So the debate begins: Matthews vs. Laine

[herman]

More angles on the finishing dangle: https://streamable.com/lr3q

I kind of really like that Matthews doesn't care to celebrate.

 

[Kin]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Sign Stamkos, trade him to Winnipeg.

 

[bustaheims]

Over at hockeybuzz (seriously, Eklund's saying that the Leafs will give up Rielly/Nylander + for it).

Yeah. I saw that, laughed, and moved on.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Over at hockeybuzz (seriously, Eklund's saying that the Leafs will give up Rielly/Nylander + for it).

Nothing says 'let's build a winner' like trading away your best prospect and best (just turned 22) defenceman.

 

[jonlleafs]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Pittsburgh's 1st, Bozak, Connor Brown, 2nd rounder?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Decided to leave this thought here.

I wonder if any teams are sniffing around that Czech goalie Dominik Furch. He is 26 years old and has played some great hockey at this tournament(.972) and in this past year in the KHL he had a .931 SvPct with a 1.71 GAA.

Would he be worth the Leafs offering him a show-me type deal?

He might need to take a pay cut to come to the NHL I suppose, so it'll probably depend on how much he wants to play in the NHL.

 

[bustaheims]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Pittsburgh's 1st, Bozak, Connor Brown, 2nd rounder?

And then?

 

[jonlleafs]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Pittsburgh's 1st, Bozak, Connor Brown, 2nd rounder?

And then?

Then, Netflix and Chill and call it a day

 

[Highlander]

Will go down that Laine when we come to it. At the corner of Matthews and Tarth 8)

 

[Bullfrog]

That's a heady deke. Don't need Flash when you've got... HTML5.

I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge this terrible joke.

It made me laugh.

 

[Bender]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Over at hockeybuzz (seriously, Eklund's saying that the Leafs will give up Rielly/Nylander + for it).

That really doesn't make any sense imo.

 

[KGB]

So if we're expecting the media and the fanbases to decry whatever player the Leafs take with their 1st pick, where are the ridiculous trade proposals to net us pick #2 as well?

Pittsburgh's 1st, Bozak, Connor Brown, 2nd rounder?

Plus Antropov, Kaberle, and another first. 

 

[KGB]

I kind of really like that Matthews doesn't care to celebrate.

Me too.  It belies a maturity rare for an 18 year old.  You know the old adage, "act like you've been there before". 

 

[herman]

Decided to leave this thought here.

I wonder if any teams are sniffing around that Czech goalie Dominik Furch. He is 26 years old and has played some great hockey at this tournament(.972) and in this past year in the KHL he had a .931 SvPct with a 1.71 GAA.

Would he be worth the Leafs offering him a show-me type deal?

He might need to take a pay cut to come to the NHL I suppose, so it'll probably depend on how much he wants to play in the NHL.

He might want to sign here simply because he wouldn't have to face Matthews again.

 

[herman]

Just one guy's opinion on what the top 10 draft would look like if 15/16 were combined.
[tweet]733476214766067712[/tweet]

 

[KGB]

He'd still go with Strome ahead of Marner?  Not sure about that one at present. 

 

[bustaheims]

He'd still go with Strome ahead of Marner?  Not sure about that one at present.

I imagine 5, 6, and 7 on his list are largely interchangeable. A lot of us obviously prefer Marner, but there's definitely some bias influencing that.

 

[Coco-puffs]

He'd still go with Strome ahead of Marner?  Not sure about that one at present.

I had the exact same reaction.  But I think he's basing it on PRE-DRAFT opinion only.  (ie, only up until June '15 for that class)  I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many who say Strome over Marner anymore, unless they value Center vs Wing and Size over Best Player.  Marner is definitely the better player at this point, but plays the less important position and doesn't have the size scouts typically want.  Last year I'd take Marner ahead of Strome and I was happy that's the way it happened- and even happier about it at this point.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I had the exact same reaction.  But I think he's basing it on PRE-DRAFT opinion only.  (ie, only up until June '15 for that class)  I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many who say Strome over Marner anymore, unless they value Center vs Wing and Size over Best Player.  Marner is definitely the better player at this point, but plays the less important position and doesn't have the size scouts typically want.  Last year I'd take Marner ahead of Strome and I was happy that's the way it happened- and even happier about it at this point.

I can't really argue with some having Strome ahead of Marner even post-draft too. They scored at basically the same rate this season (with Mitch slightly ahead), and Strome was playing with one less all-star linemate. Mitch has obviously had the significantly better post-season though. But like you said when you factor in position and size I'm sure the Coyotes wouldn't be changing their minds if they could. And if the Leafs had Marner ranked ahead of Strome that probably hasn't changed either.

I think Arizona, Toronto, and Carolina are all still pretty happy with the way the draft played out.

 

[Coco-puffs]

I had the exact same reaction.  But I think he's basing it on PRE-DRAFT opinion only.  (ie, only up until June '15 for that class)  I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many who say Strome over Marner anymore, unless they value Center vs Wing and Size over Best Player.  Marner is definitely the better player at this point, but plays the less important position and doesn't have the size scouts typically want.  Last year I'd take Marner ahead of Strome and I was happy that's the way it happened- and even happier about it at this point.

I can't really argue with some having Strome ahead of Marner even post-draft too. They scored at basically the same rate this season (with Mitch slightly ahead), and Strome was playing with one less all-star linemate. Mitch has obviously had the significantly better post-season though. But like you said when you factor in position and size I'm sure the Coyotes wouldn't be changing their minds if they could. And if the Leafs had Marner ranked ahead of Strome that probably hasn't changed either.

I think Arizona, Toronto, and Carolina are all still pretty happy with the way the draft played out.

Considering Arizona's depth on the wing, I'm pretty sure they are still happy with Strome over Marner too.  But I think Marner has had and will always have the higher ceiling and he's proven it with his playoff performances.  If it was 50/50 (or close) before the draft, Marner has tipped the balance in his favour since the draft.