Eklund: Jay on Leafs: The Post-Marner Era: Leafs Eye Local Boy to Revamp Roster.

bit of a downgrade there. Leafs fans should be up in arms

Other than re-signing him, only a handful of players are not downgrades. If they use his money on 2 50-60 pt guys will that be seen as equal…I doubt it.

4m would be fine

Someone will overpay for Marner and I’m happy it won’t be the leafs.

Let’s look at reality here.

Marner has absolutely great, fantastic hands.

But otherwise he’s an average skater, average shooter, he’s weak along the boards and physically he’s garbage.

Essentially he’s 1 step away from being Gretzky hence why he disappears late in playoff rounds. That’s when guys are literally willing to sacrifice their body. It doesn’t matter how good you are with your stick because it’s not going to be able to magically move a human body out of the way and in the game where the refs keep the whistle on their belt for the most part you’re (frank)ed. Gretzky was the guy who always seemed to see that move just before it happened so even though guys still dived down to block the puck movement he avoided it a second before, the one thing Marner doesn’t do.

So as much as I hate to say this but I honestly think that once Marner gets into his 30s he will be one of those guys who’s game starts to dwindle and quickly.

@Dozzer

I love Marner, I have loved him all the way back to his junior days with the Knights. I love his vision, his passing, his creativity, his anticipation on the PK, and his edgework when he's given the time and space to make plays. I think he's an above average shooter who looks far too often to pass first instead of taking a chance to score on his own.

I don't care for his inability to stay on his feet and get knocked off the puck. He seems to have never gotten stronger in this area. I don't like his tendency to make boneheaded passes when play his tight and he's pressured. I don't like that he wilts, both on and off the ice, when the pressure is on.

I feel bad for the kid. The mess that he's dealing with has been created both by Maple Leafs Management and his own camp. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending here for either him or the Leafs. He'll move on and get paid but he's going to be reviled in Leafland for quite some time. I wish things turned out better for all.

I especially am not looking forward to my Marner Young Guns, Young Guns Canvas, POE canvas, and all other rookie/mem cards taking a hard crash.

@Dozzer

I love Marner, I have loved him all the way back to his junior days with the Knights. I love his vision, his passing, his creativity, his anticipation on the PK, and his edgework when he's given the time and space to make plays. I think he's an above average shooter who looks far too often to pass first instead of taking a chance to score on his own.

I don't care for his inability to stay on his feet and get knocked off the puck. He seems to have never gotten stronger in this area. I don't like his tendency to make boneheaded passes when play his tight and he's pressured. I don't like that he wilts, both on and off the ice, when the pressure is on.

I feel bad for the kid. The mess that he's dealing with has been created both by Maple Leafs Management and his own camp. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending here for either him or the Leafs. He'll move on and get paid but he's going to be reviled in Leafland for quite some time. I wish things turned out better for all.

I especially am not looking forward to my Marner Young Guns, Young Guns Canvas, POE canvas, and all other rookie/mem cards taking a hard crash.
- Kinger34

I get what you’re saying but tbh I’ve always felt the way I do about him even in the OHL. I’m a London guy so I saw him play a lot for The Knights and his lack of physical play always made me shake my head. It’s where his game disappears. Once the refs stop calling it he has to avoid it or he disappears, and he can’t seem to avoid it so he disappears. That’s why late in a playoff round he’s pretty much useless, like that in junior too, if he wasn’t he wouldn’t have been 4th overall he would have been 2nd.

I genuinely hope that wherever he goes he ends up with a shooter on his line because without one his point production will crash.

JT Tanev and Jeannot

@Dozzer

I love Marner, I have loved him all the way back to his junior days with the Knights. I love his vision, his passing, his creativity, his anticipation on the PK, and his edgework when he's given the time and space to make plays. I think he's an above average shooter who looks far too often to pass first instead of taking a chance to score on his own.

I don't care for his inability to stay on his feet and get knocked off the puck. He seems to have never gotten stronger in this area. I don't like his tendency to make boneheaded passes when play his tight and he's pressured. I don't like that he wilts, both on and off the ice, when the pressure is on.

I feel bad for the kid. The mess that he's dealing with has been created both by Maple Leafs Management and his own camp. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending here for either him or the Leafs. He'll move on and get paid but he's going to be reviled in Leafland for quite some time. I wish things turned out better for all.

I especially am not looking forward to my Marner Young Guns, Young Guns Canvas, POE canvas, and all other rookie/mem cards taking a hard crash.
- Kinger34

The Leafs need to rethink their Core if they want to go all the way. It's unfortunate, but with AM34 and Willie already locked up, it's clear that Marner is the guy who needs to go at this point.

We can't afford to pay him 13-14M just to see him not be able to perform when the team needs him most.

Granted, we took the eventual Cup winners to 7 games, but we were blown out 6-1 at home in Game 5 and 7 - absolutely unacceptable.

Not sure how this team pivots as there's very little in terms of "hockey trades" we can make as we have very few assets, but maybe they can stitch together a lunchpail style lineup that is tough to play against from lines 1 all the way down to 4.

The team needs balance. Marner's salary can go a long way to help with that.

First off Marner has shown his true colors for years, ever since his first hold out. He is out for himself and is not nearly gritty enough for the playoffs nor a team first kind of guy. Marner has the Lebron attitude without the Lebron skill (in their perspective sports). That being said it will be a difficult task to replace 90 - 100 points but not impossible. You could likely get Boeser and Magnipane for the same it would cost for Marner. It does suck that he is such a corksoaker that he purposely torpedoed a trade for Rantenan but that should be expected from the type of person he is.

I think Marner signs for 2-4 years for 12 - 13+ million on a team without a Matthews and becomes the next Huberdeau!

If he signs with a contender it is for less and definitely for a shorter term.
OR
He signs with a poope team for maximum he can squeeze and disappears and becomes an absolute stinker for a team and we will talk about it every year until he is bought out.

Leafs could upgrade with any of these. . .

UFA Signing

Center
Trent Frederic

LW
Tanner Jeannot
Brandon Tanev
Andrew Mangiapane

RW
Brock Boeser

LD
Vladislav Gavrikov
Ivan Provorov
Dmitry Orlov

RD
Aaron Ekblad
Tony DeAngelo

Goaltender
Dan Vladar
Alexander Georgiev
(Make it a 3way competition with Stolarz and Woll)

Trade For. . .
Quin Hughs
Noah Dobson

OUT
Holmberg, Robertson, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Reaves, Reilly

New Lines
Max Domi - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Brock Boeser
Andrew Mangiapane - Trent Frederic - Bobby McMann
Tanner Jeannot - Scott Laughton - Brandon Tanev

Quinn Hughs - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

If there is an upgrade to be made over Reilly via trade for a stud offensive defensmen in a package including Cowan and a pick for Hughs or Dobson I be all over it!

Also would be amazing to see the Robertson bors united on the leafs and rock something like. . .

Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Brock Boeser
Jason Robertson - John Tavares - William Nylander
Max Domi - Trent Frederic - Bobby McMann
Tanner Jeannot - Scott Laughton - Brandon Tanev

Nick still aint on the squad though lol

Leafs could upgrade with any of these. . .

UFA Signing

Center
Trent Frederic

LW
Tanner Jeannot
Brandon Tanev
Andrew Mangiapane

RW
Brock Boeser

LD
Vladislav Gavrikov
Ivan Provorov
Dmitry Orlov

RD
Aaron Ekblad
Tony DeAngelo

Goaltender
Dan Vladar
Alexander Georgiev
(Make it a 3way competition with Stolarz and Woll)

Trade For. . .
Quin Hughs
Noah Dobson

OUT
Holmberg, Robertson, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Reaves, Reilly

New Lines
Max Domi - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Brock Boeser
Andrew Mangiapane - Trent Frederic - Bobby McMann
Tanner Jeannot - Scott Laughton - Brandon Tanev

Quinn Hughs - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

If there is an upgrade to be made over Reilly via trade for a stud offensive defensmen in a package including Cowan and a pick for Hughs or Dobson I be all over it!
- n8butts

Well, unless there is some sort of miraculous Rielly trade the D and goaltending isn’t changing so get used to that.

But they really don’t need it either. The forward core needs to be broken up and the spending needs to be spread out throughout the entire forward group. So it’s a bye bye Marner and a sign cheap JT or bye bye to you too.

Also, a quick add on when it comes to your OUT list. How would you move those guys? For the cap space you’d need to send them to rebuilding clubs with picks or prospects which the leafs have next to none of. Otherwise you’d just be dealing with a team who would send their garbage back to get the cap space they needed. No competitor will want someone like Jarnkrok and no rebuilding club is going to straight up just give up a pick or prospect for him.

Leafs could upgrade with any of these. . .

UFA Signing

Center
Trent Frederic

LW
Tanner Jeannot
Brandon Tanev
Andrew Mangiapane

RW
Brock Boeser

LD
Vladislav Gavrikov
Ivan Provorov
Dmitry Orlov

RD
Aaron Ekblad
Tony DeAngelo

Goaltender
Dan Vladar
Alexander Georgiev
(Make it a 3way competition with Stolarz and Woll)

Trade For. . .
Quin Hughs
Noah Dobson

OUT
Holmberg, Robertson, Kampf, Jarnkrok, Reaves, Reilly

New Lines
Max Domi - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Brock Boeser
Andrew Mangiapane - Trent Frederic - Bobby McMann
Tanner Jeannot - Scott Laughton - Brandon Tanev

Quinn Hughs - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

If there is an upgrade to be made over Reilly via trade for a stud offensive defensmen in a package including Cowan and a pick for Hughs or Dobson I be all over it!
- n8butts

There’s no need to get everything done now in a weak free agency year and where prices for good players are going to be high. I’d be ok with adding a couple of good fits on longer term deals and keeping flexibility for next year.

Matthews
Granlund
Tavares
Laughton

Plan the parade 💙

Matthews
Granlund
Tavares
Laughton

Plan the parade 💙
- mr.sir

No thanks to Granlund, him and Nylander on the same line would be paper mache lol

That and what if the rumour of taking on Hertl is true so Vegas can sign Marner? I think I’d kind of like that tbh, far more up Berube’s style. Signed for 5 more years til he’s 36 at just over $8 million a year though.

No thanks to Granlund, him and Nylander on the same line would be paper mache lol

That and what if the rumour of taking on Hertl is true so Vegas can sign Marner? I think I’d kind of like that tbh, far more up Berube’s style. Signed for 5 more years til he’s 36 at just over $8 million a year though.
- Dozzer

You would need to pair the eurotrash sisters with a bruiser, no doubt 😂

Hertl 🤨
I guess so, what happened to the 3rd sister
William Karlsson

I’m betting on Mangiapane, Tanev and Jeannot

I would also keep Robertson over:
Holmberg
Lorentz
Patches
Kampf
Jarnkrok

Real tough to find goal scorers
Once again, need to pair him with toughness

Leafs could upgrade with any of these. . .


If there is an upgrade to be made over Reilly via trade for a stud offensive defensmen in a package including Cowan and a pick for Hughs or Dobson I be all over it!
- n8butts

I don't think Cowan and a pick gets Hughes, maybe Dobson. Leafs don't have their 1st rounders for a couple of years now, Hughes has made it clear he wants to play with his brothers, and I don't see NYI giving up on Dobson that easy, especially with having the 1st overall pick this year.

You would need to pair the eurotrash sisters with a bruiser, no doubt 😂

Hertl 🤨
I guess so, what happened to the 3rd sister
William Karlsson

I’m betting on Mangiapane, Tanev and Jeannot

I would also keep Robertson over:
Holmberg
Lorentz
Patches
Kampf
Jarnkrok

Real tough to find goal scorers
Once again, need to pair him with toughness
- mr.sir

I would keep Robertson over Holmberg, Jarnkrok, maybe Kampfe. Lorentz needs to stay long term in his 4th line role, Patches hopefully re-signs on the cheap.

Robertson was a healthy scratch for half of our playoff games this year. I think it's almost time to move on from him.

You would need to pair the eurotrash sisters with a bruiser, no doubt 😂

Hertl 🤨
I guess so, what happened to the 3rd sister
William Karlsson

I’m betting on Mangiapane, Tanev and Jeannot

I would also keep Robertson over:
Holmberg
Lorentz
Patches
Kampf
Jarnkrok

Real tough to find goal scorers
Once again, need to pair him with toughness
- mr.sir

I honestly can’t say I know what will happen, what I hate to say is that guys like Kampf and Jarnkrok won’t be traded away cheaply. Those two are either take garbage back or send picks or prospects along with them to get something half decent.

I honestly can’t say I know what will happen, what I hate to say is that guys like Kampf and Jarnkrok won’t be traded away cheaply. Those two are either take garbage back or send picks or prospects along with them to get something half decent.
- Dozzer

I’d rather keep them than have to pay or take back garbage in trades. They’re fine as 4th line guys and we have the space this year. Jarnkrok’s contract is up after this year and Kampf has another year

I’d rather keep them than have to pay or take back garbage in trades. They’re fine as 4th line guys and we have the space this year. Jarnkrok’s contract is up after this year and Kampf has another year
- Chunga’s Revenge

Yup, and let’s face it they do the job. Just bottom end versions of it. Way over priced. Get rid of them as an add on of a deal sure but to pay for it no thanks, not just to save a couple million.

I’m not so sure that Zito will just let Ekblad walk away. A long term deal is scary, but their window is right now. It seems a solid RHD who plays on the top pair would be a big loss, idk who is out there that could fill that spot, and definitely not going to come cheaper. I love Marchand on the Panthers, but idk if Zito will be overly enamored with him over Ekblad. Marchand was here for a brief time and caught fire playing on the third line. You can assume he was usually playing against third line, bottom pair defenders, admittedly I don’t know if that’s entirely accurate or not. Besides that, Marchand’s spot on the wing would be easier to fill than Ekblad’s. Samoskevich is showing a lot of promise. Idk, we’ll see what Zito comes up with. Perhaps he trades Erod to open up $3 million more space to try and keep Marchand.
Panthers traded a 5th round pick to Columbus today for goalie Tarasov. That opens up approximately another 2 million cap space by replacing Vanecek as back up to Bob.

The Wizard is working. Who knows, Marchand may wind up a Leaf before Ekblad does

Change Philosophy rather than trying what never works in the way of direct production replacement.
Marner is gone. Another 100 point guy isn’t walking through that door.
With elevated salary one can expect Knies to up his production. So you’ll get some points back but even then you’re playing catchup to a 2nd Round and Out Team.

Lock in Ekblad at under $8.0aav
Deal McCabe for a forward who can net you 40-50 points. Younger the better. Perhaps a Dawson Mercer type? If not, maybe play on Utah’s obvious desire to win now and win over the new market by prying away Dmitri Simashev and setup the Toronto Blue Line for at least half a decade.
Commit to giving up less goals and thus needing less goals. Assuming McCabe is dealt for help up front or back end futures, you’ve got
Rielly-Ekblad
Ekman Larsson-Tanev
Benoit-Carlo

Worse blue lines have won Cups. For the first time in forever you’d have the element that actually wins Championships. Defense. Don’t blow it by chasing your tails and ghosts in the former of a run and gun Poor Core 4.