2020-2021 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[Zee]

Social media drama 

6 days ago Kyle Clifford removed the Leafs image from his social media.

Today he put the Leafs back.

Carry on with your lives

 

[Bender]

Social media drama 

6 days ago Kyle Clifford removed the Leafs image from his social media.

Today he put the Leafs back.

Carry on with your lives

All I care about right now is Giannis unfollowing his teammates.

 

[L K]

Is there any stipulation to the give up a 2nd if Clifford signs with the Leafs.  Like does that clause expire if he goes to free agency but signs with us anyway?

If not, I want no part of him.  He's not worth a second round pick.

 

[bustaheims]

Is there any stipulation to the give up a 2nd if Clifford signs with the Leafs.  Like does that clause expire if he goes to free agency but signs with us anyway?

If not, I want no part of him.  He's not worth a second round pick.

Typically, the cutoff date on that would be July 1st, but, obviously, nothing is typical these days. Either way, I don't think he showed enough in his brief stint that I'd want to bring him back, regardless.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yeah I really liked the idea of Clifford when we originally acquired him, but he really didn't do much as a Leaf. Obviously there's a big caveat that he didn't have much regular season time with us and then anyone could have been off during the return to play time. But I would have liked to see him throw his body around a little more in the playoffs.

I've been watching some Islanders game and I definitely see the value that their 4th line brings. But I feel like if you only have 1 guy on that line who can play that style like the Leafs tried with Martin or now Clifford it almost negates that value that they can bring.

 

[dappleganger]

Yeah I really liked the idea of Clifford when we originally acquired him, but he really didn't do much as a Leaf. Obviously there's a big caveat that he didn't have much regular season time with us and then anyone could have been off during the return to play time. But I would have liked to see him throw his body around a little more in the playoffs.

I've been watching some Islanders game and I definitely see the value that their 4th line brings. But I feel like if you only have 1 guy on that line who can play that style like the Leafs tried with Martin or now Clifford it almost negates that value that they can bring.

The Leafs shouldn't even dress a 4th line. Build a third line around Nylander at center. Play each line 20 minutes a night.

Play with 8 Defensemen and an extra forward.

We could have a guy like Marincin exclusively play the penalty kill every night.

Hot takes.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Leafs shouldn't even dress a 4th line. Build a third line around Nylander at center. Play each line 20 minutes a night.

Play with 8 Defensemen and an extra forward.

We could have a guy like Marincin exclusively play the penalty kill every night.

Hot takes.

That might be a tad unlikely, but I do hope the Leafs experiment more with a 11F/7D format. I've been saying that since they signed Tavares. The Lightning have had a lot of success with it in these playoffs.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I don't see the Leafs signing Clifford to change that 3rd pick to a 2nd. He didn't bring enough. Dubas is probably going to wait to see who becomes available with the Covid internal team caps first but if nothing comes from that I think the Leafs will go after Simmonds, if the price is right, and re-sign Spezza for the 4th line.

 

[Guilt Trip]

The Leafs shouldn't even dress a 4th line. Build a third line around Nylander at center. Play each line 20 minutes a night.

Play with 8 Defensemen and an extra forward.

We could have a guy like Marincin exclusively play the penalty kill every night.

Hot takes.

That might be a tad unlikely, but I do hope the Leafs experiment more with a 11F/7D format. I've been saying that since they signed Tavares. The Lightning have had a lot of success with it in these playoffs.

I would agree and think the Leafs should go this route also. Would rather see Matthews, JT, Marner, Kerfoot alternate on the 4th line before Goat.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't see the Leafs signing Clifford to change that 3rd pick to a 2nd. He didn't bring enough. Dubas is probably going to wait to see who becomes available with the Covid internal team caps first but if nothing comes from that I think the Leafs will go after Simmonds, if the price is right, and re-sign Spezza for the 4th line.

Agreed. I think we're going to see a lot more guys signing cheaper 1 or 2 year deals this offseason, because the the cap implications of the pandemic. There are always Clifford types who sign cheap in free agency, but, this off-season, I suspect we'll see some higher quality bottom 6 types also signing on the cheap.

 

[Bender]

I don't see the Leafs signing Clifford to change that 3rd pick to a 2nd. He didn't bring enough. Dubas is probably going to wait to see who becomes available with the Covid internal team caps first but if nothing comes from that I think the Leafs will go after Simmonds, if the price is right, and re-sign Spezza for the 4th line.

Agreed. I think we're going to see a lot more guys signing cheaper 1 or 2 year deals this offseason, because the the cap implications of the pandemic. There are always Clifford types who sign cheap in free agency, but, this off-season, I suspect we'll see some higher quality bottom 6 types also signing on the cheap.

We'll see how it shakes out. Hopefully the Leafs being a cap team regardless allows us to sweeten the pot and get the players we want at value.

 

[herman]

The Leafs shouldn't even dress a 4th line. Build a third line around Nylander at center. Play each line 20 minutes a night.

This sounds fun!

Jack Han has been pushing a 2 Front/3 Back configuration inspired by soccer
https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1303690152884269057
It is something Tampa already sort of does, and Keefe's high C sort of emulates.
https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1304586797645787136

Matthews-Nylander / Rielly-Dermott-Rosen or budgetBarrie
Tavares-Marner / Muzzin-Lehtonen-Holl
Kerfoot-Hyman / Sandin-Hollowell-Liljegren
Engvall, Johnsson, Rodrigues

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Agreed. I think we're going to see a lot more guys signing cheaper 1 or 2 year deals this offseason, because the the cap implications of the pandemic. There are always Clifford types who sign cheap in free agency, but, this off-season, I suspect we'll see some higher quality bottom 6 types also signing on the cheap.

This year's UFA class is just so weak that I'm not even sure the guys who do struggle to find teams will be anything to really write home about though. Like aside from the veterans at the end of their careers that I've talked about the only other player who really jumps out from the list is Jesper Fast.

Maybe we'll see some interesting RFAs who don't get qualifying offers though.

 

[herman]

Bracco RFA rights for Ho-Sang RFA rights, let's go

 

[bustaheims]

This year's UFA class is just so weak that I'm not even sure the guys who do struggle to find teams will be anything to really write home about though. Like aside from the veterans at the end of their careers that I've talked about the only other player who really jumps out from the list is Jesper Fast.

Maybe we'll see some interesting RFAs who don't get qualifying offers though.

It's not a spectacular group, but there are a few interesting depth type pieces that might be available on the cheaper side upfront: Craig Smith, Zemgus Girgensons, Tomas Nosek, Trevor Lewis, etc. No game changers, obviously, but some quality 3rd and 4th line options that are somewhat responsible defensively, can bring a bit more of a physical edge to the team, etc.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Maybe we'll see some interesting RFAs who don't get qualifying offers though.

This is a def possibility. They've already speculated that the Leafs won't qualify Rodrigues because it will cost too much towards the cap, and he has arb rights, even though they like him. I know nothing about him so I won't guess what he's actually worth.

 

[Highlander]

Rodrigues is worth about 2 million, but in todays Covid world well worth a 1 mill hit.  Very tenacious, hard working player, like Hyman in some ways.  And a T.O. boy so he will want to shine.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Rodrigues is worth about 2 million, but in todays Covid world well worth a 1 mill hit.  Very tenacious, hard working player, like Hyman in some ways.  And a T.O. boy so he will want to shine.

Let's see what the Leafs do with him.

 

[Bullfrog]

Matthews-Nylander / Rielly-Dermott-Rosen or budgetBarrie
Tavares-Marner / Muzzin-Lehtonen-Holl
Kerfoot-Hyman / Sandin-Hollowell-Liljegren
Engvall, Johnsson, Rodrigues

He's not actually suggesting two forwards and three D. It's still 3F and 2D, just with a different role for the third forward.

 

[herman]

Matthews-Nylander / Rielly-Dermott-Rosen or budgetBarrie
Tavares-Marner / Muzzin-Lehtonen-Holl
Kerfoot-Hyman / Sandin-Hollowell-Liljegren
Engvall, Johnsson, Rodrigues

He's not actually suggesting two forwards and three D. It's still 3F and 2D, just with a different role for the third forward.

Oh you haven't seen his line suggestions then
https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1295411914265288706