As far as "de-emphasizing" the Core Four is concerned, narratively that's just never going to happen unless and until one of them is moved. Once JT's contract expires and assuming the other three all stay then it will be a Core Three.
On the ice however is where we should hopefully see that de-emphasizing Tree was talking about. Advanced charts came out showing how every playoff teams forwards performed offensively over the past two seasons, and Toronto only had 4 guys who were actually pushing the offense, while other contenders like the Avs, VGK, and Tampa had 6 or 7 guys doing so.
Adding Bertuzzi, Domi, and having a full season of Knies (who was the lone other Leaf to be pushing offense aside from the Core Four) will alleviate some pressure from the core guys and that is most important.
I don't know how you can say "The cap has no flexibility" when the Leafs pop a goaltender on IR who is good to play for the season to free up extra cap space. Makes a mock of the salary cap in all honesty as if the Sens tried to place Matt Murray on IR when he was not injured it would have been a no from the NHL. The Leafs are clearly trying everything to win which I understand, there is no way they are going to be able to sign everyone up for extensions. The only way that you can keep Marner and Nylander is to trade Tavares next off-season and use the $11,000,000 (possibly less with salary retention) to sign Marner and Nylander to longer deals. With Tavares in his last year next season and going into his 34th year it makes sense to trade him at that point and keep 2 younger players in his place. The Leafs are already being allowed a lot of leeway from the NHL, you can't have it all though, and they need to make some tough decisions in the next 12 months.
Matthews is the problem .. because he puts his wallet ahead of the team and during the playoffs he completely disappears. He has proven to be unable to perform in the playoffs, yet carry the team. Currently Nylander is the better player, IF you want to win a cup. He shows up for the playoffs and doesn't shutdown when things get hard. If the Leafs are happy being eliminated in the first and maybe the second round then keep doing the same thing, let Matthews take a huge chunk of the cap room and rely on bargain basement goaltending and a 2nd rate D core.
Saying that it’s on the players to establish an internal cap or to take a discount while also saying it’s the owners that put them here is such a wild take. Not to mention insinuating that what Matthews or Marner were signed for was a mistake? Or that Nylander wouldn’t get a haul on the FA market?! Like holy shit guys, wake up and smell what your stepping in.
There are teams that would pay William Nylander 10 million on the open market. He's their best play off performer along with Reilly. Also the one guy that actually wants to sign a long term deal.
I think trailering is doing really well but something tells me after the gaudreau saga traleving panicked and decided that instead of waiting and getting a cheaper better deal for both sides he saw the contract was there and took it before it was to late but maybe he tried negotiating but either way nobody will ever know
A prime example of why TSN is not #1 in Toronto Sportscastimng hell they are not even #5 , they fail to understand this market and I would love to see some backup to all the OpEd speak
Matthews was already overpaid because of the Tavares contract, now he's even more overpaid and we still have the same team that can't get it done in the playoffs..
Trade Nylander, Liljegren, to Calgary for: Igor and Big Z and Calgarys 2nd round pick. (Flames take on cap space but likely will trade Hanifin and could go the high draft pick route) Leafs shed cap space and are apprx 1 mil off from being compliant , they gain a tougher, more experienced D man that can fill in today and work both sides if needed or move to a second line pairing. Igor plays lw/rw/c and can be a top 6 player giving the rest of the core more urgency to produce with out Ny and gain a younger player who is still promising but should hit at least 50 points. GLG
You can keep William for about 9…Mitch just less than Matthews because by the time those numbers matter the cap will be higher and Tavares will either be off the books or playing for around 3
you guys are idiots. IF in two years the leafs still have Matthews and marner but not tavares and willie.. then the whole conversation changes becuaes the root of the conversation is MONEY relative to value! if certain players leaven then the whole chat changes. but you all cant figure that out
26 Comments
As far as "de-emphasizing" the Core Four is concerned, narratively that's just never going to happen unless and until one of them is moved. Once JT's contract expires and assuming the other three all stay then it will be a Core Three.
On the ice however is where we should hopefully see that de-emphasizing Tree was talking about. Advanced charts came out showing how every playoff teams forwards performed offensively over the past two seasons, and Toronto only had 4 guys who were actually pushing the offense, while other contenders like the Avs, VGK, and Tampa had 6 or 7 guys doing so.
Adding Bertuzzi, Domi, and having a full season of Knies (who was the lone other Leaf to be pushing offense aside from the Core Four) will alleviate some pressure from the core guys and that is most important.
Look up insecurity in the dictionary………. It will say leaf’s fan.
His next move should be to step down because he is not actually the Gm. Shanny is running the show.
I think Marner more valuable then Mathews
I don't know how you can say "The cap has no flexibility" when the Leafs pop a goaltender on IR who is good to play for the season to free up extra cap space. Makes a mock of the salary cap in all honesty as if the Sens tried to place Matt Murray on IR when he was not injured it would have been a no from the NHL. The Leafs are clearly trying everything to win which I understand, there is no way they are going to be able to sign everyone up for extensions. The only way that you can keep Marner and Nylander is to trade Tavares next off-season and use the $11,000,000 (possibly less with salary retention) to sign Marner and Nylander to longer deals. With Tavares in his last year next season and going into his 34th year it makes sense to trade him at that point and keep 2 younger players in his place. The Leafs are already being allowed a lot of leeway from the NHL, you can't have it all though, and they need to make some tough decisions in the next 12 months.
Matthews is the problem .. because he puts his wallet ahead of the team and during the playoffs he completely disappears. He has proven to be unable to perform in the playoffs, yet carry the team.
Currently Nylander is the better player, IF you want to win a cup. He shows up for the playoffs and doesn't shutdown when things get hard.
If the Leafs are happy being eliminated in the first and maybe the second round then keep doing the same thing, let Matthews take a huge chunk of the cap room and rely on bargain basement goaltending and a 2nd rate D core.
Me thinks they will strip the C from JT and give it to Auston – but Auston not a leader of men, trust me. Will be a worse disaster than currently.
Saying that it’s on the players to establish an internal cap or to take a discount while also saying it’s the owners that put them here is such a wild take. Not to mention insinuating that what Matthews or Marner were signed for was a mistake? Or that Nylander wouldn’t get a haul on the FA market?! Like holy shit guys, wake up and smell what your stepping in.
There are teams that would pay William Nylander 10 million on the open market. He's their best play off performer along with Reilly. Also the one guy that actually wants to sign a long term deal.
Brad definitely overpaid for matthews a non performer in the playoffs
Tavares is going to be gone soon – don’t do anything stupid
I think trailering is doing really well but something tells me after the gaudreau saga traleving panicked and decided that instead of waiting and getting a cheaper better deal for both sides he saw the contract was there and took it before it was to late but maybe he tried negotiating but either way nobody will ever know
Tavares is gonna resign for 8 years 6 mil a year
A prime example of why TSN is not #1 in Toronto Sportscastimng hell they are not even #5 , they fail to understand this market and I would love to see some backup to all the OpEd speak
Matthews was already overpaid because of the Tavares contract, now he's even more overpaid and we still have the same team that can't get it done in the playoffs..
Trade Nylander, Liljegren, to Calgary for: Igor and Big Z and Calgarys 2nd round pick. (Flames take on cap space but likely will trade Hanifin and could go the high draft pick route) Leafs shed cap space and are apprx 1 mil off from being compliant , they gain a tougher, more experienced D man that can fill in today and work both sides if needed or move to a second line pairing. Igor plays lw/rw/c and can be a top 6 player giving the rest of the core more urgency to produce with out Ny and gain a younger player who is still promising but should hit at least 50 points. GLG
Marner and Nylander scored more points than Matthews last year. Why should they take less?
If willy is firm on the number for example 10 million per year, Tree will look for the best trade but will take his time.
This is the best team I seen scenes the 93 leafs there finally not going to be pushed around this can't wait for NHL to start good job Brad
The Leafs need BIG, TOUGH, D-MAN! It is that simple. GO LEAFS GO!!!!
Treliving looks like Discount AL Bundy.
Trade Nylander asap.
You can keep William for about 9…Mitch just less than Matthews because by the time those numbers matter the cap will be higher and Tavares will either be off the books or playing for around 3
There's another plandemic coming. It's election season and the criminals in the USA gotta win.
Where did the B team go? i really miss those baseball guys talking about hockey. kind of like we all enjoy you hckey guys talking about the MLB
you guys are idiots. IF in two years the leafs still have Matthews and marner but not tavares and willie.. then the whole conversation changes becuaes the root of the conversation is MONEY relative to value! if certain players leaven then the whole chat changes. but you all cant figure that out