So Nathan Fielder (from the equally amazing show 'Nathan For You') has a new show on HBO called 'The Rehearsal'

They are two episodes in and already it is the most surreal, crazy, unbelievable and absolutely riveting piece of television I have ever seen. Highly recommended! 

And Toman, the guy who I saw projected to go to the Jays with their first pick (23) on multiple mock drafts, is snatched at pick 77. Very impressive.

I'm leaning a little more in the "got worse".  A couple of our good PKers are gone, the goaltending is still a question mark, and we still don't know what they're going to have to pay for Engvall, right?

There's a couple other guys on the roster who should be able to make up most of the PK issues and, overall, I can't see the team's goaltending performing worse than they did last season (they might not be much better, but, last season, the Leafs had a putrid .899 Sv%). Engvall's contract doesn't really impact the current talent level on the roster, either.

On the flipside, the 4th line should be a little less ineffective, they get a full season of Giordano, and hopefully, some progression from the younger guys on the roster. All of it together, to me, feels like it balances everything out.

I think this is where we hope that a couple of our Marlies can fill out the roster. Really hoping this is Robertson's year and maybe Steeves or Anderson.

I'm with you but I have never been excited by Robertson.  I hope I'm wrong.  Seems to me the door's wide open for him.

I originally thought Robertson had a lot of upside but that feeling is sort of fading with him. I'm more interested in see what Knies can bring to the team . Hopefully we see him at some point closer to playoff time this year.

Robertson is merely 1 year older than Knies. An considering the amount of games and development he has lost due to injury, I think it would be silly to make any judgements this early.

Fair enough, all logical points  ;)

Team looks way better than last year. Dubas is a wizard!
No doubt all these players that passed through waivers last year WILL be difference makers in our playoff success!

I get the giddiness that is expressed by other teams at this time can be a bit much, and all the pundits are crapping on the Leafs right now, but here is what they have going out:

Spezza
Mikheyev
Kase
Lyubushkin
Cambell
Mrazek

The rest of the team has remained intact.  So this narrative that this is a drastically altered team and that there is no way they can be as good as they were last year is over looking the fact that the core 7 to 8 guys that drove this team to regualr season success that has not been seen in Maple Leaf land is still intact, and signed for at least another two years.  So really, tinkering around the edges is all the Leafs HAVE to do.

Mikheyev and Kase both missed significant periods of time in the lineup and Lyubushkin didn't join the team until nearly the 50 game mark. Mrazek was either abysmal or injured and Campbell spent a decent amount of time either ailing/underperforming or on the IL. And despite all of that, Leafs still played at a pretty high level. Personally I'm really not all that bent out of shape about losing anyone off of that list.

Still not quite understanding this.  If a 5x5 offer by Oilers was enough to secure Cambell, do you think Leafs couldnt of also had him on a 5x5?  They are paying Murray 4.6875, a marginal cap savings vs Campbell for someone who needs to still find his game.  And recouping a 3rd and 7th pick shouldn't have been enough incentive to go with a downgrade in net.

Murray either equals or bests Campbell in every underlying metric last year. HDSV%, ESSV%, Quality starts, Really Bad Starts, XGSV/60, all while playing on an inferior team behind a much inferior defense. Injury risks abound for both players. I get worrying about the cap hit or health concerns for Murray but I don't get pining for Campbell at 5x5.

If you'd asked me 2 weeks ago to guess whether Dennis Hildeby was a Swedish goaltender or a noble gentleman in a Dickens novel, well, I would have guessed poorly.

I'm still pretty sure that there must be a Dennis Hildeby as a cousin or orphan or pickpocket or shoe cobbler in 'Nicholas Nickleby'

I like Comrie as the other goalie, although the comment from Friedman about goalie prices being a little wacky makes me think he'll get more than what I'd be comfortable with.

And that is the only thing that surprises me about the Murray acquisition. I really like the player and potential but there was no reason that a) Leafs couldn't get Ottawa to retain 50%, even if it meant taking a worse pick back, and b) failing that, having a third team (out of contention) take a chunk of the 75%, keep the Ott 3rd and send us, say, a 5th.

An extra 1.5-2M would really help in the FA market, if only to snag a Comrie or Samsonov.

https://twitter.com/josephdzita/status/1546986456920604678?s=20&t=pMdPluDy_ItDpkoy1ponZg

Ottawa was adamant about not retaining more than 25% and if other teams were interested, the Leafs didn't have all the leverage here.

I'm just surprised there weren't any non-contending teams (thus no interest in Murray) who wouldn't take 1.5-2M in space for a couple of years to acquire a 3rd, which is what the deal would ultimately come down to.

Evander Kane gets more money, just awesome.

And Edmonton gets a ridiculously lucky break with Keith retiring based on equally ridiculous cap rules after making that horrendous deal to take on his whole contract.

I like Comrie as the other goalie, although the comment from Friedman about goalie prices being a little wacky makes me think he'll get more than what I'd be comfortable with.

And that is the only thing that surprises me about the Murray acquisition. I really like the player and potential but there was no reason that a) Leafs couldn't get Ottawa to retain 50%, even if it meant taking a worse pick back, and b) failing that, having a third team (out of contention) take a chunk of the 75%, keep the Ott 3rd and send us, say, a 5th.

An extra 1.5-2M would really help in the FA market, if only to snag a Comrie or Samsonov.

So is Comrie, Wood or Kubalik, Steel or Milano and a trade for Puljujarvi possible/feasible/too much to expect this offseason?

Hearing rumblings of a stomach to toilet evacuation. Both sides are very close.

Additionally, on the status of Campbell and his ability to be a starting goaltender, well, LA moved him out despite him being the much younger and cheaper option to a faltering Quick. Toronto bringing in Mrazek at nearly 4M also has to be based on misgivings about his ability to start a full season. He's now 30 and it's increasingly hard to envision a reality where Campbell is a bonafide #1 starter. With Murray I think the potential for that to happen is significantly higher.

Murray's also had injury history though...

Yep, and it's certainly not a slam dunk acquisition or without risk. But all things equal I lean towards Murray and taking into account Campbell's $ and term demands it's a no-brainer for me. And again, I want to see Comrie or Samsonov signed as well; they definitely need another goalie with starting potential/capabilities.

Additionally, on the status of Campbell and his ability to be a starting goaltender, well, LA moved him out despite him being the much younger and cheaper option to a faltering Quick. Toronto bringing in Mrazek at nearly 4M also has to be based on misgivings about his ability to start a full season. He's now 30 and it's increasingly hard to envision a reality where Campbell is a bonafide #1 starter. With Murray I think the potential for that to happen is significantly higher.

So maybe it's just me but I think Murray is being undervalued here. Perhaps it's the traditional numbers (SV% and GAA) that skew things a bit but when you take a closer look Murray is much more competitive than he's been given credit for. Looking at last year:

Campbell: .596 Quality Start %
Murray:    .600 QS%

Campbell: 10 Really Bad Starts (games with .850 sv% or less) in 47 starts
Murray: 3 RBS in 20 starts

Campbell:  .914 Even Strength SV%
Murray: .912 ES SV%

Campbell: .790 High Danger Scoring Chance SV%
Murray: .813 HDSC SV%

So considering Murray is around 2.5 years younger than Campbell, has started almost double the amount of games (not to mention 50 games in the playoffs with 2 Cups and a .921 SV%) and has been playing for a bottom-tier team that sports Nikita Zaitsev as a top-pairing defenceman, I am much more comfortable with him under Campbell's asking price for less than half the commitment.

Now if Dubas can successfully grab a Comrie, Samsonov or even Hill in free agency, the goaltending position could look pretty good.