The Leafs are definitely a contender. What the hell is going on in here? It's the NHL playoffs the team expected to win almost never does and you have a team that looks poised to make it to the second round this go around. If you knock off the Lightning, tall ask, but possible, who's to say where the road ends? I think you need to start maximizing these team while you're on friendly deals with your superstars now because you won't be able to add to a team like this in the future. You don't know what will happen in years to come so when you have a chance to win you go for it instead of whining about a first or a prospect.
- RickJames77

Anything can happen, for sure. Just don't see us as a '1a' contender. That is Tampa and Washington in the east imo

The Leafs are definitely a contender. What the hell is going on in here? It's the NHL playoffs the team expected to win almost never does and you have a team that looks poised to make it to the second round this go around. If you knock off the Lightning, tall ask, but possible, who's to say where the road ends? I think you need to start maximizing these team while you're on friendly deals with your superstars now because you won't be able to add to a team like this in the future. You don't know what will happen in years to come so when you have a chance to win you go for it instead of whining about a first or a prospect.
- RickJames77

I also think the Bruins should trade picks and prospects to try get past the Lightning.

Welcome to being a contending team
Some 1st and some prospects will get traded over the course of our run.
- Fakepartofme

The current reality is that core players will be retained at a premium while those outside the core will be the ones that are abandoned or traded.

I'm not so sure your "1sts and some prospects* will get traded" narrative is necessarily the only path to contending.

* Where "some prospects" = high end talent like Liljegren/Sandin.

Anything can happen, for sure. Just don't see us as a '1a' contender. That is Tampa and Washington in the east imo
- Hockey_Reverend

Agree, we have some problems
1. our defence is bad
2. andersen has looked average in the playoffs. hopefully solving problem 1, and getting him more rest, will fix this
3. unlike the regular season, playoff hockey still has hitting. we are soft. easily fixed with some deadline additions

The Leafs are definitely a contender. What the hell is going on in here? It's the NHL playoffs the team expected to win almost never does and you have a team that looks poised to make it to the second round this go around. If you knock off the Lightning, tall ask, but possible, who's to say where the road ends? I think you need to start maximizing these team while you're on friendly deals with your superstars now because you won't be able to add to a team like this in the future. You don't know what will happen in years to come so when you have a chance to win you go for it instead of whining about a first or a prospect.
- RickJames77

The Leafs built their team on 1sts and prospects. They also made a key free agent signing. Explain to me again why a team that's already in contention necessarily needs to trade 1sts and high end prospects to improve.

The Leafs window is wide open. There literally is no need to start trying to gamble at this stage when we have star players who are controllable for years to come.

The Leafs built their team on 1sts and prospects. They also made a key free agent signing. Explain to me again why a team that's already in contention necessarily needs to trade 1sts and high end prospects to improve.

The Leafs window is wide open. There literally is no need to start trying to gamble at this stage when we have star players who are controllable for years to come.
- mjones242

I think Rick's point is that your team is already very good, currently healthy and still has the cap space to add a major piece for a cup run.

In a few years, you'll still have your core players (or most of them) but how much will they keep improving? Will they remain healthy? Will you still have the necessary room to add the missing pieces for a cup run?

The clock isn't ticking for the Leafs, but it's not a foolish idea to try and go for it right now either.

This being said, I respectully hope you trade all your picks and prospects only to fail miserably.

Anything can happen, for sure. Just don't see us as a '1a' contender. That is Tampa and Washington in the east imo
- Hockey_Reverend

Totally agree. Same as I said last night. We are not quite ready yet. A lot of the younger group is still finding their way on the ice. Let's develop those prospects for a few years yet. No need to go full Burkie at this point. We're more than a couple pieces from contending this year

Stop trying to trade Liljegren. He's 19 years old and a RHD -- not an asset you give up on this early in their development.

Has Sandin been pretty great? Sure. As an 18 year old he's been awesome-sauce. But, again, it's way too early to start comparing him to Tim -- plus, he's a LHD which is a much easier asset to draft/acquire than RHD.

You can talk about "I'd do it if it helps us get to a cup" but how the hell can you evaluate that? Standing pat might get us there. Acquiring a bottom pair defender might do it. Moving Dermott to the top pairing and Hainsey down the depth chart could do it. Etc. etc.

Let's stop trading prospects and 1sts, people.
- mjones242

I completely disagree with you.

And I think many GM’s would as well. Especially with 26 million in deadline cap space.

Totally agree. Same as I said last night. We are not quite ready yet. A lot of the younger group is still finding their way on the ice. Let's develop those prospects for a few years yet. No need to go full Burkie at this point. We're more than a couple pieces from contending this year
- Leafsmart

Yes

Our young stars need time. They need experience and man strength.

And PLEASE don't go trading guys like Sandin and Lilybust. Whats the point? Keep developing them in the AHL. If one of them turns into a stud that will be awesome...

I completely disagree with you.

And I think many GM’s would as well. Especially with 26 million in deadline cap space.
- Santo_44

How often to big deadline moves turn into playoff success? Honest question. It seems to me that it usually doesn't work??

How often to big deadline moves turn into playoff success? Honest question. It seems to me that it usually doesn't work??
- Hockey_Reverend

Well I guess that depends on your definition of playoff success?

Is it winning the cup? If so, that's not really fair. Only one team wins it every year after all.

If it's winning 1 or 2 rounds... I'd say plenty of players added for a playoff run ended up being pretty useful.

And adding a player at the deadline doesn't mean it's only a rental either.

Exactly this. The Leafs had much better looks and chances. They failed to execute offensively, but their defense was not bad at all. Nashville took a lot of low chance shots - perhaps designed to force an offensive zone face/off. But for all intents and purposes, it was a 2-0 game that could just as easily been 4-2 for the Leafs.

Nashville counter punches really well when teams get over-aggressive, and that's what we saw in the third. I'd like to see the Leafs stretch less and use shorter passes when playing these teams that try and take away space - especially in the neutral zone. They have the speed and talent to make use of that type of execution.

This was far from a bad game. To me it's pretty encouraging. If they can start getting the PP to be more dynamic, and introduce some more progressive 5-on-5 breakouts, they will have even more weapons at their disposal.
- Monkeypunk

Yep, now if they could just play this way all the time. It seems to be hit an miss or just the last 5 when they're behind.

How often to big deadline moves turn into playoff success? Honest question. It seems to me that it usually doesn't work??
- Hockey_Reverend

Sure they do.

Would the LA kings have won without trading for Gaborik? Carter? There’s a very good chance they wouldn’t have. Gaborik was a PPG.

Bourque for the Avs.

Hossa was an awesome addition to the Pens.

There are plenty of rentals that helped teams have long playoff runs and cup wins.

The goal is to win a cup. There are plenty of teams that stood pat at the deadline and lost in the 1st round or swept.

You can’t just look at some teams that stood pat and won and think it’s easy to win that way. It’s not. Many more teams have lost that way then have won with that mindset.

Well I guess that depends on your definition of playoff success?

Is it winning the cup? If so, that's not really fair. Only one team wins it every year after all.

If it's winning 1 or 2 rounds... I'd say plenty of players added for a playoff run ended up being pretty useful.

And adding a player at the deadline doesn't mean it's only a rental either.
- Scabeh

I'd prefer to win the Cup than go 1 or 2 rounds. (But I'm old fashioned like that)

If the team brought in Kevin Bieksa for the rest of the season, this might be a decent improvement. Would only cost us money since he is not under contract, I believe. Still think he can toughen our D group up a tad. Can spell him off with Ozzy and Zaitsev.

I'd prefer to win the Cup than go 1 or 2 rounds. (But I'm old fashioned like that)
- walshyleafsfan

Cup or bust.

But I guess making it to the ECF could be considered a form of playoff sucess.

Sure they do.

Would the LA kings have won without trading for Gaborik? Carter? There’s a very good chance they wouldn’t have. Gaborik was a PPG.

Bourque for the Avs.

Hossa was an awesome addition to the Pens.

There are plenty of rentals that helped teams have long playoff runs and cup wins.

The goal is to win a cup. There are plenty of teams that stood pat at the deadline and lost in the 1st round or swept.

You can’t just look at some teams that stood pat and won and think it’s easy to win that way. It’s not. Many more teams have lost that way then have won with that mindset.
- Santo_44

And Kurvers to the Leafs!

No moves will be made.
- AdamFrench

Today.

We are a contender? I don't think we are... I just dont see us winning a long playoff war... yet

Are we a good team? Yes, but I just don't see true contender. This is more of a function of our age. Lots of young guys that need to get stronger, etc...

I think in like 2-3 years is when we will enter Tampa-ish territory...
- Hockey_Reverend

Top 5-6 in the league.
Contender.

I think Rick's point is that your team is already very good, currently healthy and still has the cap space to add a major piece for a cup run.

In a few years, you'll still have your core players (or most of them) but how much will they keep improving? Will they remain healthy? Will you still have the necessary room to add the missing pieces for a cup run?

The clock isn't ticking for the Leafs, but it's not a foolish idea to try and go for it right now either.

This being said, I respectully hope you trade all your picks and prospects only to fail miserably.
- Scabeh

This is exactly what I was saying

You get me

The Leafs are definitely a contender. What the hell is going on in here? It's the NHL playoffs the team expected to win almost never does and you have a team that looks poised to make it to the second round this go around. If you knock off the Lightning, tall ask, but possible, who's to say where the road ends? I think you need to start maximizing these team while you're on friendly deals with your superstars now because you won't be able to add to a team like this in the future. You don't know what will happen in years to come so when you have a chance to win you go for it instead of whining about a first or a prospect.
- RickJames77

Exactly.
Plus people seem to forget, that other teams around the leafs are getting better and will only continue to

Exactly.
Plus people seem to forget, that other teams around the leafs are getting better and will only continue to
- Fakepartofme

But apparently the Leafs can stand pat while other teams get better and then win easily.

Washington did it so it must make it true.

The Leafs are definitely a contender. What the hell is going on in here? It's the NHL playoffs the team expected to win almost never does and you have a team that looks poised to make it to the second round this go around. If you knock off the Lightning, tall ask, but possible, who's to say where the road ends? I think you need to start maximizing these team while you're on friendly deals with your superstars now because you won't be able to add to a team like this in the future. You don't know what will happen in years to come so when you have a chance to win you go for it instead of whining about a first or a prospect.
- RickJames77

Leaf fans are a special type of fans

Yes

Our young stars need time. They need experience and man strength.

And PLEASE don't go trading guys like Sandin and Lilybust. Whats the point? Keep developing them in the AHL. If one of them turns into a stud that will be awesome...
- Hockey_Reverend

You may lose one or the other come expansion draft.

Exactly.
Plus people seem to forget, that other teams around the leafs are getting better and will only continue to
- Fakepartofme

You also need to play the right way.

You know, like the 2011 Bruins