They've had Matthews, who can flirt with Mackinnons tier but has never been able to take his team over the edge like Mac.

They've never had anyone near Makar, but never has how may other Cup winners? Makar is impossible to duplicate.

One could make the argument that having Willy and Tavares *should* help even the scales with Matthews shortcomings to MacKinnon. It's just that Rantanen helped move needles in Colorado, his playoff stats are undeniable. None of our guys have in Toronto, Willy has probably been the closest.
- joel878

Agreed on every point here.

If Texas had a state income tax, does Rants ask for more? Prolly.

Interesting read:

https://www.boston.com/sp...nd/?p1=recirc_mostpopular
- Atomic Wedgie

Does anyone ever really consider that Marner is an incredible regular season player....different space, different intensity, different GAF level...but that his "I'm a genius player when I have a split second more time" game just doesn't translate to the tight checking, hard nose, no space/no time game that is playoff hockey???

Not that he sucks, just that he sucks then?

And then, maybe, just hear me out, someone else on that line needs to find him a bit more time and space...like Captain Disappearing poop-my-pants.

I love Matthews, was favorite Leaf ever, but he should kinda be in the cross hairs more than Marner or Willy.....or anyone else.

He's the (frank)ing C and he delivers less at crunch time than Marner or Willy.

Are we all blind Richards?
- underhill14

This.
Matthews comes up short in big games for the leafs, i think he has 1-2 goals in elimination games or something like that. People dont harp on him cause once he got over 60 reg season games.

Because you said the Isles were not sellers? I thought it was a weird take because they clearly were and then it spiraled into this odd debate.
- mjones242

Then I said "Oh yeah! I forgot about Nelson! But it was weird they made an odd trade at the end" and you kept bugging about it

$90 USD per ticket for a pair of nosebleeds behind the Avalanche’s net tonight.

But you probably have to leave for the airport soon.

$90 USD per ticket for a pair of nosebleeds behind the Avalanche’s net tonight.

But you probably have to leave for the airport soon.
- Atomic Wedgie

If you want to bring America to its knees, head to Kanata

Then I said "Oh yeah! I forgot about Nelson! But it was weird they made an odd trade at the end" and you kept bugging about it
- Aaron_85

You mentioned they traded for a D when they actually traded a D for a F, which is what prompted me to continue replying.

Having said that, it's not actually an "odd" trade though, is it? These types of "nothingburger" deals happen all of the time on TDL day -- especially when a team has just made a blockbuster deal and need to shift some deck chairs.

Am I nitpicking? Ehh... I dunno, it's conversation, bro. I'm not attacking you, just found your Isles narrative... well, "odd".

It's all good.

If Texas had a state income tax, does Rants ask for more? Prolly.
- mjones242

100%

Couple things. Great TDL for Tre, and the Rantanen rumour as well showed us Tre is willing to do the tough things.

If Marner and his agent want to test FA and Marner wants to squeeze every cent he can out of every team in the NHL let him. He can have any perspective he wants in life. But I don't like it and I really don't like Mitch very much.

Great hockey player, I hope he signs but if he goes to FA July 1st move on. Bennett and Ekblad makes this team a bit worse but move on when a guy is going to act like this.

Hopefully Carlo helps 44 get back on his A game or else it could be ..

McCabe-Tanev
OEL-Carlo
Rielly-Myers

All the tough minutes to the top two pairs and Rielly getting sheltered OZ starts. Not ideal but get your poop together 44.

Also ...solid of Patches to agree to hit LTIR for the rest of the year (subject to other injuries). He was back skating and ready to go ..sounds like he agreed to some Cap ..err, load management so they could add $$.

Reaves, Patches, Hakanpaa and Benning will all be up for the playoffs. Probably not playing ..but they'll be in the queue.

Also ...solid of Patches to agree to hit LTIR for the rest of the year (subject to other injuries). He was back skating and ready to go ..sounds like he agreed to some Cap ..err, load management so they could add $$.

Reaves, Patches, Hakanpaa and Benning will all be up for the playoffs. Probably not playing ..but they'll be in the queue.
- The Law

At least no rival fans can say Leafs are hiding patches on LTIR.

It’s not hard to believe the guy is legit injured again.

Early math for next year ...

7D and both goalies are locked up.
Assuming normal $$ for Lorentz and Holmberg (or replacements) Leafs will have about 25.5M with Robertson and Knies as RFA's and JT and MM as UFA's.

Assuming ~20M for MM and JT (if they re-sign both) things will be tight for Knies.

Could make some room by finding new homes for Kampf and/or Jarnkrok and replacing them with minimum wage types.

Early math for next year ...

7D and both goalies are locked up.
Assuming normal $$ for Lorentz and Holmberg (or replacements) Leafs will have about 25.5M with Robertson and Knies as RFA's and JT and MM as UFA's.

Assuming ~20M for MM and JT (if they re-sign both) things will be tight for Knies.

Could make some room by finding new homes for Kampf and/or Jarnkrok and replacing them with minimum wage types.
- The Law

Kampf and Jarnkrok out for sure. You plan and have trust in Cowan to make it as well.

If the rumors about Tre having a deal in place with Carolina with Rantanen having agreed to 8 years $105 million then the cap for Marner should be $13-13.5 if he has a decent playoff

Also ...solid of Patches to agree to hit LTIR for the rest of the year (subject to other injuries). He was back skating and ready to go ..sounds like he agreed to some Cap ..err, load management so they could add $$.

Reaves, Patches, Hakanpaa and Benning will all be up for the playoffs. Probably not playing ..but they'll be in the queue.
- The Law

Probably not playing is about right, except maybe Patches. Matthew Tkachuk will be playing on the first shift of the playoffs allowing the Panthers to pick up Marchand for a conditional second and a bag of farts. Wonder how hard Bettman and his cronies work to investigate cap cheating on that one.

Atlantic analysis : (pass/fail)

Leafs (PASS) - addressed two priority needs at 3C and D. Moves the needle and makes the team better, but not dramatically so. Late first picks are overrated and the players moved out were not valuable or irreplaceable. IMO, the price was worth it, especially considering the term and retention. All the pieces are in place for a deep run with no excuses. If there is major disappointment again, I would make heads roll from the front office on down.

Lightning (PASS) - addressed a major need in bottom six depth. They are not as top heavy now and will be a harder out. Bjorkstrand is a low key solid addition and expect his fantasy value to jump. He regularly put up 20+ goals on poop teams and has never been surrounded with the kind of talent he is now. Vasi is the key though. If he steals a series or two, they are a major threat. If not, they will wash out in the first round again.

Panthers (PASS) - they said OEL was washed before he went to Florida. They say the same thing about Jones. He is not washed and will flourish. Like Bjorkstrand, he has spent the majority of his career playing for poop teams. Marchand is over the hill and gimpy. I don't think he moves the needle much. Other players in the room have a more recent champion pedigree than Marchand does. I think Jones will have a much bigger impact than Marchand. Of course, he'll make a liar out of me now and win the Conn Smythe.

Bruins (FAIL) - their deadline moves were actually smart and they received some good assets in return. But, they get a fail because the franchise is in a tail spin and going down in flames. Poor Pasta and McAvoy are the last men standing amongst a squad of rookies, scrubs, and has-beens. It's hard not to dance on their grave after so many false alarms, but it feels real this time, so dance away like nobody is watching. (frank) them.

Ottawa (PASS) - not because their deadline was great, which it wasn't. It also wasn't bad either. Overall they seem to be on an upward trajectory, which is a wet dream for Spatso, but I just can't bring myself to care about them. Unless Ulmark has a Vezina season, I don't see them being contenders any time soon.

Montreal (NO GRADE) - MSL will whip this team into shape eventually if his leash is long enough and he is given the budget and players to work with. Like Ottawa, I just can't bring myself to care about them yet, because they are not close to contending.

Detroit (FAIL) - The Yzerplan is overrated. Great player, great GM in Tampa, but nobody's buying what he's selling any more. His calls go to voice mail now. He gets more credit than he's due for Tampa's success. Tampa already had Stamkos and Hedman when he walked in the door. He's had enough time to work his magic in Detroit and the results are slow to materialize. Overall they're trending upwards, just very very very slowly.

Barfalo (FAIL) - still a tire fire and will remain a tire fire for the foreseeable future. I'll start caring about them when they do something worth caring about.

Prediction : Leafs, Cats, and Bolts finish as the Top-3. The exact order remains to be seen. It's totally up for grabs and any one of them could win the division.

Early math for next year ...

7D and both goalies are locked up.
Assuming normal $$ for Lorentz and Holmberg (or replacements) Leafs will have about 25.5M with Robertson and Knies as RFA's and JT and MM as UFA's.

Assuming ~20M for MM and JT (if they re-sign both) things will be tight for Knies.

Could make some room by finding new homes for Kampf and/or Jarnkrok and replacing them with minimum wage types.
- The Law

Easy solution is to sign Knies first

Kampf and Jarnkrok out for sure. You plan and have trust in Cowan to make it as well.
- Santo_44

Yup, moving them out for nothing and replacing them with Lorentz/Holmberg types guys gains them ~2.5M in much needed space.

Easy solution is to sign Knies first
- winsix

And then Marner.

Squeeze JT. Sorry, but it’s a business.

At least no rival fans can say Leafs are hiding patches on LTIR.

It’s not hard to believe the guy is legit injured again.
- Atomic Wedgie

Bettman has hired Mark Recchi to assess his injury for the league

[quote=mjones242]

Not my fault that TSN had it wrong! lol you were right about it being backwards

Hopefully Carlo helps 44 get back on his A game or else it could be ..

McCabe-Tanev
OEL-Carlo
Rielly-Myers

All the tough minutes to the top two pairs and Rielly getting sheltered OZ starts. Not ideal but get your poop together 44.
- The Law

It sucks when your "number 1" dman needs others to help him get to his A game.
But here we are.

At least no rival fans can say Leafs are hiding patches on LTIR.

It’s not hard to believe the guy is legit injured again.
- Atomic Wedgie

Even if rival fans did say the leafs are hiding patches.....what would happen?