Just a bad mix that couldn't survive Tavares going down.
Biggest issues for the off season
- If there is a trade out there for Mitch Marner, explore it. Vancouver is a clown show that has some nice pieces up front that might make sense. Calgary has the goof and the goof + + might make sense, Eichel might make some sense (Hey Jack, wanna play wing?). Maybe in another world where the playoffs was officiated legitimately, Mitch could be the guy that it makes sense to pay 11 million to, but I think we've arrived at the time where we can say that he's not Patrick Kane, so let's stop treating him like he is. If there's no trade out there for him, so be it, give him another chance to grow into this, but you have to at least explore it
- Hyman, if he doesn't price himself out, needs to be re signed. I have to reiterate an old gripe though...keep him the **** off of Matthews' wing. He can't fucking pass. Why are you playing someone on Matty's wing who cannot under any circumstance get him the puck in a shooting situation?
- Stop fucking about with the goalie position. I like Jack, I'm pulling for him. Played way better than any of us hoped for. Swing for the fences on Driedger please. Goalies are voodoo and he's showing small sample voodoo that vezina winners use.
- Spezza is welcome back as long as he wants. He's still an impact guy in that role incredibly.
- Kerfoot played great in the playoffs, but he doesn't bring enough to justify the salary imo. Just hasn't been a good enough 3C for us.
- The blueline, amazingly considering our recent history, needs nothing. Rasmus and Timmy are ready for a real opportunity, if Bogo will come back as a mentor #6/7, bring him back. But we have to play these two. There's a lot of upside here. The top 4 is excellent. The best I've seen as a Leaf fan. You could look for a Holl upgrade, but at 2 million with 2 more years left on it, where are you going to find a serviceable #4 for that?
- I'm good with bringing back old boys on the cheap, but they have to be able to skate. We absolutely lost the plot somewhere bringing in these mediocre and worse skaters because of leadership and long pants. Can we go back to being the fastest team in the league please? It's entirely possible to be hard on the puck, hard to play against, while being of average size or larger, strong and most importantly, fast.