bustaheims
Well-known member
The quick release and the deceptiveness look better there, for sure. Still doesn't look like he has the same zip to his shot, but he's likely holding back some, considering the circumstances. It's certainly encouraging.
2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
im probably just not as observant
His WHL team, the Oil Kings, just picked up a 3rd Czech import forward for this upcoming season. They might even form a pretty good 1st or 2nd line there. Feels like that's a good place to leave him for another season.
ZBBM
Well-known member
All the big name pods have more access, but I don't think they're beating MLHS on analysis.
The Maple Leafs’ Offseason Work in Progress - MLHS Podcast EP97
The Maple Leafs’ Offseason Work in Progress - MLHS Podcast EP97mapleleafshotstove.com
Evaluating the Maple Leafs' offseason so far: The current roster picture vs. the what-if-Marner-stayed scenario
Barely two weeks into the NHL offseason, we can conclude that free agency was practically over before it started. The rising salary cap has led to over half the league still possessing notable cap space, which has, in turn, slowed the trade market down to a crawl. Even though there is ample time...
Methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
The pain in his ass is gone, so should be good to go.
herman
Well-known member
L K
Well-known member
Regular season schedule is out:
Opening night: October 8 against Montreal (Home)
Mitch Marner - January 15 (in Vegas); January 23 (Home)
- 15 back to backs
- 6 game road trip x2 (Nov 22-Dec 4; Jan 29-Feb 26)
- 5 game home stands x3 (Oct 13-21; Dec 6-16; Jan 19-27)
- 11 games in October (8 home; 3 road); 3 back-to-backs; one 4PM Amazon Game (Monday October 13)
- 13 games in November (7 home; 6 road); 2 back-to-backs; one 5PM game (Friday November 28)
- 14 games in December (8 home; 6 road); 2 back-to-backs; one 4PM game (Dec 23); one 5PM road game after a home game the night before
- 16 games in January (8 home; 8 road); 1 back-to-back; one 2PM game (Sunday Jan 25)
- 5 games in February (1 home; 4 road); 2 back-to-backs (Edmonton/Calgary; Tampa/Florida)
- 15 games in March (6 home; 9 road); 4 back-to-backs;
- 7 games in April (3 home; 4 road); 1 back-to-back
Opening night: October 8 against Montreal (Home)
Mitch Marner - January 15 (in Vegas); January 23 (Home)
- 15 back to backs
- 6 game road trip x2 (Nov 22-Dec 4; Jan 29-Feb 26)
- 5 game home stands x3 (Oct 13-21; Dec 6-16; Jan 19-27)
- 11 games in October (8 home; 3 road); 3 back-to-backs; one 4PM Amazon Game (Monday October 13)
- 13 games in November (7 home; 6 road); 2 back-to-backs; one 5PM game (Friday November 28)
- 14 games in December (8 home; 6 road); 2 back-to-backs; one 4PM game (Dec 23); one 5PM road game after a home game the night before
- 16 games in January (8 home; 8 road); 1 back-to-back; one 2PM game (Sunday Jan 25)
- 5 games in February (1 home; 4 road); 2 back-to-backs (Edmonton/Calgary; Tampa/Florida)
- 15 games in March (6 home; 9 road); 4 back-to-backs;
- 7 games in April (3 home; 4 road); 1 back-to-back
I was a little surprised to see he only played 20 games here, because I remember liking him a decent amount so just figured he played more. Happy to see him back, in a much more reduced organizational role of course.
herman
Well-known member
He might've played more if he didn't get nabbed off waivers by Vancouver. He basically outperformed Jimmy Vesey's cushy lineup assignment that season from the bottom of the roster as a yo-yo player. I recall Spezza getting Boyd all his points was something of a meme in GDTs.
I think he might be the Calle Jarnkrok replacement at a better price and actually played centre (2 of his 3 seasons with ARI), rather than a strictly AHL depth body, if those two get moved.
22G, 31A with Iowa (AHL) in 63GP would've put him about 3rd on the Marlies last season behind Steeves and Nylander in goals and second in pts behind Steeves.
I think it'd be a stretch for a soon to be 32-year old Travis Boyd to get back into full time NHLer territory. Good AHL vet for Cowan to lean on though both on and off the ice, and a likely first call-up guy.
dappleganger
Well-known member
No line in the NHL that played more minutes than the Knies - Matthews - Marner line had a higher xGoals% than the Leafs top line of 58.4%. That line was good.
herman
Well-known member
It's fun (or sad?) seeing the contrast in scoring methods between the 69 goal season and the injury-riddled 33 goal season. Prior to Matthews in the cap era, Leafs would top out at 37G (Phil x2!); in the era prior Sundin hit 41 G twice. And it's not all sauce from one stick to Matthews; his arsenal's versatility is what makes it hard for goalies to pick up on his shot, and many of these 100+ goals are built off his own work after getting the puck.
Matthews' floor, by virtue of his ability to drive play and get to the right spots (and playing with some very good linemates), is still the top scorer for most teams this past decade.
Regardless of who plays on his RW this coming season, there will be a drop off compared to previous seasons, but it shouldn't be that significant of a dip at 5v5. That's because a) Matthews can carry a lot of the play and will actually do so; b) the heavy defensive deployment is going to be split more readily with L3/L4. I think the quality jump from Holmberg/Kerfoot to Roy will be the higher impact change.
I wouldn't be shocked if he can in a little closer to $2mil, especially with the rising cap. He'll be a really interesting arbitration case. Over the past 2 seasons he has 26 5-on-5 goals. Players tied with him there include Robert Thomas, Tim Stutzle, Quinton Byfield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Pavel Buchnevich, and Dylan Larkin. And they all played between 25-35 more games than Robertson. Obviously, not even remotely anywhere close to the caliber of players there but hard to argue that he doesn't do one thing really well and that thing is pretty important.
With that said Michael Carcone is also in this same group of 26 goal 5-on-5 scorers in the last 2 seasons and after hitting unrestricted free agency this summer he had to resort to going back to Utah on a league minimum deal 2 weeks after free agency opened. He was coming off a down season though, with 21 total goals in 23/24 but just 7 in 24/25. Adam Gaudette kind of goes the other way with only 1 big season (19 goals this season) and that earned him a 2 year, $2mil AAV deal as a UFA.
L K
Well-known member
I can see that. I hope it's not the case because I still hold some hope that he finds a way to stick in the lineup and his value is always going to be higher to the Leafs if he figures that out than trading him.
dappleganger
Well-known member
Double Robertson's salary from last year, $1.75m x 2 years, and be done with it.