I am in love with Kyle Clifford;



Kyle Clifford: "They didn't bring me in to outpace Auston Matthews in goals".

Also:

"It's no secret, I got a real love for this team. It's a childhood dream to put this jersey on"
- PatC80

My prediction he goes say least twice tomorrow...
once before the 5 minute mark..

I say Ritchie & Nicky D are the dance partners ... he’s got history with Ritchie...

I don't believe it.

I think he worked around the question pretty well though...Kings can only retain 2 contracts a season.

Likely that Dubas would want some money off Martinez as well but since they couldn't there wasn't much of an option.
- Santo_44

I don't know.. The Kings are retaining salary on Clifford.. They could have made it work, doesn't sound like Martinez was discussed.. Plus, Freidman was saying like 8-10 teams are interested in him.. We can't offer what other teams could offer

never forget Clarkson
- senstroll

As much as I like Dillon in SJ, do we even have draft picks to give SJ for him?
- PatC80

They have Bracco.

Prospects.

And if not they could find a team who likes Bracco and get draft picks from them to use...

Dubas has shown he doesn't have to do simple.

Tell Jumbo to come with him.

Clifford-Jumbo-Spezza

I don't know.. The Kings are retaining salary on Clifford.. They could have made it work, doesn't sound like Martinez was discussed.. Plus, Freidman was saying like 8-10 teams are interested in him.. We can't offer what other teams could offer
- PatC80

I doubt the Kings would want to use up all their salary retentions in early Feb...Likely the reason for it.

My prediction he goes say least twice tomorrow...
once before the 5 minute mark..

I say Ritchie & Nicky D are the dance partners ... he’s got history with Ritchie...
- dozerD10

I'm guessing that if Clifford gets into a fight tomorrow night and wins it, he'll become an instant hero amongst the fan base.

They have Bracco.

Prospects.

And if not they could find a team who likes Bracco and get draft picks from them to use...

Dubas has shown he doesn't have to do simple.

Tell Jumbo to come with him.

Clifford-Jumbo-Spezza


- Santo_44

Love It.

I doubt the Kings would want to use up all their salary retentions in early Feb...Likely the reason for it.
- Santo_44

You could be right, but I'll still believe Dubas.. I think Klye Dubas might know more about what was discussed between Kyle Dubas and Rob Blake.

I don't know.. The Kings are retaining salary on Clifford.. They could have made it work, doesn't sound like Martinez was discussed.. Plus, Freidman was saying like 8-10 teams are interested in him.. We can't offer what other teams could offer
- PatC80

Salary wasn't the issue, but you're right, I think - the calibre of return would have been.

The idea here is that instead of retaining on Clifford, they could have retained on Martinez instead. So you take on the additional $800k of Clifford's contract, but the Kings are instead on the nut for, say, $1m of Martinez' deal this year and next. The Leafs save $200k more this year, and $1m next year on Martinez. Given where they are in their rebuild and with no urgently looming RFAs - even with that $11m of dead cap space, the Kings could have retained Martinez' salary and probably been okay. But what would we add to that deal? Ceci gets added as the salary balance, and then what? Bracco's not enough.

You could be right, but I'll still believe Dubas.. I think Klye Dubas might know more about what was discussed between Kyle Dubas and Rob Blake.
- PatC80

Sure he does.

I don't believe things GM's say to the media.

I do think it would be very silly for LA to use up the rest of their salary retention's.

That goal where he fell over and let in a weak five hole was the nail on the coffin.

People talk about how the Leafs have to be at the top of their games in these important games well Hutch was no where near that.

You could tell Keefe was frustrated especially after the Florida game where Hutch was the worst player on the ice and you can’t have that from your goalie.
- Santo_44

Hutch was the worst player on the ice in the Florida game? Did you watch the game Cody Ceci had? I agree Hutch was bad, Ceci was worse. Last night the 4th goal was a back breaker and a bad one on Hutch who should have told his D man to "leave it" in regards to his stick. Between him trying to pick up his stick and the D man holding it in mid air he was never in a position to recover and make a save after he did the swan dive because he bit on the shot and then tripped over himself. He made some big stops later but he did what he has done all year - give up a stinky goal at the least opportune time and kill any momentum the Leafs had.

If the Rangers don't get that 4th goal I thought the Leafs were coming all the way back and would win, they were rolling.

posting again
https://twitter.com/Chart...tatus/1225148944994439173

Leafs got one of these guys.
Interesting that this rates Clifford ahead of cap. Kaps D is not so hot

Lots of good D options to add, but stay away from Dumba

Love It.
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Jumbo doesn't give you much anymore but If you want to put confidence and belief in your locker room put that guy in it.

Salary wasn't the issue, but you're right, I think - the calibre of return would have been.

The idea here is that instead of retaining on Clifford, they could have retained on Martinez instead. So you take on the additional $800k of Clifford's contract, but the Kings are instead on the nut for, say, $1m of Martinez' deal this year and next. The Leafs save $200k more this year, and $1m next year on Martinez. Given where they are in their rebuild and with no urgently looming RFAs - even with that $11m of dead cap space, the Kings could have retained Martinez' salary and probably been okay. But what would we add to that deal? Ceci gets added as the salary balance, and then what? Bracco's not enough.
- Monkeypunk

I agree, I don't think Bracco alone is enough. It's not easy to address all 3 needs in one trade..
The good thing is that Dubas didn't part with anything of significant value to fix two issues.

We could still move Kap/Johnsson/Kerfoot or whatever to address the defense. Maybe something gets done soon with Ceci out long term?

Hutch was the worst player on the ice in the Florida game? Did you watch the game Cody Ceci had? I agree Hutch was bad, Ceci was worse. Last night the 4th goal was a back breaker and a bad one on Hutch who should have told his D man to "leave it" in regards to his stick. Between him trying to pick up his stick and the D man holding it in mid air he was never in a position to recover and make a save after he did the swan dive because he bit on the shot and then tripped over himself. He made some big stops later but he did what he has done all year - give up a stinky goal at the least opportune time and kill any momentum the Leafs had.

If the Rangers don't get that 4th goal I thought the Leafs were coming all the way back and would win, they were rolling.
- Cush29

I don't want to argue who was worse because they were both horrible. But when your team has that good of a game and limits that many chances for you you need to win that game for your team. Ceci made a few mistakes that led to chances but that was really it. Make a few saves for your team because it is your job.

Hutch was the worst player on the ice in the Florida game? Did you watch the game Cody Ceci had? I agree Hutch was bad, Ceci was worse. Last night the 4th goal was a back breaker and a bad one on Hutch who should have told his D man to "leave it" in regards to his stick. Between him trying to pick up his stick and the D man holding it in mid air he was never in a position to recover and make a save after he did the swan dive because he bit on the shot and then tripped over himself. He made some big stops later but he did what he has done all year - give up a stinky goal at the least opportune time and kill any momentum the Leafs had.

If the Rangers don't get that 4th goal I thought the Leafs were coming all the way back and would win, they were rolling.
- Cush29

Agree to disagree..

Sometimes, your goalie just needs to make a save.. Hutch hasn't been able to consistently do that for us..

Agree to disagree..

Sometimes, your goalie just needs to make a save.. Hutch hasn't been able to consistently do that for us..
- PatC80

the Leafs didn't play that well yesterday and did not "deserve" to win either

The goat? You are worried that they trade away the goat? Good riddence to him, he's Pony V2.0. Huge guy who plays like he is 5 foot nothing and weighs 100 lbs.
- Cush29

Pony had some offensive flare.

I am confident that at some point in the future the Leafs will get real defensemen that can defend and have a shutdown pair. At some point it will happen. Just by random chance it has to happen. 20 years and counting...

Back up goalie (check)
Grit-grinder forward (check)
Shut-down top 4 d-man ( )

Pony had some offensive flare.
- AdamFrench

Pony was awful. Career 3rd line player who was thrust onto the top line because our team was complete poop.

I don't want to argue who was worse because they were both horrible. But when your team has that good of a game and limits that many chances for you you need to win that game for your team. Ceci made a few mistakes that led to chances but that was really it. Make a few saves for your team because it is your job.
- Santo_44

You don't want to argue but Ceci made a few mistakes that led to chances but that's all he did so the goalie should have stopped them all. Got it.

The flip side is Hutch gave up a few goals that's it but make a few less mistakes (Ceci) that lead to good scoring chances for your team because that's your job. Like for instance maybe don't deflect the shot from behind the net off your skate and into your own net. Oh but that's on the goalie.

We will agree both were horrible and that you can put the blame on Hutch, I'll point at Ceci and we will move on, I'm not going to convince you that I'm right and you won't convince me and that's ok.

And yes - I'm a goalie (before it gets tossed out there) and no I don't blame my players for all the goals against me. I sure as sh*t call them out if they chirp me on a goal that was caused by a scoring chance that was created by their mistake.

Number of shots is one thing, quality of them is another. And having your own guys deflect pucks past you is infuriating as a goalie, Hutch looked terrible on that goal but it's at least jointly owned 50/50.

I'm not saying Hutch was capable of being the backup the Leafs need, he's not. I just hope they play better in front of the new back up than they did in front of Hutch.

And holy hell do they ever need help on D......Dubas needs to make another move to get some D help ASAP. Especially if Reily is out for as long as it's sounding like he may be.

the Leafs didn't play that well yesterday and did not "deserve" to win either
- Symba007

I didn't see the game; I did see a 9 minute summary of the game on YouTube. From what I saw, Shesterkin made a bunch of very good saves on some very elite chances. I thought the first goal by the Rangers was really sweet, and Hutch had no chance. After that, while very good chances, the next couple were goals where you just want your goalie to step up and make a save when the other goalie is making them consistently.

Agree to disagree..

Sometimes, your goalie just needs to make a save.. Hutch hasn't been able to consistently do that for us..
- PatC80

It amazes me when people shrug their shoulders and ignore a player making multiple terrible plays that lead to scoring chances and say things like "goalie has to make a save now and then". I don't disagree Hutch has been wildly inconsistent and not good enough but I can't agree that he is to blame entirely for the loss - and I think Ceci was a bigger contributor to the loss than Hutch.

But we move on, Ceci is out, Hutch won't see another minute of NHL ice this year (hopefully) and we all pray they go on a heater and get into the playoffs.

Pony had some offensive flare.
- AdamFrench

Agreed he had (much) more than the Goat but the point I was making was big (huge) guys who play small. Pony and Antropov were monsters and if they played with their size they could have been unreal but they were both soft.

I played in a charity tourney a couple years ago and Antropov was there - I was shocked at how big he really is even off the ice. Wasted size.

Pony was awful. Career 3rd line player who was thrust onto the top line because our team was complete poop.
- Hockey_Reverend

A friend of mine was at some meet and greet with him and a few other guys. She showed us her pictures after. He was wearing one of those black tight shirts. And without this getting all weird homoerotic - he was huge, and clearly well defined. His arms and chest were massive. I was shocked at how big he was compared to the other Leaf players with him - guys who played 10 times tougher.

In a small way, you sort of lose respect for a guy when you realize he could have been a wrecking ball, and played like a cotton ball.