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Is it safe in here?
Or should I apply my padded helmet first? – Sir
I’m safe, you’re safe, we’re all safe here. LOL.
Not exactly the same, but Steven Stamkos checks a lot of those boxes. Granted, Stamkos was only 30 when he got his first Cup and then 31 on the second Cup. Not great defensively, average skater, little playoff success prior to the Cups. He was making about $8m at the time.
So… kinda…. ish.
So, strike one, he wasn’t 34+, as you already said. Stamkos also had multiple deeper playoff runs (2011/2015/2018) in his younger days prior to winning, including one run to the Final that he lost. All in all, Stamkos has 50 career playoff goals and 100 playoff points to Tavares’ 28 playoff goals and 53 playoff points and they’re basically the same age. The way Tavares got shutout in 6 out of 7 games against the Panthers is something I don’t think Stamkos was capable of. But perhaps at 34+ Tampa Bay let him go away for good reason. And the Leafs should do the same.
If the Toronto media and fans want to blame the “core” for being bad playoff performers, perhaps it was their mentors, Marleau, Thornton, Spezza and Tavares that showed them how to be playoff losers.
Stamkos has played 128 career playoff games many of them with stacked Tampa teams.
JT has played 75 with the Islanders and Leafs.
#facts
Props to the Oilers. Florida may be the better team but Edmonton to a man is not going down without a fight.
Stamkos has played 128 career playoff games many of them with stacked Tampa teams.
JT has played 75 with the Islanders and Leafs.
#facts
You should at least attempt to do research before you say stupid shit like that.
If Tavares only played 75 career playoff games, it’s probably because he played like shit so often, his teams didn’t advance as often or as far as they should have.
Stamkos, in 2015, led his team to the Final with the super megastar Tyler Johnson. Kucherov was a 65 point, 2nd year player, great in the playoffs, yes, but not yet considered who he is today at that time. Vasilevskiy was the back-up. Point wasn’t even drafted yet. Hedman had less points than Stralman. The next year, Stamkos only played 1 playoff game. His team did not return to the Final without him, despite every other major player still being on the team. They did not return to the Final for many years, despite missing the playoffs entirely one year and getting swept by Columbus after being the #1 team in the NHL. Did they blow up the team? Trade Kucherov? Point? Stamkos? Hedman? Vasilevskiy? Nope. Luckily they didn’t have idiot fans running their best players out of town.
Stamkos’ 50 career playoff goals is only 3 less than Kucherov, 6 more than Point and many more than other guy on the roster during that era. And he did that despite missing nearly two entire playoff runs due to injury.
Can Tavares say he did anything anywhere near that? Since 2018 up to 2025, despite being the 2nd highest paid player in the league for most of that time, Tavares (in his fucking prime) sat behind far younger, more inexperienced players like Marner, Matthews, Nylander and even Rielly in playoff scoring. And -15 too. If you wanted to make the argument that he was the best player on a team that lacked good players (like Sundin) you might have a leg to stand on. But you got nothing but excuses for a piece of shit player who did nothing to live up to the contract and praise he was given. People like you were screaming from the rooftops “look at what he did with garbage players in Long Island, just imagine what he’ll do in Toronto with Matthews, Marner and Nylander, we are spoiled with riches” and look how it all played out. Those same people are now screaming for his return. But they also scream “change, change, change”. You want fake change.
The more you look at the numbers, the more it seems like Matthews is closer to Stamkos than Tavares is because Tavares is absolute dog shit by comparison. Matthews is the 60 goal man, plagued by injuries in the playoffs who requires the team around him to be stacked because he can’t carry it all by himself. Which is fine because most players can’t. Not even McDavid seems to be able to win it all by himself.
Even if your argument was that Stamkos was a passenger (he wasn’t) on stacked teams for 16 years, behind Kucherov, Point, Hedman, Vasilevskiy etc., it holds zero water to expect the Leafs to have Stanley Cup success by bringing Tavares back along as a passenger at 34-40 when they have absolutely nobody who performs like the “stacked” Tampa Bay teams did, to carry him along. Much less, after also letting Marner (the #1 career playoff point producer on this team) walk for nothing and replacing him with spare parts at the bottom of the UFA barrel.
Facts. Will you accept them? Probably not.
You should at least attempt to do research before you say stupid shit like that.
Stupid shit eh, honestly if anyone would know about saying stupid shit it’s you.
Seriously, are you that blinded by your hate for JT and raging that the Leafs would be so wrong to bring him back that you have to be an an absolute knob to anyone who dares not agree with your opinion? I would think by now you would be used to people not agreeing with all your super hot takes and video game mode trade proposals.
You posted stats about 2 players with zero context other than “playoff points / goals” which was intentionally misleading since one guy has played 128 playoff games and the other 75 and when that fact is pointed out to you this is how you react?
For the record I didn’t see ANYONE say JT was a better playoff performer (I sure as hell didn’t), I provided context to your post that was missing important information – had you posted it initially instead of trying to spin a narrative by intentionally omitting it we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Here are some more facts that may hurt your feelings:
JT HAS in fact played 75 career playoff games https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=89823
Tyler Johnson was the playoff goal and point leader in 2015, he also led in even strength goals, Game Winning goals and goals created in those playoffs.
Tampa had Ben Bishop in net who had the most shutouts in the playoffs, a .921 Save % and a 2.18 GAA.
Maybe it’s you who should do research before posting ‘stupid shit’ or post the entire set of data and not just cherry pick what helps support your opinion and purposely omit what doesn’t but should be considered.
The only person screaming about JT is you, it’s quite probable that JT will be back, you may want to look to accept that fact while considering that facts don’t care about your feelings.
Thinking that not bringing a guy back for 3-5M is the major change that’s needed vs not paying a winger 13M or more and yet again putting the Leafs into a cap situation where they simply can’t build the balanced roster that the true, like the elite teams in this league have right now is incredibly short sighted.
I’m done with this debate – sorry / not sorry to have spoiled your narrative with facts.
You posted stats about 2 players with zero context other than “playoff points / goals” which was intentionally misleading since one guy has played 128 playoff games and the other 75 and when that fact is pointed out to you this is how you react?
There is absolutely nothing misleading or out of context about stating the fact that Stamkos has actually been a playoff performer and Tavares has not.
For the record I didn’t see ANYONE say JT was a better playoff performer (I sure as hell didn’t), I provided context to your post that was missing important information – had you posted it initially instead of trying to spin a narrative by intentionally omitting it we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
You certainly implied it by trying to spin the context by stating that Stamkos was playing on “stacked” teams while Tavares wasn’t.
The facts slapped you harder across the face than Edmonton got slapped in Game 3.
Here are some more facts that may hurt your feelings:
JT HAS in fact played 75 career playoff games https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=89823
34 years only and he’s only played in 75 career playoff games? And you want that garbage to come back?
Tyler Johnson was the playoff goal and point leader in 2015, he also led in even strength goals, Game Winning goals and goals created in those playoffs.
Tampa had Ben Bishop in net who had the most shutouts in the playoffs, a .921 Save % and a 2.18 GAA.
Maybe it’s you who should do research before posting ‘stupid shit’ or post the entire set of data and not just cherry pick what helps support your opinion and purposely omit what doesn’t but should be considered.
Irrelevant. Having Tyler Johnson and Ben Bishop on the team is hardly having a “stacked” team the year he first brought his team to the Cup Final. That same “stacked” team, didn’t go as far without him the next year. Tyler Johnson never had a playoff run like that ever again. Bishop got replaced by Vasilevskiy.
Your dumbass point was refuted. Easily.
The only person screaming about JT is you, it’s quite probable that JT will be back, you may want to look to accept that fact while considering that facts don’t care about your feelings.
Thinking that not bringing a guy back for 3-5M is the major change that’s needed vs not paying a winger 13M or more and yet again putting the Leafs into a cap situation where they simply can’t build the balanced roster that the true, like the elite teams in this league have right now is incredibly short sighted.
Throwing away your leading point producer in his prime for nothing while bringing back an old, proven loser is the precise manner in which this franchise continues to fail miserably. Keep supporting the failure.
I’m done with this debate – sorry / not sorry to have spoiled your narrative with facts.
Good, you know when you’ve been defeated. Now stay silent like a good boy.
Rielly for Lafrenière ???
they have roughly the same cap hit.
why — just because.
Don’t think either team or player benefits or accepts that trade.
Moving Rielly is mostly about getting his horrid defense off the team, clearing cap space and bringing in defensive depth.
Now stay silent like a good boy.
Do everyone here a favour and take this advice and apply it to yourself.
At this point you’d almost have to give Rielly away. Even if he agreed to waive (he won’t), the return is going to be scrubs and low picks unless you retain and fuck retaining on a contract like that. Send him to Utah for a 7th and a box of timbits.
Sure, the ownership could run him out of town and basically “override” his NMC by driving him out, but then you damage the team’s reputation as a destination for other players like free agents or trade targets. That’s far from ideal.
Put him in rehab, bury the caphit.
Kerrigan his kneecap and put him on Robidas Island.
Redeploy him as a 2nd pair, optimize for a reduced and overpaid role, and live with it.
That’s pretty much your options.
At this point you’d almost have to give Rielly away. Even if he agreed to waive (he won’t), the return is going to be scrubs and low picks unless you retain and fuck retaining on a contract like that. Send him to Utah for a 7th and a box of timbits.
Sure, the ownership could run him out of town and basically “override” his NMC by driving him out, but then you damage the team’s reputation as a destination for other players like free agents or trade targets. That’s far from ideal.
Put him in rehab, bury the caphit.
Kerrigan his kneecap and put him on Robidas Island.
Redeploy him as a 2nd pair, optimize for a reduced and overpaid role, and live with it.
That’s pretty much your options.
Disagree.
Rielly has negative value to the Leafs but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have value to somebody else. Remember, Karlsson got traded. Rielly can be traded.
He will waive for Vancouver or Seattle. He doesn’t have a cocaine problem, that’s just insane bullshit that’s been said about Nylander too. He is what he’s always been; good skater who can’t play defense.
The Leafs can get a bottom pairing D and a 4th line C for him. Vancouver would probably welcome him as they expect to trade Hughes as he has no interest in staying long term and wants to play with his brothers.
Rielly to VAN for Blueger and T. Myers.
Well, if you can convince Rielly to waive and work a deal with Vancouver to take him (preferably zero retention) and get some assets in return, then I nominate you as the next executive assistant to the assistant general manager.
Blueger has a $1.8m caphit for next season and then UFA after that.
Myers has a $3m caphit until 2027 and then UFA, and he’s 35 right now, BTW.
So, you would be taking on $4.8m in cap and shooting Rielly’s $7.5m caphit into the Sun… which runs until 2030 by the way, so I hope the Canucks really really want him with no retention.
You would be gaining $2.2m in free cap. That’s a nice little piece of change that gets you another bottom sixer or #3-#5 dman.
The problem I see here is, Myers is definitely not a top pair guy. And that still leaves you without a true #1 dman, which Rielly was at least cosplaying as on the Leafs. Blueger is basically a plug and is a noshow in the playoffs, so I guess he’s a little cheaper than Kampf.
None of this solves the root issue on defense – the Leafs don’t have a rock or warhorse. They don’t have a true #1. Rielly is trying and failing. Shooting him into the Sun, but taking back almost $5m in cap on a 35 year old dman and Kampf-lite doesn’t feel like a big upgrade, although you get free of Rielly’s cap from years 2027 onward.
On further reflection, I think it might be better if Rielly gets a coke habit.
Well, if you can convince Rielly to waive and work a deal with Vancouver to take him (preferably zero retention) and get some assets in return, then I nominate you as the next executive assistant to the assistant general manager.
The Leafs don’t need to get gold in return for Rielly. They just need a little extra cap space and to fill gaps in the line-up. I don’t think it requires anything special to get him to waive. They just need to sit down with him and tell him he’s not part of the future plans of the team. At that point, he starts picking places he would like to land in.
Blueger has a $1.8m caphit for next season and then UFA after that.
Myers has a $3m caphit until 2027 and then UFA, and he’s 35 right now, BTW.
Which is perfect for the Leafs. Blueger gives the Leafs a Cup winning 4C who can play the PK and with speed.
Myers gives the Leafs another big body, RHD, who can PK and defend. Maybe gives the Leafs another PP option with his point shot.
So, you would be taking on $4.8m in cap and shooting Rielly’s $7.5m caphit into the Sun… which runs until 2030 by the way, so I hope the Canucks really really want him with no retention.
As I said earlier, they’ll probably end up losing Hughes one way or another by 2030. He doesn’t want to stay in Vancouver. Rielly is at least a hometown guy.
You would be gaining $2.2m in free cap. That’s a nice little piece of change that gets you another bottom sixer or #3-#5 dman.
And that extra cap space would go to either Dumoulin or Brent Burns (hometown discount). Dumoulin gives the Leafs another steady Cup winner with a bit of size and defensive awareness.
At the moment, the Leafs have 3 LHD in OEL, McCabe and Benoit. None of them are #1 D, that’s for certain. However, the Leafs lack 3 RHD.
A big source of the Leafs defensive issues is that they had OEL playing on the right side and it significantly lowered his ability to move the puck effectively.
OEL / Tanev
McCabe / Myers
Dumoulin or Burns / Carlo
BenoitThe problem I see here is, Myers is definitely not a top pair guy. And that still leaves you without a true #1 dman, which Rielly was at least cosplaying as on the Leafs. Blueger is basically a plug and is a noshow in the playoffs, so I guess he’s a little cheaper than Kampf.
None of this solves the root issue on defense – the Leafs don’t have a rock or warhorse. They don’t have a true #1. Rielly is trying and failing. Shooting him into the Sun, but taking back almost $5m in cap on a 35 year old dman and Kampf-lite doesn’t feel like a big upgrade, although you get free of Rielly’s cap from years 2027 onward.
This gives the Leafs the ability to deploy 3 sets of evenly LHD/RHD pairs that can each play 20 min each. Ideally, it would be nice if the Leafs had a guy like Seth Jones (Leafs were too stupid to acquire him) or some other minute munching top pair D. But unfortunately, those guys are A) not available and B) not within the budget.
On further reflection, I think it might be better if Rielly gets a coke habit.
There’s plenty of fentanyl in Vancouver and Seattle, he can do whatever he wants as soon as he’s off the Leafs cap.
This gives the Leafs the ability to deploy 3 sets of evenly LHD/RHD pairs that can each play 20 min each. Ideally, it would be nice if the Leafs had a guy like Seth Jones (Leafs were too stupid to acquire him) or some other minute munching top pair D. But unfortunately, those guys are A) not available and B) not within the budget.
However, they could grab Aaron Ekblad as a UFA. If Rielly was moved for picks or prospects, that cash could go straight to Ekblad and solidify the right side of the defense. Leafs need to dispose of both Marner and Rielly. Replace with picks to restock the cupboard. Brock Boeser, and Nikolaj Ehlers could be had for the price of Marner’s contract. You solidify the top 6 and the defense is stronger. Is it enough to win the Atlantic? Maybe. Some time soon, the drain of talent from Florida will finally take them out. Leafs have 2 years to get it done, before the younger teams like Ottawa, Montreal, and Detroit come knocking.
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