21 May 2026 00:12:12
I thought I'd share my 2 cents worth of the developments with the Leafs. Obviously most of the recommendations weren't listening to what the top 2 dogs on the team were looking to improve for next year. I think they wanted skill and more toughness. The ideas that I have read on these write ups are way far away from the reality of these expectations. Firstly the Leafs are trying to get back into a win now mode. For the draft I would go with Stenberg he seems to have more of what the team is looking for to make the next move (his exposure to the game has experts trending into that direction and remember the team should go for the best player available to meet the current needs). Going for a D man would make NO sense logical sense since a newly drafted D-man would not be in a win now ready (Schaefer got taken last year).

Matthews didn't get the help he needed this year. He needs a veteran on the wing who offers both toughness, scoring and some skill. I think a guy like Anthony Mantha might fit the bill. Now if the Leafs could acquire Pettersson then hey we have Swedish second line and a solid first line. Now for the 3rd line Traveres, Cowan and another version of Mantha could make up the 3rd line. The fourth line can be made up with what's available. The D is a bit tricky, the team needs to acquire capable players that are not injury prone that hurt the team a lot last year and this only require 2 acquisitions. I think Leafs management should seriously consider bringing Laughton back. He demonstrated that he had strong positive influence with the younger players and that is a definite +++ for the team and he wants to be a Leafs.

1.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 00:12:16
I follow you but then you drop off with the defence and don’t recommend any names or how they will be acquired…..
So basically it’s not really 2 cents because it makes no sense….

2.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 12:02:13
I agree Golftown. We all know the needs. Give us an idea how you would trade for them? We can’t depend on UFAs this year because the class is slim and the bidders will be many and many as well that are closer than we are to offer being on a Contender for the cup.

3.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 15:14:24
Suffering,

I agree with your statement on this year’s UFA complement but I believe it will still be very important to any success in next year.

Unless the Leafs, under Chayka, go for a rebuild and trade Matthews, Nylander and Knies they really have nothing to trade that will get us back as contenders.

And I don’t think that is Chayka’s plan or what he was hired to do.

Picking 1st obviously helps for next, McKenna can step in immediately and perform better offensively than most in the bottom6, though they won’t relegate him there.

So I think the Leafs try to sign select UFAs and perhaps get a current NHL player like Simon Nemec for Maccelli and Robertson and maybe Owen Tippett for Joseph Woll.

I understand getting Tuch is very expensive and caution needs to be taken with Darren Raddysh but those two make us instant contenders; at the right price.

Other UFAs I’d be interested in include Logan Stanley, AJ Greer, Jack Roslovic and Anthony Mantha.

Secondary UFA choices and a bit of bargain basement shopping include Riley Tufte, Raphael Lavoie, Ilya Mikheyev and Brett Kulak.

I understand we cannot sign all of them but I do see it as part of the solution, emphasizing the word part!

4.) 21 May 2026
21 May 2026 15:37:14
I agree with you, RandySears, there is a lot of logic in you analysis.

5.) 22 May 2026
21 May 2026 23:30:18
Maccelli and Robertson for Nemec??
Don’t drink and post

Then you top it off with Tippett for Woll??

??????

6.) 23 May 2026
22 May 2026 22:43:30
Easy to make frivolous comments, Golftown, when you offer zero reasons.
But I expect that type of response from you.