11 Jul 2018 20:31:31
Leafs send: Leivo and Gardiner, 2019 1st
to The Wild for: Spurgeon and Zucker, 2019 2nd

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander

Johnsson- Tavares - Marner

Zucker - Kadri - Kapanen

Ennis - Marleau - Brown

Morgan - Spurgeon
Dermott - Zaitsev
Borgman - Hainsey


1.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 01:13:12
So first you’re going to completely rip Minnesota off, then you’re going to put Zucker on the third line behind Hyman and Johnsson? And Marleau is our 4th line center?

There is so much wrong here. At minimum, I’m just glad you’re not the coach.


2.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 08:21:32
@LeafsGM
Minny lacks some cap space and Dumba is getting a raise and so will zucker. So they actually save some cap space because Zucker should get close to 4 mil per season.

And, so the way I see it, Yes I slide Johnsson on the second line where I feel he can skate with Marner, gain zones and drive back D while JT comes in a little later giving Marner some options.

And sure, Zucker could be in that spot too but I decided to slap him on the third line to boost the goal scoring more. Remember we are a 1-2-3- punch forward motion team.

I also realise that Kadri's line use to take on number one lines.

This year I give that to Matthews line, and it becomes a learning curve for them, while the JT line gets to see weaker opponents, then, . Next year I throw the JT line out on the first line, give Matthews line a break while he gets paid and now feels the competition from 2nd tier lines.

Marleau gets to sit back a bit, get paid stay healthy in case of injuries while we let some piss and vinegar take over.

haha, Glad you are not the one that hired me to be the coach cause if you do not see my light, I'd have to leave you in the dark.

( to be totally honest however) I can just sit back and enjoy this team as is with no trades and enjoy the ride. Probably the same as you and many others.


3.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 16:19:20
You’re paying all these guys big bucks to “sit back and get paid”? These guys get paid to play, and play hard.

I understand what you are trying to do is roll three scoring lines, sure, but Johnsson has less than 20 NHL games played, and you want to put him on Tavares line and expect him to produce?

The 4th line is shutdown line and defense first, and sees limited ice time. Marleau has spent the last several years (I don’t know how many exactly) playing as a scoring winger and makes $6.25M a year. It’s definitely not the right position to be slotting him into.

I like the addition of Spurgeon for a couple years. He’s a little smallish for my liking, but it’s hard to argue against results, and Spurgeon has played excellent hockey since coming into NHL. I think Zucker is a good choice as well, having had a career year last year in Minny, he will be looking for a big pay raise, though $4M is probably a little low estimate here. Targeting Minny because of their cap situation is a good choice, but I really don’t see Minny taking this offer. They can find cap relief some other way I’m sure. At minimal, another team can make them a better offer.


4.) 12 Jul 2018
12 Jul 2018 17:32:40
Zucker/ Matthews/ Nylander
Marleau/ Tavares/ Marner
Johnsson/ Kadri/ Kapanen
Hyman/ Lindholm/ Brown

Reilly/ Spurgeon
Dermott/ Zaitsev
Hainsey/ Carrick
*Ozhiganov
(Sandin/ Liljegren)

I think these lineups make a lot more sense. Now you can roll three scoring lines and a very effective fourth line with offensive potential as well.

I moved Hainsey over to LHD, and inserted Carrick and Ozhiganov over Borgman because of experience factor.


5.) 13 Jul 2018
13 Jul 2018 01:00:26
I would prefer to have Skinner over Zucker but Jared Spurgeon would be a great add to the Leafs defense.