Which rumors are you referring to?

That the Leafs are supposedly interested in Myers and Barbashev.

I would need to hear that from real sources like weekes/Friedman/Johnson. Guys like Pagnotta don't get deals correct often. More speculation to get clicks. I doubt the Myers claims, but barbashev could be of interest

Ah, that's what you meant. Yeah, it's the clickbait type of rumors, not from insiders with a scoop as far as I know.

Yeah, I could buy Barbashev, would be surprised about the Myers one, it doesn't really make much sense to me unless he's coming in at 1.5m but doubt it. I could see Dubas try to add Myers next year with a sweetener if he's actually interested in him (still) and they don't get anyone in FA instead.

On that note, Pagnotta is now linking Meier to the Bruins as well.

I truly do not see him as a true source. He seems to link every player to 3 or 4 random teams. It's similar to the "main insiders" linking literally everyone to the Leafs. I don't see Myers either. McCabe I do buy. Seravalli mentioned it and he has been great and reliable as an insider.

Dubas and quiet rarely go together as the only time he was quiet was 2020 when he punished the team

If we look at his history around now is when he makes his deals (Campbell, Lybushkin, Muzzin) so probs should expect a move soon

Yeah, Pagnotta is just a source for speculative rumors in my eyes. A few steps up from Eklund who throws out baseless rumors out there. Seravelli has been a solid source for fans for actual information, but I don't think Francis will be trusting him any time soon. Of course, everyone does speculate from time to time since the season is long and they need content.

His bigger moves are usually not very flashy other than the Muzzin deal and some others. A lot of them are often underrated moves, nothing wrong with that though.

Giordano deal was pretty big for the time as Gio was 2 years removed from a Messier Trophy and 3 from a Norris.

I wouldn't put that one in the same category as the Muzzin deal or when he traded Kadri and Kapanen away. It is a relatively big trade though in comparison to his other trades. I feel like that move is underrated ever since Giordano resigned at a discount. I would expect more of that this year as well, rather than him splashing on a guy like Meier.

In terms of impact/value, the Giordano trade is certainly a big trade and so was the Campbell trade. Perhaps even the Murray and Timmins trades will prove to be huge deals even though one was seen as a gamble and the other a low risk trade.

Its pretty close. As Giordano despite his age was still a solid top 4 Dman and next to Chiarot was the second big fish in the Dman pool

Yeah, I originally did write that I find it funny that he was considered a top 4-dman playing top 2 minutes for a weak SEA, but after the trade and signing it seems that he's not anymore by people. Decided to summarize though, I think Giordano is just as good as he was last year more or less, he's just playing a reduced role for obvious reasons.

The trade was one of the bigger ones of the trade dealine last year, and the Leafs did essentially give up a 1st in value but they did get paid for got their guy, a throw in, and paid for retention with that. It's still a step down though from the Hagel, Giroux, and Chiarot deals that cost a ton or the Muzzin deal. That's why I see the trade itself closer to a value trade rather than a big trade, where they had to really give to get.

Friedman is a clown poser. The king of wiggle words.

Lol, with Friedman, you can usually tell by his wording when he's purely speculating ("I wonder if...") or when he has an actual scoop ("I've been told...") or if it's just something that he heard/uncertain about/needs content ("...has been linked to...").

And by speculating you mean talking out of his rear.

Where did you think Kypreos got that Clarke info from?

I heard him talk about how he made a blunder about someone going somewhere once because someone asked him a question via text without a question mark.