2024 Offseason Thread: Changes

[Chris]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

 

[Bill_Berg]

All you folks who want to dump Marner be careful what you wish for.  He's an elite talent and I'd love to see what a different coach might be able to spur him to.

My biggest argument is that they need to improve on defense and in goal. Where else can that money possibly come from? It's certainly an option to 'ride it out' as Mr. grieves says. Then use the Tavares money instead of Marner's in 2025.

D has not been the problem in the playoffs, it's scoring.

I always had 25/26 as the year to recalibrate with Marner/Tavares contracts up. I wouldn't be surprised if they run it back again with a new coach and then let Marner walk (assuming he's his meek self again come playoffs) and Tavares resigns for substantially less.

The other option is to tell Marner that they don't want him and have no intentions of signing him and he can make a big-boy decision.

Team defense has been good. But they need more puck movers in the defensive zone and a top D that can run the PP.

 

[bustaheims]

Team defense has been good. But they need more puck movers in the defensive zone and a top D that can run the PP.

Mobility and puck skills are definitely an issue on the backend, and makes the team much more vulnerable to a strong forecheck. We saw that against Florida last spring and again in games against them late this season. Need more guys who can skate or pass the puck out of trouble efficiently, effectively, and quickly.

 

[herman]

https://x.com/leafsnews/status/1787509050122416271
Don?t expect him to say anything else

 

[herman]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

Walk-away-UFA only gets him 7 years max.  Sign and trade would get him 8 while still with some control. Leafs get assets back but likely a poop return.

 

[Bill_Berg]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

Walk-away-UFA only gets him 7 years max.  Sign and trade would get him 8 while still with some control. Leafs get assets back but likely a poop return.

Every 4th rounder counts!

 

[ZBBM]

The only way to trade Marner is to force him out.  That is not going to go well no matter how you cut it.  Poor asset management.  The best thing to do is to see if a new coach can get him to play more N/S as herman said.  Then this time next year you make the decision.  A three-part calculation: You are weighing the chance that he thrives under a new structure versus letting him walk for nothing/4th rounder versus getting rid of him now for pennies on the dollar.

 

[herman]

The benefit to losing Marner?s cap hit is it goes directly into luring McDavid over.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/leafsnews/status/1787509050122416271
Don?t expect him to say anything else

https://twitter.com/zeisberger/status/1787508534587838906
Okay I didn?t expect this.

https://x.com/rwesthead/status/1787526549404602586
Rick Westhead does not tweet unless it?s about some heinous organizational crime and coverup! If your quote rattles him into saying something, that?s saying something!

 

[Guilt Trip]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

Why would he care if he was basically run out of town? He wouldn't...here's my middle finger.

 

[Chris]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

Why would he care if he was basically run out of town? He wouldn't...here's my middle finger.

I didn't say he would care, did I? Geez.

 

[Guilt Trip]

As an advocate for moving on from Marner for what feels like many years now, it makes more sense asset-wise to let him play it out under a new system as mr grieves and Chris mentioned.

My preference is for Keefe and Marner to go. With Marner, there is risk either way. If you bring in a new coach and Marner doesn't respond well, that further devalues the asset. But if you move him now and he flourishes elsewhere, I'll always be wondering if that could have happened here with a new coach. I personally don't think so - I don't think he can handle the pressure of this market as the outside "noise" seems to get to him more than the others. At least that's how it looks based on the way he interacts with the media, what he says and the way he says it.

Of course, Marner has the NMC so all of this is moot if he decides he wants to stay and then walk away in free agency. I wonder if he would get the Tavares treatment when he comes back to play games in Toronto.

Why would he care if he was basically run out of town? He wouldn't...here's my middle finger.

I didn't say he would care, did I? Geez.

Ok so why would he get that treatment when everyone wanted him gone anyway? Only idiots would give him that treatment after wanting him gone.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

A ridiculously team friendly contract extension for Tavares on July 1st would be a nice way to start the offseason.

 

[dappleganger]

A ridiculously team friendly contract extension for Tavares on July 1st would be a nice way to start the offseason.

Agreed.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

As far as coaching changes go, was hoping they would fire Keefe and then management face the music rather than Keefe today and senior management on Thursday. Does the fact that they have let him face the media mean change could be less likely? Why not just put him out of his misery now?

 

[bustaheims]

As far as coaching changes go, was hoping they would fire Keefe and then management face the music rather than Keefe today and senior management on Thursday. Does the fact that they have let him face the media mean change could be less likely? Why not just put him out of his misery now?

Nah. They were never going to turn around and fire him this quickly after a playoff loss. He was always going to be be around for locker clean out/media stuff right after elimination. Unless there's an available candidate out there they feel they need to move on quickly, there's no need to rush things. The coach of an eliminated team doesn't have a ton to do over the next few weeks, and they probably still consider his post mortem insights to have some value and they also wanted the focus of the media to be on the players and their perspectives on the series with the Bruins instead of being pushed on topics around Keefe's dismissal.

Give it a few weeks. If he's not fire leading up to the draft, then there's something to read into.

 

[herman]

https://x.com/kristen_shilton/status/1787515996737003694
William Nylander demonstrating his defensive acumen, hitting up all three of Aristotle?s persuasive appeals in one soundbyte.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

The fact that teammates are rallying around Marner is telling.

 

[Guilt Trip]

The fact that teammates are rallying around Marner is telling.

Like they stand up for each other? That's a good thing.

 

[Jolly good show chaps]

As far as coaching changes go, was hoping they would fire Keefe and then management face the music rather than Keefe today and senior management on Thursday. Does the fact that they have let him face the media mean change could be less likely? Why not just put him out of his misery now?

Nah. They were never going to turn around and fire him this quickly after a playoff loss. He was always going to be be around for locker clean out/media stuff right after elimination. Unless there's an available candidate out there they feel they need to move on quickly, there's no need to rush things. The coach of an eliminated team doesn't have a ton to do over the next few weeks, and they probably still consider his post mortem insights to have some value and they also wanted the focus of the media to be on the players and their perspectives on the series with the Bruins instead of being pushed on topics around Keefe's dismissal.

Give it a few weeks. If he's not fire leading up to the draft, then there's something to read into.

I guess I am looking at it in a basic way with someone like Brind'Amour available. But I guess if he appealed they could still be reaching out to him given his contract status with a view to a future agreement (unless it is presently too early and could be considered tampering).