Leafs have to do something so Benoit is not playing... he suuuucks
- senstroll

If it was him and L. Schenn, he'd probably be fine, but with Timmins... it's too much.

Darren Dreger
@DarrenDreger
Flyers update. Big ask on Ristolainen. 1st, prospect and player. Decent chance he stays in Philly. Hard to replace. Teams that missed on Nelson are circling on Laughton and the price is a haul.


- gravyface

- AdamFrench

Apparently he's "better" now sooooo

I'm with you here. If Domi lays an egg this playoffs, then dump him after. But I'd keep him for now, unless another team really wanted to overpay for him.
- GalacticStone

I just can’t see him being effective as a 3C in the playoffs. But he’s kind of all they’ve got right now. If they can upgrade and moving him helps with the $, I wouldn’t hesitate

I just can’t see him being effective as a 3C in the playoffs. But he’s kind of all they’ve got right now. If they can upgrade and moving him helps with the $, I wouldn’t hesitate
- Canada Cup

That line has been winning or breaking even since I think before the break, so while it looks bad on paper, if they control their usage (sheltered scoring line), they'll be fine.

D is terrible though. Dear god, are people not watching these games? Benoit and Timmins, my god... and Rielly and OEL hasn't been stellar either. Poor McCabe, only guy who knows what he's doing back there.

I just can’t see him being effective as a 3C in the playoffs. But he’s kind of all they’ve got right now. If they can upgrade and moving him helps with the $, I wouldn’t hesitate
- Canada Cup

Agreed, I'd deal him if a fair offer came in, but I wouldn't just jettison him for a low pick and cap dump.... yet. I'm hoping he brings much needed jam to the playoffs.

Yeah, Rantanen is not a 14M player either.
- gravyface

he's a (frank)ing diva.

Toronto will always have to pay a premium, because everybody knows we're the richest team in the league and an intense limelight, so that is what everybody leads with when it comes to negotiations.

Toronto will always have the steepest hill to climb to win a cup. It's a shame that so many years were wasted pre-cap, when all that money made a real difference on the ice.
- gravyface

I heard someone on the radio the other day saying that with the cap going up so high - so fast, big market teams will have a bit of an advantage again, because many smaller market teams can’t/won’t spend to the ceiling.

Domi, Rielly* and some prospect to Van for Petterson

*ignore nmc

There was a recent article in the Athletic where they polled player agents about their opinions of how franchises are run and what the GMs are like to work with. Briesbois in Tampa scored high on their lists. You can rightfully hate Tampa and their slimy lawyer coach and dirty douchebag Ducherov, but I wish Toronto's front office had that same willingness to wheel and deal.

On the one hand, agents loving your front office suggests that they know you pay out and they have a rube on their hands, so they will flatter those GMs. On the other hand, it's not a bad thing to be on the speed dial list of every agent and have them look forward to dealing with you. That apparent ease of negotiating and swinging deals is important and shouldn't be overlooked.

Maybe Toronto misses out on so many potential deals not because of "the market" issues we always hear about, but more because Shanny is a Richardbag to deal with, and the front office plays hardball or doesn't have a smooth negotiating game with other GMs.

I'm wondering if Shanny's time might be finally growing short...
- GalacticStone

Tampa can wheel and deal right now because they are playing with house money, they've won 2 cups and have been to the finals 3 times recently. So if they blow all their 1st and prospects and fail...who cares.
The leafs have already blown a lot of their picks and prospects and haven't achieved anything. They've essentially wasted the past 8 years. Now is this Shanny's fault? The GM's, coaches or players?
Probably on the GM's, coaches and players. The players haven't met expectation in the playoffs, they continually fail. They had layups against Cbus and Montreal and choked. Previous GM blew his load most years at the deadline which has handcuffed Tre recently. Which I think is the main issue, they just dont have the capital and leeway to play with. Not a lot room for error.

I heard someone on the radio the other day saying that with the cap going up so high - so fast, big market teams will have a bit of an advantage again, because many smaller market teams can’t/won’t spend to the ceiling.
- Atomic Wedgie

it was rare jewel calling talk radio

Carolina scored with 19 seconds left in the game last night, beating Boston 3-2.

With the loss, the Bruins drop to 2-6-2 in their last 10, and .500 on the season.

My coffee tastes a little better this morning, and I don’t think it’s just the Baileys.

Happy Friday.

it was rare jewel calling talk radio
- Symba007

I didn’t know the Rush Limbaugh Show did hockey.

he's a (frank)ing diva.
- BINGO!

it was rare jewel calling talk radio
- Symba007

i highly doubt he took time out of his busy day fondling trump balls

I just can’t see him being effective as a 3C in the playoffs. But he’s kind of all they’ve got right now. If they can upgrade and moving him helps with the $, I wouldn’t hesitate
- Canada Cup

Domi has sucked as a Leaf outside of the brief window he was a winger with a guy scoring 69 goals.

Carolina scored with 19 seconds left in the game last night, beating Boston 3-2.

With the loss, the Bruins drop to 2-6-2 in their last 10, and .500 on the season.

My coffee tastes a little better this morning, and I don’t think it’s just the Baileys.

Happy Friday.
- Atomic Wedgie

id take big nose brad for this leefs team. but.. that would never happen

Tampa can wheel and deal right now because they are playing with house money, they've won 2 cups and have been to the finals 3 times recently. So if they blow all their 1st and prospects and fail...who cares.
The leafs have already blown a lot of their picks and prospects and haven't achieved anything. They've essentially wasted the past 8 years. Now is this Shanny's fault? The GM's, coaches or players?
Probably on the GM's, coaches and players. The players haven't met expectation in the playoffs, they continually fail. They had layups against Cbus and Montreal and choked. Previous GM blew his load most years at the deadline which has handcuffed Tre recently. Which I think is the main issue, they just dont have the capital and leeway to play with. Not a lot room for error.
- Fakepartofme

Two firsts for Gourde and Bjorkstrand??

I didn’t know the Rush Limbaugh Show did hockey.
- Atomic Wedgie

id take big nose brad for this leefs team. but.. that would never happen
- senstroll

I hate the idea of giving a division rival future assets.

Especially for a rental.

- AdamFrench

COLORADO: Here's $12 million per year.

RANTANEN: Ehhhhh no I don't think so.

COLORADO: Okay what do you want?

RANTANEN: I don't want to negotiate right now.

CAROLINA: Would you negotiate with us?

RANTANEN: Yeah, probably.

CAROLINA: Good enough. Let's make the trade. Now, here's $12.6 million per year.

RANTANEN:.....

CAROLINA: Hello?

RANTANEN: Sorry, thinking.

Carolina: For five weeks? We kinda need an answer. A counter offer maybe?

RANTANEN: Eh I don't think I want to negotiate right now.

CAROLINA: jfc okay you guys wanna give it a shot?

LOS ANGELES: Hey we'll give you Clarke and a 1st and Anderson and...

RANTANEN: I'm not signing there.

CAROLINA: Fine. Would you sign with Dallas?

RANTANEN: Yeah, Probably.

DALLAS: Good enough for us. Here's $12.75 million per.

RANTANEN: Ehhh I'm not sure I want to negotiate right now....

Toronto will always have to pay a premium, because everybody knows we're the richest team in the league and an intense limelight, so that is what everybody leads with when it comes to negotiations.

Toronto will always have the steepest hill to climb to win a cup. It's a shame that so many years were wasted pre-cap, when all that money made a real difference on the ice.
- gravyface

Those years that they wasted pre cap were because they rarely drafted their own players as they traded most of their picks and any prospects they did have for old veteran players at TDL. Never truly built a team from within it seemed....also their scouts were horrible.
But I will say this, the 2004 lockout year when the leafs had Francis and Leetch with Nieuwe, Nolan and Mogilny would have been one the best leafs teams we would have seen. I think they would have gone 4 rounds for sure.
I still hate the NHL for ruining that year.

I hate the idea of giving a division rival future assets.

Especially for a rental.
- Atomic Wedgie

i just want the leafs to win

I don't think the Leafs do much today.
this is just a gut feeling.

Hard no to B.Schenn

He's declining. Production down. I get there's more to his play than just the points but when you're trying to find a player to help you win in the playoffs and add additional scoring...getting a guy with 11 goals in 70 something playoff games can't possibly be the answer. That and his contract going forward won't age well.
- systemtool

Absolutely this.