[Signing] Shawn Matthias by TOR

[2014olympicgold]

Can you say 30th overall this coming season?? Ouch!!

I’m fine with a bottom 5 finish as a leaf fan. Add another top prospect to the list. Marner, Nylander, Kapanen, Brown, Finn, Rielly, and another player would be awesome.

[Big Ev]

I’m fine with a bottom 5 finish as a leaf fan. Add another top prospect to the list. Marner, Nylander, Kapanen, Brown, Finn, Rielly, and another player would be awesome.

They need a big centre in a big way

[2014olympicgold]

They need a big centre in a big way

Knowing them tho they’ll draft Keller (5’9”), DeBrincat (5’7”), or Steel (5’11”)

[Big Ev]

Knowing them tho they’ll draft Keller (5’9”), DeBrincat (5’7”), or Steel (5’11”)

Who the hell are any of those guys lol.

[2014olympicgold]

Who the hell are any of those guys lol.

PLAYER	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	TP	PIM
Auston Matthews (C)	U.S. National U18 Team	USDP	60	55	61	116	30
Alex DeBrincat (C)	Erie Otters	OHL	68	51	53	104	73
Matthew Tkachuk (LW)	U.S. National U18 Team	USDP	65	38	58	96	119
Julien Gauthier (RW)	Val-d'Or Foreurs	QMJHL	68	38	35	73	46
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup (F)	Selects Hockey Academy 16U	USPHL 16U	23	40	19	59	8
Clayton Keller (C)	U.S. National U17 Team	USDP	45	25	34	59	24
Sam Steel (C)	Regina Pats	WHL	61	17	37	54	16
Kieffer Bellows (C)	Sioux Falls Stampede	USHL	58	33	19	52	78
Riley Tufte (LW)	Blaine High	USHS	24	23	28	51	30
Brett Howden (C)	Moose Jaw Warriors	WHL	68	22	24	46	24

some possible top prospects in 2016

[JagrBomb]

could be the next santorelli or the next booth, but it's a one year deal, so who cares. yes it's a little pricey but i'd rather 2.3/1 year than 1.5/2 year.

leafs are just signing guys with reasonable upside that they can flip at the deadline if they produce. first parenteau, now matthias, wouldnt be surprised to see a few more. great for FAs as they will get ice time to produce that they wouldnt on most other teams. great for the leafs as it's an easy way to gain a free draft pick, worst case they are off the books in a year.

leafs are going to tank hard for matthews next year. i dont see them "beating" the coyotes but i wouldnt be surprised if their target was Chychrun, their D is pretty weak.

[Jouko-Pouko]

Does this spell the end of a center on the leafs roster? Bozak, Kadri, Holland, Matthias, and Arcobello. Bailey and Leo are centers too.
JvR-Bozak-Lupul
Komarov-Kadri-Panik
Booth-Matthias-Parenteau
Winnik-Arcobello-Sill

Holland, Nylander, Brown, Bailey, Marner, Gauthier, Kapanen, Leivo and Leipsic are all “push for spots” guys.

My guess would be:
JVR-Kadri-Parenteau
Lupul-Bozak-Hyman
Matthias-Holland-Komarov
Winnik-Spaling-Panik

Acrobello as healthy scratch, Casey Bailey in the minors.

Matthias and Spaling could easily swap places, and Holland could be easily demoted to 4th line. Booth is UFA, and there's no point in having Parenteau on the bottom-6. It's top-6 or nothing for him. He's one of the most talented players on that roster right now. Rumor has it that Hyman was demanding an NHL spot next season, so I'm guessing the Leafs are willing to give him that. If he isn't ready to play top-6 minutes, then he's probably willing to go to the AHL. If that happens, then I guess Soshnikov gets the next chance on that 2nd line. If he fails, then they might try Bailey or Nylander. So that one spot is reserved for rookies, they're not going to keep too many of them playing at the same time.

[audiopile]

Off the top of my head; Recent X-Canuck FAs the Leafs signed the year after:

Booth
Santorelli
Raymond
Wellwood
Matthias

[2014olympicgold]

Off the top of my head; Recent X-Canuck FAs the Leafs signed the year after:

Booth
Santorelli
Raymond
Wellwood
Matthias

Wellwood was drafted by the Leafs then went to the Canucks I think.

[Loch]

On an unrelated note... it still the 1st week of free agency and we are at two pages for a 1yr deal featuring Shawn Mattias? Come on NHL, that is brutal.

[audiopile]

Wellwood was drafted by the Leafs then went to the Canucks I think.

Doh. You're right. I thought he went back to the Leafs after, but was the Sharks/Jets.

[havanablast21]

Can you say 30th overall this coming season?? Ouch!!

That cry of "OUCH" will turn into cheers of joy if 29th/30th lands them 1st overall NEXT year. Add that to the current simmering pot of young up and commers and this could be just the remedy Leaf's land has been yearning for.

[Zorro]

I’m fine with a bottom 5 finish as a leaf fan. Add another top prospect to the list. Marner, Nylander, Kapanen, Brown, Finn, Rielly, and another player would be awesome.

I'm not trying to be rude or poke fun, but who are Brown and Finn??

[Chuk]

Can you say 30th overall this coming season?? Ouch!!

And that is the best possible outcome for everyone involved. 29th would be bad, anything higher is a FAIL.

Let the pain begin.

[smack]

I'm not trying to be rude or poke fun, but who are Brown and Finn??

Brown had 60+ point in the AHL as a 20 year old last year. Small guy, not expecting too much but there's hope, and Finn projects to be a decent 3rd pairing guy with outside shot at a #4 guy. Again, you know you never know with prospects but Brown looked pretty good last year.