I think hughes would be a 3rd line winger to start his career the same way matthews was. It is a way to protect your young star from being thrown into the fire in his first season. His first year is to learn, develop and get used to the nhl while also protecting his confidence.

Also, thanks for taking Marner. If these trades and signings take place NJ is surely going to improve leaps.

Matthews has never played wing in his NHL career. He started out #3C if you want to call playing behind Kadri and Bozak that

well lines imo are weird cuz the fourth line wil prob get more minutes then some lines cuz they be shutdown forwards but yeah I agree hughes should be protected in minutes

I think he was stated to start as a winger but i guess he ended up being a center. That is what I remember from Babs interview about Matthews before preseason.

Also depending on what Hall wants to do, a trade with him + stuff could get Marner (if Hall signed an extension) and work better for both teams.
You can be pumped about NJ all you want but they would be nuts to give up 4 unprotected 1st round picks right now with the Goalie situation a gong show

JVR-Bozak-Marner
Komarov-Kadri-Brown
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
That was the lineup basically give or take a few, but it didnt take long to have the Matthews line more relied on

blackwood is the do or die question this season and u go from there I think beside most nhl goalies are taking in depth rounds of the draft so u cant rule out that cuz we aint got firsts

Its not about having the picks, its about giving up high picks when the team turns out to be a gas can like last season. Those picks are worth more than Marner

imo we need depth. superstar depth cuz hall get hurt we out but u add marner and it take the pressure off hall and shows him that we want to win now. hall wont stay if we don't win now

Am I in the minority who thinks MM isn't worth 4 first rounders?

He might worth the four first rounders. But the question is would Jersey be better...let's say signing Duchene for 8m...have 4m cap space and keeping the four firsts.
The Leafs just might prefer the 10m they allotted for Marner....spend that 10m on other players and have the four first rounders from Jersey....which still might be garner some lottery picks.

I take a look at that post. Jersey just might be over the cap with their performance bonuses. Next season they have 16m of expiring UFA contracts Greene, Hall and Simmons. Gee. resigning Hall, Hirshier and filling the the two spots with competent players.....Jersey is right against the cap or over it.

Matthews has played Center since game 1. He started with Nylander and Hyman as a 2C/3C behind bozak and Kadri.

I think Toronto will let marner walk for that price..... then OS Hughes when hes an RFA and NJD is in a cap crunch after overpaying marner and hall (After this season). Not to mention the fact that NJD is typically a budget team, given the fact they have been near the bottom in attendance the last few seasons so he wont be too willing to throw around money like this

Every Leafs fan knows this. That is why a) we arent worried about an OS and b) kinda hope it happens since we can match anything below 10.5M and will love 4 1sts if its over that...

Duchene already signed man...

Me bad. But I did get the 8m AAV right.

trade wood and u got your core players signed and gusev was a toss up if he turn out good u can use him as trade bait

Just saying Jersey would be in the same predicament as the Leafs....You suggest trading Wood to be cap compliant , the Leafs might have to trade Johnsson.
Strange that Lebanc of San Jose signed for just 1m. Gee Jersey could've had a good winger for 4m let's say and it would cost them a second rounder. Maybe me wonder if there are going to be any offer sheets.