Everyone should have already been fired.
- Fakepartofme

Ok, let's assume for a moment that no major core members are moved this offseason.

According to CapFriendly, the Leafs have $18.8m in projected cap space with 33 contract spots taken.

They have ten roster forwards under contract.

They have five roster d-men under contract.

They have one roster goalie under contract (Woll).

Prospects and two-ways under non-roster contracts : Nine forwards (notables are Cowan and Minten), six d-men, and three goalies.

Here is a roster that is 100% Run-It-Back(tm) with no new additions and promoting prospects into vacated roster spots. This will be the baseline roster without the unsigned UFA's (Domi, Bert, etc).

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan/Minten - Holmberg - Yarncock
Minten/Cowan - Kampf - Reaves

Rielly - McCabe
Benoit - Timmins
Webber - Niemela?

Woll - Random Hobo - A Beer Keg

Obviously, this theoretical is not a roster built for winning. Prospects are bolded.

$18.8m is not a lot of money to polish up that roster. I'd start at defense first, then goalie, then forward. From there, I have no friggin idea.

all this Marner trade stuff, Vegas etc doesnt sound to be rooted in anything but made up speculation.

id bet on him being a Leaf when the season starts
- senstroll

I would bet the opposite. But I wouldn't put any money on it. I would put the odds at 51-49 he gets traded.

Ok, let's assume for a moment that no major core members are moved this offseason.

According to CapFriendly, the Leafs have $18.8m in projected cap space with 33 contract spots taken.

They have ten roster forwards under contract.

They have five roster d-men under contract.

They have one roster goalie under contract (Woll).

Prospects and two-ways under non-roster contracts : Nine forwards (notables are Cowan and Minten), six d-men, and three goalies.

Here is a roster that is 100% Run-It-Back(tm) with no new additions and promoting prospects into vacated roster spots. This will be the baseline roster without the unsigned UFA's (Domi, Bert, etc).

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan/Minten - Holmberg - Yarncock
Minten/Cowan - Kampf - Reaves

Rielly - McCabe
Benoit - Timmins
Webber - Niemela?

Woll - Random Hobo - A Beer Keg

Obviously, this theoretical is not a roster built for winning. Prospects are bolded.

$18.8m is not a lot of money to polish up that roster. I'd start at defense first, then goalie, then forward. From there, I have no friggin idea.
- GalacticStone

I've noticed.

Agreed. So this idea that we need a "power play quarterback" type d-man seems pretty suspect.

Rielly may not be Makar, Hughes, or Fox but I think he plays his role just fine.
- mjones242

Our pp fails almost every year in the playoffs.
So not really suspect

- mjones242

Great GIF and movie.

They don’t score at all in the playoffs but that wasn’t the point I was responding to
- Canada Cup

Actually their 5v5 scoring was right in the middle of the pack.

PP scoring was embarrassingly bad.

Our pp fails almost every year in the playoffs.
So not really suspect
- Fakepartofme

Its almost like missing willy and AM34 for 3 games each was a problem for the PP

Probably
- Fakepartofme

lets say Vegas is interested. and they probably would be since they like any good player available.


I like AP...but 4 years ago, not so much now. too risky to bet on 34yo staying top'ish pair.

Shea Theadore, possibly..but I would want much more on top of just ST. hes also a ufa. so not going to get him cheap or undervalued past this season.

but for me it would be ST, another player and 2024 1st. (pick #19)
id still be on the fence

Actually their 5v5 scoring was right in the middle of the pack.

PP scoring was embarrassingly bad.
- The Law

It's best not to rely on the PP to win games in the playoffs, especially the deeper you go and the whistles get put away.

Agreed. So this idea that we need a "power play quarterback" type d-man seems pretty suspect.

Rielly may not be Makar, Hughes, or Fox but I think he plays his role just fine.
- mjones242

Here's a hint: Tree tried to replace Rielly on the PP LAST year, too. 😉. He failed spectacularly, but at least he sees the problem with Rielly that you guys are blind to.

Our pp fails almost every year in the playoffs.
So not really suspect
- Fakepartofme

You cannot reason with the "run it back" contingent.

A prediction representing the leafs in the off-season this year


- Dozzer

Returned here this morning just to watch this clip again.

Its almost like missing willy and AM34 for 3 games each was a problem for the PP
- drexel

Wrong. The PP was poopt since the end of Feb/early March.

Ok, let's assume for a moment that no major core members are moved this offseason.

According to CapFriendly, the Leafs have $18.8m in projected cap space with 33 contract spots taken.

They have ten roster forwards under contract.

They have five roster d-men under contract.

They have one roster goalie under contract (Woll).

Prospects and two-ways under non-roster contracts : Nine forwards (notables are Cowan and Minten), six d-men, and three goalies.

Here is a roster that is 100% Run-It-Back(tm) with no new additions and promoting prospects into vacated roster spots. This will be the baseline roster without the unsigned UFA's (Domi, Bert, etc).

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan/Minten - Holmberg - Yarncock
Minten/Cowan - Kampf - Reaves

Rielly - McCabe
Benoit - Timmins
Webber - Niemela?

Woll - Random Hobo - A Beer Keg

Obviously, this theoretical is not a roster built for winning. Prospects are bolded.

$18.8m is not a lot of money to polish up that roster. I'd start at defense first, then goalie, then forward. From there, I have no friggin idea.
- GalacticStone

Trade rielly for a foward or prospects and spend $17.5m on two quality top 4 D and depth D (if no cap hit is coming back), the rest of the $9m on cheap forwards and goalies to play when woll is injured.
Or keep Rielly and spend $10m on two lesser quality cheap top 4 D and the rest of the $9m on cheap forwards and goalies to play when woll is injured.

Its almost like missing willy and AM34 for 3 games each was a problem for the PP
- drexel

What was the issue the previous years?

Trade rielly for a foward or prospects and spend $17.5m on two quality top 4 D and depth D (if no cap hit is coming back), the rest of the $9m on cheap forwards and goalies to play when woll is injured.
Or keep Rielly and spend $10m on two lesser quality cheap top 4 D and the rest of the $9m on cheap forwards and goalies to play when woll is injured.
- Fakepartofme

His NMC might make that a challenge.

It's best not to rely on the PP to win games in the playoffs, especially the deeper you go and the whistles get put away.
- GalacticStone

Agreed and no one said we need "rely" on the pp.
Just want quality special teams that arent the reason the team lost

He has no deception whatsoever. Telegraphs his passes, and shot is the opposite of a "threat".

Our powerplay kills us EVERY YEAR in the playoffs. This group does not work.
- fifty__missions

Reilly's PP strengths and weaknesses are the same in the regular season as they are in the playoffs and the PP seems to work quite well in the regular season so is Reilly really the playoff PP problem?

I feel like it's not for the most part and it's something else or a combination of other things including the fact that come playoffs time/space is much more limited even on the powerplay.

That being said I do still feel / agree they need a real shot/bomb threat from the point on the Power Play to make it harder to defend.

It's best not to rely on the PP to win games in the playoffs, especially the deeper you go and the whistles get put away.
- GalacticStone

Nobody told the Oilers that - but they are learning it now.

His NMC might make that a challenge.
- mjones242

So overcome it.
Nmc's get moved.

Alexander steen to become blues gm in 2026

It's best not to rely on the PP to win games in the playoffs, especially the deeper you go and the whistles get put away.
- GalacticStone

This is not your best take. Special teams are always a big part of playoff success. We lose the special teams' battles all the time.

Nobody told the Oilers that - but they are learning it now.
- Cush29

It carried them to the finals....like special teams have carried many teams before them.
Unfortunately, mcd and Draisaitl have gone cold.

Returned here this morning just to watch this clip again.
- Ratsreign

it is a great one