This false narrative is getting annoying. As though the Leafs can't go out and get tougher players cuz they'll get suspended.

It's the Buntings and Kadris that get suspended...guys who aren't the tough and gritty players but try to be because our line up lacks any of it at all.

Did Schenn get suspended or any of his great hits? McCabe? Nope.

The problem isn't that Leafs are tough and get penalized, the problem is the Leafs aren't tough so they get scrutinized when they try to be.

Refs are used to watching Schenn, Gudas, Bennett, Thachuk play their game so they don't get called...same with Chara.

When Bunting crosschecks a guy in the face area ONCE and only ever ONCE it's out of character and gets called.

When Chara crosschecks a guy 7 million times he MIGHT get called if he flattens a guy in front of his net once or twice a year. Huge difference.
- underhill14

A+. Great post.

A team or player cannot flip a switch and play tough because it is playoff time.

Tom Wilson demolishes defenders when Washington is in the attack zone. You said it really well, like Chara, the referees know and accept his game. Wilson delivering big hits is expected, he is good at it and for that reason he is very effective.

i concur
- dmnted

Willy should be shopped whether he'll sign @ 8.5 or not. So should Mitch Marner. Marner is already overpaid, and Nylander is going to get overpaid. Dubas' contracts for Matthews, Marner, and Tavares were an unmitigated disaster and constrain the next GM.

You hope surrounding them with a few guys that play that way might motivate them to defend themselves and give it back a bit but I'm not sure. Matthews has shown a bit of willingness - maybe give him a real PF and he'll grow a few inches.

Marner and Willie just don't have it in them at all. Willie skates away and watching MM take the repeated face punches was painful. Do the Brent Burns and put your blade in his nutsack.
- The Law

Pay the price. Get Tom Wilson or a reasonable facsimile of him. Put him on a line with Matthews and Marner and just about every Leaf problem (up front) goes away.

Obviously, some fine tuning still needed on D and a full transplant procedure will be needed in nets.

In the best Frank Costanza voice
“What the hell does that mean?” Ha ha
- BluesDroogie

It's means the local/national media revolves around the TML drama. You can't escape it - no matter where you are.

The vortex has you. Ride the wave until it stops.

You'll have to listen to Armstrong rumours until they hire somebody.

No.

He’ll think he deserves “top tier salary.”

I think he’s a $6 million player because he’s got zero bite and defensive awareness.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

40-goal scoring $6M player coming off a bargain contract.

I get it, you don't like him, but to try to stretch your weird fetishized hate into some sort of market value logic is really (frank)ing hilarious.

Ohhhhhh… that’s really tempting….
- dozerD10

McTavish, Drysdale and 2nd over all for Matthews.

Who says no?

McTavish, Drysdale and 2nd over all for Matthews.

Who says no?
- .HOHO.

if Matthews doesn't want to sign at least a 5 yr deal, it sadden me say it but trade him.
I'd be ok with that deal.

I see Dallas avoided being sweeped last night

we have some hockey this Saturday night

Pfft. Wade Boggs was the new Ed Belfour. Don't you remember the drunken billion dollar bribe? That's the best.
- Monkeypunk

McTavish, Drysdale and 2nd over all for Matthews.

Who says no?
- .HOHO.

Anaheim

McTavish, Drysdale and 2nd over all for Matthews and Knies -

Who says no?
- .HOHO.

Fixed it - now we’re talking -

Anaheim
- mr.sir

For the first time ever, sir, we are complete agreement

Willy should be shopped whether he'll sign @ 8.5 or not. So should Mitch Marner. Marner is already overpaid, and Nylander is going to get overpaid. Dubas' contracts for Matthews, Marner, and Tavares were an unmitigated disaster and constrain the next GM.
- fifty__missions

Shanny would have signed off on all these contracts, hell the way things are coming out now maybe Dubas wanted to pay them less and Shanny said no - sign them for this.

Do you feel the same disgust and outrage towards Shanny?

Fixed it - now we’re talking -
- dozerD10

Overpay by the Leafs and Knies SHOULD be untouchable.

Ducks can have a slightly used and abused Matt Murray and you will like it!

For the first time ever, sir, we are complete agreement
- dozerD10

Drysdale
Zellweger
Helleson
Hinds
Mintyukov

I’m jealous 😔

Drysdale
Zellweger
Helleson
Hinds
Mintyukov
Luneau
Warren
LaCombe.

I’m jealous 😔
- mr.sir

Shanny would have signed off on all these contracts, hell the way things are coming out now maybe Dubas wanted to pay them less and Shanny said no - sign them for this.

Do you feel the same disgust and outrage towards Shanny?
- Cush29

i saw it floating out there also (from CJ i think) that Dubas was the one wanting to try and make moves like trading Nylander..and he was blocked...but who know

would be a funny twist to the Trade Nylander/Fire Dubas saga....that some fans wouldnt shut up about

Overpay by the Leafs and Knies SHOULD be untouchable.

Ducks can have a slightly used and abused Matt Murray and you will like it!
- Cush29

On another front - If Robertson is at 7.75 with legit 45 goal a yr. avg...

Is Willy worth that much more ????

[quote=dozerD10]
And with the 11m coming off the books from Henrique and Silfverberg at the end of the year…
In a good position to take a run at 34

On another front - If Robertson is at 7.75 with legit 45 goal a yr. avg...

Is Willy worth that much more ????
- dozerD10

Ok fine you can have Robertson instead of Murray.


I'd love for Willy to lock in at 8 or less but I'm not sure he will do so based on what the others are making but we can dream.

On another front - If Robertson is at 7.75 with legit 45 goal a yr. avg...

Is Willy worth that much more ????
- dozerD10

No, but Willy is coming off a bargain contract and can test the open market. Worth and could get at that point are two very different things.

[quote=mr.sir]

Love AM34 and you are correct more money coming off the books...

We have tons of D prospects and Leafs could use some youngin's back there for the stockpiling -

I just don't know if Vertank has the stones to take that kind of swing.. still not sold on him as GM.

On another front - If Robertson is at 7.75 with legit 45 goal a yr. avg...

Is Willy worth that much more ????
- dozerD10

RFA vs. UFA ...big difference on the open market.

Shanny would have signed off on all these contracts, hell the way things are coming out now maybe Dubas wanted to pay them less and Shanny said no - sign them for this.

Do you feel the same disgust and outrage towards Shanny?
- Cush29

I do, yes. I have been saying the team has been mismanaged for years. Shanahan is clearly part of that. The way things ended with Dubas was bush league on both sides and makes Shanahan look incompetent.

RFA vs. UFA ...big difference on the open market.
- The Law

Point being even with that.

GM's are going to look and say Willy you want a 20% premium of a guy who is 24 and gives stars 40+ goals a yr and is signed for 4 more yrs @ 7.75 - explain to us why you deserve that.

He could be in for a reality check - maybe...