02 Mar 2018 01:52:03
Hoping for a good play off run, but not overly optimistic with the current lineup. A first round upset of the bruins would be nice. Looking ahead to next season;

At the draft: Gardiner, Lievo to Vegas for Lindberg, 2020 1st, 2018 4th(Canucks)

After July first bonus payout:
Martin for a 2019 6th to NYI or Habs

UFA targets:

John Tavares(C): 9.5Mx 6Y
Jan Rutta(RHD): 4.0x 6Y

RFA: Nylander: 5.5Mx8Y
Carrick: 1.0Mx2Y

Hyman - Mathews - Nylander
Johnsson - Tavares - Brown
Marleau - Kadri - Marner
Grundstrom - Lindberg - Kapanen

Rielly - Rutta
Dermott - Hainsey
Borgman - Zaitsev

1.) 02 Mar 2018
02 Mar 2018 13:40:55
I like Rutta as an RHD target, should the buds miss out on Carlson. I would hope for shorter term though, as Zaitsev's contract so far serves as a bit of a warning regarding 1st year players coming over from the European leagues. Lou was smart to give Borgman and Rosen 2 year deals this time, hopefully he does the same with Ozhiganov.

2.) 02 Mar 2018
02 Mar 2018 13:49:54
Why would beating the Bruins be an upset?

3.) 02 Mar 2018
02 Mar 2018 15:39:26
Marsbars

Rutta maybe a short term answer leafs really need to find a diamond in the rough. I'm not worried as much about zaitsev as I am Gardiner.

gardiner put up points but you can't hide his mistakes and giveaways

Leafs need a airtight right hand shot defencemen

Where that guy is who knows.

4.) 02 Mar 2018
02 Mar 2018 17:52:11
@Spider, I like your draft/ UFA targets for the 2018-19 starting line up, as its very similar to my earlier suggestion post. Jan Rutta would be a nice pick up for the buds as he would be much cheaper - albeit youthful commodity to have on the d-core. The Leafs could go even higher with Tavares and sign him to a $10.75M if they can keep Nylander's contract to $4.75-5M. But then again if it was an 8-year contract that would be a steal for the Leafs.

Side Note: I am sure that Habs fans would love to get a player like Tavares. Yet, I don't see why he would actually want to go to a team that has taken such big steps backwards while the Leafs are making modest steps forward. I mean if the Leafs advance to the second round of the playoffs that to me shows sustainable progress. And if I was JT, that's the type of team I would want to sign with to get closer to a cup.

5.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 00:09:06
Just a little background on Rutta as being a first year, undrafted player information is a little sketchy.
He is a 27 year old Czech player that has been developing in the Czech league the past 4 years, so not really a youngster. Late developing RHD so just entering his prime. Has had a good first NHL season playing mostly with Seabrook so he is getting top pairing, unsheltered minutes.
He is 6'3", 200 lbs., skates well (quick more then fast), has good vision and moves the puck well. Showed that his offensive skills translates to the NHL in his first NHL season (6G, 13A) and a positive +/ - and CF%. He is a RHD that shoots right but has played the left side in a pinch. Big bodied but not overly aggressive, but doesn't back down either.
IMO a good partner for Rielly and can probably be had for a reasonable price, UFA coming off a ELC. Maybe 4M per on a 4-6 year deal. Hawks can't match as they have no cap space.

6.) 03 Mar 2018
03 Mar 2018 03:54:22
I donâ€™t see the Leafs throwing so much cash at Tavares. We need a depth center, not a star center. What we need most is a star defenseman. None of the Leafs defensemen are stars. Even Liljegren, with all his potential is probably going to be at best a top 4 player that can go up and down between first and second line.

Rutta is a good plug until Liljegren is ready to play full time for the Leafs. If we dump Gardiner, bringing in someone like Rutta makes some sense.

Like Iâ€™ve said a thousand times, if Leafs want to be contenders, they should be looking hard at Karlsson or Doughty. The same money you suggest paying Tavares would be better spent on a true number one star defenseman.