2020-2021 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[ZBBM]

I don't get the infatuation with Thornton.  At 41, especially.

 

[Frank E]

I don't get the infatuation with Thornton.  At 41, especially.

2 way centre, cheap and no term commitment, team captain and certain HOF guy, can still be very productive offensively, no talent cost to acquisition.

His age is largely irrelevant seeing as it's a 1 year commitment.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Mirtle confirmed/backed-up CJ's report that there's mutual interest between the Leafs and Thornton, and even said that some current Leaf players have reached out to him about playing in Toronto.

And while I framed the decision to sign Thornton as a choice between him and Kerfoot, Mirtle also pointed out that there's technically enough room to have both (and slide Kerfoot to to the wing) with a 21 man roster depending on what Thornton, Mikheyev, and Dermott eventually sign for. They can basically split about $3.5mil.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That 21 man roster with Thornton would look something like this by the way:

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Thornton-Simmonds
Robertson-Spezza-x

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Lehtonen-Bogosian
Dermott

That x could be any of our spare forwards and it would fit under the cap: Engvall, Barabanov, Boyd, Vesey, Korshkov, Malgin. And while I've been saying this for years I do wonder if now the Leafs finally start trying to play 11F/7D on a consistent basis. Especially if Dermott re-signs.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Mirtle confirmed/backed-up CJ's report that there's mutual interest between the Leafs and Thornton, and even said that some current Leaf players have reached out to him about playing in Toronto.

And while I framed the decision to sign Thornton as a choice between him and Kerfoot, Mirtle also pointed out that there's technically enough room to have both (and slide Kerfoot to to the wing) with a 21 man roster depending on what Thornton, Mikheyev, and Dermott eventually sign for. They can basically split about $3.5mil.

It would be ideal to keep Kerfoot on the wing. Thornton would be a huge add.

 

[Guilt Trip]

That 21 man roster with Thornton would look something like this by the way:

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Thornton-Simmonds
Robertson-Spezza-x

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Lehtonen-Bogosian
Dermott

That x could be any of our spare forwards and it would fit under the cap: Engvall, Barabanov, Boyd, Vesey, Korshkov, Malgin. And while I've been saying this for years I do wonder if now the Leafs finally start trying to play 11F/7D on a consistent basis. Especially if Dermott re-signs.

I would love to see that but it'll be potentially hard if they're playing 4 games in 6 nights kind of schedule.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/kungfu_canuck/status/1316102973093810181

lol

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

https://twitter.com/kungfu_canuck/status/1316102973093810181

lol

Holy butthurt Batman.

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/kungfu_canuck/status/1316102973093810181

lol

Holy butthurt Batman.

That is so funny. The Leafs had that week before July 1 to talk to Tavares why would they have felt the need to tamper? Too funny Lou

 

[Phileas Fogg]

https://twitter.com/kungfu_canuck/status/1316102973093810181

lol

Holy butthurt Batman.

That is so funny. The Leafs had that week before July 1 to talk to Tavares why would they have felt the need to tamper? Too funny Lou

Actually, the tampering charge was technically laid against JT's pajamas.

 

[Highlander]

https://twitter.com/kungfu_canuck/status/1316102973093810181

lol

Holy butthurt Batman.

That is so funny. The Leafs had that week before July 1 to talk to Tavares why would they have felt the need to tamper? Too funny Lou

Actually, the tampering charge was technically laid against JT's pajamas.

Then he handed them down to Mitch Marner.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/Kaskisuo/status/1315790086869594120

Makes sense now....Signed with Nashville today. Good luck KK.

 

[Highlander]

Good luck KK, I liked the kid, they must see something in him.  We gave him zero support in his only Loaf game, to bad. With our new and improved super D, he would have been a star.

 

[herman]

My offseason shopping list and Dubas' progress so far:
(x) Keep Nylander
(x) Draft at least one of Topi Niemela, Anton Johannesson, Marat Khusnutdinov
(x) Offload Kapanen for space and peace of mind
(x) Add top-4 D for right side
(x) Tertiary goalie depth
(x) Add Hy/Coleman-y prospects
( ) Add hard-stop bottom-six centre to alleviate DZ draws from Tavares/Matthews; bolster PK draws if possible

 

[OldTimeHockey]

My offseason shopping list and Dubas' progress so far:
(x) Keep Nylander
(x) Draft at least one of Topi Niemela, Anton Johannesson, Marat Khusnutdinov
(x) Offload Kapanen for space and peace of mind
(x) Add top-4 D for right side
(x) Tertiary goalie depth
(x) Add Hy/Coleman-y prospects
( ) Add hard-stop bottom-six centre to alleviate DZ draws from Tavares/Matthews; bolster PK draws if possible

Who fills that last spot?

 

[herman]

My offseason shopping list and Dubas' progress so far:
(x) Keep Nylander
(x) Draft at least one of Topi Niemela, Anton Johannesson, Marat Khusnutdinov
(x) Offload Kapanen for space and peace of mind
(x) Add top-4 D for right side
(x) Tertiary goalie depth
(x) Add Hy/Coleman-y prospects
( ) Add hard-stop bottom-six centre to alleviate DZ draws from Tavares/Matthews; bolster PK draws if possible

Who fills that last spot?

The x is missing; said player does not currently exist on our roster. I've been combing the stat sheets for likely picks and some of the more obvious choices have already been plucked (Johan Larsson, Lucas Wallmark). Anthony Cirelli would be a coup, but $$.

I think we're going to have to go outside the NHL known names, maybe an older AHL journeyman with a particular set of skills, skills that have been acquired over a long career, that hasn't been taken yet, who can help apprentice the next generation of Manny Malhotras under the guidance of... Manny Malhotra.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Friedman becomes the 3rd reporter to say it:

2. Hearing several core Maple Leafs have personally pitched Joe Thornton on going to Toronto. The courtship is on and the interest is real. But one thing I've always been told about the future Hall of Famer: do not underestimate his loyalty to San Jose.

 

[Kin]

Also:

12. MacKenzie Weegar?s a popular name. Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Toronto and Winnipeg are among those who have checked in. It is believed the Maple Leafs turned down a Travis Dermott/Andreas Johnsson request. Tyson Jost was discussed with the Avalanche and Jack Roslovic with the Jets. Roslovic is headed for a fresh start.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Also:

12. MacKenzie Weegar?s a popular name. Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Toronto and Winnipeg are among those who have checked in. It is believed the Maple Leafs turned down a Travis Dermott/Andreas Johnsson request. Tyson Jost was discussed with the Avalanche and Jack Roslovic with the Jets. Roslovic is headed for a fresh start.

Geez, if that was true (dermott/johnsson) I'm disappointed it didn't happen.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Also:

12. MacKenzie Weegar?s a popular name. Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Toronto and Winnipeg are among those who have checked in. It is believed the Maple Leafs turned down a Travis Dermott/Andreas Johnsson request. Tyson Jost was discussed with the Avalanche and Jack Roslovic with the Jets. Roslovic is headed for a fresh start.

Took me longer to get from 2 to 12. Yeah that's a tough one. I'd have probably made that trade. Guess we'll look back at that one in a couple years once Dermott and Anderson develop a little more and see if the right call was made.