I know Garret Sparks sucked last year, but it's not like that's the reason you lost a 7 game series to the Bruins. The McBackup thing is blown out of proportion IMO.
- RickJames77

You're forgetting one important thing Rick old pal.

With Mcbackup, Leafs win a few more games during the season and get home ice advantage during the playoffs.

And you know what that means.

It means they could have lost that game 7 in front of their fans instead!

I am disappointed he wasn't thinking of me at 3am.

I could just imagine Dildo singing

"And she says baby
It's three a.m. I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes
And the rain's gonna wash away I believe it"


- RickJames77

I guess 'Dildo' is something positive in his life; you know - like a 'lover'

I know Garret Sparks sucked last year, but it's not like that's the reason you lost a 7 game series to the Bruins. The McBackup thing is blown out of proportion IMO.
- RickJames77

of course it is, its a nothing move.
Pointing it out as one of Dubas poor moves tells you he has been doing a fine job

of course it is, its a nothing move.
Pointing it out as one of Dubas poor moves tells you he has been doing a fine job
- senstroll

He really has imo.

Even if his biggest priority this summer remains unresolved so far.

I guess 'Dildo' is something positive in his life; you know - like a 'lover'
- 21peter

I was just PMed to "Kill yourself twice"

He really has imo.

Even if his biggest priority this summer remains unresolved so far.
- Scabeh

Having to dump Marleau and attach a 1st (lottery protected but still) is the toughest thing to swallow for me

He really has imo.

Even if his biggest priority this summer remains unresolved so far.
- Scabeh

I would be happy with his moves if this were my team and he was the GM. 100%

He had to move Marleau and it cost what it cost. That's on Lou Lams

Having to dump Marleau and attach a 1st (lottery protected but still) is the toughest thing to swallow for me
- senstroll

That's the one that stands out for me to. But the good outweighs the bad on so many levels. Dubas has done one of the better jobs in the league.

That's the one that stands out for me to. But the good outweighs the bad on so many levels. Dubas has done one of the better jobs in the league.
- joel878

How so? I'll grant you he hasn't made any huge mistakes, but better jobs? Really? What if the leafs lose in the first round again this year and can't resign Barrie?

Having to dump Marleau and attach a 1st (lottery protected but still) is the toughest thing to swallow for me
- senstroll

It is.

But there's a reason Marleau remains unsigned....

He wouldn't have had the money to sign Marner otherwise.

Now if he does fail to sign him in the end.... that might make his summer less of a success.

Just like a complaining salesman getting in the big chair after a few years finding out how things are 'from the other side' ...
- 21peter

Nerve has been struck

How so? I'll grant you he hasn't made any huge mistakes, but better jobs? Really? What if the leafs lose in the first round again this year and can't resign Barrie?
- Hockey_Reverend

That's a next year problem, but if he handles it like this year's problems he will be doing just fine.

Remember? It was three months ago every hockey fan in the world would tell you he was in cap hell and was completely doomed. Since then he's only managed to find the cap room, he's balanced and improved a blueline that has been the team's sorespot for a decade, and added a ton of quality depth. And he did it without condemning the forwards.

Not sure how anyone can say he hasn't pulled multiple rabbits out of hats this summer.

Oooh I got told to kill myself twice. Somebody needs a warm, soft hug.

It is.

But there's a reason Marleau remains unsigned....

He wouldn't have had the money to sign Marner otherwise.

Now if he does fail to sign him in the end.... that might make his summer less of a success.
- Scabeh

it a different situaiton than Nylander since they cant really wait this time.
but if Marner hold out into the Season, I will pretty Much put that all on Mitch.

i have no dount that he will have gotten a fair offer from the Leafs (everything considered)

That's a next year problem, but if he handles it like this year's problems he will be doing just fine.

Remember? It was three months ago every hockey fan in the world would tell you he was in cap hell and was completely doomed. Since then he's only managed to find the cap room, he's balanced and improved a blueline that has been the team's sorespot for a decade, and added a ton of quality depth. And he did it without condemning the forwards.

Not sure how anyone can say he hasn't pulled multiple rabbits out of hats this summer.
- joel878

If you operate an NHL team in the salary cap era with the philosophy 'that's next years problem' you will quickly run into trouble. How many years have we now traded away our first rounder? 3? And this time is was just to get out from 1 year of Marls contract? That one hurts. And if we don't resign Barrie and have a poor playoff again, that Kadri trade will sting. I do get the gamble with the Kadri trade, but we need to resign Barrie. ...... but until we win a playoff round, I will hold the praise...

That's a next year problem, but if he handles it like this year's problems he will be doing just fine.

Remember? It was three months ago every hockey fan in the world would tell you he was in cap hell and was completely doomed. Since then he's only managed to find the cap room, he's balanced and improved a blueline that has been the team's sorespot for a decade, and added a ton of quality depth. And he did it without condemning the forwards.

Not sure how anyone can say he hasn't pulled multiple rabbits out of hats this summer.
- joel878

He's balanced it.

"Improved" remains to be seen.

I'm optimistic.

Well, as optimistic as a long-time Leafs fan can be about our blueline.

So, you know, pessimistic...

That's a next year problem, but if he handles it like this year's problems he will be doing just fine.

Remember? It was three months ago every hockey fan in the world would tell you he was in cap hell and was completely doomed. Since then he's only managed to find the cap room, he's balanced and improved a blueline that has been the team's sorespot for a decade, and added a ton of quality depth. And he did it without condemning the forwards.

Not sure how anyone can say he hasn't pulled multiple rabbits out of hats this summer.
- joel878

How are they not in cap hell? They have a roster no one could argue is any better than last year - especially with Ceci playing with Reilly - as has been happening in practise thus far. They haven't signed Marner and traded for a right side Gardner equivalent that will be demanding 8 million plus next year. And the biggest issue, he failed to address the fact that the club is weak in their own zone defensively.

If you operate an NHL team in the salary cap era with the philosophy 'that's next years problem' you will quickly run into trouble. How many years have we now traded away our first rounder? 3? And this time is was just to get out from 1 year of Marls contract? That one hurts. And if we don't resign Barrie and have a poor playoff again, that Kadri trade will sting. I do get the gamble with the Kadri trade, but we need to resign Barrie. ...... but until we win a playoff round, I will hold the praise...
- Hockey_Reverend

Just two.

But yeah, I've seen this movie before, and I haven't liked the ending.

He's balanced it.

"Improved" remains to be seen.

I'm optimistic.

Well, as optimistic as a long-time Leafs fan can be about our blueline.

So, you know, pessimistic...
- Atomic Wedgie

He's balanced it.

"Improved" remains to be seen.

I'm optimistic.

Well, as optimistic as a long-time Leafs fan can be about our blueline.

So, you know, pessimistic...
- Atomic Wedgie

Totally agree. According to Sens fans Ceci is crap. We basically exchanged crap with Ottawa, giving up Brown to get out from longer term russian crap. I am hopeful Barrie will be better in his own end then Gardiner, but who knows... and if he walks as a UFA that trade could sting...

PLUS at the moment it looks like Babs wil get to ice his favorite player MARINCIN!!! That right there is scary...

How are they not in cap hell? They have a roster no one could argue is any better than last year - especially with Ceci playing with Reilly - as has been happening in practise thus far. They haven't signed Marner and traded for a right side Gardner equivalent that will be demanding 8 million plus next year. And the biggest issue, he failed to address the fact that the club is weak in their own zone defensively.
- aminnes

Every contending team is in cap hell, and will be for the foreseeable future.

You spend to the max every year, and then you figure out next summer how to do it again.

The Leafs are no different than 15 other teams in the league.

If you operate an NHL team in the salary cap era with the philosophy 'that's next years problem' you will quickly run into trouble. How many years have we now traded away our first rounder? 3? And this time is was just to get out from 1 year of Marls contract? That one hurts. And if we don't resign Barrie and have a poor playoff again, that Kadri trade will sting. I do get the gamble with the Kadri trade, but we need to resign Barrie. ...... but until we win a playoff round, I will hold the praise...
- Hockey_Reverend

I can't disagree with anything you said, but there was an extreme level of 'oh poop' heading into this summer, and dubas navigated it about as well as anyone could have, and managed to massively improve the team at the same time. That earns my trust to believe he's the right man for the job when it comes to next summers challenges.

No team who is trying to win a Stanley cup is going to do so without having issues to deal with along the way. It's the ability to successfully deal with those issues which speaks in the end.

Every contending team is in cap hell, and will be for the foreseeable future.

You spend to the max every year, and then you figure out next summer how to do it again.

The Leafs are no different than 15 other teams in the league.
- Atomic Wedgie

It's not about spending to the max, it's about what you are spending on. Yay the Leafs are no different than half the league, and probably have just as little chance of winning as they do. All good, next year this guy will come off the books, yada yada yada. Same old.

Totally agree. According to Sens fans Ceci is crap. We basically exchanged crap with Ottawa, giving up Brown to get out from longer term russian crap. I am hopeful Barrie will be better in his own end then Gardiner, but who knows... and if he walks as a UFA that trade could sting...

PLUS at the moment it looks like Babs wil get to ice his favorite player MARINCIN!!! That right there is scary...
- Hockey_Reverend

'according to Sens fans'

That's like sourcing someone with brain cancer on how to navigate hep b.

Totally agree. According to Sens fans Ceci is crap. We basically exchanged crap with Ottawa, giving up Brown to get out from longer term russian crap. I am hopeful Barrie will be better in his own end then Gardiner, but who knows... and if he walks as a UFA that trade could sting...

PLUS at the moment it looks like Babs wil get to ice his favorite player MARINCIN!!! That right there is scary...
- Hockey_Reverend

I'm not going to lie to you fellas here:

I know virtually nothing about Ceci, Kerfoot or Barrie, so I'm just going to have to wait and see what happens in October.

But I'm optimistic that the team has been improved.

I read a good article on how teams were targeting Reilly on the dump-in, because they knew how crap Hainsey was. So maybe getting Ceci will take a bit of heat off of Reilly.

Zaitsev was terrible last year. I'm glad he's gone.

Gardiner was not as bad as Leafs fans make him out to be, but he wasn't as good as James Tanner thinks he is, either. From what I've read, we should be happy with Barrie as his replacement. If Barrie wants $8 million next year, well, it's a sign he played well this year, so I'll be happy.

And Kadri had to go. So I'm looking forward to seeing what Kerfoot can do. On paper, they appear to be similar in output.

Drop the damn puck, already.