the team seems too uptight. Its time to sign Kessel

Not me, its a chance they should take. I've been watching the Leafs for a minute or two. Can't think of a player they've had that was better than Matthews. Nylander is having an exceptional season - don't care why. Doubt very much he could be involved in a trade where the Leafs get the best player. Don't waste the opportunity making a foolish trade. I still think Leafs will re-sign Nylander.
- winsix

It’s not always about getting the best player. Would you rather a 40 goal guy for 3 months or a 25 goal scorer for 3 years? Just saying.
And it’s only an opportunity if you have a chance. You can’t seriously think the Leafs have a chance this year? Wouldn’t it be something if we keep Nylander, keep TJ and whoever else, and don’t make the playoffs. Cause that’s the direction they are trending.
Anyways I can see everyone has a different take on the team and that’s cool. For me though, you need to be aggressive. Vegas is an aggressive team, Florida is an aggressive team……..make it work or make changes. Let’s chat at the end of the 1st round.

It’s not always about getting the best player. Would you rather a 40 goal guy for 3 months or a 25 goal scorer for 3 years? Just saying.
And it’s only an opportunity if you have a chance. You can’t seriously think the Leafs have a chance this year? Wouldn’t it be something if we keep Nylander, keep TJ and whoever else, and don’t make the playoffs. Cause that’s the direction they are trending.
Anyways I can see everyone has a different take on the team and that’s cool. For me though, you need to be aggressive. Vegas is an aggressive team, Florida is an aggressive team……..make it work or make changes. Let’s chat at the end of the 1st round.
- Bullot

I’d take the guy who’s tied with McDavid in points for 3 months any day. Worst case scenario, his money is available in the summer and you can go shopping

It’s not always about getting the best player. Would you rather a 40 goal guy for 3 months or a 25 goal scorer for 3 years? Just saying.
And it’s only an opportunity if you have a chance. You can’t seriously think the Leafs have a chance this year? Wouldn’t it be something if we keep Nylander, keep TJ and whoever else, and don’t make the playoffs. Cause that’s the direction they are trending.
Anyways I can see everyone has a different take on the team and that’s cool. For me though, you need to be aggressive. Vegas is an aggressive team, Florida is an aggressive team……..make it work or make changes. Let’s chat at the end of the 1st round.
- Bullot

There’s always a chance if you get in the playoffs. Florida last year was a good example of that.

There’s always a chance if you get in the playoffs. Florida last year was a good example of that.
- shack67

Yeah that approach has worked wonders over the last 55 years or so. 😐

Yeah that approach has worked wonders over the last 55 years or so. 😐
- fifty__missions

I’m not hung up on the past man. This is the best group we’ve had in the modern era.

I’m not hung up on the past man. This is the best group we’ve had in the modern era.
- shack67

Is it? Perhaps "most talented", but "best"? I dunno.

Is it? Perhaps "most talented", but "best"? I dunno.
- mjones242

Just my opinion of course. We’ve had some good players in the past but usually they were past their prime.

Yeah that approach has worked wonders over the last 55 years or so. 😐
- fifty__missions

The Leafs have not tried the make the payoffs consistently approach over that time actually.

The Leafs have not tried the make the payoffs consistently approach over that time actually.
- Zezel

We’ve been in since Matthews donned the jersey.

The Leafs have not tried the make the payoffs consistently approach over that time actually.
- Zezel

Pretty sure they did through the 90's and early 2000's.

It didn't work. 🙄

like what other choice do they have.

do you pay $10 for a $1 chocolate bar when you know you can get it for $1?
patience required.
- dmnted

Depends. If Uber is delivering it, lots of people will take the $10 option.
Saves 'em getting off their lazy asses.



(The thumbs up, is because I deliver for Uber Eats)

But the Leafs don’t have a lot of bad contracts they need to unload. Other than Matthews and Rielly there’s only about $5M on the books after next year. There’s money available. It just can’t be wasted in signings that don’t bring enough value, like Klingber or Bertuzzi.

I don’t see the point in moving out top tier players to build a new team around Matthews unless it’s quality out for quality in - a really good forward for an equally good D man. Trading for picks makes no sense. Marner and Nylander should not be moved unless you’ve given up on them or you get back players who can contribute at the same level.
- Canada Cup

The issue is 6 years with these core players and it's won a resounding 1 playoff round. Willy will never be worth more than he is now. His point production is being driven by a contract year and next year, he turns 28. Most players abilities start to slowly recede once they get to this age. You would probably get 3 to 4 years of elite play before he becomes overpaid and you get the same argument as the current Tavares contract. He's a winger, not a center or defenseman. Wingers are easier to acquire than the affor mentioned position players.

I’d take the guy who’s tied with McDavid in points for 3 months any day. Worst case scenario, his money is available in the summer and you can go shopping
- Canada Cup

Agreed

I’m not hung up on the past man. This is the best group we’ve had in the modern era.
- shack67

I’d argue the ‘93 team was better equipped to win.

Strong from top to bottom.

I’d take the guy who’s tied with McDavid in points for 3 months any day. Worst case scenario, his money is available in the summer and you can go shopping
- Canada Cup

It's not about points, it's about winning. McDavid is an MVP player with scoring titles. Willy has yet to get to 100 points and is older than McDavid. For the record, Edmonton hasn't won anything yet either. They mirror the Leafs with a top heavy core of top 6 forwards and a sparse defense with less than stellar goaltending. Leafs need to retool their team, while they still have viable assets to more. Losing Nylander or Marner will make a very small difference, when you can fill those holes with free agents at the end of this year. The benefit is the asset package in return. Having 4 players eating up this much cap space has been tried for too many years. We can't compete without help on the back end and we only have a few good young players in the pipeline. None are defensemen.

There’s always a chance if you get in the playoffs. Florida last year was a good example of that.
- shack67

Florida was driven by Goaltending. Just like the year that Carey Price drove an average Habs team to the finals during the Covid years.

Such a cowardly and classless move by Keefe to bench Kampf and sabotage his Ironman streak when the tender was mostly to blame on a single play, while the other softy "superstars" on the Leafs continue to not give a damn about defensive responsibilities.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are basically the antithesis of what Canadian hockey stands for.
There are just so many things to not like about the Leafs.

Pretty sure they did through the 90's and early 2000's.

It didn't work. 🙄
- joel878

During those times, they did get to the third round a few times. A break here or there could have gotten them to the finals. This team has won 1 game in the second round since those early 2000's teams.

The issue is 6 years with these core players and it's won a resounding 1 playoff round. Willy will never be worth more than he is now. His point production is being driven by a contract year and next year, he turns 28. Most players abilities start to slowly recede once they get to this age. You would probably get 3 to 4 years of elite play before he becomes overpaid and you get the same argument as the current Tavares contract. He's a winger, not a center or defenseman. Wingers are easier to acquire than the affor mentioned position players.
- PrinceLH

Willy is a rental at this point. Boston gave up a crap player that has not scored 20 points in 6 nhl seasons and a second round pick #53 overall to acquire Taylor Hall - a former 1st overall pick and NHL MVP at the trade deadline. Do you honestly think it makes sense for a team with playoff aspirations to trade a top 10 scorer for that kind of return? If he walks, Leafs have $7M of cap space to spend on a UFA.

I’d argue the ‘93 team was better equipped to win.

Strong from top to bottom.
- Atomic Wedgie

Their top 6 defensemen weren't All Star caliber but they were all good top 4 defenders. Todd Gill was probably the worst of them and he wasn't that bad. Gill = Brodie in today's game.

Such a cowardly and classless move by Keefe to bench Kampf and sabotage his Ironman streak when the tender was mostly to blame on a single play, while the other softy "superstars" on the Leafs continue to not give a damn about defensive responsibilities.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are basically the antithesis of what Canadian hockey stands for.
There are just so many things to not like about the Leafs.
- JLO961

Trying very hard to give a poop about this but failing. Nope, don’t care.

Such a cowardly and classless move by Keefe to bench Kampf and sabotage his Ironman streak when the tender was mostly to blame on a single play, while the other softy "superstars" on the Leafs continue to not give a damn about defensive responsibilities.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are basically the antithesis of what Canadian hockey stands for.
There are just so many things to not like about the Leafs.
- JLO961

I did not like the move. That said, why are you here? Aren't you the imbecile worthless Leaf hating troll that said that Matthews wasn't a top 20 player in the NHL last season? If you want to talk about really poorly managed teams lets start with the Oilers. Despite being gifted 4 first overall picks they let a bunch of drunks and losers manage the team including McTavish who was a convicted murderer.

Willy is a rental at this point. Boston gave up a crap player that has not scored 20 points in 6 nhl seasons and a second round pick #53 overall to acquire Taylor Hall - a former 1st overall pick and NHL MVP at the trade deadline. Do you honestly think it makes sense for a team with playoff aspirations to trade a top 10 scorer for that kind of return? If he walks, Leafs have $7M of cap space to spend on a UFA.
- winsix

If the Leafs had a chance to do much, that would make sense. They have 3 NHL caliber defensemen and a bunch number 7's. Their bottom 6 is barely passable and their goaltending is very suspect. Add the ability of Keefe to actually outcoach an opponent not, then you can see a first round exit on the horizon. Teams start getting serious after the All Star break and go into shutdown mode. Carolina proved how easy it was to shut down the Leafs offensive core, on Saturday. This team is not good enough to go on a playoff run and do not possess the assets to acquire a difference maker. Better to move Willy for assets and use the cap space next year to pick up a defender like Hanifan with the current $7M Willy cap hit.

It's not about points, it's about winning. McDavid is an MVP player with scoring titles. Willy has yet to get to 100 points and is older than McDavid. For the record, Edmonton hasn't won anything yet either. They mirror the Leafs with a top heavy core of top 6 forwards and a sparse defense with less than stellar goaltending. Leafs need to retool their team, while they still have viable assets to more. Losing Nylander or Marner will make a very small difference, when you can fill those holes with free agents at the end of this year. The benefit is the asset package in return. Having 4 players eating up this much cap space has been tried for too many years. We can't compete without help on the back end and we only have a few good young players in the pipeline. None are defensemen.
- PrinceLH

You’re the one asked about a 40 goal guy versus a 25 goal. I don’t want to lose Nylander to get 3 years of a 25 goal goal scorer. As I said, if they can get a D man of equal value for Nylander, I’m open to it. But that kind of trade in-season is very unlikely. You can fill holes with all the $ coming off the books anyway.