2025-2026 Leafs Season

DtheB said:

Another reminder required:

NO POLITICS IN THE SPORTS FORUM

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I just found it funny but I do agree with your comment. Many are making a big issue about AM 34 and the Great One for no reason.

Watching Leafs hockey is so much better than that Olympic bullshit.

glamphotographer said:

Sam Kim (Leafs video crew) 2, Tampa 0.

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With Guentzel's empty net goal post the game should have been 6 zip before Leafs scored their first goal.
What this game showed is that Leafs lack the abundance of skill that TB has to make plays.
Especially on the power play. Leafs needed Stolarz to steal this one to have any chance but he wasn't close.
Perhaps they're showcasing him for a trade.

If there was any minimal doubt as to whether to sell these two games clear that up.

get what you can

Given a very slim chance of making the playoffs, the Leafs should trade all their ufsa and rfas. McMann can be resigned as a free agent in the off season and trading him now should get a high pick or a blue chip prospect.

Keep what you have and start next year with a new coach. It's clear now the players can't or won't play Berube's system. If the Devils fire Keefe, bring him back. The Leafs only have two players that can get them anything in a trade, but they both have no trade clauses. Thinking you're going to get a first round pick for McMann and Laughton is wishful thinking. If either were worth a first round pick you wouldn't be trading them. You can't start a rebuild with the absence of any good draft picks in the next two drafts, and the tradeable players you have won't get you any good draft picks.

tml said:

Keep what you have and start next year with a new coach. It's clear now the players can't or won't play Berube's system. If the Devils fire Keefe, bring him back. The Leafs only have two players that can get them anything in a trade, but they both have no trade clauses. Thinking you're going to get a first round pick for McMann and Laughton is wishful thinking. If either were worth a first round pick you wouldn't be trading them. You can't start a rebuild with the absence of any good draft picks in the next two drafts, and the tradeable players you have won't get you any good draft picks.

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You have trade your UFA's and try to get lucky on 2nd or 3rd rounders. The Habs for example got 3 current or future core pieces in the 60's in 2021-2023 that are contributing now.... Hutson, Kapanen, and Fowler. The Leafs system is bare and few 2nd and 3rd picks, might at least fill middle/bottom line roles when the Leafs get better around 2030 for low $$ which is important.

As for trading the core pieces, the way its going they may well waive their NTC. But you only trade them when the value is right. But at this point you have to trade them at some point.

A re-tool is not what the Leafs need. Its a complete overhaul. Unfortunately its going to be slowed down due to not having draft picks, but you can still start building things now.

Laughton wasn't worth a 1st round pick when the Leafs traded for him let alone a 1st and a prospect.
I doubt anyone is expecting a 1st in return for Laughton. He's playing on the 4th line.
No team in their right mind would trade a 1st round pick for a 4th line center other than the Leafs.

Players who score more have more value and McMann scores way more than Laughton.
McMann is also not playing on the 4th line. He's currently playing on the 1st line.
Any team that trades for him is going to play him on the top 2 lines with their stars.

I don't think Leafs are thinking complete overhaul right now. They don't have their next 2 first round picks.
Precisely what is needed for a rebuild. They also have their 2 best players in their prime.
Injuries did hurt them this season. Particularly Tanev. If it's a retool they shouldn't be trading futures for short term fixes regardless. No more rentals. There's also what a new coach and/or new GM can do for this team. These are still Shanahan's hires.

A rebuild total overhaul requires trading both Matthews and Nylander. Hitting on 2 or more top 5 picks that will be your core to develop. Minimum 5 years and in Leafs case 7 years since they don't have their next 2 first round picks and there's no guarantee since every rebuilding team does this.

maurice93 said:

You have trade your UFA's and try to get lucky on 2nd or 3rd rounders. The Habs for example got 3 current or future core pieces in the 60's in 2021-2023 that are contributing now.... Hutson, Kapanen, and Fowler. The Leafs system is bare and few 2nd and 3rd picks, might at least fill middle/bottom line roles when the Leafs get better around 2030 for low $$ which is important.

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I would agree with you if the Leafs had a good management/scouting department. They don't.

maurice93 said:

If there was any minimal doubt as to whether to sell these two games clear that up.

get what you can

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Can we throw Berube and Treliving in for free to sweeten any deal? Or would that make it worse for the other team?

tml said:

I would agree with you if the Leafs had a good management/scouting department. They don't.

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And never will.

High pick doesn’t necessarily mean first round pick, a high second round pick is not out of the question. Chances are McMann will test the free agent market so even if the Leafs want to resign him, they may have to bid against a whole bunch of teams in the off season. You don’t want to lose him to free agency without getting some assets back. Try to read carefully and you’ll see I never said we could get a first for either McMann or Laughton.

superstar_88 said:

A rebuild total overhaul requires trading both Matthews and Nylander. Hitting on 2 or more top 5 picks that will be your core to develop. Minimum 5 years and in Leafs case 7 years since they don't have their next 2 first round picks and there's no guarantee since every rebuilding team does this.

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That total overhaul has to happen at some point (Matthews and Nylander). But it need not happen at this deadline, next summer or even next year, because as you note there are no first round picks in 26/27 or 27/28.

You see what happens next year, re-tool with FA's, get a new coach, don't give up any more futures, and see where it goes. But that likely won't solve much, so the Leafs will have to move on Matthews and Nylander at some point. If they suck enough they will agree to get traded, but those NTC's could limit the return depending on how specific they are.

The core will not be good enough in 2029/2030, they may in their prime at that point, but it will be outer borders. So you need to move on whenever that right trade comes up.

Your core can't just be the two top 5 picks, so you can start building on it as you can.. its building players around them within the system or getting the right young players in trades for your stars. I hate to keep pointing to Montreal, but their successful rebuild has went far deeper than top 5 picks (they did get two in Demidov and Slafkovsky)
- Got Suzuki for Pacioretty (a type piece you would look for in a Nylander deal)
- Drafted Caufield with the 21st overall pick.
- Drafted Hutson, Kapanen and Fowler in the 60s.
- Balanced their roster by trading a prospect D (drafted #30) for a forward.
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tml said:

I would agree with you if the Leafs had a good management/scouting department. They don't.

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I think for Montreal, Hughes has done a good job managing things. But hitting on picks in the 60s is sometimes just lots of luck, that even incompetent teams could sometimes achieve. You just build up those lottery tickets for draft picks, or to package for young "middle" talent.

maurice93 said:

That total overhaul has to happen at some point (Matthews and Nylander). But it need not happen at this deadline, next summer or even next year, because as you note there are no first round picks in 26/27 or 27/28.

You see what happens next year, re-tool with FA's, get a new coach, don't give up any more futures, and see where it goes. But that likely won't solve much, so the Leafs will have to move on Matthews and Nylander at some point. If they suck enough they will agree to get traded, but those NTC's could limit the return depending on how specific they are.

The core will not be good enough in 2029/2030, they may in their prime at that point, but it will be outer borders. So you need to move on whenever that right trade comes up.

Your core can't just be the two top 5 picks, so you can start building on it as you can.. its building players around them within the system or getting the right young players in trades for your stars. I hate to keep pointing to Montreal, but their successful rebuild has went far deeper than top 5 picks (they did get two in Demidov and Slafkovsky)
- Got Suzuki for Pacioretty (a type piece you would look for in a Nylander deal)
- Drafted Caufield with the 21st overall pick.
- Drafted Hutson, Kapanen and Fowler in the 60s.
- Balanced their roster by trading a prospect D (drafted #30) for a forward.
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Well, no doubt nothing stays the same forever but we're talking about right now and it's not the time for a total rebuild.
Retool, new coach, new GM then reassess. Especailly see what the team looks like with Tanev and less injuries.
Certainly you can draft a hit at 21st or anywhere in the draft for that matter but the point is much more likely to draft a hit in the top 5. You can also miss in the top 5. It's not easy to hit. There are only so many superstars in the league and there are 32 teams. The Leafs under Shanahan thought 4 forwards is all you need and just pay for rentals at the deadline. There is no future cause cause they banked it all on the 4 forwards. Ride or die. So certainly a rebuild will come at some point since players age out and no draft capital to replace them.

I'm predicting in Matthews final year of his contract. So, 2027-28 season if they're not a playoff team. Precisely when they get their 1st round picks again. However, McDavid contract expires same time so if Leafs sign him then everything changes. My point really is you can't win with just 4 forwards. The whole reason for the Leafs debacle is they had no team around them. Always second best goalie in the playoffs. D was an afterthought. No depth at forward. You need good players in every position. You need a team but every team also has a core. The Leafs just had a flawed core. Four forwards of exactly the same type. All soft.

Florida was like the Leafs. Good team but soft. They turfed Huberdeau and brought in Tkatchuk and that was it. Rantenan in for Marner could have been that change for the Leafs.

glamphotographer said:

I'm hoping the Leafs can play this badly to get a top 5 pick. Their prospect cupboards are bare.

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The lottery balls will determine that. If not then the Bruins once again will get a sure to be great player to pair with Fraser Minten.