Last summer's UFA D'men were complete poope. poope with term or poope with no term. I thank god for what he didn't do.

When I look at what Tree has done last summer and at the deadline it tells me that he didn't really believe in this team as constructed and he opted for bandaids and low cost investments. Frankly, he had to do 'something' b/c the team was still good and expected to compete but it clearly wasn't built in his image ..so spending his space on 1 yr commitments to Sammy, Domi, Bert and Klingberg was, for me, his way of kicking the can down the path one more year.

He kept his picks and prospects ...he's got his coach to fire ...he's got term. So he gets to rebuild this thing slowly in the image he wants. I'm curious to see what he does this summer.
- The Law

Ron Francis recently noted that we are in a time in hockey where cap is king. As the cap starts to rise again next and particularly the year following, cap won't have much buying power as it does right _now_. Wasting that on Klingberg wasn't a good decision. We may never agree, but I cannot express enough how much I believe a player like Klingberg is a road we've walked with Tyson Barrie and Klingberg is a bumpier road. But the idea that we might have been able to land Zadorov and/or Tanev if we weren't asking for retention - or at least been involved in other conversations later in the year is one I'd hold there.

I am curious what he's going to do this year because this is now his time. I don't really trust him. I think he skates by after making two or three decent moves in Calgary coupled with just as many, if not more, poor ones. That said I do think it's easier to convince players to play in a major metropolitan area like Toronto than it is in Calgary (and I know Albertans will hate me for that, but it's unfortunately the truth). He'll have $25m - and more if he convinces someone to waive an NMC - to start to do things he would like. He's seen it for a year. Let's see what his vision is.

Knowing from experience, it takes a full 10 days to get over food poisoning.
- PrinceLH

10 days? Dude I got food poisoning at 4AM 2 Christmas days ago and was fine by the next morning. I've had it twice and was over it within 24 hours both times, just have to go through 1 day of hell.

Dobson is a $4M cap hit right now. He's probably on a bridge deal, so he's going to get paid. I'm wondering if Lou really wants to pay him? I'd do Marner straight up for Dobson. I'd also negotiate another transaction for Sorokin. It might cost you Woll.
- PrinceLH

I can’t see NYI giving up on Sorokin
Varly is 36 years old

Lou will pay Dobson

This

Pulock all day
Dobson passed him and paying 6+m for 2nd pairing RHD is not ideal
- mr.sir

Pulock is severely underrated. Islanders would be fools to trade him if they're trying to win now unless they're blown away.

It ain't Rod.

Mike Sullivan.
- BINGO!

Funny story, I ran into Rod's dad at the Toronto airport about 20 years ago. I joked that Rod should come play in Toronto, and he said something along the lines of "god no, he doesn't want to play where he lives/was raised."

I'm sure the same thing applies now.

Agreed! He did the smart thing and kept our 1st rounder intact. Still, he should be looking at an Islanders trade. Sorokin and one of their right handed defensemen.
- PrinceLH

You keep posting this, (pretty sure it's you). Do you really think you get 3 years of Sorokin plus other assets for one year of MM (when he holds ALL the power) plus whatever other trash we toss in?!?!

You keep posting this, (pretty sure it's you). Do you really think you get 3 years of Sorokin plus other assets for one year of MM (when he holds ALL the power) plus whatever other trash we toss in?!?!
- Whipper

Come on.
All Toronto players suck, unless they're getting traded, then they command a king's ransom.

He didn't take over until midway in the draft last year. He had just been signed and had to deal with Matthews and Nylander getting new deals. That took up a lot of his time. He did get Bertuzzi and Domi under contract, for less than he is paying Mitch Marner. He should resign both Bert and Domi. 3 year contracts, Bert gets 3 X $5M, Domi 3 X $4M. Sami nets you $4M when he moves on and Robidas Island empties their cages with 3 LTR contracts going away. Yes, Matthews and Nylander's contracts kick in, but Brodie's will be gone. It'll also be time to reup McCabe. Now is the time to rebuild the defense and cut loose of Liljegren, Boosh and Edmunston. They still have Timmins as the 7th defenseman. There will be some good cap space coming their way to rebuild the right side of the defense.

Funny story, I ran into Rod's dad at the Toronto airport about 20 years ago. I joked that Rod should come play in Toronto, and he said something along the lines of "god no, he doesn't want to play where he lives/was raised."

I'm sure the same thing applies now.
- Whipper

He probably doesn't want to work for a bunch of complete idiots either.

Pulock is severely underrated. Islanders would be fools to trade him if they're trying to win now unless they're blown away.
- jmatchett383

Islanders are starved for offense. Marner could intrigue them.

Islanders are starved for offense. Marner could intrigue them.
- PrinceLH

Intrigue for sure, but a stud RHD is the hardest thing to find in hockey, generally speaking (technically a McDavid is harder to find). Plus TML would be dealing from a position of weakness.

You keep posting this, (pretty sure it's you). Do you really think you get 3 years of Sorokin plus other assets for one year of MM (when he holds ALL the power) plus whatever other trash we toss in?!?!
- Whipper

If Roy didn't play him, they might want to move him. Marner was drafted by Lou and may want to get the hell out of the Media zoo that's Toronto. The fans and the press are certainly doing their job to get rid of him.

Come on.
All Toronto players suck, unless they're getting traded, then they command a king's ransom.
- jmatchett383

He probably doesn't want to work for a bunch of complete idiots either.
- Rare_Jewel

Hopefully Keith Pelley rights the ship. He's can't possibly make it worse... Can he?

That's total BS.

There were plenty of options to sign on D.

The Leafs were simply too stupid to clear cap space and wasted money on other players.
- Rare_Jewel

Go look and send your list of difference makers.

10 days? Dude I got food poisoning at 4AM 2 Christmas days ago and was fine by the next morning. I've had it twice and was over it within 24 hours both times, just have to go through 1 day of hell.
- jmatchett383

runny bum with the away whites is risky

Islanders are starved for offense. Marner could intrigue them.
- PrinceLH

Give them Tavares back.

Give them Tavares back.
- Rare_Jewel

Give them Tavares back.
- Rare_Jewel

Another summer of Pageau rumours 😟

Go look and send your list of difference makers.
- The Law

The list was made last year so it's easy to find.

Graves @ 4.5 million AAV over 6 years
Mayfield @ 4.5 million AAV over 6 years (more money in a shorter time period)
Schenn @ 2.75 million AAV over 3 years
Gustafsson @ 1 million AAV over 2 years (more than he was offered)

Rielly / Mayfield
Graves / Schenn
Gustafsson / Liljegren

That's a way bigger, tougher blueline to play against. And worth every single penny.

And doesn't even include what you could have got if they traded Nylander.

I guarantee you that blueline smashes teams physically, blocks shots, doesn't suck a fat donkey on the PK and plays playoff hockey 10 times better than the soft serve garbage the Leafs tried to put on this ice this year.

Ron Francis recently noted that we are in a time in hockey where cap is king. As the cap starts to rise again next and particularly the year following, cap won't have much buying power as it does right _now_. Wasting that on Klingberg wasn't a good decision. We may never agree, but I cannot express enough how much I believe a player like Klingberg is a road we've walked with Tyson Barrie and Klingberg is a bumpier road. But the idea that we might have been able to land Zadorov and/or Tanev if we weren't asking for retention - or at least been involved in other conversations later in the year is one I'd hold there.

I am curious what he's going to do this year because this is now his time. I don't really trust him. I think he skates by after making two or three decent moves in Calgary coupled with just as many, if not more, poor ones. That said I do think it's easier to convince players to play in a major metropolitan area like Toronto than it is in Calgary (and I know Albertans will hate me for that, but it's unfortunately the truth). He'll have $25m - and more if he convinces someone to waive an NMC - to start to do things he would like. He's seen it for a year. Let's see what his vision is.
- Monkeypunk

First - we were talking about summer signings. Nobody has gone back and actually looked at the signings from the summer and pointed out the better move. Maybe in hindsight an Ian Cole is better but who the (frank) was going to suggest that back in July 1. It was all poop and he avoided the deeper poop is the point.

And to your point about Zadorov and Tanev ....Klingberg's contract didn't impact that at all. He was on LTIR and the space was there.

If you're broadening the debate to include Reaves, Bert, Domi ...sure maybe but my point was simply that the UFA blue liners were trash last summer. I'm glad he avoided signing Holl, Graves, Schenn, etc... to multi-yr handcuffing type deals. And then you've Erik Johnson 3.25? Dumba 3.9? ..nobody was making a difference.

I'm not suggesting his moves were good ..to be clear ..I'm saying there was no good moves to be made.

For me ...lets see this summer ...I like his rhetoric about how to build but lets see if he can get it done.

Funny story, I ran into Rod's dad at the Toronto airport about 20 years ago. I joked that Rod should come play in Toronto, and he said something along the lines of "god no, he doesn't want to play where he lives/was raised."

I'm sure the same thing applies now.
- Whipper

Rod's also been pretty adamant that he doesn't want to have a second career as a coach here. Last time around he turned down higher pay for himself to make sure his assistants got more.

Dean Chynoweth apparently decided he liked what Toronto offered better, so away he went, but Brind'amour has made a habit of making sure all of the staff get paid before he does.

The list was made last year so it's easy to find.

Graves @ 4.5 million AAV over 6 years
Mayfield @ 4.5 million AAV over 6 years (more money in a shorter time period)
Schenn @ 2.75 million AAV over 3 years
Gustafsson @ 1 million AAV over 2 years (more than he was offered)

Rielly / Mayfield
Graves / Schenn
Gustafsson / Liljegren

That's a way bigger, tougher blueline to play against. And worth every single penny.

And doesn't even include what you could have got if they traded Nylander.

I guarantee you that blueline smashes teams physically, blocks shots, doesn't suck a fat donkey on the PK and plays playoff hockey 10 times better than the soft serve garbage the Leafs tried to put on this ice this year.
- Rare_Jewel

Sir, that blueline absolutely (frank)ing sucks.

Come on.
All Toronto players suck, unless they're getting traded, then they command a king's ransom.
- jmatchett383

a veritable treasure trove of assets and picks

Sir, that blueline absolutely (frank)ing sucks.
- BINGO!

No sir, Brodie, McCabe, Klingberg, Giordano and Edmundson (frank)ing suck.