Matthews, Pettersson, Barzal, Eichel, Draisaitl, Point and Pastrnak.

Matthews - Draisaitl - Eichel

Marner - Pettersson - Pastrnak - Point - Barzal

In that order and tier. The orders can be debated but the tiers really can't be.
- GreatGigInTheSky

yes , for sure we can debate on the tiers.
and i forgot couturier.

Well I would (frank)ing hope so.

He has been in the league four seasons. He will learn.

I would love to hear your analysis of Crosby's defensive abilities in his fourth season.
- Leafs43

similar defensive abilities.
except Crosby put more effort into becoming better defensively (e.g. showing interest in team PK meetings while not on the PK -- Crosby seems to have more of a drive).

There is nothing wrong with pointing out that Matthews (like McDavid) isn't great defensively in his own end - I guess I had hoped he would be developing quicker in a better 2-way C. (I said a few years ago I would take Matthews over McDavid due to Matthews' potential to become a very complete 2-way C that can do it all - but so far Matthews hasn't delivered on that).

Ya, but then what happened? (With Nate)

His growth curve at age 23 looks like the US coronavirus charts.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Considering that Matthews has lead the league in 5v5 goalscoring since he came into the league, the sky is the limit for him.

Pretty sure he gets better and better.

I think Eichel also gets lost in this conversation. I'd have him right up there with Nate and AM34.

Matthews #4
😆
- mr.sir

What an idiot

similar defensive abilities.
except Crosby put more effort into becoming better defensively (e.g. showing interest in team PK meetings while not on the PK -- Crosby seems to have more of a drive).

There is nothing wrong with pointing out that Matthews (like McDavid) isn't great defensively in his own end - I guess I had hoped he would be developing quicker in a better 2-way C. (I said a few years ago I would take Matthews over McDavid due to Matthews' potential to become a very complete 2-way C that can do it all - but so far Matthews hasn't delivered on that).
- MaximusAurelius

Oh (frank) off

Marner took more of a discount with his 6y and lower AAV compared to Matthews - and somehow he's the one that is 'public enemy #1'?

So far, Marner has proven to be more effective and more valuable than Matthews - who is lagging behind in his development, and should really focus on becomign valuable in the d-zone as well.

Marner is the most important asset on this team - Tavares #2, Rielly #3, Matthews #4, Anderssen #5, and Hyman #6.
- MaximusAurelius

The guy was about to break your record for goals in a season. Looks to be developing just fine from a opposition standpoint.

The guy was about to break your record for goals in a season. Looks to be developing just fine from a opposition standpoint.
- DrunkenCanuck

Ya but he isn't a top 15 forward defensively in the league in his fourth year so we need to sh!t on him.

Considering that Matthews has lead the league in 5v5 goalscoring since he came into the league, the sky is the limit for him.

Pretty sure he gets better and better.

I think Eichel also gets lost in this conversation. I'd have him right up there with Nate and AM34.
- mjones242

agreed

A two-year deal might make a lot of sense though it does carry a lot of risk for a 30+ year old D-man. He just may be snookered enough because of COVID-19 to do it.
- mjones242

Considering we're $400K from there cap with 7 players to sign there would have to be a lot of players dumped for cheaper replacements to make that work and then re-sign or replace Hyman and Freddie.

Matthews - Draisaitl - Eichel

Marner - Pettersson - Pastrnak - Point - Barzal

In that order and tier. The orders can be debated but the tiers really can't be.

EDIT: The first line of names wasn't meant to be there. I just put the names there to make sure I didn't forget any of them . I deleted it now.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Pastrnak and Mathews are the same player except Pastrnak does it for far less coin.

Considering we're $400K from there cap with 7 players to sign there would have to be a lot of players dumped for cheaper replacements to make that work and then re-sign or replace Hyman and Freddie.
- Canada Cup

For 20/21, the projected cap space right now is a hair under 4.6M.

Pastrnak and Mathews are the same player except Pastrnak does it for far less coin.
- Hardbalz

Call me when Pasta isn't playing on the best line in hockey... on the wing.

Call me when Pasta isn't playing on the best line in hockey... on the wing.
- mjones242

This will make you smile more than the unibrow troll.

For 20/21, the projected cap space right now is a hair under 4.6M.
- mjones242

with 7 players to sign

no problem whatsoever

with 7 players to sign

no problem whatsoever
- fidopro

I never said it wasn't a problem, bruh. But every time people start talking about what's impossible, Dubas and Pridham weave their magic.

Matthews is too lazy to backcheck and is quite one-dimensional so far.
He's played 2nd line mostly vs Bruins in playoffs and still didn't really come out as a difference maker.

I take Tavares + Marner duo over Matthews + Nylander any time on my hockey team.
- MaximusAurelius

He's so one-dimensional he was tops in NHl in takeaways this year,

I never said it wasn't a problem, bruh. But every time people start talking about what's impossible, Dubas and Pridham weave their magic.
- mjones242

Lol, sometimes they get the spell wrong then?

I would take Matthews in a heartbeat over Barkov. MacKinnon might have an edge on AM34 now but he's also 2 years older and Matthews has been demonstrably better than Nate at the same age.
- mjones242

Matthews sucks because eh can't get out of the 1st round. Barkpv though what a stud!

Considering we're $400K from there cap with 7 players to sign there would have to be a lot of players dumped for cheaper replacements to make that work and then re-sign or replace Hyman and Freddie.
- Canada Cup

$4.1 M not $400K And far from impossible

One possible scenario (Dubas and Pridham hockey better than me)
Forwards
1) Spezza $700K
2) Clifford $900K
3) Mikheyev $1 M
4) Goat $650K
5) Robertson $800K
Unload Johnsson -$3.4 M Net add of $650K

Defensemen
1) Liljegren $863K
2) Lehtonen $925K
3) Joe Shmoe $1.6M

Has anyonme noted every summer we hear the Leaf a re screwed with the cap and it turns out ok?
The only players being moved are the likes of Johnsson or Kerfoot to save cap room. Marner or Nylander are going nowhere.

Vast majority of NHl teams have the same cap issues the Leafs do.

with 7 players to sign

no problem whatsoever
- fidopro

Every contract on the team is a tradable contract.

Most teams have contracts they can’t move.

You swap out some and add some new ones. They are paid to manage the cap and that’s what they will do.

The sky isn’t falling here like many opposing fans seem to want to tell us every day.

He's so one-dimensional he was tops in NHl in takeaways this year,
- RogerRoeper

now look at takeaways splits (neutral vs offensive vs defensive zone).
i literally said matthews isn't very good in his own d-zone.
fun way to evaluate players' defensive abilities solely based on their takeaways...

(what about looking at a combination of factors (not limited to): takeaways; giveaways, Time on ice on the PK; blocked shots; defensive zone starts (as a proxy on how their coach relies on their defensive abilities); plus/minus; etc.)

Every contract on the team is a tradable contract.

Most teams have contracts they can’t move.

You swap out some and add some new ones. They are paid to manage the cap and that’s what they will do.

The sky isn’t falling here like many opposing fans seem to want to tell us every day.
- Santo_44

considering 1 or 2 of these 7 players to sign are top4 dmen.... yeah, not looking good.

I never said the sky was falling. but to say all is fine and that the vast majority of other teams have a the same problem is idiotic.
Leafs, if they want to be considered as a legit contender badly need to improve their dcore, and that won't be possible by signing some players for league minimum.
something's gotta give.

Has anyonme noted every summer we hear the Leaf a re screwed with the cap and it turns out ok?
The only players being moved are the likes of Johnsson or Kerfoot to save cap room. Marner or Nylander are going nowhere.

Vast majority of NHl teams have the same cap issues the Leafs do.
- RogerRoeper

let me know which teams are likely to make room for Johnsson and Kerfoot, and what you think is a decent return for these players..
surely it's not impossible, but if you get a 2nd back for both of them, maybe it is some indication of bad cap/pick management by Leafs (e.g. could have kept Marleau and traded Johnsson last year - and kept the 1st rounder in that way).

Marner took more of a discount with his 6y and lower AAV compared to Matthews - and somehow he's the one that is 'public enemy #1'?

So far, Marner has proven to be more effective and more valuable than Matthews - who is lagging behind in his development, and should really focus on becomign valuable in the d-zone as well.

Marner is the most important asset on this team - Tavares #2, Rielly #3, Matthews #4, Anderssen #5, and Hyman #6.
- MaximusAurelius

No. Matthews#1 Leaf. And you know this........maaaaaaaaan!