Around the league 2019-20

[pbgoalie]

Somebody just posted this on the Leafs board. That town is going crazy over the team this year. Babs is the new RC of the NHL. I'm lovin' it!

Don't say that...Right now GMBM is thinking rehiring Babs could work!

 

[Kalv]

Barrie might be on his way out, the rumors are gaining a lot of traction. He`s well below his usual scoring pace and just got demoted to 3d pair. But this dude is a PP specialist and has scored at least 49 points in 4 of his last 5 seasons. Boy, we could use him.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

Barrie might be on his way out, the rumors are gaining a lot of traction. He`s well below his usual scoring pace and just got demoted to 3d pair. But this dude is a PP specialist and has scored at least 49 points in 4 of his last 5 seasons. Boy, we could use him.

No need giving up assets for a rental for this team. He won't sign here long term. Flames make a lot of sense. Hamonic for Barrie.

 

[Sojourn]

So very true. But I think they're warming up the tar and feathers right now for Babs, Dubas, and Shanny. In that order I think. Expectations for that team could not have been higher once all their future HOFers were signed.

But this was also predicted, as soon as they started shelling out that silly money. Before, even, because it was obvious their depth was a big strength for them and it couldn’t remain if they wanted to keep their top skill players.

They were setting themselves up to be top heavy, and putting themselves into a position where their top players, who still really hadn’t shown they could be consistent season-to-season, had to consistently be top players.

 

[bsu]

That Red Wing deal for Fabbri is lookin real good thus far

 

[duxfan1101]

Babcock canned. Happened way sooner than I was expecting.

 

[Terry Yake]

he shouldn't be out of a job for long

i think the devils will hire him

 

[Paul4587]

I really really hope the Leafs don't pull an 09 pens and right that ship. Got a dreadful feeling they will, hopefully Keefe isn't as good at the NHL as people claim he will be.

 

[dracom]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle hires Babcock

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle hires Babcock

He's the wrong guy for a new, probably young team.

 

[kducks]

he shouldn't be out of a job for long

i think the devils will hire him

Thinking Minny might give BB the boot.

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

I really really hope the Leafs don't pull an 09 pens and right that ship. Got a dreadful feeling they will, hopefully Keefe isn't as good at the NHL as people claim he will be.

Obviously it's hard to say. But I think Dubas is now under the gun. As a new GM he did a poor job of managing the cap and didn't really get along with his coach. As I mentioned earlier, some of their problems are roster related. So now the new to the NHL GM is getting a new to the NHL coach who is 100% his choice (yes, of course Shanny is on board). It's a tough spot for Keefe to come into. Maybe the team gets a bounce, but the basic problems are still there. Roster problems still exist. No depth at goal and a lot of guys not playing a 200 foot game including some of their very best players. Given how the core just smoked Dubas in negotiations I don't see them thinking they have to become better team players now. I guess time will tell.

 

[AngelDuck]

The leafs need to move Nylander, should have done it 2 years ago. They botched that badly. The Matthews contract isn’t bad, he’s a top flight C making what top flight Cs make these days. Too bad for them he wouldn’t take 8 years.

marner is overpaid but really good.

Overall they aren’t in as bad of shape as some would say. They need a shakeup tho

 

[Paul4587]

The leafs need to move Nylander, should have done it 2 years ago. They botched that badly. The Matthews contract isn’t bad, he’s a top flight C making what top flight Cs make these days. Too bad for them he wouldn’t take 8 years.

marner is overpaid but really good.

Overall they aren’t in as bad of shape as some would say. They need a shakeup tho

I would argue when you factor in term that Matthews contract is bad - McDavid is only earning $1M more than him, is signed for 3 more years and is a significantly better player. Eichel is maybe slightly worse but earns less over a longer term. When you slot Matthews into a top centre’s list he’s around the number 10 mark yet he’s getting paid the second most in the league. He’s getting paid to be the best of the best when in reality he’s short of that mark.

The Leafs definitely could have held out for a better deal but when you have a rookie GM negotiating contracts I guess you expect that.

The Leafs biggest problem though is the makeup of their D. They’ve got a very talented blueline in terms of skating and puck skills but at the end of the day you still need glue guys who can win net front battles and play on the Pk for you. Ceci on the first pairing is a disaster, Barrie is redundant without top PP time and Rielly has been a trainwreck in his own end this season.

 

[AngelDuck]

I would argue when you factor in term that Matthews contract is bad - McDavid is only earning $1M more than him, is signed for 3 more years and is a significantly better player. Eichel is maybe slightly worse but earns less over a longer term. When you slot Matthews into a top centre’s list he’s around the number 10 mark yet he’s getting paid the second most in the league. He’s getting paid to be the best of the best when in reality he’s short of that mark.

The Leafs definitely could have held out for a better deal but when you have a rookie GM negotiating contracts I guess you expect that.

The Leafs biggest problem though is the makeup of their D. They’ve got a very talented blueline in terms of skating and puck skills but at the end of the day you still need glue guys who can win net front battles and play on the Pk for you. Ceci on the first pairing is a disaster, Barrie is redundant without top PP time and Rielly has been a trainwreck in his own end this season.

Yes and if Mcdavid signed when Matthews did he would have gotten more. Way more. He foolishly signed early for some reason. MacKinnon is not even worth talking about

 

[Opak]

Speaking of recent coaching news, Paul MacLean was hired as an assistant by Columbus.

 

[Opak]

he shouldn't be out of a job for long

i think the devils will hire him

Would love to see a Babcock coached team bounce the Leafs out of the playoff picture.

 

[Paul4587]

Yes and if Mcdavid signed when Matthews did he would have gotten more. Way more. He foolishly signed early for some reason

Even if you look at percentage of the cap it’s not that different when factoring in year. Fact is Matthews is being paid like he’s the 2nd best in the league when he’s far from him. He’s closer to 15 than he is to 2.

 

[AngelDuck]

Even if you look at percentage of the cap it’s not that different when factoring in year. Fact is Matthews is being paid like he’s the 2nd best in the league when he’s far from him. He’s closer to 15 than he is to 2.

What 15 centers are better than him? The guy is a 45 goal 90 point player when healthy

I put

McDavid
Crosby
MacKinnon
Barkov
Bergeron
Draisaitl

above him

everyone else is either worse or highly debatable
I’m not trying to be a dick btw, I really do want to see what your list looks like

 

[Terry Yake]

cale makar is just something else

so much fun to watch

 

[duckaroosky]

cale makar is just something else

so much fun to watch

His name reminds me of a Star Trek villain.

 

[Paul4587]

What 15 centers are better than him? The guy is a 45 goal 90 point player when healthy

I put

McDavid
Crosby
MacKinnon
Barkov
Bergeron
Draisaitl

above him

everyone else is either worse or highly debatable
I’m not trying to be a dick btw, I really do want to see what your list looks like

Well he’s never put up or even paced for those points numbers so I don’t think he’s quite a 45/90 guy yet but this year he should be.

I actually said he’s closer to 15 than 2 not that he’s actually 15th. I think there are a load of guys in that 7-13 range that he fits into.

those who are adamantly better:
McDavid
Crosby
MacKinnon
Barkov
Draisaitl
Bergeron

those I think are better but not by much:
Stamkos
O’Reilly

Those in a similar range:
Kopitar (assuming last year was a fluke)
Pettersson
Tavares
Eichel
Malkin

I think he’s a top 5 offensive centre in the game but his play in his own end is what really lets him down, he’s completely unwilling to go into the dirty areas and pay attention to his responsibilities in his own zone. Every now and then he does and he’s dominant but it’s rarely ever.

 

[bsu]

Travis green is doing a great job in Vancouver still wish we hired him, he's developing their talent really well.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Would love to see a Babcock coached team bounce the Leafs out of the playoff picture.

Lol, would be a great storyline this spring if it were to happen

 

[Lord Flashheart]

That story with Babcock and Marner is true? That's next level bad.