I love how any forward from any team is going to be worth at least a 2nd and end up on the top line.

I mean after Keefe decided that putting Thornton there was a good idea it's become a bit of a running thing on this site.

That worked for a time. Thornton still does a lot of things well but as much as it pains me to say it, I think they do need more speed. Although really when Thornton played there they didn't allow a 5v5 game for the first 10 games they played together. Matthews is just a monster. Him and Marner will be dominant no matter who plays with them.

Hyman is the one who needs to to play with them. It's the obvious thing to do

Exactly the reason why people tend to put anyone with them. As long as it's LW and can contribute even something, it automatically seems to be a good option.

Naturally that's not the case, but it's not like people care lol.

It certainly works. But again, when has Matthews when healthy, not looked dominant? I really get annoyed with how much credit Hyman gets when Matthews does well. Hyman is terrific and way better by himself that I gave him credit for, however he doesn't make Matthews better, Matthews makes everything better. Plays with Thornton and they dominated, played with Hyman, still dominated. To start the season (after Thornton was back in the lineup) that line didn't allow a high danger chance for several games. So it should be pretty clear that Matthews is the one who does all the heavy lifting. Hyman helps for sure but he gets credited for way too much of what that line does. He said it himself, he plays with 2 superstars, he just goes and does his job and it works. Paying him like he's a superstar as well is a massive mistake.

Yeah, I know. Its clear to me 90% of the people on here know hockey from playing Chel so you can trade all your trade picks and it doesn't matter. B

Yep

I'm sorry but even if I mostly agree I need to say this: Hyman makes every line he plays on better, and you can't deny it.

Also did I ever advocate for paying Hyman crazy amount of $$? I personally would lock him up for 8 seasons at 4M per. Low ish AAV (cause he could get 5M on the open market) but high term

I haven't seen Sanford play much.
Does he play a rough and tumble style? Is he a worker OR a skill guy???

Again does he make the Matthews line better? Or is he the best suited to play with them? He's better than Thornton right now without a doubt but does that mean he makes Matthews better? Or does Matthews have to carry less because Hyman is the 3rd best winger on the team? Does Hyman make Engvall and Mikheyev better? Absolutely. Does he make JT and Nylander better? I'm not sure, but again he's the 3rd best winger on the team so that is better than someone else. To give Hyman the credit that he makes all the lines better is wrong. He may fit better than anyone else there is for options but Matthews and Marner drive the boat. Willy and JT as well. Hyman certainly drives the 3rd line when he's on it but giving him credit for Matthews play is ridiculous.

He played a little rough, like an enforcer. He is like Kassian in a sense but not as tough

LOOL if im spending a second and a third I want Scott Laughton

Wasn't really Keefe's decisions. Dubas reportedly convinced Thornton to sign in Toronto with a promise to at least try him with Matthews and Marner. They can't break a promise to a vet they got to sign on a league minimum deal and then expect other guys to sign for cheap to play here because of their cap situation. It's why Thornton is seeing bottom 6 ice time now and not on the top line

Alright, then Dubas himself isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

Although some of those contracts in there have already proven this.

No fault for Keefe there.

It's actually a pretty smart move if you look at it. Dubas promises to only give Thornton a shot on the top line to start the season and then let's his play determine where he goes from there. Thornton started off strong on the top line then trailed off and was limited to 4th line duties. That tells veterans that they can trust Dubas' word that he'll give them the best chance they'll have to perform and if they don't it's on them. The veteran gets his shot to show he still has it and the Leafs get a no risk deal on a league minimum. Nothing bad about that signing from Dubas

I guess. Just don't really see the point behind acquiring so, so many league minimum bottom-6 guys only to lose half of them in the waivers.

Would rather just spend the money for an actual quality asset. There were several up for grabs in the recent market.