Speculation: Leafs rushed the rebuild

[Trapper]

Other than all these player friendly contracts that have been handed out recently the only mistakes this team has made was not trading JVR, Bozak, Leo at the deadline and Gards this past off season. Leafs would be flush with picks and prospects but now our depth is gonna suffer in the medium and long term.

Asset management can knock years off your team.

JVR walk
Gardiner walk
Kadri is he an own rental to walk?
Muzzin if he won’t re-sign that’s a 1st + Grundstrom

Doesn’t seem like much to people because it’s sneaky spread out but it adds up.
If you know you aren’t keeping guys due to Cap management, deal them for players that work in your Cap structure.

 

[613Leafer]

Rebuild wasn't at all rushed. We're by all accounts one of the deepest most talented teams in the NHL, and absolutely ready to compete for the Stanley Cup at the moment.

The RFA contracts have been bungled though, no doubt about it. Some combination of not getting these done early (e.g. Marner especially has had his value skyrocket since the summer), and bending during the Nylander negotiations - setting the standard that the Leafs WILL overpay and WILL set new market rates for RFAs.

 

[Wheels02]

I think some of you are
underestimating Nylander, Marner and Matthews. What if they really do end up being THAT good and they succeed expectations? What if we win a cup or two in the next few years or heck even this year? Get back to me in a few years and then complain if you want, but we are in a position to win in the foreseeable future.

The culture of the Toronto Maple Leafs has changed for the better. Remember if we lose some players it's OKAY. We are now a desirable place for guys IN THEIR PRIME to go.

We need some positivity here

 

[Spirit of 67]

Nylander signs above market value
Matthews signs above market value
Marner wants to get paid Matthews money

Why can't we have nice things?

You mean, why can't we appreciate the nice things we have?

 

[janesy12]

I knew they would.

They weren’t ready to add a huge UFA like Tavares. The timing they had to make a choice and I get it. I said at the time how much I hated the decision.

Here it is now proving to us all why it was the wrong one. Yes he’s a hell of player but he destroyed the cap structure on the team. Leafs should of re signed their core before going after Tavares.

That should of been priority number one not getting another high priced forward. It arguably took away 3 years of us being competitive. Can’t even imagine what the Marner contract will look like either. Fact is also Tavares was a luxury not a need at all.

Doubt Matthews contract looked like this if not for Tavares.

Reported asks for Marner 9X8 and Matthews 12.34*8 in the summer (although Matthews there was a lot of different insider opinions on what the number in the summer was but either way it was 8 years.)

Rushed it?
They've made the playoffs both years since drafting Matthews. They've added two 4th line centres. Then the best UFA perhaps of all time is available and WANTS to come to Toronto? An elite #1 C. There are teams begging to have one #1 centre and we have two.
What are you supposed to say? No Thanks John. Even though we're making the playoffs, we feel like if we sign you we may lose some grinders. Sorry.

 

[DarrenX]

Canucks fan here in peace. I'm shaking my head at this thread. You have too many good players? Gee, sounds terrible. We *wish* we had your problems.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Should this team win the cup. This board will get so many bumps of posts from people freaking out and spouting nonsense. Rushed the process lol.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

The rebuild was rushed for sure.

We have a tiny 5 year window with below average D and 1 LW. Non-contact wingers.

 

[Paradoc]

The rebuild was rushed for sure.

We have a tiny 5 year window with below average D and 1 LW. Non-contact wingers.

Below average d, what? Muzzin, Rielly and Gardiner alone would make this group at least average...

 

[DarrenX]

Kadri 09’ draft
Rielly 12’ draft - instead of Michael Dal Colle
Nylander 14’ draft - instead of Jake Virtanen
Marner 15’ draft - instead of Jesse Pularvi
Matthews 16’ draft - instead of RNH or Nail Yakupov
Tavares 18’ FA - instead of Loui Erickson for 6m

Yep. I've edited this to show all the things the Leafs *could* have done instead (players they could have picked/signed instead). The Leafs have made good decisions and have built a contender. This is what it looks like. Enjoy!

 

[Its not your fault]

I wish Travars who is not the highest paid player in the league went to San Jose who over in turn pays an extra 2 million for him. Making Matthews take a 12.5 million dollar deal. We still have no Muzzen or Travars.

 

[DarrenX]

The rebuild was rushed for sure.

We have a tiny 5 year window with below average D and 1 LW. Non-contact wingers.

Pittsburgh says hi. They won two recent cups with Letang and a bunch of scrubs on D.
A "five year window" sounds pretty nice to me.

 

[Paradoc]

Yep. I've edited this to show all the things the Leafs *could* have done instead (players they could have picked/signed instead). The Leafs have made good decisions and have built a contender. This is what it looks like. Enjoy!

That’s what good management does. I’m sure if they ever have cap issues they will find a way to get around it.

 

[Its not your fault]

Canucks fan here in peace. I'm shaking my head at this thread. You have too many good players? Gee, sounds terrible. We *wish* we had your problems.

Like what the heck right. We are embarrassing to read as a thread. So much negativity every possible scenario that could go wrong is going to go wrong for us so we have to get all up in arms when none of us have any idea what's going on. The sky's going to fall and people just want to be there to be like see I was right I guessed somthing like this would happen make me GM of a team I'm a real gud pro.

 

[mapleleafs34]

LOL, OP needs to get a grip, classic leafs nation

 

[Warden of the North]

Asset management can knock years off your team.

JVR walk
Gardiner walk
Kadri is he an own rental to walk?
Muzzin if he won’t re-sign that’s a 1st + Grundstrom

Doesn’t seem like much to people because it’s sneaky spread out but it adds up.
If you know you aren’t keeping guys due to Cap management, deal them for players that work in your Cap structure.

You need to take chances to win the Cup.

 

[GoonieFace]

You realize the old days of rebuilding doesnt work anymore right? You are basically looking at a 5-7 year window at best if everything falls in place.

People are going crazy up in here

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Below average d, what? Muzzin, Rielly and Gardiner alone would make this group at least average...

.... for a cup contender.
sure we have better D than edmonton

 

[gamer1035]

The only mistake was making dubas gm. Everything was going great until he ruined our future with the Nylander and Matthews deals.

Dubas was also the same idiot in charge of the Kessel deal, which everyone ignores

 

[Trapper]

You need to take chances to win the Cup.

Could of taken chances by moving these guys for something that could be cost effective helping you right now as well.

 

[Joey Hoser]

The rebuild was rushed for sure.

We have a tiny 5 year window with below average D and 1 LW. Non-contact wingers.

Below average D with Rielly, Gardiner, Muzzin, sitting top 5 in GA.


How on earth does anyone in their right mind try to say our defense isn't good enough? Complete nonsense. THEY'RE TOP 5!

 

[HamiltonNHL]

The only mistake was making dubas gm. Everything was going great until he ruined our future with the Nylander and Matthews deals.

Ruined isn't the word.
He overpaid so we have less player options going forward.
Our cup chances in the next 5 years go from 25% to 20%.

Dubas was also the same idiot in charge of the Kessel deal, which everyone ignores

We had to get rid of Kessel.
and we got Kapanen.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Man, we should have got lottery picks and rebuilt along the Edmonton model. We would still have to manage the cap, but at least we could look forward to the draft.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Below average D with Rielly, Gardiner, Muzzin, sitting top 5 in GA.


How on earth does anyone in their right mind try to say our defense isn't good enough? Complete nonsense. THEY'RE TOP 5!

I guess you are unaware of the goalie being the factor ?

Not to mention simple facts .... nothing matters but simple things like this:

1) Do we have a team to beat Boston ?
2) Do we have a team to beat Tampa Bay ?

Muzzin really helps with 1). 2 ?

 

[BlueForever75]

Some people are just crazy.

Our D right now is probably top 10 in the league how it sits today. This is not including some really good dmen in the AHL and throughout the system that are developing. Pair that with the teams offensive talent, there is no reason why this team cannot compete for a Stanley Cup over the next 5 years. Also keep in mind that we still have some offensive pieces in the minors that are developing and will be NHL caliber bottom six forwards in the next year or two.

To say we rushed is inexcusable. Stupidest thread I have seen on these boards in a long time.

We currently sit in the top 5 in the NHL how we are built. That isn't rushing a rebuild when you still have the 3rd youngest team in the NHL and are still top 5.

Give your heads a shake people.