Sounds like Nylander's negotiations aren't going well. Ship his as* to Arizona and scoop Keller who wants out and you have some extra cash to spend. Change the complexion of this team it's definitely needed.

Yea, that should change that darn complex issue of Nylander scoring big goals and producing in the playoffs..(FTR Keller would be great, but he isn't any bigger than Nylander and doesn't hit either).

On a related note, I keep hearing about the need to trade Nylander before his NTC kicks in and limits potential landing spots: wouldn't trading him now to a non-preferred destination only result in him not signing an extension and thus drastically affecting his trade value? It seems to me they can wait for a bit, regardless of his NTC, because if he isn't re-signing here at least he can go somewhere he wants to go, sign an extension and still recoup a significant amount in return, no?

you know...there really should be some kind of recourse for "insiders" who just flippantly float out garbage like this. Granted Berger is as much as an insider as I am a member of the core 4, but it's so tiring and cringe-inducing. Not to mention the sheep who flock to this kind of nonsense (see what I did there?) and perpetuate these meaningless talking points. No wonder everyone hates this general fanbase.

1. The person an employer is negotiating with for a contract extension suddenly questions if he wants the job and when pressed further ultimately ask for significantly more money with a promotion that would supplant the job of the employer's negotiator, who is supposed to approve and submit the request. The employer rescinds the extension offer and looks at different candidates. Sounds fairly reasonable to me.

2. The context by which you used "good ol boy" characters the hiring, and Treliving, in a negative light. Other than the lack of an "exhaustive search" (and, I guess, the fact that Treliving's father isn't a loner with less effluent friends), I don't see what it is about Treliving's track record that makes him that much of a worse candidate than Dubas or a "musical chair" hiring, for that matter. Treliving has had exactly one stint in the GM position and was fairly successful (arguably no less successful than our outgoing GM, who, apparently, was also a musical chair hire, considering how quickly the Pens' process was done and him having the same amount of GM'ing experience as Treliving).

Anyway I'm not trying to get into a big thing here, I just don't see why there has to be two distinctive sides. The Leafs acted in a reasonable manner and got a pretty good GM under somewhat serious time constraints. They also had a pretty good-good GM that I would also have liked to see return who acted reasonably and in his best interests. And when Treliving trades Nylander straight up for Josh Manson and signs Tom Wilson to a 7x7 contract, I am going to delete these posts and call for Shanahan's head to be served on a platter like a Yusei Kikuchi centre-cut fastball! ;)

Maybe I'm naïve or missing something here but I'm still not sure how the Leafs "fumbled the bag" and why Treliving simply qualifies as a "good ol boy"? Personally I have no issues with how either party (Dubas, Leafs) went about their business and am a little baffled about the levels of divisiveness on display (all around, not just on here).......and this is coming from someone who isn't exactly a Shanahan fan and is, exactly, a big Dubas supporter.

GM: Laurence Gilman, with Mike Gillis in some supporting role
Coach: Andrew Brunette
2C: ROR
Which Core 4 to sacrifice on the altar of doing something: Marner
His trade return: Kempe/Byfield

Tavares-Matthews-Nylander
Zucker-ROR-Kempe
Knies-Byfield-Jarnkrok
Holmberg-Acciari-Lafferty
McMann

Rielly-Mayfield
McCabe-Liljegren
Brodie-Timmins
Giordano

Samsonov
Woll

Like the way you think.

Yea, very nice roster. And McMann, Steeves and Robertson challenging for spots. Love it.

Are these serious suggestions for the coach that not only helped cover up sexual abuse, but wrote a glowing reference for the perpetrator to go on and do it again to another kid?

Don't worry, he is expected to meet with Bettman soon so I'm pretty sure that, as a result from that single meeting, Quenneville will be absolved from all prior misdeeds and welcomed back into the NHL with open arms. It's not like he declined to wear a pride jersey, or anything that extreme!

Man, I really would have loved to have seen what a full-autonomous Dubas squad could have looked like. Too bad. Anyway, I just hope the next GM doesn't get sucked into the frat-boy, old-guard, chest-pounding, self-proclaimed alpha bullpoop rhetoric that much of the rabid fan base seems to eat up so much. And I thought I was somewhat apathetic this season.. :(

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

I think the backend is the problem. Too slow moving the puck and when pressured. Holl, Schenn, Giordano and even Brodie aren't the quickest.

Yes, I agree; the lack of footspeed and puck-moving capability back there, particularly from those first three, has really been noticeable (and exploited).

Bunting can draw in for Lafferty.

May not be popular, but I would draw in Bunting for Knies.

I think the Leafs need to pull out their 11/7 they were using so much down the stretch.  Get Lilejegren in there and limit Holl's minutes.

I agree with that but add that I wouldn't mind seeing Gustafsson come in as the 7th and Liljegren in for Holl. Gus can spell Gio for a bit and give us another strong PP option.

Rielly
Nylander

Boy, I miss when this team used to have speed..

I have mixed feelings about the deadline.

I think Dubas improved the team.
I think this group has a fairly short window due to the cap and expiring contracts so Dubas was justified generally.
The roster of talent probably has the best depth I can recall a Leafs team having.
The goaltending will probably be the biggest factor to determine their playoff fate.

With as many changes as they've made, it is going to take them a while to gel.
Dubas addressed it and added
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2023/03/03/kyle-dubas-on-the-difference-in-this-years-maple-leafs-team/
I think that is just part of the profession and part of the job. I don't know anybody who doesn't come with a great deal of anxiety to it in terms of worrying each day about the group, how it is fitting together, and every single part of it.

It is a job that whether you want to or not, you live it. You don't just come and do it, go home, and drop it. You live it. It is part of everything that you do.

9 dmen with Benn 10th and Mete 11th. That doesn't work for me as good use of resources.
The jury is out on how well it will get utilized. But you know that only 6-7 will be playing in a given game and the forward depth is dependent on Knies signing or the AHL. I would have liked to have seen at least one of them flipped for a left winger.

Dubas added 6 players and looks to be adding a 7th in Knies.
If the roster was that lacking, after his declared 40 game analysis, why wait until a week before the deadline before addressing all of it? Dubas spoke about how even a few more games together could help them. I do not understand why some of it couldn't have happened sooner.

I think this is a very fair assessment of the situation. The defense, in particular, is one area that seems a bit wasteful. I was SURE the acquisition of Schenn meant Holl would be traded. Schenn/Timmins/Benn would make a very solid 6/7/8 and with 2023 and 2024 1sts, along with the return for Holl (and Gustafsson) a top-6 LW could easily be obtained without leaving the pick cupboard completely barren. And then ROR could slide comfortably into the 3C spot where he absolutely should be.

Yea, I'm a little bit confused still with this plan.

Well, sometimes you eat the bear, etc

Tonight as a Springsteen song was definitely Secret Garden because that sucked.

I'd say last nights game for the Leafs was more .. "Dancing in the Dark"

I've already used Dancing in the Dark:

https://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php/topic,6484.msg471480.html#msg471480

More like '57 channels and nothing on'

Well, sometimes you eat the bear, etc

Tonight as a Springsteen song was definitely Secret Garden because that sucked.

I approve of this message

Wait, wait, wait....are we seriously not including the smash hit "Secret Garden" in the Springsteen Leaf list? Murray DEFINITELY has a garden of some unknown substance hidden somewhere in Toronto...