Babcock or Colliton. People need to stop complaining about Colliton if they aren’t on board with Babcock.
- RedRevenge

I have NEVER been on the get rid of JC train & I'm not starting now. I don't like Babcock & don't want him.

Should have fired the GM 4 players tying up 40+ million in cap space, pretty hard to fill out the rest of the roster.
- SaskHawkFan

And two years ago the Leafs needed Defense so Dubas signs Tavares and the team still needs defense.

And two years ago the Leafs needed Defense so Dubas signs Tavares and the team still needs defense.
- paulr

And then pissed off their homegrown franchise player by giving the "C" to Tavares over him as well lol

And then pissed off their homegrown franchise player by giving the "C" to Tavares over him as well lol
- Savetheembers33

Tavares is not going to age well either. He is slow and will get slower.

And two years ago the Leafs needed Defense so Dubas signs Tavares and the team still needs defense.
- paulr

what defenseman was available that would have made a significant impact?

Mike Green? Extended with Detroit before hitting UFA.

Calvin de Haan? Serviceable player who signed to a reasonable deal, but not exactly a big difference maker.

Ian Cole? Similar to de Haan, but meaner.

John Moore... Jack Johnson....

It wasn't pretty.

And then pissed off their homegrown franchise player by giving the "C" to Tavares over him as well lol
- Savetheembers33

.....Mitch Marner is not a franchise player.

Guys it doesn't matter who plays with who don't you remember JC saying that

Uh oh there's another guy living rent free because i remembered what they said
- BetweenTheDots

Taken out of context.

I am not sure what the fancy stats say, but it looked like the top line of Carolina pretty much dominated the Hawks just about every time they were on the ice. The Hawks had no answer. The Hawks were fairly even against the Canes lines 2, 3, 4.

I wonder if Q would have had more success matching up against that line. I always felt that was one of his strengths, especially on home ice.
- -Doh-

In Carolina two weeks ago they owned them as well and that was with Kane and Dinky playing with Toews.

Joining the line combo party:

Saad-Toews-Nylander
Caggiula-Dach-Kane
DeBrincat-Strome-Kubalik
Carpenter-Kampf-Shaw

I think Cat and Strome need to stay together. Too much chemistry there to abandon. Also really like Dach with Kane, and I think Caggiula would complement them nicely when he returns.
- SimpleJack

Kane needs to play with a guy with a big one timer on the left side.

what defenseman was available that would have made a significant impact?

Mike Green? Extended with Detroit before hitting UFA.

Calvin de Haan? Serviceable player who signed to a reasonable deal, but not exactly a big difference maker.

Ian Cole? Similar to de Haan, but meaner.

John Moore... Jack Johnson....

It wasn't pretty.
- BINGO!

FA no, fixing your defense by overpaying for someone in FA RARELY ever works. However, he should have used some of that young talent he had in the pipeline to get a legit Top 4 D-Man. We've seen a handful of good defensemen get moved since then that they could have gone for. Especially when they were doing the Nylander negotiations. Still think that was/is the piece to move to get their top defensemen

.....Mitch Marner is not a franchise player.
- BINGO!

Was referring to Matthews

Caligula is not a top 6 player. He had a nice run last season but he is not a top 6 player on a good team.
- Elbows15

Agreed.

Mike Babcock fired by Toronto.

StanBo should give him a call to get a real NHL coach behind the bench!
- EnzoD

No thanks

Was referring to Matthews
- Savetheembers33

Marner is a franchise player anyways. Plays in all situations and is highly skilled. Kane like plus he plays PK.

Babcock or Colliton. People need to stop complaining about Colliton if they aren’t on board with Babcock.
- RedRevenge

Not on board with the overrated Babcock. I like JC, he’s gaining experience every game, but he will make mistakes along the way, that’s part of the process. Doesn’t mean we can’t make suggestions on the board, they’re not going to listen to BOD coaches anyway, but it adds to hockey conversation here.

Almost got me with their and they’re....

And two years ago the Leafs needed Defense so Dubas signs Tavares and the team still needs defense.
- paulr

Should have built around Mathews and Marner, and added to their defense, in hindsight of course. Nylander is not a two way player, Tavares was a luxury which they will regret real soon.

Should have built around Mathews and Marner, and added to their defense, in hindsight of course. Nylander is not a two way player, Tavares was a luxury which they will regret real soon.
- Angotti

Signing Tavares strangled this franchise financially, with all the wonderful young forwards they have/had coming up. Then the Nylander thing, ouch

Should have built around Mathews and Marner, and added to their defense, in hindsight of course. Nylander is not a two way player, Tavares was a luxury which they will regret real soon.
- Angotti

This

Signing Tavares has triggered their collapse. Everyone wants to point fingers at the coach but really the front office is who I would be blaming.

Mike Babcock fired by Toronto.

StanBo should give him a call to get a real NHL coach behind the bench!
- EnzoD

please tell me you forgot the red font...

Should have built around Mathews and Marner, and added to their defense, in hindsight of course. Nylander is not a two way player, Tavares was a luxury which they will regret real soon.
- Angotti

they some how figured taveras was the ticket to a playoff run...ugh...awful signing..add that to the list of bad contracts in 2 years...

In Carolina two weeks ago they owned them as well and that was with Kane and Dinky playing with Toews.
- rpeters01

canes know how to play a quick strike type of defense...you think you got an opening and they shut it down with their speed and sticks with great support...

can only dream of a hawk team playing defense like that...

.....Mitch Marner is not a franchise player.
- BINGO!

Perhaps not yet. But Marner has put up the same numbers as Patrick Kane did in the same number of games, plus he plays far better defensively than Kane and is an above average penalty killer.

canes know how to play a quick strike type of defense...you think you got an opening and they shut it down with their speed and sticks with great support...

can only dream of a hawk team playing defense like that...
- bogiedoc

They were experts at knocking the puck out of midair. Every pass, it seemed like, Foley would say, "What a nice play knocking the puck out of midair."

what defenseman was available that would have made a significant impact?

Mike Green? Extended with Detroit before hitting UFA.

Calvin de Haan? Serviceable player who signed to a reasonable deal, but not exactly a big difference maker.

Ian Cole? Similar to de Haan, but meaner.

John Moore... Jack Johnson....

It wasn't pretty.
- BINGO!

Who was or wasn’t available at the time is irrelevant. The Leafs blew their cap money on a nice to have, not on a need.

They were experts at knocking the puck out of midair. Every pass, it seemed like, Foley would say, "What a nice play knocking the puck out of midair."
- I Am The Breadman

Many of the passes were soft as well