Hurricanes @ Leafs - Oct. 26th, 7:00pm - SNO, Fan 590

[L K]

I think Nik is right.  The Leafs making the playoffs last year was probably not a good thing.

Eh. Too soon to say.

Fans can get as excited as they'd like, but, as long as the management doesn't do anything stupid like hold onto guys that won't be around and screw the team's development or longterm fortunes, where's the harm?

I can't speak for Nik but...

Wait, yes I can!

Me saying that was based on the fact that I thought/think making the playoffs was probably what's going to cause the team to do things that aren't ultimately in their best long term interests because they think they're closer than they are. So effectively what you're saying here is "aside from the potential harm, where's the harm?"

Although outside of trading guys like Komarov/Bozak/JVR they didn't exactly burst the bank on pushing the rebuild.  The Andersen trade might count there I guess although I can somewhat see the value in getting a better goaltender to support a young skater group (my opinion on Andersen still is kind of meh though as it was at the time of the trade last year).  They can still trade those other guys but they won't get the same value for them had they done it a year ago.  They also got helped out a bit in that Lliljgren fell to them and he actually looks pretty good in the minors.  They still lack that more stabilizing defensive minded defenseman but at least they got a quality one out of the first round.

 

[L K]

Babcock tried out some slightly different combinations at today's practice with JvR out for maintenance (or injury). Leivo looks like he's finally going to get the call.

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Komarov - Kadri - Brown
Marleau - Bozak - Marner
Martin - Moore - Leivo

And then after 20 minutes, he shut it all down and sent everyone off the ice and proceeded to pick up the pucks.

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/923958067821035520

Babcock in full-on dad mode.

I like the idea of Marleau + Marner but I really wish Babcock would get away from Bozak + Marner.  I don't think they actually are a great fit, certainly not with Bozak's incompetent defensive play.

 

[Bullfrog]

Agreed, LK.
I'd like to see Marleau - Kadri - Marner given a shot.

 

[Highlander]

I'd like to see Bozak traded for a new cappuccino machine

 

[Highlander]

When we see actual harm, I'll share the view that making the playoffs was a bad thing. I don't thinking signing Marleau (who fits their salary structure fine), getting a serviceable (if streaky) #1 goalie, or letting the value of JvR and Bozak dwindle to that of rentals really hurts them much. Not pulling the trigger on trading the expiring contracts or letting go of cheap, maybe good guys in the system before finding out what they are, however, will.

But we're not there yet.

Ah. In the meantime sire, what would you like the rest of the peasants to do towards vile speculators and prognosticators? Burn them? See if they float like wood so we know they're witches?

Or I could be arguing in my spare time. That was never 5 minutes there Nik

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/923962669618561031

 

[Highlander]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/923962669618561031

Freshness only counts in horseshoes, grenades and Love.