He looked better than Bunting this year if you ask me.
- Scabeh

He should. He got a long term 5.5 mil deal per out of it, Bunting is returning at 900k 😆

Well then, and you don't have an issue with Keefe putting an injured player on the first line? Would any decent coach do that?
- bobbyisno1

Man are you ever reaching now...

He looked better than Bunting this year if you ask me.
- Scabeh

$4.6M better?

With his injuries and his age, I'm fine with letting him play a ton of minutes for the Marlies if he can't crack our top 6. It's a bit of a longshot, but he did surprise out of camp and was rewarded that 10-game stint in his first year if I recall correctly.

Anderson's ready for a long look though, and he has some size and jam to his game that would fit nicely on the 4th line to start.

Curtis Douglas has me drooling. For some reason I had him pegged as a Gauthier clone, but after watching him just pound a guy into the ground like a tent peg...
- gravyface

I just can't see him cracking the lineup, he basically has to crack the PP and 4th line at the bare minimum.

People are going to be surprised with Holmberg, was really good in his Marlies debut which I watched. He also plays C and does it well.

Douglas and Anderson are 2 guys that can play strictly 4th line mins and will be fine with it, that gives them a leg up on Robertson.

Completely different players though and obviously Hyman's not a rookie. Kind of apples to orangutans, Lord Scabeth.
- gravyface

FFS...he will put that in his location now

People may be tired of reading it, but it doesnt make some of it (not all) any less true.
I think more people are tired of the leafs losing and then people on here going off like everything is ok. All year long we heard how this team was so great and are so different and anyone who disagreed with that was attacked. Or anyone who said, "well lets see what they do in the playoffs"....not even close to a "ooh they suck" comment, but a rational expectation, was attacked and called a hater.

Some people get really emotionally invested in their team, its been less than a week since they've been eliminated, less than a few days since the useless press conference, emotions for some are high I guess.
Agreed, no excuse or reason for insults or name calling.
But neither of the above were in my og post.
- Fakepartofme

Ok let me try to make it clear for you.

I'm not interesting in the 'well all year we had to hear how good the Leafs were or x, y, z & when we politely disagreed we were attacked' - that's BS. I was here all year and it cut both ways. There was just as much insulting going on towards the folks who 'drink the koolaid' and the likes so you can drop the whole narrative that only those with a different view or disagreed were called out & attached all year - it's just not true.

Your OPINION is just that. It may be YOUR truth but it's not everyone's. The sooner EVERYONE here can get that through their head the better it will be here.

Facts are facts - like yes they have lost in the 1st round again X # of times in a row and set a record for it. Fine share it but to spew it out over and over and over every day is annoying and servers no useful purpose so stop.

As far as your assertation that your post had no insults in it - your wrong, it did and I pointed that out in my prior post.

So (Everyone) stop doing the things I have asked you to stop doing. I can't say it any clearer and really would prefer people just do that so I don't have to take any further action than to say thank you for doing so.

Completely different players though and obviously Hyman's not a rookie. Kind of apples to orangutans, Lord Scabeth.
- gravyface

Oh of course, if anything Bunting exceeded every expectations this year and you'd expect Hyman to be better.

My point was that Hyman was still effective playing injured last year in my book. Bunting wasn't really so maybe he shouldn't have remained out there on the first line.

Not sure who the other options were though.

what if Matthews was banged up?
- drexel

Then the Leafs are screwed. Cause Marner isn't stepping it up like it's the regular season.

Well then, and you don't have an issue with Keefe putting an injured player on the first line? Would any decent coach do that?
- bobbyisno1

Play him with a 2nd line that was struggling down the stretch? no

A defensive 3rd line? no

4th line? ok are we putting Blackwell on the top unit?

He did just fine on the top line, didn't do what he did in the regular season but it was the right spot for him.

In the event you are in HR, I have a job opportunity for you. Our HR is dogpoop. 🤮
- joel878

You could not pay me enough to work in HR - more often than not they have been nothing more than an obstacle to success in so many ways.

First of all they significantly improved the team this year without trading a big piece.

They need to move bodies for $. Possibilities

Kerfoot - is owed $750K after July 1. Good return should be available. Has 10 team NTC

Holl - anybody have questions?

Mrazek - buyout saves $2.8M this year and $3M next year but leaves $1.4 (when the big boys need to be re-signed. Retain $1M and trade should be possible

Muzzin maybe - owed $2M this year and $4M next year. Also has NTC - 10 teams I think.

Some guys like Mik are probably gone anyway with small savings

Go shopping. Top priorities are top 6 forward or two and a goalie. Build a third line around Kampf. I’m ok if Engvall is on it. Scouts have been good finding undervalued 3rd and 4th line types.

Goalie is biggest worry
- Canada Cup

But how are you going to get a top 6 forward or two and a goalie with so little cap available....if the top 4 arent being touched? I get Dubas lucked out with Buntin, but that wont happen every year.
I know some cap could be created by moving out Kerfoot, Mrazek, and holl. But who becomes Kerfoots replacement that can do what he has been able to do?

I am not saying he is Suzuki here because Suzuki was obviously better and had a higher ceiling, but also Kerfoot is not Tatar. Kerfoot is a much more valuable player than Tatar at the time.

Patches cost Suzuki, Tatar and a 2nd

I think Kerfoot, Robertson and a 2nd(make it a 1st if that makes you happy) brings back a similar player.
- Santo_44

Well the key piece in the Pacioretty trade was Suzuki. Hell, Tatar was seen as a throw in despite Vegas giving a first, 2nd and third round pick to grab him a few months back.

I'm not saying what you're suggesting is wrong, it could happen, but I know the Habs wouldn't have traded Pacioretty if there wasn't a "grade A prospect" to quote Bergevin, coming back the other way.

Then the Leafs are screwed. Cause Marner isn't stepping it up like it's the regular season.
- bobbyisno1

Marner did step up these playoffs, but wasnt great every game.....but neither was Matthews.
Both AM and MM didnt really show up game 7.
Leafs were the only home team to lose their game 7 that weekend and I believe the big boys on Edm and Cal both had some big plays (goals) in their game 7's.

Well the key piece in the Pacioretty trade was Suzuki. Hell, Tatar was seen as a throw in despite Vegas giving a first, 2nd and third round pick to grab him a few months back.

I'm not saying what you're suggesting is wrong, it could happen, but I know the Habs wouldn't have traded Pacioretty if there wasn't a "grade A prospect" to quote Bergevin, coming back the other way.
- Scabeh

Well for one, probably was not a good idea to give up a grade A prospect for him.

We see a Muzzin trade and a Patches trade...It should be somewhere in between the 2 in terms of value coming back.

Buy low
Sell high

I have zero faith that Mrazek is useful in any form. It seems like even at his best he was propped up by some really good defensive teams. He's an erratic poop show you can't even trust to be healthy let alone stop the puck.
Lets just move right on from that, before you even consider how much the team could use his cap space elsewhere.
- joel878

I don't think it will be that easy to move Mrazek.
I think he is back with the team come October.
It's a wait and see at this point.

Play him with a 2nd line that was struggling down the stretch? no

A defensive 3rd line? no

4th line? ok are we putting Blackwell on the top unit?

He did just fine on the top line, didn't do what he did in the regular season but it was the right spot for him.
- Santo_44

Okay, but I simply meant that he wasn't injured enough to be using that as an excuse to become invisible or he wouldn't be playing. He's not big enough or tough enough And if Mathews is playing with Marner all the time they need big enough and tough enough on that wing.
Mathews can't be the only guy with man strength.

Well for one, probably was not a good idea to give up a grade A prospect for him.

We see a Muzzin trade and a Patches trade...It should be somewhere in between the 2 in terms of value coming back.
- Santo_44

Especially considering Tatar pretty much produced just as much as Pacioretty despite being a throw in.

From my POV, I dont think I've seen enough of Robertson yet, to move on from Engvall.
He did disappear, agreed, but overall I think he may some big steps this year.
Now, that of course is all dependent on how much salary he wants.
- Fakepartofme

I just read an article in the Athletic that put him at 1.65 million per. Which isn't a back breaker if that's where it turns out to fall but is also over 2 Colin Blackwells if you play your cards right. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Marner did step up these playoffs, but wasnt great every game.....but neither was Matthews.
Both AM and MM didnt really show up game 7.
Leafs were the only home team to lose their game 7 that weekend and I believe the big boys on Edm and Cal both had some big plays (goals) in their game 7's.
- Fakepartofme

Flip side - Leafs are the only team to score a goal in a deciding game against Vasi in the past 5 years. Seems like 5 years worth of stars didn't really show up in game 7 except Reilly.

To me the end result of the game (and series as a result) is a combination of those 2 things with arguably a sprinkle of a called off goal.

Okay, but I simply meant that he wasn't injured enough to be using that as an excuse to become invisible or he wouldn't be playing. He's not big enough or tough enough And if Mathews is playing with Marner all the time they need big enough and tough enough on that wing.
Mathews can't be the only guy with man strength.
- bobbyisno1

Its not an excuse.

Its using it to predict a future result.

It was silly to think Hymans play last year was going to be the same as a healthy Hyman in the future.

Same with Bunting. I am not excusing it, I am using it to predict future results.

I am not the type to react emotionally and with such a small sample size, I am willing to bet he isnt injured next playoffs and at 900K its a pretty damn safe bet.

But how are you going to get a top 6 forward or two and a goalie with so little cap available....if the top 4 arent being touched? I get Dubas lucked out with Buntin, but that wont happen every year.
I know some cap could be created by moving out Kerfoot, Mrazek, and holl. But who becomes Kerfoots replacement that can do what he has been able to do?
- Fakepartofme

He had 1 assist and 1 goal, the penalty kill was horrendous. I'd say they could find someone that can do that.

Buy low
get high
- mr.sir

updated

Especially considering Tatar pretty much produced just as much as Pacioretty despite being a throw in.

- Scabeh

and Norlinder was the pick in the 2nd round

I just read an article in the Athletic that put him at 1.65 million per. Which isn't a back breaker if that's where it turns out to fall but is also over 2 Colin Blackwells if you play your cards right. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

13 mins a game and 15 goals? The arbitrator could (frank) us on this one.