Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Kulak, Andersson, and Marchment are on my wishlist. Have to figure out how to jettison some dead weight, though.
Kulak on the 3rd pairing and Marchment on the third line would solidify the bottom 6. Bringing back Laughton as 4C would also help. Lots of talk about acquiring Darren Raddysh would help the powerplay. Put him on the top defensive pairing with Jake McCabe. I’m in total agreement with jettisoning Rielly and Maccelli. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with Domi with Matts running the show.
Looks like we’re running out of steam. Two emotional days and now it’s hibernation time, until June. Do we care about any of the series? Maybe hoping that Buffalo smites Montreal. Carolina is a bore. Anaheim vs Vegas is the kiddies table series. The winner gets swept by the victor of Colorado vs Minnesota. The only final that would be acceptable is Minnesota vs Buffalo.
I think the Leafs should consider re-signing Scott Laughton to a 2 year deal, as a 3rd or 4th line center. He doesn’t score a lot, but does play an aggressive game. Besides, reacquiring him would make the Philly deal look a little more palatable. The trade was a disaster, giving up a first and a prospect, but reacquiring a second rounder from the Kings(via Buffalo) for a rental would take a bit of the sting out of that deal. Who knows? If the Leafs rebound, that pick might become a mid 1st round pick.
Yesterday, at this time…very few options. Today, many options.
Option 1, moving Matthews to Los Angeles. Quinton Byfield would be a must. Also, the Leafs would get a 1st this year and their first next year. Los Angeles is in dire need for a Center. Leafs should bring back Scott Laughton as a UFA signing.
Option 2, Moving Matthews plus Robertson to Philadelphia. Trevor Zegras, Nikita Grebenkin and Philly’s first, this year and the 1st rounder of Toronto that’s owed for 2028.
Option 3, Moving Matthews to Anaheim for Cutter Gauthier and a first, next year.
Yup, the “rebuild” works better if you have picks after you trade all your best players. But tanking with no picks is worthless. And the Leafs would need at least 3 straight years of lottery picks plus a huge haul for Matthews and Nylander (another 4-5 1st round picks) to rebuild this team correctly.
They’re fucked. They have no clear path to a retool or a rebuild and it seems pretty obvious they are hellbent on running this shit team back until Pelley gets fired.
You know as well as I do, Pelly isn’t going anywhere. We’re stuck with this clown for years to come. The way it’s set up, Chayka does what Pelly says and Sundin is the wing man that puts out fires. The way it’s set up, when the team is going nowhere again next year, the Coach gets it first. Two year from now, if the team isn’t making moves towards a playoff spot, Chayka gets the gas chamber. Pelly stays untouched. He’s purely the Head of the politburo and can only be taken out via an internal power-struggle. It’s going to be a gut-wrenching year coming up. At least Boston and Florida got fucked for a change.
I know that we’re all pissed about the hiring of Chayka and the idiot Pelly running around setting fires. For once, we have to just calm down and be totally grateful that we won the Draft lottery. We can lob hand-grenades at the team and go on a hate-fest, but how helpful is that? Yesterday, I went down that road and I’m still very skeptical about the Leafs management hires. But today, we were gifted a 1st overall pick. We have to acknowledge that there is a World Class talent coming our way. It may take a year or two before we see that talent blossom in the league. But losing this pick to Boston would have been devastating. Grab your popcorn, watch the draft and see what free agency and the trade market produces. Time to just wait. Yesterday was grey and bleak. Today we have some hope.
A retard would read this and ask you if you are Steve Simmons.
But you are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, because they can’t tank again until 2029, this rather fucks things up..
You know what else totally sucks? Losing this years draft pick and Boston picking at #6. No first rounder and no top prospect for rebuilding. It would have meant trading Matthews and Nylander for picks and a minimum 7 year rebuild. No prospects in the system, probably forfeiting another top 5 pick to Philadelphia next year. The team would have flatlined next year, with still no top prospect in the system. Now, they have one. Would they have gotten the 1st overall in 2028? The odds say no. Ask Vancouver who now picks 3rd this year, with the worst record in hockey. The retool starts now.
OK, there is a reason that McKenna is the consensus number 1 pick. The Leafs have to take the best player available, regardless of position. The Leafs have too many holes and have to start filling them. The Leafs do have Colorado’s first rounder next year. If the Leafs can finish in the middle of the pack, Boston gets to pick around 15 or 16. Still, the Leafs have that 1st via the Roy trade. The Leafs goaltending is good. 4 NHL caliber goaltenders on the Leafs and the AHL. The Leafs can also go into free agency and grab a player like Tampa’s Raddysh. A healthy Tanev, McCabe and OEL, plus Carlo give them a decent top 4. If their health stays good, they can compete for a playoff spot, beating out the likes of Boston and Ottawa. Rielly has to be gone, no if’s and’s or buts. The Leafs also need a healthy Matthews, Knies and Nylander. There needs to be another top 6 forward added to make them competitive. Next year could be a breakout year for Cowan. Health is what is important and maybe it’s time to hire Gary Roberts as their health and fitness coach. With a top end prospect in the mix, next year could go OK, if the injury bug stays away. They do have a goaltender surplus so there could be players incoming, or draft picks for next year. Now is not the time to move the top draft pick, unless it’s for a top 3 and a first the year after next. It’s about asset management and addition through subtraction. I’m not sold on the head coach.
I just went through this guys resume. He’s the real deal. Everywhere he’s played, he’s been a winner. He’s had the longest point streak in WHL history. He lost the Memorial Cup to the juggernaut London Knights and scored their only goal in the final game. Second team all-star in the NCAA as an 18 year old. He’s been sanctioned at the World Juniors with team-mates who had a difference of opinion with the European style of refereeing. He stood up for his mom, at a restaurant/bar and punched out a guy harassing her. This guy has the fire in his stomach. Grab a character player with offensive upside. And for a change, he’s a Canadian.
I disagree. McKenna is exactly what they need. Leadership skills and a player that would be a spiritual leader. It’s more than just offense. There needs to be accountability and someone that’ll lead, not follow. By year 3, he’ll be a top 10 player in the league. I’m taking that all day long. Sure, Leafs need defense, but that can be acquired in a trade. Get the guy with intangibles. 1st overall picks are a rarity. Use it wisely. Unless someone comes in and offers a 3rd pick overall and a top 10th overall, you don’t make a lesser deal.
