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Leafs' Prospect/Marlies Discussion Thread!

Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Go big and bring Tavares home, baby.

Keep Willy on the wing getting prime minutes with Matty. Let Tavares and Marner work sweet magic together. And let Kadri be the best third line center in the league.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

LeafOfFaith said:
Go big and bring Tavares home, baby.

Keep Willy on the wing getting prime minutes with Matty. Let Tavares and Marner work sweet magic together. And let Kadri be the best third line center in the league.
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I'm down for this as well.

XXXX - Matthews - Nylander
XXXX - Tavares - Marner
XXXX - Kadri - Kapanen

You can literally put me on any of those wings and we'd be nasty. In all seriousness every center would have a "partner" winger. We'd be unstoppable if this were to go down. That could be a better forward group than Pittsburgh.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Just a perspective of the month Andreas Johnsson had to earn him player of the month...he was 34th in scoring at the end of Jan. He is now second in the league. 19pts.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

If Tavares ever hit UFA, I agree we should try our very best to add him as our 2C.

He will not justify the $10.5M (or whatever it takes) contract individually, but the impact on this team will justify the money spent.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Tavares has kinda sucked going on 2 months now.

And I'm not sure he's even the best player on his team anymore.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

I think they'll go after Tavares if he makes it to July 1. Going after whatever elite player is out there is this front office's MO.

That is why I also think they are/will be in on Karlsson. Friedman was speculating on the radio today that the Leafs were going after a second first round pick for Karlsson.

Given who is running the show, I can't see them not going after Karlsson, Tavares or whatever other elite player is out there.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

leafman101 said:
I think they'll go after Tavares if he makes it to July 1. Going after whatever elite player is out there is this front office's MO.

That is why I also think they are/will be in on Karlsson. Friedman was speculating on the radio today that the Leafs were going after a second first round pick for Karlsson.

Given who is running the show, I can't see them not going after Karlsson, Tavares or whatever other elite player is out there.
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Yep, this front office has established a decent track record of big-game hunting.

First, off the ice, they went after Hunter, Babcock and Lamoriello. Then they went full force after Steve Stamkos on the eve of his free agency. Last summer, they brought in Patrick Marleau, and also made a big push to bring in Marleau AND Thornton as a package deal.

So, I don't have any doubt this summer that they'll make a pitch to Tavares, be in on Erik Karlsson in some shape or form and check in with the Kings on Drew Doughty if he isn't amenable to re-signing with them this off-season. Another potential name they could go after is John Carlson as well, if he makes it to UFA.

I also wonder if they might kick tires on Ilya Kovalchuk as a JVR replacement. He's a free-and-clear UFA this year, and if he was willing to take a Radulov-style, one year "prove-it" contract, the Leafs have a ton of cap space this off-season only, and would offer him a pretty good opportunity to rack up some nice stats before pursuing a multi-year deal somewhere else the next summer. I guess the question is what the Leaf staff think of him now, and just how amicable (or not) the split was when he retired on Lou in New Jersey.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

I still can't see ottawa trading Karlsson to Toronto. Their fans will burn down Cdn tire center the day it happens. Not to mention, you NEVER want to trade your star player to your conference rival, nevermind division archrival.

Tavares, OTOH - definitely.

I don't know if there's a need for Kovalchuk to replace JVR if we can land Tavares. Kovalchuk may be a decent replacement for JVR if we fail to land Tavares though, and in that case it may also make sense to retain Bozak.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

number17 said:
I still can't see ottawa trading Karlsson to Toronto. Their fans will burn down Cdn tire center the day it happens. Not to mention, you NEVER want to trade your star player to your conference rival, nevermind division archrival.

Tavares, OTOH - definitely.

I don't know if there's a need for Kovalchuk to replace JVR if we can land Tavares. Kovalchuk may be a decent replacement for JVR if we fail to land Tavares though, and in that case it may also make sense to retain Bozak.
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Remember, we do have like...$30M+ in available cap space this summer, with Nylander & Carrick being our only notable UFA's that need to be signed.

So, if you could get Kovy on a one-year deal....


qHyFmF5.jpg
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Kovalchuk is probably the most realistic option listed there. I have serious doubts about the others happening.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

2 year stats

Tavares: 141gms, EV 15:49 (A+), 2.08p60, 1.61p160, 49.9cf% (+3.4), 49.8xgf% (+2.5) / PP 3:10, 4.98p60, 3.87p160 / PK 1:18
Kadri: 146gms, EV 14:25 (A), 2.01p60, 1.53p160, 51.3cf% (+0.8), 51.3xgf% (+0.6) / PP 2:10, 5.93p60, 4.97p160 / PK 0:01

And Naz played with Uncle Leo most of those games. Brown his 2nd most frequent linemate.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

But in what world wouldn't we want another, better offensive Kadri? Besides thats the same thing people said about Stamkos "he;s not that good anymore, he's not a #1 center." Thet still went after him, and they would still be way better today with him.

Not sure the Leafs will get any of them, but they will definitely go after them.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Agreed about Kovalchuk and agreed about Tavares.

When we lose JVR, and Bozak, you need to replace them with someone. Tavares and Kovalchuk will actually be an upgrade.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

zeke said:
2 year stats

Tavares: 141gms, EV 15:49 (A+), 2.08p60, 1.61p160, 49.9cf% (+3.4), 49.8xgf% (+2.5) / PP 3:10, 4.98p60, 3.87p160 / PK 1:18
Kadri: 146gms, EV 14:25 (A), 2.01p60, 1.53p160, 51.3cf% (+0.8), 51.3xgf% (+0.6) / PP 2:10, 5.93p60, 4.97p160 / PK 0:01

And Naz played with Uncle Leo most of those games. Brown his 2nd most frequent linemate.
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I'm not interested in a long-term investment for Tavares, but if he is amenable to a shorter-term deal, then I think it is an opportunity worth pursuing. Even if he is our 3rd line C... Last 3rd line C I can remember who was in the same league was Jordan Staal on the Pens the year they won their first cup... (recognizing J Staal is/was overrated... still a damn good 3C)
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Tavares will not take any 1 or 2 years deal, you can forget about that.

IF we make a real effort towards signing Tavares, I'd say it is going to take you $10.5M x 6 yrs, at the very minimum
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

those numbers might indicate he's not even better. but he'll cost over 2.5 times as much.

but the stamkos comp is instructive:

2 year stats

Matthews: 135gms, EV 15:31 (A-), 2.54p60, 2.28p160, 51.2cf% (+0.7), 52.6xgf% (+2.3) / PP 2:21, 5.50p60, 3.79p160 / PK 0:01
Stamkos: 82gms, EV 14:43 (A-), 2.68p60, 2.01p60, 53.2cf% (+2.2), 53.3xgf% (+1.9) / PP 3:35, 7.73p60, 5.85p160 / PK 0:23

Tavares: 141gms, EV 15:49 (A+), 2.08p60, 1.61p160, 49.9cf% (+3.4), 49.8xgf% (+2.5) / PP 3:10, 4.98p60, 3.87p160 / PK 1:18
Kadri: 146gms, EV 14:25 (A), 2.01p60, 1.53p160, 51.3cf% (+0.8), 51.3xgf% (+0.6) / PP 2:10, 5.93p60, 4.97p160 / PK 0:01
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Do you mind doing 3 year stats zeke? Just so we can see if Tavares has been declining / had a down year this year, or if this is more or less what he is as a player
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

zeke said:
those numbers might indicate he's not even better. but he'll cost over 2.5 times as much.
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Sure, but Kadri has a stupid bargain contract, and would easily be making at least 50% more if he signed as a UFA this year. That is what allows you to overpay for another high end player like Tavares.

I don't understand the logic in not wanting another Kadri. He is awesome.

Its not like you can have too many Kadri's, or the team wouldn't be way better with another one.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

The Kadri and Rielly deals are really both amazing. Getting great value like that in a cap system is such a huge advantage. Kudos to the front office for making the investment and believing in the talent. The fact that they are both drafted and developed in house makes it that much sweeter.
 
Re: Leafs' Prospect Discussion Thread!

Wayward DP said:
The Kadri and Rielly deals are really both amazing. Getting great value like that in a cap system is such a huge advantage. Kudos to the front office for making the investment and believing in the talent. The fact that they are both drafted and developed in house makes it that much sweeter.
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Yep, those deals will be key. I fully expect them to take advantage of those savings and take runs at players like Tavares, Karlsson, Doughty. If you can fit in another high end player that is how you put yourself in a position to win cups.
 
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