2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Discussion

[dappleganger]

I had a weird dream where Marleau got traded for Kessel, and the line of Nylander - Kadri - Kessel put up 96 goals.

That's quite the specific dream.

What's weirder was none of them were wearing pants.

Is that weird though?

Would have been weirder if they were wearing pants.

 

[herman]

Exactly.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Kapanen is a legit two way player with elite speed.

This is what scares me about trading Kappy. You can teach all kinds of things but you can't teach speed. What I find interesting reading here is that we can afford to give up a guy like Kappy because we have guys that can fill his role even though none of the players mentioned has his speed and has scored 20 in the NHL.
What about keeping Kappy and how about trading Hyman when he's back and healthy? Would he bring in what Kappy can or would it be more? I think Kappy and/or Johnsson could do his job.

 

[bustaheims]

Kapanen is a legit two way player with elite speed. I would keep him and Johnsson over Nylander any day of the week. Yes, Nylander has more hockey IQ as you call it, but he is slow, lazy, and selfish by comparison. I probably would have sat Nylander out for the season and used the extra cap space to get a good rental player. If our failed season came down to one player it was Nylander. I?m completely disappointed in him as a fan. If Kapanen does go I hope we can get good value for him at least.

Basically none of this is true.

 

[bustaheims]

What about keeping Kappy and how about trading Hyman when he's back and healthy? Would he bring in what Kappy can or would it be more? I think Kappy and/or Johnsson could do his job.

Kapanen would definitely bring back more than Hyman, and I do t think either Kapanen or Johnsson are as good on the forecheck or the cycle or puck recovery. They?re more skilled, but they play a different type of game and can?t do the same job at all.

Also, sure, you can?t teach speed, but you can?t really teach instincts, either, and Kapanen?s instincts are not very good. I honestly don?t think he turns into much more than we?ve already seen, which is a good second line winger who can kill penalties. That?s not exactly an irreplaceable asset by any means. His speed is great, but the rest of his game isn?t overly impressive by NHL standards.

 

[sickbeast]

Kapanen is a legit two way player with elite speed. I would keep him and Johnsson over Nylander any day of the week. Yes, Nylander has more hockey IQ as you call it, but he is slow, lazy, and selfish by comparison. I probably would have sat Nylander out for the season and used the extra cap space to get a good rental player. If our failed season came down to one player it was Nylander. I?m completely disappointed in him as a fan. If Kapanen does go I hope we can get good value for him at least.

Basically none of this is true.

I disagree. Are you saying that Nylander is faster than Kapanen or that he backchecks more? Come on.

 

[bustaheims]

I disagree. Are you saying that Nylander is faster than Kapanen or that he backchecks more? Come on.

I?m saying he?s neither slow, nor lazy, nor selfish, regardless of the comparison. He?s not as fast as Kapanen, but that doesn?t make him slow. He backchecks quite effectively, he?s just not as obviously active, because he?s a smarter player. And selfish? Please. He?s one of the best playmakers on the team. You?re projecting a lot of things into him because you don?t like his contract, and none of those things are reflective of his actual play.

 

[Bullfrog]

Kapanen is one of the fastest skaters in the league. Not being as fast as Kapanen literally means nothing.

 

[herman]

Raw speed is not the most important aspect of on ice mobility; what matters is the player?s ability to change speeds and directions. Similar to ?compete? level; what matters is knowing when and where best to apply it, rather than spending your entire shift with the pedal all the way down.

Speed doesn?t matter if you can?t execute plays at speed. Kapanen is a difficult player to play alongside regularly because he just takes the puck, blitzes into the OZ, and then runs out of room and ideas and wrists one into the crest or turns it over outright more often than not. Per Justin Bourne, he?s the same amount of effective on a top line as he is in the bottom 6.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I also think we need to remember yhat he's only 22 and this was his first full year in the NHL. I think there's a lot more in there to harness. I guess we'll see what happens over the summer.

 

[Highlander]

I disagree. Are you saying that Nylander is faster than Kapanen or that he backchecks more? Come on.

I?m saying he?s neither slow, nor lazy, nor selfish, regardless of the comparison. He?s not as fast as Kapanen, but that doesn?t make him slow. He backchecks quite effectively, he?s just not as obviously active, because he?s a smarter player. And selfish? Please. He?s one of the best playmakers on the team. You?re projecting a lot of things into him because you don?t like his contract, and none of those things are reflective of his actual play.

Agreed big time

 

[herman]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-intrigue-around-nhl-draft-starting-take-shape/

3. Another Toronto assistant, Jim Hiller, has blanket permission to interview with anyone, and is not expected back. Nashville is believed to be among the interested teams. Makes sense as Hiller has a reputation for power-play expertise. Former Florida coach Bob Boughner is a possibility as an Edmonton assistant. There are lots of rumours about Andrew Brunette next to Joel Quenneville in Florida, and there?re also rumblings of movement alongside Jeff Blashill in Detroit.

4. Odd quirk in Patrick Marleau?s contract: his signing bonus is paid in two instalments, one in July, one in December. Remember, he controls his future, but that adds a wrinkle to any potential move.

 

[Deebo]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/31-thoughts-intrigue-around-nhl-draft-starting-take-shape/

3. Another Toronto assistant, Jim Hiller, has blanket permission to interview with anyone, and is not expected back. Nashville is believed to be among the interested teams. Makes sense as Hiller has a reputation for power-play expertise. Former Florida coach Bob Boughner is a possibility as an Edmonton assistant. There are lots of rumours about Andrew Brunette next to Joel Quenneville in Florida, and there?re also rumblings of movement alongside Jeff Blashill in Detroit.

4. Odd quirk in Patrick Marleau?s contract: his signing bonus is paid in two instalments, one in July, one in December. Remember, he controls his future, but that adds a wrinkle to any potential move.

That should end any talk that the contract was designed to be moved in the 3rd year. Looks like its the opposite and Marleau wanted it this way to ensure he controlled his final year.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Not only are Zaitsev and Marleau's contracts bad just in terms of dollars and length, but they're both so poorly structured. What the heck was Lou thinking.

 

[Kin]

Not only are Zaitsev and Marleau's contracts bad just in terms of dollars and length, but they're both so poorly structured. What the heck was Lou thinking.

The Zaitsev one is interesting because as someone who, as best as I recall, thought it wasn't too bad when it was signed I think it's really made me re-examine the way I look at deals for mid-range guys. My thinking was that at worst Zaitsev would grow to be worth 3 or 3.5 million so the money didn't bother me if it was at least ball park.

Now I'm thinking that if you have that sort of mid-tier money but don't have a legit mid-tier guy to spend it on, you're probably better off signing the 1 million guy for 1 million than the 3 million guy for 4 just for the flexibility even if you're short-term worse.

 

[Bender]

I don't see the need to go out and get a high D man.  We have some pretty good talent pooling up down on the farm.
We can expect Rosen to make the jump, there is a lot of buzz on Borgman again for the sandpaper he brings, Sandin may need some more time in the AHL but maybe not. Lilepad is ready to jump.

The unknown is what Lindgren and Kivihalme bring to the table. I like the Athletic's take on Kivihalme.

Or how long Hollowell and Duzak will need to make the jump. Pretty sure the last two could use a year on the farm.

Other than maybe Samson and Liljagren, none of the guys you mention are likely to be more than 3rd pairing types - especially in the near term. So, yeah, there very much is a need to bring in top 4 - and especially potential top pairing - guys.

I didn't realize we had a player that got better the longer his hair grew [emoji23]

 

[Arn]

Not only are Zaitsev and Marleau's contracts bad just in terms of dollars and length, but they're both so poorly structured. What the heck was Lou thinking.

That Dubas was taking his job pretty soon and he'd be off elsewhere?

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Not only are Zaitsev and Marleau's contracts bad just in terms of dollars and length, but they're both so poorly structured. What the heck was Lou thinking.

That Dubas was taking his job pretty soon and he'd be off elsewhere?

Exactly what I was thinking. A little goodbye gift.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Not only are Zaitsev and Marleau's contracts bad just in terms of dollars and length, but they're both so poorly structured. What the heck was Lou thinking.

That Dubas was taking his job pretty soon and he'd be off elsewhere?

Exactly what I was thinking. A little goodbye gift.

I mean both contracts were signed about a year before Dubas was promoted so I doubt that was it.

 

[herman]

Pretty sure Lou was expecting to stay on and renew his contract.