29 Nov 2016 17:29:05
Anyone buying the rumours that TOR is in on Hamilton? Knowing Uncle Lou, It's obviously a lot chatter with no real Backing, but my question is: what's the trade look like? The Hockey Writers suggested the return could involve the Leafs 2nd, an NHL player (Holland/ Leivo) and one of the top AHL players (Leipsic, Kapanen etc. ) . I think that's soft, but given the salary and term and Hamiltons struggles (I know he's been better in the last few games), I don't think if he warrants a top end return.

Logic dictates it's likely a one-for-one trade involving Nylander but i'm interested to hear people's thoughts.

1.) 29 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 18:51:33
Logic dictates Nylander is going no where, he was drafted and is playing in his calder season there is no way they trade a top end rookie for a player a team Dosent want.

2.) 29 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 21:11:11
Leivo/Kapanen/ 2nd they need scoring help bad

3.) 29 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 22:39:42
You can't trade kids.leafs can package JVR Bozak komarov as trade bait combination of those guys and they have corrato carrick holland leivo those are only group leafs should offer in trades and if you need more to offer then you add Kadri. We have lots young talent and more coming we need to mould this into a masterpiece.

4.) 29 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 22:55:45
If there was a deal coming for Hamilton; it wouldn't be until the Leafs are in Calgary. Neither player would play that game.

I would argue that Nylander is going to Calgary. His play has dropped and he doesn't back check. In some ways, kind of reminds me of Phil Kessel. Maybe he hasn't recovered from the concussion; his play was better before that.

Calgary will want more than Nylander and that could be anyone, but I'm guessing Dermott.

It's his 3rd pro-season (SHL, AHL, and NHL; yes folks those are all pro-leagues where he played against men and not boys) and I have to wonder why his play without the puck is so bad considering he has a former NHL'er for a father, who played the full game.

Maybe find a way to grab R. Andersson; decent RHD prospect.

5.) 29 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 23:08:10
Leafs have no interest in resigning JVR Bozak Komorov. There are so many more kids coming kapanan Leipsic Nelson and Dermott and bracco

6.) 30 Nov 2016
29 Nov 2016 23:28:38
You left out Brooks and Korotstelev, who should be in the AHL. And Korschkov who needs to be rescued from a bad KHL team and 3rd line minutes.

7.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 00:44:19
Nylander does not have a concussion still and every young player goes through ups and downs Matthews did not score for 13 and SHL and AHL are nothing compared to the NHL that is where the best players play. The SHL has a much larger ice rink and the AHL has a whole bunch of washouts and very young prospects.

8.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 05:31:25
Lab16 I have been watching that Russian kid 2016 leaf second round pick and I didn't know he was in bad situation. Do you think he can make Nhl he has really been struggling in puts production. The kid with Sanrio sting I heard his skating has issues so I'm unsure his future but brooks looks good also. Maybe you have better information on those three than I do. I never see them play.

9.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 11:43:01
@Lab16 Nylander's play has dropped??? are you kidding me?? you think because in his ROOKIE season he goes a small stretch of games without producing that he needs to go? I honestly can't even fathom how that makes sense in your eyes. it is his ROOKIE season, of course there will be difficult times throughout it, how can you possibly believe that he will produce every single game in the most professional league in hockey and if he doesn't he isn't worth keeping.

10.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 13:48:34
@Davidmackin

Korchkov is in the KHL and it is a tough league for a kid to get a lot of minutes. He has been playing 3rd line minutes for some time now in favor of more experienced players. I think you will see him in N.A. by fall at the latest; maybe for the AHL playoffs. He is bound by contract though.

I have been tracking him all season looking for news articles, videos to see his play, and they are hard to come by. He started out with more minutes and did well but few minutes doesn't help your game grow.

On the bright side; he has performed better than last year. You will probably get to see him in the WJC-20 again this year(8pts, 7GP) last year.

As for Korostelev; he has taped off a little but he is a forechecker with some good talent. Good size, good shot, can pass, aggressive. We saw some of this in the preseason tournament the Leafs had and early in training camp. But he is 19 and has to stay in the OHL this year. Put him in the AHL next year. If his skating is an issue; Barb Underhill can help with that when he is close at hand.f

For all these kids to move up a rung we have to cull the herd at all levels.

11.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 14:19:36
@ggs

His offense has never been a question. His effort & defense always has, and last night was a perfect example of that.

He is a lazy line changer and actually made a slow change when the Oilers were rushing the Leafs zone. He gets lost when he loses the puck. He is always stuck behind the play.

Brown back checks, Sosh backchecks and forechecks all the time. Marner is a magician on the back check, watching him back check is worth the price of admission. Matthews backchecks but could use some improvement; although once in a crowd he always seems to get his stick on the puck.

Getting back to Nylander. He needs to use his best attributes(skating, passing) to help with the other parts of his game (positional play, backchecking, and quick reversals). He plays like Kessel while he was here and that needs to change. He has too much experience to not play a full game and excel at it.

He is a 3rd year pro this year and his rookie status is just in the NHL. Mathews is a 2nd year pro. Marner is the only true rookie on the team (junior to NHL). Zaitsev being considered a rookie is a joke after I think it is 4 years in the KHL.

It used to be OHL and/or AHL, to NHL. Now it depends on where you come from and the choices you or your right holders make along the way(Matthews, Bracco, Nylander - all different routes).

Just watch what Marner does when he doesn't have the puck for a few games. It will become apparent to you then.

12.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 14:33:57
@To. GM34

Concussions don't go away. A percentage of the damage always remains. Subsequent concussions are additive. Once you reach a certain point of accumulated damage, it's over. Just ask Brett Lindros.

Nice to see you diss on hockey in the rest of the world. The big competitive Canada vs. Russia tournaments 72 and so on didn't occur because Russian player were trained over here and went back.

I agree that the NHL is the top league, but the KHL and SHL are good professional hockey leagues and hold a lot of top notch Euro talent before they come here. They allow younger players.

Matthews scored right after Nylander was removed from his line. Last night was a good pass from Nylander; but that's not the part of his game that has to improve.

13.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 16:48:49
@ ggrahamssutton

It has nothing to do with not producing (all players go through dry spells), and has everything to do with his lack of effort.

I saw it at Marlies games in last year's playoffs - he wasn't working hard at all (and I was at most of their home games). Babcock has also commented multiple times about Nylander's effort.

His skill doesn't matter if he isn't going to work.

14.) 30 Nov 2016
30 Nov 2016 16:49:14
The one thing nobody seems to be talking about - do the Leafs have the cap space for Hamilton?

15.) 03 Dec 2016
03 Dec 2016 07:18:34
The leafs have an abundance of room in LTIR. Nearly 14 million dollars worth if you count Lupul. With Hamilton and the kids bonuses (assume they all max) we'd still be left with about 4 mill (Robidas) in LTIR. It just gets messy if Cowans buy out fails and falls back on us.