Maple Leafs

[30ranfordfan]

Once Matthews & Marner's contracts are over they are free to go wherever they choose, Toronto doesnt have a choice in that matter so to say they aren't going anywhere is pure speculation at best.
I thought we caught Tampa but we are still 1 point back. With 3 games against Tampa, Florida & 2 against the Bruins the Leafs control they're own destiny.
Yeah, Dubas got Kase & Bunting & they were good moves but there are bad moves too like Ritchie, Mrazek, giving away Mason Marchment & Barabanov for absolutely nothing & he keeps playing Sandin & Liljegren even though they are clearly not ready & maybe never will be. How long is he going to wait to make a trade to help this D-Core out. Our core forwards work hard to give us the lead & our D or Goalies blows it on us most nights. That cant happen in this league if you want to win. I am not a fan of Dubas & thats just a fact. It is what it is. Not everyone has to like him.

I've thought Dubas has mostly done a good job. Not all moves have worked out, but I think he's had more hits than misses. He's not afraid to make a move, I'll give him that.

I suspect they bring in another dman before Monday's deadline. Probably not a top line caliber player, but someone whose physical, and play a 4 or 5 role.

You're right, of course, about Matthews and Marner. Leafs (I"m sure) will try to extend them though, and they've got lots of time to do that. This will be the big topic of conversation next season regarding Matthews, as he'll be eligible for an extension in January of 2023.

Will he take one? We can only speculate, and put out facts. What it appears to me, he enjoys playing in Toronto. He's a guy who (I believe) likes the spotlight. Of course - he would have the spotlight on him anywhere he goes, and Toronto isn't the only market where he'd be a very high profile player throughout the league. If he hits UFA status, I have to believe that if a major American market pushes hard (NYR, LAK is who I'm suggesting...... especially the Kings) he probably considers it. Go home to play in AZ is another line that keeps coming up. I have no clue how realistic that is - but bringing in home-town boy, and NHL superstar Auston Matthews would certainly be a good way to kick-start a revival of interest in the dessert.

Me, I'd bet on an extension. I'm assuming he's going to want something in the range of 8x13. Make him the highest paid player in the league. His 5 year deal was designed to max out career earnings (hit UFA status earlier). He's a guy who was motivated by money very early (got paid to play pro in Switzerland, rather than play junior or USNTDP). If the Leafs offer him max year (8) and to make him the highest paid player in the league, I bet it will be hard to turn that down.

[chakhae1]

Biebs will make Matthews stay here and Marner loves the media attention from what I have seen. The bottom line will be winning. If the Leafs continue to lose in the way they do in the first round, that will be the determining factor on if anyone wants to come or stay here.

[chakhae1]

And the Leafs are back to playing their non defence type of style. Awesome. All I know is that with all the teams around them getting better Dubas better pull the trigger on a major deal. Giordano is not good enough. Get him as a rental for cheap plus another depth forward with jam and i'll be happy. Maybe.

[jameslacarte]

Yep, once again back to our normal crap play. Our 1st line played awesome, our 3rd line played well, everyone else was a write off last night, especially Clifford. Leafs made it 3-2 & we had to momentum & Clifford takes that stupid penalty for grabbing the Jersey which i thought was questionable at best after all they let go in this game. How the Refs did not see that Elbow to the face of Kase i dont know!! The puck was right there so what were they looking at? Should have been a 5 minute major but once again they missed it, seems to happen alot for the Leafs lately!! & not 1 Leaf did anything about it. It was Matt Duchense you bunch of cowards!! Like i said a few message back, the Leafs are as soft a Summer Butter!! Send Clifford back to the minors where he belongs, he doesnt do his job anyways & takes stupid penalties!!
Now that most of the good guys have been traded who is left out there for us to get? Only guys who wont make a difference anyways!! Save our Pics & prospects Dubas, no matter what you do it wont be enough, Florida & Colorado are just too good!! I sure hope Dubas gets fired after this year, he definitely deserves it in my eyes & from what i am seeing on Social Media lately i am only 1 of many that agree that he needs to go.

[jameslacarte]

Thank god for the Blue Jays & Raptors, at least we have something to watch in Toronto now other than Matthews getting to 50 & most likely breaking Rick Vaive's record in the process. Other than that i dont see much worth getting excited about in Leafs Nation

[chakhae1]

Not sure why Robertson isn't in the line up over Clifford. I thought he was playing well with J.T. He got his chances and shoots the puck a lot and has confidence in the offensive zone. The team left Kally out to dry last night and there was only so much he could do.

Giordano is the guy rumored to be interested in coming to Toronto, but if that's a rental the price better be really cheap. Like a 2nd and a 3rd and a minimal prospect. He can still play and he plays with balls, but he is not someone that will put us over the top by any means. Teams have been giving away players apparently for cheap according to what I have seen on TSN, so maybe Dubas can work out a decent trade.

I thought the Panthers got Giroux for next to nothing. Tippett has been in the minors for I don't know how long, but a bunch of guys are ahead of him on the Panthers depth chart. I thought the Bruins gave up a lot for Lindholm but apparently Craig Button thought that was a steal too.

[piper1]

So what did they give up for Giordano.

[chakhae1]

Nothing much. Clearly a rental. I don't expect Dubas to do anything else today. He did what he had to by dumpling Mrazek, improving the blue line and adding some jam. Personally, I don't think much of anything is going to happen today with a lot of the big names having already been moved, but rumors are always fun!

[jameslacarte]

I like this deal. Sure, Giordano isnt the offensive guy he was a few years ago when he won the Norris but we dont need him to score for us, we need him to play D & he can still do that very well & he is familiar with Brodie, they played together for years in Calgary. I also like that we didnt give up much to get him either,(a couple 2nd round pics & a third round pic & Seattle picked up most of his contract). & he has some grit & an attitude too!! He plays much bigger than he actually is.
Also, i think Blackwell could be a sleeper pic. I remember him going on a scoring run with the rangers a couple years back. The kid can put the puck in the net!! What i dont like is that he is only 5'9 & 175 lbs but he still hits more than half the guys on our team.
I hope the Leafs are not done yet though. We still need to toughen up a bit more. We gave Dermott to Vancouver for a 3rd round pic. We couldnt have got Luke Schenn for him? Maybe added a Pic with Dermott for him? Since Schenn has come back to the league he has played a simple but effective game & he will drop the mitts with anyone. He will definitely stick up for his team mates, something the Leafs desperately need.

I still like Chara though. I would love to see the Leafs grab him from the Islanders. Again, we dont need him to score for us, we need him to clear the front of the Net which he will gladly do lol & He alone would take us from being a Soft team to a much tougher one. You think guys are gonna try & rag doll Matthews if they know Chara is coming to punch them in the face? It goes from every other player in the league to a small few who would be willing to do that knowing Chara is coming from you. He would be a huge addition for next to nothing!!
Lets hope Dubas isnt done yet. Its not like its not common knowledge that we are a Soft team..
Go Leafs Go!!

[jameslacarte]

Nice call on the Giordano deal, you almost got it bang on!!
Yeah. Boston got fleeced in the Hampus Lindholm trade, he's not even that good.
But, the trade that has me shaking my head so far is Tampa & the Brandon Hagel deal. Am i missing something here? 2 1st rounders & a couple half decent players in Raddysh & Katchouk!! Ok, Hagel has some points this year & 20 goals i believe but thats still way too much for him.

Not sure why Robertson isn't in the line up over Clifford. I thought he was playing well with J.T. He got his chances and shoots the puck a lot and has confidence in the offensive zone. The team left Kally out to dry last night and there was only so much he could do.

Giordano is the guy rumored to be interested in coming to Toronto, but if that's a rental the price better be really cheap. Like a 2nd and a 3rd and a minimal prospect. He can still play and he plays with balls, but he is not someone that will put us over the top by any means. Teams have been giving away players apparently for cheap according to what I have seen on TSN, so maybe Dubas can work out a decent trade.

I thought the Panthers got Giroux for next to nothing. Tippett has been in the minors for I don't know how long, but a bunch of guys are ahead of him on the Panthers depth chart. I thought the Bruins gave up a lot for Lindholm but apparently Craig Button thought that was a steal too.