He sounds like he's ready to bow out and sell (anything he can). Locking in Graves and Karlsson looks pretty ...
- The Law

Would he retain on Gravedigger?

I got to report a stolen vehicle to the police that had been in our parking lot for 2 weeks.
- AdamFrench

is it Marners?

is it Marners?
- drexel

Lupul's

Dude. This isn't a meh!

There are literally only a handful of players in all of hockey history who consistently put themselves IN his place to score those goals and even fewer who have executed at this level on those opportunities.
- Monkeypunk

Ya hes been great, no doubt.
Exciting regular season stuff.

Now dominate in the playoffs. Thats what would be really exciting. Looking forward to seeing what he does this year.

Would he retain on Gravedigger?
- mr.sir

He's not the droid we seek.

I wonder what dumb thing Dumbass is going to do at the TDL to kneecap the Pens?
- GalacticStone

He'll have to double down. Sid and geno wont let him take a step back unless he has a really good plan.

Ya hes been great, no doubt.
Exciting regular season stuff.

Now dominate in the playoffs. Thats what would be really exciting. Looking forward to seeing what he does this year.
- Fakepartofme

I think we're long overdue for him to dominate in the playoffs as well.

I still think it's gonna happen at some point, he's just too good not to.

But he also needs help, the whole team needs to step up when the stakes are high.

Ya hes been great, no doubt.
Exciting regular season stuff.

Now dominate in the playoffs. Thats what would be really exciting. Looking forward to seeing what he does this year.
- Fakepartofme

I agree ....but we need to keep in mind that he gets a lot of extra attention in the playoffs. Guys like Cirelli and Barkov draped all over him ..double teams ...teams basically double team him and dare the Leafs to score in other ways.

In theory there's more space for other guys ...they need to produce when he's getting smothered. Marner and Rielly did it really well in that TB series.

He'll have to double down. Sid and geno wont let him take a step back unless he has a really good plan.
- Fakepartofme

I don't see how he can double down after most likely losing Guentzel...

I think we're long overdue for him to dominate in the playoffs as well.

I still think it's gonna happen at some point, he's just too good not to.

But he also needs help, the whole team needs to step up when the stakes are high.
- Scabeh

That Montreal series was a good example of how teams defend the Leafs in the playoffs. 34 was skating around with Danault and Weber shadowing him all the time. It worked ...especially with JT out.

Would he retain on Gravedigger?
- mr.sir

Over 5 more years? They already have about $2.5m in dead cap entering next year (one retained, one buy out) - and should sincerely be looking at a rebuild. I figured this year was the one year Dubas had to offer Crosby and the old guard one more shot, but they missed the target (which I don't think was unexpected to be honest) - now he should be strongly considering a rebuild if any of the old guys express a desire to go elsewhere.

That Montreal series was a good example of how teams defend the Leafs in the playoffs. 34 was skating around with Danault and Weber shadowing him all the time. It worked ...especially with JT out.
- The Law

Not every team has a Danault that's so effective at neutralizing another player but of course teams will always double down on covering Matthews.

In the Montreal series, Marner needed to step up and didn't. Keefe needed to make changes to help both players and didn't.

It won't be easy once again in the playoffs because the Atlantic teams are pretty damn strong but this might be the year Matthews takes over a playoffs series the way we've seen the other great players in the NHL do it.

Over 5 more years? They already have about $2.5m in dead cap entering next year (one retained, one buy out) - and should sincerely be looking at a rebuild. I figured this year was the one year Dubas had to offer Crosby and the old guard one more shot, but they missed the target (which I don't think was unexpected to be honest) - now he should be strongly considering a rebuild if any of the old guys express a desire to go elsewhere.
- Monkeypunk

I think that was the Karlsson and Smith trades to be honest and now he can say. "We did it that way, time to try something else".

I think we're long overdue for him to dominate in the playoffs as well.

I still think it's gonna happen at some point, he's just too good not to.

But he also needs help, the whole team needs to step up when the stakes are high.
- Scabeh

Agreed.
Weve seen Matthews do well in a series and have seen marner and willie be great in a series
Need to see all of them dominate.

I think that was the Karlsson and Smith trades to be honest and now he can say. "We did it that way, time to try something else".
- Aaron_85

Agreed. Not making the playoffs this season pretty much confirms this core is done.

Try and move your vets (Malkin, Letang, Karlsson, etc), ask Crosby if he wants to be part of the rebuild of his team or wants to be traded and act accordingly.

I think that was the Karlsson and Smith trades to be honest and now he can say. "We did it that way, time to try something else".
- Aaron_85

Sorry if that wasn't clear, but yeah that's what I meant - he got Karlsson, he got Smith, he signed Graves - and they have about a 25-30% chance of making the playoffs - and I think those odds are diminishing - especially with a key guy like Guentzel on the shelf for a while.

Not every team has a Danault that's so effective at neutralizing another player but of course teams will always double down on covering Matthews.

In the Montreal series, Marner needed to step up and didn't. Keefe needed to make changes to help both players and didn't.

It won't be easy once again in the playoffs because the Atlantic teams are pretty damn strong but this might be the year Matthews takes over a playoffs series the way we've seen the other great players in the NHL do it.
- Scabeh

Agreed. Danault is one of the best at the shutdown role (maybe the best). Cirelli was the guy for TB and last year and Marner and Rielly had big series in part b/c they responded to all the attention 34 was getting. Barkov was the guy for Florida and I thought the Leafs actually responded pretty well but Bob just wouldn't let anything past him. Although 34's shot seemed to be a little off last year compared to this year so there's hope ...

Agreed. Not making the playoffs this season pretty much confirms this core is done.

Try and move your vets (Malkin, Letang, Karlsson, etc), ask Crosby if he wants to be part of the rebuild of his team or wants to be traded and act accordingly.
- Scabeh

Every single one of them has NTC/NMC. Goodluck.

Im just so happy dubas wasnt around to move a core piece out for Karlsson.....or any pieces.

Every single one of them has NTC/NMC. Goodluck.
- AdamFrench

Yeah well... they're (frank)ed.

Top 4 RHD
Shutdown 3C

Still

Yeah well... they're (frank)ed.

- Scabeh

Yep. Will be great in 2030 after they draft *glances at draft stuff for next franchise centremen from the QMJHL* Badouff LeChance in 2028.

Over 5 more years? They already have about $2.5m in dead cap entering next year (one retained, one buy out) - and should sincerely be looking at a rebuild. I figured this year was the one year Dubas had to offer Crosby and the old guard one more shot, but they missed the target (which I don't think was unexpected to be honest) - now he should be strongly considering a rebuild if any of the old guys express a desire to go elsewhere.
- Monkeypunk

I'm not seeing many movable pieces there. Letang and Karlsson seem unlikely given age and $$. Crosby ..I just can't see it. Rust, Jarry, Rakell, Smith, Graves ...all aging, struggling and/or overpaid.

Maybe Gino waives the NMC and a team doesn't hate his aging, declining production, cap hit.

Yep. Will be great in 2030 after they draft *glances at draft stuff for next franchise centremen from the QMJHL* Badouff LeChance in 2028.
- AdamFrench

Watch out for the 2032 draft for a kid currently playing Atome AA in Brossard.

It's a longshot but I've never seen a 9 year old so god damn dominant in my life.


Too bad he's so small.

Top 4 RHD
Shutdown 3C

Still
- mr.sir

Just find someone to play with morgan who has term.
Leave Brodie on the left side.