Guilt Trip
Well-known member
The PP with JT was 30%. It's 28% with McKenna. JT isn't replacing McKenna. Roslovic and his 2 PP apples is.
2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office
- Thread starter herman
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dappleganger
Well-known member
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.
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.
rjd
Well-known member
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.
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herman
Well-known member
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dappleganger
Well-known member
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.
rjd
Well-known member
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.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
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?
rjd
Well-known member
Nothing. It was a tongue in cheek joke about just how great McDavid is. Not everything posted is a criticism of something.
herman
Well-known member
It's pretty cuckoo bananas how much Connor McDavid is tilting the ice
herman
Well-known member
This is quite impressive
YYZ
Well-known member
Rain Man.
Arn
Well-known member
Look. I'm pretty much on board with what Chayka/Sundin tried to do.
The only one I think was a risk was Boborvsky instead of all the promising goalies. To an extent I even understood that move, even if I wasn't sure I agreed with it.
I saw some hope. But unfortunately I think the team just isn't very good. I don't mind that they had a go. I don't see any way left to improve it now though other than probably starting over. The defense is and has been the main problem. That's now being compounded by the goalies.
I wonder if we might see a coaching cvhange at some point in the season if things don't tick back up as a final throw of a dice?
I think I'm at the stage where you muddle through this season, and probably during the summer you strip it back, get your picks and prospects for your big names, and next season you start with the likes of Danford, Akhtyamov etc and build again.
The only one I think was a risk was Boborvsky instead of all the promising goalies. To an extent I even understood that move, even if I wasn't sure I agreed with it.
I saw some hope. But unfortunately I think the team just isn't very good. I don't mind that they had a go. I don't see any way left to improve it now though other than probably starting over. The defense is and has been the main problem. That's now being compounded by the goalies.
I wonder if we might see a coaching cvhange at some point in the season if things don't tick back up as a final throw of a dice?
I think I'm at the stage where you muddle through this season, and probably during the summer you strip it back, get your picks and prospects for your big names, and next season you start with the likes of Danford, Akhtyamov etc and build again.
YYZ
Well-known member
Too many players in key positions who are just not good anymore.
Tavares
Bobrovsky
Tanev
OEL
Not sure what is going on with Willy. If he is battling a nagging injury, he should be shut down. He is no help out there and is actually a detriment.
Hiller is asking them to be a skating team. I think the team on the overall is just old and slow and can't keep up that style of play night in night out. That's why we see them beat teams earlier in the season quite handily, then everything goes to crap. Too tired, too banged up.
The second and third lines are getting dominated, without offering much in the way of offense or defense.
Matthews/Roslovic seems to work very well.
The 4th line has been ok to very good at times.
This is a team with two OK lines, old and slow D without any scoring from the back end coupled with a goalie who should be retired.
Arn
Well-known member
In terms of who I'd actually keep, it's a pretty short list.
Matthews (only cos he's in the last year of his contract. If he doesn't want to sign, maybe you look at what you'd get in the summer, but you might get a real bundle at next year's deadline?)
Cowan
Marchenko
McKenna
I like Roslovic so I'd maybe keep him, but he could be a good trade chip at this year's deadline if he keeps scoring and with a year contract left after this.
Pretty much everyone else is tradeable for any cost, with Nylander as a prime chip I guess.
At the back end it's pretty much Raddysh and McCabe. Probably Tanev cos he has so many years of his contract left. I think Rielly could still get a decent return, even though I still like him.
I've no idea what you do in goal if AA isn't ready.
I'd just try to get as many younger players in as possible to round the rest of the roster out and get more depth overall.
Imagine how much more hope we'd have if we had a Minten still in there.
Matthews (only cos he's in the last year of his contract. If he doesn't want to sign, maybe you look at what you'd get in the summer, but you might get a real bundle at next year's deadline?)
Cowan
Marchenko
McKenna
I like Roslovic so I'd maybe keep him, but he could be a good trade chip at this year's deadline if he keeps scoring and with a year contract left after this.
Pretty much everyone else is tradeable for any cost, with Nylander as a prime chip I guess.
At the back end it's pretty much Raddysh and McCabe. Probably Tanev cos he has so many years of his contract left. I think Rielly could still get a decent return, even though I still like him.
I've no idea what you do in goal if AA isn't ready.
I'd just try to get as many younger players in as possible to round the rest of the roster out and get more depth overall.
Imagine how much more hope we'd have if we had a Minten still in there.
rjd
Well-known member
Agreed, I think this is what the Leafs need to do. Sell off what they can, and try and reload for next year. Use the assets at your disposal and look for some players that could play a bigger role but aren't being utilized correctly by their current team. Stockpile what you can and then come at it again next.
I agree on Matthews. I think he's the guy you gotta keep on board. First line centers are incredibly hard to find. He is one.
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