50 points in 56 games. Totally ineffective. Shut up, Max.
- Steven_Seagull

The hate is strong.

Friedman makes a good point about how bad they suck at D-zone face-offs. A nice 3rd line shutdown C could come in handy. Too bad they traded one for assorted garbage.
- JohnFergusonJr

Derek Grant is exactly that...

50 points in 56 games. Totally ineffective. Shut up, Max.
- Steven_Seagull

Effective at being traded for what they need; defense.

Hyman is cheaper and plays playoff hockey.

Effective at being traded for what they need; defense.

Hyman is cheaper and plays playoff hockey.
- JohnFergusonJr

Name one realistic Dman

Leaf fans are on glue to want to trade Willy...
He’s a difference maker out there...

Complaining that he doesn’t defense or hit... Is complaining Elle Macpherson doesn’t do dishes...

Name one realistic Dman
- Steven_Seagull

Said it 100 times, Drew Doughty.

You know it makes sense even though you'll never admit it.

It boils down to if he waives his NTC. That's it. How long can he play for a last place team?

Dubas should be calling LA once a week, every week til he makes it happen.

Said it 100 times, Drew Doughty.
- JohnFergusonJr

I gave you a chance and you blew it with one go. Classic UG. Next.

Leaf fans are on glue to want to trade Willy...
He’s a difference maker out there...

Complaining that he doesn’t defense or hit... Is complaining Elle Macpherson doesn’t do dishes...
- dozerD10

Matthews, Marner and Tavares. That's roughly 33 million in offense.

Nylander is the odd many out. He provides the Leafs with trade value to upgrade the one, giant, glaring hole; defense.

They have the goalie, they have the offensive fire power, they even have Rielly as one half of a legit top pairing.

You have to give to get.

More hustle and grit. Better physical, and a way better checker
- Landsbergfan

It’s pretty tough to score playing against the boards. The only reason hyman scores is with playmakers in front of him creating chances.

Hyman retrieves the puck for the skilled guys.

At the end of the day you can find a high intensity grinder a lot easier then a skilled playmaking player.

It’s pretty tough to score playing against the boards. The only reason hyman scores is with playmakers in front of him creating chances.

Hyman retrieves the puck for the skilled guys.

At the end of the day you can find a high intensity grinder a lot easier then a skilled playmaking player.
- bryant

Yeah but the Leafs already have the skilled playmakers. In fact, they have too many of them. What they need is balance. That means they need to add more guys that play gritty, both upfront and on the blueline.

The same way you would lose games playing with 18 knuckle draggers, you're going to lose with 18 ballerinas too. You might have to wait until the playoffs to lose but you will lose.

Said it 100 times, Drew Doughty.

You know it makes sense even though you'll never admit it.

It boils down to if he waives his NTC. That's it. How long can he play for a last place team?

Dubas should be calling LA once a week, every week til he makes it happen.
- JohnFergusonJr

No effing way the leafs go after doughty unless they retain a lot of salary.

It’s karlsson for sj.

Yeah but the Leafs already have the skilled playmakers. In fact, they have too many of them. What they need is balance. That means they need to add more guys that play gritty, both upfront and on the blueline.

The same way you would lose games playing with 18 knuckle draggers, you're going to lose with 18 ballerinas too. You might have to wait until the playoffs to lose but you will lose.
- JohnFergusonJr

Then you trade every skilled player other then the top 4.
Those guys don’t grow on trees.

Evgall/mikhayev are already jumping into the johnsson/kapanen players but neither johnsson or kapanen are jumping into the marner/nylander category.

No effing way the leafs go after doughty unless they retain a lot of salary.

It’s karlsson for sj.
- bryant

Nylander, Kerfoot and maybe Dermott (if it takes that to retain more) for Doughty with 1.5 retained. Leafs actually save money and can replace Kerfoot and Dermott with players that make 1/3 of their salary.

Lose some offense by losing Nylander (which is fine because Matthews, Marner and Tavares still score a hell of a lot) and gain a guy who can play 25 minutes a night and does literally everything you could want from a top pair D, including score some of the points you lose by moving Nylander.

A lot of hooking and holding and slashing that they let go for Dallas tonight. Seems to be the way things go for "defensive" teams.

Then you trade every skilled player other then the top 4.
Those guys don’t grow on trees.

Evgall/mikhayev are already jumping into the johnsson/kapanen players but neither johnsson or kapanen are jumping into the marner/nylander category.
- bryant

Matthews, Marner and Tavares at 33 AAV. Don't NEED to keep Nylander. Those 3 guys are good enough and paid enough.

Nylander is offensive luxury at the expense of not having even an average defense.

The Leafs can afford to drop from 1st in GF to 10th but they can't afford to stay 25th in GAA.

A lot of hooking and holding and slashing that they let go for Dallas tonight. Seems to be the way things go for "defensive" teams.
- PlatosRepucklic

If the Leafs can't deal with it now, they can't deal with it in the playoffs either.

Nylander, Kerfoot and maybe Dermott (if it takes that to retain more) for Doughty with 1.5 retained. Leafs actually save money and can replace Kerfoot and Dermott with players that make 1/3 of their salary.

Lose some offense by losing Nylander (which is fine because Matthews, Marner and Tavares still score a hell of a lot) and gain a guy who can play 25 minutes a night and does literally everything you could want from a top pair D, including score some of the points you lose by moving Nylander.
- JohnFergusonJr

He’s also on the decline. Doughty has been terrible in LA this year. Why would you trade a 22/23/24 year olds for an 11 million player coming into the back 9 of his career.

If you’re going to trade those types of players they need to be the next doughty and not the past doughty.

Matthews, Marner and Tavares at 33 AAV. Don't NEED to keep Nylander. Those 3 guys are good enough and paid enough.

Nylander is offensive luxury at the expense of not having even an average defense.

The Leafs can afford to drop from 1st in GF to 10th but they can't afford to stay 25th in GAA.
- JohnFergusonJr

Watching them play the past weekend with out nylander was pretty noticeable.

Their style of play isn’t conducive to a 11 million dollar d man unless he is putting up 100 pts a year.

The Lightning have actually caught the Bruins against all odds. Probably will pass them, which means...... Guess what happens if the Leafs make the playoffs? I feel like I've seen this story before.

The Lightning have actually caught the Bruins against all odds. Probably will pass them, which means...... Guess what happens if the Leafs make the playoffs? I feel like I've seen this story before.
- The Magic Muffin

Figures lol. We'll just keep playing the Bruins until we finally beat them I guess.
Who knows, maybe it'll even be this year, although I'm sure some people will leap to assure me it won't happen.

He’s also on the decline. Doughty has been terrible in LA this year. Why would you trade a 22/23/24 year olds for an 11 million player coming into the back 9 of his career.

If you’re going to trade those types of players they need to be the next doughty and not the past doughty.
- bryant

The LA Kings suck, not Doughty. Take him out of that environment, put him on this team and he does a 180.

You trade Nylander because the window of opportunity is now. Nylander doesn't win you a Cup. An elite 25 minute a night RHD helps you win a Cup, he's proven that twice.

Everybody keeps saying he's done at 30. What's Tavares then? He's on the decline from last year. What's Tavares going to look like at 33, 34 and 35?

Your average player hits a wall at 30. Guys like Muzzin fall off a cliff at 30. Not elite players. That's why they're elite players.

Watching them play the past weekend with out nylander was pretty noticeable.

Their style of play isn’t conducive to a 11 million dollar d man unless he is putting up 100 pts a year.
- bryant

They don't need Nylander to succeed. He played like total poop last year and they still made the playoffs and were a top 10 team.

Doughty averages 40 points a year on a defensive LA Kings team. Put him on the Leafs, he's a lock for 50 if not 60. That almost makes up the lost offense by himself, not to mention the goals he'd prevent both 5 on 5 and on the PK.

The Lightning have actually caught the Bruins against all odds. Probably will pass them, which means...... Guess what happens if the Leafs make the playoffs? I feel like I've seen this story before.
- The Magic Muffin

The Bruins have played a lot of hockey and their best players aren't 20 anymore. The Leafs catching the Bruins on the decline because of fatigue could be their chance to beat them.

But the way they've been playing lately, the way they work and play defense, they're going to need to turn things around before then can give themselves that chance.

The Bruins have played a lot of hockey and their best players aren't 20 anymore. The Leafs catching the Bruins on the decline because of fatigue could be their chance to beat them.

But the way they've been playing lately, the way they work and play defense, they're going to need to turn things around before then can give themselves that chance.
- JohnFergusonJr

The Bruins have indeed played a lot of hockey but even if they managed to sneak by them, they get to face the Lightning. I don't see another upset sweep on Tampa this year.

The Bruins have played a lot of hockey and their best players aren't 20 anymore. The Leafs catching the Bruins on the decline because of fatigue could be their chance to beat them.

But the way they've been playing lately, the way they work and play defense, they're going to need to turn things around before then can give themselves that chance.
- JohnFergusonJr

And your solution for the leafs is to trade a guy in his early 20's for a guy who isn't 20 anymore and expect him to play 25 minutes every night.

Brilliant.

The LA Kings suck, not Doughty. Take him out of that environment, put him on this team and he does a 180.

You trade Nylander because the window of opportunity is now. Nylander doesn't win you a Cup. An elite 25 minute a night RHD helps you win a Cup, he's proven that twice.

Everybody keeps saying he's done at 30. What's Tavares then? He's on the decline from last year. What's Tavares going to look like at 33, 34 and 35?

Your average player hits a wall at 30. Guys like Muzzin fall off a cliff at 30. Not elite players. That's why they're elite players.



They don't need Nylander to succeed. He played like total poop last year and they still made the playoffs and were a top 10 team.

Doughty averages 40 points a year on a defensive LA Kings team. Put him on the Leafs, he's a lock for 50 if not 60. That almost makes up the lost offense by himself, not to mention the goals he'd prevent both 5 on 5 and on the PK.
- JohnFergusonJr

Tavares is on the decline. He’s not getting any faster. He has to use his natural ability and iq now. He’s still great but he isn’t going to peak from this point on. They can use a guy like him because he can teach the young guys and still produce but this is Matthews team now.

I agree with you in a doughty type player, but like I said I want the next doughty when they are 23 coming into their prime years. Not a doughty coming off 8 years of bumps and bruises and an 11 million dollar contract.