Hard to evaluate players on a team that is so bad.
- Santo_44

For sure and on a team as bad as mine was and could possibly be... He still got the boot. And was not much better when he got to Minny.

Not saying he isn't useful.. but as a 4... no that is not good usage for the Leafs.. he will be turned so fast he'll look like a yoyo...

You’ve got it backwards.

Rielly (leftie) Brodie (leftie who can play the right side)
McCabe (leftie) Klingberg (rightie)
Gio/Benoit (lefties) Liljegren/Timmins (righties)

I’d literally be shocked if Keefe ran both the top and bottom pairing with nothing but lefties.
- Dozzer

I just wrote the right side guys first. The point remains that the person who would be most likely to take minutes from Gio would be Benoit. They’re both lefties, 3rd pairing types whose play is somewhat similar. Also, if Rielly doesn’t play with Brodie, they’d likely have to line up with Kilnberg which would be ….. interesting

Klankburg as a 4... even on a team as potent as the Leafs is a serious problem, especially as good as the Atlantic is going to be this yr.

- dozerD10

He gets points in roughly 66% of his games played. He’s being brought in for offence plain and simple and the d men like that signed for millions aren’t bottom pairing guys.

Hard to evaluate players on a team that is so bad.
- Santo_44

Absolutely - not just on a bad team but any team really. Forwards and dmen. System, use/role, who they play with, etc. very hard to evaluate team to team impact. Some players will be exposed more while others insulated…it’s the reason some trades just don’t work out when on paper they look good.

Paper vs Ice is different.

Oh I know they can, not sure if they should, but it’s certainly not my call.

So you’re thinking Robertson on IR and Holmberg, Gambrell, Benoit, and Jones sent down?

That would but the leafs a little more than $200K under the cap.
- Dozzer

We're probably micro-managing this a bit. They'll go to camp with a bunch of fringy types battling to be the 12F, 6/7D and maybe back up goalie. Some will hit waivers and might get claimed.

Good chance that someone pulls a groin and starts the year on the LTIR (like every other year) and that'll open up space and let them carry a few extra bodies.

I'm not expecting any real decisions/tweaks until the end of camp.

I just wrote the right side guys first. The point remains that the person who would be most likely to take minutes from Gio would be Benoit. They’re both lefties, 3rd pairing types whose play is somewhat similar. Also, if Rielly doesn’t play with Brodie, they’d likely have to line up with Kilnberg which would be ….. interesting
- Canada Cup

I won’t be shocked if Benoit is sent down, and when they want someone in for Gio they bump Liljegren up with Rielly for the game, plunk Brodie with Timmins, and leave it like that for the game or two necessary. I’m guessing Benoit will only be brought up to cover an injury tbh. I could be wrong of course but that’s just how I’m seeing it.

We're probably micro-managing this a bit. They'll go to camp with a bunch of fringy types battling to be the 12F, 6/7D and maybe back up goalie. Some will hit waivers and might get claimed.

Good chance that someone pulls a groin and starts the year on the LTIR (like every other year) and that'll open up space and let them carry a few extra bodies.

I'm not expecting any real decisions/tweaks until the end of camp.
- The Law

Yeah which is all I’m really trying to say. Unless it’s a no brainer deal I don’t see Nylander getting moved anytime soon and the leafs will only need to make the little adjustments necessary to get under the cap and that won’t require major moves.

I think Nickie is ready to play so I’m not sure LTIR is an option. He’s waiver exempt so Marlies is the option if he’s not on the big club.

Also, Keefe extended for two years.
- Canada Cup

Unless Robertson has an outstanding training camp, I can't see him on the big club this year to start the season.

I think he's a Marlies guy all year - maybe a callup with injuries.

He hasn't played meaningful hockey in a while, and he didn't look ready for the big time last year during his quick cup of coffee.

For sure and on a team as bad as mine was and could possibly be... He still got the boot. And was not much better when he got to Minny.

Not saying he isn't useful.. but as a 4... no that is not good usage for the Leafs.. he will be turned so fast he'll look like a yoyo...

- dozerD10

Mahura looked like an ECHLer and went to Florida and was a serviceable d.

Sorry but the Ducks were so bad and arguably the least structured team in the league last year. Hard to take play from anyone on that team and justify it.

Yeah, but a lot easier to fire a guy in the last year of his contract vs a guy you just extended. Obviously money is not an issue for MLSE, but Keefe is not that guy. How am I the only guy that sees that?!?
- Whipper

Your second sentence contradicts your first.

If money isn't an issue, firing a guy you just extended is just as easy as firing a guy on the last year of his contract.

Perhaps that's why you are the only guy who sees that.

Meh, no surprise on the keefe extension.
Lets see how he does without dubie breathing down his neck

Meh, no surprise on the keefe extension.
Lets see how he does without dubie breathing down his neck
- Fakepartofme

The people getting upset about this on Twitter are truly amusing me lol

Keefe Extended multi year as per TSN

He gets points in roughly 66% of his games played. He’s being brought in for offence plain and simple and the d men like that signed for millions aren’t bottom pairing guys.
- Dozzer

There's reason to suggest he is better on the PP than Rielly.

Which would be nice making the PP more dangerous.

We made out fine in the storm.

South Tampa and Davis Island not so much. Most of the Lightning players live on Davis Island and it's flooding right now as we speak. High "king tide" combined with winds pushing onshore. Streets are flooded and some of the houses. I hope Stamkos has good insurance.

Most of coastal Clearwater and St. Pete are flooding. Shouldn't be catastrophic, but will cause some damage and a lot of insurance claims. Insurance prices in Florida are already some of the highest in the nation. It's about to get worse.

If they send Robertson to the minors and waive and demote Timmins, Gambrell and Jones they carry a roster of exactly 20 and are compliant:

Matthews 11.64m
Tavares 11m
Marner 10.9m
Nylander 6.96m
Bertuzzi 5.5m
Domi 3m
Kämpf 2.4m
Järnkrok 2.1m
Reaves 1.35m
Lafferty 1.15m
Knies 0.93m
Holmberg 0.8m

Rielly 7.5m
Brodie 5m
Klingberg 4.15m
McCabe 2m
Liljegren 1.4m
Giordano 0.8m

Samsonov 3.55m
Woll 0.77m

That's $57.7m in forwards, $20.9m in defense, and $4.3m in net - which ends up being $602.7k under the cap.

I am not in favour of waiving Timmins, nor do I like carrying a 20 man roster - but it's currently doable without _HAVING_ to trade anyone. They just should.
- Monkeypunk

I assume there will be some injuries and LTIR might play a role in keeping some extra bodies.

But if not then they could drop Lafferty, replace him with Gambrell or another 800k 4th liner and would then have enough space to carry Benoit as a 7th D.

There's reason to suggest he is better on the PP than Rielly.

Which would be nice making the PP more dangerous.
- Santo_44

It could be who they’re up against, what if it’s simply which side they want the d man on based on the strengths of the opposition’s penalty kill.

Want him on the left with Marner on the right? Rielly

Want him on the right with Marner on the left? Klingberg

The people getting upset about this on Twitter are truly amusing me lol
- Dozzer

Ugh twitter people

Yeah which is all I’m really trying to say. Unless it’s a no brainer deal I don’t see Nylander getting moved anytime soon and the leafs will only need to make the little adjustments necessary to get under the cap and that won’t require major moves.
- Dozzer

I think he's here all year. His play this year will help determine his value. I wouldn't be scared of the threat of him leaving. There is no 'bad outcome'. He helps them this year and then takes the money offered (he probably will), or walks (some team would really have to overpay him over 7 years) and the Leafs can fill that cap space with other great things.

Mahura looked like an ECHLer and went to Florida and was a serviceable d.

Sorry but the Ducks were so bad and arguably the least structured team in the league last year. Hard to take play from anyone on that team and justify it.
- Santo_44

The Swarm coaching at his best right there.... thank goodness he got the boot.

Yeah, but a lot easier to fire a guy in the last year of his contract vs a guy you just extended. Obviously money is not an issue for MLSE, but Keefe is not that guy. How am I the only guy that sees that?!?
- Whipper

Maybe because you think you see that, but you don't actually know.

It could be who they’re up against, what if it’s simply which side they want the d man on based on the strengths of the opposition’s penalty kill.

Want him on the left with Marner on the right? Rielly

Want him on the right with Marner on the left? Klingberg
- Dozzer

Well Klingberg can walk the blue line well which Rielly has always been average at.

I think it'll help with movement where Rielly's strength was just passing the puck quickly.

Klingberg has had success with worse PP players so...will be the first time Rielly has a legit threat to take over that spot.

We made out fine in the storm.

South Tampa and Davis Island not so much. Most of the Lightning players live on Davis Island and it's flooding right now as we speak. High "king tide" combined with winds pushing onshore. Streets are flooded and some of the houses. I hope Stamkos has good insurance.

Most of coastal Clearwater and St. Pete are flooding. Shouldn't be catastrophic, but will cause some damage and a lot of insurance claims. Insurance prices in Florida are already some of the highest in the nation. It's about to get worse.
- GalacticStone

Glad to hear you are alright.

Insurance prices may not be too bad in the future - because you may not be able to get insurance in Florida in the future.

Now what are the odds of that happening at any time this yr Koolaid...

- dozerD10

Very low, because it's likely the Leafs will win their division so firing Keefe wouldn't be a consideration.

Glad to hear you are alright.

Insurance prices may not be too bad in the future - because you may not be able to get insurance in Florida in the future.
- Atomic Wedgie

The insurance industry sure believes in anthropomorphic climate change.