They added very nicely on D. Goaltending is a gamble again but if Woll is what many here say he is, one that could pay well if it hits. Solarz is better than Sammy, Jones, etc. And that's without trading Marner yet. Add in a new coaching regime. It's not running it back at all. Leafs Go 🥳💙

For the record ..

<------ this guy also was all about grabbing Sam Bennett back when FLA grabbed him.

...mostly b/c he was a yuge Dougie G fan and part of the whole Kingston connection.

I remember when he was struggling in Calgary the word was that he wasn't good enough defensively to play 3C and he didn't score enough to play top 6.

Honestly, I think he's a little fringy as a true C but he's gelled so well with Tkachuk.
- The Law

I didn't really back-read, but I did poke through the trade deadline day.

"Why are the Panthers collecting garbage for a 2nd and a prospect?"

"Is this Calgary throwing in the towel on the season, or merely getting rid of garbage?"

"He's been a malcontent who wants out and demands more than he's earned for at least 2 years. I'm amazed they got that much for him."

"Sam Bennett gets the same return as Hall ....."


So much happens on TDL day that no one really dwells on anything. I know it had been rumoured that Bennett wanted out for some time, and I do recall a few people were on the get him bandwagon. My comment was the third one above, and I believe that I would have been okay to get him as a 3C but since he wanted to be a top-6 guy, it likely would have been a change scenery and not a change of roles for him.

Thinking of guys like Verhaege and other former Leaf prospects that now we wish we kept....Marchment, etc...what's your Jerry's % on Knies reaching a similar level of player. How about Cowan.

I looked at the 2014 draft and if top picks (like a lot of guys here think are easy) then Virtanen/Fluery/Dal Colle all wouldn't have gone before Nylander. Arguably even Bennett.
- Aaron_85

Try to follow along here. I am saying that a comment like "anybody who knows anything about hockey" is (frank)ing dumb. That GMs, even the good ones get it wrong all the time.

It's humid enough to sweat the balls off a brass monkey

Looks like more of the same in the Atlantic. The usual moving of the deck chairs between Tampa, Boston, Florida and Toronto. Any one of them could finish 1st to 4th. The other 4 can only hope for the second wildcard. The Metro really only has two contending teams, Rangers and Carolina. Maybe a Detroit or Buffalo might find their way in. Feels a lot like the Blue Jays predicament.....playing in a division with all of the heavyweights in it. Leafs probably get to second this year. I'm guessing that Florida finishes 3rd, then Tampa. Puts Boston on top again. For once, I'd like to see the Leafs win the Atlantic and play the 4th seed, instead of getting killed by a team just above them, or just below them.

Nobody trades two firsts and a second anymore after the Kessel trade. It's like Hitler's mustache, you just can't do it anymore.

Looks like more of the same in the Atlantic. The usual moving of the deck chairs between Tampa, Boston, Florida and Toronto. Any one of them could finish 1st to 4th. The other 4 can only hope for the second wildcard. The Metro really only have two contending teams, Rangers and Carolina. Maybe a Detroit or Buffalo might find their way in. Feels a lot like the Blue Jays predicament.....playing in a division with all of the heavyweights in it. Leafs probably get to second this year. I'm guessing that Florida finishes 3rd, then Tampa. Puts Boston on top again. For once, I'd like to see the Leafs win the Atlantic and play the 4th seed, instead of getting killed by a team just above them, or just below them.
- PrinceLH

I would really like to see them win the Atlantic too. The division is a group of death in the top 4.

I didn't really back-read, but I did poke through the trade deadline day.

"Why are the Panthers collecting garbage for a 2nd and a prospect?"

"Is this Calgary throwing in the towel on the season, or merely getting rid of garbage?"

"He's been a malcontent who wants out and demands more than he's earned for at least 2 years. I'm amazed they got that much for him."

"Sam Bennett gets the same return as Hall ....."


So much happens on TDL day that no one really dwells on anything. I know it had been rumoured that Bennett wanted out for some time, and I do recall a few people were on the get him bandwagon. My comment was the third one above, and I believe that I would have been okay to get him as a 3C but since he wanted to be a top-6 guy, it likely would have been a change scenery and not a change of roles for him.
- Monkeypunk

I don't want to go hunting for my comments. I've already convinced myself that I had it right!

Looks like more of the same in the Atlantic. The usual moving of the deck chairs between Tampa, Boston, Florida and Toronto. Any one of them could finish 1st to 4th. The other 4 can only hope for the second wildcard. The Metro really only have two contending teams, Rangers and Carolina. Maybe a Detroit or Buffalo might find their way in. Feels a lot like the Blue Jays predicament.....playing in a division with all of the heavyweights in it. Leafs probably get to second this year. I'm guessing that Florida finishes 3rd, then Tampa. Puts Boston on top again. For once, I'd like to see the Leafs win the Atlantic and play the 4th seed, instead of getting killed by a team just above them, or just below them.
- PrinceLH

I think we have a good chance of winning the division. I think we might have last year if not for the goalie injuries.

Thinking of guys like Verhaege and other former Leaf prospects that now we wish we kept....Marchment, etc...what's your Jerry's % on Knies reaching a similar level of player. How about Cowan.
- Zezel

I'm much higher on Knies. He has the tools to be very successful including his size which gives him greater versatility on the team.

I'm not even sure what Cowan is going to be. I feel like you get perhaps Tucker or Gallagher - which isn't bad at all, but I'm sort of thinking that's his ceiling.

Thinking of guys like Verhaege and other former Leaf prospects that now we wish we kept....Marchment, etc...what's your Jerry's % on Knies reaching a similar level of player. How about Cowan.
- Zezel

Knies, IMO, is ready to burst. I think he fits Berube's game ...big, fast, north-south. If he earns minutes he could bang 25+ this year.

Cowan's still a punk-kid ....let him marinate.

Ben Danforth is clearly on a path to Prongerdom.

They added very nicely on D. Goaltending is a gamble again but if Woll is what many here say he is, one that could pay well if it hits. Solarz is better than Sammy, Jones, etc. And that's without trading Marner yet. Add in a new coaching regime. It's not running it back at all. Leafs Go 🥳💙
- Zezel

I like our team with the new additions. I think we get our butts kicked in any trade involving Marner. We should keep him.

I would really like to see them win the Atlantic too. The division is a group of death in the top 4.
- Zezel

Yeah, I've been calling it the Division of Death for a number of years now. You have to fight off a major contender twice, to just get out of your division. The Rangers won the President's Trophy, but look who was in their division? 3rd place, the Islanders? Washington was 4th? Even the 4 lower teams in the Atlantic are a tough out, most nights. In 2 years, the Habs will be knocking on the door once again. They've drafted and developed a great young core and that tree is about to blossom. Ottawa might be destined for last this year and their team isn't bad. Sure isn't as band as Columbus, Philly and Pittsburgh. Jersey will look better next year.

Holy franking poop on a shingle at dawn it's Towelie Adidas. I wish I never saw these. They're almost 300 bucks. I want to erase my memory. I'm coveting this really stupid thing to buy. But these shoes (frank)ing rule. They come with red eyes on Towelie also!

Knies, IMO, is ready to burst. I think he fits Berube's game ...big, fast, north-south. If he earns minutes he could bang 25+ this year.

Cowan's still a punk-kid ....let him marinate.

Ben Danforth is clearly on a path to Prongerdom.
- The Law

I didn’t expect knies to be able to take the puck to the net the way he does. He makes it look easy.

Knies, IMO, is ready to burst. I think he fits Berube's game ...big, fast, north-south. If he earns minutes he could bang 25+ this year.

Cowan's still a punk-kid ....let him marinate.

Ben Danforth is clearly on a path to Prongerdom.
- The Law

Yeah, my next door neighbour lady is the grandmother of Danforth's girlfriend. Give him 2 to 3 years and let him dominate junior and see where he's at. He may have some growing to do.

I'm much higher on Knies. He has the tools to be very successful including his size which gives him greater versatility on the team.

I'm not even sure what Cowan is going to be. I feel like you get perhaps Tucker or Gallagher - which isn't bad at all, but I'm sort of thinking that's his ceiling.
- Monkeypunk

I think Cowan's estimated floor is 10-15 goal 3rd line PK guy. I am afraid there is a good chance a lot on here will be disappointed with his ceiling.

Yeah, I've been calling it the Division of Death for a number of years now. You have to fight off a major contender twice, to just get out of your division. The Rangers won the President's Trophy, but look who was in their division? 3rd place, the Islanders? Washington was 4th? Even the 4 lower teams in the Atlantic are a tough out, most nights. In 2 years, the Habs will be knocking on the door once again. They've drafted and developed a great young core and that tree is about to blossom. Ottawa might be destined for last this year and their team isn't bad. Sure isn't as band as Columbus, Philly and Pittsburgh. Jersey will look better next year.
- PrinceLH

Also on Overdrive they were talking about who could break into the top 4 in the Atlantic. It's hard for me to get excited about any of the Atlantic teams quite yet. I wouldn't bet on them. The Eastern team outside of our division that could be a problem is Jersey I suspect

Yeah, my next door neighbour lady is the grandmother of Danforth's girlfriend. Give him 2 to 3 years and let him dominate junior and see where he's at. He may have some growing to do.
- PrinceLH

I heard that he grew 4" last week.

Wedgie's going to kick my ass but I've already pencilled him in to the 3rd pair in 2026.

I think Cowan's estimated floor is 10-15 goal 3rd line PK guy. I am afraid there is a good chance a lot on here will be disappointed with his ceiling.
- jribout

Having watched Cowan quite a bit in the MC, I sort of got a Robertson Light vibe. I have no expectations…none whatsoever.

Having watched Cowan quite a bit in the MC, I sort of got a Robertson Light vibe. I have no expectations…none whatsoever.
- Woderwick

Ouch!

I see, so kinda like a Cole Caulfield then ....

Having watched Cowan quite a bit in the MC, I sort of got a Robertson Light vibe. I have no expectations…none whatsoever.
- Woderwick

Cowan is defensively responsible. He won't do so in the NHL but he dropped the gloves a few times, and has a bit of a nasty side. So I do not see the comparison at all.

Cowan is defensively responsible. He won't do so in the NHL but he dropped the gloves a few times, and has a bit of a nasty side. So I do not see the comparison at all.
- jribout

It’s not so much his play, it was a bit, but it was more the hype. I was expecting more I think, especially with all the chatter and the streak, etc.

Ouch!

I see, so kinda like a Cole Caulfield then ....



- The Law

I hope!