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Toronto - the laffs 2023-24


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The leaf management team is going to have some interesting off-season moves that I see as follows;

1) Assuming Nick Robertson makes their lineup, I calculate adjusting for Muzzin LTIR, remove Bobby McCann, and Amirov, and their cap room is $14.768M covering 8 forwards, 6 D, 2 goalies

2) First decision is to sign RFA Ilya Samsonov - he's proved he's a starter and projections are he will get a Jack Campbell like contract in the $5M range - I will say $4.5M

3) 2nd decision is to resign Michael Bunting even though he's UFA - indications are he should expect a $4M contract - I will say $3.5M

4) 3rd decision is what to to with G - Matt Murray who is on the roster for $4.7M - He appears healthy so no LTIR and Ottawa as a precedent last year had to give up a 3rd and a 7th and retain $1.56M. Murray has a 10 team NTC, and the leafs probably have to give up one of a 2024 3rd or 4th round pick and a 5th round pick to move that salary

5) If they don't move Murray, they have after Samsonov and Bunting, only 6.8M to buy 4 more forwards and 1 dman - they are unlikely to get any additional marquee players with that money

All that means to Montreal and other division rivals is that their bottom 3 forwards I see as pretty weak. If you look at their bottom 4 defense with McCabe / Liljegren and Giordano / Timmins, that doesn't strike me as dominant. Next year's divsion could be much tighter unless Toronto makes some big moves with one of their core. 

The leafs beyond Knies (assuming he makes the roster), Nick Robertson (small), don't exactly have an inspiring prospect pool either

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1 hour ago, H_T_L said:

To hear from Leaf fans and some of their media, they assume teams will be lined up for Murray. :rolleyes:

I guess they could buy him out too but that’s a $2m hit when Matthews and Nylander contracts are up 

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so after watching auston matthews play  the last few years in the playoffs, only  2 assists, and zero goals  in the 5 games against the panthers is it fair to say this guy is over rated and has always choked in the playoffs, the guy had  zero points the last 3 games 

i think so  imo

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35 minutes ago, rkgoalie said:

so after watching auston matthews play  the last few years in the playoffs, only  2 assists, and zero goals  in the 5 games against the panthers is it fair to say this guy is over rated and has always choked in the playoffs, the guy had  zero points the last 3 games 

i think so  imo

Just about everybody on that team is over rated.

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37 minutes ago, rkgoalie said:

so after watching auston matthews play  the last few years in the playoffs, only  2 assists, and zero goals  in the 5 games against the panthers is it fair to say this guy is over rated and has always choked in the playoffs, the guy had  zero points the last 3 games 

i think so  imo

I’m not major anti-leaf but the playoffs are a huge contrast to the regular season in terms of battles and physical play. The leafs were a great time and space team, and display great skill on their power plays which just shine in the reg season. When there are tighter calls in the playoffs, their PP advantage wanes and 5 on 5 becomes that more important. 
I’ll agree with you that Auston and company are overrated for the playoffs, but for regular season, they certainly demonstrate considerable skill. Matthews has a great stick, and shot, Marner has fabulous edgework skating and passing vision but you have to question their leadership in the playoffs 

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On 5/13/2023 at 8:33 PM, H_T_L said:

Just about everybody on that team is over rated.

I can't hate on Tavares though. I've liked him since he was drafted...I know, I know, he snubbed Montreal when he was a ufa. But he's one of those guys who is just hard to hate. Others I would include under that category: Datsyuk, Gretzky, Selanne, Bourque, Sakic, Turgeon...Man, other than Tavares, not a lot of guys that are all-round likeable from this era.

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25 minutes ago, Habsology2 said:

I can't hate on Tavares though. I've liked him since he was drafted...I know, I know, he snubbed Montreal when he was a ufa. But he's one of those guys who is just hard to hate. Others I would include under that category: Datsyuk, Gretzky, Selanne, Bourque, Sakic, Turgeon...Man, other than Tavares, not a lot of guys that are all-round likeable from this era.

I don't hate many of their players, it's more their media and fans that get to me. The best part about Tavares is he single handedly put TO in Cap hell when that money should have been put to better use rather than towards a luxury they didn't really need. Their greed makes the losing laughable.

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11 minutes ago, H_T_L said:

I don't hate many of their players, it's more their media and fans that get to me. The best part about Tavares is he single handedly put TO in Cap hell when that money should have been put to better use rather than towards a luxury they didn't really need. Their greed makes the losing laughable.

All the more reason to like him :D

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Dubas' contract is up, isn't it? I feel like that has to be priority number one for the Leafs right now. And then once that decision is made, the next decision has to be about the coaching staff, right?. Then I guess you worry about extending or dealing Matthews. Apparently he has a no-movement clause or no-trade clause that kicks in soon-ish. It would be a disaster if that kicks in and he also refuses to sign an extension.

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5 minutes ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Dubas' contract is up, isn't it? I feel like that has to be priority number one for the Leafs right now. And then once that decision is made, the next decision has to be about the coaching staff, right?. Then I guess you worry about extending or dealing Matthews. Apparently he has a no-movement clause or no-trade clause that kicks in soon-ish. It would be a disaster if that kicks in and he also refuses to sign an extension.

July 1st i believe.

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If they are going to move one of the big contracts it should be Nylander they could get a pick and a prospect and use the money to round out the team better! his money could sign two good players! I feel like that is one top heavy team they need better depth! everyone know you shut down 3-4 of the big names and the team will fold in the playoffs. I bet the Dmen would like to see a forward come back a little closer for an outlet pass from time to time as well!

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41 minutes ago, ramcharger440 said:

If they are going to move one of the big contracts it should be Nylander they could get a pick and a prospect and use the money to round out the team better! his money could sign two good players! I feel like that is one top heavy team they need better depth! everyone know you shut down 3-4 of the big names and the team will fold in the playoffs. I bet the Dmen would like to see a forward come back a little closer for an outlet pass from time to time as well!

Nylander is the cheapest and most versatile of the big 6 contracts there though.  He's also been their best player in the playoffs.   

They should never have signed Tavares and/or they should have moved Marner at the time.  Two $11m guys in your top 6 is doable. 3 is not.  

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16 hours ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Dubas' contract is up, isn't it? I feel like that has to be priority number one for the Leafs right now. And then once that decision is made, the next decision has to be about the coaching staff, right?. Then I guess you worry about extending or dealing Matthews. Apparently he has a no-movement clause or no-trade clause that kicks in soon-ish. It would be a disaster if that kicks in and he also refuses to sign an extension.

He could pull a Mats Sandin and refuse a trade - that really screwed the team in like 2012. IMO the polarizing (on / off )Nylander who has a 10 team NTC coming up is probably the most marketable. They trade Marner and Auston will be upset, but Marner just declines in physical 5 on 5 no space and no power play games. 
Dubas worst move besides caving on NMC’s was signing Rielly to that 8 year (7 more to go $7.5M contract) - At some point soon it will be Gallagher like baggage for the future. It’s a young man’s game now. 

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13 hours ago, maas_art said:

Nylander is the cheapest and most versatile of the big 6 contracts there though.  He's also been their best player in the playoffs.   

They should never have signed Tavares and/or they should have moved Marner at the time.  Two $11m guys in your top 6 is doable. 3 is not.  

And I don't think Tavares is moveable now. Or well... I'm just not sure you'd get a great return. Marner could probably fetch the nicest return given he has two years remaining on the deal and is only 26.

Interesting summer coming up for Toronto. I feel like anything might happen with that team.

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1 hour ago, jennifer_rocket said:

Interesting summer coming up for Toronto. I feel like anything might happen with that team.

Maybe they will let dubas' contract run out and hire MB :P

 

Actually, with that roster he might be able to do some 'tinkering' and build a winner    Scratch that idea :P

 

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28 minutes ago, maas_art said:

Maybe they will let dubas' contract run out and hire MB :P

 

Actually, with that roster he might be able to do some 'tinkering' and build a winner    Scratch that idea :P

 

He'd probably sign Schen and Giardano to 8 year deals. The older the better. Character you know.

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16 hours ago, maas_art said:

 

 

 

They should never have signed Tavares and/or they should have moved Marner at the time.  Two $11m guys in your top 6 is doable. 3 is not.  

2018-19  82    47    41    88    34 
2019-20  63    26    34    60    24 
2020-21  56    19    31    50    14
2021-22  79    27    49    76    32
2022-23  80    36    44    80    34

The Tavares signing was never the issue.  In 5 seasons, he's been basically a point a game player playing one of the most important positions.  Any other team would have loved him for free. The problem was that Toronto buckled on the Nylander and Marner contracts. When Tavares was signed, they should have immediately flipped Nylander or Marner, for a first pairing D, which they would have got. They basically got a star for free and then dropped the ball by not capitalizing on moving one of the previous "big 3"  Vegas never seems to have trouble moving their excess stars, and bringing in new ones.

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5 hours ago, claremont said:

He could pull a Mats Sandin and refuse a trade - that really screwed the team in like 2012. IMO the polarizing (on / off )Nylander who has a 10 team NTC coming up is probably the most marketable. They trade Marner and Auston will be upset, but Marner just declines in physical 5 on 5 no space and no power play games. 
Dubas worst move besides caving on NMC’s was signing Rielly to that 8 year (7 more to go $7.5M contract) - At some point soon it will be Gallagher like baggage for the future. It’s a young man’s game now. 

I believe Matthews can be traded up to July 1st when his NMC kicks in.

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Tavares - at the time he was the big UFA on the market . There was even chatter on here some thought  we were the best destination for him . Be #1 Centre , gets  to play with price and Weber ( team Canada connection ) etc  leafs thought he could help push them over type top . In hindsight it’s good we didn’t sign him or he would be the next whipping boy :P

 

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12 minutes ago, Regis22 said:

Tavares - at the time he was the big UFA on the market . There was even chatter on here some thought  we were the best destination for him . Be #1 Centre , gets  to play with price and Weber ( team Canada connection ) etc  leafs thought he could help push them over type top . In hindsight it’s good we didn’t sign him or he would be the next whipping boy :P

 

Could you imagine, if we had him, when we made it to the Finals? We really could have used a top 2 C.

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