James Tanner: PLUS/MINUS: Round Two Playoffs and Hart Trophy Edition

there was only one GM in the NHL that added a #1 centre and a #1 defenseman to his roster this year, and that was the guy who replaced Lou.

a (frank)ing monkey could have signed tavares to that contract.....that in no way is a point in Dubas' favour.

as for the "#1 dman", if you're referring to Muzzin, that's hilarious. the guy is 2nd pairing (which is exactly what he played in TOR)......and your brilliant GM overpaid for him.

You claim that Dubas is some incredible GM, yet most of the moves he made this year were not great. he waived 2 goalies better than the plug he signed, who almost singlehandedly cost the leafs home ice, he overpaid for Muzzin, he failed to add any more depth on the blueline, he failed to address the lack of size and depth in the bottom six............and he's basically created a cap disaster that is going to lead to the leafs losing 2-3 good players, further worsening the lack of depth.

he's basically built the "post cup" blackhawks, only younger. a top heavy team that is massively invested in 3-4 good players, and no money to surround them with depth

Agree on GOT... It's good but no Wire or the Shield ...

Carolina in the conference finals with Mrazak & Mac as the goalies... Leafs must be gouging their eyes out on not beating B's.

a (frank)ing monkey could have signed tavares to that contract.....that in no way is a point in Dubas' favour.

as for the "#1 dman", if you're referring to Muzzin, that's hilarious. the guy is 2nd pairing (which is exactly what he played in TOR)......and your brilliant GM overpaid for him.

You claim that Dubas is some incredible GM, yet most of the moves he made this year were not great. he waived 2 goalies better than the plug he signed, who almost singlehandedly cost the leafs home ice, he overpaid for Muzzin, he failed to add any more depth on the blueline, he failed to address the lack of size and depth in the bottom six............and he's basically created a cap disaster that is going to lead to the leafs losing 2-3 good players, further worsening the lack of depth.

he's basically built the "post cup" blackhawks, only younger. a top heavy team that is massively invested in 3-4 good players, and no money to surround them with depth
- sensarmy_11

Muzzin scores 40 points per year and for nearly a decade has been the best play driving possession defenseman in the NHL. He may not be a top ten Dman (but he might be) but certainly he is a #1 defenseman. There aren't 20 or 30 guys better than Muzzin.

He is extremely underrated.

a (frank)ing monkey could have signed tavares to that contract.....that in no way is a point in Dubas' favour.

as for the "#1 dman", if you're referring to Muzzin, that's hilarious. the guy is 2nd pairing (which is exactly what he played in TOR)......and your brilliant GM overpaid for him.

You claim that Dubas is some incredible GM, yet most of the moves he made this year were not great. he waived 2 goalies better than the plug he signed, who almost singlehandedly cost the leafs home ice, he overpaid for Muzzin, he failed to add any more depth on the blueline, he failed to address the lack of size and depth in the bottom six............and he's basically created a cap disaster that is going to lead to the leafs losing 2-3 good players, further worsening the lack of depth.

he's basically built the "post cup" blackhawks, only younger. a top heavy team that is massively invested in 3-4 good players, and no money to surround them with depth
- sensarmy_11

You can complain about Sparks/MacElhinney but exactly zero people in the world would have ditched the reigning AHL goalie of the year who is 24 to keep a 32 year old career back-up. I mean, hindsight is 20/20 but let's be realistic here, that is a bad result that came from making the right call.

Lou was the one who signed Zaitsev and Marleau. Dubas locked up Nylander (team friendly deal) and Matthews (also will prove to be team friendly). He also made excellent and underreported signings like Rosen, Petan etc. to cheap extensions.

It took me a few seasons to get into GoT. I was “watching it” with my gf at the time and just wasn’t into it despite Sean Bean being Boromir. I’ve since enjoyed it and there was plenty of key parts I missed the first go around.

Endgame was fine. I didn’t cry as many others did. Like all their movies it’s like they write the ending and then use that to emphasize certain things in the beginning that tip you off on what happens. That’s fine, seems like lots of people haven’t caught onto that. What bothered me was the lack of dialogue at the end. I’d love to go into detail but I have a no spoilers policy

You can complain about Sparks/MacElhinney but exactly zero people in the world would have ditched the reigning AHL goalie of the year who is 24 to keep a 32 year old career back-up. I mean, hindsight is 20/20 but let's be realistic here, that is a bad result that came from making the right call.

Lou was the one who signed Zaitsev and Marleau. Dubas locked up Nylander (team friendly deal) and Matthews (also will prove to be team friendly). He also made excellent and underreported signings like Rosen, Petan etc. to cheap extensions.
- James_Tanner

Petan .... He's the very definition of a wasted trade. With the kids the Leafs have knocking at the door for next year, he will get exactly no games in 19/20 for the Leafs.

You can complain about Sparks/MacElhinney but exactly zero people in the world would have ditched the reigning AHL goalie of the year who is 24 to keep a 32 year old career back-up. I mean, hindsight is 20/20 but let's be realistic here, that is a bad result that came from making the right call.

Lou was the one who signed Zaitsev and Marleau. Dubas locked up Nylander (team friendly deal) and Matthews (also will prove to be team friendly). He also made excellent and underreported signings like Rosen, Petan etc. to cheap extensions.
- James_Tanner

Dude, you’re so far beyond homer it’s laughable.

Everyone is a genius when they’re with the leafs and garbage as soon as they leave.......and I’ll bet, in your eyes, Dubai’s could poop in a bowl and you’d claim is was chocolate ice cream

Dude, you’re so far beyond homer it’s laughable.

Everyone is a genius when they’re with the leafs and garbage as soon as they leave.......and I’ll bet, in your eyes, Dubai’s could poop in a bowl and you’d claim is was chocolate ice cream
- sensarmy_11

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

I am not a homer, and I criticize the Leafs all the time. But the Sparks thing is moronic. No one was ever cutting the current best goalie in the AHL to keep a 32 year old career back-up. That is just an absolute fact.

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

I am not a homer, and I criticize the Leafs all the time. But the Sparks thing is moronic. No one was ever cutting the current best goalie in the AHL to keep a 32 year old career back-up. That is just an absolute fact.
- James_Tanner

But you do though...

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

I am not a homer, and I criticize the Leafs all the time. But the Sparks thing is moronic. No one was ever cutting the current best goalie in the AHL to keep a 32 year old career back-up. That is just an absolute fact.
- James_Tanner

Ugh. That's all you do Jimmy

You make me rrrraugh

I love that album too, but man, Hold You Now is far from my favorite.

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

I am not a homer, and I criticize the Leafs all the time. But the Sparks thing is moronic. No one was ever cutting the current best goalie in the AHL to keep a 32 year old career back-up. That is just an absolute fact.
- James_Tanner

I agree with you on the Sparks point. But both Nylander & Matthews contracts were proof of Dubas's inexperience. How many UFA years did he purchase on Matthews deal??? What is the point of having RFA status players if you have to pay top UFA pricing for these guys. At least Oilers got a few UFA years on that McDavid deal & he totally earned that contract. Matthews has missed almost a quarter of the season the last two years & his career stats are not even a PPG. Now, how Nylander managed to get almost 7.0 mill per year on his stats is beyond me. He's a .68 PPG player. If he wanted that much money then a solid GM would have either Bridged him or traded his a$$. Marners .93 PPG plus durability is going to put the Leafs paying 50% of the cap to 4 forwards. That my friend is not a model for success in this league. It's about the highest definition of top heavy one would see in the NHL.

It takes a one of a kind GM to put a team in cap hell before ever winning a playoff round.

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

I am not a homer, and I criticize the Leafs all the time. But the Sparks thing is moronic. No one was ever cutting the current best goalie in the AHL to keep a 32 year old career back-up. That is just an absolute fact.
- James_Tanner

I’m not even going to look it up, isn’t McElhinney about to turn 35? Sportsnet keeps reporting he’s the oldest goalie to get his first start in the playoffs or whatever. Aren’t these the types of things one should be aware of when proclaiming to know about hockey?

Ah James tanner doing what he knows best nothing? Don’t you have a wife and kids you can spend time with?

I’m not even going to look it up, isn’t McElhinney about to turn 35? Sportsnet keeps reporting he’s the oldest goalie to get his first start in the playoffs or whatever. Aren’t these the types of things one should be aware of when proclaiming to know about hockey?
- WSCTeton17

The age of every back up goalie? Who cares?

Ah James tanner doing what he knows best nothing? Don’t you have a wife and kids you can spend time with?
- kasperrko

Well yeah but weirdly they like to eat.

I agree with you on the Sparks point. But both Nylander & Matthews contracts were proof of Dubas's inexperience. How many UFA years did he purchase on Matthews deal??? What is the point of having RFA status players if you have to pay top UFA pricing for these guys. At least Oilers got a few UFA years on that McDavid deal & he totally earned that contract. Matthews has missed almost a quarter of the season the last two years & his career stats are not even a PPG. Now, how Nylander managed to get almost 7.0 mill per year on his stats is beyond me. He's a .68 PPG player. If he wanted that much money then a solid GM would have either Bridged him or traded his a$$. Marners .93 PPG plus durability is going to put the Leafs paying 50% of the cap to 4 forwards. That my friend is not a model for success in this league. It's about the highest definition of top heavy one would see in the NHL.
- Kevin R

This is just my opinion, Kevin. But it seems kinda dumb to quote a players career points per game average just to suit your narrative - although that’s definitely something Tanner would do.

Matthews is over a PPG player his last two seasons. The last two seasons from Willy (which were leading up to his contract) were ~.75PPG paces. Nylander is still young and there’s potential upside that could be reached. .75 is right there with Evander Kane, Kopitar, Barzal, and ahead of JVR, Granlund, Jumbo Joe, Benn from this season. Are you betting that Nylander is going to produce a great deal less than that moving forward? My guess is not

So loud Lamerillo isn't a good GM. hockey IS hockey, and his age doesn't really matter. Only thing he can be judged with when it comes to the Isles is what he's done so far in one year, which all should agree, is pretty dam good. In years to come he might be judged differently. Of course, you have to insert luck into the equation.

The age of every back up goalie? Who cares?
- James_Tanner

The age of the goalie who was just on your homer team this past season and was waived by them this last year. I must say, your ability to brush aside facts when you’re wrong with some excuse as opposed to owning up to it is extremely immature

James can be wrong for 86 games but then thinks he's proven right by 4 games. Must be nice to believe saying it makes it so. As if redemption were that easy....

Re: NYI/Tor, we'll see longer-term which team is hitched to be better GM (although oddly enough my money is on the HOFer and not the Stickboy). But in the meantime, anyone who thinks this season went to Tor and not NYI is dreaming. Isles had more regular season points and lasted one round longer. And that's not even accounting for expectations going into the season.

James can be wrong for 86 games but then thinks he's proven right by 4 games. Must be nice to believe saying it makes it so. As if redemption were that easy....

Re: NYI/Tor, we'll see longer-term which team is hitched to be better GM (although oddly enough my money is on the HOFer and not the Stickboy). But in the meantime, anyone who thinks this season went to Tor and not NYI is dreaming. Isles had more regular season points and lasted one round longer. And that's not even accounting for expectations going into the season.
- doublechili

When an Isles TEAM plays better than it's individual parts suggest they would then credit has to be given to coach and GM. Saying they were Lucky is assinine

One last thing re: TOR and boy-genius. If TOR had CAR's backup and had outbid BOS for Coyle, I wonder if they could've ended their Cup drought this year. Maybe also pickup a RHD who is, you know, RH....

I think it's terrible to just assume someone with another opinion has to have some kind of weird motivation to have it.

...ummm, isn't this how you typically categorize other opinions that don't line up with some of your more extreme opinions?