I think they choose that Russian goalie A.....
- dmnted

At 13th overall, considering their need.... wouldn't be a bad pick.

Max referring to literally any other poster on this site as 'just another of your dumb comments' is 100% the richest (frank)ing comment I've read so far today.

Who the (frank) ties that guys shoes.
- joel878

Velcro
slip on ..

I like the left side of the Leafs blue line, the right side, not so much

Rielly
Muzzin
Sandin/Dermott

On the right
Liljegren, maybe?
- PatC80

I like Holl on the bottom pair. Perhaps I'm alone there but...

I'm hoping dubas can find a mid tier guy like a Severson or Connor Murphy on the trade market (liking Murphy a lot at 3.875 and term).

Then an FA like Hamonic.

Pretty well rounded blueline at that point.

We're getting a lot of blind anger from some people without much in the way of suggestions. I find that level of anger kind of weird.

I've said what I think. Unless you're bringing back a unicorn, top grade defenceman out there I don't see moving Marner or Nylander and I don't think that deal is likely available. If it is, Dubas better be damn sure or all the trade Marner types will be screaming when/if we watch him turn into a bonafide superstar somewhere else.

I'm still not sure what we have on defence next year with a couple of big additions by subtractions and the addition of a year of Sandin and Lehtonen who looks like he slots in above Holl and Dermott. (He does play on the right even though he shoots left.) Depending win the assessment of what we have, Dubas can fill in with trades with non big four forwards.

The last big question is how too deal with the lack of consistency and mental toughness. The ups and downs over the season and the failure to close out series (under Lou/Dubas and Babcock/Keefe) is troubling. The big go to solution is to get tough, gritty guys but that doesn't answer questions about why practically the whole team disappeared for chunks of the CBJ series.

AM seemed to be one few exceptions. Maybe a change in captaincy would help. Maybe this a return of Muskoka 5 syndrome and maybe they need to move a guy out.

Deride away
- Canada Cup

AM should have been made captain.He still should. I am not so sure Tavares isn't being adversely affected by the C.

If this is the Muskoka 5 (i'll throw in Ander5en), I hope Dubas knows exactly where the problem starts and has the guts to make the necessary moves.

I think they have to re-sign him. With a flat cap, that pretty much guarantees no Ander5en.

Which means they should trade Ander5en and try to recoup some asset for him.
- Aetherial

Im with you there. Extend Rielly, trade Andersen.

I like Holl on the bottom pair. Perhaps I'm alone there but...

I'm hoping dubas can find a mid tier guy like a Severson or Connor Murphy on the trade market (liking Murphy a lot at 3.875 and term).

Then an FA like Hamonic.

Pretty well rounded blueline at that point.
- joel878

I think Holl is a keeper on the bottom pair, Dermott also.

You need a 1/2 and a 3/4 ... maybe one significant trade and one big signing?

Yeah I read that one wrong for sure. My bad.

NTC on his last two years to.
- joel878

10 team no trade each year.

I doubt either side is thinking much about that right now but if the Leafs were ever going to trade Marner or Nylander it would be then...to get a replacement for Rielly.

In the last year of Rielly's contract Ekblad is owed 24 million in his final 3 years. Florida can have Nylander in those years for 14.5 million. Might be a possibility in a few years given Florida likely won't want to pay 24 million for Ekblad.

I think Holl is a keeper on the bottom pair, Dermott also.

You need a 1/2 and a 3/4 ... maybe one significant trade and one big signing?
- Aetherial

Gudas and Weegar.

I like Holl on the bottom pair. Perhaps I'm alone there but...

I'm hoping dubas can find a mid tier guy like a Severson or Connor Murphy on the trade market (liking Murphy a lot at 3.875 and term).

Then an FA like Hamonic.

Pretty well rounded blueline at that point.
- joel878

Depending on the cost to get those guys.. Is Severson for Johnsson a fair deal for NJ?

10 team no trade each year.

I doubt either side is thinking much about that right now but if the Leafs were ever going to trade Marner or Nylander it would be then...to get a replacement for Rielly.

In the last year of Rielly's contract Ekblad is owed 24 million in his final 3 years. Florida can have Nylander in those years for 14.5 million. Might be a possibility in a few years given Florida likely won't want to pay 24 million for Ekblad.
- Santo_44

I don't want to pay Ekblad anything. Poor guy is gonna have Parkinson's by then.

I think Holl is a keeper on the bottom pair, Dermott also.

You need a 1/2 and a 3/4 ... maybe one significant trade and one big signing?
- Aetherial

Rielly - ?
Muzzin - ?
Dermott/Sandin - Holl


We need 2 top 4 RHD

The issue with teams like Columbus and Islanders is they may win a round but that's it. They do lack the high end skill just like Leafs add certain things. The cup is all that matters. I hate the "Won a round" comment. That never mattered when thee Leafs won rounds.

You can work hard all you want you still won't win a cup without enough elite talent.
- RogerRoeper

yeah but I’m getting tired of choosing a playoff team to root for over the decades once our loafs get bounced from the pre or post season

go st. Looey 😍

Anderson, Gudas, Simmonds, Murray.

Guys I see Dubas adding. Some guys who have won and add a missing element to this team.

Gudas replaces Ceci and I'd bet Dubas goes out and trades for a cheap d man to replace Barrie.
- Santo_44

Sandin?

Depending on the cost to get those guys.. Is Severson for Johnsson a fair deal for NJ?
- PatC80

Doubtful... But never know.

I'd see Nylander and Dermott for Severson/Zacha... Picks/prospects being attached to even it out being more up their alley.

They aren't hard pressed to trade either, but they could use a young top 6 winger with term. Someone to set on Hughes wing for the foreseeable future.

I could see Johnsson and Dermott being interesting to Chicago for Murphy.

But I've never been to reliant on my armchair GM game. I just put the names out there, it's on Dubas to make it work. 🤣

Gudas fits way better than Cici. Not sure Simmonds has anything left. I did not see anything of him since Nashville(?).

Anderson scares me because he seems like Clarkson.

Still like the Murray for Ander5en idea.
- Aetherial

I think he has the same agent as Marner I believe.

I think Holl is a keeper on the bottom pair, Dermott also.

You need a 1/2 and a 3/4 ... maybe one significant trade and one big signing?
- Aetherial

Hard to say much about Lehtonen without seeing how he transitions to West, but him and Holl may make quite a dependable bottom pair, which would make dermott expendable.. 🤷‍♂️

I think he has the same agent as Marner I believe.


- dmnted

He has 90 less reasons to work with

Sandin?
- dmnted

I see Sandin or Lehtonen playing the 2nd PP. they both are likely capable.

I think Holl is a keeper on the bottom pair, Dermott also.

You need a 1/2 and a 3/4 ... maybe one significant trade and one big signing?
- Aetherial

Sign Pietrangelo.

Then either Marner or Nylander+ need to go in order to make the money work.

Hope Robertson can slot in the top 6 to replace either Marner or Nylander.

The thing this team is missing is a legit #1 pairing. If we can somehow get Pietrangelo, that issue would be fixed.

RIP Dale Hawerchuk

I see Sandin or Lehtonen playing the 2nd PP. they both are likely capable.
- Santo_44

Lol ur such a moron.

All our takes are hot chaff

AM should have been made captain.He still should. I am not so sure Tavares isn't being adversely affected by the C.

If this is the Muskoka 5 (i'll throw in Ander5en), I hope Dubas knows exactly where the problem starts and has the guts to make the necessary moves.
- Aetherial

I'd love to see Tavares offer it to him.

I don't know what the mental toughness issue is. Maybe moving someone helps, maybe bringing someone in helps, maybe some of them need to grow up. I dunno

Doubtful... But never know.

I'd see Nylander and Dermott for Severson/Zacha... Picks/prospects being attached to even it out being more up their alley.

They aren't hard pressed to trade either, but they could use a young top 6 winger with term. Someone to set on Hughes wing for the foreseeable future.

I could see Johnsson and Dermott being interesting to Chicago for Murphy.

But I've never been to reliant on my armchair GM game. I just put the names out there, it's on Dubas to make it work. 🤣
- joel878

either of those could work.. NJ would need to add more for Nylander in my opinion.

The Leafs can sign Simmonds as a UFA, I think he'll be good for the 3rd/4th line

I'd love to see Tavares offer it to him.

I don't know what the mental toughness issue is. Maybe moving someone helps, maybe bringing someone in helps, maybe some of them need to grow up. I dunno
- Canada Cup

I doubt it..1 year after Tavares was named captain, ask him to give it up?

The mental toughness comes by learning how to finish your checks and not turning the puck over under pressure.. Oh and not hitting the dang goal posts

RIP Dale Hawerchuk
- LeafGuy89

sad day indeed

RIP