Guilt Trip
Active member
He also doesn't have the players to fix the problem, that's on Tre.caveman said:
2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
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Arn
Active member
azzurri63 said:
Don?t agree with all your specific points but the main one, I do agree with. It would be negligent, bordering on criminal, to spend assets to try and paper over the cracks of this years deeply flawed lineup.
I?d def be listening to offers for the likes of Domi, Bertuzzi, basically anyone of of contract after this year too, especially if we fall out of a playoff spot. Not a fire sale per se, but open to most things.
I think we?re actually in a better spot for constructing a line up next season. Not sure Treliving has given me much confidence he?s the man to deliver it but given he was late-ish in this season maybe with time to plan he?ll do ok.
azzurri63
Active member
Arn said:
I just don?t think this team even with some additions is going to do any damage. I?m tired of the trades made to bolster the lineup for the playoffs. We gave away so many picks, prospects to get us over the hump and it hasn?t panned out and I don?t see it helping this year. Tre should be doing exactly what you?re saying start shopping guys like Bertuzzi, Domi even see if someone wants Brodie. Recoup some young talent picks which we are thin on and start working on next years team. I honestly don?t think MLSE will they?ll probably try and strengthen the team. That?s their mentality.
Arn
Active member
Agreed. And I actually think we might even be better off (assuming we squeak in) letting the likes of Knies and Robertson have a big role to see what, if anything, they might be able to do in a playoff situation with some extra responsibility.
If you do move the likes of Domi, Bert, Brodie etc if we get back a ready to play prospect or two rather than draft picks throw them in the lineup as well.
If you do move the likes of Domi, Bert, Brodie etc if we get back a ready to play prospect or two rather than draft picks throw them in the lineup as well.
Highlander
Active member
The main thing is we don't sell off any of our top prospects and graduate some of them sooner than later. Surely Steves would be an upgrade on Reeves at this point. Perhaps Kokkenen and Neimala are going to be ready for next year. Perhaps give Tveburg a spin.
Andy007
Active member
Highlander said:
I'm not sure what the point of letting Steeves toil away in the AHL is; he's still waiver-exempt this year anyway. Why wait until next year, when he can't clear waivers, to see if he can stick? He's looked good in both of the preceding development camps too. Not that he's a major prospect or anything but I can't fathom how players of the like of Simmonds, Clifford and Reaves get multiple chances in the lineup when they're clearly past their prime over seeing what some of these younger players can do.
Andy said:
On one hand I get that but on the other, Reaves is a known commodity while our very obviously b grade prospects are not. If it was obvious they deserved a spot here they'd already be here generally. I've seen Steeves and he's been fine but it's also obvious they have to play Reaves and won't waive him either so you pretty much have to include him in at some point one way or the other until he's either traded or sent down.
ZBBM
Active member
To my mind, a bit of an odd trade-acquisition analysis from MLHS:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2024/02/09/maple-leafs-trade-targets-part-1-the-difference-makers/
First of all, where's Tanev? He's got Hanifin in there.
Second, and fundamentally, the overall premise ? go-go buy-now ? seems overly optimistic. I get the point that buying talent to add to your elite core makes some sense, but there are so many holes in the team that I just don't think this is the year to do it ? especially since the unspoken premise behind doing so is that Woll will pan out as a starter. I would want to see how he comes back and plays the rest of this year.
I'd stand pat, or even move Domi for assets, at the deadline and then ride it out and see where things take you this year. Next year there will be more clarity re Marner and just a better alignment to add, or so it seems to me.
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2024/02/09/maple-leafs-trade-targets-part-1-the-difference-makers/
First of all, where's Tanev? He's got Hanifin in there.
Second, and fundamentally, the overall premise ? go-go buy-now ? seems overly optimistic. I get the point that buying talent to add to your elite core makes some sense, but there are so many holes in the team that I just don't think this is the year to do it ? especially since the unspoken premise behind doing so is that Woll will pan out as a starter. I would want to see how he comes back and plays the rest of this year.
I'd stand pat, or even move Domi for assets, at the deadline and then ride it out and see where things take you this year. Next year there will be more clarity re Marner and just a better alignment to add, or so it seems to me.
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I think it's fair to not include Tanev in a group that contains Hanifin, Chychrun, and Konecny. Like the article says, "for this season and beyond" they're all on another level than Tanev.
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I don't think the Leafs should go all-in with a number of rentals like they did last year and in the Canadian-division year, but I don't think the Leafs inconsistent play this season should completely deter them from wanting to make a big swing trade for a guy with term, or for a guy like Hanifin if you can get framework of an extension quickly done too.
I mean if the Leafs stand pat at the deadline it doesn't change the fact that the defence very much needs another impact level player next season and beyond. You could wait until free agency where there's some good pending UFA options like Hanifin, Roy, Pesce, Skjei, DeMelo, or Tanev. But at that point you're a) hoping that they even make it to July 1st and b) negotiating against other teams. If Treliving can skip all that and just guarantee Hanifin now, even at the cost of a 1st round pick (plus probably a little more) I think I lean toward doing it.
bustaheims
Active member
Yeah. There?s a significant difference between making a longer term acquisition and a rental. Other than some cheap depth, these Leafs should definitely avoid rentals, but guys that can be part of multiple playoff runs and are potential needle movers? Definitely worth considering.
A few weeks ago, I was thinking fire sale but with a condition before commitment: "What does the UFA market look like?"
Part of the problem with the D this season is they had some money to get a UFA last season and Klingberg was the only gamble left. I'm concerned they're facing that this summer. I'm sure folks can put together a UFA list now but I'm also sure by the time July 1 comes around, it won't be nearly as populated.
I had hoped with the cap going up the next couple of seasons, we might see a better UFA market. I'm wondering if that is going to happen now.
The deadline trade market doesn't even look that hot. It should improve as the deadline approaches. But the young talent prices for rentals seem high to me. Dowd for a 1st?
The longer view probably is "We've probably got 4 years left with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares & Rielly so we should plan accordingly".
I'd probably be looking extra hard at potential UFAs from across the pond for next year.
I'm still reluctant to use good young assets (top picks or prospects) for a rental.
I'm still tempted to sell off some of this roster.
But I'm less certain about what I would do beyond a mid-round pick for a bottom 6 player.
Maybe something will make more sense as teams toss in their cards for this season.
Part of the problem with the D this season is they had some money to get a UFA last season and Klingberg was the only gamble left. I'm concerned they're facing that this summer. I'm sure folks can put together a UFA list now but I'm also sure by the time July 1 comes around, it won't be nearly as populated.
I had hoped with the cap going up the next couple of seasons, we might see a better UFA market. I'm wondering if that is going to happen now.
The deadline trade market doesn't even look that hot. It should improve as the deadline approaches. But the young talent prices for rentals seem high to me. Dowd for a 1st?
The longer view probably is "We've probably got 4 years left with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares & Rielly so we should plan accordingly".
I'd probably be looking extra hard at potential UFAs from across the pond for next year.
I'm still reluctant to use good young assets (top picks or prospects) for a rental.
I'm still tempted to sell off some of this roster.
But I'm less certain about what I would do beyond a mid-round pick for a bottom 6 player.
Maybe something will make more sense as teams toss in their cards for this season.
herman said:
That would be a great thing if they could get a forward like that (assuming he's decent - he has 30 goals in the KHL this season !) and a dman.
They'd be more developed, a younger age with less wear than a UFA and they'd help the salary cap with a more economical salary.
It would be enormous to help fill in for the shallow prospect pool
They might sign a few maybes for the Marlies.
Highlander
Active member
Plack-off! Just don't try to say the first few letters of his last name.Arn said:
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Active member
All your Max are belong to us.
https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1757085769578025037
One thing worth watching here is how Brodie performs back on the left side. I've been thinking for a little bit now that some parts of his struggles could possibly be attributed to playing on the right. Playing his off side used to be his bread and butter but that's a lot tougher to do once your skating takes a dip like it has for him.
One thing worth watching here is how Brodie performs back on the left side. I've been thinking for a little bit now that some parts of his struggles could possibly be attributed to playing on the right. Playing his off side used to be his bread and butter but that's a lot tougher to do once your skating takes a dip like it has for him.