Maple Leafs 2018 - 19

[bmwquay]

The Oilers did it in the 80's. Todays NHL is less hitting and fighting. The Leafs might just pull it off.

The Oiler super powers were just so far ahead of everyone else in those days. That was the blueprint. Calgary started to match them with a loaded line up as well. This is the way the league is now with speed. Wilson is a player not just a menace and a wrecking ball. Lucic use to be that also but the speed of the game has him lose his effectiveness.

They can still tweak the 3rd and 4th lines but the power is in Matthew/Nylander and Tavaras/Marner add in Kadri/Kapanen on the 3rd. Hyman plays on important role also and Andersen is a given. Rielly also.

 

[smuddan]

In addition to giving him 6.9 mil a year, Dubas also had to promise Nylander that he would never trade him as long as he remains the GM. Essentially Willy got the kind of deals an unrestricted free agent would get. It sure sounds like Dubas was bending over to get him signed.

 

[bmwquay]

I don't think Dubas made this promise. He said it is not his intention to trade him while he is GM. That is not a promise. What else did you expect him to say? Willy's fear was sign and trade so Dubas tried to reassure him best he can. I believe him it's not his intention but if circumstances change and a trade helps the Leafs he'll be traded.

I don't see the point of trading him. Matthews/Nylander with Tavaras/Marner works. Get rid of Marleau's and Hainsey's contracts there's 9 plus million right there. Get a really cheap 4th line.

 

[chuckertmg]

Really? Where did that come from? Is it binding? Never a good thing if the option to trade a player is taken away. Shanny may need to take the GM title for a day to make the trade then.

It was only verbal; Dubas telling Nylander he had no intention of trading him and he expects him to be a career player. It's not in the contract and although there might be no intention now, loyalty means virtually nothing in this business.

The real damage is the message to other players that holding out can pay big dividends. Combined with the Leafs strategy to avoid paying market rates, it's a bad combination.
If Matthews isn't signed by July 1st watch for the offer sheet from his home town in Arizona. Local hero, big box office draw.

 

[glamphotographer]

I believe there will be about $24 million in cap space next season. Provided that Gardiner and Hainsey don't resign. NHL Cap will be around $83 million for 2019-2020. So Matthews get's $11m, Marner $9 mil, $4 mil left for Kapanen or a free agent D-man.

 

[glamphotographer]

If Matthews isn't signed by July 1st watch for the offer sheet from his home town in Arizona. Local hero, big box office draw.

I don't think Matthews will save that team. Hockey is dead in arizona.

 

[smuddan]

I don't think Dubas made this promise. He said it is not his intention to trade him while he is GM. That is not a promise. What else did you expect him to say? Willy's fear was sign and trade so Dubas tried to reassure him best he can. I believe him it's not his intention but if circumstances change and a trade helps the Leafs he'll be traded.

I don't see the point of trading him. Matthews/Nylander with Tavaras/Marner works. Get rid of Marleau's and Hainsey's contracts there's 9 plus million right there. Get a really cheap 4th line.

Nylander seemed to think so as he was quoted as saying :

“Kyle has told me multiple times that as long as he’s here he’s not going to trade me. "

 

[mandrill]

I don't think Matthews will save that team. Hockey is dead in arizona.

Why would Matthews play in a depressing hockey-dead city with a shitty team when he could be playing in an up and coming, well supported Stanley Cup contender?

Cap space aside, Matthews could essentially write his own ticket and almost any team in the league would rush to sign him. The bump in gate receipts alone would cover his price.

 

[Indiana]

Gardner’s gotta be out.
If Marleau stays its about $11 mil to divy up between him, Kapenan, Johnson, Sparks, Olzi-what’s his name and Lindholm.
Do the math.
Someone or more have to go.

 

[bmwquay]

Leafs still the only team with no overtime loser points. No shootouts either. No one on Buffalo has Matthew's shot. Buffalo had the puck most of the overtime but none of those shots Buffalo took were dangerous. Anderson stopped them with ease. About the only scoring chances were Kapanen on the breakaway and Matthews with that zinger of a winner.

It looks like Buffalo tanked last year to get Rasmus Dahlin. Good decision. He looks really good. Same move Leafs used to get Matthews.

 

[smuddan]

If Buffalo's goaltending can hold up, this is going to be one heck of a rivalry for years to come. While they don't have the same depth of exceptional talent as the Leafs, Eichel, Dahlin and Ristolainen form a great core to build your franchise on. You could sense the intensity and excitement on their players whenever they play the Leafs. They probably want to beat the Leafs more than beating any other team.

And what was Babcock thinking when twice he put the 4th line against the Sabres first line and both times resulted in getting scored on ? The only explanation I can come up with is he wanted to see who could rise to the occasion with the imminent return of Nylander. It could have easily costed the game.

 

[glamphotographer]

The last 3 NHL drafts, where the number 1 pick and the team made the playoffs.

2016 Matthews Leafs made the playoffs.
2017 Hischier Devils made the playoffs.
2018 Dahlin Sabres in a playoff spot.

 

[bmwquay]

The first time Ennis failed to mark his man and block the shot. Look at how the Buffalo forward fronts Rielly not giving him the shot. 2nd time Gardiner didn't mark Eichel to the side for the one timer and instead decided to mark Zaitsev his own teammate. Andersen played well again. 2 deflections and that Eichel 1 timer.

 

[Ref]

Nice third period comeback against the wings. I had a feeling they would come out and take it to Detroit in the third. They had nothing to lose at that point, so may as well go for it. I'll take the point.

 

[bmwquay]

comeback started when Nylander was benched and Kapanen and Jonnson joined Matthews. There was chemistry in that team prior to Nylander disrupting it. Willy's gotta work hard now to get his stamina and timing back.

 

[jrobertson1]

comeback started when Nylander was benched and Kapanen and Jonnson joined Matthews. There was chemistry in that team prior to Nylander disrupting it. Willy's gotta work hard now to get his stamina and timing back.

More a credit to Johnsson and Kappy than a knock on Nylander IMO. That being said Nylander will need to get up to game speed fast. He's gonna have to justify the overpayment before the Toronto sports media crucifies him

 

[Indiana]

I was hoping for that.
Give Willy a few shifts to get up to speed.
Put Kasperin with Matthews.

 

[gcostanza]

Put Kasperin....

Who?

 

[bmwquay]

That's Leafs secret weapon. No one knows who he is.

 

[chuckertmg]

Boston has injury problems. They're on a losing streak and their scoring has been dismal.
Should be easy pickings tomorrow.