I'm not biased.

But everything Dubas does is great and everything Lou Lamoriello does is bad and nobody is ever fair to the Leafs but I am fair to everyone.
- Leafs43

That's what what the average NHl fan thinks ta all

They are clinging to life with Trotz defensive system because they have little talent. They were becoming a bottom feeder until COVID saved them

he's not strong defensively.
he's just ok.
and yes - Dubas is God's second son for sure
- MaximusAurelius

He's been shutting down the best player in the world regularly, but yeah, he's a pylon out there.

Dubas was supposed to trade Nylander for a top 4 D worse and more expenisve than Justin Holl LOL

That kind of thinking is what made Canuck fans say they had the best team in the North division.

Irrelevant. It's about the now and that's a poor roster.

Leafs are better than the Islanders. No one is taking that roster over the Leafs,.
- RogerRoeper

According to what?

Leafs have more high end talent, that's true.

Their team looks so pretty on paper. Can't deny.

The idea of having star players like Matthews and Marner causes envy.

But being a better team is having better results, as a team.

That has yet to happen.

And for the record, I agree with you, the Islanders look very "meh" on a piece of paper. But I give them the respect they deserve after playing better than alot of team these past two years.

He's been shutting down the best player in the world regularly, but yeah, he's a pylon out there.
- gravyface

yes.. mcdavid is pooping in his pants just bc of the prospect to have to play holl 8 (or whatever number it is) more times this season..

According to what?

Leafs have more high end talent, that's true.

Their team looks so pretty on paper. Can't deny.

The idea of having star players like Matthews and Marner causes envy.

But being a better team is having better results, as a team.

That has yet to happen.

And for the record, I agree with you, the Islanders look very "meh" on a piece of paper. But I give them the respect they deserve after playing better than alot of team these past two years.
- Scabeh

Roger will just keep repeating that NYI suck and Lou is a senile GM - maybe in next 5-10 years once he'll be proven ok and he'll say 'TOLD YOU GUYS!!'.

I would say Holl has only ever looked good with Muzzin though.

We saw the same thing last year. Holl looked good for a stretch paired with Muzzin, got himself the contract, and then struggled when Muzzin got hurt.

He is a bottom pairing defenseman who can play in the top 4 with the right partner. Worth 2 million in my books all day.
- Leafs43

Uhmm yeah he struggled when Rielly and Muzzin got hurt because he was then asked to be the number 1 d man...

I think Lou's a master of contract negotiations if squeezing dollar/term (and fostering ill will as a residual effect) is your goal.

This works well in small markets like NJ and NYI, because they can't afford to do it any other way.

Not giving Marner his Schedule B did a lot of damage to our chances of a friendlier contract.

Uhmm yeah he struggled when Rielly and Muzzin got hurt because he was then asked to be the number 1 d man...
- Santo_44

I like Holl, I think he is a good defenseman. I don't think he has looked good away from Muzzin. If he plays well without Muzzin one day, I will change my opinion of him - but for right now I consider him a bottom pairing defenseman who can play in the top four when paired with Muzzin.

In other words - a bargain at 2 million.

I think Lou's a master of contract negotiations if squeezing dollar/term (and fostering ill will as a residual effect) is your goal.

This works well in small markets like NJ and NYI, because they can't afford to do it any other way.

Not giving Marner his Schedule B did a lot of damage to our chances of a friendlier contract.
- gravyface

It's pretty though for GM's to handle young RFAs these days.

You either bridge them, with the risk of seeing them explode and ask for a monster salary next.

Or you give them bigger money early, which could turn into either a bargain or a huge anchor for your team.

There are examples of both strategies working and failing.... it's not an easy call to make.

I think Lou's a master of contract negotiations if squeezing dollar/term (and fostering ill will as a residual effect) is your goal.

This works well in small markets like NJ and NYI, because they can't afford to do it any other way.

Not giving Marner his Schedule B did a lot of damage to our chances of a friendlier contract.
- gravyface

This is a myth. Lou has so many bad contracts he's given out. He might not overpay young RFAS, but makes up for it by hilairoiusly over[paying support talent. He bends over for 4th line vets.

What did Lee do to get 7 million per is NYlander is supposedly overpaid? Pageau, Komorov, Martin, Eberle, Varlamov.Marleauu, Zaitsev Ugly deals.

According to what?

Leafs have more high end talent, that's true.

Their team looks so pretty on paper. Can't deny.

The idea of having star players like Matthews and Marner causes envy.

But being a better team is having better results, as a team.

That has yet to happen.

And for the record, I agree with you, the Islanders look very "meh" on a piece of paper. But I give them the respect they deserve after playing better than alot of team these past two years.
- Scabeh

Islanders can't score and were clearly saved by COVID last year.

It's pretty though for GM's to handle young RFAs these days.

You either bridge them, with the risk of seeing them explode and ask for a monster salary next.

Or you give them bigger money early, which could turn into either a bargain or a huge anchor for your team.

There are examples of both strategies working and failing.... it's not an easy call to make.
- Scabeh

So which team do you want going forward (contracts, caps and all) Lou’s or Kyle’s?

HIs defensive analytics are amongst the best in the NHL...

Leafs have their big, shutdown D pair and they are damn good.
- RogerRoeper

and they have been in the face of player getting to close to the goalie

So which team do you want going forward (contracts, caps and all) Lou’s or Kyle’s?
- Canada Cup

Probably Toronto.

But that's a whole other question if you ask me.

Islanders can't score and were clearly saved by COVID last year.
- RogerRoeper

Saved all the way to the conference finals?

I like Holl, I think he is a good defenseman. I don't think he has looked good away from Muzzin. If he plays well without Muzzin one day, I will change my opinion of him - but for right now I consider him a bottom pairing defenseman who can play in the top four when paired with Muzzin.

In other words - a bargain at 2 million.
- Leafs43

You are referencing his play without Muzzin but fail to look at the circumstances fairly.

He was their number 1 D playing against top competition. Even Rielly looks overmatched in that role when he doesn’t have a proper partner but we expect Holl to look good in that role? Completely unfair to say Holl hasn’t proved he can be good without Muzzin. The eye test and numbers show us he has been a good number 4 for quite some time now.

Saved all the way to the conference finals?

- Scabeh

Save yourself, jump while you can.

I like Holl, I think he is a good defenseman. I don't think he has looked good away from Muzzin. If he plays well without Muzzin one day, I will change my opinion of him - but for right now I consider him a bottom pairing defenseman who can play in the top four when paired with Muzzin.

In other words - a bargain at 2 million.
- Leafs43

There was a huge uproar by Hockeybuzz Leafs Nation when he signed that contract.

Save yourself, jump while you can.
- Garnie

Saved all the way to the conference finals?

- Scabeh

The Islanders over-achieved in a very weird playoff year. It happens on occasion even in non-weird years.

There was a huge uproar by Hockeybuzz Leafs Nation when he signed that contract.
- dmnted

It's odd that Leaf contracts are just viewed differently. In no other market would that be sucha fuss. The Nylander contract fuss was ridiculous from day 1.

It's odd that Leaf contracts are just viewed differently. In no other market would that be sucha fuss. The Nylander contract fuss was ridiculous from day 1.
- RogerRoeper

My favourite part of that narrative was how Nylander somehow had Dubas over-a-barrel. That the Leafs somehow caved at the last minute.

So, so dumb.