Recalled/Assigned: @MapleLeafs have recalled Frederik Gauthier from Marlies Marner on IR

[PuckMagi]

4th line is so much better with the goat. I think the size of him and martin is tough to deal with... gives sosh a bit of room too.

ben smith really has no redeeming qualities.

 

[SprDaVE]

I wouldn't even be surprised if the Leafs waived Ben Smith at noon in preparation of sending him down when Marner is ready to come off the IR. They could do it tomorrow though.

EDIT: He's on the ice as the 13th forward, so I guess it won't be today.

 

[Walshy7]

I wouldn't even be surprised if the Leafs waived Ben Smith at noon in preparation of sending him down when Marner is ready to come off the IR. They could do it tomorrow though.

not a chance they haven't come this far to get smith expansion eligible just to waive and send him down now

he will draw back in when marner is back and the goat will go back to AHL, now after he gets to the number they wont waive him either in case someone claims him then they wont have a forward meeting the 40/70 criteria (we need 2)

 

[Warden of the North]

Yay GOAT is back

 

[WTFMAN99]

4th line has been bad since Smith came back.

 

[SprDaVE]

not a chance they haven't come this far to get smith expansion eligible just to waive and send him down now

he will draw back in when marner is back and the goat will go back to AHL, now after he gets to the number they wont waive him either in case someone claims him then they wont have a forward meeting the 40/70 criteria (we need 2)

Just watch.

 

[ULF_55]

Ben Smith needs 2 more games to be expansion eligible. You then sign him to a 1 year extension just under the cap amount to be able to send him to the Marlies next year.

So 2 more games of him being in the line up then move and hold him and Kalinin for expansion fodder.

Smith has to sign the contract.

He's UFA and since he's so valuable to Babcock, maybe he goes UFA for a big payday.

 

[Deebo]

Smith only playing to meet the 40/70 rule seems like speculation. It has been repeated so much on this board that it has been almost accepted as fact.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Ben Smith needs 2 more games to be expansion eligible. You then sign him to a 1 year extension just under the cap amount to be able to send him to the Marlies next year.

So 2 more games of him being in the line up then move and hold him and Kalinin for expansion fodder.

Kalinin isn't eligible for expansion for the same reason Zaitsev isn't available. My money is still on Smith getting put into a TDL deal. Perhaps based on pure optimism given Spaling was thrown into a deal last year despite being about as good and 4x as expensive on the cap.

Usually teams don't mind getting free cheap 4C throw ins as a part of larger deals (i.e. Hunwick/Polak).

 

[Walshy7]

Smith only playing to meet the 40/70 rule seems like speculation. It has been repeated so much on this board that it has been almost accepted as fact.

if he doesn't we need to expose bozak and komarov. you need 2 we have none as of right now

edit or martin

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

For what it's worth, Gauthier sat out yesterdays Marlies game due to 'personal reasons'. Might have been to keep him fresh for tonight.

They said for personal reasons, but it was really for personnel reasons.

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

if he doesn't we need to expose bozak and komarov. you need 2 we have none as of right now

edit or martin

Yeah Martin would be the first regular exposed for sure.

 

[Walshy7]

if smith isn't used as 40/70 here is a list of our only other eligible players

Kadri
JVR
Bozak
Komarov
Martin

pick 2 martin and???

 

[BertCorbeau]

if smith isn't used as 40/70 here is a list of our only other eligible players

Kadri
JVR
Bozak
Komarov
Martin

pick 2 martin and???

Leo if I were to guess. But I think this is a precursor to something else .. The Leafs have all that cap space and could acquire a bloated contract of a player who meets the 40/70 criteria via trade (with an asset).

I bet they acquire one before the deadline. Smith only needs 4 more games though, right? They could scatter those in over the remainder of the season.

Smith has been so bad that the Leafs couldn't wait any longer to not have him play

Welcome back Freddy

 

[Deebo]

if smith isn't used as 40/70 here is a list of our only other eligible players

Kadri
JVR
Bozak
Komarov
Martin

pick 2 martin and???

The player may not be on the team yet, they could take someone back in a deadline deal to meet the requirement.

 

[4thline]

Personally I think we would get the choice of either not using all of our protection slots or exposing an otherwise "exempt" player. Which as long as we get to choose isn't too terrible

 

[SprDaVE]

if smith isn't used as 40/70 here is a list of our only other eligible players

Kadri
JVR
Bozak
Komarov
Martin

pick 2 martin and???

The player may not be on the team yet, they could take someone back in a deadline deal to meet the requirement.

Bingo. Wild got their eligible goaltender to expose in Stalock, a journeyman AHLer.

We'll be fine.

 

[ShaneFalco]

More likely is that Gauthier will be a healthy scratch while Ben Smith continues to play.

Yup that would be my bet

 

[Deebo]

Yup that would be my bet

Gauthier is on a line with Martin and Soshnikov at the morning skate, so it looks like he will be playing tonight.

 

[Nooodles]

Smith only needs 4 more games though, right?

Capfriendly says 2

 

[a a ron]

If marner is out longer, leafs need to make a deal!

 

[SprDaVE]

If marner is out longer, leafs need to make a deal!

Why?

 

[ShaneFalco]

Gauthier is on a line with Martin and Soshnikov at the morning skate, so it looks like he will be playing tonight.

I hope so. Babs seems to have a 'thing' for Smith but maybe he can't ignore how bad he's been

 

[AINEC*]

If marner is out longer, leafs need to make a deal!

why?

 

[paulhiggins]

Exposing anyone we like that we could get assets for won't be done by this regime. When we lose somebody, it's because we want to lose them. This isn't Nonis running the team.