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2025-2026 Off Season Thread - The Rehappening

I liked lofs idea of trading Robertson for Dobson! That's doable right?
In fairness, I said and OEL and stuff. Stuff can be anything!

But they do need players, and good quantity might fit the bill. Throw in lightly-used almost new Carlo. How about a tough as nails playoff performer to shore out the C position on the third line, like Laughton. These are major goodies.
 
In fairness, I said and OEL and stuff. Stuff can be anything!

But they do need players, and good quantity might fit the bill. Throw in lightly-used almost new Carlo. How about a tough as nails playoff performer to shore out the C position on the third line, like Laughton. These are major goodies.
You know what I might even toss Benoit into that deal
 
It would be tough to give up Laughton so soon after we traded for him....

Would have to get a 1st back for his combination of grit, skill, and leadership.
 
The more I think about it - that matthews comment about passengers is insane. That’s some statement from your best player / captain coming off of 1 g in 7 games. Maybe he said it reactively without thinking through how it could get interpreted or perhaps he was being self reflexive, but in any case it shows some immaturity.

I’m betting on him to figure it all out but until he does he’s a huge disappointment.
 
I really don’t get how Marner’s camp looks at the last 6 years of regular season and playoffs and asks for more money than Rantanen just signed for. I know they will, but I don’t get it.

I’d offer him the Nylander contract and when he says no, be glad to have the capspace. You won’t get another 90 point player with it, but you could easily get two guys who score more in the playoffs.
 
The more I think about it - that matthews comment about passengers is insane. That’s some statement from your best player / captain coming off of 1 g in 7 games. Maybe he said it reactively without thinking through how it could get interpreted or perhaps he was being self reflexive, but in any case it shows some immaturity.

I’m betting on him to figure it all out but until he does he’s a huge disappointment.
Yes, awful. Even if you are performing as you are expected to, that is not something a captain / leader should ever say in public. The fact that you yourself are arguably the biggest problem is just icing on the cake.

I also initially like it when Marner finally showed some emotion (after the game was basically over, of course), but then I realized that he was just blaming others.

Yet more evidence that neither of these guys have what it takes.
 
The more I think about it - that matthews comment about passengers is insane. That’s some statement from your best player / captain coming off of 1 g in 7 games. Maybe he said it reactively without thinking through how it could get interpreted or perhaps he was being self reflexive, but in any case it shows some immaturity.

I’m betting on him to figure it all out but until he does he’s a huge disappointment.
It also tends to show him backing up and being on Team Marner, given Mitch's wake the fuck up spit-filled outburst.

I think these guys are inseparable and that if Marner wants to return and the Leafs don't take him, Matthews may blow it up himself. And if Marner doesn't want to return, Matthews will sulk and play like shit until he's dealt too. Either way, I have a very hard time envisioning this team without Marner and with a Matthews who suddenly turns the corner and succeeds without his right arm.

All of this is going to blow up at some point next year, and then if McDavid actually goes UFA, the shit really hits the fan. Because now I can't envision a McDavid and Matthews team anymore, where Matthews keeps the C over McDavid or gives it up to him on his arrival.

Such a shame. This should've played out with at least a cup win or two, then Tavares retiring into the sunset after next season, and McDavid joining Matthews to create the true successor superteam.
 
Yeah, no.

Game 3 is all that you need to watch. Leafs go up 2-0 and are dominating, Barkov bounces a puck in off of Woll from below the goal line. The Leafs show uncharacteristic fight back and score on the PP to go up 3-1, and Woll's shit rebound control on a soft shot somehow causes the puck to end up behind him and in the net, 3-2

Florida scores on a 2 on 1 to tie it...not on Woll at all, was shambolic D. But then allows this:

View attachment 27006


Should have had 3 of the goals scored in this game and the team kept fighting back and just never got a save from him. .886 isn't lying about his performance overall.
6 goals in 4 games , your toast
 
Another thing - these guys looked fucking miserable from the preseason through yesterday.

Do they hate Berube and this system of his? Are they fed up with Tre and his mediocre adds? Has being a Leaf gotten to them?

I don't know what it is we're seeing in their expressions this season, but they never looked like this before.
 
I'm probably not the first to state this, but the Leafs have played in 8 "winner-take-all" games since the 2004-2005 lockout.

They're 0-8 (0-7 with Matthews, Marner and Nylander on the roster).
 
Yes, awful. Even if you are performing as you are expected to, that is not something a captain / leader should ever say in public. The fact that you yourself are arguably the biggest problem is just icing on the cake.

I also initially like it when Marner finally showed some emotion (after the game was basically over, of course), but then I realized that he was just blaming others.

Yet more evidence that neither of these guys have what it takes.

Not sure this organization has the courage to start over. Overpaying free agents is what they'll probably do.
 
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