Out of curiousity, why does everyone love to talk about Nylander's physical short comings when none of Tavares, Marner or Matthews like to go into the dirty areas? Hell . . neither does Kapanen. All of our favourite forwards aren't overly grindy - but people will talk endlessly about how Nylander doesn't go into the dirty areas or like to get hit.

No matter what, though, I think we all feel that this year is vitally important for Nylander. He needs to improve upon his point totals from 2 years ago and playing with a healthy Matthews will hopefully do that. Some want him to improve to improve his trade value; some want him to improve because it's important to the team.
- Monkeypunk

I've talked about Matthews many times, and his shoulders. JT is a walking rock, guys bounce off him, and he is heavy as poop in front, so i wouldn't include him. Marner does get hit. In the playoffs he doesn't even back down from Chara and has gotten elbowed in there face by him to make a play. Nylander avoids the corners like the plague most of the time. When he does show some gumption he makes a good play, just needs to do it more. Hopefully he does.

Kap does in fact trow the body around also.

He likely wont be back and probably shouldnt be. Its becoming a younger mans game and handing out long term deals to guys in their 30s, or soon to be, isnt wise. Imo this is where you run into bigger cap issues and bad contracts, when you give them to older players with not many prime years left.
- Gunslinger

I agree, (frank) Barrie at that price, especially long term. Not worth it.

However, for a high enough caliber player (Doughty), it's worth it to sign or acquire a big ticket player on defense, just like it was worth it to sign Tavares until he's 35.

Unfortunately, the Leafs have 1 guy signed for next year and that's Rielly. Even if they sign Dermott for 2 million, call up Liljegren and Sandin, they're still two guys short with 15 million to spend. That's a lot of uncertainty to have on the blueline when you're trying to win a Cup.

Also, Rielly and Andersen are on pretty sweet deals and they are running out. That means the window of opportunity for the Leafs to put together their best possible line-up is only two years because between the two of them, one might price themselves out of town (likely Andersen) and then the Leafs have a question mark in net, which is very dangerous given the way they play.

Cool. I'm gonna build one off the grid in the woods, but also with an underground bunker underneath for when the zombies come.
- Zezel

Just build it on a island with water deeper than zombies are tall. No need for a bunker - unless that's your literal man cave.

You know what I don't understand about the walking dead zombies. A ten year old can easily kill them with a stick. And you just need to smash their brains and/or burn them to finish them off.

How did the Zombie's result in such human chaos. All you need is one (frank)in Arnold per city with a flame thrower and you're good to go. Those are the sissiest of zombies.

I think I'm gonna go watch some Army of Darkness now...those are some funny zombies.
- Njuice

I guess cause once it got started there were too many before people realized. And then the whole thing with TWD is the living people are a bigger problem than the dead.

I always did think surely a military base would be established but I guess they get overrun. And then no one group can organize to fight the dead because they are fighting each other.

But yeah, TWD is a terrific idea but badly flawed tv show, like GOT. Evil Dead on the other hand, particularly the second movie, are supreme masterpieces of film art.

I agree, (frank) Barrie at that price, especially long term. Not worth it.

However, for a high enough caliber player (Doughty), it's worth it to sign or acquire a big ticket player on defense, just like it was worth it to sign Tavares until he's 35.

Unfortunately, the Leafs have 1 guy signed for next year and that's Rielly. Even if they sign Dermott for 2 million, call up Liljegren and Sandin, they're still two guys short with 15 million to spend. That's a lot of uncertainty to have on the blueline when you're trying to win a Cup.

Also, Rielly and Andersen are on pretty sweet deals and they are running out. That means the window of opportunity for the Leafs to put together their best possible line-up is only two years because between the two of them, one might price themselves out of town (likely Andersen) and then the Leafs have a question mark in net, which is very dangerous given the way they play.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'll worry about next year, next year, when the picture is clearer. I see no point, at this stage, to let next years situation take away my chances of enjoying this season and all the talent on this team right now.

Just build it on a island with water deeper than zombies are tall. No need for a bunker - unless that's your literal man cave.
- Woderwick

You're assuming Zombies have to breathe. Maybe they just walk on the floor, underneath the water, until they reach your island.

Now you have to build walls that they can't climb too.

And then when you say you need to build a wall, somebody calls you Trump and they kill you in your sleep.

Just build it on a island with water deeper than zombies are tall. No need for a bunker - unless that's your literal man cave.
- Woderwick

The bunker is also for nuclear war, intruders, bears, wendigo, etc.

The bunker is also for nuclear war, intruders, bears, wendigo, etc.
- Zezel

Ex girlfriends, family, lol

Prolly.

Affordable if hyman and muzzin are not back.
- Tumbleweed

Hyman isn't the most skilled player on the team but that's exactly why they need to find a way to keep him. He's one of very few guys that actually goes to the dirty areas and plays well.

He shouldn't be captain. He shouldn't make 5 million a year. He'll be lucky if he ever scores more than 20 goals. But they need to find a way to either keep him or replace him with a cheaper yet equally effective player.

Muzzin can (frank) off. Never liked his price tag, don't think he's worth keeping long term.

I believe so too. Those advocating a trade just assume Leafs will get full value for him, but never see the chances of a Hall trade type disaster.
- Gunslinger

Uh?
Then dont make a bad trade
Jesus

You're assuming Zombies have to breathe. Maybe they just walk on the floor, underneath the water, until they reach your island.

Now you have to build walls that they can't climb too.

And then when you say you need to build a wall, somebody calls you Trump and they kill you in your sleep.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'm assuming zombies are dumb...and then there's the, how could they walk on the bottom unless they wear weighted shoes, and if they could, would they know where they were going underwater. And I know they can't swim, can they? - but, I guess they could float to your island if the wind was in the right direction, so try not to pick an island in the path of the prevailing winds.

I like the wall thing - if they could, heaven forbid, ever get to your island in mass, they could stack up on each other and overcome the wall. Back to the fact they are dumb.

Oh...and are you predicting something in regard to The Dongo?

I agree, (frank) Barrie at that price, especially long term. Not worth it.

However, for a high enough caliber player (Doughty), it's worth it to sign or acquire a big ticket player on defense, just like it was worth it to sign Tavares until he's 35.

Unfortunately, the Leafs have 1 guy signed for next year and that's Rielly. Even if they sign Dermott for 2 million, call up Liljegren and Sandin, they're still two guys short with 15 million to spend. That's a lot of uncertainty to have on the blueline when you're trying to win a Cup.

Also, Rielly and Andersen are on pretty sweet deals and they are running out. That means the window of opportunity for the Leafs to put together their best possible line-up is only two years because between the two of them, one might price themselves out of town (likely Andersen) and then the Leafs have a question mark in net, which is very dangerous given the way they play.
- JohnFergusonJr

One of the 4 will need to go.

Uh?
Then dont make a bad trade
Jesus
- Fakepartofme

I love how when people say something like "trade Nylander for D" that other people assume it's going to be a bad trade.

Obviously, the idea is to make a good trade. Even a fair one.

Uh?
Then dont make a bad trade
Jesus
- Fakepartofme

Jesus made the best trade ever.

He traded his own life so that we can sin.

One of the 4 will need to go.
- aminnes

Nylander, obviously.

Just a matter of how high his value can get this year.

I love how when people say something like "trade Nylander for D" that other people assume it's going to be a bad trade.

Obviously, the idea is to make a good trade. Even a fair one.
- JohnFergusonJr

Nylander will be traded for something. It could even be picks and prospects. It would be ideal to trade him for a very good D directly, but in the end it's the cap space on the blueline that we require. The D we spend the money could be any combination of barrie, muzzin, a player acquired through free agency or a player acquired through a separate trade.

Jesus made the best trade ever.

He traded his own life so that we can sin.
- Njuice

Never heard of him?
Did he do floors?

I'm assuming zombies are dumb...and then there's the, how could they walk on the bottom unless they wear weighted shoes, and if they could, would they know where they were going underwater. And I know they can't swim, can they? - but, I guess they could float to your island if the wind was in the right direction, so try not to pick an island in the path of the prevailing winds.

I like the wall thing - if they could heaven forbid, ever get to you island in mass, they could stack up on each other and overcome the wall. Back to the fact they are dumb.

Oh...and are you predicting something in regard to The Dongo?
- Woderwick

They don't have to be smart to walk.

If they float, that could be even easier, they could just pile together like ants do when they cross a river.

Nothing can be predicted about Dongo, except that he's going to win again because his opposition is too stupid to know how to win.

Willie wont be traded this year if hes traded.

Willie wont be traded this year if hes traded.
- Fakepartofme

I think this year is pretty much locked in. No need for a big trade and no cap room for smaller moves.

Unless the leafs poop the bed in the first two months, we probably don't see any new faces.

Nylander will be traded for something. It could even be picks and prospects. It would be ideal to trade him for a very good D directly, but in the end it's the cap space on the blueline that we require. The D we spend the money could be any combination of barrie, muzzin, a player acquired through free agency or a player acquired through a separate trade.
- Njuice

Trading Nylander for picks and prospects is a pretty bad idea. Unless that pick or prospect is so high level that it gets you an 18-21 year old future Norris winner but that's pretty unlikely.

And (frank) the idea of signing Barrie and Muzzin. Not worth it.

Willie wont be traded this year if hes traded.
- Fakepartofme

Depends on a lot of things but a lot of people said Marleau was gonna play for the Leafs this year and that didn't happen.

Trading Nylander for picks and prospects is a pretty bad idea. Unless that pick or prospect is so high level that it gets you an 18-21 year old future Norris winner but that's pretty unlikely.

And (frank) the idea of signing Barrie and Muzzin. Not worth it.
- JohnFergusonJr

You take those picks and prospects and you package them for the D you need. One way or the other the Leafs need the $$$ to allocate to the back end and Nylander is the only movable piece that would make that happen. Where you get the D you need from can come from within, free agency, directly through nylander trade or through a separate trade. But Nylander has to be moved one way or the other.

And by the way, Nylander is not worth anything Norris caliber. He's worth more than Adam Larsson but not worth a Dahlin or a Jones, not even close.

You take those picks and prospects and you package them for the D you need. One way or the other the Leafs need the $$$ to allocate to the back end and Nylander is the only movable piece that would make that happen. Where you get the D you need from can come from within, free agency, directly through nylander trade or through a separate trade. But Nylander has to be moved one way or the other.

And by the way, Nylander is not worth anything Norris caliber. He's worth more than Adam Larsson but not worth a Dahlin or a Jones, not even close.
- Njuice

Wouldn't be worth it. If Nylander can't get you what you want, neither will picks and prospects.

Leafs got Barrie for Kadri so if Nylander puts up 70 points this year, you'd be surprised what he could fetch, especially if you added to the package.