2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[cw]

Might as well keep them for a couple years. Losing doesn't help them until 2028.

It helps them before 2028 if they return picks for 2026 and/or 2027 for one example.
Rebuild is going to take years because they have to develop most of them after they're picked.
Filling up the prospect pipeline with lesser prospects helps as they take longer to develop.
Some of them may be traded to move up in a draft, etc.
McCabe, maybe OEL or a goalie for example could get them a 1st rounder now.
Bruins got more for Carlo and the Flyers got more for Laughton because they were not about to be UFAs.
The minute a GM knows it is time to blow it up, the better the return and the sooner the rebuild completes.

As well, it is probably a great year this year to be a seller because so many teams are not eliminated - it is a seller's market so the bidding and overpayment gets even more silly.

I'd trade anything with a pulse except for the youngsters and even then, I might be persuaded depending on the offer.

 

[Arn]

Whatever the case is, they didn't adapt. We can probably ascribe the most blame to Shanny, but every GM and AGM throughout this tenure is culpable. It's been mistake after mistake since they all collectively short circuited the rebuild once they drafted Matthews and handed out horrible contracts. They also had plenty of chances to add good goaltending and the failed to do that repeatedly, so honestly that point is irrelevant to me. I'm also tired of the flat cap comment as if the Leafs were the only team to contend with that reality.

I do think the team needs a new coach (and new GM) but the previous vision being less awful because they were good in the regular season and were "adapting" by winning two rounds in 9yrs is cold, cold comfort.

Oh yeah, it’s like an ongoing accumulation of crap. Doesn’t help to recognise it as you say, in terms of changing those pasts. Only hope is the next time they learn…

It helps them before 2028 if they return picks for 2026 and/or 2027 for one example.
Rebuild is going to take years because they have to develop most of them after they're picked.
Filling up the prospect pipeline with lesser prospects helps as they take longer to develop.
Some of them may be traded to move up in a draft, etc.
McCabe, maybe OEL or a goalie for example could get them a 1st rounder now.
Bruins got more for Carlo and the Flyers got more for Laughton because they were not about to be UFAs.
The minute a GM knows it is time to blow it up, the better the return and the sooner the rebuild completes.

As well, it is probably a great year this year to be a seller because so many teams are not eliminated - it is a seller's market so the bidding and overpayment gets even more silly.

I'd trade anything with a pulse except for the youngsters and even then, I might be persuaded depending on the offer.

On your point about draft picks, I’d not be as worried about getting a 1st (well I’d still try and get one obviously) but as much as doing what you say in your last line to get as many picks in as high rounds as possible. Any interim GM might be able to do that.

Then in the summer that’s arming your new GM with more assets/tools to use for other trades. For example maybe you decide Rielly is going. But you can also throw in two second round picks with him to get something a bit more than you’d get just for Rielly. Or whatever.

The cupboard is so bare it’s difficult to even do that.