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I see your point of view, but having his brother running the team and being paid big money might entice him. The ultimate hockey market and starting from almost scratch might entice them. They’ve won a number of Memorial Cups, but they don’t have a Stanley Cup ring. Let’s see if they have the stones to take on this Hindenburg.
We can argue with one another until eternity arrives. The big takeaway has to do with trying to win a Cup and overpaying for retread talent. We gave Treliving a chance to make the moves that Dubas couldn’t and he squandered too much of our farm system and draft capital. It was Dubas that made the mess by overpaying players on their future production and when they failed to deliver, the team was boxed in with overvalued contracts. I don’t like the idea of having a total rebuild but we may have no choice. Tavares isn’t getting any younger. Rielly is burnt toast and needs to be sent to another team or Robidas Island. Our only true assets are in goal. Our defense is old, but can still defend when healthy, but our forwards are the drag on this team. Matthews and Nylander are only a couple of years away from their 30’s and the team must cash out on them. If the deals can be done for younger talent and draft picks, they have to trade them. Yes, it will hurt, but doing a 15 year rebuild like Buffalo will be devastating. I won’t live long enough to see them win one more Cup. I keep hounding on bringing in the Hunter’s, but we’ve tried other routes and it’s been dismal. At least the Hunter’s never played in Toronto and their success in Junior Hockey, with the Knights, should be a breath of fresh air. I’d love to see McKenna as a Leaf, because he’s talented and has leadership skills that do not exist on today’s Leafs. We’re stuck with Tavares and Knies is the only bonafide young player that we have right now. Cowan is good, but is he a top line forward? I say no, but he could be a good second line winger. After that, Danford is the only NHL calibre player we have in the system. It’s a sinkhole right now with this team. Nylander and Matthews being traded will be the only salvation that this team can hope for, if they make the right trades. Mark Hunter….you’re on the clock is what we should hear at this year’s draft.
The biggest issue is the odds of winning the lottery for the Leafs are very small; between 6-10%. Even the worst team in the NHL, Vancouver, is 75% more likely to draft 2nd or 3rd than 1st.
The second issue with that idea is that Keaton Verhoeff probably won’t drop further than 3rd. I don’t think there are many, if any, teams out there that would give up a 1st round pick in 2027 just to move up from 3rd to 1st. Especially because, if a terrible team is a lottery team this year, the 2027 1st round pick is probably going to be another lottery pick and they won’t want to give that up. Neither McKenna nor Stenberg are good enough to justify that type of trade up value.
Maybe you could convince Boston to accept a deal where they keep the top 5 pick this year but have to give you the 22nd overall pick this year and the 2027 1st round pick. But would you want two late 1st round picks for a 1st overall pick? Probably not.
Like I’ve said many times before, the problems this team has can’t be fixed with just one lottery pick or one prospect anymore. The foundation of this team is clearly not going to change enough to make this team a winner or even a contender. Their window has closed. They need a full tear down and rebuild.
The Leafs have individually talented players but collectively are a terrible team with no 1st round picks. This has turned into the Phil Kessel era all over again.
An interesting concept. I’d say no, if it’s a top 2 pick, but 3 to 5, that might work. We still have to give Philly a 1st in the next draft, but that pick could also be protected, if the Leafs are at the bottom next year. Having the ability to grab an extra first in exchange for a top 3 -5 pick is something worth exploring. Getting out of this box of no 1st’s of our own for two years will keep the Leafs at the bottom for a much longer time. Boston’s 1st, this year, would probably fall around #20. It would get you a decent prospect. We may end up losing next years unprotected pick and that might be a bigger tragedy. It also pushes Philly’s pick another year down the road. So keep a top 2 pick, trade 3-5 if Boston wants to give up #20. Yes, I’d do that. By then, the Leafs will have a new management team in place with something to work with.
I don’t get the love for this team last night. They hurt themselves in every way possible. We need them to lose, not win. We need to see some grit and toughness, but they shit all over the ice after Matthews got taken out. It took a rookie to go to war with Anaheim, yet the so-called toughness never materialized cowering on the bench. I’m so tired of retreads and trading away futures. This team needs a total tear down. Matthews being traded will allow them to replenish their draft picks and start rolling again. Enough of the dumbness in the front office. How about a bit of the Clash…..London Calling. Let’s see if the Hunter’s pick up.
Just shows how gutless the Leafs are. Where is the pushback? Why didn’t a line-brawl happen? They just intentionally ended your Captain’s season. Nobody came in for retribution. Puke worthy response. They should be ashamed.
People still watch leafs games?
Pourquoi?because this is the team I cheer for win or loose.
what you want a divorce and go cheer for the Sens? I’m not Spatso …..
I will cheer for the Sens….to beat Boston out of the playoffs. Hopefully, the Sens take a bite out of the Habs tonight.
Just tank like there’s no tomorrow. With the rest of the schedule, I only see them possibly winning 4 more games. Those would be predominately against the West Coast teams. In the East, maybe beat the Rangers at home, but don’t bet on it. What a dumpster fire. I’m pretty sure that they aren’t recording this team for posterity. The only speck of brightness was Matthews winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics. You just want to get out and help push this team bus over the cliff to be rid of it. I’ve now fallen into the camp of a total rebuild. What is the area code for London, Ontario?
Another game that’s barely watchable. This team is gutless. I thought the Kessel/Phaneuf years were the year of gutlessness. This is worse. The Leafs have two elite forwards and decent goaltending. But there is no heart, no compete, just playing out the string. What’s bothersome is the idea that they can’t be traded. Rielly, Matthews, Nylander…..can’t trade me if I don’t want to go. Buyouts are too expensive on these guys and the team should be shopping them after this season. This can’t go on any longer. Treliving and Burube are dead men walking. It’s not pretty.
I took a day to digest what just happened at the trade deadline. It was abysmal and with a competent GM, they would have gotten more. On the up-side, they kept their defensive core intact. The 3 players moved were easily replaceable. Where do I see them going? I figure that now that the trade deadline is over, they’ll settle in with their current roster. At the end of the year, they’ll fire the Coach and GM. While the playoffs continue, they’ll cull together who they want as GM and he’ll bring in his own coaching staff. If I had my way, it would be the Hunter’s but I’m guessing it’ll be a more established GM and Coach. What needs to happen is the gutting of the bottom 2 lines of the roster. Through free agency, they need to find a competent winger that can play with Matthews and Knies. I wish that they’d consider moving Nylander, while he’s still near the top of his game. It’s there they recoup picks and or a blue chip prospect. I’d like to see him traded to Utah in exchange for Logan Cooley. Put Cooley at second line centre and move Tavares to the wing. Get younger and move some salary. If Utah makes it into the playoffs, they might see it as an opportunity to advance, next year, with a 40 goal scorer. Leafs might need to sweeten the deal, but if it’s manageable, make that move. Next, moving a goaltender. It depends what the offer is for any of the 3. If it’s for one of the younger goalies, make sure it’s a tangible young asset, either on the wing or on defense. Lastly, Morgan Rielly. I’m not sure about the structure of his contract, but if there’s a signing bonus, wait until after July 1st and find a new home elsewhere. Even consider a Darnell Nurse even up swap. At least Nurse has a physical element to his game, but he’s also overpaid. Is it worth paying that extra $1.5M per to make that trade? Maybe. In closing, it’s not hopeless. It looks like hot garbage right now, but with a proper GM and Coach, plus some free agents and a couple of trades, this team could bounce back into the playoffs next year.
One last thing. Boycott the games for the rest of the year. Boycott the team merchandise. Make it hurt in MLS&E’s wallet. Stop watching the games on T.V. Just stay away and let it burn. Who knows?
