#1

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leaf...

Last post by herman - Today at 08:47:26 PM

https://twitter.com/itsmitchmarney/status/1623492097343889412

#2

General NHL News & Views / Re: 2022-23 NHL Thread

Last post by CarltonTheBear - Today at 04:18:37 PM

"Hockey is for everyone" is sure picking up steam!

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/islanders-pride-night-wont-feature-rainbow-jerseys-or-tape/

Unlike the Rangers, who pulled their plans to do so without explanation, the Islanders have never worn rainbow jerseys due to an organizational policy against wearing specialized warmups. The only ones they wear are mandated by the league: Hockey Fights Cancer, Military and St. Patrick's Day.

Would absolutely love to hear the story of how St. Patrick's Day jerseys became "mandated" by the league for teams to wear.

(military ones being mandated is also stupid, just not in a surprising way)

#3

General NHL News & Views / Re: 2022-23 NHL Thread

Last post by Zee - Today at 03:57:09 PM

"Hockey is for everyone" is sure picking up steam!

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/islanders-pride-night-wont-feature-rainbow-jerseys-or-tape/

#4

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Auston Matthews

Last post by Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate - Today at 02:54:58 PM

So, is the season over already?  Are they all somewhere on a beach in Belize?

#5

Toronto Blue Jays / Re: 2022 Blue Jays

Last post by L K - Today at 12:55:56 PM

Jays signed Bo Bichette to a 3-year extension avoiding an arbitration hearing.  Numbers haven't come out and this does nothing to ensure that Bo stays long-term but that's a nice thing to not sour the relationship over arbitration hearings.

The Jays also signed Chad Green who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery but has been a solid reliever for the Yankees the last few years.  He won't be ready for the start of the season but could be a big add mid-way through.

They released Matt Gage who feels like a guy who did all the right things except get a fair shot at the Majors

1.38 ERA 0.923 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 13 innings last year in the Majors
2.34 ERA 1.087 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 42 innings last year in AAA

#6

Toronto Raptors / Re: 2022/2023 General NBA Thre...

Last post by Nik - Today at 12:10:11 PM

So Lebron passed Kareem last night. Kind of a big deal. Still pretty mindblowing that now the NBA's all-time leading scorer, who it should be noted is also a very high volume scorer being 5th all time in ppg, is also one of the league's best ever passers(more assists than Steve Nash, Magic Johnson or Isiah Thomas) and an top flight defensive player(6 all-NBA defensive teams)

I know a lot of people are still big on Jordan but for my money, when you weigh up everything, I think he's the best all-around basketball player of all time.

[if Matthews isn't interested in signing an extension.]

#7

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Auston Matthews

Last post by Nik - Today at 11:19:10 AM

As I always used to say back in the day, any time your trade idea revolves around another team doing something stupid you're probably proposing a trade we're not likely to see. I think you'd agree that if the situation was reversed, you'd think the Leafs trading a major package of picks and prospects, that is to say a major part of the team's future, for a guy you may or may not be able to sign to an extension was a pretty bad decision on their part. Fact is we've heard a lot of "Team X in a non-traditional market may be willing to wildly overpay for a player to be 'relevant" before but those teams are run by competent people for the most part and they know that the only real way for them to be relevant is to build a winning team. Trading for Matthews only to see him leave and lose a major chunk of their prospect base/draft capital is a bad decision any way you slice it.

The deal could be structured around Matthews agreeing to an extension with the acquiring team beforehand.  Once they know they have him for 9 years, the deal is done.

Sure but there are two minor issues with that. First of all nobody has suggested you wouldn't be able to get a good return for Matthews if he's willing to sign an extension. The only person who said anything about the quality of the return for him was me and I said:

Realistically there's not going to be a "boatload" of picks and prospects if Matthews isn't interested in signing an extension.

But, ok, either way. Then we get back into the reality of what you're suggesting. If Matthews is a year away from free agency and doesn't want to re-sign with the Leafs then odds are the Leafs options trade-wise aren't just any team who could put together the best trade package for him, it will have to be limited to a team that Matthews wants to sign over basically the rest of the prime years of his career to. Now, in your scenario I'm assuming part of Matthews is refusing to sign with the Leafs because of their inability to succeed in the playoffs so how likely is it that he's going to be willing to sign with a team that's effectively a bottom feeder in the NHL? And, in the case of Phoenix, definitely not a team that will be threatening the cap any time soon.

If Matthews has his heart dead set on leaving then he's not going to be inclined to do the Leafs any great favours on his way out the door. He'll treat being traded like free agency and the Leafs will probably be fairly limited in their trading partners to teams Matthews wants to sign an extension with. That means probably a reasonably decent team which means that, once you add Matthews, probably means that any picks you get are going to be towards the back end of the first round.

So, again, we're back to a decent return but not a world ending one if the Leafs don't land it.

#8

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Auston Matthews

Last post by Zee - Today at 11:06:27 AM

As I always used to say back in the day, any time your trade idea revolves around another team doing something stupid you're probably proposing a trade we're not likely to see. I think you'd agree that if the situation was reversed, you'd think the Leafs trading a major package of picks and prospects, that is to say a major part of the team's future, for a guy you may or may not be able to sign to an extension was a pretty bad decision on their part. Fact is we've heard a lot of "Team X in a non-traditional market may be willing to wildly overpay for a player to be 'relevant" before but those teams are run by competent people for the most part and they know that the only real way for them to be relevant is to build a winning team. Trading for Matthews only to see him leave and lose a major chunk of their prospect base/draft capital is a bad decision any way you slice it.

The deal could be structured around Matthews agreeing to an extension with the acquiring team beforehand.  Once they know they have him for 9 years, the deal is done.

#9

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Auston Matthews

Last post by Nik - Today at 10:50:05 AM

The situation I'm referring to here is the Leafs get bounced again the first round.  Dubas and possibly Shanahan are both ousted and a new regime comes in talking about re-evaluating everything.  At that point Matthews might make it clear he's not willing to re-sign and will go to free agency, you have to explore trading him at that point.

I mean, absolutely none of that was in your comment or any of the ones prior to it. Just, and I quote, "If he doesn't extend come July 1st you have to trade him."

But, sure, like I said if he makes it 100% clear he's not re-signing you explore trading him. But even then the reality is that all you're likely to do the next few years is trying to package together what you can to try and replace him so as long as they've got a shot at re-signing him they should stay in that picture.

Teams in the west like LA, Anaheim and even Arizona would have the cap space and young assets to part with for him, and they would all be willing to take a big swing to get their teams relevant again.  You would get Matthews for next season and also the opportunity to sign him for 8 more years. That's worth a lot.

As I always used to say back in the day, any time your trade idea revolves around another team doing something stupid you're probably proposing a trade we're not likely to see. I think you'd agree that if the situation was reversed, you'd think the Leafs trading a major package of picks and prospects, that is to say a major part of the team's future, for a guy you may or may not be able to sign to an extension was a pretty bad decision on their part. Fact is we've heard a lot of "Team X in a non-traditional market may be willing to wildly overpay for a player to be 'relevant" before but those teams are run by competent people for the most part and they know that the only real way for them to be relevant is to build a winning team. Trading for Matthews only to see him leave and lose a major chunk of their prospect base/draft capital is a bad decision any way you slice it.

#10

Main Leafs Hockey Talk / Re: Auston Matthews

Last post by Zee - Today at 10:28:13 AM

It would be the worst possible outcome if he walks for nothing.  We're talking about a calder winner, 2 time Rocket Richard winner and Hart and Lindsay winner just walking out the door.  I don't agree that they couldn't get a huge package in a trade for him this July.  We've never seen a player of Matthews abilities traded in their prime, he would return multiple first round picks not just one.

We literally saw Wayne Gretzky traded in his prime.

Also it seems reasonably relevant to point out that you suggested that the Leafs trade Matthews not if he says he won't sign with them at all but that they should trade him just if he doesn't sign an extension literally the first day he's eligible to. That's akin to selling your house for five bucks because you're worried you may lose it for nothing.

Different circumstance with Gretzky as the owner needed money, Matthews is a bit younger than Gretzky when he was dealt.

The situation I'm referring to here is the Leafs get bounced again the first round.  Dubas and possibly Shanahan are both ousted and a new regime comes in talking about re-evaluating everything.  At that point Matthews might make it clear he's not willing to re-sign and will go to free agency, you have to explore trading him at that point.  Teams in the west like LA, Anaheim and even Arizona would have the cap space and young assets to part with for him, and they would all be willing to take a big swing to get their teams relevant again.  You would get Matthews for next season and also the opportunity to sign him for 8 more years. That's worth a lot.