How far do you guys think this team will go hypothetically?

Pretty far if that jones trade goes through, but it doesn’t come close.

I'm not gonna comment on the trades, idk that deal gets Jones - also idk about the signings elsewhere etc.

what I will say is that Marleau was a PHENOMENAL signing, guy mentored the team, gave the team legitimacy, scored 27 goals - he was CLUTCH in the playoffs

... then he fell off a cliff and had 2 seasons left. Lou giving marleau that amount of term for that cap hit was terrible, but the signing itself was smart.

Trade Demelo and sign Brodie with the extra cap and this team can make it far depending if Andersen plays well

2nd round

Marleau probably would've been a Maple Leaf or not cost such a hefty price to move if Zaitsev didn't have that 4.5 million anchor. He was only going to make 1.25 million in salary for the upcoming season and a trade involving retention wouldn't have been out of the question if the cap wasn't so tight.

I would have moved Brown to Edmonton for Bear + during that offseason. Edmonton would have done it to as Mcdavid needed wings and brown played well with Matthews.

Also if we had the 13th and 15th instead of trading up what I would have done is drafted Jarvis at 13 then instead of Amirov at 15 traded down to the rangers at 19 (drafted Amirov) got a 2nd and than through Dubas skill at the draft get more picks for more prospects to use as trade bait or refill our pool. So basically leafs would have Jarvis, Amirov, and more picks to use later on.

This would be more intrighing Scenerio though. What if the leafs made the calgary blockbuster instead of Carolina. So Hamilton + Ferland + Fox would go to the leafs and for Calgary Nylander + Liligren and Bracco or a 2nd would go to the flames.

Ferland would not be extended. Lou would hold firm on Fox get him to sign with us than trade him in another huge trade to the rangers and Rielly-Hamilton would be the god pair.

Cause man today imagine a dcore of

Rielly-Hamilton
Muzzin-Brodie
Lehtonen-Dermott
Holl

I'm not commenting on the trades but that roster sitting like that wins in the 2nd round and loses in the conference final.

I agree tbh. Apparently SJS offered him 2 years, and leafs offered him 3 years. That’s why he chose Toronto. If Lou only offered him 2 years he may not have chosen Toronto, but that would’ve made the most sense. Marleau 2 year contract would’ve been good for Toronto if he was willing to sign him. Bump his cap hit up to 8 million and it’s still better lol with Matthew’s and marner on ELCS

Other than the fact YOU STILL HAVE MARNER CHEAPER THAN WHAT HE REALLY IS, STOP ALREADY, this is spot on analysis. Those 2 were the problem, not JT.
Ps, it's not a big deal, but if you trade Kappy in that deal, you don't have pick 15.

Thanks for the feedback. I sent the same package for Dougie Hamilton in a previous post, yet most Leaf fans told me it was too much. So I decided to trade for the best RHD in hockey.

Marleau was a great player and locker room presence, but I would've offered him 2 years 9.25 million AAV. It would give him the same total salary as the 3 year deal and they wouldn't run into cap problems when it came to resigning AM & MM.

Thanks for letting me know. That is an interesting trade scenario for sure and very similar to the real life Hamilton for Lindholm deal.

Thanks for pointing it out, just realized that.

Pretty far potentially. I think that Jones trade in 2017 does go through. That’s a better package than Johansen, and Jones wasn’t nearly as highly regarded then as he is now

Thanks for the feedback. I agree!

First step upon recovery is acknowledgement you have a problem, not rewriting history by erasing bad decisions.

I wish you would stop tagging me.

Yeah, I'd say this team is really good. Jones is a huge difference maker. How did the Leafs get Lundell? Maybe it doesn't matter....just assuming they did?

Tbh lou RUINED the leafs with some of his moves.

What if Dubas never signed J.T. had somehow managed to sign a real #1 Dman instead.

If CBJ wouldn't take Jones for Marner they wouldn't take that

Sure, who?

TBH 3 years ago they probably would have.

IMO any team that has this line up would be a contender.
It has been most unfortunate that Boston knocked them out twice Columbus once.
It is really a good team.
When Marleau was added, management decided now was the time, while he performed well, the team hit the Boston road block.
His skills diminished the following year and it cost a first to dump his salary.
In hindsight signing him was poor decision, if the Leafs won the cup, everyone would have cheered.
IDK what happened Zaitsev, he looked really good when the Leafs offered him the big contract, then his performance went south.

Many teams make mistakes.
Look at my Sabres.
O'Reilly leads the team to last over all then wins a cup the next year with a new team.
Okposo is signed to a good contract now he plays fourth line minutes at $6,000,000 for another 3 years.

I think Dubas will do a good job and the Leafs will rebound.

Yes I agree. Jones is the most talented young defenceman in the league in my opinion. As for Lundell, yes, just assume that the Leafs picked 12th.