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Leaf_Fan_93

Member Since
Jun. 18, 2019
Favourite Team
Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd Favourite Team
Chicago Blackhawks
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Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 17, 2019 at 11:19 a.m.
Thread: Holl has earned an extention
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Couvy</b></div><div>I think part of Dermotts extension will be for a top 4 defensemen with offensive potential. Holl is pretty much in his prime and can be considered a PK shutdown defensemen. We all know Defensemen who put up numbers always get paid more. Either way they can't spare more than 4mil for both as the Cap will be tight for years to come.</div></div>

Yes, I think Dermott as a top 4 D with offensive potential is what we want him to be, but right now he's the #6 D on a bottom 10 defensive team. He's a RFA without arbitration rights. I know he doesn't get PP time with Barrie and Reilly ahead of him, but even with Barrie gone next year he's not exactly going to be lighting the world on fire playing on the Leafs 2nd PP unit. He's a good puck moving defenceman and I really like him, I just don't think they can pay him double what Holl (a UFA who now plays top 4 minutes in a shutdown role). I think they can get them both done for under $4m, and with Sandin and Liljegren stepping in full time on ELC's (keeps fingers crossed) we should have money to sign a quality veteran to round out the D, whether it be a guy like Hamonic or re-signing Muzzin.

With so many teams tight to the cap this year and each year teams relying more and more on young/cheap talent to fill out their lineups I don't think we'll see UFAs get the $$ they have in the past. The cap is rumored to only be going to $83.5m-$84m, teams will have a tough time retaining the players they have let alone go out and be big spenders in free agency. Leafs will be tight to the cap and sure, they probably overpaid some guys a little, but after Ceci's contract is gone this summer they don't have any bad contracts like a lot of other teams.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 16, 2019 at 10:04 p.m.
Thread: How Dubas Will Fix
Everyone is all excited because the Leafs "are one of the teams interested in Bilyalov". He has great numbers, but he isn't even the starting goalie on his KHL team. IF he decides to sign with an NHL team, and IF the Leafs are the team he signs with they would pencil him in to be their backup next year. Then we're right where we are now with a backup that is unproven at the NHL level. The Leafs can't go down that road again and would need some insurance in case he can fill that role. Well, if you're Timur, you're not leaving Russia to be an AHL goalie. The biggest reason is because the best contract he can get is what Mikheyev signed, $925k in the NHL and $70k in the AHL with a $92,500 signing bonus. So unless he's guaranteed to be in the NHL, why would he come to potentially play for the Marlies for $160k.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 11, 2019 at 6:25 p.m.
Thread: Notes after last night
Matthews/Nylander are still just as effective without Johnsson. I like him as a player, but it doesn't bode well for him if they do decide to make a move. I wouldn't be shocked if the Leafs don't make any moves. They are playing better and there is still obviously room for more improvement from the currently constructed roster. This season has already been a train wreck, why trade away draft picks (that you're already low on), prospects (that you don't have an abundance of), or roster players at reasonable cap hits for the next 3-4 years. If Dubas/Shanny are in for the long haul, let this season play out, keep your assets, re-stock your prospect pool with a great draft and some college/european free agents, and sign a backup goalie next summer. They'll actually have some salary cap flexibility to address the D core. Just because fans/media expectations are high right now they shouldn't overpay and force a trade for a backup goalie/RHD/Pietroangelo or whoever the new rumour is next week.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 11, 2019 at 5:27 p.m.
Thread: Fixing the Sharks through Realistic Major Deals with Leafs and Wings
The Leafs would have zero interest in 34 year old Brent Burns, signed for 5.5 more years at $8m cap hit. Not to mention the guy is -21 this year. And that's not just the Leafs, it's pretty much everyone in the league. Vlasic's contract isn't much better. Sharks have had a nice run, but in 5 years they'll have 39 year old Burns, 37 year old Vlasic, and 34 year old Karlsson, making a combined $26m without a hope of making the playoffs.

I expect the 7 &amp; 8 year contracts to become less common moving forward. The league is getting younger every year, there is no reason teams should be paying a 28 year old or older UFA big money that takes them into their mid 30s or beyond. It kills a teams salary cap flexibility and inevitably leads to some non-playoff years and total rebuild. Chicago/LA are in it right now, San Jose looks like they're heading there.
Forum: Armchair-GMDec. 2, 2019 at 1:27 p.m.
Thread: Healthy Lines
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>LoganOllivier</b></div><div>Gauthier played a big role in winning the AHL Championship. Gauthier is a Keefe guy. He's been terrific this year, he's earned his spot on the 4th line. Been winning faceoffs, wearing down defenders and doing his thing. He's on the team, no matter what.</div></div>

Just because Gauthier played for the Marlies doesn't make him "a Keefe guy". In reality Gauthier &amp; Shore are the forwards on the roster that don't fit with Keefe's system. They aren't skilled, they don't make plays, and they don't possess the puck. This isn't the Babcock "we need our 4th liners to play like 4th liners". With a healthy lineup Spezza, Engvall, Moore, are all better options for 4th line. It blows my mind how anyone thinks that Gauthier or Shore are better hockey players than anyone else they have available. With a cap crunch coming they don't have any room to keep them around and that's ok because there's no chance anyone claims either of them off waivers.

Ice time per game since Keefe took over:
vs ARZ - 10:41
vs COL - 8:09
vs DET - 12:52 (blowout game where Matthew's only play 16 minutes)
vs BUF - 5:46
vs BUF - 8:23

Sorry, not a Keefe type player
Forum: Armchair-GMNov. 15, 2019 at 4:15 p.m.
Thread: Question for Leafs fans
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>ZachArmel</b></div><div>I am not really sure who but it has to be someone who plays their stars longer then 18 minutes a game, realize that Ceci is a third pairing d man, that Freddy shouldn't be playing over 55 games, and Toronto is a team that plays offensively based NOT defensively based</div></div>

Please explain how the Leafs are a "defensive based" and you want them to be a "offensive based" team? The Leafs are near the top of the league while 5 on 5 in the following offensive categories: Corsi For (1), Corsi For % (3), Shots For (3), Goals For (6), Scoring Chances For (6), etc. And you want them to be MORE offensive??? Scoring goals is one thing that's not a problem. Giving up goals and special teams are a problem.

It's a very fine line between winning and losing games in the NHL. Improvement on special teams and eliminating the 2-3 major brain farts per game they usually have and you would see wins coming much more consistently. Paying less attention to their defensive game and trying to score more is the worst idea.
Forum: Armchair-GMNov. 15, 2019 at 3:55 p.m.
Thread: Fire Babock
What other options other than Sheldon Keefe are out there for a mid-season coaching change? Keefe has done well with the Marlies. Keep in mind the Leafs set the Marlies up to be successful. They want their prospects developing in a winning culture. They have a lot more older, mature, experienced players than most/all other AHL teams. So yes, Keefe has done a great job there, but he has been put in a position to succeed. I'm not sure if firing Babcock and promoting Keefe is necessarily going to improve the Leafs.

However, most AHL teams play the same systems as their NHL clubs. Because of this I cannot understand why the Leafs are usually one of the weaker NHL teams defensively and the Marlies are consistently one of the better AHL teams defensively. Is it personnel, the head coach, the D coach?? If the style of play and systems are the same then there aren't many other factors to consider.
Forum: Armchair-GMNov. 14, 2019 at 5:20 p.m.
Thread: The Leafs problems discussion thread
PP- Barrie's shot is an asset that the Leafs should be using on the PP. Without a big shot from the point it makes it much easier to defend. I'm not saying he should be out with the 1st unit every time, but at least give him a shot or put out whoever is rested instead of running out a tired Reilly every time. PP breakout works fine if they attack with SPEED, which half of the time they don't and get stuffed at the blueline.

PK - They're over complicating this. The PK system they've implemented is not being grasped by the players. Too many times forwards are pushing down the half wall, then when a puck goes to the point it's confusion between F's of who is going where. They run around, get out of position and it results in quality shots against. Elite NHL players (like the guys on the 1st PP unit of each team) only need a very small opening to be dangerous and the Leafs are making it way too easy on them.

As much as people want to hate on the Leafs, if their special teams improve just a little bit they will be a very difficult team to beat.