tavares would gain babcock confidence at matthews expense they are both 1st line centers.... gonna create a rift between babcock and matthews.... would be better spending on a stud defenseman or trading for one else toronto is going nowhere even with Tavares.. goaltending is only around average too.

I agree this lineup is unlikely, nay impossible. But they sure would score a lot ...

Tavares is money well spent. If Matthews were that much of a premadonna that centre depth woukd create a rift, we don't want him. Winning matters, not ego.

JVR is not money well spent however.

Your comment about Matthews and a rift has merits. Remember Matthews is what 20 years old, people forget that and do not understand how it works. Plus you will need to lose a lot of salary next year to sign Marner and Matthews and that comes at the expense of the d core which is already weak.

Random thought would leafs ever entertain trading Matthews for JT in some sort of sign and trade obviously isles would give a first or something in return because Leafs could easily go sign JT but maybe Johnny would want to give Isles something back what do you think? Barzal and Matthews would be scary

I agree although I noted that in the description. If this team could overcome its defensive limitations and outscore its opponents to win the cup, perhaps it would be followed by at least one big trade of some key piece to fit the cap and upgrade the D. Maybe if Matthews doesn't play nice with the others they deal him for top prospects and picks + save the cap space they need to keep everyone else. Or something like that ...

you cant get a #1 defenseman without giving up alot?

There's no way the Leafs can afford Tavares resign Van Riemsdyk and afford Matthews, Marner and Nylander plus afford Kapanen and Liljegren down the road. Way too much going out.

true but they could afford them for one year and then trade someone to retool on the fly