The Leafs are still on the hunt for another defenseman, a player that can take the body like Muzzin. Dubas and Waddell (Canes GM) are still in talks.
Maple Leafs 2018 - 19
- Thread starter Insidious Von
- Start date
You mean how the Caps could not past the Pens. Wait, what?
On another note, Muzzin is an excellent pick up!
Amongst the Maple Leafs spares, Igor Ozhiganov & Justin Holl are right~handed shots.
Forget Holl. There's a reason why he doesn't play. Doesn't have the hockey smarts. He's just insurance, a practice D, can't play on Marlies without getting claimed and he shoots right. Once the playoffs start you don't want any weak links anywhere.
Durzi could be the sleeper in this deal, 34 points in 28 games in the OHL this season. Not bad for a defencman.
but he's also 20 playing against younger kids. He should be dominant in that league otherwise what's the point. Grundstrum is just a year older and playing against men.
Laine 1 goal in the whole month of January. In a major slump or just not as good as Matthews?
Laine 50 games, 25 goals, 34 pts, minus 13. Matthews 35 games, 21 goals, 43 pts, even.
So Laine over Matthews … really?
TSN reporting that with Marner now putting off contract talks until after the season numerous teams are already preparing offer sheets. Not saying Marner would sign one but if someone throws a 13-14 million a year offer at him you would figure he would be nuts not to sign knowing the Leafs would have to match.
I know hockey is a business but I just can't see him leaving his dream team. Tavaras took less money to play for Leafs. I don't see him signing an offer sheet. He'll use the threat of it as leverage as well as his season ending stats and playoff performance but I just don't see him ripping his own heart out and leaving.
Leaf Nation worships him now and he's still just a kid. Imagine a whole career as a Leaf. They'll put him on Legends Row.
Leaf Nation worships him now and he's still just a kid. Imagine a whole career as a Leaf. They'll put him on Legends Row.
I’m not saying he would leave but his agent has to know that Dubas would have no choice but to match any offer sheet. It’s probably the only way he gets maximum market value.
Exactly. He'll be forgotten everywhere else, but be treated like a god in Toronto forever. I'm sure he can make a lot of money through sponsorship deals while he's part of the Leafs.
There are two sides to that coin. In Toronto he will super popular, will make millions more on endorsements, mobbed by fans, little to no privacy and forever under the spotlight. Elsewhere (USA) he will make millions in salary, not as much on endorsements, much less taken off in taxes, not as much fanfare and probably a lot more privacy for him and his eventual family.
If it was me, I would opt not to play for the Leafs mainly due to privacy and being able to live a more normal life without being mobbed and hassled by fans every where one would go.
Another option he could take is to stick around for a couple of years with Toronto, hopefully win a cup and enjoy the rabid atmosphere, then jump ship to a team in the USA (in a warm environment).
I do believe that as the salary cap continues to go up the elite players will get bigger deals than what McDavid signed for. Another issue will be the CBA, I believe the league will use the opt out clause this September and there could be a work stoppage until a new deal is worked out.
Freddie won't be around by then, the net will belong to Sparks/Kaskisuo/Scott/Woll (if he signs). McAdam is RFA this summer and I'd be surprised if he isn't brought back for another year or two as depth.
Something to ponder: Sheldon Keefe is in the final year of his current contract, does anyone NOT see him as a Babcock assistant next year?
Sparks will be gone after this year. They won't be able to afford a new contract for him as a back-up.
Even if Hainsey doesn't retire I can't see Leafs taking him back for more. He's old and looks it. Marleau also. Hockey is a young mans game now. Veterans you want are now Tavaras and Muzzin's age range.
In player evaluation it all comes down to a value per dollar basis. A veteran of the caliber of Tavares or Muzzin will cost dearly. A veteran like Hainsey still has a place in today NHL if he can be signed under 2 mil and managed properly. For a d man when protecting a lead, speed is not as essential as smarts and positioning and Hainsey does that better than any other d men on the Leafs roster. Very often you see guys like him or Polak on the ice in the final minutes protecting a lead and that shows the coaches' confidence. Having said that, Id think the Leafs may be looking for a right handed veteran as his replacement so to balance the left right configuration.
And what, pray tell, do the Maple Leafs do with Patrick Marleau's contract, which runs thru 2019-20 with a cap hit of $6.25Mm?
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