Leafs Accquire McCabe and Lafferty

[Highlander]

I hear a lot of people saying Dubas is finished in Toronto if they fail to beat Tampa in the first round again this year.

How sure is everyone here that will be the case?

It's hard to look at the fact that they chose not to extend him, as well as the futures he's burned in the last week, and not make the assertion that his future with the club is tied directly to their playoff performance.

I think he's a good GM and I'm not sure I'd want to go in a different direction either, but the situation regarding his future looks pretty clear.

Red Leaf, I respect your reasoned response but it's a results-oriented business.  If they lose in R1 again, how can you justify re-signing Dubas to do more of the same?  SOMETHING would have to give, and Dubas is, for better or worse, invested in the core 4 + Reilly + Keefe.

Dubas is a wonderful guy and I like everything about him as a person.  That's not nothing.  And like all GMs he's had his hits and misses.  I don't think, however, that he's irreplaceable.

If they go out in R1 again, no matter how, he's gone (and so will Keefe).  And should be. 

Yeah they'll bring worse people in and we'll be rebuilding again in 3 years.

Totally agreed. Dubas stays or I go!!

 

[IJustLurkHere]

The chances of the Leafs winning a Cup this year are about 10% (very roughly). Maybe it is 7%? Maybe more. Whatever. It is not large even though they're arguably a top 4 team. Boston, having an exceptional season, would be around 20% - very roughly. The chances the Leafs don't win a Cup this year or next is probably well over 80%. In two years time - end of 2024, Matthews and Nylander are UFAs. Tavares and Marner are UFAs the following year, in June 2025. If the cupboard is pretty bare from trading all the draft picks for the Cup runs previous years, this year and next, how do you entice these guys already worth tens of millions and wanting to win a Cup, to stay for a long rebuild?

After next season, it is harder to see a window for them.

So the Dubas debate if they fall short will be: do they sign him short term for next season to give him a last crack or do they let someone else have a last crack? If they make the finals, that is probably not a debate.

The window for this roster and Dubas seems to be closing in the next year or two.

By neither extending Dubas or moving him on, the message is pretty clear: playoff success in 2023 or you're out. Whether that's "beat the Lightning" or "Deep run", it's not really surprising that he's shortened the horizon and focused everything on this year.

All of which to say, if they have to blow it up in 2 years, Dubas shouldn't be alone in seeking new employment.

 

[Highlander]

If they fail to beat Tampa and they let go of Dubas as a result, I?d be disillusioned with the entire operation of MLSE. I know it?s the name of the game but sometimes results take longer than expected . Even much longer. And this team is still making strides forwards? not backwards.

That scenario would have a lot of similarities with the Steve Jobs story. When Apple couldn?t compete with the top players in the game, like Microsoft and IBM and as quickly as the board wanted, they let him go and brought in the CEO from Pepsi, who didn?t have a clue about the PC industry.  It nearly bankrupted the company before they realized their mistake and brought Jobs and his vision back to Apple.

As we know he proceeded to turn Apple into one of the biggest companies on the planet. Point being ? sometimes management change ?isn?t? the answer. Sometimes you need to keep emotions in check and out of the decision making process,  trust the guy who?s still making the team better year after year and give him the room to see it through .

Call me a dreamer I guess.

Keep on being a lovely dreamer.  I share your sentiments.

 

[Guilt Trip]

If they fail to beat Tampa and they let go of Dubas as a result, I?d be disillusioned with the entire operation of MLSE. I know it?s the name of the game but sometimes results take longer than expected . Even much longer. And this team is still making strides forwards? not backwards.

That scenario would have a lot of similarities with the Steve Jobs story. When Apple couldn?t compete with the top players in the game, like Microsoft and IBM and as quickly as the board wanted, they let him go and brought in the CEO from Pepsi, who didn?t have a clue about the PC industry.  It nearly bankrupted the company before they realized their mistake and brought Jobs and his vision back to Apple.

As we know he proceeded to turn Apple into one of the biggest companies on the planet. Point being ? sometimes management change ?isn?t? the answer. Sometimes you need to keep emotions in check and out of the decision making process,  trust the guy who?s still making the team better year after year and give him the room to see it through .

Call me a dreamer I guess.

Keep on being a lovely dreamer.  I share your sentiments.

I agree as well. I love these moves.

 

[herman]

Sam Lafferty is a different, less brain-fried version of Kasperi Kapanen and we can use him accordingly to juice the bottom 6.

Same:
- drafted by the Penguins in 2014, the draft year of our Prosciutto King, William Nylander
- right shot
- hella fast
- PK breakaway machine
- wore #24

Different:
- not as good at shooting
- uh, smarter lol
- plays centre and wing
- relishes the forecheck
- chucks knucks
- fewer teeth

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/CapFriendly/status/1633549642339065856
Oh.

https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1633547239527251969
Alright!

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/CapFriendly/status/1633549642339065856
Oh.

https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1633547239527251969
Alright!

Weird because he was looking forward to joining Rockford.....well maybe he wasn't after all. Looks like he's had a great year with the Growlers though until his injury.
https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/10665865-pavel-gogolev-reacts-to-trade-to-blackhawks-leaving-newfoundland-growlers

 

[cw]

Anderson scored for the Hawks last night
https://www.nhl.com/video/anderson-grabs-the-lead/t-336402676/c-15764593
Hope it works out for him. Marlies players and coach spoke very well about him.

 

[L K]

Anderson scored for the Hawks last night
https://www.nhl.com/video/anderson-grabs-the-lead/t-336402676/c-15764593
Hope it works out for him. Marlies players and coach spoke very well about him.

He was a good asset to trade but I'm still surprised at how little of an opportunity he got in Toronto given how mediocre our bottom six has been over the last couple of years.

 

[Kaberle15]

Has any goal being scored when McCabe was on the Ice ?

 

[Guilt Trip]

Has any goal being scored when McCabe was on the Ice ?

No goals either way for McCabe Lafferty hasn't been on the ice for any goals against in 4 games.

 

[cw]

Anderson scored for the Hawks last night
https://www.nhl.com/video/anderson-grabs-the-lead/t-336402676/c-15764593
Hope it works out for him. Marlies players and coach spoke very well about him.

He was a good asset to trade but I'm still surprised at how little of an opportunity he got in Toronto given how mediocre our bottom six has been over the last couple of years.

He was 22 when traded - just turned 23. A lot of NHL dmen take time to develop. He was developing just fine. The problem really came to a head when they traded for McCabe. Rielly, McCabe & Giordano on the left side would leave him as a 7th - no ice time that he held out for. He would not be a happy camper.

But why McCabe? We're still looking for someone to play on Rielly's right. Yes, McCabe appears to be a good guy and $2 mil/yr for two years is a good cap bang for their buck. Sandin at $1.4 mil on the left side as a #4 isn't such a bad deal - though a little early for him to be a #4 when the team is trying to win a Cup. He has to be re-signed at the end of next season, along with Liljegren, when Matthews and Nylander have theior hands out. We could debate this. But then I thought about the bigger picture ...

As good as they are, there's roughly a 90% chance the Leafs don't win a Cup this year. There will be some ugly criticism in the media. Next year's deadline, as Matthews & Nylander's deals end, Dubas or his replacement will mortgage more future for a last shot. After Knies shows up this spring, there is not as much left in the prospect pipeline and they'll be trading away some of the 4 picks they've got left over for the next 3 years in the top 3 rounds (or whatever it is given 2023 draft will have happened and those prospects might get moved). Matthews and Nylander want to win. Tavares is in decline. Marner has one more year left after them. How can they win in a Cap world if the prospect pipeline has dried up? Other GMs will be falling over themselves offering money and presenting greener pastures for a chance to win with up and coming young talent that the Leafs will not be able to match because they traded it away for a chance to win now.

There is a vote for the Coyotes new rink in May. If passed, it will open in 2026. The Coyotes have 19? picks in the first 3 rounds of the next three drafts with some top picks within their prospects. "C'mon home, Austin. Do for hockey in your home Az what Gretzky did for the Kings."

All conjecture. Going to be very difficult to hold it all together.

So maybe that's the scorched earth trade policy behind what is going on with Dubas and part of what is behind giving up on Sandin. The window of opportunity is closing. The cap is finite. The prospect pipeline is drying up. Sandin is maybe a year or two away from really good top 4 dman.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/MarkUkLeaf/status/1634214041055838210
Hahaha

Leafs free up a contract slot and the Marlies/Growlers still get to keep their player (after a bit of a boomerang trip)

 

[cw]

https://twitter.com/MarkUkLeaf/status/1634214041055838210
Hahaha

Leafs free up a contract slot and the Marlies/Growlers still get to keep their player (after a bit of a boomerang trip)

He scored a goal for Rockford in one of the two games he played for them

I hope they didn't break any rules making that happen.

Growlers have the 3rd best record in the ECHL
His 1.5ppg or whatever obviously helps give them a shot in the playoffs.
He seems keen to return for that.

Marlies have the 3rd best record in the AHL
Leafs have the 4th best record in the NHL

Heard radio chatter with O'Dog. He said Dubas is well regarded in the league. If Dubas gets canned, he won't be unemployed long.

 

[Bullfrog]

I think 2+ years of McCabe at $2M is pretty outstanding.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I hope they didn't break any rules making that happen.

Chicago put him on waivers to terminate his contract. No rules broken.

 

[cw]

I hope they didn't break any rules making that happen.

Chicago put him on waivers to terminate his contract. No rules broken.

He's making $80k in the minors - not a big money drain
He's scoring up a storm in the ECHL. (1.45 ppg)
He goes to Chicago's AHL team, Rockford. Scores the only goal in his second AHL game for them - which allows them a shootout victory. He's +1. He was not on the ice for any AHL goal against in either game.
And they buy him out instead of sending his 1.45ppg to their ECHL affiliate.
It's a little odd.
It's like they had it all figured out to get the Leafs a roster spot as part of the trade.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

And they buy him out instead of sending his 1.45ppg to their ECHL affiliate.

To be clear, they did not buy him out. Buyouts are only allowed during the offseason and during a couple of windows. They terminated his contract entirely. Kaput. Which is a little odd because they can only do that if Gogolov and the team mutually agreed to do so, or if there was a breach of contract somewhere.

And as I was writing that I spotted this tweet clearing that up:

https://twitter.com/TonyAndrock/status/1634234409070018566

A little surprising that he would mutually agree to terminate the deal, especially since there was another year left on it with a $80k AHL salary and a nice $77,500 signing bonus still to be paid. He won't be getting that kind of money next year.

 

[cw]

And they buy him out instead of sending his 1.45ppg to their ECHL affiliate.

To be clear, they did not buy him out. Buyouts are only allowed during the offseason and during a couple of windows. They terminated his contract entirely. Kaput. Which is a little odd because they can only do that if Gogolov and the team mutually agreed to do so, or if there was a breach of contract somewhere.

And as I was writing that I spotted this tweet clearing that up:

https://twitter.com/TonyAndrock/status/1634234409070018566

A little surprising that he would mutually agree to terminate the deal, especially since there was another year left on it with a $80k AHL salary and a nice $77,500 signing bonus still to be paid. He won't be getting that kind of money next year.

https://www.flohockey.tv/articles/10665865-pavel-gogolev-reacts-to-trade-to-blackhawks-leaving-newfoundland-growlers
?I didn?t know if it was good or bad, but I feel this is a good opportunity for my hockey career.  I?ve heard a lot from Chicago itself, and they?ve said it will be a good opportunity, so I?m open to receive that opportunity, and I know I?ll take advantage of it.?
...
Now Gogolev feels a bit of an energy burst from what he has in front of him. Starting with Rockford allows him to prove himself in a new organization with a clean slate. The NHL dream is alive and well for Gogolev and being in the AHL gets him one step closer.

?I?ve been having fun and enjoying myself, and it?s been paying off,? he said of how he's played this season. ?Hopefully that transitions to the AHL level. And then if I do get an opportunity, it can transition to the big league, which I definitely still believe in. But it all starts from the opportunity, and when I?ll get it and if I?ll get, I know I?m capable of taking that opportunity and using it.?
...
?It?s a bit difficult to leave that, knowing we had a high chance of winning the Kelly Cup, and me being a part of it. But now, for my career where my goal is to play in the NHL, I feel this is a really good opportunity to make it and get the opportunity I need.?

I guess the good opportunity quickly evaporated ...

 

[Guilt Trip]

I guess the good opportunity quickly evaporated ...

I think that was just lip service, nothing more or less. They all seem to say I'm looking forward to the opportunity. Gogolev obviously liked his time with the Leafs organization and wants to continue it. Maybe this was all part of the deal between the 2 Kyles? Oh well, glad to have him back. Hopefully he can take his game to the next level and be a full time Marlie next season.