2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Hey, called it. Stecher's obviously no saviour but he should be an improvement on the bottom pair, especially in the puck moving department.
Seeing lots of comments about the Leafs wanting to do some "player for player" trades to shake things up - no trading of futures (whatever is left), presumably no trading of Cowan/Danford, no trading of "core" pieces such as Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Knies (presumably). So what does that leave - what is there of value to other teams on the current roster?
Hope people haven't become too attached to Nick Robertson because that seems most likely to me...young guy producing and playing well higher in the lineup, but maybe not sustainable - so trade now while he looks good? Even so, I can't imagine they get much for him, plus I think it would be a mistake to trade away one of the hardest workers (and fastest, best shooter, etc) on the team. Domi would be nice but who is taking him...sounds like potentially dangerous times...
Hope people haven't become too attached to Nick Robertson because that seems most likely to me...young guy producing and playing well higher in the lineup, but maybe not sustainable - so trade now while he looks good? Even so, I can't imagine they get much for him, plus I think it would be a mistake to trade away one of the hardest workers (and fastest, best shooter, etc) on the team. Domi would be nice but who is taking him...sounds like potentially dangerous times...
You basically need to convince other teams that the players you have just need a change of scenery or aren't one to play Berubes system. I'm sure that's easier said than done though.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
The only way other teams trade with the Leafs, is to fleece the Leafs.
The management team should institute a new policy of "trade only with Barry Trotz"
OldTimeHockey
Well-known member
I think it's a combo of two teams convincing each other that the players they are trying to trade need a change of scenery. If the other team is moving on from a contributing player, it's probably because they aren't contributing enough, or aren't happy.....or you have an abundance of players that fill the same role. That's why Toronto is looking to move one of their six #8 defencemen.
OldTimeHockey
Well-known member
I think one player from the team that doesn't seem to receive enough flack is McCabe. To me, his skating has regressed to a point that he's becoming a liability. He consistently gets caught with players behind him. I'm not sure if it's because he's being asked to do more with Tanev out or he's been forced to play with weaker partners since Tanev has been out...but to me, he seems old and slow.
Joe S.
Moderator
It’s kinda funny/sad, but I looked back at the Carlo trade thread and the sentiment was overwhelmingly positive. Not about Carlo himself, but how set the defence was for the years to come. How quickly things have changed.
It’s so easy to do this in hindsight, but that Carlo trade is now looking like it belongs in the top 10 worst leafs trades of all time list…
It’s so easy to do this in hindsight, but that Carlo trade is now looking like it belongs in the top 10 worst leafs trades of all time list…
Joe S.
Moderator
I expect nothing less from the great Treliving.
OldTimeHockey
Well-known member
It's crazy that he was so beloved in Boston. Even my brother, a long time Bruins fan, immediately messaged me to say how good of a player we had gotten. It just hasn't meshed. Everywhere you read up on him, they say that he should be playing with an offensive partner. Playing with Rielly certainly hasn't worked. I think it's actually made both of them worse as Rielly isn't confident having Carlo backing him up.
Oh, good point.
Maybe the Leafs can still sell by retaining a bunch of salary on three guys. The need to maximize cap space at all costs isn't mission critical with such a weak UFA pool, whereas contending teams this year still need to fit under the playoff salary cap now and perhaps will value retained contracts for a deep run.
Joe S.
Moderator
I don't think the price that was paid was all that bad. I just don't think they needed to do it. Did having Laughton and Carlo extend the Leafs playoff run? If they had kept the players and the picks, would they be in a better position today? I think so. As I said somewhere else, they need to stop the bleeding so that the future isn't so bleak.
L K
Well-known member
Carlo wasn't great last year after we acquired him either so I'm not going to write off his play as all injuries but I do hope that he was playing through something. Benoit missed time at the start of camp too so injury might explain a bit of the the foot speed/gap closure issues the Leafs have had. Unless they all have wrist and shoulder injuries though it doesn't excuse the atrocious 1st passes.
Nice to see Quillan get an opportunity. Ideally Stetcher comes in for Myers and Quillan pushes Domi to the wings. Although if Laughton is going to be back in the lineup maybe Quillan doesn't get an opportunity to play?
Nice to see Quillan get an opportunity. Ideally Stetcher comes in for Myers and Quillan pushes Domi to the wings. Although if Laughton is going to be back in the lineup maybe Quillan doesn't get an opportunity to play?