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2018-2019 Leafs Season Thread

glamphotographer

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Leafs begin the 2018-2019 season with the NHL draft tomorrow. Something tells me Dubas will be picking a player from the Soo Greyhounds.
 

smuddan

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As of now the Leafs have only two legit centres. Their top Centre prospect Aaltonen has decided to join the KHL. Nylander and Marleau may fill in but are not long term solutions. Who they draft now will not help for at least two year away. Trades and ufa's may have to be the only ways to improve the depth at centre.
 

tribunus

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Questionable pick in my opinion. Sandin is small, has some offense but is only an average skater for a little guy. There were better prospects with size and skill available (Veleno, Wilde).
 

glamphotographer

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Sandin is a project, lots of work to be done, not NHL ready, could be 3-5 years before we could see him in the NHL.
 

saxon

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Taveras will speak with five teams over the next few days including the Leafs.
 

smuddan

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Taveras will speak with five teams over the next few days including the Leafs.
While I still think upgrading the defence is a must for the Leafs to become a serious contender, getting centre depth has now become a priority with the imminent departure of Bozak and Pleckanec. Signing Tarveras now makes much better sense and it could potentially allow the trading of a winger or two for a top four d man.

Doughty would be nice but there's no guarantee that he will be available a year from now. With Matthews, Kadri and Taveras, the Leafs could have the best trios in centres in the entire league and I know for sure that Babcock loves centres more than wings lol.
 

K Douglas

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While I still think upgrading the defence is a must for the Leafs to become a serious contender, getting centre depth has now become a priority with the imminent departure of Bozak and Pleckanec. Signing Tarveras now makes much better sense and it could potentially allow the trading of a winger or two for a top four d man.

Doughty would be nice but there's no guarantee that he will be available a year from now. With Matthews, Kadri and Taveras, the Leafs could have the best trios in centres in the entire league and I know for sure that Babcock loves centres more than wings lol.
I'd be really happy with Tavares but I would be ecstatic with Doughty. Should be interesting July 1.
 

glamphotographer

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It's a pipe dream, no way the Leafs are going to pay him $11M-$12M per and for 7 years. The Islanders have the Cap room it only makes sense that Tavares resigns. The talking to 5 teams is strategic move to up his value (and boost his ego) but Lou is too smart for that (been there, done that). Are the Leafs going to mortgage the future (Matthews, Marner, Nylander) for Taveres? Big mistake IMHO.
 

HOLLYWOODG

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It's a pipe dream, no way the Leafs are going to pay him $11M-$12M per and for 7 years. The Islanders have the Cap room it only makes sense that Tavares resigns. The talking to 5 teams is strategic move to up his value (and boost his ego) but Lou is too smart for that (been there, done that). Are the Leafs going to mortgage the future (Matthews, Marner, Nylander) for Taveres? Big mistake IMHO.
Go all in on Tavares. You may be able to pick up a #1 defenceman by trading Matthews if Tavares outplays him.

Matthews & Gardiner for Aaron Ekblad & Barkov would be sweet.
 

glamphotographer

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Go all in on Tavares. You may be able to pick up a #1 defenceman by trading Matthews if Tavares outplays him.

Matthews & Gardiner for Aaron Ekblad & Barkov would be sweet.
Barkov $5.9M + Eklbad $7.5M + Tavares $12M? Not gonna happen.
 

Samranchoi

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Sign Tavares for whatever it takes and trade Nylander this year or next year. I would take Tavares over Nylander all day long. Nylander will get you a good top 2 or 3 defenseman. So it would be Tavares and a top 2 or 3 defenseman instead of Nylander. Sounds good to me for the next 4 or 5 years.
 

glamphotographer

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Sign Tavares for whatever it takes and trade Nylander this year or next year. I would take Tavares over Nylander all day long. Nylander will get you a good top 2 or 3 defenseman. So it would be Tavares and a top 2 or 3 defenseman instead of Nylander. Sounds good to me for the next 4 or 5 years.
Tavares won't sign for 5 years, he's asking for 7 years.
 

Samranchoi

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Tavares won't sign for 5 years, he's asking for 7 years.
I know that. I used 4 to 5 years because those will be his best years. After the 5th year his production will probably drop and the last two years people will probably bitch and complain about his high salary. The first 4 to 5 years will be well worth paying him for 7 years. Money is not the issue for the Leafs although the cap will be.
 

glamphotographer

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I know that. I used 4 to 5 years because those will be his best years. After the 5th year his production will probably drop and the last two years people will probably bitch and complain about his high salary. The first 4 to 5 years will be well worth paying him for 7 years. Money is not the issue for the Leafs although the cap will be.
The only way I see the Leafs trying fit him into the cap is front load the contract, $15M year 1 and then go lower as he gets older. But the Islanders are the only team that can give him 8 years so I see Tavares going with the Islanders. Also Lou may offer a more balanced contract that's not heavily front loaded. Lou is smart, just not showing his cards just yet.
 

smuddan

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Heard on the radio that the Leafs made an excellent presentation and are apparently front runners in landing the big fish.

I have a feeling that the Leafs are much more serious in trying to sign Tavares now than they were two years ago with Stamkos.

The timing seems better now for adding a prime time player like JT and no doubt he's a better fit than Stamkos was then. If they do land JT, they may be able to extend Nylander on a bridge deal to fit the cap for next season, and when Johnsson and Kapanen prove they are capable for top six duties, they'll have ample chips to trade for help in the backend.
 

mynameisearl11

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Heard on the radio that the Leafs made an excellent presentation and are apparently front runners in landing the big fish.

I have a feeling that the Leafs are much more serious in trying to sign Tavares now than they were two years ago with Stamkos.

The timing seems better now for adding a prime time player like JT and no doubt he's a better fit than Stamkos was then. If they do land JT, they may be able to extend Nylander on a bridge deal to fit the cap for next season, and when Johnsson and Kapanen prove they are capable for top six duties, they'll have ample chips to trade for help in the backend.
I hope I am wrong but I can't see the Leafs will pay anything for high priced forwards. As a fan,you would like them to spend that money on a stud defenceman. Vegas had no stars but just Fleury and you know what they did with their first season in the league. Lots of teams will go after second tier centres after JT is settled by July 1. If JT landed with the Leafs,who would he centred with? Just curious.
 

smuddan

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I hope I am wrong but I can't see the Leafs will pay anything for high priced forwards. As a fan,you would like them to spend that money on a stud defenceman. Vegas had no stars but just Fleury and you know what they did with their first season in the league. Lots of teams will go after second tier centres after JT is settled by July 1. If JT landed with the Leafs,who would he centred with? Just curious.
Here's why I like about getting JT :
1) he's a bonafide no.1 centre and a great 2 way player;
2) he's only 27 and has been relatively healthy and consistent in performance and production;
3) he would allow Babcock an upper hand in line matching;
4) he'd be a great mentor for Matthews, especially when Marleau is ready to retire;
5) there's a desperate need in centre with only Matthews and Kadri; it'd be much easier to find a good 4th line centre and depth player.

There are Marner, Marleau, Johnson, Kapanen and Brown who will be very capable winger for JT and Kadri, assuming Nylander and Hyman remain with Matthews. I haven't seen enough to feel Nylander can be as effective as a centre.

Vegas was a great successful story, but it remains to be seen if they are truly as a good a
team as they've showed or was it just a case of a bunch of players playing above their
heads because they want to show that the teams made a mistake in exposing them in the
expansion draft, very similar situation to Smith-Pelly who was brought out by the Devils and
went on to have a good season and a great playoff with the Caps. So I don't think teams
are rushing to emulate after the Knights just yet, and there'll probably never be again another expansion team as successful as the Knights.
 

mynameisearl11

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Here's why I like about getting JT :
1) he's a bonafide no.1 centre and a great 2 way player;
2) he's only 27 and has been relatively healthy and consistent in performance and production;
3) he would allow Babcock an upper hand in line matching;
4) he'd be a great mentor for Matthews, especially when Marleau is ready to retire;
5) there's a desperate need in centre with only Matthews and Kadri; it'd be much easier to find a good 4th line centre and depth player.

There are Marner, Marleau, Johnson, Kapanen and Brown who will be very capable winger for JT and Kadri, assuming Nylander and Hyman remain with Matthews. I haven't seen enough to feel Nylander can be as effective as a centre.

Vegas was a great successful story, but it remains to be seen if they are truly as a good a
team as they've showed or was it just a case of a bunch of players playing above their
heads because they want to show that the teams made a mistake in exposing them in the
expansion draft, very similar situation to Smith-Pelly who was brought out by the Devils and
went on to have a good season and a great playoff with the Caps. So I don't think teams
are rushing to emulate after the Knights just yet, and there'll probably never be again another expansion team as successful as the Knights.
Well said,smud
How old is Kadri? I remember not long ago it was Kadri who said he is as good as JT. I still think Kadri has another gear in his game. He is getting better every year he has been with the Leafs. One problem I can see with JT and the Leafs. Matthews development may suffer because of his time on the ice will diminish. There was rumor of a rift between Matthews and his coach on exactly this same issue of minutes play last season!
 
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