No regular season worries. Getting deeep in the playoffs won't be seen until May??....or, dare I say...June???
- hawk35

Even though the average age of our core is like 23, we can't possibly get better?
Got it.

&& You're still completely missing the point. Our core is still intact because of the moves Dubas has made. If Marleau and Zaitsev were both on our team next year, Marner or Nylander would be gone, and we'd be much worse.
Our depth got better, IMO, simply because out of the Garbage in/garbage out, we got the best playing coming in in Barrie.

Comparing last season day 1 to this season's day 1 ....

Kerfoot/Spezza in and Kadri/Brown out .....yes, a step backwards.

top 4 D last year was Rielly-Hainsey / Gardiner-Zaitsev ....this year it's Rielly-Ceci / Muzzin-Barrie .....yes, a step forward.

The moves, starting with Muzzin, were all aimed at keeping the d competitive in the face of having to sign all these young elite players to new deals.

I think he did a hell of a job and he's set them up really well going forward.
- The Law

How do the in/out stack up in terms of goals and pts last year?

...and I think what you're leaving out of the equation is that Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Johnsson, Kapanen, etc .....are all expected to keep getting better.

Your list above also includes about 22 million going out and 11 million coming in. That 10+ million in cap room enables the Leafs to pay the young stars.
- The Law

3.5 0.7 2.75 4.5 =11.45 Mil coming in

4.5 2.1 4.5 6.25 = 17.35 Mil going out.

but he's also forgetting other guys. Gards, Hainsey, Sparks, Harpur, Shore, Agostino, etc, etc. And we have no clue if they'll be on the team or buried, so who knows how it will turn out.

April: leafs are in cap hell, can't sign their guys.

July: leafs have managed to open plenty of space all the while not sacrificing skill or talent or the core.


And yet still some on here complaining and or talking about how much worse off they are this year.

April: leafs are in cap hell, can't sign their guys.

July: leafs have managed to open plenty of space all the while not sacrificing skill or talent or the core.


And yet still some on here complaining and or talking about how much worse off they are this year.



- burn

To be fair, it's only a couple trolls.

sooooo many butthurt trolls up in this ma

they should be charging MLSE rent for all that space the Leafs occupy in their head

the Leafs are going to spend to the cap ceiling (or over it!) every year

the difference is now, for the first time in a long time, they are spending all of that space on young star players

not the david clarkson's of the world

okay well technically ya also david clarkson

3.5 0.7 2.75 4.5 =11.45 Mil coming in

4.5 2.1 4.5 6.25 = 17.35 Mil going out.

but he's also forgetting other guys. Gards, Hainsey, Sparks, Harpur, Shore, Agostino, etc, etc. And we have no clue if they'll be on the team or buried, so who knows how it will turn out.
- UsernameUnknown

He's highlighting Gardiner going out ...so count his salary from last year (or if you want a $$ for what he'll sign this year) ....it's at least another 4 million replaced.

Right. And they can do that day 1 of the regular season, when roster are submitted. They cannot do that during training camp/preseason, which means they can't resign Marner until day 1 of the regular season. So again, why do this move just add a 4th rounder and be rid of a goalie you could just bury? If Marner doesn't play in camp/preseason to avoid injury, what kind of shape will he be in when the season opens?
- jmatchett383

I think the bolded is where you misunderstand.

Sorry you are so sensitive when discussing your team. You criticize the Nylander contract at $6.9 M AAV. (I think you used the word yuck) Now you are claiming that this is rational - I call bullsh!t on you! This player is well paid and can be expected to produce 60+ points for many years - far from yuck - not underpaid - worth the contract or else teams would not be trying to trade for him. So on this point your argument holds no water.
Moving Marleau for a late first rounder, while painful, was required to free up cap space. You can blame Dubas for paying too much on this, I don't agree. A late first round draft pick is can be a valuable trade chip, however, cap space was a more pressing need than adding a future, 3rd line player.
Your generalizations about Leaf fans are transparent and without basis. If you come on the Leaf blog to troll - which is what you did, you can expect a response or to be ridiculed or to be ignored. Don't try to sell a BS story about coming here and say you wanted to have a rational hockey conversation - then start by using yuck to describe the contract of a player that would be on the first or second line of just about any team in the NHL. You are a troll, you came to this blog to stir sh!t, insulting the fan base when called out is weak.
- winsix

Awesome

He's highlighting Gardiner going out ...so count his salary from last year (or if you want a $$ for what he'll sign this year) ....it's at least another 4 million replaced.
- The Law

I did miss gardiner. Apologies. You got it right then.

Either way, he's a goof and talking from his ass.

The problem I see with the Leafs is not the cap position they're in. If you think you can contend, you should be maxed out cap wise. I think the issue is with the balance of their cap spending. It's too forward heavy. I don't know enough about their young defense prospects but they're going to need to develop some quality young defenseman to take on bigger roles or else make a trade of some kind to add some long term depth to that position. They mitigated the problem somewhat with Barrie but he's in the last year of a deal and is going to want big money moving forward. Especially with the offensive numbers he is likely to put up on the Leafs.

I think the bolded is where you misunderstand.
- Aetherial

There should be an entrance test to get into certain blogs. Answer a couple of CBA questions before being able to post. Then we can avoid the constant rehashing of misinformation.

lol.

As I have said before. Leaf fans have TWO retorts when you try to discuss hockey with them, and are anyway critical of their team. They either:
A. Insult the other team. (as above).....which in no way addresses the topic.
B. Cry and whine that some outside influence (playoff set-up, luck, etc) is their downfall, but every team move was "spot on".

You chose to play option "A". Well played.

I have no issues talking weakness or strengths of ANY team, including my own. But, I would have to go on far too long listing the errors of Bowman. Yes, Seabrook has one of worst contracts in the league. Almost untradable. And he has made MANY others. Glad to chat on them rationally...but don't mean to make you cry or hurt your feelings, so will just leave the discussion as is. Have a good day, my friend.
- hawk35

Why do we *have* to properly address your opinions.

Your opinions are just that, YOURS.

We don't give a flying (frank) about debating the issue. You are here to troll, nothing more, and are taking the well-worn "I'm just here to talk hockey" tack.

Amazing how people think they can go to another team's thread, put a negative spin on absolutely everything about that team... and then wonder why nobody will try to debate the issue.

How about you just (frank) off.

By the way, in the case that you are "right" about everything, it will still not make your life appreciably better, so, sorry.

...and I think what you're leaving out of the equation is that Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Johnsson, Kapanen, etc .....are all expected to keep getting better.

Your list above also includes about 22 million going out and 11 million coming in. That 10+ million in cap room enables the Leafs to pay the young stars.
- The Law

Admitting that would would also mean admitting Keith, Seabrook, toews and kane are getting worse.

But i think he is here because he wants to ignore that.

Why do we *have* to properly address your opinions.

Your opinions are just that, YOURS.

We don't give a flying (frank) about debating the issue. You are here to troll, nothing more, and are taking the well-worn "I'm just here to talk hockey" tack.

Amazing how people think they can go to another team's thread, put a negative spin on absolutely everything about that team... and then wonder why nobody will try to debate the issue.

How about you just (frank) off.

By the way, in the case that you are "right" about everything, it will still not make your life appreciably better, so, sorry.
- Aetherial

*shots fired*

I did miss gardiner. Apologies. You got it right then.

Either way, he's a goof and talking from his ass.
- UsernameUnknown

I'd actually expect Hawk fans to appreciate what Dubas is doing more then most. They lived this reality in 2010-15. They moved some great young talent needing new deals out for picks and moved on to win two more cups.

Dubas has actually gone a different route and kept the young guys and moved all the bad contracts at a pretty reasonable cost. We'll see if we're betting on the right group of young talent but for better or worse he's lined them up to stay together for the next 4/5 years, minimum.

That's good work.