Doughty played some top notch hockey last year, to those that were paying attention.
- prock

Don't disagree, he was still the top dman on a bad team and a -14 player. He will be 32 in December and officially is on the back nine of his hockey playing career. He has 6 more years at $11 million getting paid for what he used to do. It's not reasonable to expect him to be a top dman at 35 and beyond.

Don't disagree, he was still the top dman on a bad team and a -14 player. He will be 32 in December and officially is on the back nine of his hockey playing career. He has 6 more years at $11 million getting paid for what he used to do. It's not reasonable to expect him to be a top dman at 35 and beyond.
- winsix

It's a real shame about that career ending rash he'll get when he's 37.

LTIR solves every problems.

It's a real shame about that career ending rash he'll get when he's 37.
- Scabeh

He really is. He may not be Norris level, but he's a solid number 1.

Toronto's best players always get scapegoated and chased though, it's nothing new.
- prock

They should be scapegoated though, you just can't say maybe next time every time.

It's a real shame about that career ending rash he'll get when he's 37.

LTIR solves every problems.
- Scabeh

It's a little funny how we can predict career ending injuries based on contracts. I'm pretty sure I mentioned Weber and Toews as ideal candidates last year. I think Benning was too stupid to figure this out before he unloaded Eriksson.

It's a little funny how we can predict career ending injuries based on contracts. I'm pretty sure I mentioned Weber and Toews as ideal candidates last year. I think Benning was too stupid to figure this out before he unloaded Eriksson.
- winsix

I do wish Weber was still playing though. The guy seems completely broken, like Kesler a few years ago.

And Toews is coming back next season no?

Welp….. goodbye Mr. Reilly. Thank you for your years of service here in Toronto.

And if Dubas doesn’t trade him and let’s him walk for nothing, then I agree with Max….

Fire Dubas
- .HOHO.

most likely outcome

I do wish Weber was still playing though. The guy seems completely broken, like Kesler a few years ago.

And Toews is coming back next season no?
- Scabeh

I read somewhere that Toews has long COVID.

He really is. He may not be Norris level, but he's a solid number 1.

Toronto's best players always get scapegoated and chased though, it's nothing new.
- prock

After years of accepting mediocrity and finding the bright lights, I think many of us try to be more objective than we need to be. In my mind, something like the 2008 Leafs acts a standout to illustrate my point (I'm very much cherry picking here since that team was garbage). We believed that Jason Blake or Grabovski were legitimately decent NHL players. If only Vesa Toskala would stop allowing goals from 200 feet away!

Then we got Kessel - and say what you want about how awful the deal was - watching Kessel play with the rest of the team really highlighted how bad the team actually was.

Now I cite that only because it was that type of time when I realized just how blinding the Leaf blinders can be.

In my humble opinion, Morgan Rielly is an excellent skating defenseman with excellent offensive instincts and is also a creative and smart passer. He thinks well off the rush, and has quick reaction skills - which make him an ideal top-line player and on the Leafs, he is an excellent play driver from the back-end, which gives him added value here over other teams' systems. Where he fails is that he is not physical, his positioning is suspect, and his defensive decision making skills are poor. Maybe he takes on too much, maybe he overthinks - I don't know. But the way he plays a 2 on 1 is worse than most house league players - and that is not hyperbolic. It's embarrassing at times.

His advantage is that goals created by far outweighs his goals caused. Finding another defenseman who provides that level of positive value would be very hard.

I read somewhere that Toews has long COVID.
- shack67

Yeah, he had a very strong reaction to it at least.

He started skating and training again... hopefully he can play again.

I hope I can still play hockey in 40's.

Most likely gonna need to be in another league though, it's getting harder and harder to faceoff against guys in their 20's.

- Scabeh

One of my brothers (in his early 50s) plays in a 40+ league.

He says it is franking glorious.

Everyone there just wants to play hockey - there's no machismo bullpoop.

Why would a team with defensive struggles look to move on from Rielly because of possible contract demands? Dubas probably has an idea of what it would take and will make a decision based off of that, but you won’t be able to replace Rielly easily, as Scabbies said, and there was an argument earlier that two Leafs’ prospects I’ve never heard of were ahead of Liljegren. It’s not like there is an heir apparent.

That makes no sense to me.

One of my brothers (in his early 50s) plays in a 40+ league.

He says it is franking glorious.

Everyone there just wants to play hockey - there's no machismo bullpoop.
- Atomic Wedgie

Wait, you mean I can get in front of the net without getting crosschecked in the back like it's the NHL?

That sounds pretty sweet.

Yeah, he had a very strong reaction to it at least.

He started skating and training again... hopefully he can play again.
- Scabeh

Yeah, there was an article in The Athletic where he was talking about it. It was described as Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, but that term is a vague term for a series of auto-immune behvaiours in the body that Toews thinks is long-haul COVID.

I do wish Weber was still playing though. The guy seems completely broken, like Kesler a few years ago.

And Toews is coming back next season no?
- Scabeh

Toews and the Hawks will figure something out. He's owed only $2.9 M after bonuses this year and next. Cap hit of $10.5M does not make much sense.

Grabovski was a very capable 2nd/3rd line centre before he died. I'll defend that to the death.

Why would a team with defensive struggles look to move on from Rielly because of possible contract demands? Dubas probably has an idea of what it would take and will make a decision based off of that, but you won’t be able to replace Rielly easily, as Scabbies said, and there was an argument earlier that two Leafs’ prospects I’ve never heard of were ahead of Liljegren. It’s not like there is an heir apparent.

That makes no sense to me.
- RickJames77

What would make no sense is to let him walk away to free agency, if Dubus does know what he wants and Dubus isn't willing to pay it Rielly should be traded. He'll be easier to replace with incoming assets than without.

After years of accepting mediocrity and finding the bright lights, I think many of us try to be more objective than we need to be. In my mind, something like the 2008 Leafs acts a standout to illustrate my point (I'm very much cherry picking here since that team was garbage). We believed that Jason Blake or Grabovski were legitimately decent NHL players. If only Vesa Toskala would stop allowing goals from 200 feet away!

Then we got Kessel - and say what you want about how awful the deal was - watching Kessel play with the rest of the team really highlighted how bad the team actually was.

Now I cite that only because it was that type of time when I realized just how blinding the Leaf blinders can be.

In my humble opinion, Morgan Rielly is an excellent skating defenseman with excellent offensive instincts and is also a creative and smart passer. He thinks well off the rush, and has quick reaction skills - which make him an ideal top-line player and on the Leafs, he is an excellent play driver from the back-end, which gives him added value here over other teams' systems. Where he fails is that he is not physical, his positioning is suspect, and his defensive decision making skills are poor. Maybe he takes on too much, maybe he overthinks - I don't know. But the way he plays a 2 on 1 is worse than most house league players - and that is not hyperbolic. It's embarrassing at times.

His advantage is that goals created by far outweighs his goals caused. Finding another defenseman who provides that level of positive value would be very hard.
- Monkeypunk

Email from Brian Burke, dated December 12, 2008:

Dear Season Seat Holder,

Almost two weeks ago, I accepted an opportunity to become president and general manager of your Toronto Maple Leafs. I want to thank the Board of Directors and owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Richard Peddie, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, for entrusting me with one of the most important jobs in hockey.

Managing the Toronto Maple Leafs is a dream job for me. It's a true honour to be associated with an iconic team with passionate fans, and a strong sense of history and tradition.

I spent the last three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks where as President and General Manager I was fortunate to be part of a Stanley Cup Championship. We intend to create the same winning culture for Leafs fans.

The Leafs are now turning a page in their storied history, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. Rebuilding this team will require commitment and dedication, and Cliff Fletcher has taken many positive steps in the right direction. Over the next few months, our management team will evaluate our players and begin to address the opportunities that will support our team's progress on the ice.

We have a number of areas that are working in our favour, including a stable ownership that is committed to winning and an established coach in Ron Wilson. Ron and I share the same philosophies on how the game should be played. Under the tutelage of Ron and his coaching staff, we have already started to see a shift in how our team plays every night.

We have started to create a strong nucleus of young talent like Luke Schenn and Mikhail Grabovski, who will continue to grow, develop and excel under the Leafs system. The biggest advantage of our team is an arena filled with loyal fans every night who want to see their team succeed.

As I said in my introductory news conference, I have three pillars that I base my teams on:

1.) Having a team that has an exciting and entertaining style of play. The Leafs will justify the price of the ticket every night they are on the ice. We are committed to providing value to all of our Season Seat Holders, as you are an important part of our team.

2.) I believe teams need to operate in a fiscally responsible manner. We will spend our fans’ and our sponsors’ money intelligently, and make decisions that are right for the team.

3.) I expect all of our players and coaches to be leaders in the community. Community service is not optional. I am thrilled to see the Leafs organization already has a strong culture of giving back to the community through initiatives and programs led by the Leafs Fund for Kids, Leafs Hockey Development and Leafs Community Relations. The Leafs lead the NHL for community initiatives, team appearances and fundraising. This will continue to be a priority for our team.

These three pillars have created a winning culture for my teams in the past, and I anticipate they will continue to have the same positive impact on the Leafs going forward.

Last weekend, the Leafs announced the hiring of hockey executive David Nonis as Senior Vice-President of hockey operations. I have had the fortune of working with Dave for more than 14 years in Anaheim, Vancouver and at the NHL. He will be a great addition to our hockey organization as he brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge.

I would like to thank Leafs Season Seat Holders for welcoming me to Toronto. This is a great time to be affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I hope you’ll share in my excitement as we get started with the work ahead.

On behalf of our owners, Board of Directors, and the entire Leafs organization, I want to thank you for being a Season Seat Holder and for your support and commitment to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Best wishes for the holiday season and the New Year.

Sincerely,

Brian Burke

President and General Manager

Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club

Why would a team with defensive struggles look to move on from Rielly because of possible contract demands? Dubas probably has an idea of what it would take and will make a decision based off of that, but you won’t be able to replace Rielly easily, as Scabbies said, and there was an argument earlier that two Leafs’ prospects I’ve never heard of were ahead of Liljegren. It’s not like there is an heir apparent.

That makes no sense to me.
- RickJames77

Toronto was seventh in the NHL in team defense last year. One slot behind Tampa

https://www.covers.com/sp...cs/team-defense/2020-2021

Grabovski was a very capable 2nd/3rd line centre before he died. I'll defend that to the death.
- AdamFrench

I never missed him once after we traded him away.

Why would a team with defensive struggles look to move on from Rielly because of possible contract demands? Dubas probably has an idea of what it would take and will make a decision based off of that, but you won’t be able to replace Rielly easily, as Scabbies said, and there was an argument earlier that two Leafs’ prospects I’ve never heard of were ahead of Liljegren. It’s not like there is an heir apparent.

That makes no sense to me.
- RickJames77

Because Rielly is partly at fault for our defensive struggles?

I never missed him once after we traded him away.
- Scabeh

Now do Gomez!

Now do Gomez!
- Atomic Wedgie

I really hope RJ gives him my best wishes in Anchorage.

Grabovski was a very capable 2nd/3rd line centre before he died. I'll defend that to the death.
- AdamFrench

I liked him as a player. He was without fear.

Now do Gomez!
- Atomic Wedgie

I also never missed him once since we traded him.