2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
4EVRLEAFAN
Active member
As crazy as it seems, believe it or not, we're only 3 points back of where we were this time last year and 63 points is tied for 3rd in the Pacific right now. And that's yet another optimistic post of the day. 
louisstamos
Well-known member
Looking at the chunk thread last year, they went 8-1-1 in chunk 8 which was basically what won them the division. I'm not sure if this team have another one of those in them, but it's certainly possible!As crazy as it seems, believe it or not, we're only 3 points back of where we were this time last year and 63 points is tied for 3rd in the Pacific right now. And that's yet another optimistic post of the day.
It is, but man they are not a dominant team. They got lucky yesterday against the Oilers and looked kind of meh against Calgary & Vancouver.
L K
Well-known member
If we are going to hypothetically discuss the team making a run and not blowing it up...it's going to come entirely from health.
Knies shouldn't be playing right now.
McCabe has clearly been banged up.
Matthews was clearly not healthy the first 1/3 of the season
Nylander has been injured or playing hurt for most of the season.
Tavares hit a wall and has played through it
Woll/Stolarz missing chunks of the year.
Maybe there is an argument that the next three weeks reset the batteries for some of our guys and they go on a run. I just don't see it happening.
I disagree that they were simply lucky to beat Edmonton. They played controlled. Stolarz made good saves but so did Ingram.
Knies shouldn't be playing right now.
McCabe has clearly been banged up.
Matthews was clearly not healthy the first 1/3 of the season
Nylander has been injured or playing hurt for most of the season.
Tavares hit a wall and has played through it
Woll/Stolarz missing chunks of the year.
Maybe there is an argument that the next three weeks reset the batteries for some of our guys and they go on a run. I just don't see it happening.
I disagree that they were simply lucky to beat Edmonton. They played controlled. Stolarz made good saves but so did Ingram.
herman
Well-known member
The Olympic break should kill most of Tampa and Florida's top guys. Except Kucherov (and the already busted Barkov).
| NHL Team | # Of Olympians |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 10 |
| Florida Panthers | 9 |
| Minnesota Wild | 9 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 9 |
| Boston Bruins | 8 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 8 |
| Dallas Stars | 7 |
| New Jersey Devils | 7 |
| Ottawa Senators | 6 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 5 |
| St. Louis Blues | 5 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 5 |
| Anaheim Ducks | 4 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 4 |
| Montréal Canadiens | 4 |
| Nashville Predators | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 |
| San Jose Sharks | 4 |
| Utah Mammoth | 4 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 4 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 3 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 3 |
| New York Rangers | 3 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 3 |
| Seattle Kraken | 3 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 |
| Washington Capitals | 3 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 2 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2 |
| New York Islanders | 2 |
| Calgary Flames | 1 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 1 |
$1.35mil AAV, zero reason for the Leafs to not offer 50% retention bringing his cap hit to just $675,000 too. He's 6th among all pending UFAs in goals this season with 19, within striking distance of two players ahead of him at 20 goals. All the players ahead of him are on playoff teams and so are incredibly unlikely to be dealt (except Ovi, who also isn't moving though).
So he's the best goal scorer on the market and makes pennies on the dollar basically. Treliving absolutely needs to hit a home run here.
Do you think they should be able to get Antropov, Colaiacovo and a 1st?
L K
Well-known member
Even if you want to entertain bringing back McMann/Laughton next year. I think the Leafs need to trade them. I don't think McMann is worth the contract he will get in the offseason. Honestly, Laughton probably won't be worth the contract he will get either unless you overcommit with term.
I think it's perfectly fine to wait until deadline day to make a move unless a team gives you an absurd package. This is absolutely a sellers market deadline. Too many teams are still in the playoff hunt and the pending free agent pool sucks.
I think it's perfectly fine to wait until deadline day to make a move unless a team gives you an absurd package. This is absolutely a sellers market deadline. Too many teams are still in the playoff hunt and the pending free agent pool sucks.
Agreed. Even if they have a shot at making the playoffs, they still need to sell off to set themselves up in a better position next year.
So lets say they move Domi, Laughton, McMann and one of Rielly and OEL. If they target NHL ready prospects, they could still ice a lineup that looks like:
Somebody - Matthews - Somebody
Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - Roy - Robertson
Lorentz - Quillan - Jarnkrok
McCabe - Stecher
OEL/Rielly - Carlo
Benoit - Myers
You can still send Cowan down to the AHL in that scenario, or maybe you put him on the first line. Just a note, I really like that third line constructed the way it is, and I think if Knies gets healthier it brings a lot of balance to the lineup, so I would like to keep it the way it is for now. You just need to find linemates for Matthews at this point. You could even sign and call up Alex Nylander for the remainder of the season and put Maccelli on the first line.
McMann, OEL, and one of Laughton or Roy are my definite trades right now. Like you said I think McMann gets overpaid too much this offseason. I think OEL is at peak value at the moment so while he'd be tough to replace next season we likely won't be getting this seasons performance out of him then anyway. Laughton and Roy clearly take up the same spot in the line-up. That's fine now, but not when Laughton gets a new contract. So trade Laughton and keep Roy, or trade Roy and re-sign Laughton. I don't particularly have a strong preference for which right now. Roy being younger and a righty probably makes him more valuable to us, but that (and the extra year on his contract) also means he should bring back more in a trade.
Arn
Well-known member
I’d agree with this, but also add Domi as a priority. I’d also consider seeing what package might exist for Carlo.
What about a Stolarz? Or is he one to maybe use for a bigger trade in the summer? Either way I’d like to see Hildeby getting a game a week, or more, the rest of the season.
I’d also take things for a selection of any and/or all of Joshua (if he’s available and not injured, and it isn’t too harsh to trade a guy who gave up an internal organ for the side), Jarnkrok, Lorentz, Benoit and Myers. Then maybe one of Maccelli and/or Robertson if someone offers something really silly.
Rielly is probably the big summer move if something can be worked out then.
