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TML? More like FML, amirite? Yet Another Off Season Thread

leafman101 said:
By the playoffs the Leafs are adding Robertson, Knies, Sandin and Lilly to the playoff roster. Which is a big talent infusion to the depth. If you could also turn Muzz and Kerfoots $9 mill into some high end talent that would be a stupid team.
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I am not so sure Robertson and Knies will be able to contribute and I am not sure Sandin isn’t a few more years away at least. If you split Lilli and MR is spreads that dynamic piece. I hope we give them a chance, but wouldn’t even lock them into the line up in game 1 of the reg season for now. We cannnot afford to give up points as we need to win this division - so not in the mood to just hand them a spot instead of earning it

But I’m not saying we must - but I am more open to it since we are locked into Reilly and Sandin seems to bring a lot of the same qualities for the moment as him. Hard to shelter both against tuff competition due to defensive liabilities. So I am open for the right move - and it can help to move him as part of a trade to spend that 9mill available in your head if Dubas follows along
 
There was an article a couple days ago on the Athletic that floated the idea of trying to run Marner as your 2c and shift Tavares to the wing. Have Tavares take faceoffs and Marner cover the defensive responsibilities.


The lines per the article:

Bunting – Matthews – Nylander
Tavares – Marner – Kerfoot

Obviously, I think you are moving on from Kerfoot at this point, but that kind of lineup is.... intruiging. Nothing in Marner's play on the PK would lead me to believe that he wouldn't be able to thrive in a role like this.

theathletic.com

Maple Leafs offseason priorities: A solution in goal and the path forward for John Tavares

What's on the docket for the Maple Leafs' front office this summer? Jonas Siegel takes a look.
theathletic.com theathletic.com
 
I could be wrong but I don't think Marner's ever played C for an extended period even in the OHL. Maybe he could but damn that Bunting Matthews Marner line was great last year.

It's an interesting suggestion though.
 
That’s basically what they did in JT’s first season here.

but Marner and Matthews want to play together and the next two years is operation keep Auston happy.

Also, those two are ridiculous together.
 
hockeylover said:
I could be wrong but I don't think Marner's ever played C for an extended period even in the OHL. Maybe he could but damn that Bunting Matthews Marner line was great last year.

It's an interesting suggestion though.
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You’re correct. I do remember that in either his draft year or draft+1 season, London experimented with him at center for about 10-15 games or so.

But his production & effectiveness dropped off, so they abandoned the experiment and put him back on Christian Dvorak’s wing.
 
He played a bunch of center his pre draft year.

I’ve always thought he has the skill set to do it. Great two way player whose strengths are moving the puck.

the only reason he’s not a center is he’s small. But if guys like Barzal and Point can do it, no reason he can’t
 
hockeylover said:
So how does our goaltending situation shake out?
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I dunno but I hope that Jack’s agent doesn’t just compare him in this past season only to get him his contract. Overall his save % was like 11th but I’m not comfortable giving him the 11th highest goalie salary :(
 
He plays like a C offensively sorta like a Patrick Kane. But I'm not sure he's the guy you want in those down low battles in the dzone. And the extra energy spent on those battles may cost him something offensively. Worth a try maybe? I'm not holding my breath on it working though.
 
hockeylover said:
So how does our goaltending situation shake out?
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Some options:

1. Go big game hunting on Varly (would cost a 1st) or sign Kuemper, who is getting older and won't be cheap. Trade Mrazek and acquire a cheap backup.

2. Buy low on John Gibson. Ask Anaheim to retain some. He's been shit for awhile but was arguably the best goalie in the league before that. Can he bounce back? How much would they need to retain to consider it?

3. Sign Jack for ~3.5, keep or trade Mrazek (to be replaced with another similar caliber goalie if traded)
 
leafman101 said:
He played a bunch of center his pre draft year.

I’ve always thought he has the skill set to do it. Great two way player whose strengths are moving the puck.

the only reason he’s not a center is he’s small. But if guys like Barzal and Point can do it, no reason he can’t
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He asked Dale Hunter to switch him to C in March 2015 and by October 2016 he was back on Dvorak's wing, so not much.

He did say when he was drafted that Mark Hunter told him the organization saw him eventually being a C in the NHL though.
 
Preston said:
I'll be really upset if they do a kubina for exelby deal for Muzzin. The way everyone talks about him it sounds like that's all they'd get for a busted, old, useless player.

But in my mind the guy just had a remarkable series playing toughs against the best team in the NHL. He just sounds like a guy that I'd want dubas to be in on (if he truly is going to be given away for nothing) if he wasn't a Leaf right now.

Anyway if it's truly a pure cap dump just keep him. You can do that trade next year. It would be probably be an easier deal to make next year anyway. Only 1 year to digest + the NTC becomes modified.
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Dubie isn’t going to be looking for an Exelby return. Don’t worry. That’s the beauty of Dubie, he doesn’t do that.
 
soco22 said:
I am not so sure Robertson and Knies will be able to contribute and I am not sure Sandin isn’t a few more years away at least. If you split Lilli and MR is spreads that dynamic piece. I hope we give them a chance, but wouldn’t even lock them into the line up in game 1 of the reg season for now. We cannnot afford to give up points as we need to win this division - so not in the mood to just hand them a spot instead of earning it

But I’m not saying we must - but I am more open to it since we are locked into Reilly and Sandin seems to bring a lot of the same qualities for the moment as him. Hard to shelter both against tuff competition due to defensive liabilities. So I am open for the right move - and it can help to move him as part of a trade to spend that 9mill available in your head if Dubas follows along
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Sandin a few more years away?? He’s arrived now and has shown he can play in the league. The only question is how much higher up, and I think a lot higher up.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
Dubie isn’t going to be looking for an Exelby return. Don’t worry. That’s the beauty of Dubie, he doesn’t do that.
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But if he's so bad and old and busted why would anyone give up more than that? Especially since he holds the cards with a full NTC this year.
 
Preston said:
But if he's so bad and old and busted why would anyone give up more than that? Especially since he holds the cards with a full NTC this year.
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He’s still got the reputation you and Zeke are pumping all day long here. But those that have seen 250 games of him or whatever, saw the really bad decline this year, postseason notwithstanding. The playoffs may have just refreshed interest in him if any was lost, just like it obviously did for you. We shouldn’t lose that opportunity by thinking that at 33, he’ll be healthier and better than ever. We can take that cheap gamble on Gio, who crushed it in his Leaf audition. We can use our Muzzin chips at another table.
 
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