Eastern Conference First Round: (2) Boston Bruins vs (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

[blayze]

I think this has been the dilemma the last couple offfseasons. You weren't trading Matthews and Tavares (NMC, contract, value) and Nylander and Marner are wings who have the least value positionally and then add in Marner's NMC. People yell "split up the core" but the reality has been it was probably the best move to just hope they could figure it out in the playoffs as opposed to making some trade they'd likely lose just to change up the mix. Plus, except for the Montreal series they've played close series against very talented teams. There's a lot of blame to go around starting with the core's playoff performance, Dubas's team construction and contracts, and Treliving having a poor first season and making the team worse than last season.

This is pretty much it. There's been no viable moves for them. Too many high priced forwards locked down to huge LT contracts. Nylander and Rielly have always been the 2 moveable pieces because they are on good contracts.

Going back on all the big moves in recent years, I firmly believe it was the signing of JT that ****ed our future. Between AM/MM/WN we had ample young firepower. But instead we got caught up in the JT sweepstakes fever and mortaged our future for an old declining asset.

[2014olympicgold]

This ain't Jr hockey. Isn't that what Nylander yelled at Marner on the bench the other night? LOL!

Demanding a trade vs asking for things to change around you, which one is more likely for the guy who just extended? Didn't say I was expecting to see either.

[blayze]

This ain't Jr hockey. Isn't that what Nylander yelled at Marner on the bench the other night? LOL!

His exact quote was "Stop ****ing crying bro, this ain't Juniors". To be fair, Marner does ALWAYS look like he's crying...

[2014olympicgold]

His exact quote was "Stop ****ing crying bro, this ain't Juniors". To be fair, Marner does ALWAYS look like he's crying...

And it's known how much Marner talks about Junior.

Nylander was mic'd up on Saturday. I hope that audio gets leaked.

[blayze]

And it's known how much Marner talks about Junior.

Nylander was mic'd up on Saturday. I hope that audio gets leaked.

After seeing AM34 tear shit up with Bertuzzi and Domi at the end of the season I'm convinced trading Marner wouldn't be as big of a loss as many people think

[2014olympicgold]

After seeing AM34 tear shit up with Bertuzzi and Domi at the end of the season I'm convinced trading Marner wouldn't be as big of a loss as many people think

I think they would just need to alter their approach on the PK. No one else in their top 6 was good at the PK and Marner is + at it. Then their bottom 6 is limited in their PK ability. Then the PP. Marner and Nylander are typically big on the PP entries as JT and Matthews don't have the speed+hands+passing typically, but that thing is a huge mess in general. They are far to stagnant and slow at moving the puck around.

[rataylor22]

The only piece of the core that's moving would be Marner and it's if management goes to him and both sides agree that it's time to move on. Then you start looking at a trade where an extension is involved. Then the return is diminished because of this all.

Then it's finding a roster that has that space, the pieces, and where Marner wants to go. You'll get an Eichel level of return maybe. Which was an NHL player (Tuch), a prospect (Krebs), Conditional 1st, Conditional 2nd. That's what you would be looking at for a return for Marner. Then you would likely then need to flip those pieces for NHL players to help them in their window.

Leafs are in a tough position...unless they back the Brinks truck up for Cooper.

I think you will get less than that.

[2014olympicgold]

I think you will get less than that.

There will be more suitors hypothetically because Marner isn't dealing with an injury that he wants to treat his way.

Anyways though, Matthews skated this morning, but left when the optional skate with everyone started.

Looks like Woll is the starter too.

[2014olympicgold]

Sounds like Matthews is missing tonights game due to an illness.

[Chuk]

I firmly believe it was the signing of JT that ****ed our future. Between AM/MM/WN we had ample young firepower. But instead we got caught up in the JT sweepstakes fever and mortgaged our future for an old declining asset.

Besides AM's big game 2, I think JT may have been the most noticeable of the big 4 this series (on the ice). I agree he is the a declining asset, but I think he has shown up and been a good leader, stoically going about his business.
Faceoffs, PP goal, physical, net front presence, 18 minutes a night, 14 SOG...

Besides, did we all think it would be 6 years, post the JT signing still talking about getting out of teh first round???? Remind me who scored the winner to actually win our ONLY first round series in %$#%#&^#%teen years?

[blayze]

Besides AM's big game 2, I think JT may have been the most noticeable of the big 4 this series (on the ice). I agree he is the a declining asset, but I think he has shown up and been a good leader, stoically going about his business.
Faceoffs, PP goal, physical, net front presence, 18 minutes a night, 14 SOG...

Besides, did we all think it would be 6 years, post the JT signing still talking about getting out of teh first round???? Remind me who scored the winner to actually win our ONLY first round series in %$#%#&^#%teen years?

I'm not saying JT has been a massive disappointment (just a minor one). He got paid and joined his childhood team - good for him. It's management's fault for mortgaging our future on the wrong pieces.

[rataylor22]

Besides AM's big game 2, I think JT may have been the most noticeable of the big 4 this series (on the ice). I agree he is the a declining asset, but I think he has shown up and been a good leader, stoically going about his business.
Faceoffs, PP goal, physical, net front presence, 18 minutes a night, 14 SOG...

Besides, did we all think it would be 6 years, post the JT signing still talking about getting out of teh first round???? Remind me who scored the winner to actually win our ONLY first round series in %$#%#&^#%teen years?

The Tavares signing completely blew apart their entire cap. Can't pay your 2C more than your stud 1st OV 1C. Which led to the Marner overpay. Impossible for anyone to know for sure, but I firmly believe the Matthews and Marner contracts look completely different without the Tavares signing.

[Axeman33]

I'd like to say no Matthews tonight so I like the Bruins to close it out but it's not like Matthews has been effective anyway. Maybe, who ever they insert into the line up in his place will actually do something.

[Invictus]

Usually play a more team game without him. Bertuzzi can be a finisher.

[rataylor22]

I'd like to say no Matthews tonight so I like the Bruins to close it out but it's not like Matthews has been effective anyway. Maybe, who ever they insert into the line up in his place will actually do something.

The only game the Leafs won this series was almost exclusively because of Matthews performance.