2024 Maple Leafs Roster Preview - FWD Lines, D-Pairs & Salary Cap Breakdown
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- Steve Dangle previews the 2024 Toronto Maple Leafs roster. He breaks down the forward lines, d-pairs and even gets into some of the cap shenanigans they could pull off to officially fill out the roster.
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"Run it back"
- Leafs Management for the past six years
Same forward group as last year that can't score in the playoffs...great.
The new slogan of insanity...
People who keep saying run it back are annoying. In your division are teams that have won the cup and president’s trophy. It is hard to win in that division. You don’t trade unless you win the trade. It hard to score against the top defensive teams in the NHL with top goaltenders in the playoffs. The Leafs issue was goaltenders and defense.
Y'all probably said the caps should trade Ovechkin too ... Morons
@@somewheredec Well the coaching staff that was incapable of driving in a message and running a PP/PK are gone so we shall see
Benoit and McCabe looked good. Have chemistry. I wouldn’t separate them. They both like to throw the body around.
Throw?
@@SpunkyGo0se good catch
I agree, I wouldn’t separate Benoit and McCabe either. I’d have them as the second pair, and OEL-Liljegren as our third pair.
@@SpunkyGo0seyou not familiar with English expressions?
Can't wait for the 'AN ERA WASTED' video in a couple years..
especially with dangle's lines
UrinatingTree is gonna trash the Leafs management lol
This Year Will Be Different Part 57: The Continuing Saga 😂
Yup same money hungry guys who dont perform in playoffs but fans want them back ...the insanity is real people
I think it's more of a saga than a sequel.
Just like every other team in the league? Leafs are a good team
@@daniellydford6142 yes. Brain Fart. DOH!
You won the internet today
I'm interested to see what Grebyonkin, Minten, Cowan, Abruzzese and Tverberg have to offer in pre-season.
“That’s not gonna get it done for Daniel Sprong”
975k 😂
😂😊
In fairness, Sprong at $975k is a massive steal
“A hair over 2 million dollars, that’s not gonna get it done for daniel Sprong.”
*laughs in Vancouver Canuck 😊*
"ehh that wont get sprong"
*sprong signs a 1 year for under 1m*
So many people saying "rUn iT bAcK", like wtf were they supposed to do? Dubas sucked y'all, I was sad when he left, but watching him in PIT and looking at this lineup, this is on him. Tre isn't gonna give Marner away, and Marner didn't wanna leave. Nor did JT. Nor did Rielly. Who was getting moved? Dubas also ridiculously made a year when Nylander AND Matthews would walk in UFA, and then Marner and JT would be on the last year of their deals, which he signed, for a lot. Tanev was good last year. OEL could help the PP and play bigger minutes in a pinch. Domi did well. That's it, no more cap. I'd have loved less Kampf, but like what else are we getting for 2M on the cap? This isn't a Cup contending team, but the previous GM made a lot of bad moves that are tough to fix, even for an outstanding GM (which I don't think Tre is btw).
The entire Matthews era has been a dud. They're not winning a Cup with this roster. The sooner they start moving players and entering a rebuild, the sooner they can focus on winning a Cup with the next crop of players. These guys cannot do it. They've shown us how little they can do in the playoffs. The VERY BEST they can do is win five playoff games instead of their usual three. Leafs fans deserve better. This whole era was an "emperor has no clothes" thing. After Game 82 every year they completely fall apart.
The cap hit of your first two lines is over 40 mil and there are two players on less than 1.5 mil each
Every team in the league would pay for these guys…talent isn’t cheap
@@timboskie3851 I know, that kinda wasn't my point.
@@timboskie3851 no other team in the league would pay all four at once on long contracts, thats the difference
Saw the same thing!!!
Thanks Sherlock
Murray and Lupul are two others from LTIR
Can’t believe he missed Lupul 🤣
Just got a NHL ticket package though my team to go to my first NHL game. I'm a capitals fan but after watching your videos the last few years I knew Toronto had to be on the list. Just got everything confirmed Caps v Toronto will be my first NHL game in Oct!
And Sprong took under a mil to sign in Vancouver 🤦♂️. As a Boston fan who has been begging to sign him for like 3 years I am disappointed he couldn't even get paid decently 🤦♂️
Honestly very happy about Steve posting these vids. Summer sucks for so many reasons but one of the main ones it’s very very little good hockey pods and videos
Remember when your LFR video was titled "Eulogy" ha ha ha 🙃
😂😂😂
I swear Marner is gonna be crazy this year and even more impactful in the playoffs. He'll get everyone to love him again and then he'll want to be traded elsewhere.
If the defence works out the way it should with a more defensive approach. I expect to be pleasantly surprised. Don't forget to factor in that the defense promises to contribute more to the offense with OEL on the point and Rielly able to contribute more.
I can’t wait for Samsonov, to be a Vezina Finalist. With the Vegas Knights. LuL 🚀
We all know he can be great, that was never in question. The issue is. He's too unstable. He gives you a lot of Vezina games and then he gives you AHL games. In the playoffs, those AHL games count way more.
Bro, Sammy let 1 goal go through in Game 7, excluding overtime.
When over 50% of your payroll is in 4 Guys and they all Forwards. How do you blame anyone else but those 4. Your team isn’t set up for defense and goaltending. Anything below 2.5 Goals is a success for Defense and Goalie.
@@RealPolo8 yeah, and he let very bad goals on all of his 3 starts before that. Again, the issue isn't skill, it's stability, which he doesn't provide comfortably. He had a psychological boom last season because he wasn't given the extension and etc., he wanted. How is he gonna fare so much better in Vegas if he was also given a one year deal? Specially in Vegas, where they axe players who aren't 100% what they want in a heartbeat?
I think we saw Sammy's ability ceiling in 22-23. He's still young, but he just seems as stable as Soup, mentally.
Look for a big move between Sept15 - Dec1
There is no need to rush a trade before then let GM's assess their rosters and cap situations first
marner will be in the starting lineup opening night. And tavares is still cursed.
DOMI - MATTHEWS - NYLANDER
KNIES - TAVARES - MARNER
ROBERTSON - JARNKROK - MCMANN
DEWAR - KAMPF - REAVES
EXTRA HOLMBERG
RIELLY - TANEV
BENIOT - MCCABE
OEL - LILJEGREN
EXTRA TIMMINS OR HAKANPAA (if healthy/signed)
WOLL
STOLARZ
Domi was not a great center for us but played well in the top 6 and made some great plays. I dont think you can justify taking him that far down the lineup where his playmaking skills would be less effective and his defensive liabilities would be more apparent. Nylander and Marner could swap places, but Matthews actually played better with Nylander than Marner the past couple of years, while Tavares excels with Marner but tends to struggle a bit with Nylander. Knies rounds out the top 6.
Before coming to Toronto, Jarnkrok had been a pretty good defensive center, but for whatever reason Keefe never used him there. Jarnkrok teamed with Robertson and McMann adds a third line with some offensive upside and a defense first center ti anchor it. Finally, Dewar - Kampf - Reaves makes a strong defensive unit with absolutely NO offence, but with a bunch of hitting and toughness. For softer opponents you can swap Reaves for Holmberg.
Defensively, Rielly - Tanev makes too much sense and should unlock a more confidently offensive Rielly while Tanev cleans up the mistakes. Beniot - McCabe creates a tough shutdown second pairing that we know works. Finally, OEL - Liljegren shelters our physically weakest defenders while also allowing OEL to mentor Liljegren. Plus having the two swedish defenders playing together might help with communication. If Hakanpaa is signed (and is not too injured to play), I feel like he slots in at Beniot's spot and he and McCabe switch sides to match handedness. Timmins only probably sees reps this year if Hakanpaa is not able to play. Even then, there are some Marlies who could pass him like Niemela, Kokkonen, Villeneuve, Rifai or Chadwick.
Woll Starts, Stolarz is the 1B, Hildeby and Murray pick up the injury starts. Peksa and Akhtyamov hopefully develop with some North American starts in the AHL and ECHL.
No idea how this team will do as there are more variables than normal, but this could be a very good team
That's the fuckin lineup man right there. Domi has got to be with Matthews. It worked too well to put Domi back on the third line. Domi was the Hyman/Bunting for Matthews which he needs.
Im with you on the line combinations
This is the correct line-up configuration. You can argue Reaves/Holmberg on the 4th line...but this is spot on
Switch OEL with Benoit
@@jerry4249Domi needs to be a the 3rd line center ... Wtf
goal tending alone will make a huge difference, when you look at the playoffs last year it was real close, the reason they lost was because Woll got hurt, the reason they lost the first 3 games and the 7th game was because Samsonov sucked. I like Benoit and Dewar hope them both stick around. Robertson could really break out, especially with top two line minutes. Lots of potential on this team, GLG
I infact was one of those thousands that watched the video yesterday. Been a slow summer 😅 better with Steve and the boys!
So much depends on Woll being healthy. For the season and playoffs. It's a little scary but i hope for him he will be.
It is scary, but you gotta take that chance and see for sure what Woll can be over the course of a season. Stolarz can take 20-30 games off him too if needed.
Hey Steve. Heat wave in Canada and you are still grinding out for the leafs.
Im sure he has an AC unit lol
Pretty cool in ontario lately
@@kevinbobandy532 thank god. I hear it gets pretty hot with the humidity. Especially southern Ontario.
@@Salsasports I don’t know. He’s still a leafs fan and prone to suffer.
@pickaport sure can! Been a beautiful summer so far! 🍻
First line $24M, second $23M, third drops to 6? And 4th at what. The problem is evident…too much in a handful on playoff no shows.
24 is ok and am minimum style 4th line is ok... It's the 2nd and 3rd lines that need major tweeking and can't until JT is gone!
The Toronto 'Run it backs'
Well you were wrong. Sprong went to Vancouver on a very cheap and friendly deal. I’m hopeful that the leafs find a couple guys of this ilk on similar deals before the year starts
I think the lines need to be
Knies-Matthews-Domi
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Holmberg-Marner
Jarnkrok-Kampf-Reeves
Robertson can have a breakout season with Marner, and Holmberg and Marner have some chemistry. Three even offensive lines. This is how it has to be. Matty needs Knies to be like Bertuzzi and Domi needs to be up there with him. McMann, JT and Willie has looked good historically. This obsession to put Marner with Matty or JT is stupid and it always has been. He needs to drive his own line.
11 million on a 3rd line player? LMAO
Feels like all these moves just to be just as good as last year
Or worse
Worse for sure..
Knies Matthews Domi
McMann Marner Nylander
Robertson Tavaras Jarnkrok
Holmberg Kampf Reaves
Stop trying to make Willy a center. Mitch is far more adaptable and defensively aware.
Brother, if we have to go through another season watching matthews/marner, i will set something on fire.
Then don't watch.
Dude they can not have Domi without anything on his line again, we've already tried that and it doesn't work, stop it, put some talent with him for god sake.
We need a diff top line LW then push down the other LW’s.
Knies on 2nd and Mcmann on 3rd looks great
Leafs trade Robertson and Niemela to Calgary for Kadri. Calgary agrees to pay 50 percent of Kadri's contract for the next two years of Kadri's contract.
The Leafs are like The Fast and The Furious movies. You think it's over, but NOOOOPE!!! They come back with more! The Falling and the Furious 9. Coming to theatres this October. Don't miss it!
What about this for FWD lines
Knies - Matthews - Domi
Marner - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Holmberg - Jarnkrok
Cowan - Kampf - Dewar
Domi looked good with Matthews and Knies last season, Marner can help with defensive responsibilites for Tavares and still have high offense with Willy, and that 3rd line has 10-20 goal potential guys on it.
Keep going Steve, we need those “summer hope” videos to fully appreciate the meltdown in the Spring, years after yearsss! 😅
Domi is great as a top 6 winger, but average as a 3rd line center. So: trade Marner for a 3rd line center and a winger or a shut down defender (or just a proven tier-1 golie).
Should try
Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Tavares-Domi-Marner (JT takes FOs)
Jarnkrok-Holmberg-McMann
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves
To answer your question Steve, regarding opening night roster: I think you're bang on. I don't see any major or even minor additions that the team will make.
Before Dubas was fired last year, I was convinced he was breaking up the core 4. This year, I didn't have nearly as high hopes, mainly because a new GM like Treliving would have been crucified by Leafs fans and TO media if the trade wasn't favorable. Having said all this, with this unchanged forward group, I'm content with it. We know the Leafs can score goals in regular season games, that's not an issue. And as you mentioned, the defense looks waaaaay better, and the goal tending has been upgraded. I see no reason whatever not to be optimistic about the 2024-2025 season, also considering where we are in terms of cap space. I like it. I think this team has tons of potential! GLG
Dewar will get signed and play in the 4th line. I thought he was our most underrated player in the playoffs. Felt like every time he was on the ice Boston was hemmed in their zone.
Trade Robertson, call up some of the Marlie guys and give them chances (Abruzzese, Hirvonen, Minten, Cowan, Tverberg, Steeves, etc.). Treliving has to find a way to make better use of the farm system to supplement the main roster.
No point trading him right now, he needs to just sign a 1 year deal and play well in the first half if he wants to get traded, then they can flip him at the deadline
Putting Hakanpaa in. If he is healthy, the D pairing for the penalty kill would be solid. Possibly trade Liljegren to free up more cap space for the deadline.
McMann Matthews Marner
Knies Tavares Nylander
Robertson Domi Jarnkrok
Holmberg Kampf Dewar
Rielly Tanev
Benoit McCabe
OEL Hakanpaa
I’m not to concerned about our forward lineup losses. We had the second best goals for record in the league at 303. And I know you hate the idea of the core 4, but those 4 forwards (that we haven’t lost) made up 164 of those goals. To put that into perspective, Chicago only had 179 in their entire team.
If we lose a modicum of that scoring potential in exchange for making our team significantly better defensively, harder to score on and harder to play against, I’m okay with that. Because everyone forgets defence is just as key to scoring goals as offence. Afterall, I don’t know how many goals have been scored from a teams defensive zone that weren’t empty nets, but it isn’t a lot. By shutting down the other team, limiting their possession, and making sure they don’t get up above you, you allow your forwards to go to work easier and more often.
Excellent breakdown, Steve. I think the Leaf's are more rounded out than last season. Also, Stolarz could push Woll and that's a good problem to have. Go B's lol
they'll re-sign Mitch and John, make a few moves for another forward, and maybe a trade deadline move that fits Berube's playoff style. That's all I see happening this year
Team is pretty much what expected. Watch for Minten to take a spot if Dewar or Robertson are gone. Mist if there work is done now. Hiw the Leafs add at trade deadline without costing more draft capital we don't have will be interesting.
Same team a few minor changes but Tanev is a great add...knies takes a step no one misses Bertuzi
That looks about right! Overall good additions on defence. That third forward line is ugly though. I'd swap Robertson and Holmberg so Domi has somebody to dish to that can score. His best asset is his playmaking and he'd be wasted in between Holmberg and Jarnkrok. Also, in an ideal world Domi is on the wing but obviously there's no replacement for him at centre right now. I guess there's an outside shot of Minton cracking the roster to take that spot, and/or Cowen to add some secondary scoring. Again both long shots but it would open a bunch of interesting possibilities
Stop stacking the top 2 lines with all the billionaires. To win we need to run 4 lines all year. Spread them out. Make the big 3 separate on top 3 lines earn their contracts. Run 2 powerplay units. Mathews and JT centering each unit and give more guys pp minutes on offence.
I keep getting laughed at when I say John Tavares could be the best 3rd line center in the history of hockey.
Marner wants billions? Show you can drive a line....
@@spongerobroundshoes2736 you're almost certainly right and they're almost certainly not going to do it unless they randomly stumble into it (which I think is doubtful, Keefe liked the blender but nothing great really came from it for any long period of time, and Berube doesn't seem like the blender type)
@@BedwetterCDN Marner runs a line better than Matthews does, Matthews needs somebody that can break down the defense and feed him in the slot.
@@spongerobroundshoes2736 Best PAID 3rd line center in the history of hockey. There I fixed it for you.
Hey Steve, I think we should bring back Aki Berg….what do you think you think?
With your explanation of the cap space that they'll have. What their options are and what their lineup looks like at this point... I'm excited and optimistic to see what they're still working on. With both Dewar and Robertson unsigned and with Hakanpaa on the fence Plus the additional five mil in cap space. Connor Timmins really no value in it but still righty... Could be a sweetener. There's some but little options but still I'm optimistic. I'm hoping for a 3rd line center, and another solid RD. Wishful thinking? We'll see.
I really hope, you were right. I really want our core to stay the same. The guys are good, and hopefully with the better D and new coach, we can do it!
I wonder how good Amirov would have been by now
He seemed pretty decent..
I can't believe I'm so desperate for hockey content that I'm watching a Steve Dangle video. It's like eating slightly rotted food.
Goaltending is gonna be the deal breaker
Not sure if this is a hot take, but just my opinion. I don’t think Minten is ever going to be a full time NHLer. He seems like he’s sort of at his plateau skill-wise and he’s not the quickest of guys (which you almost have to be to play in today’s NHL). Would love to be proved wrong, but not getting too excited about him.
It's the same process every year.
BIG CHANGES ARE NEEDED!!!
A few months later.
No no big changes, but you know what? I really like this team!! Yay!!
Solid lines, will be fun to watch!
Leafs trade Marner, Liljegren and Kempf to St. Louis for Kyrou (Toronto boy who is very fast), Parayko and a 4th round draft choice. Marner agrees to trade and signs an eight year contract with St. Louis for his asking price.
As I understand, and I could be wrong but basically each hockey game of the season is 1/82 of the cap, whatever you don't use that game moves along.
Thank you, Steve dangle
"How it playes out come playoff time" is the only thing we know with this team
How many years is this now with the current 4?
Depends what you mean, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Reilly since 2016-17, Tavares since 2018-19. 8 Years and 6 years.
for Defence, remember we also signed Myers ( big hulking guy) and Mermis so there are a couple cheap, depth guys to slot in and out of the bottom pairings..
Have you seen Myers play? His two season in Tampa, he played a total of 15-16 games and they sure needed to improve their D. He won’t improve the leafs D, which is saying something.
@@speedybure I never once said he improved anything, but with the cap situation he is a young, big right shot D man with NHL experience that can slot in the line up at any time.. What is their other option? constantly pulling guys up from the Marlies and hoping they can do the job? I'm not saying this guy is going to play in the top pairing but he can come in and play the bottom pair if someone gets injured.
looks the same but we got rid Sammy and thats a real plus. I am looking forward to 25/ 26 with some new Tavares cap space Your banged on!
Puckpedia please convert your pages to dark mode! The white pages are burning out my eyes.
@SteveDangle are you doing a prospect pyramid this year?
OEL is about to get torched not playing sheltered minutes
As a leaf fan I’m just exhausted at this point. They haven’t changed a bit and the only thing I look forward to is watching Auston Matthews. That’s it
Penguins fan here living just outside of Toronto who would love to see the leafs get it done
We also can't forget about Nicolas Mattinen on defence.
I don’t think he has an nhl contract
Move Domi up to 1LW. Knies down to 2LW. McMann down to 3LW.
Free agent signings... Nick Cousins? Filip Zadina? Michael McLeod? Wouldn't hurt to take Wheeler at 850k also
Playing domi with mathews really worked well I think
The fact that this year the leafs have 7 defenceman that you can actually play on a nhl team is a upside.
What about adding Roni Hirovinen from the Marlies Steve ??
They need to get Tavares to 3C somehow... and Ryan Reaves from 4R to Robidas Island. Otherwise same result... 1st round exit and a 30 minute LFR on "Core Four doesnt work!"
This is our year -Steve! Lol
Tavares has to be put on third line. I'm actually looking forward to how Berube is going to coach this team. I think it will make a difference. And the power play can't go anywhere but up.
Every other playoff team and bubble team added. The leafs stayed the same if not got worse even with the salary cap going up a decent amount
I feel really bad about what I said about Samsonov on the trade
He (with the Capitals) showed up in the big games when he needed to. For Toronto he was really trash
It’s sad. Maybe…the Caps team he played on had better defence than the Leafs team he played on.
So, predictions. The easy one: Robertson will be traded for a prospect, Marner will be lights out this year as it’s a contract year. He’ll walk into free agency and we’ll get the same returns we got for Sundin. I believe both Mathew’s and Tavares will be injured for part of the year. We’ll squeak into the playoffs. Here’s hoping that’s not the case.
As a Habs fan I would highly suggest not having Domi aa a centre ever....
The Leafs will be better...but I don't think enough to make a huge difference in standings or depth of a playoff run.
“Run it back”. Haters will hate because they have no patience. Develop and better luck with injuries /suspension is key. If Mgmt pulls the trigger to appease haters’ impatience then we will lose out on another Nazem. Point-> ignore these talking heads as step 1
This team will never win. Enjoy.
Go back to the look we saw briefly last year with Tavares as 3C and Domi pairing with Nylander as 2C. Once Marner leaves next year, Domi will return to his partnership with Matthews on the top line. But until then: Knies-Matthews-Marner / Jarnkrok-Domi-Nylander / McMann-Tavares-[Cowan?] / Holmberg-Kampf-Reaves. McMann and Tavares work well together (much better than Tavares and Willy), so it makes sense to keep them paired-up. Jarnkrok sliding up to 2LW adds some defensive responsibility to the Domi-Nylander pairing-and maybe Cowan then gets a (temporary) look with McMann and Tavares? Robertson's the wild-card. They're definitely one winger short right now, but the bedrock of the top three lines should be clear: Matthews-Marner (for now), Domi-Nylander, Tavares-McMann. Hopefully a full year of the Tavares-McMann pairing proves to John that he can have a successful second-era with the Leafs as a veteran 3C, with a $5.5 million contract (and the potential of playing with/mentoring Cowan moving forward). That would give Treliving approximately $16 million next Summer to search for a legit 2C who can really sustain Nylander's potential, and a top-6 winger to replace what we lost with Bertuzzi (and hopefully deliver a little more). Unfortunately, because of Dubas' idiotic NMCs, 2024/25 is nothing but a transitional year for us-where we importantly get to test the theory that Woll can reliably perform as a starting goaltender. That needs to be the mantra: 2025/26 is our year. Dubas stubbornly refused to believe in windows. And that's what got us stuck in a 8-9 year purgatory situation. Teams with championship aspirations (in hard cap leagues) need to think in windows-of-opportunity. 2025/26 is our next window. In the meantime, Treliving needs to maintain our cap flexibility (which is one reason the OEL contract was a bit of a head-scratcher) and we need to work with what we have to see what kind of in-house chemistry is possible. Maybe the biggest test of this season, aside from Woll: Is Knies really a top-6 LW? And on the back-end: can Lilly finally develop a reliable game? If those two questions are answered in the affirmative, then next offseason can become really focused, since Tre took care of the heavy lifting on the back-end this summer. That is: we'll need a supportive 2C and a high-end top-6 winger; that's very doable.
All the Marner trade talk made no sense since Tavares is coming off the books in another year. So, yes, they're running it back this year. If you're unhappy about that, blame Kyle Dumas. I do think a trade is coming, maybe a third-line centre. (Hint: the Avs are currently in salary cap hell.)
They gave Nylander a 11.5M extension. They can’t afford to keep Marner even with JT’s deal ending. This big three forward model does not work, especially with this core. It’s over. Cup window is closed.
Is it even sicker that I watched this and I'm not even a Leafs fan?:D
SOMETHING BETTER BE UP!! we need a touch of help up front, work your magic Brad.
Trades take two (or more) teams. "Everything is on the table" doesn't mean today.
Bottom 8 in goaltending depth. GL
Keep shuffling the chairs on the Titanic. Can't wait to hear Steve move jankrok around 1000 times.
2 thoughts: I think we resigned Domi bc of how well he played with Matthews. Though he can play center, and we have a 3C hole, I still think he has to start next to Auston. 2) there’s no chance Robertson resigns to play 4th line minutes. He’s been unhappy because of his lack of playing time. He definitely wants to get inside the top 6 and unfortunately for him that’s not available here. As much as I want him to play here, I think he’s too stubborn to sign and gets traded.
As much as we hate it... New staff is a huge part of this off season
We wanted big changes but I get the feeling they unfortunately wanna test the core 4 with the new staff
Waste of a year of Matthews glory? Unfortunately but this time they kinda need to see the what if
Marner at Centre with Robertson and McMann. Problems solved. Deep down the middle. Want the big money? Drive your own line and turn the new guys into stars.
In marners defence though Matthews and Tavares both had career seasons with him on their wing
Marner has the hockey IQ and defensive reliability to play center. But does he have the strength and size? I don't think so.
@@Trag1cMag1c one needs more strength to be a winger due to board work. Centers have more open ice. When I first read the idea I thought it was foolish BUT then the more I thought about it, the more it makes perfect sense. Toss soy boy pajama kid to the 3rd line center slot. 1st line Mathews, Knies. Domi, 2nd Marner, nylander, Mcmann, 3rd line Tavares, Robertson, Cowan 4th line , Homberg, Dewar, Reaves.. trade Jankrok and Kampf for much needed draft capital. As of now they only have 7 picks over the next 2 years and 12 over the next 3, that is lunacy. I also wouldn't mind trading Lilly for a couple picks or even 1 pick. Those proposed trades cuts the fat off, opens up cap space, stocks the bare cupboard for the draft apocalypse and solves the lack of center depth. YOU'RE WELCOME
I love it. Make him earn that 10.9mil!
I'm actually surprised that this hasn't been explored
Quillan might have a better chance to make team then any of the prospects you mentioned.
The team should be incrementally better. But it's hard to see this group elevating their game to what we saw from the Panthers, Oilers, Canes, Rangers, Stars and Avalanche in the playoffs. Leafs have three forwards any other team in the league would want, but the roster's other component parts are basically rank-and-file: skill-wise, they aren't better than what other teams have, and they aren't physically overwhelming either. Hockey is a team game: you can't have three stars carrying nineteen or twenty passengers.
Imagine someone telling you they need a change of scenery and you turn a dinner plate 90 degrees and go "see? Totally different". Leafs management to fans.
The way Leafs fans talk themselves into "this year will be different" every year no matter how long it's been ran back with the same results is pretty funny but knowing that inevitably this will end with the leafs losing in the first round in overtime of game 7 in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable makes me feel so much pity for them.