17 May 2022 20:54:20
Leafs record with Matthews: 30-15-2

Leafs record with Marner: 11-12-4

The sad reality is that unless the Leafs make it to the third round next year the chances of him even talking about an extension are non-existent. In all practicality if this team is to make something happen it will need to be drastic. If they let Matthews walk then they're set back another 5-7 years, depending on how long it will take for management to accept reality. That means getting a return for Matthews needs to be considered. I'm not sure if he is in fact going to sign with AZ when his deal is up, but it's worth considering. I'm just floating this idea as a big picture in order to generate discussion.

-------------------TRADE-------------------------

To AZ
___________

Matthews
Mrazek
Holl

Total Cap: 17.44m

To TOR
___________

Chychrun
Keller
Vejmelka
3rd overall this year OR their 1st rounder next year(Think: Bedard)

Total Cap: 14.5m

Notes: This saves the Leafs ~3m in cap that can be used elsewhere. I do think Vejmelka would be a worthwhile experiment and can split duties with whoever else we have. I'd like to see Nylander get moved as I just don't think his value for us will go higher and I don't think his trade value after this season will ever be higher. I was thinking of a goalie like Gibson but IDK, I like some of the ideas I read here on Nylander's future. I think a guy like Keller can work as a second line pivot and Marner can elevate Tavares' game on the first line.


1.) 17 May 2022
17 May 2022 21:14:04
Just realized I had a typo. Those are the team's records 'WITHOUT' those players in the lineup, NOT 'WITH'. You can google it.


2.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 01:48:30
Insane.


3.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 03:24:50
If you want to trade Mathews you better hope for a better return. As much as I like Chychrun, Tavares struggled as 2C behind Mathews. He won't be good enough at 1C. Then, you have the issue of who's your 2C? Is it Kerfoot? Because that isn't even a playoff calibre team down the middle.

If Mathes was moved tomorrow, I would expect multiple firsts+prospects and an NHL ready player. He just won back to back rockets, possibly a Hart and put up 60 goals. He was a machine in the playoffs and showed an edge to his game.

This trade outs the team in reverse and doesn't even create enough cap space to actually make a difference.


4.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 03:48:22
Letting him go for nothing would be insane. I understand why CGY kept Johnny for these playoffs, as they really do have a lot of the right pieces to make a run, but he's gone after this season.

I have a really hard time believing Matthews will want to stay after his deal's up unless we get a round 3 performance next year.


5.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 04:36:35
@LeafsLife

Tavares played with Marner for a stretch and made Johnny better. I do think in order to maximize the value of Johnny (Since we can't move him) it's to put Mitch on a line with him. Just look at the record of this team WITHOUT Mitch as opposed to without Matthews. The reason that Johnny struggled as a no. 2 centre is because while Nylander is a good 2nd line winger, he just didn't seem to mesh as well with Johnny.

As for who our 2nd line centre would be, Keller is in this deal because he is a very gifted centre and his point totals over the last few years with AZ enforces that fact. Someone else mentioned getting Wilson for Nylander, and while I wouldn't do that move one-for-one in a million years I would like to see a line with Keller pivoting Wilson.

>"I would expect multiple firsts"
Yeah, and Bedard would go first. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have him in your back pocket. It's not like we're signing Auston anyway.


6.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 12:42:52
Other than when Edmonton traded Gretzky to the Kings, when has a team traded an arguably top 5 player in the world and then went on to win a Cup in the next couple of years?
Matthews has two years left and there is no guarantee he leaves at the end of it. If there is one player that the Leafs have that should be untouchable, it is Matthews, Two more seasons with him minimum to try and get a Cup. Trading Matthews is the worst thing the Leafs could do imo.


7.) 18 May 2022
18 May 2022 14:35:25
I'm sorry is it April Fools day? Trading the likely Hart Trophy winner, not happening. Matthews will re-sign, he doesn't want to go to Arizona and play on that small 5K crowd arena.


8.) 19 May 2022
19 May 2022 02:16:56
@TBuds

He may not want to go to Arizona, but what makes you think he wants to stay in Toronto? Face it: If the Leafs do not get to the third round next year he won't even listen to talks of an extension. At which point there's a good chance Dubas is gone and a new GM might wipe the slate clean.