Maple Leafs 2020-21

[Darts]

Time to put the disastrous 2019-20 season behind us.

Assuming there will be a 2020-21 season, what do the Leafs need to do to make the playoffs and win the Cup?

Let's keep the debate/discussion civil and refrain from personal comments. Thank you.

 

[Darts]

Questions, questions and more questions?

1) Unsigned players
I think Barrie(UFA), Ceci(UFA) and Demott(RFA) are among still unsigned players. What will become of them?

2) Draft
No first round draft choices. So, who will the Leafs draft?

3) Upcoming players
Looks like Nick Robertson and maybe 1 or 2 defenseman (Sundin?) will make the club.

4) Trades
Any trades to better the club? Last year Dubas got raped by the Hurricanes in a trade that lost a 1st round draft choice and Reimer and Gardiner.

5) Free agents
Will the Leafs try to sign any free agents? Do the Leafs have any cap room to sign free agents?

6) Leaf free agents
Andersen and Hyman will be UFA's in 2021. Should the Leafs try to sign them now?

7) Diversity
In this day and age, we mustn't forget diversity. Do the Leafs need more diversity on the ice and in the front office?

 

[Insidious Von]

 

[gcostanza]

Will this thread be deleted around, oh, I don't know, Christmas?

 

[Indiana]

Just gotta be patient and let the kids develop.

 

[Darts]

Just gotta be patient and let the kids develop.

Yes, but remember that Crosby, Toews and Kane were young when they won their Cups. Of course, some will say that Oveckin and Yezerman were old when they won their Cup(s).

The thing with the Leafs is that if they wait too long, Matthews will be gone. Actually, Hyman and Andersen could be gone in 2021 and Rielly in 2022.

 

[gcostanza]

Yes, but remember that Crosby, Toews and Kane were young when they won their Cups. Of course, some will say that Oveckin and Yezerman were old when they won their Cup(s).

The thing with the Leafs is that if they wait too long, Matthews will be gone. Actually, Hyman and Andersen could be gone in 2021 and Rielly in 2022.

Matthews will be around likely a lot longer than this thread.

 

[spankingman]

A hate the ''FORCED"" diversity thing. IMO you hire the BEST person for the position regardless of race. How many First Nation-Asian (Chinese Japanese Korean) East Asian kids rise to NHL stature? Sure there have been some over the years. They don't because not many play the game at a high level ie: CHL or University. The game is not part of their culture. The NHL is the NBA in reverse racially. Just look at the various major sports leagues. I would say MLB is the MOST diverse of them all. white black hispanic asian. Hire the BEST person!!!

 

[roadhog]

Will this thread be deleted around, oh, I don't know, Christmas?

Friday, and replaced immediately by another with the exact same title.

 

[Darts]

Now that the Leafs are out of the playoffs, Dubas can focus all his time and energy on the issues that affect the next season. First priority should be to sign or not sign some players. Maybe a trade or two, Prepare for the draft (too bad about no 1st round pick).

 

[Darts]

Will this thread be deleted around, oh, I don't know, Christmas?

Matthews will be around likely a lot longer than this thread.

Friday, and replaced immediately by another with the exact same title.

Don't grieve too much. The "Will The Leafs Make The Playoffs" thread is still around.

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/will-leafs-make-the-playoffs.687583/

 

[smuddan]

Even with another disappointing first round loss, Dubas will likely get at least another crack to do his analytical manoeuvres in trying to improve the team. The consensus seem to be that defence and the grit department will need huge upgrades, and the improvements will have to come in three ways :

1) Free Agency - there are Pietrangelo and Krug available, either will immediately improve the d, but there’s no room in cap unless he trades either Marner or Nylander, or a combination of Johnsso/Kapanen/Kerfoot;

2) Trades : the aforementioned are prime candidates again but with Dubas’s track records as Leafs GM, I’m afraid he’ll screw up again like he did with the Marleau and Kadri deals;

3) Internal Improvements: Dermott and Sandin offer hopes, but I don’t see anyone else has any realistic hopes of becoming a top four d man. We’ve seen the best of Holl and I don’t think he is much better than a 5th or 6th guy on the depth chart.

 

[Darts]

Even with another disappointing first round loss, Dubas will likely get at least another crack to do his analytical manoeuvres in trying to improve the team.

Wonder who he will pick in the draft (no 1st round pick)?

 

[John Wick]

Wonder who he will pick in the draft (no 1st round pick)?

Won't make much difference. The Leafs have no 1st or 3rd round picks, and the draft is thin so even a second rounder won't get you much. Dubas would be better off packaging up a bunch of picks from 2020 into a trade for some bodies that can step in and play with impact in 2021.

 

[GameBoy27]

The Leafs are currently spending 40% of their cap on Tavares, Matthews and Marner. That leaves them little to spend unless they move some bodies. They definitely need more grit and tougher D to go the distance. They need a guy like Kadri, except someone who doesn't get suspended all the time.

We have Matthews for 4 more years and he's proven to be one of the best in the league. I was a big Andersen fan (one more year on his contract) but I'm getting tired of the weak goals in really important games. Like a game 7, or 5 in the case of the CBJ series. Can't seem to steal a game when it counts the most. I wouldn't be sad to see Nylander pack his bags. He doesn't show up in the playoffs. Marner was weak too.

This team was built on speed and finesse. Great to watch and will probably get you to the playoffs, but that's about it.

 

[John Wick]

The Leafs are currently spending 40% of their cap on Tavares, Matthews and Marner. That leaves them little to spend unless they move some bodies. They definitely need more grit and tougher D to go the distance. They need a guy like Kadri, except someone who doesn't get suspended all the time.

We have Matthews for 4 more years and he's proven to be one of the best in the league. I was a big Andersen fan (one more year on his contract) but I'm getting tired of the weak goals in really important games. Like a game 7, or 5 in the case of the CBJ series. Can't seem to steal a game when it counts the most. I wouldn't be sad to see Nylander pack his bags. He doesn't show up in the playoffs. Marner was weak too.

This team was built on speed and finesse. Great to watch and will probably get you to the playoffs, but that's about it.

Agree on all points, with the exception of Marner. Marner actually played a pretty impressive defensive game throughout the series. Unfortunately, he's paid mostly to generate offense and on this count, and based on his salary, he simply just didn't get the job done.

 

[Darts]

Heard on the radio that the NHL plans to start the 2020-21 season in December. Will be interesting to see how they do it. Will they use the MLB template?

Couldn't quickly find a link more recent than July 11, 2020.

 

[John Wick]

Heard on the radio that the NHL plans to start the 2020-21 season in December. Will be interesting to see how they do it. Will they use the MLB template?

Couldn't quickly find a link more recent than July 11, 2020.

Maybe they could expand the current 'bubble' system to maybe 6 sites and keep going as is. It seems to be working in pilot mode...it could be scalable in the right cities.

 

[Darts]

Post moved to another thread.

 

[Archer2012]

Agree on all points, with the exception of Marner. Marner actually played a pretty impressive defensive game throughout the series. Unfortunately, he's paid mostly to generate offense and on this count, and based on his salary, he simply just didn't get the job done.

Mitch is a player - he did what he thought he needed to in order to try win.
In some instances in TO that meant dropping in front of shots / open net shots.

Should he have been been put into that position (having to do that) is the larger question - who did what seconds before / that’s all it takes in the fastest game on Earth.

By the time JQP (John Q Public) takes the time to rewind / access and comment - Bud, for these Boys it’s over in a nano second when they try to decide on the fly whats right and what’s wrong. They don’t have the advantage of pause, rewind and play.

Crazy - everyone blames the guy who let XXX happen in the last minute - larger question - wher was the rest of the team for the first 58 mins that left the team in the position.
Most people who have never been in a truly competitive environment don’t recognize this. Played the Game at a high level.