Not sure if this is considered news or no, but in previous years Dubas has gone for the lower profile moves. Is he all-in this year?
SDAisaleaf
whatever the outcome is, it’ll be much easier to forgive Dubas if he makes a big move to genuinely give the team the best possible chance of winning than if he does something safe like adding defensive depth
DDKLondon
Go after Timo Meier! He is a stud and exactly what we need, if it means moving Knies you do it.
InspireDespair
That is a bunt
JimmyFingas19
If we’re looking at any potential rentals on the Blues, it should be Tarasenko.
swordsdice
We need to pick up some toughness
123jazzhandz321
Get Barbashev and one of O’Reilly or Tarasenko. Our forward depth would be amazing
nellyville9
There is going to have to be some Cap dancing if that’s the case.
Friggin_Grease
I’m of the belief that the GMs job is to make a great regular season team. Get to the playoffs, their job is done. Once in the playoffs, you need a little luck.
spectercan
Dubas should swing for the fences this year; I think he’s earned it
ltDoBeLikeThat_
One of the few years where it’s a buyers market. Leafs better take full fucking advantage of that.
LukeyMagukey
That’s not a big swing that’s a bun-FUCK SOMEBODY BEAT ME TO IT
Spider-Fan77
In what way is trading for Ivan Barbashev a “big swing” lmao
mattfromjoisey
Does that mean losing Kerfoot?
minwood
I know this is me dreaming, but seeing Kane in our top six is kinda something im dying to see. Then magically we will be able to afford Matthew Marner Tavares Willy Rielly and Kane because anyone who signs a new contract will be team friendly and we will win all the cups
fancypants55
I feel like I read this every year. And then after the deadline they’ll say how close we were to a blockbuster and that it’ll materialize in the off-season. Hopefully I’m wrong and Dubie does something meaningful that pays off.
Significant_News_638
My under the radar guess is Kevin Labanc retained. Signed for this year and next at 4.7 and having a resurgent year (market value of ~$5.5 per Dom @ Athletic). From an analytics persepctive, alot more of his value is driven by his offensive contribution than alot of other names mentioned (Barbashev, O’Rielly). Would be a good fit on the 2nd line and likely not a huge cost – hes fallen out of favor with current coach and been scratched a few times. He would also add more then a rental.
canuckpuckbeaut
This would actually be a decent bottom 6 move. To replace Kerfoot. I’m for this
ahjm
All of this is always speculative. No one really knows anything except for the people in the actual organization. We can hope and speculate, but that’s exactly what it is.
knigmich
last two years Leafs beat by habs/bolts who go to the finals and lose. Montreal we had two OT’s where we needed just one goal to close it out, I remember us hitting the post multiple times in those OT’s. Bolts one OT goal to close it out, then that game 7 pick penalty. Leaf’s are not struggling, they’re just not getting puck luck which will turn eventually. Not to mention biased reffing but they can’t control it. They will be successful, adding one player at trade deadline has not made much of a difference the lasat few years and it won’t again.
A big splash would be getting a top 6 winger and top 3 D man.
Get Kadri back for those Bruins series and we win. Get Tavares back for Habs series and we win. Have refs calling real penalties and not just that pick in game 7 (still only time its been called in history of nhl) and we win that series.
People only see L, L, L.
Bruins up 3 games to 0 against Flyers in 2010 then lose 4 straight and go home. Win the cup next year. Tampa gets swept in 2019 only to win 2 in a row after that. Capitals haven’t won a playoff series since winning their cup. Playoffs are not just who’s most playoff ready, there’s a lot of luck too. calls, injuries, opponents, experience.
Leafs will get there. They will.
alainalain4911
I’m not familiar with Barbashev really… reasonably big, but 9 goals and 15 assists in 51 games this season, and he’s a -7.
I would definitely be pissed if THAT was the “big swing”. I want a Bo Horvat or Timo Meier level player. That would give the Leafs a fighting chance. Someone at least close to a point per game.
I’d even be ok with a top D.
Suitable-Way-5762
Long time leafer. I don’t recall a deadline deal that’s ever gotten me excited and thought it legitimately impacted their chances in the playoffs. Lots of swings and whiffs, many picks and prospects gone for nothing
BigPZ
Leafs need a top 6 forward so guys like Jarnkrok and Kerfoot can stop pretending to be top 6 forwards. The bottom 6 looks much better with Kerfoot Jarnkrok Engvall Kampf and the few others all locked in down there and no one having to “play up”.
hunguu
Trade away another first round draft pick for a rental player? Great idea
LimestoneLeaf
I like it…Barbashev is a guy I was looking at earlier in the season. He played well during their cup run and would be a good fit. However, I think there is a bigger piece coming.
lambchopz317
I wouldn’t like Barbashev in Toronto tbh. He’s better offensively than Kerfoot, but not by a ton. The gap between them offensively is less than the major edge Kerfoot has on the defensive side of the game (Barbashev has posted some of the worst defensive numbers among all forwards over the last few years). Getting Barbashev would be another gamble on a cheaper 2LW, but with the way Jarnkrok has been playing since being elevated there, at best he might be slightly better than Jarnkrok there, and at worst he’ll be outperformed by Jarnkrok in the role, get moved down the lineup, and hurt the defensive ability within our best 6.
If we’re gonna pay quality assets for a forward, it should be that “big swing” like mentioned, and if we do make said big swing, we do not need a Barbashev at all.
BallHarness
This team needs to trade for a game breaker. These Foligno type deals have not worked out in the past. Someone like Teresenko would be prefect.
28 Comments
Not sure if this is considered news or no, but in previous years Dubas has gone for the lower profile moves. Is he all-in this year?
whatever the outcome is, it’ll be much easier to forgive Dubas if he makes a big move to genuinely give the team the best possible chance of winning than if he does something safe like adding defensive depth
Go after Timo Meier! He is a stud and exactly what we need, if it means moving Knies you do it.
That is a bunt
If we’re looking at any potential rentals on the Blues, it should be Tarasenko.
We need to pick up some toughness
Get Barbashev and one of O’Reilly or Tarasenko. Our forward depth would be amazing
There is going to have to be some Cap dancing if that’s the case.
I’m of the belief that the GMs job is to make a great regular season team. Get to the playoffs, their job is done. Once in the playoffs, you need a little luck.
Dubas should swing for the fences this year; I think he’s earned it
One of the few years where it’s a buyers market. Leafs better take full fucking advantage of that.
That’s not a big swing that’s a bun-FUCK SOMEBODY BEAT ME TO IT
In what way is trading for Ivan Barbashev a “big swing” lmao
Does that mean losing Kerfoot?
I know this is me dreaming, but seeing Kane in our top six is kinda something im dying to see. Then magically we will be able to afford Matthew Marner Tavares Willy Rielly and Kane because anyone who signs a new contract will be team friendly and we will win all the cups
I feel like I read this every year. And then after the deadline they’ll say how close we were to a blockbuster and that it’ll materialize in the off-season. Hopefully I’m wrong and Dubie does something meaningful that pays off.
My under the radar guess is Kevin Labanc retained. Signed for this year and next at 4.7 and having a resurgent year (market value of ~$5.5 per Dom @ Athletic). From an analytics persepctive, alot more of his value is driven by his offensive contribution than alot of other names mentioned (Barbashev, O’Rielly). Would be a good fit on the 2nd line and likely not a huge cost – hes fallen out of favor with current coach and been scratched a few times. He would also add more then a rental.
This would actually be a decent bottom 6 move. To replace Kerfoot. I’m for this
All of this is always speculative. No one really knows anything except for the people in the actual organization. We can hope and speculate, but that’s exactly what it is.
last two years Leafs beat by habs/bolts who go to the finals and lose. Montreal we had two OT’s where we needed just one goal to close it out, I remember us hitting the post multiple times in those OT’s. Bolts one OT goal to close it out, then that game 7 pick penalty. Leaf’s are not struggling, they’re just not getting puck luck which will turn eventually. Not to mention biased reffing but they can’t control it. They will be successful, adding one player at trade deadline has not made much of a difference the lasat few years and it won’t again.
A big splash would be getting a top 6 winger and top 3 D man.
Get Kadri back for those Bruins series and we win. Get Tavares back for Habs series and we win. Have refs calling real penalties and not just that pick in game 7 (still only time its been called in history of nhl) and we win that series.
People only see L, L, L.
Bruins up 3 games to 0 against Flyers in 2010 then lose 4 straight and go home. Win the cup next year. Tampa gets swept in 2019 only to win 2 in a row after that. Capitals haven’t won a playoff series since winning their cup. Playoffs are not just who’s most playoff ready, there’s a lot of luck too. calls, injuries, opponents, experience.
Leafs will get there. They will.
I’m not familiar with Barbashev really… reasonably big, but 9 goals and 15 assists in 51 games this season, and he’s a -7.
I would definitely be pissed if THAT was the “big swing”. I want a Bo Horvat or Timo Meier level player. That would give the Leafs a fighting chance. Someone at least close to a point per game.
I’d even be ok with a top D.
Long time leafer. I don’t recall a deadline deal that’s ever gotten me excited and thought it legitimately impacted their chances in the playoffs.
Lots of swings and whiffs, many picks and prospects gone for nothing
Leafs need a top 6 forward so guys like Jarnkrok and Kerfoot can stop pretending to be top 6 forwards. The bottom 6 looks much better with Kerfoot Jarnkrok Engvall Kampf and the few others all locked in down there and no one having to “play up”.
Trade away another first round draft pick for a rental player? Great idea
I like it…Barbashev is a guy I was looking at earlier in the season. He played well during their cup run and would be a good fit. However, I think there is a bigger piece coming.
I wouldn’t like Barbashev in Toronto tbh. He’s better offensively than Kerfoot, but not by a ton. The gap between them offensively is less than the major edge Kerfoot has on the defensive side of the game (Barbashev has posted some of the worst defensive numbers among all forwards over the last few years). Getting Barbashev would be another gamble on a cheaper 2LW, but with the way Jarnkrok has been playing since being elevated there, at best he might be slightly better than Jarnkrok there, and at worst he’ll be outperformed by Jarnkrok in the role, get moved down the lineup, and hurt the defensive ability within our best 6.
If we’re gonna pay quality assets for a forward, it should be that “big swing” like mentioned, and if we do make said big swing, we do not need a Barbashev at all.
This team needs to trade for a game breaker. These Foligno type deals have not worked out in the past. Someone like Teresenko would be prefect.
Big swing? Ivan barabawhatnow?