But I think Dubas's fix was moving Nylander out for E.K. It wasnt moving on from Marner.
Dubas had sold his theory on how to build a cup winner.....a theory that had never worked prior...or even tried I guess. Shanny bought into the idea of the core 4...but the players were too similar.
That would have been a horrible trade for the leafs. imo.

Im still of the belief that I dont think Matthews can lead the leafs to a cup as the number 1 guy. Im hoping im wrong.
Gotta wait to see how things look next season.
- Fakepartofme

Agreed IF the trade was Willy for EK then that would have sucked hard but if nothing else it makes me think Dubas realized he needed the cap spread out more than just super skilled forwards. Maybe Dubas & Shanny could have agreed not to EK but yes to moving out Willy or Marner for more D help and money to build the bottom 6?

You are right it took too long to realize it but at least he eventually go there - you have to wonder (as you said) if Shanny never did at all.

This article (not sure if was already posted here) is bang on in my opinion and the Leafs have a chance now to try and spread around more cap space with 2 UFA's who are huge contracts. I hope they take advantage of it.

https://mapleleafshotstov...r-latest-playoff-failure/

if indeed Shanny did block a trade of MM or WN for EK, well then thats good.

I guess unless you would have preferred to have EK this past season and now instead of Mitch walking now
- senstroll

I might support that trade if it shut AA up, otherwise it would have been sucky. But just because he blocked a bad trade doesn’t mean he’s absolved of blame for hanging onto his plan. Someone could have been moved.

If Marner leaves, it might take us an extra couple of weeks in November to clinch a play-off spot

a good 3LC

or sign Mitch, Trade Rielly and Willy for Danault and Byfeild
- senstroll

I honeslty don't see any of the current Leafs under contract agreeing to waive a NMC, especially Willy. I'd love to see Rielly waive his for sure the most.

Not sure LA would but again that deal is pretty tempting.

For arguments sake let's say they move Willy and re-up Marner.

What has occurred that makes anyone think Marner can get over the hurdle in late series games?

And the 4 Nations Cup is a terrible example, he was not even in the top 4 players on that team (no letter on the front of his jersey) so the pressure was exceptionally less on him if Canada lost it was all going on Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon, Makar before anyone even mentioned his name.

I might support that trade if it shut AA up, otherwise it would have been sucky. But just because he blocked a bad trade doesn’t mean he’s absolved of blame for hanging onto his plan. Someone could have been moved.
- Chunga’s Revenge

Agreed

a good 3LC

or sign Mitch, Trade Rielly and Willy for Danault and Byfeild
- senstroll

I’d be shocked if Morgan agreed to go. Maybe LA could work for Willie if he thought he could get his movie career started. Otherwise, I think they stay in blue and white

I honeslty don't see any of the current Leafs under contract agreeing to waive a NMC, especially Willy. I'd love to see Rielly waive his for sure the most.

Not sure LA would but again that deal is pretty tempting.

For arguments sake let's say they move Willy and re-up Marner.

What has occurred that makes anyone think Marner can get over the hurdle in late series games?

And the 4 Nations Cup is a terrible example, he was not even in the top 4 players on that team (no letter on the front of his jersey) so the pressure was exceptionally less on him if Canada lost it was all going on Crosby, McDavid, McKinnon, Makar before anyone even mentioned his name.
- Cush29

Agreed.
But he still performed well in the 4 nations cup.
Also when you have those 4 ahead of you....of course he isnt going to wear a letter. Heck if matthews was Canadian, I dont think he wears a letter ahead of either of the four you mentioned.

a good 3LC

or sign Mitch, Trade Rielly and Willy for Danault and Byfeild
- senstroll

Id keep Willy. Im fine with moving morgan.
Maybe a sign and trade with LA to get kempe and a pick?
Not sure the cap works for both Marner and Morgan to LA

Unless maybe if Doughty is coming back? Marner (Signed) + Morgan for doughty? 2 years at $11m.
But is he healthy, would LA even do that.....would the leafs even want that?
Dunno

Agreed.
But he still performed well in the 4 nations cup.
Also when you have those 4 ahead of you....of course he isnt going to wear a letter. Heck if matthews was Canadian, I dont think he wears a letter ahead of either of the four you mentioned.
- Fakepartofme

Oh he was excellent at 4 nations but he was playing relatively pressure free and that's my point.

The pressure he is put under and puts on himself in Toronto isn't going to diminish if he signs a new deal for more than the 10.9M he was making this year and he hasn't shown in the near decade he can get over or past that.

And before this becomes a whataboutism contest - yes neither have Matthews, Rielly, JT or Willy but today's situation is that 2 of those 5 players are UFA's and one of them is looking for more money.

Agreed on who deserved to wear a C or A - hell MacKinnon wasn't even an Assistant Capt.

If Marner leaves, it might take us an extra couple of weeks in November to clinch a play-off spot
- Leafsmart

- Fakepartofme

- Fakepartofme

All jokes aside, I'll have plenty of consoling to do if MM leaves.

My youngest grandson thinks he can walk on water.

I'd better start rehearsing my spiel.

I'd never make a good GM in relation to contracts, because I'd always want to have a clause where I could cut bait if things soured... But you'll never get that with the top end talent and their agents.

I just despise the fact that if Mitch leaves, we won't have a single piece of potential coming back.

Terrible asset management.

All jokes aside, I'll have plenty of consoling to do if MM leaves.

My youngest grandson thinks he can walk on water.

I'd better start rehearsing my spiel.

I'd never make a good GM in relation to contracts, because I'd always want to have a clause where I could cut bait if things soured... But you'll never get that with the top end talent and their agents.

I just despise the fact that if Mitch leaves, we won't have a single piece of potential coming back.

Terrible asset management.

- Leafsmart

I guess you can say that but with high end talent and no movement clauses it's pretty hard for teams to do much if the player refuses to waive. It puts them in a position of often having to overpay or let the player walk.

I wish (like you do) it was more like the NFL where you can cut bait if the performance sucks or even better let a player re-negotiate a contract mid contract but the NLHPA made sure that will never be an option.

(frank)ing hoffman again, gives up a 9th inning lead

I dont mind it, maybe a bit much for Magiapiane and Bennett ( but that may be the cost to get him to Toronto)....and I think you will need someone to replace MR on D. Tanev wont be able to play all year. Maybe Dante Fabbro.
I think B. Tanev is must sign imo.
Hopefully they are short term deals, but with Tre I doubt it
- Fakepartofme

B Tanev FOR SURE, IMO. He is non stop on forward like his bro is on D.

And ya, money is a bit high but I was considering UFA costs.

Bolded - agree and he would be a nice add too.

I think IF they could move Rielly and get a solid, gritty RHD the Leafs D would be best it's been in years.

Is that Danforth kid ready to take the step? (Forgot if he's L or R or traded but remembered he was big, gritty and close-ish)

Oh piss off, quit your whining.
Sorry, Im not interested in signing another 38 year old to be the saviour. LOL
Get with reality. The leafs are in a poopty position, they either lose a 100pt soft player and keep two others and then overpay a 38 year old and a 50pt player ....because every year we know all free agents want to be leafs or overpay to sign marner and not strengthening the bottom 6 and we are stuck with 3 soft overpaid forwards....who disappear when it counts.
And we dont have any 1st for the next 3 years.
Just facts.

Ive said many times....avoid long term deals, move out morgan if you can, sign an interim top 6 winger....build out the bottom 6 with depth scoring. What more of a suggestion do you want?
- Fakepartofme

Again, laying down a thick layer of stool, offering zero in return, because you're afraid we're going to rip it apart. Don't be a coward, participate in the conversation instead of just sounding like a broken feces-covered record.

Agreed IF the trade was Willy for EK then that would have sucked hard but if nothing else it makes me think Dubas realized he needed the cap spread out more than just super skilled forwards. Maybe Dubas & Shanny could have agreed not to EK but yes to moving out Willy or Marner for more D help and money to build the bottom 6?

You are right it took too long to realize it but at least he eventually go there - you have to wonder (as you said) if Shanny never did at all.

This article (not sure if was already posted here) is bang on in my opinion and the Leafs have a chance now to try and spread around more cap space with 2 UFA's who are huge contracts. I hope they take advantage of it.

https://mapleleafshotstov...r-latest-playoff-failure/
- Cush29

Yeah, 100%.

We just can't have that much tied up into 4 players, even 3, if JT takes a discount: they're all highly-skilled, but soft, and that's just too much of the same thing.

If two of the four played on the edge, had a mean streak, actually intimidated players on the forecheck, different story, but these guys are all cut from the same cloth, and they'll always be at the mercy of whatever team decides to bully them.

Like the zero pushback after the blatant elbows against FLA: where have we seen this before? Oh wait, it was FLA and BOS before that.

Yeah, 100%.

We just can't have that much tied up into 4 players, even 3, if JT takes a discount: they're all highly-skilled, but soft, and that's just too much of the same thing.

If two of the four played on the edge, had a mean streak, actually intimidated players on the forecheck, different story, but these guys are all cut from the same cloth, and they'll always be at the mercy of whatever team decides to bully them.

Like the zero pushback after the blatant elbows against FLA: where have we seen this before? Oh wait, it was FLA and BOS before that.
- gravyface

Agreed 2 high end / high salary guys who are uber skilled but have no real bite to their game should be the max regardless of which 2 it is.

Rielly's 7.5M is slowing slipping into the 'slightly overpaid' catagory as the cap rises, on other teams he might be very marginally overpaid. Maybe the years of being told he's the #1 D man and then this year a real #1 guy in Tanev coming in has humbled him and impacted his confidence since he got bumped to the 2nd pairing?

As doubtful as it is they can move him we can only hope if that doesn't happen he comes back next year and is better than he was this year.

Anyone else getting their comments edited remotely?

3x for me 🧐

Shanny out as per Overdrive

Shanny out as per Overdrive
- Azuredoom

https://thescore.com/nhl/news/3289894

Again, laying down a thick layer of stool, offering zero in return, because you're afraid we're going to rip it apart. Don't be a coward, participate in the conversation instead of just sounding like a broken feces-covered record.
- gravyface

You love to eat up stool. Its what you do best.
Move on, your nonsense is boring, take your high horse with you.

Shanny out as per Overdrive
- Azuredoom

First shoe

Shanny out as per Overdrive
- Azuredoom

The ShanaCan

First shoe
- Fakepartofme

Does Pelley fill the position or have GM report directly to him?