Now that Shanny is gone, next up Marner?
This isn’t about who anyone wants to go / stay between 88 or 16, it’s about what can happen, what is realistic and ‘doable’.
Shanny was likely the one who who would have been all in on re-signing Marner and I think others in the organization aren’t willing to, and Berube is kinda’in that group.
I don’t think Berube will say it’s about a specific high end but soft player (as we know the Leafs have a few) but he will say we need more of things they don’t have and the only way to get those things is to change the people / cap distribution.
If they were going to move on from Nylander wouldn’t they have done so before they signed him to an 8 year deal? I guess they could try to move Willy but why would he agree to waive his full no trade deal? That makes zero sense – he knows if he stays Marner is likely gone and he will get bumped up to L1 to play with Matthews and get more ice time and more points.
We can (should) be mad at the players for their performances or lack thereof but the reality is there is blame for the current situation on a few folks but the bulk of it is the absolute stubborn and arrogant moron they just fired in Shanny.
Shanny who brought in an experienced GM and coach and then decided to go the complete opposite direction with Dubas and Keefe. Seriously an inexperienced coach or GM is ok if the other one is experienced but both being green to the NHL was a mistake.
The fact they didn’t give Marner the 8 or 8.5 x 8 his camp apparently wanted in 2019 and decided to wait out the season which cost them 3 to 3.5M per year, 2 less years AND resulted in them giving Marner a NTC for the last 2 fucking years of his deal (which in itself was insane when usually it’s the last year).
Then Shanny shit cans Dubas, brings in Tre and ties his hands by telling him he can’t move Marner.
Imagine the haul the Leafs would have got by trading Marner before the NTC kicked in?
Now all they can likely do is re-sign him and continue to have a horrifically unbalanced roster that won’t become a top 4 team or let him walk for nothing.
Fuck you Shanny, you fucked this team and it’s fan base over with your arrogance and belief you knew better than everyone else.