Leafs talk 2

10 Jul 2026 04:57:44
So with Chayka's axe falling on so many employees today and some good ones. I am starting to raise a few eyebrows and seeing what some others saw and talked about when he was first hired. He had a reputation of being a big sneaky which has been already documented. But I thought it was very nasty that he fired Mark Leach who is a bit of a legend in scouting. He had huge input in Detroit drafting some crazy good players and there was a reason Jim Nill took him to Dallas when he left Detroit and his track record there to find and push players on management was crazy good there as well. This year was a no brainer with the First pick, but he drafted extremely well through the rest of the draft from all accounts of very knowledgeable hockey industry people.

Last year was his first year at the Table heading things up for the Leafs. They didn't have a first rounder and only had 6 total picks. Yet he managed to nab Koblar, Hopkins and Nansi with 3 of them. They were with McKenna and Danford, and Holinka the top 6 players at the Development camp. From all accounts Hayley Wickenheiser ran a Great Camp. So the draft is done, the camp is done. "Great job Mark and Hayley... Oh by the way you're fired." Good message to send to all your young prospects.

10 Jul 2026 22:34:49
It’s a business suffering
I think having 78 staff members with s***ty results for year’s tells you something?
I know where I have worked for 24 years now the boss is my age and a good owner but he has made some real tough decisions over time
Is he a jerk?
Perception is he is
But he is also successful at the business
He is very fair and generous in profit sharing and raises et al but is also very results oriented

Bottom line
We have waited years for Leafs success
This Chayka has done a crapload in a short time
I say what’s another two years shaved off my life waiting for that cup?
lol
Just my opinion
I respect yours as well.

10 Jul 2026 23:17:58
I understand some of the firings, some strike me as nepotism.

I would have kept Wickenheiser and Leach. I really liked what they brought.

Whether anyone wants to admit this or not, the Leafs have drafted quite well for the limited picks they have and also developed as well as can be expected without any A prospects.

I know it's easy to say nobody comes through the system, but they don't have any picks.

That has nothing to do with the people that are being let go, it's on the GM's/Shanny.

Knies was not a high pick, but I'm told he's worth more than anyone on this team. Where did that come from? Good drafting and development.

Amirov is the one unknown and that was just a sad story that I don't blame anyone for. As much as I do enjoy crapping on Dubas.

11 Jul 2026 16:46:01
Yeah the Amirov situation was extremely sad.

10 Jul 2026 01:11:14
Honestly, this roster is starting to grow on me. But the big disappointment for me (not Chayka's fault) is trading McMann for a 2nd. Can you imagine a 3rd line next year of McMann, Paul Sissons? Then we wouldn’t have picked up Roslovic (bad pick up IMO) and we move off Lorentz and cap is good. I’m kind of looking forward to seeing MacEwen play too. He didn’t play much last year at all but if he is healthy he can create some energy with some big hits and even though not a great fighter, he will take on anyone.

He was a sniper in the O so he has decent hands but I don’t think he ever really gets much ice time anywhere he plays.
At the start of this summer I was all for moving Reilly, but maybe with a lot of pressure taken off him with Raddysh here, he becomes that 60 point Reilly again at least get some confidence back. Tanev being healthy is gonna be the make or break for the back end, guy has no fear but hopefully in a couple years Danford can fill that void. Looking forward to the start of the season.

10 Jul 2026 04:01:11
I imagine McMann's regression is fairly severe in the coming years.

I really liked the player, but he is not a 30g scorer and that's what Utah paid him to be.

Let them have him at that price as a 30yo.

The one that got away will always be Marchment for Malgin.

I don't remember a single Leafs fan that though Dubas made a good decision with that trade. That was as asinine a move as I have ever seen a GM make.

Would loved to have signed Marchment this off season.

10 Jul 2026 19:47:50
I thought Bobby re-signed with Seattle?

12 Jul 2026 21:50:48
5.5M is what a 30 goal scorer gets? Maybe a few seasons ago. I’d take Bobby at 5.5M all day.

07 Jul 2026 22:42:48
Daniel Alfredsson a Toronto Maple Leaf!!

😂🤣😂🤣

This will give me soooo much ammo to my extended family that lives in Ottawa

😂🤣😂🤣

Let the 💩 talking begin

😂🤣😂🤣

07 Jul 2026 22:40:19
Over there they are not as upset that Alfie left but Chayka Promoted/signed Gruden so Ottawa would not grab him when Aflfredsson was Signed. It sounds like even Gruden was not aware of this move.

Ottawa would have hired him in a heartbeat to replace Alfie. He and Staios and Andlauer have history together when they had the Hamilton Bulldogs and won the OHL and went to the Memorial Cup in 2028.

07 Jul 2026 23:53:30
Did Steve Sullivan get let go as well?

08 Jul 2026 01:20:29
It’s weird they didn’t say he was part of the staff but also never said he was let go.

08 Jul 2026 09:24:50
The bench now is Sullivan, Alfredsson, Hiller and Gruden. Personally I think it’s a mistake to let go of Lalonde. Our PK was the only thing that was good last year.

08 Jul 2026 10:29:07
The bench doesn't include Sullivan. Maybe he coaches the Marlies, who knows what his future is with the Leafs.

@Goat
A couple years ago the Leafs finished 1st in the Atlantic, but underlining stats were not good. They rode the coattails of elite goaltending.
I think it's the same sort of thing with the PK. They ranked high, but their underlining stats were not good. They punched above their weight class.

08 Jul 2026 10:32:12
Whether you like Dangle or not, this put a smile to my face.

02 Jul 2026 03:34:41
I feel ill!
Could it possibly be have been any worse?
What a waste of $20 million in cap space.

02 Jul 2026 11:51:52
@wb49 Pretty early to be down on a roster that hasn’t taken the ice. Did they overpay a few guys? Sure, but with such a weak free agency class that’s was always gonna happen. I guess we wait and see because this roster is clearly not finalized.

02 Jul 2026 16:15:01
@waterbuffalo49 You and I are in the minority on the site on grading it, I think. Maybe I am wrong on things. I just see everyone slotting Roslovic right onto the 1st line. I think if people look deep they will see his whole career he has played 3rd line minutes.

That is pretty much who he is; he is joining his 6th team since the start of the 2019 season. That should speak a bit. Who knows, maybe he will have a 40 goal season and then get a crazy extension contract and then fade away again.

02 Jul 2026 17:21:39
@Suffering No, I didn't like most moves.

Nic Paul is probably the highlight for me, but Hildebeast being traded really sucks. You goalie that was stellar with a horrible team in front of him so we can have Bob at 38yo for 7.

Roslovic has been talked about a lot since last year.

He reminds me of Nylander with less talent. He literally just gives up trying whenever he doesn't feel like it and it could be 4 months at times.

Other than Raddysh, I don't see anything coming in that is better than went out by a large margin.

02 Jul 2026 20:58:36
Not to mention his trades were awful. Woll trade was a joke. Robertson for a 4th? Why didn’t we just keep him?

03 Jul 2026 18:20:26
It looks a bit better than what it was, I guess, but a lot of that has to do with Cowan going into his 2nd year, drafting McKenna and getting Raddysh. I'm not a Roslovic fan. They basically decided to keep Stecher over Benoit. No real improvement there. Andrae is supposed to be a great puck mover and help offence, but his AHL game has not translated to the NHL. Not yet anyway. If Tanev is out all season again, is the D really any better? As a whole group, forwards, D, even goalies were pretty awful last year for big stretches. Start of last year, Leafs had McMann, Laughton and Roy.

Now it's Paul, Blueger and Roslovic. Duhaime adds some needed physicality and toughness, but none of this matters unless most guys have better years and the guys that have come have better seasons than the guys who left had last season. Which for some on last year's team, shouldn't be hard.
It reminds me of a couple years ago when Tre brought in Tanev, Lorentz, Patches, Hakanpaa, OEL, Dewar and Knies and Minten were the new young guys expected to take a bigger leap. It was all how a lot of holes were filled etc. Marner may be gone, but it's still the same other core 4. We'll see.

04 Jul 2026 15:55:27
Point shot on PP instead of 35 mph wrist shot.
Solid Dman and point producer.
👍

Added grit and PK for the bottom 6.
👍

Added solid goalie. 👍

More mobile defenders. 👍

Roslovic with Paul and Cowan is a solid 3rd Line. 👍

Such negativity.


What did you want?
Keep all that 🗑️ from last year?
Do nothing?
Or why didn’t we get McDavid in a trade?

Refreshing there is an obvious plan and it’s being executed.

Never saw an ounce of this from that deadbeat Treliving.

04 Jul 2026 18:29:48
It's all subjective LukeFox, but it really isn't that much different than what Treliving did 2 years ago imo. And they had Marner still. Gotta questions some of your 👍🏻
Solid goalie? He's 38 and coming off a down year. And he gave him 3 years at $7M. If he can't find his form, that will be a brutal contract as it is an over 35 contract.
You got Roslovic and Paul on the 3rd line, so who is the other 1st or 2nd line RW then? Nylander is one obviously, but no top 6 winger is a pretty big hole.
He got lucky by getting the number 1 pick and got to draft the other top 6 left winger. Otherwise, Leafs would still have two top 6 winger spots to fill.


Raddysh was a good move.
Andrae to date is a 3rd pair D and doesn't drive much offence.
Rielly is still here which is a cap issue atm.
Leafs are in cap trouble if they can't trade Rielly. Even with Domi's LTIR, if McKenna reaches all bonuses, they will be over the cap end of season. If Domi can play, they are massively over the cap as is. If he does move Rielly, which he needs to, Leafs 3rd pair is Stecher and Andrae. Pretty small 3rd pair.
$4.25M for what looks like the 4th line C (Scissons)

It's an ok off-season so far. Hardly a homerun.

04 Jul 2026 22:17:41
Get a grip.
Let’s keep all we had and run it back as in backwards.
Of course Rielly is going, I don’t think I needed to mention that.
It’s only July.
You all think puck drop is tomorrow night.
Seriously. 🙄

05 Jul 2026 16:12:54
I have a grip on reality. You?

02 Jul 2026 02:22:04
Saw that Porter Martone went to the Flyers Development camp. He was not required at all to go. He wanted to. That is the future Captain of the Flyers right there. Showing Leadership right away in the organization. Cole Beaudoin Utah said had those same kind of qualities in his Combine interviews. He is going to be a good addition to the Rangers in the future and could possibly end up as a captain there someday himself.

Those are the kind of players you want to draft and identify those qualities early. Coaches and players that have been around Ben Danford say the same thing regarding him. That is why I hope they don't trade him away. I really think he could be the new Leader of this team in a few years.

02 Jul 2026 00:17:57
So obviously the Team that totally dominated the Draft and the Free agent and early trade season has been San Jose. But man I'll tell you. Everyone thought the Rangers were done, but they have managed to sneak under the radar. The only roster asset of any note they gave up was Trochek and then they gave up draft picks but they have managed to Draft Smits, trade and sign as Free agents Marcus Petterson, Sean Durzi, Bjorkstand, Veleno, Dorofeyev, and Cole Beaudouin who is going to be a stud.

And managed to get a backup goalie with Korpisalo. Combined with their remaining Roster, they actually have a good looking team.

01 Jul 2026 21:51:17
Long post following as a semi analysis. Curious on others thoughts at the end of it.

So.... I am seeing I am not the only person underwhelmed with out returns today. We now have a Wealth of 3rd (Mostly 4th) liners. Sissons, Blueger are not exactly speed demons, Duhaime can fly, Roslovic in a straight line is fast but he is not exactly agile and won't make anyone lose a jockstrap.

Roslovic can be a 20 maybe 25 goal scorer with the right line, but is a total defensive liability so may need protecting on the right line. Sissons,Blueger and Duhaime between them last year got 19 goals in 193 games.

Nick Paul had a down year as he rebounded from off season Wrist Surgery so we will see how he bounces back and if he can get 40 points again he will be a positive add to the 3rd line. My son in law says when he was in Ottawa you could see he would eventually be a player that could put meaningful points up, but he said "When Nick Paul is on the Ice, everyone knows and they keep their head up. He can hit hard and hits clean and doesn't take bad penalties."

Bobrovsky might have 1 or 1 and a half years left in him, so the Term was good on that. And I think he will be comfortable with Stolarz there, but also we know with his age and Stolarz problems A.A will get probably 20 games in this year and Bob won't be a bad tutor to have. Just wish we could have got him at $5m but that would not have happened.

So out of all of those Paul might be the one hidden gem for us in that Trade for Hildeby and the picks. I don't like that he still has a 16 team no trade list but... his contract is not a huge one if he produces. The others.... well I think most of the signings today will either not be at training camp or could be waived or traded as the season starts. Not one has any movement or trade protection and none have contracts longer than 2 years other than Duhaime at 3 years.

My feeling is that we acquired all these players to have some spare parts tp trade some of them in package deals?

If trading some in packages is not the plan.....then looking at the players and looking at the length of contracts and the fact we are now maxed out on Cap.... are Matthews and Nylander looking and saying "You lied to us.... this team is not serious about contending, time to move me out" Is this the start of a rebuild and are these are just rental players while the rebuild begins?

01 Jul 2026 23:34:50
In my opinion the Leafs got better all round, but was it enough to make the playoffs?

02 Jul 2026 00:06:53
I respect your opinion but I don’t see how stocking up our 4 line to ridiculous extremes makes us stronger all around. To me the only very serviceable skater we got was Nick Paul. Roslovic is very unreliable. Bobby McMann could be streaky and go in spurts. Roslovic has a reputation of literally almost gone missing for months not games.

My point is one thing we have needed since last September and we still have not addressed is a high or soon to be e high calibre centreman.

We kept throwing out Knies name in trades for Werenski when we should have been concentrating on a bigger need and that is is get that Centre so we can have JT move to 3rd line to ease his minutes and to give us a stronger 3rd line. Right now we are a team that has a 1st line and a 2nd line and a 4a and a 4b line we are lacking a true productive 3rd line.

02 Jul 2026 00:15:09
Love your passion 👊

02 Jul 2026 00:56:09
I like that they got role players. Not like previous years where they put Maccelli on the 3rd line. I wanted Anders Lee real bad but they were happy getting these mid players, we didn’t really get much tougher either. McEwen probably won’t see any games with the big club so what’s the point of that? Guys will at least have a role next year.

02 Jul 2026 11:57:03
@clarky The league isn’t about toughness. It’s about building a 4 line team. Carolina just won the cup with literally no fighters; he was in the press box. You need guys that can play physical but also not be a total liability. I think the Leafs did ok here.

02 Jul 2026 14:41:17
I wish we offer sheeted Hayton.

02 Jul 2026 16:19:56
You don't see many offer sheets anymore but Sunny Mehta did it out of spite. Apparently Utah had a trade done with New Jersey for someone or some draft capital and backed out at the last minute. So Mehta decided to offer sheet and screw Utah over. If they don't match he gets Hayton, if Utah does match it hurts their cap but because Hayton would be entering his last year before becoming a UFA they can't trade him during that year after resigning him from an offer sheet match.

So if they match they have him for another year and he can walk at the end of it. It will be interesting to watch what happens.

01 Jul 2026 21:50:29
Woah Chayka has cooked boys.

01 Jul 2026 19:43:41
Chayka is still making it hard for me to like him after the Bobrovsky deal.
He hopefully knows something we don’t!
Got some scoring with Roslovic and two blue-collar PK experts with grit and compete skill sets but limited offence.
Too much money for Sissons especially when you see Mikheyev’s deal with TBL.

01 Jul 2026 20:18:27
Agree. Bob is about to be 38, and had a poor season, not a fan.

Sissons is fine, but too much money for sure.

Roslovic is also fine.

Hildeby trade looks like one that haunts us for years.

01 Jul 2026 15:02:26
Just stop writing KINGmatty!

01 Jul 2026 20:05:19
Dude!!!! You’re miss reading post or mixing up post and making a fool out of yourself 🤐.
Please read again when you sober up 🍺🤪.

Happy Canada my friend 🇨🇦🍺🤪.

01 Jul 2026 00:19:31
Just ran into a guy I haven't seen in a couple of years that lives in Owen Sound. We got talking hockey (Of course lol). He said one prospect we have that flys uner the radar is Harry Nansi. He has watched him for the last 3 years in Owen Sound. He said when he first got there he was like 6' and 160 lbs and now he is 6' 3" almost 190. His development this year he said was insane.

He was dominant on his shifts. I didn't realie until he told me that Nansi was drafted 5th last year but he was pretty much the youngest player drafted. If he had been born 5 dsys later he would not have even been in last years draft, he would be in this years. Just nice to know again that we may have a hidden nugget in the system.

01 Jul 2026 00:08:39
Nice Suffering. He has looked good the times I seen him, plays more mature then his age. Problem with Toronto at least up until now, the players on the brink never really get a fair shake.

01 Jul 2026 20:37:31
I love feel good stories. Hope the kid pans out 🤞.