• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick at: couchmanrick@gmail.com

2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office

I have great news everybody! This team, that just doesn't seem good enough, it will be the same team next year cuz everybody on the roster is signed through next season and with Marchenko's extension in place there is almost no room to add anyone of consequence to the roster next season and they are almost already capped out!

Chayka really screwed himself and mismanaged this thing. He has left himself no wiggle room to make changes and the few tradable pieces he has have little value to other teams. I was excited about this team, and I'm not sure where this goes, but it's starting to look bad fast.
 
I have great news everybody! This team, that just doesn't seem good enough, it will be the same team next year cuz everybody on the roster is signed through next season and with Marchenko's extension in place there is almost no room to add anyone of consequence to the roster next season and they are almost already capped out!

Chayka really screwed himself and mismanaged this thing. He has left himself no wiggle room to make changes and the few tradable pieces he has have little value to other teams. I was excited about this team, and I'm not sure where this goes, but it's starting to look bad fast.
There could be internal improvement from McKenna, Cowan, and Danford. I also hold out hope that someone like Holinka or Koblar could make the jump sooner rather than later.

Also the cap is going to jump again. The tagging rule is just bad right now because they haven't set the new cap value. That can't be done until the end of the season.

And if the Leafs have a set roster and open cap space, maybe they could get creative, but I think most teams will have space next year.
 
Last edited:
There could be internal improvement from McKenna, Cowan, and Danford. I also hold out hope that someone like Holinka or Koblar could make the jump sooner rather than later.

Also the cap is going to jump again. The tagging rule is just bad right now because they haven't set the new cap value. That can't be done until the end of the season.

And if the Leafs have a set roster and open cap space, maybe they could get creative, but I think most teams will have space next year.

Taking into consideration of the projected $9.5m jump in the salary cap next season, the Leafs currently have less than $3m to play with. Yes, the cap could increase more than projected and they could open up more space with the waiving of players, it's still not a lot of space to add an impact player next season.
 
Taking into consideration of the projected $9.5m jump in the salary cap next season, the Leafs currently have less than $3m to play with. Yes, the cap could increase more than projected and they could open up more space with the waiving of players, it's still not a lot of space to add an impact player next season.
True, I don't think they are going to be able to add an impact player. Maybe they Robidas island Tanev and Bobrovsky.

Having said that, let's say Chadwick and Danford make the team next year and can play well, not at a superstar level, but just well, then you now have some younger defensmen in the lineup who can help steady things in the D zone. That would mean no longer relying on a 38 year old OEL to be an stabilizer.

McKenna hopefully will make a jump next year. If he does, then you should be able to build 3 really good scoring lines. I was hopeful for that this year, but I think it is apparent that McKenna is going to need some time to be an impact player at 5 on 5, and with Nylander appearing to be hurt, and Marchenko definitely hurt, I think that's dampened that goal for this year.

Cowan seems to be a pace setter, and has the right attitude to continue to grow. He should be better again next year.

I was thinking back to Pat Quinn's first year where everyone was like "Oh your defence is terrible, you'll never make the playoffs" and he was like "Hold my beer" and started a 6th round pick, a 7th round pick and a 9th round pick, two of whom were rookies, and one of whom had only played 38 games, in his starting 6. Granted, they had Cujo in net, but still a pretty decent move.

Oh, and as of today, Matthews is only 21 assists and +16 away from being Toronto's version of Connor McDavid, so there is that too.
 
Oh, and as of today, Matthews is only 21 assists and +16 away from being Toronto's version of Connor McDavid, so there is that too.
MacKinnon is 17 and +18 away. Tkachuk is 15 and +24 away. Drai is 19 away. What does McD's crazy run have to do with Matthews?
 
MacKinnon is 17 and +18 away. Tkachuk is 15 and +24 away. Drai is 19 away. What does McD's crazy run have to do with Matthews?
Nothing. It was a tongue in cheek joke about just how great McDavid is. Not everything posted is a criticism of something.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
2,999
Messages
409,052
Members
817
Latest member
AndyC
Back
Top