The Official LEAFS NATION Hockey thread

[Doc Holliday]

Arizona is reportedly interested in Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas to replace the since fired Don Maloney. The 30-year old Dubas aspires to one day become an NHL GM. He's currently being groomed to replace current GM Lou Lamoriello once he retires. Arizona will need the Leafs' permission in order to interview Dubas.

 

[Doc Holliday]

First of all, great signings by Lou Lamoriello yesterday when he re-signed Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri to six-year extensions. Let me add 'cap-friendly' six-year extensions.

Next up is to sign highly-touted Russian defenceman Nikita Zaitsev in a few weeks, and possibly Hobey Baker award winner Jimmy Vesey. And once the lottery pick order is known on April 30th, the Leafs will find out if they'll be drafting either Auston Matthews, Patrick Laine or his countryman Jesse Puljujarvi. Former Sens assistant coach Andre Tourigny said yesterday that rumours that some teams would draft either Laine or Puljujarvi ahead of Matthews doesn't surprise him. He saw them play last year as juniors and pointed out that they were phenomenal hockey players in their own right.

But if the Leafs wind up chosing Auston Matthews in late June, and sign free agent Steven Stamkos, they'll be loaded up at center and something will have to give. If it happens according to plan, they'll have at center: Stamkos, Matthews, Bozak, Kadri, William Nylander, Leo Komarov, Peter Holland, Collin Greening, Byron Froese and Brooks Laich. I expect a few of those players to be traded and others will play the wing.

 

[Sol Tee Nutz]

sign free agent Steven Stamkos,

Just read recently that due to the taxes up here Stamkos would probably not sign unless his rate would go up, Ontario has a 53% income tax rate for high income earners, not sure if he can stay where he is living and claim US tax rates but it would suck to earn 6 mil and take home less than 3, and I know accountants can do amazing things but still.

 

[smuler]

He will be a NJ Devil next year Sol

Best Regards
Smuler

 

[lgna69xxx]

Stamkos would likely get an offer in the 9-10million dollar (per season) range from the Leafs if they indeed do persue him. He would make up for what he would be "losing" because of income tax in Ontario with the plethora of endorsements he would be offered as the native son coming home to fullfill his boyhood dream of playing for the Leafs, not too mention he would be named Captain as well and play for a coach who will get the most out of him night after night, something Jon Cooper has failed to do consistently and who Stamkos has been rumored to not care all that much for.

Just read recently that due to the taxes up here Stamkos would probably not sign unless his rate would go up, Ontario has a 53% income tax rate for high income earners, not sure if he can stay where he is living and claim US tax rates but it would suck to earn 6 mil and take home less than 3, and I know accountants can do amazing things but still.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Just read recently that due to the taxes up here Stamkos would probably not sign unless his rate would go up, Ontario has a 53% income tax rate for high income earners, not sure if he can stay where he is living and claim US tax rates but it would suck to earn 6 mil and take home less than 3, and I know accountants can do amazing things but still.

A few months ago i heard a discussion about this. There are ways to somewhat circumvent this if you have a smart accountant & financial adviser. I won't get into details since it's complicated. But Stamkos could also make it up with endorsements in hockey-mad Toronto & Canada.

But the main reason why he will possibly wind up in Toronto is that from the day he was drafted, he had Toronto circled on his agenda. He's always dreamed of playing for his hometown team and money doesn't seem to be too much of a concern for him.

I have a friend who knows some of his family members and they've been telling him for the past two years that 'Stevie' will be playing for Toronto in 2016.

By the way, great hockey games in the playoffs so far. Tonight's games were all gems. Nice to see the Islanders and Sharks come up with exciting wins. Same thing for the Capitals, whom i've picked as my Stanley Cup winner.

 

[november]

If the Leafs win the draft lottery and sign Stamkos in the summer, look out. Plus they have prospects who are ready to play in the NHL. They will be the most improved team in the league and compete for the playoffs next year. I would like to see that happen.

 

[Doc Holliday]

If the Leafs win the draft lottery and sign Stamkos in the summer, look out. Plus they have prospects who are ready to play in the NHL. They will be the most improved team in the league and compete for the playoffs next year. I would like to see that happen.

I agree with you. Lou Lamoriello recently said that he still expects a lot of hurting next season. My guess is that he doesn't want to have fans expectations' too high and if they do happen to make the playoffs, then it would be a nice surprise.

The Leafs were actually very competitive this season. The standings actually don't reflect how they were actually performing. They rarely got outplayed and lost many games by a single goal. Their bad start in October doomed them. And when last place was in doubt, they'd often play Garret Sparks instead of Jonathan Bernier, who played great in the past couple of months. A few months ago, the Leafs were actually one of the hottest teams in hockey!

There is a lot of parity in the NHL. The other day, i was listening to NHL Radio and it was mentioned that had the Senators won one more game each month, they would have been in the playoffs. Look at Boston and Detroit. They both finished tied in the standings. Yet because of a technicality, the Red Wings once again squeaked into the playoffs, while the Bruins were sent packing.

Stamkos or not, i'm extremely optimistic for next season and the ones to follow. I'm also optimistic even if they don't win the draft lottery. In the past few days i've been hearing that more & more scouts (and former coaches) say that were it their choice, they'd pick one of the two Finns over Auston Matthews, who has been compared by many to Jack Eichel. Patrick Laine is more of a pure scorer with a great shot....i've heard a comparison to Alex Ovechkin. Puljujarvi has been described as bigger and more of a playmaker, but in any other season also a bonafide #1 pick.

Plus i hope that Kyle Dubas doesn't wind up in Arizona and stays home where he belongs to eventually become Lou Lamoriello's successor.

 

[gohabsgo]

The standings actually don't reflect how they were actually performing. .

Good point - but not just this season, but for the last 10 seasons as well. oh btw, how has Toronto done in the standings over the last 10 years? Oh yeah, here it is ...


2005–06 Did not qualify
2006–07 Did not qualify
2007–08 Did not qualify
2008–09 Did not qualify
2009–10 Did not qualify
2010–11 Did not qualify
2011–12 Did not qualify
2012–13[shortened season] First round epic choke and fail
2013–14 Did not qualify
2014–15 Did not qualify
2015–16 Did not qualify

 

[lgna69xxx]

Once again Doc, you were right, took a little time this time but you were right again! :lol:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Once again Doc, you were right, took a little time this time but you were right again! :lol:

I know, and so were you, mon ami!!! I love it!!!! :nod:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Are the Toronto Maple Leafs plotting an offer sheet?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Mitch Marner was named the OHL's Most Valuable Player. That's two future Leafs winning that award over the past three seasons. Two years ago, Connor Brown (now with the Marlies) won it. Last season, it was Connor MacDavid.

The Leafs have an extremely bright future! :nod:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Ron MacLean believes Leafs will chase Steven Stamkos

Ron MacLean “definitely” sees the Toronto Maple Leafs taking a run at Steven Stamkos this summer.

The Hockey Night in Canada icon explained to Dean Blundell & Co. Monday morning why a Stamkos homecoming makes sense for the Maple Leafs, especially now that they’ve secured the first-overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Some free agents don’t want the scrutiny that comes with playing for such a hockey-mad, media-rich metropolis. Stamkos, MacLean, argues, is not one of those players.

“That’s the big thing. When you bring guys into Toronto — the city, the pressure, the temptations, all the things that go with Toronto — you got to be ready. And Stamkos is the one guy I would trust to be ready,” MacLean said on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.

“He’s like [Sidney] Crosby. On and off the ice, he’s incredibly disciplined. I would definitely go get him.”

Stamkos, 26, led the Tampa Bay Lightning with 36 goals this season but has yet to participate in the playoffs. Recovering from a blood clot, the captain is back skating but hasn’t participated in a full-contact practise. He is hopeful to return for the conference final, just as the Bolts remain hopeful to re-sign the superstar.

MacLean sees a parallel between Stamkos and presumptive No. 1 draft pick Auston Matthews and Lee Fogolin and a young Wayne Gretzky in the early 1980s. You need an established leader to set an example for a young prodigy.

Not until the Great One had four full NHL seasons under his belt did he assume the C from the veteran Fogolin.

“They’re going to get Matthews, but they’re going to need someone to show Auston the way,” said MacLean.

With his tireless work ethic, sterling off-ice reputation and insatiable desire to win, Stamkos is what the kids call “a Mike Babcock type of player.” If the Leafs do pitch Stamkos on a long-term contract come July 1, surely Babcock will be front and centre in the recruitment process, as he was with last summer’s free agents.

“The only thing that’s interesting is that Stamkos didn’t get to play for Mike in the two Olympics,” MacLean said, “so I don’t know how well he knows Steve Stamkos, but I guarantee he’s the kind of guy he’ll go after.”

 

[lgna69xxx]

Great article MISTER Holliday! I agree with Ron M. One place we know for sure he is not going is detroit, make that 2 places, no way in H E Double hockey sticks will he end up in the dump in Newark either (sorry Smuler) :nono:

 

[Doc Holliday]

Great article MISTER Holliday! I agree with Ron M. One place we know for sure he is not going is detroit, make that 2 places, no way in H E Double hockey sticks will he end up in the dump in Newark either (sorry Smuler) :nono:

Definitely not Detroit, Montreal or Newark. Probably Toronto, maybe Tampa again. We'll see.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine? There is no debate

No. 1 centres like Auston Matthews are rare and the Leafs won't pass up their chance to take him no matter how well Patrik Laine plays at the world championships.

Kevin McGran, Toronto Star

It seems absurd that anyone could forward the notion that Monday's U.S.A.-Finland game the world championships was a battle between American Auston Matthews and Finland's Patrick Laine for the top spot in the draft.

Really? Throw out years of scouting to base a decision on the result of a round-robin game?

Yet, some appeared to take the debate seriously.

There is no debate. The Maple Leafs have the first pick overall. It would be the shocker of all shockers if they did not draft Matthews.

First off, the idea is to take to the best talent available. That's Matthews.

Secondly, consider the position: Franchise centres, stud defencemen and No. 1 goalies are the three rarest commodities.

Goalies are high-risk picks in the first round, and none appear to be in the top-10 conversation this year.

Stud defencemen can also have issues, if only they typically need some time to develop in comparison to forward.

Centres -- like Matthews -- provide a great deal of instant gratification, but also typically provide years of high-end service. They typically make the players around them better. (Ask yourself if Tyler Bozak or Nazem Kadri ever made the players on their wing better. Then remember what Mats Sundin did with Jonas Hoglund.)

Scoring wingers -- like Laine -- are available later in the draft. Maybe not as elite a talent as his, but, really, in the grand scheme of things, you might be talking a difference between five and 10 goals a year.

Let's fast forward two or three years, and presume everyone is reaching their full potential: Would you rather have Matthews with James van Riemsdyk? Or Laine with Kadri?

Don't overthink it.

The Maple Leafs haven't had a true No. 1 centre since Sundin left. They're not going to pass up on an opportunity like this now, even if Laine has a tournament to end all tournaments.

And don't get too caught up in the various "trade down" scenarios. They're fun to talk about, sure. But if the Leafs traded away that No. 1 pick, that would send the wrong message. They'd be setting themselves up to be endless collectors of young talent. They'd condemn the team to an extra year at the bottom, an extra year of collecting high draft picks.

Ownership has been patient, but wants results. They want a name to sell jerseys. They want their ratings back. They want the playoffs. They want Matthews, too.

 

[smuler]

On another side note Doc has agreed with me after conferring with me at the party, that there is a possibility that Stamkos may end up in Newark after all

Best Regards
Smuler

 

[Doc Holliday]

On another side note Doc has agreed with me after conferring with me at the party, that there is a possibility that Stamkos may end up in Newark after all.

Sure, anything is possible. Like one day, i could marry Rihanna.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Laine or Matthews with the 1st pick?