Steve Stamkos?

[Kin]

If they get Matthews and Stamkos this summer, what do you think their direction should be?

I don't really know how to answer that because it seems to me like you decide on a direction before you pursue Stamkos, not after.

 

[Kin]

Not saying it's right, but in the preceding 5 full seasons they have finished 2nd last, 9th last, 5th last, 8th last, 4th last.

I don't know if there is a cut off, arbitrary or not, between 3rd last and 4th last that theoretically makes a season easier to handle, but it's not like it's been years of good finishes and this is the first season the fanbase has had to suffer through.

So I can understand if there are fans who feel that way.

I don't think it's arbitrary, I'm referring to the people who were all on board with the concept of a slow rebuild six months ago and, after four months of bad play, have given up on it.

I understand impatience as well. Like I said, getting what you want right away is a lot of fun. The problem is it's precisely why  the Leafs have had those finishes and built essentially nothing.

 

[TML fan]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

 

[Kin]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

How does he not?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think it's arbitrary, I'm referring to the people who were all on board with the concept of a slow rebuild six months ago and, after four months of bad play, have given up on it.

I'm not sure how many times this needs to be repeated, but I don't feel like this description fits anybody in this thread.

 

[TML fan]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

How does he not?

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

 

[Kin]

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

And you don't see how going from subtracting good players from a roster and adding nothing to adding good players and subtracting nothing represents a change in direction?

 

[Kin]

I don't think it's arbitrary, I'm referring to the people who were all on board with the concept of a slow rebuild six months ago and, after four months of bad play, have given up on it.

I'm not sure how many times this needs to be repeated, but I don't feel like this description fits anybody in this thread.

Oh, yeah, I don't agree with you about that.

 

[TML fan]

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

And you don't see how going from subtracting good players from a roster and adding nothing to adding good players and subtracting nothing represents a change in direction?

No, I don't. If I did, I'd question why I'd want Mitch Marner on the Leafs next year.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think it's arbitrary, I'm referring to the people who were all on board with the concept of a slow rebuild six months ago and, after four months of bad play, have given up on it.

I'm not sure how many times this needs to be repeated, but I don't feel like this description fits anybody in this thread.

Oh, yeah, I don't agree with you about that.

Ok, then I'll say that nobody has said that they want to sign Stamkos because they're sick of the team losing and growing impatient with the rebuild. If you can look into my subconscious to determine that that's not true then points to you.

 

[Kin]

No, I don't. If I did, I'd question why I'd want Mitch Marner on the Leafs next year.

There's a better than fair shot that Mitch Marner isn't a very good NHL player next year.

 

[Kin]

Ok, then I'll say that nobody has said that they want to sign Stamkos because they're sick of the team losing and growing impatient with the rebuild. If you can look into my subconscious to determine that that's not true then points to you.

I haven't brought up the question of whatever motives they, and I don't mean you, might have.

 

[TML fan]

No, I don't. If I did, I'd question why I'd want Mitch Marner on the Leafs next year.

There's a better than fair shot that Mitch Marner isn't a very good NHL player next year.

But you don't know that. And what if they draft Matthews? And he's as good as McDavid or Eichel? What if Nylander comes up and he's good? Keep them off he team? Should we trade Rielly because he might be really good?

 

[Tigger]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

How does he not?

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

A lot of cap flex gone on one player taking 1/7 of the pie, that's nothing? To a rebuilding team like Toronto, it should be everything.

 

[TML fan]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

How does he not?

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

A lot of cap flex gone on one player taking 1/7 of the pie, that's nothing? To a rebuilding team like Toronto, it should be everything.

Well maybe the Leafs see it that way and they won't sign him? I'd be fine with that too.

 

[Kin]

But you don't know that. And what if they draft Matthews? And he's as good as McDavid or Eichel? What if Nylander comes up and he's good? Keep them off he team? Should we trade Rielly because he might be really good?

The fact that you have to preface the first three questions you ask with "What if" should explain to you why they're different situations than adding someone we know is an elite NHL talent.

 

[McGarnagle]

No, I don't. If I did, I'd question why I'd want Mitch Marner on the Leafs next year.

There's a better than fair shot that Mitch Marner isn't a very good NHL player next year.

But you don't know that. And what if they draft Matthews? And he's as good as McDavid or Eichel? What if Nylander comes up and he's good? Keep them off he team? Should we trade Rielly because he might be really good?

I would be fairly confident in saying that all these things could happen, and the leafs would still be a lottery team. You're not likely to get 3 calder-worthy players on the same team, and even if you did, they're still rookies with a lot of dead wood around them. I don't see Eichel powering the Sabres to the top of the division.

 

[TML fan]

But you don't know that. And what if they draft Matthews? And he's as good as McDavid or Eichel? What if Nylander comes up and he's good? Keep them off he team? Should we trade Rielly because he might be really good?

The fact that you have to preface the first three questions you ask with "What if" should explain to you why they're different situations than adding someone we know is an elite NHL talent.

Does Nylander get sent down if he's too good?

 

[TML fan]

No, I don't. If I did, I'd question why I'd want Mitch Marner on the Leafs next year.

There's a better than fair shot that Mitch Marner isn't a very good NHL player next year.

But you don't know that. And what if they draft Matthews? And he's as good as McDavid or Eichel? What if Nylander comes up and he's good? Keep them off he team? Should we trade Rielly because he might be really good?

I would be fairly confident in saying that all these things could happen, and the leafs would still be a lottery team. You're not likely to get 3 calder-worthy players on the same team, and even if you did, they're still rookies with a lot of dead wood around them. I don't see Eichel powering the Sabres to the top of the division.

Or McDavid in Edmonton.

 

[Tigger]

How does adding Stamkos at no asset cost change the direction the team is heading in?

How does he not?

Because you're just adding a good player to your roster and subtracting nothing.

A lot of cap flex gone on one player taking 1/7 of the pie, that's nothing? To a rebuilding team like Toronto, it should be everything.

Well maybe the Leafs see it that way and they won't sign him? I'd be fine with that too.

Yeah, maybe. I guess we'll see, for me this is the first real smell test of their willingness to see this through properly. It's the timing of it, where they're at, it just doesn't really work.

Now, I'm willing to admit they may have some moves up their sleeve I'm not privy to, but I have to go with what I know. If they rush this and fail, I'm not sure I'll ever believe them again.