I don’t. Either he’s really good at his job or Dubas sucks at his. Or both i guess.

Pandemic is why they are in perceived cap hell - just like 10+ other teams in the league.

They've been able to add three legit Top 4 dmen since they signed Tavares (Barrie obviously didn't work out though).

Kappy is traded for that package no matter what their cap situation is. You could argue the cap was the reason Johnsson was dealt, but Robertson was going to make him expendable this year or next, so I'm not really seeing all the fallout from signing Tavares.

I understand what you mean, but the "the-leafs-should-have-signed-a-defenseman-instead-of-JT" is flawed because there were no defenceman to sign that year. As for forwards, like you said, the next best thing was JVR. Yup, Tavares was a way better choice than keeping JVR.

So that leaves what I'm pretty sure you are actually suggesting, and that's that the leafs should have signed nobody. I just don't see why that would have been good at the time. If they did that, they drift out of the playoff picture, and they are set back, wasting years of Matthews, Marner, and Nylander. I think signing JT was the best option.

well first of all trades can happen
And second of all yeah I'd rather have JT than no one

But trades mean you give up someone. To get a good 1st pairing guy, Nylander likely is sacrificed. Not a good move if you don't have Tavares.

I get your point but I fundamentally disagree. The reason being is that signing players to as much term as possible is short-sighted. Most players never move (willingly) and don't give players a full NMC in the final year of their deal. 5-6 year terms are better for the team. For your stars they make their money now at the beginning of their NHL career and then, later on, they can play like many are for helping younger stronger teams win cups. 8-year win and then paid contracts end up with 40-year-old 3rd liners making tens of millions which is universally bad. With 5-6 year contracts your player on their second contract ends up 28-32 and he can resign for 5-6 more or move to another team for a different experience or to help them win a cup.
Tons of teams end up with guys in their late 30's who can skate circles around beer league but are clearly outclassed in the NHL precisely because of 7-8 year contracts.

Here's a thought: Sign De Haan (not to the deal he eventually signed tho) and move Gardiner and pick(s) for someone better at defense than him

If Leafs don't have JT, I really doubt they are competitive enough to bother trading for Muzzin.

Then with extra capspace, I doubt they finish second in Subban "sweepstakes" last year.

Another person who doesn't get how contract negotiation works. You're the kind of guy who wants to pay MSRP for something and ends up paying 20 percent over. You don't ask for what you want. You ask for well above what you want.

Drai is the best 2C
Malkin is number 2
Tavares is probably number 3

Muzzin plus Brodie plus Tavares is better than De Haan plus defence first Gardiner replacement plus Kadri.

Because putting 3rd and 4th line wingers who can't skate with superstars is stupid. ask McDavid.

I don’t recall suggesting putting a 4th liner in the top six. Did i say that?

The whole point is to save money by trading Nylander which tons of others (not me because as stated it's stupid) have suggested. In order for trading him to make any meaningful difference, you would have to save at least 3.5 million on his contract and putting a slow ass 30 point player isn't going to make any sense. So near Nylander's skill which is exactly what the Leafs (and everyone else by the way) need and making 3.5 or less. You suggesting not as good as Nylander but as good as Nylander proves you haven't thought it through. It has to be a player who is an NHL top 6 winger and not one who's been placed there because a team has nobody else.

Why?

Clearly an Oilers fan who believes that the Oilers management is perfect and it's just bad luck the OIlers haven't been good despite having the greatest player in the world.

You having trouble today or something? Why on earth would you think I’m an oilers fan?

The fact that you suggest the Leafs copy them.

Look, what 3.5m player are you suggesting they put in Nylander's place and what's the trade for him.

When have i mentioned the oilers?

That is your theory, not mine.

Reading is not your forte is it?

Explain to me what i got wrong here.

I don’t think you have to replace nylander with a 3.5 million dollar player.

You're obviously just trolling so I reported you since you've added nothing to the conversation. You haven't made any suggestions and you haven't added to the conversation. I already made this comment so I edited it and put this response instead. Please read the rules of the form thanks.

"You can't have a Nylander trade without a top skilled playmaker to play with Matthews or JT"

Why? Tavares played with sub-par wingers for years and people on here repeatedly say that Matthews scored just as well with Hyman and Brown as his wingers.