Yup. The Leafs have been a favourite on paper before - they were last year as well - but they haven't figured out how to actually convert it.

I get the margins are very close, but this team has to be able to execute.

(for the record, I do like their chances this year more than last)
- mjones242

Don't agree with this, by the numbers it was the most even playoff series.

Also Idc about the (frank)ing bubble, personally I don't. the whole playoffs was a mess and means nothing to me.

MTL sucked, they blew that one.

I know it’s not the same sport but it’s starting to make me question the Jose Canseco posters I had on my bedroom wall as a kid 🧐
- Dozzer

the fonz🤔

He's proved that his worth it, but I wouldn't with our current cap situation and asset requirements.

Bunting is on a 57 point pace over an 82 game season. He has a net penalty differential of +4.

Last year, Bunting was on a 65 point pace over an 82 game season with a net penalty differential of +15.

Comparing the two years - he is shooting less, but getting more HD chances and I'd say that coincidentally his shooting percentage has increased. He's hitting less frequently, but being hit about the same rate. His giveaways have almost doubled, but his takeaways are higher (not as much) as well. He still has more takeways than giveaways, which is a nice thing to have.

Is a 25 goal scorer worth $4m / year? Yeah it is, but his act has gotten old - refs are looking the other way, and teams are taking huge liberties. There's a real chance he's going to get significantly injured soon if the league doesn't at least start doing their job to a minimum degree. It might be sincerely in both of our interests if we parted ways. We did what we could for him - inflate his value - and he did what he could for us - gave Matthews & Marner a winger who could create the necessary distraction while performing at a good clip.
- Monkeypunk

This is a fair assessment.

The knock on Bunting seems to be that he can only produce with high end players, while that's accurate I don't think people realize that that's not a deterrent on the open market. Who is the last back to back 20G, 60P player that comes with 'intangibles' who didn't get paid on the open market?

Despite everything you've said, which is totally on point, I like Bunting in Toronto and feel like there is a need for his type of player. He has areas he can clean up, a lot of guys do. I'm sure he will have the opportunity to cash in come July but I'm hoping he wants to be in Toronto bad enough they find some common ground at a discount (in other words what would be a reasonable rate outside of the open market)

He posted numbers. I don't know what else to say about it.

Last year or the year before I posted numbers that showed just how poorly the Leafs stars have performed Regular Season vs. Playoffs compared to other stars... it was pretty clear the Leafs stars did not up their game, in fact, their game fell off more than their counterparts.

People hated it. I forget the arguments. Whatever they were, they were stupid. The Leafs stars have not performed, they have choked, period. Senstroll posted like 2 weeks ago the 3rd period in deciding games stats... massive choke.
- Aetherial

So how did the stars do last year? Simmons is cherry picking his stats by including past years that we know were a failure. Is there progress? Do you see improvement? Have the players shown that they are elevating their games?

Or do we include - as the average - the results that 19 year old kids produced in their first years of the playoffs to drag down the numbers? It's bad data and it's presented that way because it's trolling.

How many HD chances did the stars get and generate? How many the year before? The year? How many did they give up? Year before, and so on.

The real way you go about dealing with this type of extrinsic data is to manage it's comparison properly not aggregate it using lower elements to deflate the value so you can make a bad faith argument.

I haven't done this myself, but I can say that the Leafs in last year's playoffs were exceptional. And despite comments like this - or Dozzer's lame, "they didn't get it done," neither did Tampa's stars. Nick Paul scored a goal to win that game. Tavares scored the go-ahead goal that was ridiculously called off. The game before the Leafs had a 3-2 lead and a phantom high stick call gave Tampa a power play and then a 2-man advantage when Kerfoot engaged in the far corner and got his stick up legitimately - a play that wouldn't have happened if not for the made-up call.

They didn't get it done, but constantly harping on it that way instead of recognizing the progress in that series - and the fact that they, in every way, stepped up and forward and deserved to win is silly.

Darren Dreger
@DarrenDreger
·
23m
The Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes were progressing on Jake Chychrun trade negotiations yesterday. Things cooled late afternoon. Holland also talking with CBJ and Nashville on Gavrikov and Ekholm. Plan is to resume talks with all 3 today.

_________________________

No way other teams doing everything is gonna get Chychrun to fall into Hollands lap, right?
- GreatGigInTheSky

Perfect, another defenceman who can't defence for the oilers. 🤣

So how did the stars do last year? Simmons is cherry picking his stats by including past years that we know were a failure. Is there progress? Do you see improvement? Have the players shown that they are elevating their games?

Or do we include - as the average - the results that 19 year old kids produced in their first years of the playoffs to drag down the numbers? It's bad data and it's presented that way because it's trolling.

How many HD chances did the stars get and generate? How many the year before? The year? How many did they give up? Year before, and so on.

The real way you go about dealing with this type of extrinsic data is to manage it's comparison properly not aggregate it using lower elements to deflate the value so you can make a bad faith argument.

I haven't done this myself, but I can say that the Leafs in last year's playoffs were exceptional. And despite comments like this - or Dozzer's lame, "they didn't get it done," neither did Tampa's stars. Nick Paul scored a goal to win that game. Tavares scored the go-ahead goal that was ridiculously called off. The game before the Leafs had a 3-2 lead and a phantom high stick call gave Tampa a power play and then a 2-man advantage when Kerfoot engaged in the far corner and got his stick up legitimately - a play that wouldn't have happened if not for the made-up call.

They didn't get it done, but constantly harping on it that way instead of recognizing the progress in that series - and the fact that they, in every way, stepped up and forward and deserved to win is silly.
- Monkeypunk

Well said

Dubas agrees obviously with the moves he made

id think Kerfoot is the one to go and probably Holl
makes enough room for Murray and Knies

wonder if Duby is saving the 2024 1st for one more move
- senstroll

Makes the most sense, out of everything.

Sucks to lose Kerfoot, because he's actually playing decent on that line and he played good last playoffs (minus his major (frank) up). Holl going is no loss whatsoever, though.

2024 1st part of trade for Chychrun 50% retained.

I like bunting, but not sure I like him at 4M.
- Archaic

No 4 mil there for him. Taking $2.5 or leaving

Gawd, I love Ek.

Leafs “Sneaky” in on Chychrun/Gavrikov.Could move out Kerfoot First.
I talk to my top source today in Toronto. He’s been telling me since January that the leafs very much covet Jakob Chychrun. However, the price is crazy high and the Leafs have used a lot resources already…I keep hearing they are going to move Kerfoot, as they have alot of forwards now.
Source: Eklund

Makes the most sense, out of everything.

Sucks to lose Kerfoot, because he's actually playing decent on that line and he played good last playoffs (minus his major (frank) up). Holl going is no lose whatsoever, though.

2024 1st part of trade for Chychrun 50% retained.
- GreatGigInTheSky

They don’t need to move both. I’d be very surprised if they move Holl

Gawd, I love Ek.

Leafs “Sneaky” in on Chychrun/Gavrikov.Could move out Kerfoot First.
I talk to my top source today in Toronto. He’s been telling me since January that the leafs very much covet Jakob Chychrun. However, the price is crazy high and the Leafs have used a lot resources already…I keep hearing they are going to move Kerfoot, as they have alot of forwards now.
Source: Eklund
- Atomic Wedgie

He is the kiss of death for any trade. It makes me think we are keeping Kerfoot....

Gawd, I love Ek.

Leafs “Sneaky” in on Chychrun/Gavrikov.Could move out Kerfoot First.
I talk to my top source today in Toronto. He’s been telling me since January that the leafs very much covet Jakob Chychrun. However, the price is crazy high and the Leafs have used a lot resources already…I keep hearing they are going to move Kerfoot, as they have alot of forwards now.
Source: Eklund
- Atomic Wedgie

I was just listening to yesterday's podcast to see how cringe it was. Ek deadass said he spoke to a GM about something or other. Like, does he really expect anyone to believe that GMs, four days from the trade deadline, are calling up Ek to discuss things?!?

Agreed.

I don't want to get any grey eye glances from the mods today.
- Atomic Wedgie

I can't believe I didn't get banned for this.

They don’t need to move both. I’d be very surprised if they move Holl
- Canada Cup

Agreed. Its truly unlikely they move Holl.

I don’t think it’s about having him traded to the leafs at all and he’s just talking about some pictures he keeps beside his bed
- Dozzer

Were I a computer wizard, I'd edit Jenner's face onto this-

They don’t need to move both. I’d be very surprised if they move Holl
- Canada Cup

I'd be pretty shocked. Leafs up one, late in the third, 6 on 5, who is on the ice? Holl. Every... Damn... Time...

I was just listening to yesterday's podcast to see how cringe it was. Ek deadass said he spoke to a GM about something or other. Like, does he really expect anyone to believe that GMs, four days from the trade deadline, are calling up Ek to discuss things?!?
- Whipper

They need his expert opinion before they make any trades. What is so hard to believe about that?

the fonz🤔
- Skalapy

Guy Lafleur, and Gary Carter - because it was a freebie from the grocery store for 7 Up.

I loved the Expos, and didn't realize Gary was a Jesus-freak.

No, I didn't live in Montreal growing up.

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing that Carolina is acquiring Jesse Puljujarvi from the Oilers
@TSNHockey

@TheAthleticNHL

They don’t need to move both. I’d be very surprised if they move Holl
- Canada Cup

Kerfoot seems to be the guy

Hoglander so they can beef up the Marlies for their cup run, double cups this year

The 3rd period stat that Senstroll posted a couple weeks ago was shocking.
- Aetherial

I missed it, what was it?

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing that Carolina is acquiring Jesse Puljujarvi from the Oilers
@TSNHockey

@TheAthleticNHL
- AGalchenyuk27

Talk about helping the Oilers out

Mirtles salary cap gymnastics piece on Dubas had him peg Bunting in next year at a 4 million per cap hit.

Discuss. 👀
- joel878

Inevitable but pass

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing that Carolina is acquiring Jesse Puljujarvi from the Oilers
@TSNHockey

@TheAthleticNHL
- AGalchenyuk27

2 years in a row the Canes are flubbing at the TDL

We'll see

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
Hearing that Carolina is acquiring Jesse Puljujarvi from the Oilers
@TSNHockey

@TheAthleticNHL
- AGalchenyuk27

We’ll that changes everything