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17 Mar 2026 19:08:15
Looking at Toronto's two most prominent RFA's Matias Macelli and Nick Robertson. You don't want to have either walk with nothing in return, so you literally have to do a qualifying offer for both. Robertson would be $1,825,000 and if he wanted to stay he would request Arbitration. If he got a raise then he would still be in a range that would be tradeable in a package. If someone offered a bit more and he liked the destination and the length of the deal we would get a 3rd pick as compensation. If someone offered him between $2,400,000 to roughly $4,700,000 we would get a 2nd round pick back.
With Macelli, to do a qualifying offer we have to do a minimum of $4,100,000. Which if it was a low offer match and he didn't do arbitration would be a 2nd round pick. If a team offered him higher than $4,700,000 and up to $7,000,000 which the way salaries are going the $4.8-4.9 range is not inconceivable.
That would bring us a 1st and a 3rd round pick.
If the Macelli we are seeing is for real, then qualifying him is not a bad move if he wants to do arbitration and stay, and if he keeps performing strong until the end of the season and someone wants to pry him away, a 1st and a 3rd is not a bad way to lose him if we are rebuilding. So if they both were pried loose by other teams at the higher end for both players. We would then have in return a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick for 2027 which gives us 2 1st round picks, 3 2nds and a 3rd we didn't have.
Worse case scenario, they go to arbitration and if they don't perform we look at moving them in trade packages. But I think we do have to do qualifying offers or we get not a thing when they then have the right to become UFA's without the offer.
1.) 17 Mar 2026 18:34:24
Nobody is offer sheeting either of those guys with that being the draft pick return. It would be lovely, but not all that realistic.
2.) 17 Mar 2026 19:57:59
In this crazy league, never say never. Teams that have a lot of prospects and draft picks but don't want to give up prospects in a trade if they are already in the middle to just past the middle of their rebuilds might bite. Those are not huge salaries to take on board for a team on the rise that is looking for depth a 3rd and 4th liner. We, on the other hand, are hoping to hit the depths to a point if we are rebuilding.
At the same time, if we don't qualify them, we get nothing.
The other option is to trade them and their RFA rights to negotiation to another team prior to or during the June 25-June 30th qualifying deadline. It will come down to who is sitting at that GM's desk at that time.
3.) 17 Mar 2026 20:48:34
Lmao…. No one is gonna make an offer to Macelli than will cost them a first and a third. He’s barely worth a third.
4.) 17 Mar 2026 21:01:20
OK! Did I ever say that was what was going to happen? Geez I listed the 4 options that could happen. One, we let them go for nothing, Two, we do the Minimum Qualifying offer and see if someone offers slightly above and both players leave, in which case I said what the minimum Compensation would be coming back, and Three, if we do the minimum Qualifying offer and if someone is crazy enough in a week free agent market to offer high, what our Compensation would be.
Fourth, we Qualify and they both go to Arbitration and then we are at the mercy of the Arbitrator. If we are stuck with them we hope they find their mojo with different linemates etc. If not then we try the trade route with them. Option one would be completely stupid to not get a thing for them.
5.) 17 Mar 2026 21:19:56
Maccelli can go for nothing. We pay him 4+M then we are stuck with him. Need to let him walk and start changing our identity. Keep Robertson and Cowan, move on from Maccelli and Domi. Need to get some players with some jam.
6.) 17 Mar 2026 21:42:38
Who would you target on the free agent market, Clarky, with the $4.1 m from Macelli that would bring what you are looking for?
7.) 17 Mar 2026 21:59:17
I think his point is that we need to qualify both players!
I agree.
And I think we all agree that we need something back.
So let’s protect that position.
8.) 18 Mar 2026 00:21:56
Suffering for ever,
Maccelli and Robertson will be sent packing this summer in a package deal by our new GM as Treliving will be be fired after last regular season game.
9.) 18 Mar 2026 12:41:52
How do you know they will be in a package deal together?
10.) 18 Mar 2026 12:42:53
Plus if it is to be a package deal during the summer, then we legitimately have to offer them a qualifying offer to be able to trade them.
11.) 18 Mar 2026 12:53:18
The difference of opinion on these two players is quite something.
Robertson has 2 goals in his last 19 games. When that was Maccelli, Domi, anyone else, many wanted them gone, but because it's Robertson, we need to keep him? I don't get it. I know he hustles, he works hard, but if he doesn't score, he doesn't bring much else but hustle. Jarnkrok hustles, rarely scores, and most want him traded for nothing.
Maccelli has more goals and points than Robertson. And let's face it, if Robertson started to heat up when the games meant nothing, some would be singing his praises and claiming he just needed the opportunity. With Maccelli it's, sure he heats up because the games mean nothing and he is playing for a contract.
Neither player is irreplaceable imo.
If they both go, so be it.
At the right price would I keep Maccelli, I probably would. For one thing, he didn't moan and groan when they sat him out all those games, and when he came back, he was a much better player and has been pretty consistent since. Robertson has moaned and groaned in the past. Asked for a trade when he wasn't put in the lineup. Has never lived up to the hype some have given him. He is finishing his 3rd season and not likely to crack 35 points in any of those seasons. How is he a guy we have to keep unless he was great defensively (he is not), or big and punishing hitter (he is not), or a physical deterrent/fighter (he is not).
The love for Robertson and complete hate for Maccelli makes absolutely no sense to me. I don't love or hate either.
12.) 18 Mar 2026 14:18:43
Wow I thought this was a trade posting site not a forum to read short stories. A lot of back and forth for nothing here. FYI you can trade them without a qualifying offer as long it’s within the window of negotiations.
U r trading their signing rights like they did with Marner. Then it’s up to the team that traded for them to sign them within that window.
13.) 18 Mar 2026 19:39:40
FYI I mentioned that about trading them with negotiation rights in the third post.
14.) 18 Mar 2026 20:51:43
The Leafs, by the way, did not trade Marner's signing rights. They signed him first, then traded him. They did it as a favour to him and to Vegas, allowing him to sign for the 8 years whereas if Vegas had signed him it would have only been allowed to be 7 years, so it allowed Vegas to spread the amount over 8 years.
15.) 20 Mar 2026 21:37:42
Yes you r right but I stopped reading after your first post didn’t get to your 3rd of 6th one.
16.) 21 Mar 2026 19:32:27
Ahhh I see. But as you said we were just doing a lot of back and forth for nothing. Then you imparted your wisdom on the trading of their rights. That was already covered. Perhaps some of the educated posters don't mind the back and forth. Try reading everyone's posts. You never know, you just might appreciate some of the other posters' opinions.
12 Mar 2026 01:17:55
Toronto:
Jake O'Brien Centre
Jagger Firkus LW and can play RW
Tyson Jugnauth Defense
1st in 2027 Seattle's lowest one
2nd in 2027 Seattle's lowest one
Seattle:
Matthews and Reilly
This trade allows us to stock the cupboards in a large way with prospects and picks. Also give us $20 Million and Change and a chance to add either through Free agency or by utilizing other Leaf Roster players and Picks to take on a higher end player with larger salary, with the freed up cash from those Contracts.
It allows Seattle to fill 2 of the 3 Roster Spots they need to fill without losing Roster players in the trade and still leaves them $13 million to fill that last roster spot.
1.) 12 Mar 2026 13:52:54
The issue with moving either Matthews or Nylander is that they are the only two real goal scorers the Leafs have (Knies might be 30-35 guy), so if we don't get goal scorers back, the Leafs better find some in free agency or in the trade.
I like O'Brien, but there are no real scorers here coming to the Leafs. When considering there are two guys about to turn 22 (Firkus, Jugnauth) and never played a game in the NHL, by your own evaluations, that makes them less valuable than a Nic Robertson.
Doesn't seem like much of a return when the picks are the lowest they have as well.
Is the idea the Leafs are kind of paying Seattle to take Rielly and his full contract? For the picks, is it lowest (worst one)? Or highest (best one)?
2.) 12 Mar 2026 22:32:09
Thing is every one of those players keeps progressing at every level they play year by year. Highest (best) one. My trade suggestion in this post is to get rid of Matthews and Reilly, keeping Nylander and keeping Robertson. Stocking the cupboards with good prospects, draft picks and salary.
Biggest things I saw in these prospects wasn't just their regular season stats, but how they step up in the playoffs. I might be wrong with O'Brien but this year's OHL playoffs will be his proving ground. I just see a good step up with Jugnauth and Firkus in their past in the playoffs and a progressive adaptation to high levels as they go forward. My past evaluations on other players that have not played in the NHL are players whose stats are meager in comparison. How are we paying Seattle to take Reilly's contract? If we were to break it down, which when it is a package deal we shouldn't need to do, I would say Matthews for the 1st, Jake O'Brien and Jugnauth, and O'Reilly for the 2nd and Firkus.
This is not a retool. This is a rebuild-start trade. If you want old used-to-be goal scorers in return then yeah go for free agency and waste money. Stock up on young potential that can score at each level as they progress. We have to suck it up for that growth. Yes I said it was worth keeping Robertson ahead of another trade prospect only because that prospect has not shown the ability to keep that productivity. It's not a tried and true science and I might be wrong but I would rather have a young scoring team than one that doesn't. We suck no matter what this year at scoring.
No problem with the criticism. Just given that Seattle is one of the few teams that can swing a deal like this. Give some alternatives
3.) 13 Mar 2026 12:28:44
It wasn't criticism, it was questions.
You said lowest of the 1st and 2nd pick, which are the worst ones. I questioned if that is what you meant. If so, the return is less than what you actually meant. If you value two prospects less than Robertson, again, not much value there coming back.
I questioned how you value the two prospects based on some of your previous comments on prospect evaluation. You've explained. You didn't just suggest keeping Robertson over a previous prospect, you said it made you grin and explained they weren't even close to about even value wise.
So, you value Jugnauth and Firkus as more than Robertson then? Trying to gauge how good you think these prospects are.
Otherwise the deal is;
Matthews for the 1st, Jake O'Brien and Jugnauth(less value than Robertson), and O'Reilly for the 2nd and Firkus(less value than Robertson). If you add that originally your post had the two picks were the worst they had, doesn't like like much for Matthews unless Leafs are kind of paying Seattle to take Rielly. Hence the questions.
You said keep Robertson after this deal. Are you not concerned about the lack of size in general as two of the prospects you are bringing in lack size and keeping Robertson (and Cowan I assume).
4.) 13 Mar 2026 18:52:30
So to clarify. The picks would be the best 1st and the best 2nd that Seattle has. And as far as keeping Robertson as well as Nylander. I think Robertson with the right younger linemates with speed could thrive with a more freewheeling offense.
I'm not that concerned about the size as much as the want to win and the ability to turn it up a notch at each level of hockey as they advance. Minnesota is the smallest team in the league height-wise and even though most teams were looking for big forwards at the deadline, in two of their deals they got Bobby Brink and Robby Fabbri. Two smaller guys, which, considering their GM Bill Guerin was a big power forward, maybe speaks a little towards teams now looking at different factors in regards to size.
Interesting part is that Firkus is compared to Debrincat and Kaprizov and Jugnauth is compared to Quinn Hughes.
Hey it's all subjective opinions we all have and no-one really knows until it's all said and done. I just see Firkus in the NHL next year and Jugnauth no later than the following year, with O'Brien possibly going right from junior to the NHL. If that was the case I would rather see them in the Blue and White developing than in another team's NHL lineup.
07 Mar 2026 14:22:06
OK Crew! The deadline has passed... Where do we go from here??? We still do not have a 1st or 2nd round pick for this year. Grading Treliving on this deadline from Aphabetical scale A B C etc. I give him a ZZZZZZ for sleeping at the switch. For the 2026 draft the only draft he should be exposed to is the draft of the Door closing behind him. Hopefully within the next week. That way we can get someone in place that might be able to pull off a few trade deals shortly after the playoffs end and on draft day to get us at least 1 or two picks in those rounds.
So who should be look at realistically moving that could recoup some of those for this years draft day. Then the full rebuild could start during the summer once free agency and draft day have passed.
1.) 07 Mar 2026 14:25:48
If you compare the Leaf returns to around the League, what the Leafs got was on par to slightly better than what many teams got for their guys. In general, the returns this year were nowhere near what they have been in the past.
2.) 07 Mar 2026 14:40:13
Absolutely 1st move in the off season has to be Reilly. Don’t think you will get much back but he needs to go. 2nd move is Nylander, get a nice young package for him. 3rd is Matthews, he is not resigning here. Trade him now while he still has term and maximize those profits.
FYI ^^^ I 100% disagree with RLF. Guy is terrible. Tre and his procrastination and lackadaisical effort can beat it. We kept waiting all year for some sort of move and this is what we get?? ? way to stay patient Tre, it really paid off.
3.) 07 Mar 2026 23:23:37
Clarky. Wow, I'm terrible now because I don't agree with you. Lol
As for the returns. Show me where this year was as equal to the past and I will concede on values. (Not talking about 4th liners, I mean impact players.)
03 Mar 2026 14:10:13
Was looking at some stats last night and found this kind of enlightening. So in some of the posts about Trading Matthews and or Nylander. Looking at these Stats. Who would you rather keep.... and on the flip side who is more valuable to trade for the better return.
Last 13 games. Matthews 1 Goal and 9 total points
Nylander 9 goals and 20 points
Matthews at $13,250,000 for 2 more years.
Look forward to hearing everyone's take on this.
Also... Did we miss the opportunity for McMann for a 1st pick... he has gone 4 games no goals and certainly in those games does not look like he did earlier. I think some teams will still like to have him but has this slump turned that 1st into something lower?
Nylander at $11,500,000 locked in for 4 years.
1.) 03 Mar 2026 14:15:28
Nylander has 7 more years.
2.) 03 Mar 2026 14:21:50
His contract ends at end of 2030. So that is 4 years with my calculator.
3.) 03 Mar 2026 15:35:28
Nylander is locked in for 6 more years after this season.
4.) 03 Mar 2026 15:39:38
Check your facts again he signed an 8 year deal last year you and your facts are obviously drunk
5.) 03 Mar 2026 16:31:29
If looking at PuckPedia, they only show as far as 2023 on the main page. But if you look under his UFA tab on that page, it says 2032. If you click on him to get the full picture, it shows all the way to 2032 at age 36.
As others have said, he has the rest of this year and 6 more. All with full No Moves.
6.) 03 Mar 2026 17:24:51
@Suffering, I personally don’t want either. Use these two to get young pieces and start the rebuild but if I had to choose, I’d say bye to Willy 1st. Body language is huge and Willy's sucks. He gives up all the time.
Stops trying, turns over the puck and just skates right by. Yes, he gets big goals but I still think he is not a good leader and he is not about the team first mentality. Plus you’d get a good package back for him.
7.) 03 Mar 2026 22:37:35
I am the first to admit when I am wrong. You are right. The team overview shows UFA earlier than when you open his profile itself. Which with that contract being tied in that long. Part of it means he is worth way more than Matthews with that Salary tied in as Salaries explode around the league. Worth more to keep as well as to sell really. As far as Willie not being a leader, well I can't speak for him but with Matthews as the Captain and Tavares as the ex-captain maybe he feels that is their job and his best way of leading is to actually put points up.
If Matthews is traded then Willie might step up and lead in other ways? I am not the president of his fan club or anything. I just see that he is still putting the numbers up when others are not and feel maybe look at his relaxed demeanor and take it the wrong way. He still produces so maybe the relaxed demeanor for him works.
8.) 03 Mar 2026 23:42:29
I also should add that Matthews is a good leader as long as he is playing for and wearing the Stars and Stripes. Not quite as good a leader when wearing The blue maple leaf of the team that pays him $13,250,000 to do that very thing.
02 Mar 2026 22:59:04
Did anyone head Dreger's feed that Toronto is trying to do a deal for Robert Thomas. The rumoured asking price is Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan and Toronto's 1st round pick in 2028.
They are saying the Leafs would gain a centreman to feed the wingers. I love Robert Thomas but that is a huge price to pay in my opinion, Plus it is kind of redundant to Trade 2 wingers you are looking towards for next season for production. So now who are are these wingers that Thomas is supposed to feed?
1.) 02 Mar 2026 22:22:56
Wendel Clark and Rick Vaive are the 2 wingers…
2.) 02 Mar 2026 22:38:29
Robertson Domi Stecher was tredeadthing’s counter offer
So I have heard ?.
3.) 02 Mar 2026 23:26:30
3 Midgets for a Man. Although I do like Troy Stecher. The guy gives it every night. One of the few that does.
4.) 03 Mar 2026 17:33:12
That asking price is such a collosal overpayment I nearly had a stroke just reading it.
Sufferingsince1967's banter posts with other poster's replies to Sufferingsince1967's banter posts
13 Mar 2026 00:16:06
I've been seeing a few during a few posts how some are changing their mind on Macelli. It's funny how players that don't do anything most of the year when they don't get traded and the team is out of it, start to put points up when they are heading into a RFA or UFA at end of season.
Novenber or December when their might have been a chance would have been a better time for those points for the fans that follow the team.
1.) 13 Mar 2026 12:46:32
I didn't mind Maccelli from the start, as mad as that makes Clarky lol.
He struggled at the beginning, but since they sat him out for those number of games a while ago (end of November to almost Christmas), I don't understand why people are so down on the guy. Hard to score in December when you're not in the lineup. He's been pretty good for a long stretch now. It's not just after the Olympic break.
Shouldn't we be more concerned about guys who haven't been doing much for the last while?
Matthews - 1 goal in last 13
Robertson - 1 goal in 11
Domi 0 in last 10
Cowan 1 in last 16
Can't win with that lack of production in your top 9.
It's not like the guys above were lighting it up in November and December either. And except for Domi, many want to keep the other 3. One of those is also heading into an RFA year and is doing squat.
Yet, the focus is on the guy who has 7 in has last 10?
2.) 13 Mar 2026 17:08:23
RLF
Each post stands on its own and often deals with a singular thought.
What I mean by this is that I can still be very concerned about several players recent play but write a post about Maccelli playing well recently.
I, for one, wasn’t happy with how he started and am not ashamed to admit it!
He’s shown that he is a very capable playmaker and puck carrier and perhaps the best Leaf on PP zone entries.
In my proposal for forwards I chose to keep him, feeling there was redundancy in player type with Cowan and Robertson.
I am ready to trade Robertson over Cowan though have real concerns about him long term.
I’m just not certain he will be star. He’s got a lot to learn to play properly in the NHL; he should learn it in the AHL in my view.
Suffering
Not sure if you’re suggesting to offload Maccelli or not. Is he playing now because his $3,43m is at risk as a RFA this summer?
09 Mar 2026 21:12:35
Not really a Leafs talk post but could be if it happens here Thursday night during our game. So John Carlson needs 4 shots to become the NHL Career Leader in blocked shots. If he doesn't get it tomorrow night against the Jets, he might on Thursday night against the Leafs.
I am hoping one of those teams take the time in a break in the action to acknowledge that record. It is crazy hard record to possess expecially for a player most people just looked at as a Offensive D-man.
1.) 09 Mar 2026 20:27:39
I should clarify... that is, if he plays in those games. He is day-to-day but reports are he might play.
08 Mar 2026 08:52:04
Well I think I figured out the Berube Head injury. They tried to play it off on a gym injury.
Turns out he was called into the office and he kind of knew bad news was coming. He sat solemnly hanging his head down and they gave him the bad news. "Craig we are going to have to Axe you!" He jolted up and said "Huh" just as he heard a swoosh and a man with a Black hood ran out the door with a bloody axe. He vowed at that moment he would make every leaf fan have the same upside down smile that resembles the scar on his forehead from that almost fateful day.
1.) 08 Mar 2026 12:49:10
Shades of Kennedy humour!
Love it!
04 Mar 2026 22:10:03
So I just realized. That if we miss the playoffs (and only a miracle will stop that from happening). Is this the start of a Mitch Marner type, curse of the Banbino. lol I just realized that since Mitch was a pro the Leafs had never missed the playoffs. HMMMMM
I was talking to a buddy that was at a few Vegas games this year and he said Marner look fresh at the end of both games he was at. He said that Bruce Cassidy uses him sparingly on the penalty kill and he is playing a couple minutes a game less than in Toronto total ice time.
Cassidy probably after coaching against Toronto in Boston saw how year after year No matter who was coaching was burning Marner out in the regular season and especially the playoffs. Running him out for regular Shift, Number one Power Play, and Number one penalty Kill unit. That caught up to him as each series went on.
1.) 04 Mar 2026 21:28:39
@1967 I've had a different thought in it.
Yes, Mitchy's TOI is less, but he looks refreshed because he isn't in Toronto. Media and fans aren't for everybody in some places. Willy seems to love having the spotlight on him, while Mitch not so much.
2.) 04 Mar 2026 21:45:59
There is that too for sure. In Vegas he is just a regular guy when he is at a gas station or the grocery store. The majority of people there would have no clue who he is.
3.) 04 Mar 2026 22:04:42
Do we actually believe Mitch didn't ask for the responsibility and ice time in Toronto? I would wager he would have taken whatever they would have given him. Mitch was a whiner.
He would relish being given that responsibility as he felt he deserved it. Maybe in Vegas they tell him how it is. The pressure in TO is more for sure, but so is the glory when they do well.
4.) 04 Mar 2026 23:47:44
How do you know that he felt he deserved it? Kind of a blanket statement without actual evidence to that. Regardless, it is a coach's job to manage his best players ice time to keep them fresh. I know some of the guys that did some work on his Cottage and they said he was a very down to earth guy with no airs at all and kind of a quiet kid. To be honest I don't blame him for leaving at all. First he gets carjacked a few years ago and the Crown drops the case. So no closure there for him on that. Then after last year's playoffs some knob posts his address online. Crazy thing is... he was vilified for lack of production. Last 5 playoffs Nylander was 43 points in 42 games, Marner was 42 points in 45 games and Matthews was 40 points in 43 games.
All 3 were productive at roughly a point a game pace. What truthfully cost the Leafs last year in the playoffs was these stats. McMann, Lorentz, Laughton, Jarnkrok and Holmberg: 0 goals, 9 points, combined -17. The big 3 last year were 11 goals, 39 points, combined -4. Tavares was -6 by himself and no-one called for his head or, for that matter, the majority of the bottom 6 until this year at this year's trade deadline. It just seems though we always try to find a whipping boy to blame in this town, sometimes justly and other times unwarranted. The blame still lies fully on the shoulders of Treliving, who just did not assemble the right supporting cast other than Max Pacioretty. I was happy for Max; he went out on a good note with his head held high.
5.) 05 Mar 2026 01:01:46
A lot to unwrap here. So, Mitch a public figure in a social media society is nice to guys building his cottage, making sure he doesn't say or do anything stupid and that makes him a down to earth guy and not entitled? Lol. Ok. Sure.
You really need proof he was a whiner? Ever here him whine to the refs constantly in many games. Ever see him throw little fits at the bench. Remember Willy telling him "this ain't junior" while he threw a temper tantrum on the bench. He yelled at his team mates to wake up while he himself sucked that game. You know who throws fits, guys who have trouble when things aren't going well or perfectly for them. Guys who feel things just should go right for them. ie, entitled.
Entitlement? How about holding out for almost $11M and thinking he was worth what Matthews gets.
How about never saying "he" sucked. He tried to lead and wanted it, not hard to tell that's true. Wouldn't you be upset if he didn't want the responsibility? Why is pointing it out a bad thing?
"We are treated like gods" and then saying he is leaving because it isn't safe in Toronto. Saying he loved it in Toronto, meanwhile asking other players what they thought about Vegas, then only accepting a deal to Vegas. Nixing a deal at last year's TDL, meanwhile knowing he was leaving. Yea, Mitch is a great guy who we can't blame for leaving. Not.
How come you don't point out Mitch's games 5, 6 and 7 stats? He had 9 points in 21 of those games. 0 goals and 5 assists in the last 18. Should we go on?
6.) 05 Mar 2026 04:35:49
This whole "But the stars had points" narrative is asinine. All of them have been horrendous in the playoffs on a whole. I remember one and only one series where I thought Mathews looked like he wanted it.
Nothing before or after and I have yet to see that one performance from Willy or Mitch. Before recent years I would have said Mo was the best playoff leader as he always showed up when it counted.
7.) 05 Mar 2026 19:11:34
It's the old damned if they do, damned if they don't. If they score the points and lose it's their fault. If they don't have the points and we lose it's even more their fault. Traditionally the teams that win the Cup have a GM and Coach that have a gameplan to be able to throw out 4 more evenly balanced lines that what we have here. That is partly a personnel issue with we know lies right at Treliving's feet, and partly coaching staff that need to find a way to get mismatches.
For instance. Throwing Matthews or Marner when we had him or Nylander on a 3rd line rather than loading the front two lines would have been better against Florida and sticking to the same old. We need a shake up from the top down. I do give props where they are due though. Treliving pulled off a nice trade with Colorado with Roy today.
8.) 06 Mar 2026 12:53:58
It's not about points. It's about effort. And if they want to be paid like the guys that need to come through when it counts, then they need to come through when it counts. They don't.
They took Florida to game 7. Games 5 and 7 wouldn't have been helped by spreading out the talent over 3 lines. The only coach and GM to get this group that far, is the current ones.
Call it like it was. Games 5 and 7 lost the series and the players sucked in those games.
They looked as scared in those games as kids out trick or treating on Halloween approaching a haunted house. This is more about character and not being overwhelmed in big moments. It's about a mentality of not being denied over afraid to make a mistake and playing timid.
Why do they look better in International competition? Because they don't have to be "The" guys on the team. They are surrounded by the best with guys that do/will step up, so they can relax and play.
28 Feb 2026 16:49:04
SO I know leaf fans get sick of hearing and reading Mangianpane and his contract for cap relief for Edmonton. Hey it isn't just the Leafs. every team linked to Edmonton it is his contract that is included in every deal. They are so far against the cap that truthfully it is at the point he actually might a trade deadline day deal to a team just to take his contract from them and they will be desperate enough to do that with a 1st in 2027 just so they have room for salary to actually do a deal with another team.
1.) 02 Mar 2026 21:56:58
The one issue I see with a lot of trades out there is assets. Teams like the Oilers are basically as dry as the Leafs are because they've been going all in for years now.
If the Oilers get cap relief is shipping out Mangiapane for a 1st, what assets do they have to acquire a player to use the cap space?
2.) 02 Mar 2026 22:11:22
Agreed LL. If Edm attach a 1st to move Mangi, then they lose the biggest trade asset to add a player. Have to move him in a deal they give the 1st+ likely as well to get something they want.
3.) 03 Mar 2026 14:18:15
@ LeafsLife. Did you think I meant trading Mangianpane for a 1st? I was saying that for a team to take him so they have cap room to sign a player they are aquiring from that team they need to attach a 1st round pick.
4.) 04 Mar 2026 04:35:42
@1967, No I understand and would actually go for that, but the Oilers have very few assets. If they send a 1st+mangy for cap space, it won't be easy to add.
Sufferingsince1967's rumour replies
21 Mar 2026 20:15:45
Well I don't think that Stolarz truly will bring back much given his age and not a big track record other than being a good #2. However, with his past in Florida who knos what they might give us. To free up that $3.75 m would be nice though for cap. If we got a 2nd round pick and, to be very greedy, Shea Busch.
He has been out for most of the season in the WHL, but they are hoping he will play in the playoffs. He had 18 pts in 15 games, and the kid is a beast. 6'-3" 216 lbs. Plays both wings. They protected the injury status, but sounds like similar to what Schaefer had.
21 Mar 2026 19:32:27
Ahhh I see. But as you said we were just doing a lot of back and forth for nothing. Then you imparted your wisdom on the trading of their rights. That was already covered. Perhaps some of the educated posters don't mind the back and forth. Try reading everyone's posts. You never know, you just might appreciate some of the other posters' opinions.
21 Mar 2026 16:38:58
I was referring to other teams looking for Goaltending. There is even one out there that teams will be lining up trade offers on ahead of even Cossa and that is Wallstedt.
21 Mar 2026 16:36:01
I never said that at all? I was saying why would anyone want to trade for Stolarz when they could offer sheet for Cossa or trade for Augustine. I never said we should offer sheet him at all.
21 Mar 2026 16:31:55
Rebuild. Trade Matthews first, but if a crazy offer came in for Nylander then trade both.
Perfect world... Marty McFly and Doc come by and take us "Back to the Future" and we don't have Carlo but we have Minten and our 1st, we never had Laughton but we still have Grebenkin and our 1st.
Then we could rebuild or retool or by having those 2 players we never would be in the position we are in now anyway. One can dream, right Randy??? lol.
Sufferingsince1967's banter replies
21 Mar 2026 16:13:24
The one guy I would love to see get an 8-game stint with the Big club is Chadwick, but send him back to get a few games back with the Marlies just before their playoffs so he gets in the flow again with his defense partner.
20 Mar 2026 18:49:42
I like it Clarky, can't hurt to try. In fact maybe alternate the last games of the season with him and Stecher splitting the games at forward and defense. Stecher has great speed and good puckhandling skills too. Who knows, between the 2, one might be a diamond in the rough forward.
17 Mar 2026 14:51:01
RLF, I agree with your McMann assessment. Liked when he had the edge and that was when he would score on a consistent basis. He would go to the net hard and take the body hard with his speed. Where he would hit the slumps is when he thought his speed meant he was in McDavid or McKinnon territory.
Yes he had similar top end speed as them but he doesn't possess those same hands and skill moves. I think with the right coach that harnesses that physicality with the speed he will be more consistent in the point production.
17 Mar 2026 13:08:47
@ Goat2.0, I think you just highlighted Randy's point of this post. He is saying we should look for some diamonds in the rough. The three players you mentioned are a perfect example. None of the 3 were ever drafted. The Leafs signed them as undrafted players. We are not saying to not use those guys, some might stick with the team and some won't. But it is worth beathing the bushes looking for similar types of players that might pan out.
The farm team still needs to be restocked every year and right now we don't have high end draft picks to do so, so adding guys on affordable 2 way contracts might be the way to find one or two that can crack the lineup and 2 or 3 serviceable to call up to fill in for injuries.
16 Mar 2026 21:25:45
Here is my out of left field free agent signing suggestion. He is making roughly $1.5 U.S. in the KHL once bonuses are added in. Josh Leivo.... He can flat out put the puck in the net. The poor guy got messed around with the Leafs during the Babcock years, then had Travis Green and Darryl Sutter that thought they would turn him into a Two way 3rd or 4th line winger.
Sorry but this guy can bang with the best of them but he is a goal scorer. I would take a flyer on him and bring him back to finish out his days in North America with the Babcok less Leafs. It might be the KHL but the fact you hold the season record for goals in it speaks for something.