Yes we do. But the defense isn't as poop as it was either. We haven't even seen how this year's team is going to be, and sorry you can't pretend you know. Because you don't. Unless you called Reilly scoring 70 points and leading all dmen in goals....which I'm sure you didn't. No offense.
- mykokes

Maybe at scoring points, but defensively, the Leafs D is as leaky as ever. Still small, still weak, still soft, still going to have trouble killing penalties, preventing chances and preventing goals.

Maybe at scoring points, but defensively, the Leafs D is as leaky as ever. Still small, still weak, still soft, still going to have trouble killing penalties, preventing chances and preventing goals.
- JohnFergusonJr

Been the number one problem since? Forever?....

If he does it, hasn't yet, when it matters.
- aminnes

Hasn't performed in game 7 but was good to great the rest of the way.

The team still has to play defense in front of the goalie. He can't do it all, every game.

Hasn't performed in game 7 but was good to great the rest of the way.

The team still has to play defense in front of the goalie. He can't do it all, every game.
- JohnFergusonJr

Agreed. I just don't think he's a top elite guy like Cherry does. He's a good goalie a team could win with, but as you say, certainly not with this defence. Looking at the cup winners, they played at another level. Andersen may have it, but 3 years now and he looks like a guy that fades as the season and playoffs go on. Maybe it's the club not giving him enough days off, that is a real issue IMO, but ultimately unless the d improves vastly, Andersen is not the answer.

Maybe at scoring points, but defensively, the Leafs D is as leaky as ever. Still small, still weak, still soft, still going to have trouble killing penalties, preventing chances and preventing goals.
- JohnFergusonJr

We shall see.

Agreed. I just don't think he's a top elite guy like Cherry does. He's a good goalie a team could win with, but as you say, certainly not with this defence. Looking at the cup winners, they played at another level. Andersen may have it, but 3 years now and he looks like a guy that fades as the season and playoffs go on. Maybe it's the club not giving him enough days off, that is a real issue IMO, but ultimately unless the d improves vastly, Andersen is not the answer.
- aminnes

Nobody else as good available.

If Andersen played for the Blues, they still win the Cup.

If he fades, it's because his workload is too high and that's not his fault and 100% preventable by having a better back-up and better defense.

Nobody else as good available.

If Andersen played for the Blues, they still win the Cup.

If he fades, it's because his workload is too high and that's not his fault and 100% preventable by having a better back-up and better defense.
- JohnFergusonJr

If that was all it would take then sad the cub didn't take advantage while they had the chance and are running a run and gun style seen so often in TO the last who knows how long, and how futile.

Nobody else as good available.

If Andersen played for the Blues, they still win the Cup.

If he fades, it's because his workload is too high and that's not his fault and 100% preventable by having a better back-up and better defense.
- JohnFergusonJr

What he said

Side note. Within the Atlantic, how would one rank goaltenders? For me: Price, Babrovsky, Vas, Rask, Andersen, other 2. It's not a slight, it's just reality.

Side note. Within the Atlantic, how would one rank goaltenders? For me: Price, Babrovsky, Vas, Rask, Andersen, other 2. It's not a slight, it's just reality.
- aminnes

All 7 combined; 0 Stanley Cups.

Everybody wants a great goalie because it covers up mistakes and lineup deficiencies. But teams win Cups and a top 10 goalie is usually good enough.

All 7 combined; 0 Stanley Cups.

Everybody wants a great goalie because it covers up mistakes and lineup deficiencies. But teams win Cups and a top 10 goalie is usually good enough.
- JohnFergusonJr

With a good team and d in front of him they can win with andy, but as it currently sits no chance. I don't blame him, although top ten is a stretch IMO.

If someone had told me that we would have Barrie and Kerfoot this year and only lose Kadri I would have thought they were dreaming.
And the only people who don’t think it’s a great deal are some of our own “fan”
- shack67

except the leafs didn't just purge kadri to bring back those 2 players, they also had to cut loose brown, gardiner, marleau, zaitsev, hainsey, ennis & a 1st round pick.

I do think brown is a decent player. Also think he suffered from being so far down the lineup. But if he's in your top 6, you are likely and ottawa as opposed to a playoff team.
- mykokes

i think brown should be a 2nd line player for almost any team in the nhl, he may develop into that playing for the sens. depends how they plan on using him.

except the leafs didn't just purge kadri to bring back those 2 players, they also had to cut loose brown, gardiner, marleau, zaitsev, hainsey, ennis & a 1st round pick.
- LeafnsNxt2Godlyns

Do any of those listed players matter? Gardiner wasn't really here during the playoffs...outside of being a hobbled giveaway machine. Marleau ate too many of Johnson's minutes for most of the year, and was a shell of his old self....and outside of hainsey who cares?

Do any of those listed players matter? Gardiner wasn't really here during the playoffs...outside of being a hobbled giveaway machine. Marleau ate too many of Johnson's minutes for most of the year, and was a shell of his old self....and outside of hainsey who cares?
- mykokes

uh brown and kadri, gardiner only for his offense, marleau would still be a leaf if there were no cap, he didn't just all of a sudden forget how to play, hainsey for the pk. is kerfoot any different? big addition...

Do any of those listed players matter? Gardiner wasn't really here during the playoffs...outside of being a hobbled giveaway machine. Marleau ate too many of Johnson's minutes for most of the year, and was a shell of his old self....and outside of hainsey who cares?
- mykokes

Who plays the PK? I think a full PK line is now traded for non PK guys. Babcock better have his stuff this year.

Who plays the PK? I think a full PK line is now traded for non PK guys. Babcock better have his stuff this year.
- aminnes

maybe dubas is setting up babcock to take a fall so he can put who he wants in as coach. probable.

maybe dubas is setting up babcock to take a fall so he can put who he wants in as coach. probable.
- LeafnsNxt2Godlyns

Be sweet to be paying for a 200 dollar seat knowing that's the rub.

maybe dubas is setting up babcock to take a fall so he can put who he wants in as coach. probable.
- LeafnsNxt2Godlyns

That’s why he brought Hakstol in.

Right now there’s faultlines forming in Toronto. On one side you have Dubas, who will not waste this opportunity to be an NHL GM, and on the other you have old school Babs who’s always done things his way. This is a bad combo. Very small chance it continues after this season. My guess is Babs is gone during the first 3 game slide.

you guys seriously need to watch some hockey outside of the leafs (and team Canada I guess?)....
Nylander the most underrated player in NHL?
Andersen a top goalie?
Babcock a bum coach 3 losses away from being fired?

Nylander is a nice 2nd line winger - will put up points, but there are several other young players as good as he is in that role, and on way better contracts + actually willing to put in some effort to win a game.

Andersen is indeed a good enough goalie to win a SC, but let's not pretend he hasn't had issues in playoffs - both for Anaheim as well as for the Leafs he has been very bad in decisive games.

Babcock still is one of the best coaches in the game. Every coach will have his flaws (and eventually players will grow tired of any coach after 5+ years), but it is very ignorant to say that Babcock should be fired now. If there is anything wrong with Leafs' setup, is that Dubas has not provided his coach with the depth players required to win a playoff series. And he hasn't done anything important this off-season either to address some key flaws on this team. If anyone should be fired, it's Dubas - too green and too stubborn for this job.

Leafs want him at 6+ years, Mitch wants 5. Leafs can't have him and AM hit FA at the same time. Mitch says, that's your problem, not mine. This is literally the issue.

On one hand 8 x 10 would look pedestrian for a top 5 winger in 5 years, so I can see what MM is saying. Leafs need him to make that because they have given the big bucks away already.

Trade Nylander and end this dumbness.
- aminnes

trade both of these greedy (frank)sticks for another real defense man and a heavy playoff top 6 performer forward 👍

Save cap space for the deadline or have a fire sale👍

Point plays against second rate comp. He's awesome, but it's hard to say what would happen if he was the number one guy.
- aminnes

Point is the number one Centre they have. Stamkos a great goal scorer, doesn’t know where his own end is, not a great Centre in the playoffs he’s lost vs bigger teams. Columbus and Washington made him look foolish.

Point is better than Marner, sorry just is.

you guys seriously need to watch some hockey outside of the leafs (and team Canada I guess?)....
Nylander the most underrated player in NHL?
Andersen a top goalie?
Babcock a bum coach 3 losses away from being fired?

Nylander is a nice 2nd line winger - will put up points, but there are several other young players as good as he is in that role, and on way better contracts + actually willing to put in some effort to win a game.

Andersen is indeed a good enough goalie to win a SC, but let's not pretend he hasn't had issues in playoffs - both for Anaheim as well as for the Leafs he has been very bad in decisive games.

Babcock still is one of the best coaches in the game. Every coach will have his flaws (and eventually players will grow tired of any coach after 5+ years), but it is very ignorant to say that Babcock should be fired now. If there is anything wrong with Leafs' setup, is that Dubas has not provided his coach with the depth players required to win a playoff series. And he hasn't done anything important this off-season either to address some key flaws on this team. If anyone should be fired, it's Dubas - too green and too stubborn for this job.
- MaximusAurelius

1. Not 3 losses away, but a 3 game slide.

2. The conditions are right for the split, due to Dubas’s desperate situation.

3. He’s really not anything special for a coach.

4. Dubas isn’t going anywhere for the time being.

5. Learn to (frank)in’ read for once.. all you do is omit what people said, then try to put your own spin on it.

Article mentions Dubas ok with 6-7 year deal at 10.5. It is the stupid ultra-player friendly contract Matthews signed that has made the Marner deal drag on this long.
If Dubas is OK at 10 or 10.5 over 6 or 7. Them come down to the Matthews 5 year deal, and 10 or 10.5 and I bet marner signs.
But, Dubas is dead set ahgainst 5 years for Marner. That is why you hear short term rumors of 3 years at 10 or the other extreme of 7-8 years at 10 or 10.5.

Just do it Dudas. Offer 5 years at 10....bet it very close to getting it done...might have to go 10.5, but there is your deal!!!!

Royal Gala is a pretty poopty apple. Try the ambrosia, it's far superior.

An Aurora Golden Gala is an incredible apple, but it bruises easily so it's really not a big seller before retail.
- golfingsince

That's a bold statement but I will try the Ambrosia.