They probably make playoffs since fundamentally their offense is still quite strong and they have a really deep RW pool but expecting them to win is a long shot.

Btw take Spezza off the PK hes really not strong there

I dont expect them to win with Marner. Its not their time yet. But good point with Spezza and PK yeah.

Just saw Dreger’s inevitable tweet about Marner looking to Europe...to train. ? Like clockwork with him and Ferris’s clients.

Yup exactly! Kudos to him to sticking to his guns lol

Obviously it’s just a prelude to him “potentially” suiting up for the Lions when contract talks go nowhere. First or second week of September Dreger should be tweeting that.

But to your AGM, I’d really love to see Bracco there while Marner is out. Obviously he’s no Marner but he’s the closest thing the Leafs have in the system. He’d never usurp Marner but it’d be nice to know what he can do and if he can replace future players lost in the cap crunch.

Oh for sure.

And Id love to see Bracco there too. He is not the best 5v5 player tho so the competition for that playmaking spot might go to either him or Timashov who is also a playmaker but more of a Nylander type who is better at 5v5. One of those two but I think Bracco has better chance overall. Bracco would not be a good fit on bottom-6 but top-6 and PP yes. It would be nice to show what he is capable of and if he doesnt succeed, there are others and there are trade options as well. Maybe Justin Williams wouldnt be signed but I wouldnt be betting on it thats why I didnt sign him to mine AGM. IF Marner is not there for a year it opens up a spot for competition.

If Marner doesn't sign it would be smart to bring back Gardiner if you could on a 1 year deal no..?
Reilly-Gards
Muzzin-Barrie
Dermott-Ceci

Seems like honestly a very good blueline to me

With the Leafs defence this year and no cap even with a signed Marner, I thought the Leafs would be a playoff race anyway. Without Marner (and Hyman and Dermot) missing the playoffs is good possibility.
Marner was outstanding as a PP RHD. Barrie was obtained to fill that need.
Leafs really can't spend the Marner cap money because they have can't spend it with possibility he will return by December 1. Maybe Gardiner and someone other UFA signs in December.
Marner doesn't win at all financially now or in the future by not signing an NHL contract this season.

If he isnt with Toronto I think him and Puljarjuvi should go bring a Liiga or SHL team to glory.

Also seeing him play in a Spengler Cup would be highly entertaining and worth the off start times.

It unfortunately looks like Marner will HAVE to be signed before the start of the season if he wants to play this year. The leafs don’t have the cap flexibility they did last year to Pro rate his contract like they could with Nylander. They would have to dump Ceci and maybe someone else to fit him in by Dec 1st. So they need to figure this out soon or the Zurich Lions look like they could walk their way to a Swiss league ship.

Dreger is probably the best hockey reporter on the planet. clean it up.

Id give that crown to Bob McKenzie, Elliotte Friedman and Pierre LeBrun, but Dreger is up there.

He would be signed before first game of the season imo.

I believe so as well, does Ferris have ownership in the Swiss league or something? IMO why wouldn't a player go play for CSKA or St Petersburg where they can make a lot more money and play with possibly other NHL talent.

bob mckenzie is on his farewell tour. He's retiring. Elliotte Friedman is a podcaster now in my opinion. Lebrun? noooooo. Dreger is the only guy that's out there getting high quality info in my opinion.

I don't think they will make the playoffs not trashing just honestly marner was a big part of that offense and was a great pk and florida has improve a ton

Lebrun has the freshest info from my experience. And McKenzie has the most contacts in the league, I spoke to Dreger in Kosice during Worlds this year and after few sentences of talking I asked him who has the most contacts in NHL and he immidiately said it to me like "oh boy, Bobby has the most".. but my four who I have notifications from are Dreger, Lebrun, Friedman (I still think he is insider) and McKenzie.

I think they would have no problems in playoffs. Marner is big part but not the most key part (you know what I mean)

I'm sure

McKenzie is definitely the goat, but I just think he’s definitely taking it easy on his retirement tour, and he’s earned that

Oh yeah. Give it a few trade deadlines and drafts and he will announce his retirement in one of those. He deserves it. That guy is amazing.

Oh...he already has. This is his last season

You think?

he's announced it.

I missed it! OH BOY! where? what?