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LeafsGM's rumours posts with other poster's replies to LeafsGM's rumours posts
28 May 2020 04:21:58
Leafs trade Kapanen, Sandin, SDA, 3rd
Islanders trade Dobson, Mayfield, Wahlstrom
Hate to lose Sandin, but Dobson is just as good on RHD and we need him more. Mayfield is a cheap plug that can play 3RHD for us. Very effective and very cheap he would be a welcome cap relief. And of course Wahlstrom is a highly rated forward prospect player. We could use him to go along with Robertson to give us some much needed cap relief by way of elc and to help us in case of loss of one of the big four in a few years.
1.) 28 May 2020 23:16:58
Awesome post
This may be one of your finest.
2.) 29 May 2020 01:21:20
I like Toews, but I don't think he is a 1LHD. I guess Lou doesn't think so either cause he brought Greene in for the olayoffs.
Sandin has a high ceiling.
He is projected to be a 1LHD one day. Islanders are already strong RHD and have Wilde in the system too. They might swap out Dobson for Sandin. I don't know if they would swap Wahlstrom for Kapanen though. Depends on if they really think they can compete now.
Given Lou's age, he might feel the need to try to go for it all now. He's made a few all-in moves already.
3.) 29 May 2020 01:41:26
I have to say I wouldn't do this. If we are talking plugs I think Dermott could play 3RHD as well as anyone. It's not a role that takes much effort.
I also don't think prospects are what is needed. If a trade involving all of these players happened and brought in a Seth Jones type player then I'm all for it. Go big or go home. I don't want prospects unless a rebuild is the intention.
I watched Leafs management attempt to not rebuild for many years while icing a mediocre team. It doesn't work. Last season I wanted Karlsson more than anything. Offer them a first++ and just play him beside Reilly. No need to resign just go for it.
4.) 29 May 2020 13:51:58
I just figure if we have to dump salary we would be taking prospects and picks in return.
Would have been nice to see Leafs make at least one all-in type move. If we could have afforded Karlsson, even for the one year, given how good we did last year, I got to think our playoffs would have turned out much differently.
28 May 2020 03:34:32
Leafs trade Rielly
Islanders trade Pulock, Wilde
NYI are perfect example of a team loaded with RHD and weak on LHD. Reilly would instantly be the best defenseman in the team. He is obviously far better than Pulock, but nobody is going to give us fair value in a one for one exchange. Wilde is the consolation prize. A good prospect player that has lots of potential. Would rather have Domain or Wahlstrom thrown in, but I don't see that happening.
1.) 28 May 2020 06:55:01
For a team like the Islanders that want to go all in it's probably the best they can hope for.
It looks light at first glance but really Reilly is a rental+ so I'm not sure how much value he has. This probably is fair value and it does improve the team.
2.) 28 May 2020 12:17:38
People need to stop acting like the length of the contract is a deciding factor perfect example is Karlsson he was older and I think had a year left on his deal and the Sens got a pile of players and picks for him Reilly would be the same.
3.) 28 May 2020 13:42:15
I kinda think length of contract is a deciding factor. Lol. Karlsson was the world's best defenseman at the time of trade and is still widely considered a much better player than Reilly. And the return for Karlsson wasn't that great. They got a like of players, but it was a quantity for quality trade.
I don't think Leafs would be able to get an equivalent player back if they tried to trade Reilly. It would have to be a lower return than what he is really worth. But, if it makes the team better overall, then tough choices have to be made.
4.) 28 May 2020 14:13:00
Well I’d have to disagree with you Karlsson is not better than Reilly imo the sharks are garbage and if you look at what the Sens got I think they got quality demelo tirney Norris a 1st which is going to be a top three pick plus a 2nd.
5.) 28 May 2020 15:32:48
They lucked out with the pick, which is probably going to be the best piece, by far, that they got. DeMelo is gone, not even part of the team anymore. Norris is still a question mark, though he is highly touted. And Tierney is a good middle six player, but nothing to brag about.
They didn't get a single elite piece coming back. Tierney was the best piece. If SJ didn't tank, Ottawa wouldn't have gotten a single difference maker.
6.) 28 May 2020 17:57:18
You can't say length of contract isn't a deciding factor. It's actually a huge one.
I'm not sure what happened to Karlsson this year. He definitely fell apart but it's hard to say who is better right now.
Lol. SJ thought they had a contending team. For a team not to even protect the pick it shows they never would have predicted it being a top 3. That's just luck. Even the Sens probably thought that pick would be mid 20s.
Demelo, Tierney, Norris, 1st isn't exactly quality. It's some good players but no real studs. I don't see Reilly fetching that much. Even if you think Reilly is better than Karlsson right now, when that trade was made he was widely regarded as best defenceman in the world. Doesn't matter what we think looking back. It was what they traded in the moment for the player he was.
7.) 28 May 2020 19:37:27
You have to factor time left of contract. cause Rielly is going to want to get at least 7 to 8 mil a year and the team acquiring him has to take that into consideration seeing as who knows what is going to happen with the cap going forward for the next little while.
8.) 29 May 2020 01:42:38
To your point loxley; I believe for this year and possible next, cap uncertainty will play a major role. Having a mediocre player on a great contract may be worth more than a superstar that is slightly over paid.
9.) 29 May 2020 02:12:00
It's amazing Wilson still has a job. Let's face it, the Sens made the exact same mistake the year before with the Duchene trade and Colorado snagged Byram as a result. Talk about recouping your losses. San Jose stepped right into that one and now they are in a world of hurt. DeBoer took the fact this year. Maybe Wilson sees the door next year?
28 May 2020 03:27:01
Leafs trade Kerfoot, Johnsson, Dermott
LA trades Walker, Lizotte, 2nd
Or Kempe instead of Lizotte if you prefer.
It's obviously a cap dump style trade. LA has $23M to spend on only 7 players to complete their 23 man roster. So they can easily afford this deal.
Leafs take a pretty big downgrade in center, but we bring in a very good RHD that has upside potential. And Lizotte himself has a lot of potential as well to be a very effective 3C. And we gain cap space. And that's about it.
Both Horton and Clarkson's deals expire, so Dubas must either find more LTIR deals or face shipping out good quality players (Johnsson, Kerfoot, Kappy), all likely for well under market value, and only for picks/ prospects as he cannot afford to take on any notable salary.
1.) 28 May 2020 15:54:51
I would do it.
2.) 28 May 2020 22:12:28
Thanks MostLeaf. I like it too. I actually thought there was going to be some real haters on this prop. It looks like a small return and a big gamble. I bet LA would jump on it.
3.) 29 May 2020 07:33:44
The only viable piece is walker
The third line Center? Brooks is just as good as Lizotte
So no thanks to this deal.
4.) 29 May 2020 13:55:15
I don't know if Brooks is as good as Lizotte. I can't see Brooks stepping in next year and scoring double digit goals and points. He's got potential to be a good 4C, and maybe a 3C eventually. But I have a hard time seeing him step into the role right out from the Marlies.
Besides, I said take Kempe if you weren't sold in Lizotte.
25 May 2020 02:46:30
Leafs trade Marner, Kapanen
Jets trade Connor, Laine
I know, it's a downgrade, but hear me out.
Kapanen is a better overall player than Laine. Laine is a one dimensional one trick pony that is useless 5-on-5. Other than power play, Laine is a detriment to his team. Kapanen is a more complete 200 foot player that Jets fans would absolutely swoon over his speed and shot and ability to help his teammates out and actually engage in physical play, something Laine tends to cower from. But we could use Laine's power play skills to either make our top power play even more deadly, or to make our second power play just as effective as the first, giving us two equally dangerous options.
Marner for Connor. I do like Connors goal scoring. But Marner is obviously the superior player. No doubt about it. His ability to set up guys like Wheeler and Ehlers would instantly give both those guys extra credibility. He would likely lead Winnipeg in points, possibly being their first 100 point player since, I think Selanne, in the 1990's.
Aside from a few extra goals from Connor and Laine, Leafs save cap too, which is actually the main motivation to make this trade. No doubt it's a pretty large downgrade, as Leafs give up the two best players, but we do save some cap space, and distribute the cap a bit more evenly as well.
1.) 25 May 2020 15:21:29
LeafsGM Have you seen Laine play this season? Laine has developed into a true two way player. Connor does everything Marner does for $4 mil less. Kappenen is a solid 3rd line player that is not worth much since the Leafs need to trade him to open up cap space. There is no chance the Jets do this fantasy trade.
2.) 25 May 2020 15:57:25
Laine. a 2 way player? Lol.
3.) 25 May 2020 17:12:48
Oh come on. There's a reason why Laine and Connor make so much less than Marner. It's be size they aren't as good as players. Simple as that. Marner is a better player. End of story. And he would easily be the best player on Winnipeg.
4.) 25 May 2020 17:13:08
It's obvious LeafsGM doesn't watch hockey. His terrible "hot takes" are what have made him the laughing stock on this site. No wonder no one takes anything he says seriously.
5.) 25 May 2020 17:53:16
LeafGM is a blind Toronto poster that can't believe everyone doesn't think that all the Leaf players are the best in the league at their positions. lol.
6.) 25 May 2020 17:53:56
LGM,
Unlike the person known as Memarc. who seems to get his kicks out of trolling.
I look at this offer as a step down for the Leafs, but an enhancement for Tavares
Hyman Matthews Nylander
Connor Tavares Laine
Robertson Kerfoot Mikheyev
Engvall Spezza Barbanov
$53 MM
Anderson + Dermott + Johnsson to be traded for a RHD + Goaltender- less expensive.
7.) 25 May 2020 18:24:29
I don't think LGM has ever been the laughing stock. I may not always agree with everything he has to say but he makes many valid points. Saying Laine is a 2 way player is an absolute joke. He is a pure goal scorer that even fails at that consistently thanks in large part to a bad attitude.
8.) 25 May 2020 18:29:15
That is true Islandjet. If you post on the Leafs' page here and don't agree that every Leaf and every Marlie is a generational player, it is because you are a "biased Leaf hater". I mean even Bracco is a guaranteed first line winger on every NHL team except the Leafs. Lol
All the trade posts on this page are trolls of other teams and always massively overvalue the Leaf players.
There is no way the Jets would take a massive downgrade in quality and take on one of the worst contracts in hockey as proposed here by LeafsGM without any compensation. No team would.
I know LeafsGM says that this site isn't about being realistic, but it is very hard to be as absolutely Leafs brainwashed as the posters here are. You can't have a rational discussion with these guys.
9.) 25 May 2020 18:53:28
Belittling people must be your specialty. Challenging people personally shows a great deal of immaturity.
Always interested in a hockey perspective.
10.) 25 May 2020 19:44:59
I would say Connor would be the player I’d want Laine is a good player he just struggles to find consistency.
11.) 25 May 2020 19:46:17
Realistically kapanen isn’t a better player than laine, but marner is likely a significant step better than Connor. The trade itself is probably not that far off, I might see the leafs adding something. However watching my fair share of jets games, the take that Laine has developed into a 2 way player might be the funniest thing I have ever seen posted. Realistically Laine is quite comparable to ovechkin when he first came into the league, but probably a little bit worse defensively and a decent bit worse offensively. He is essentially a poor mans ovechkin. There is still hope he eventually realizes there are 2 ends to the rink, but he appears a long way off from that right now.
12.) 25 May 2020 21:44:47
When did anyone ever state Bracco is a top line winger? Lol.
13.) 25 May 2020 21:50:15
It's not trying to belittle anyone Heatdreamer, it's just when you read some of the absolutely ridiculous hot takes here. Like thinking that the difference between Marner and Laine is the difference between Connor and Kapanen.
Even if you want to believe Marner is a better player than Laine, Marner's disaster of a contract knocks away a lot of that supposed extra value. Then you throw in Kapanen, who is in no way, in anyone's estimation, close to Marner, Laine and Connor on talent or skill and it gets even more ridiculous.
So, if you are trying to be fair you should be calling out LeafsGM for trying to pass off such a lopsided trade in favor of the Leafs as good value for both teams. But I don't see any leaf fans here saying how ridiculously lopsided the trade is, I just hear complaining that Jet fans are pointing out how horrifically biased and lopsided the trade is.
14.) 25 May 2020 23:07:50
Top 2 Lines after this trade
Hyman Matthews nylander
Connor Tavares Laine
Leafs save some dough
Enough to sign pietrangelo?
Good post leafsgm
Trade is fair despite what wet island and mememejoe
Say. which usually equates to very little.
15.) 25 May 2020 23:39:08
Jets fans are severely over valueing Laine. He is a train wreck in his own end. He is very inconsistent. Jets fans overvalue their own guys worse than anyone from what I can see.
16.) 26 May 2020 12:49:59
To be fair Laine is the best pure goal scorer in this proposal Marner the best playmaker. Defensively Marner is better than Laine. Can Laine develop into a better 200 ft player imho i think so. Conner is better than Kappy in all areas so the leafs to obtain just those two would have to add Liligren might do it but i think Dermott would be the ask. I doubt the leafs want to part with three roster players without getting a rhd in return. Interesting proposal none the less.
17.) 26 May 2020 13:56:11
This trade is so pro Leaf that any true hockey fan can see it. Many of the Leaf posters here never see the Jets play more than 5 times a season so they can't see what fans who watch 70 plus games see about what Connor and Laine bring to the Jets. Plus they listen to their own Leaf bias talk shows that insist their players are all A+ quality and worth much more than they really are. The Leafs over pay to keep their players and try to dump them on other teams in trades that heavily favor the Leafs to try to get cap relief.
18.) 26 May 2020 15:00:11
Islandjet, you can say leafs fans on here are biased about leafs players, but you also have to be willing to admit you are extremely biased about jets players. Is this trade fair, likely not. The leafs have the best and worst player in this deal. Marner being the best, the happiest between him and Connor is smaller than the gap between Laine and Kapanen so that is not balanced. However, to say things like Laine is a great 2 way player and Pionk is a number 1 d man are just ridiculous pro jets takes. If we all want to be realistic here, Laine is a poor defensive player, which could eventually change. Pionk is at this point a good number 4 d man who has some offensive upside, but has a lot of work to do in his own end. So before you take shots at the leafs fans for being bias take a look at getting rid of your own biases.
19.) 26 May 2020 17:06:15
Again Though Matt, it goes both ways. Just the fact that some Leaf fans here are trying to justify this as a fair trade truly let's you know how biased towards anything Leafs they are.
20.) 26 May 2020 17:45:37
Lol Memarcus, that literally exactly what I said is that you guys both need to be willing to admit of jets biased you are if you are willing to point out how leafs biased other people are. I agreed that some are leafs bias, but can’t believe some of the bias that you two show in order to try and shame other people for being bias. It makes no sense at all.
23 May 2020 04:18:09
Leafs trade Holl, Dermott, Kapanen
Edmonton trades Broberg, Bouchard
Right now, Dermott and Holl are better than Bouchard and Broberg, though those two have the more upside. Edmonton wants to compete now. Dermott and Holl are both top 4 defensemen that can step in to their too 4 and contribute immediately. Kapanen gives them the speedy RW they covst.
In return, we get two stud defense prospects. Dermott won't be missed much except in case of j jury, but even then we should be ok. Holl hurts, but can easily be replaced through free agency if Lehtonen can't do it. And finally, losing Kapanen hurts, but again, w already got him replaced from within, and by I cliding hi, it is a large enough overlay that Edmonton night take it.
Edmonton gets in ediateky and significantly better and skip the development process for their two rookie defensemen prospect players and they add a RW that is fast enough to keep up with either McDavid or Draisaitl
Leaves lose some cap space. We lose valuable pieces, but for the most part, they are depth players that have already been replaced either from within or from KHL. We need to reduce salary and since we have as strong team already, these two pieces will ensure we have solid defense for the next decade at affordable pricing.
1.) 23 May 2020 12:11:37
Beauty trade if Edmonton bites.
Good for both teams now
Steal for Leafs later.
2.) 23 May 2020 15:18:26
The only thing I see is does Edmonton need defence more than forwards? I would think not but you never know.
3.) 23 May 2020 18:29:10
I'm usually very biased against Dermott trades but I like this one. Good value all around. Well done.
4.) 23 May 2020 20:05:32
Edmonton should not trade a d-man as the need them.
5.) 23 May 2020 20:41:52
Edmonton needs dmen do they IslandJet? Well it's a good thing I traded two of them to Edmonton in this trade. Two very good ones at that. Neither Bouchard or Broberg are expected to make the team next year. As of right now, they are both anywhere from 2 years to never making the team away. Dermott and Holl would not be playing for Edmonton next year. Dermott might not make their top 4 next year, but he woukd definitely replace Klefbom or Nurse eventually, depending on which one Edmonton keeps (probably Nurse) . And Holl would be able to step in to Edmonton's second line next year as well. He's is an improvement over virtually every RHD they have on the team. He might even make their top line.
If Edmonton wants to compete, they would not hesitate to trade away either, or both, of those two guys. Edmonton gets significantly better on defense, and they add a 20g/ 40pt winger in the process. They improve all over actually. Again, Bouchard and Broberg are not expected to make the team next year, and might never make the team. All three incoming players, including the TWO DEFENSEMEN would all be contributing significantly and immediately. Exactly what a team like Edmonton wants.
6.) 23 May 2020 21:02:05
The two you traded to the Oilers are vastly inferior to the potential of the Oiler players. Edmonton would be better off waiting a couple of years and having younger, more skilled, and better d-men than the ones offered in this trade.
7.) 23 May 2020 21:14:39
Holl hit his ceiling I agree there. Dermott has not. His potential is not far lower. Teams also make trades every year for immediate gains over long term value.
8.) 23 May 2020 21:54:40
Good argument. You make a good point. They should wait another three or four years so McDavids contract can expire and he can bolt to another team first chance he gets like Tavares did. I believe Matthews and Marners and Nylanders contracts all expire right around the same time. Maybe we can lure him here with a massive offer like we did Tavares. McDavid is from Newmarket after all. I mean, Edmonton is making little effort to become competitive right now. If it wasn't for Draisaitl having such an outstanding season, McDavid would be carrying the team on his back again and Edmonton would likely not be in the playoffs this year. Nobody seriously considers them a contender despite having the two best players in the world on the team. If they can make a trade that significantly and immediately improves the team, they would do it. This deal gives them two things they want: a young speedy puck moving offensive defenseman (Dermott), and a young speedy offensive rw that can play top 6 (Kapanen) . They also get Holl, who would probably be their best RHD on the roster next year.
Bouchard and Broberg are probably both going to be very good players. They night even both be top 50 defensemen. But that won't be until McDavids contract is over.
If I was Holland, I would start thinking how I could speed up this rebuild without impacting long term future growth. And this is a pretty good way to do that. You hope Broberg turns out to be a top 4 defenseman like Dermott. Dermott is already that good. See the difference?
9.) 24 May 2020 04:37:19
Athanasiou/ McDavid/ kapanen
That would be one of the sickest lines in the nhl.
Definitely The fastest
Then you have
Draisaitl/ nugent-Hopkins/ kassian
Would oilers do kapanen for Nurse? If you Threw in holl?
10.) 24 May 2020 11:58:10
If you really needed money today and someone offered you $1000 or gave you the option to put it in a stock that in 5 years could potentially give you $10,000 what would you do?
Thats this deal and there really is no right or wrong answer . just depends if you want the talent now or potenial more talent later
Good thinker as always.
11.) 25 May 2020 02:19:02
That's a very good analagy Craigger. Because, like stocks, prospects are volatile. Those guys could end up bust. About the same chance they both bust as there is they both become top 50 defenseman.
LeafsGM's banter posts with other poster's replies to LeafsGM's banter posts
28 May 2020 03:00:25
Last installment of why I don't think Dubas will be GM of Leafs after next season.
DRAFTING
It's still too early to really truly judge Dubas' record at the draft, but so far it has been the one bright spot. The draft is the only thing he seems to be good at, and even there he has missed a few big things (DeBrincat, for example)
He traded down at the draft, so we got Bracco instead of Konecy.
OTHER
Leafs run a studs'n'duds system.  Kinda makes it easy for the opposing teams to focus on only a few key players.  Declining point values three year’s running, (note all three years of Dubas’s control), should be a flashing red warning light that this Studs'n'Duds approach is suspect at best.
We don't have any real depth (despite what at least one very popular Leafs website likes to say) . Â Blues won last year because they were a bigger, more physical team that relied on their depth guys and played a defensively sound game, unlike the Leafs, who, despite having no one past the top two lines that can put the puck in the net consistently, continue to play lack of defense and attempt to outscore their opponents at all times in a game. All offense with no defense is no way to win.
Leafs lack the physicality needed to grind through the playoffs. Washington and St. Louis both won the cup and I don't think it is a coincidence they led the playoffs in hits. Both teams are well rounded teams with Norris caliber defensemen. Leafs are seriously lacking in the bump and grind department, and losing Timashov (who was by far our heaviest hitter) was a bad move.
CONCLUSION
To me, it's not so much as what Dubas' has done wrong, it's more like a question of what Dubas' has done right. Â Very little actually. A few good draft picks that for the most part were can't miss prospects given where he was gifted his position in the draft
The Leafs were under .500 the last 25 games of the season. Their record under Keefe started to settle in same as it was under Babcock. Kyle Dubas is an inexperienced manager and now he is bringing in an inexperienced NHL coach from the Marlies. What do you expect?
It would be very difficult to blame Mike Babcock for the Leafs woes this season now, particularly since they continue to struggle in much the same ways under Keefe as they did under Babcock (tune out for extended period of time, including whole games, third period collapses, lack of defense, refusal to play physically, players don't stand up for each other, etc) . It is entirely conceivable they would have gone under a similar winning streak under Babcock. However, once Keefe took over and had them in a playoff position, it was on Keefe to keep them there. He almost failed.
The NHL is a business of winning. You don't get participation awards, or awards for inventiveness of studs'n'duds approaches, 6 offensive Dmen, spending 1/ 2 your cap on 4 players, no checking line, etc. No one will remember or care unless these approaches bring you results. Maybe Dubas is the Edsel of hockey. Or maybe he is the Homer Simpson. When the wheel is already round, it doesn't pay to reinvent it into another shape.
1.) 28 May 2020 15:52:41
That statement about Babcock is especially provoking. Lol. Is it conceivable they would have gone on a winning streak under Babcock?
2.) 29 May 2020 01:00:42
Let's not forget those last 25 games we were playing without atleast one of our top 2 defenseman for all of it both for some of it. So that stretch I would put more on dubas not having enough shut down guys on the blue line. I actually am not a big fan of babcock behind the bench but I feel he is a great practice coach. Gets a lot out of guys. Kadri for example but it just felt like every playoff series the other coach adapted and babcock never did.
3.) 29 May 2020 10:22:22
He got a lot out of Gardiner too. I liked Babcock a lot. I knew he was a prick, but he got results. I think it's way too early to judge Mr.
Nice Guy Keefe. Especially since they haven't played in the playoffs this year yet.
I will say this about Dubas: I still don't know what he is doing most of the time.
He picks up every minimum contract he can, but then surprises with a good trade for Muzzin, and a poor trade for Barrie, and he pursues the odd big name UFA. I don't see a cohesive thought out plan, so i can't have a lot of trust in him to do the right thing.
4.) 29 May 2020 18:51:54
I'm not sold on Keefe as well. I don't think Babcock is a horrible coach. Just when players time a guy out he needs to go. Happens all the time.
The initial high times after a new coach was nice but gives an unrealistic projection of his success with the team. Keefe hasn't gotten much more out of this team than Babs did.
Only thing I have to say about Keefe though is he faced some big injury's in his short tenure. This playoffs and next season will formulate my opinion on Keefe.
5.) 31 May 2020 09:56:01
Injuries shouldn't be an excuse though. If Leafs had distributed their cap properly, we would have had enough depth that it shouldn't have made a difference. And it almost didn't really. Holl and Dermott both stepped up and did a fine job too. It wasn't the defensemen themselves. Each one had a pretty good individual season. But as a whole, they did poorly. In this case, the whole was not the sum of the parts.
Goaltending had a lot to do with it too. Andersen
wasn't his best this year, and the backup situation was a fiasco by the time it finally got resolved.
But I got to think that if we had someone a little more experienced than Dermott and Holl to step when I happened this year, we wouldn't be a bubble team right now. And that's where the lack of depth in the back end comes to play: Dubas had to scrimp on defense, massively, in order to sign the core forwards. He had to cut costs somewhere. And that somewhere was the defense and goal. As a result, when Leafs lost a couple guys to injury, we didn't have the adequate depth of NHL caliber defensemen to fill the void properly. And it showed. We relying on Sandin and Liljegren, who were expected to walk in off the Marlies and instantly be an NHL 3rd pairing. Sandin instead ended up having to run the second power play.
The issue with backup goalie is well documented. It went on too long, and cost us a lot of points in the standings this year, cost us 2x3rd + Moore (not even a prospect anymore, but a pretty good roster player) for basically Campbell, and in the end, probably cost Babcock his job. A paranoid would say that Dubas deliberately sabotaged the roster this year by not getting the players Babcock wanted and instead gave him more of the same. Babcock retaliated by playing Barrie like the defenseman he really wanted, and it backfired. He lost his job first game they dropped below .500.
The only way Dubas has been able to make it work so far is because he has gutted the depth on defense to afford the high priced forward group. Up until now, Dubas has been able to bring up rookie defensemen from the Marlies each year to play them on the roster, thereby using their elc"s to keep the cap low enough to afford the forwards. Dermott and Holl first, and Sandin and Liljegren this year.
But now these guys elc's are running out, and so is Reilly's and Andersen's contracts (and Hyman) . Holl already re-signed for $2M, which was twice as much as what he was earning before.
I expect about the same result for Dermott. All told, between now and end of 2021, when Reilly's contract comes up for renewal, Leafs will likely double the cost of their back end after all the signings are done. These guys will likely grow into their roles and earn what they are making, But between now and then, we don't have the cap flexibility to bring in someone more experienced to give us a little more consistency and help bring us closer to the end goal of winning a cup.
It would be a lot nicer if we could afford a couple better RHD. But hey, guess what? We spent all our money on forwards. And not just the whole forwards. On four of them.
Dubas got himself out of the last cap crunch. But that was easy. Pay someone off to take Marleau on. Add an extra LTIR by way of David Clarkson's contract and poof. Cap problems done (almost) .
Doesn't work as well this year because we don't have any LTIR, and we don't have any bad contracts we can pay someone to take off our hands. Tough choices are going to have to be made this year. And even tougher ones are going to be made each and every single year from now until 2026. Every single year between 2021 and 2026 the Leafs have at least one big name RFA or UFA that will need re-signing. I hate to be in Dubas' shoes when he finally has to face reality and trade one of MNMT before he has a team full of ahl'ers + MNMT + Reilly + Andersen .
6.) 31 May 2020 20:30:57
For injuries I more meant as opposed to Babs. Babs had almost zero injuries last year Keefe this year was decimated.
Trade Marner+ anyone off the third line. Problem solved. 14m off the cap.
25 May 2020 01:11:58
So I posted my take on Dubas and his record for signings yesterday. Here is my take on his trade history. Again, I'm not a huge Dubas fan. Nom sure he's trying his best. But he needs to do better if he wants to keep his job.
As a result of his bad signings, he pushed up so far against the cap that we had zero flexibility.  As a result, we had to trade Marleau away at full capacity hit, and it cost us a 1st in the best draft in over a decade.  If we had even just $3.25M in cap space (say, by not signing Ceci), we could have retained half Marleau's salary and it wouldn't have cost us nearly as much as a 1st to dump him.   Marleau held the Leafs hostage a little bit, but there is a natural reaction to see the Bruins’ David Backes salary dump in which they received a useful player back and then think back to the deal the Leafs made.  There were extra variables that are definitely noteworthy, but there still hasn’t been a salary dump of that magnitude where a first-round pick is exchanged and the team making the trade receives essentially zero value back whatsoeverÂ
Saw cap constraints coming and decided to not resign JVR, Bozak, Komarov, Gardiner. used them as own rentals rather than flip them for picks (at least) which leads me to the next point. To get out of Marleau cap purgatory (Lou's doing) he had to trade a 1st. Had he received back some picks from trading away JVR, Bozak that sting would not have been so bad and more palatable.
The Kadri trade was a bust. Â Kadri is putting up career numbers in Colorado, while Kerfoot and Barrie have been underachievers in Toronto. Â I'd rather have Kadri at $4.5M scoring 30+ goals and 60+ points as opposed to Matthews making $11.5M. Trading Kadri at a team friendly $4.5M, for a one year rental in Barrie and giving Kerfoot $3.5M was very unkind to the cap longer term, as it will now create another move to a) acquire a RHD or b) ship kerfoot out. Â
Traded for Campbell + Clifford. Â He could have easily got Lehner instead, and could have got Ritchie for less than what he paid for Clifford. Â So could have been Lehner + Ritchie + Clifford instead of Campbell + Clifford.
For two years did not pick up a backup goalie due in part to no cap space. Guys like Domingue @ 1M went unclaimed and sent to the minors and then subsequently traded. Leafs had to accept guys like Hutch at NHL salary minimums because they had no cap. in desperation late this year he had to trade Moore and picks for Clifford and Cambpell who is earning 1.6M next year. They overpaid for Campbell and were forced to bring in Clifford as a rental. Clifford is the complete opposite of everything Dubas wants in a player.
The LA deal just looks worse and worse the more it unfolds. Â Basically it was 2x3rd and Moore for Campbell. Pretty big overpay.
Given the value that Pageau, Kase, Coleman and others brought their teams this year, if Dubas didn't think Leafs were a cup contending team, why didn't he trade assets? Â One can only imagine what kind of return he would have got for Barrie, let lone Kapanen or KerfootÂ
Didn't trade Bracco after his standout season last year. Bracco has now requested a trade and took leave of absence after the deadline this year. His performance has dropped this season and he has lost significant trade value. If the intention was to never give him a shot, they should have traded him.
Traded away all our big bodies that might have been nice to have around for the cup run
The Nielsen/ Klimchuk/ Gagne trade. A low level trade for sure, but now Calgary has a pretty decent prospect in Nielsen and Leafs have nothing. I still don't understand the Klimchuk for Gagne trade.
Let Timashov go to waivers
Again. Lots there to chew on and debate. I'm sure you could pick every point and make a good counter argument against it if you want. That's kinda what I was hoping anyway. Lol. Just want to get discussion flowing.
1.) 25 May 2020 23:39:55
Kadri trade I blame shanny for as well. When that crossed his desk he should have laughed, ripped it up and pissed on it.
2.) 26 May 2020 01:36:01
Timashov as well. I was a big fan of his. Leading the team in hits with little minutes. Just a small Scrappy guy.
Wait. Bracco was an F-up as well lol. Leads the AHL in scoring, can't make the team. Why keep him?
Campbell I agree and disagree. I have always liked Campbell. From the time he entered the league I thought he deserved more of a shot but that said, Dubas overpayed for a backup because he waited so long. Difference between having Campbell all year and hutch is easily 10-15 points and more rest for Freddy. I can't judge Freddy on his playoff performance because he playing against an extremely well rested goaltender on Boston. Maybe Freddy can win a few series given a chance. Maybe he can't. Who knows?
3.) 26 May 2020 01:36:54
JVR and bozak should have been traded as well. The team they were on was a possible playoff non contender team.
Keep thinking of more points lol.
4.) 27 May 2020 20:33:53
In fairness to Dubas he was put in cap hell because he had expensive Tavaras and had to resign Nylander, Matthews and Marner at a cost that compared to Tavares contract. If he let them sit out or traded them it would have really hurt the Leafs chance at winning, plus the fans would have went crazy. He made some trades that didn't work out and now is in cap trouble with important soon to be expensive free agents Andersen and Reilly wanting to be paid. The Leafs better hope that the cap doesn't drop or he will have to trade one or two of his expensive forwards in order to stay under the cap and competitive.
5.) 27 May 2020 22:37:26
I agree fans would go crazy but this is Toronto. Fans will go crazy if you don't let Nylander sit then complain if you do. Can't really take that into consideration.
Mathews I would have liked to see more term but I do understand why he signed him. Mathews would have gotten an offer sheet from someone. I can easily see a team like Montreal or Columbus offering him 7/ 13 and then you lose him for future picks.
Marner I wouldn't have been concerned about. I don't actually think he is even worth the 4 1sts as most NHL are not barring a few.
Nylander sitting would have solved some issues. It would have made everything easier by drawing a line in the Sand. Or even if Nylander/ Marner were traded for a RHD the team would look better right now.
You forgot Hyman. He deserves a raise and has shown how important he is to the team.
6.) 28 May 2020 03:08:20
Hyman is, by far, the best trade Dubas has made. I didn't forget him. I'm only posting all the things Dubas has done wrong. And he has done a lot more wrong than he has done right imo.
Since we are on the topic of Hyman, now that we got him, what do we do with him? I'm going to call it right now. Leafs let Hyman walk to free agency next year. Which would be another huge black mark on his record.
7.) 28 May 2020 18:13:12
If Hyman walks he should be instantly fired. You can't allow that to happen.
Just had to throw Hyman out there as he is a great move lol.
8.) 29 May 2020 01:54:19
Hyman won’t walk.
9.) 29 May 2020 10:28:32
Dubas has proven in the past he is willing to use his own players as rentals. Anyone not a member of the exclusive sacred 4 is subject to not coming back. We've seen it done already with countless players, some of who are on par with, or even more valuable than, Hyman: JVR, Bozak, Barrie, Gardiner, Komorov.
As much as I like Hyman, I don't have faith in the way Dubas has structures the salary of the team to believe that Dubas will be able to retain him. Before the virus I figured it was close, but should be ok. Now, I'm not as sure. Maybe if Hyman takes a shorter term smaller AAV deal is the only way I see it working.
23 May 2020 19:31:38
I feel like pushing buttons today. I'm not a huge fan of Dubas, for several reasons. I really think he won't be the gm after next season is over. He's made way too many mistakes the first couple years. I'm going to list a few. This is just on the signings alone. I barely touch on any trades, the coaching change, player development, drafting, or team strategy. This is only the signings alone:
Didn't go "all-in" when MNM were still on elc's. There is no benefit to the slow rebuild in today’s NHL. You’ve got to time it so you can stack your team with expensive players while your stars are cheap. In that sense, the Leafs blew it.
Did not negotiate deals with MNM after year two when he could have saved 2-3M or more. Decided to wait and see how they performed, and it backfired.
He overpaid significantly for Matthews and Marner, while failing to get either maximum term, or better yet, a bridge deal, like every other gm in the league was able to accomplish with their RFA's.
Signed Tavares at $11M, which was in fairness probably below market value as SJ and NYI offered more, but it inflated immediately the asking prices for MNM and immediately put the leafs against the cap ceiling, when many thought 5-6M would have been better spent on a RHD.
Because he didn't get any of our RFA's signed to maximum term deals, our window of opportunity is a short 5 years, as opposed to 8 years. We only got one UFA year for Matthews. That's about as bad as it gets. We stand a real chance at losing one of MNM in just four short years now.
The whole Nylander situation was a fiasco
These huge front loaded contracts are a disaster. For example, we paid Nylander 40% of his contract ($18M) within the first 12 months after signing it.
In real terms, Leafs have the three highest paid players in league history on the team currently. Only 8 players in NHL history have signed for more than $10M AAV. Leafs have three of them on the team currently, who also just so happen to be the highest paid players in the league this year in actual dollar amounts. So we have the luxury of having three of the highest paying contracts in league history all on the team at the same time, courtesy of Dubas'
I can't see Leafs re-signing Clifford now that they signed Barabanov. That was probably their intention the whole time. LA probably wouldn't make the deal unless Leafs agreed. And because Dubas was desperate he had to accept.
Engvall extension signed right in the middle of his hot streak.
Didn't re-sign Gardiner and instead signed Ceci, thereby eliminating $4.5M in cap space that we saved from trading Marleau, which cost us a first. So what was the point in trading Marleau if you are just going to waste the money on a third line defenseman?
Re-signed Marincin. And continually allows Marincin to be played ahead of Liljegren at both AHL and NHL level, thus limiting Liljegren's development.
He signed way too many fringe NHL players that are in the AHL now. That takes up a lot of the top spots on the Marlies that our own draft picks could really use to get the playing time they need to develop properly (for example, Hollowell and Duszak being forced to play ECHL because no room for them on the Marlies)
Lots there to chew on and pick away at. Should get discussion flowing one way or another. Maybe tomorrow I will talk about how crappy Dubas is at trades.
1.) 23 May 2020 21:06:05
So here’s my thought Dubas is young he’s trying to go a different direction then conventional teams I don’t love him but I don’t hate him I think he tried to come in with a bang and went and sign Tavares and it’s been ok but I thought kadri was just as good and way less money when it comes to Matthews and marner yea he over paid and yea they are not long enough deals but I like those deals compared to Tavares because we will get all three mnm in their best years if Dubas has guys to negotiate for him he would be good I think his future is based on what they do this year and next if the leafs don’t get out of the 1st round in that time I can’t see him being back but he’s made our team overall better with trades and picks can’t hate on him for that because the Leeds’s are legit two three players away from being True contenders.
2.) 23 May 2020 22:23:07
That's a pretty short list where I sit.
3.) 24 May 2020 05:36:36
Has Dubas made the team better through trades and picks? From where I sit he took obvious picks that a GM is fired for messing up and has made extremely poor trades. His signings are an absolute debacle. You can say Dubas just needs someone to handle his signings all you want but that's his job. If I was a defence attorney and someone said "yeah he's great except he can't formulate evidence" would I have a job?
4.) 24 May 2020 07:23:57
@Leafife
This was only the signings. I have a much longer list of other things Dubas has done wrong with regards to trades, player development, philosophy, etc. I was thinking about posting it all at once, but it would have crashed the server. So I figure it will just upload piece by piece. I really think his job his hanging on the line. Looks like he will be okay this year, no matter what, but next year I wouldn't be surprised if it would be his last. Once the entire list is compiled, it's pretty imcriminating. I think Dubas is a very smart man. But I disagree with the way he has been running the team since he took over and there are a lot of reasons why. I'm just listing them. He's done some good things too. But the bad things overwhelm the good.
5.) 24 May 2020 07:39:52
For the most part, Dubas was gifted the team. It's his job to keep it together and make them win. So far he's kept them together (barely) . But in the process, he has made them less competitive. The results show. Declining points totals three years in a row, every year since Dubas took over. Leafs went from a record breaking team to a bubble team clinging to a playoff spot. Under the old playoff rules, which I actually prefer, Leafs wouldn't be in a playoff position right now.
Slice it up any way you want. The teams regular season performance has gotten worse, not better. And the teams playoff performance has only shown us that Freddy is a shaky goalie in big games, and the Leafs as a team fall apart when it matters most. And when controversy hits, they tune out the coach, regardless who it is. Leafs were falling apart u der Keefe at the end of the season too. If the whole 82 games played out, I wouldn't have been surprised if they missed the playoffs. And with a record of 14-15, or whatever it was, the last stretch there, it was a very real possibility.
6.) 24 May 2020 18:00:44
I was also becoming concerned about even making the playoffs. If Florida wasn't playing so badly we wouldn't be in a playoff spot.
7.) 25 May 2020 02:25:20
I will actually give Dubas credit for something though. Had this been Brian Burke's team we wouldn't have Liljigren, Sandin or Robertson.
8.) 25 May 2020 02:52:58
We were lucky Bobrovsky did so badly. Next year he might return to form. And that leaves us on the outside looking in. If I didn't have so much faith in Tallon screwing up again sonehow, I would say Florida would be a much better team than Leafs next year. On paper, they ahve just about the same qualities we do. Maybe better in some cases.
9.) 25 May 2020 11:38:18
I agree with LeafsLife 110%. Burke wouldn't have missed that window of opportunity when MNM were on elc's. He would have done exactly like LeafsLife said and traded away all our top prospects and picks for guys to load the team up and go for a cup right away. There is no doubt in my mind about that.
If this was Burke's team we wouldn't have Marner either. He would have traded up to get Strome.
Nylander probably wouldn't be on the team either. He would have gone with Ritchie.
Looking back on the drafts, it's so easy to see who Burke would have done. He was all about truculence. Lol. Big bodies with skill. Our team would have been littered with Puljujarvi's, Crouses, and Dal Colle's. About the only player that would have been welcome by Burke would have been Matthews.
To give Burke credit though, if he had inherited the team at the same time Dubas did. After the core was already in place. I don't think he would have signed Tavares. He would have kept Kadri (type of player Burke loves) and used the money to find a stud 1RHD. $11M would have bought us the best defenseman in the league, no matter who you think it is. Of this, I have almost no doubt in my mind would have been what he would have done.
10.) 25 May 2020 16:04:45
One thing you didn't mention about Burke as well. Nylander wouldn't have signed that deal. Burke wouldn't have accepted MNM threats and just given in.
11.) 31 May 2020 03:07:28
That's true too. Burke was able to negotiate a deal. Made some bad mistakes with the Leafs though. But to give him credit, he inherited a bad team. He just didn't tank it like he should have in order to rebuild it properly. He got stuck in the middle of the pack year after year with the pressure on to perform a rebuild on the fly, and it never materialized. End result, we got worse and worse as the picks and prospects were all gone and the guys we had weren't good enough.
21 May 2020 17:26:38
Who would you like to see Leafs play first round of playoffs? If we were to enter the playoffs under regular rules, we would be facing Tampa and Boston in first and second rounds. But from what I've been reading, the NHL isn't going to go with regular format. It was suggested on a popular hockey site that the first round for us might look something like this:
In both conferences 5 vs. 12 (winner plays four seed), 6 vs. 11 (winner plays three seed), 7 vs. 10 (winner plays two seed) and 8 vs. 9 (winner plays one seed) .
So that would mean an opening round of: Pittsburgh/ Montreal; Carolina/ Rangers; Islanders/ Florida and Toronto/ Columbus in the East and Edmonton/ Chicago; Nashville/ Arizona; Vancouver/ Minnesota; Calgary/ Winnipeg in the West.
Would love to face Columbus in the first round. That would be a way better opponent than Tampa. Of course, knowing our luck, Columbus would knock us out in four games too like they did Tampa last year.
1.) 21 May 2020 19:08:36
Probably the best we could hope for
Wonder what you tell people if Montreal wins the cup? They clearly are not a playoff team.
2.) 21 May 2020 19:34:42
Yea the 24 team format definitely benefits the leafs more but if it was Toronto vs Boston or Tampa I’d rather face Tampa we match up better not being a physical team I think we can out skill Tampa and the series would probably come down to goaltending.
3.) 22 May 2020 14:21:55
I am fine with this personally. Would love to see the leafs play the jackets and get past the "first round" (If we can call it that) . And I agree I would rather play Tampa. I could see us possibly beating Tampa, but not Boston.
4.) 22 May 2020 21:38:40
It doesn't really help the leafs per se, we just get beat up by the blue jackets before Boston then rampage of we get past Boston. I don't really see this as a benefit, it looked promising for us to hang on to 3rd I the Atlantic and let someone try and knock out Boston for us.
5.) 23 May 2020 04:03:48
I'm just thinking how nice it would be to win a playoff series. That's it. You don't have to call it the first round. You could call it the preliminary elimination round. I don't care what you want to call it. It's a playoff series, and if Leafs win it, that will be the first playoff series they've win in a very long time. It might give them a huge boost in confidence too. Columbus is no easy team after all. They have one of the vest coaches in the game, and still had the same record as the Leafs, despite losing Panarin, Bobrovsky, Duchene. If goaltending is going to be more important than ever this year, the. Columbus has a distinct advantage there.
If Leafs win against Columbus, that is all I care about. That's a big win and a step in the right direction. If they lose to Columbus, all hell breaks out this off season.
12 May 2020 04:09:41
Bracco
HoSang
Petan
Andersson
Korshkov
Puljujarvi
Johnsson
Crouse.
1.) 12 May 2020 15:49:58
Lol. Hit send by accident on a couple trades I was thinking about. But, since it posted anyway, what do you all think about these pairs? Would they be about even or does someone have to add?
2.) 12 May 2020 20:39:53
I don't think Johnson gets cruise. Probably some kind of add.
If that's Josh Anderson definitely an add. Anderson had a bad year but overall is a much better player.
Korshkov trade seems like about the best they get for him so maybe.
Bracco for ho sang seems alright even if just a sideways move.
3.) 13 May 2020 00:57:42
Lias Andersson from Rangers.
4.) 13 May 2020 01:22:00
I actually kinda think Johnsson is better than Crouse. If they want more, I'd rather just keep Johnsson.
It's supposed to be Lias Andersson. But the more o think about it, the more I'd rather keep Petan. He's not a but h crying because he's not good enough to make the team. If Andersson is behaving like this on a lowly Rangers team, what can we expect I'd he comes to the Leafs
Bracco for Ho Sang is a change of scenery type trade for these guys. Even though these type trades seem to always work against the Leafs, we don't have much to lose really, do we? If Bracco turns into a stud in NYI, they aren't in our division.
Korshkov for Puljujarvi is hard to say. I think Holland would do it though. Something is better than nothing and the longer Puljujarvi is overseas. The less value he has.
5.) 13 May 2020 06:38:40
Oh my God no to lias Anderson lol. Agree with all your points there. Has a Sparks kind of attitude.
6.) 13 May 2020 13:48:53
Yeah he does. Another Bracco crying because he thinks he's the next Gretzky but the coach doesn't see it that way.
Sparks I heard had a real bad attitude and alienated himself in the dressing room. Apparently he ragged out his teammates a few too many times for leaving him high and dry. They were more than happy to ship him out.
7.) 13 May 2020 21:00:14
One thing for Freddy to rip into everyone. Another for Sparks to do it lol.
30 May 2020 23:33:30
Vegas is strong at forward. I don't think they will downgrade from Theodore for Johnsson. Not worth it for them. They are also right tight against the cap. Same as the Leafs. So they can't add salary, which this trade does.
Vegas sees themselves as contenders. So unless a trade makes them better for a cup run, they won't make it. I don't think this trade does it for them.
29 May 2020 14:14:18
Why expose Kerfoot and lose him for nothing anyway? He's a good player. Surely you can trade him and earn a good return and just expose a lesser player?
29 May 2020 14:04:02
Instead of trading for Manson I'd like to see Holm start throwing that big body of his around a little more.
29 May 2020 13:55:15
I don't know if Brooks is as good as Lizotte. I can't see Brooks stepping in next year and scoring double digit goals and points. He's got potential to be a good 4C, and maybe a 3C eventually. But I have a hard time seeing him step into the role right out from the Marlies.
Besides, I said take Kempe if you weren't sold in Lizotte.
29 May 2020 13:51:58
I just figure if we have to dump salary we would be taking prospects and picks in return.
Would have been nice to see Leafs make at least one all-in type move. If we could have afforded Karlsson, even for the one year, given how good we did last year, I got to think our playoffs would have turned out much differently.
29 May 2020 10:39:47
Where did this comment come from? I think it was forwarded from another site. Lol. When you click on his name, his contribution history to the site is zero, completely blank, including this comment
I think we fell for a forwarded post. That's why this guy isn't responding.
29 May 2020 10:33:42
It's a small chance. I read a few times it's only a 3% chance. In order to get a top pick we have to lose to Columbus, one of the 7 teams that are not in the playoffs has to miss out on the lottery pick, and then Leafs have to win the second lottery.
So it's a lot of chance involved. I suppose if we lose to Columbus, it would be a good consolation prize.
29 May 2020 10:28:32
Dubas has proven in the past he is willing to use his own players as rentals. Anyone not a member of the exclusive sacred 4 is subject to not coming back. We've seen it done already with countless players, some of who are on par with, or even more valuable than, Hyman: JVR, Bozak, Barrie, Gardiner, Komorov.
As much as I like Hyman, I don't have faith in the way Dubas has structures the salary of the team to believe that Dubas will be able to retain him. Before the virus I figured it was close, but should be ok. Now, I'm not as sure. Maybe if Hyman takes a shorter term smaller AAV deal is the only way I see it working.
29 May 2020 10:22:22
He got a lot out of Gardiner too. I liked Babcock a lot. I knew he was a prick, but he got results. I think it's way too early to judge Mr.
Nice Guy Keefe. Especially since they haven't played in the playoffs this year yet.
I will say this about Dubas: I still don't know what he is doing most of the time.
He picks up every minimum contract he can, but then surprises with a good trade for Muzzin, and a poor trade for Barrie, and he pursues the odd big name UFA. I don't see a cohesive thought out plan, so i can't have a lot of trust in him to do the right thing.
28 May 2020 15:52:41
That statement about Babcock is especially provoking. Lol. Is it conceivable they would have gone on a winning streak under Babcock?