Quoting: yikes
Floating some thoughts about the
I agree with Dangle (and most majority) that the Leafs need a change. And if it’s coaching then the Leafs will fail. This ain’t all on Keefe. (BABCOCK WAS RIGHT?)
The band needs to be broken up or given some new blood and new lines. I personally think the Kawhi type deal needs to happen but let’s look at a lesser trade.
There
aren’t many teams in the league right now looking for a shake up. Arizona wants futures, not a shakeup (what Toronto needs), can’t really deal with any Atlantic team, and a lot of the west is kinda set in stone. Except for the Sharks. Not just discussing them because they’re my team. Grier seems up for anything to improve the future of the team. So here’s a “smaller” trade that’s still noticeable and impactful. Not quite Kawhi sized.
Reimer (50%) (arguably the Sharks best player behind EK65)
Barabanov makes his return (arguably the other Sharks best player right now behind Karlsson)
For
Knies
SDA
Matt Murray
Kerfoot
Add some change to Leafs end IMO
I see it as; Knies + Murray for Barabanov (seems weak for the Sharks) but Knies is highly touted skater. As to why I said the Leafs need to some change. Reimer (50%) for SDA and Kerfoot, seems weak for the Sharks again but again why I said the Leafs should add some change. The Sharks downgrade the NHL but improve their AHL/ Prospect pool while the Leafs heavily improve their NHL squad.
Barabanov never shows quit and neither does Reimer. The Leafs need guys who never quit speak through their play. These two do that. Kerfoot just doesn’t fit with the Leafs despite him playing well, and Murray was a bad move day one.
You could look at it like; Kerfoot + SDA for Barabanov and Knies + Murray for Reimer and it doesn’t really change my thought that the Leafs need to add some change. But I think if the Leafs want to make any notable trades there aren’t many teams they can look to that aren’t the Sharks. San Jose is the only team that seems up for anything right now. The only issue is they don’t have a TOP4Right Handed RD. Unless we wanna talk EK65 lmao but that’s never going to happen (too much money involved). Unless we’re talking Marner for EK65 50% 😉😉😉 lol.
But seriously I do think the Leafs are going to have to call Grier at some point and see if there’s anything that can be worked out. The Leafs need cap movement and roster shake up. The Sharks can accommodate both. I see Arizona and Chicago as other suitors but I don’t think Chychrun or Toews are the plays. Kane88 works but again that’s a lot of money being moved around.
IMO this is not a move that makes any real sense, as a Leaf fan I'd rather just trade a depth piece to get Magnus Hellberg from OTT once Talbot is healthy which looks soon cause no chance Hellberg clears waivers. I do agree they need a backup, Kallgren is not an NHL goalie.
The Leafs SHOULD have made their big 'core changing move" after the MTL series. It has been evident for a while they lack a killer instinct, it's the same issues year after year:
-playing down to their opponent
-not starting on time
-trying to outscore their problems
-committing to injury prone players
-lack of depth after the core 4
And the one guy you could trade, Nylander, is the only guy that actually shows up consistently in the playoffs. There is just too much that should have happened in the offseason that was so predictable:
-Not moving Muzzin (I don't want to hear it, if McDonagh could be traded so can Muzzin, even if it cost using a pick or asset he should have been moved)
-Bringing in another injury prone goalie where now we have to rely on our third stringer (who is not very good) to hold the fort, getting Murray was a mistake.
-I've taken heat for this one too but of all the guys they have let go in FA, bringing back Rielly was a mistake. For all the offence he brings he gives it all back defensively.
-Keeping Engvall/Kerfoot was a mistake (both a excellent defensively but bring nothing on offence and when the core 4 is struggling, you need better depth)
For me I really hope it's only a minor trade right now but Keefe and Dubas are a team, firing the coach is not going to solve this roster construction. Let them sink or swim and let the cards fall. If they fail, you blow it all up. New coach, new GM at the end of the season and pray to Jebus Matthews stays. If not, it's rebuild time.
Quoting: yikes
Yeah but I would ask why didn’t he work in Toronto?
Didn’t he play a majority in the bottom 6? I can’t recall.
I mean he’s only ever played top 6 with some 3rd line in SJS and his production and on ice play speak for themselves. He wouldn’t be returning to the Leafs as a hypothetical top6 forward (which was a prospect basically with the Leafs). He’d be returning with 50 points in 99 nhl games (1 point in 13 with the Leafs). If he reduce that to 49 in 86 that’s nearly a 0.60 for a 2.5m winger.
I understand your rational completely but the Leafs have moved on from multiple players that seem to be what the Leafs need but “didn’t work” when they were with us.
It’s just odd y’know. Like Bunting is working out; but the Leafs could really use Hyman, Barabanov, Moore and whatever instead of Engvall and Holl.
Edit: looked it up.
Barabanovs most common line mates in Toronto were:
Boyd, Engvall, Simmonds, Spezza, Brooks and Nylander Kerfoot a few times. So I’d argue Barabanov wasn’t used correctly in Toronto.
Yes, Keefe never gave Baranbanov a legit look, those mins went to Jumbo Joe and Vanilla Vesey.