2024-25 NHL THREAD.

[STEVEHOLT]

Marner really needs to move on - the likelihood of him being a “success” in Toronto going forward is low. I’m not sure what qualifies as “success” - but leading the team to a Finals appearance is probably the bare minimum.

The start of his career in Toronto he had to deal with a psychopath coach in Babcock. The likely end of his career in Toronto, he was getting booed by the Leafs fans when he touched the puck…honestly if I was him, I couldn’t get out of Toronto fast enough at this point.

He should go. Should have accepted the trade to Carolina . He didn’t have to sign there long term. Gotta love how in MLB it’s tough to get some players to sign with the Jays cause TO is considered some outpost yet in NHL it’s tough to get players to sign cause TO is too much of a hockey hot bed. I mean really .

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Tavares comes off the payroll this year too. He had a great season, but at 35 years of age Father Time is catching up to him. Sign him to a 3-4 year deal at a significant discount and free up some more cash.

Nobody signs for discounts there aside from the truly washed like Giordano and spezza .. Johnny Toronto coming of 38 goals isn’t that. Somehow other franchises can get stars to take slightly less than their “market value”. In TO they all get maxed out and NTC. At least with Dubas.

 

[Cusefan95]

He should go. Should have accepted the trade to Carolina . He didn’t have to sign there long term. Gotta love how in MLB it’s tough to get some players to sign with the Jays cause TO is considered some outpost yet in NHL it’s tough to get players to sign cause TO is too much of a hockey hot bed. I mean really .

Most people are not that bright, and the two things the average person understands the least is math and geography. Toronto is a peer city to LA and Chicago - it’s bizarre to me baseball players don’t want to play there. The weather is fine from April to September, and if you’re a baseball player having a winter house in the US wherever you want isn’t a big deal. The one kinda legitimate drawback is getting across the border is substantially more of a pain now than it was 25 years ago…even that is a weak reason.

My personal gripe is the steady expansion of the city - a site I’ve gone to for 20 years for work was in a pretty desolate area 20 years ago. Now it’s like driving in Brooklyn trying to get there from a hotel. But that speaks to a growing area, unlike most northern cities in the US.

 

[OburgOrange]

Marner really needs to move on - the likelihood of him being a “success” in Toronto going forward is low. I’m not sure what qualifies as “success” - but leading the team to a Finals appearance is probably the bare minimum.

The start of his career in Toronto he had to deal with a psychopath coach in Babcock. The likely end of his career in Toronto, he was getting booed by the Leafs fans when he touched the puck…honestly if I was him, I couldn’t get out of Toronto fast enough at this point.

So he should have accepted the trade. Marner does the honorable thing, and the Leafs get value in return. Instead, he walks and the Leafs get stiffed

 

[Cusefan95]

So he should have accepted the trade. Marner does the honorable thing, and the Leafs get value in return. Instead, he walks and the Leafs get stiffed

I suspect there is a lot more bad blood between Leafs management and Marner than either side publicly admitted, and his willingness to “do them a favor” was non-existent. And I don’t think honor has anything to do with it - breaking your contract terms would be dishonorable. Not agreeing to a team request that isn’t contractual isn’t.

Plus while it’s not great to get nothing in return, it’s very possible this is addition by subtraction and the team will be better (at least in the playoffs) next year anyway.

 

[OburgOrange]

I suspect there is a lot more bad blood between Leafs management and Marner than either side publicly admitted, and his willingness to “do them a favor” was non-existent. And I don’t think honor has anything to do with it - breaking your contract terms would be dishonorable. Not agreeing to a team request that isn’t contractual isn’t.

Plus while it’s not great to get nothing in return, it’s very possible this is addition by subtraction and the team will be better (at least in the playoffs) next year anyway.

Shades of Mats Sundin

 

[Cusefan95]

Carolina was completely overmatched last night; by the end of this series Toronto taking Florida to 7 games may look like an achievement.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Carolina was completely overmatched last night; by the end of this series Toronto taking Florida to 7 games may look like an achievement.

If they didn’t completely no show for 5/7. Stooge leafs were up 2 games to 0 AND had 2-0 and 3-1 leads in game 3. Woll sucked game 3 or they’d have won

 

[Cusefan95]

The Panthers are in the process of creating a major issue for the NHL. The hit by Luostarinen in Game 3 was an example - it’s a team that plays incredibly dirty and is willing to take major penalties because they get away with it 80% of the time. And it absolutely affects the way other teams play, because you know you’re playing a team which has absolutely no regard for player safety.

The NHL has to worry that the blueprint for winning a Cup is going to to cheap shot and try to injure your opponent since you’ll get away with it most of the time, so the rare times it’s called the penalty isn’t sufficient to make it worth stopping.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

The Panthers are in the process of creating a major issue for the NHL. The hit by Luostarinen in Game 3 was an example - it’s a team that plays incredibly dirty and is willing to take major penalties because they get away with it 80% of the time. And it absolutely affects the way other teams play, because you know you’re playing a team which has absolutely no regard for player safety.

The NHL has to worry that the blueprint for winning a Cup is going to to cheap shot and try to injure your opponent since you’ll get away with it most of the time, so the rare times it’s called the penalty isn’t sufficient to make it worth stopping.

I don’t get it. The NHL can just tell their officials to not let them get away with it. The NHL can impose stiff suspensions. This is what the NHL wants. They want to champion some stooge team from the Sun Belt as a dynasty because they know they have a captive audience in the Canadian team fans and most of the bigger northern and eastern markets ., but the elasticity of fandom in Florida requires constant reaffirmation. Add to that chicken players who don’t want to be accountable so they slink down to these markets where they can hide rather than face the music

 

[Cusefan95]

I’m wasting time reading the Devils and Canucks message boards about a possible Quinn Hughes trade. The fan ideas of workable trades are laughable…looking at the rosters I don’t see a trade that helps the Devils get better immediately while also helping the Canucks on a rebuild. I can’t see any way a trade between those teams will happen.

 

[tbonezone]

The Panthers are in the process of creating a major issue for the NHL. The hit by Luostarinen in Game 3 was an example - it’s a team that plays incredibly dirty and is willing to take major penalties because they get away with it 80% of the time. And it absolutely affects the way other teams play, because you know you’re playing a team which has absolutely no regard for player safety.

The NHL has to worry that the blueprint for winning a Cup is going to to cheap shot and try to injure your opponent since you’ll get away with it most of the time, so the rare times it’s called the penalty isn’t sufficient to make it worth stopping.

NHL shouldn't have to step in. teams are free to retaliate on ice . deliberately target marchand and barkov with cheap career ending shots. send the message if you're gonna dish it , well then take it.

 

[Cusefan95]

NHL shouldn't have to step in. teams are free to retaliate on ice . deliberately target marchand and barkov with cheap career ending shots. send the message if you're gonna dish it , well then take it.

So your solution is a Bertuzzi- Moore type incident that was a PR disaster for the league…just this time on a star player in the playoffs?

That’s possibly the worst idea anyone has knowingly and willfully posted on the message boards. Ever. That’s exactly why the NHL HAS TO step in - because that’s absolutely what they are headed for if they don’t, and it will be catastrophic for the league if it happens.

 

[tbonezone]

welcome to the jungle . listen . there's 2 ways you deal with bullies. one- you cry and go to the principal. two- punch them back in the mouth yourself . solution 2 tends to leave a more lasting impression.

 

[CanadianSU]

Hoping McDavid gets it

 

[OburgOrange]

Hoping McDavid gets it

He will look good in a leaf uniform

 

[tbonezone]

He will look good in a leaf uniform

jackie vee...still a goddess

 

[Cusefan95]

The first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals have been two amazing games. Can’t ask for more than we’ve gotten so far.

 

[OburgOrange]

Bennett is the greasiest player in the league. And it isn’t even close

 

[Cusefan95]

Bennett is the greasiest player in the league. And it isn’t even close

I’d argue Matt Tkachuk is close, but Bennett has really upped his game this year.

 

[Cusefan95]

I’m surprised how rattled the Oilers got by the early goal last night; they looked terrible. They may need to get the first goal in game 4…they looked like the pressure is getting to them a bit.

 

[Eric15]

Feels like the Stanley Cup will be once again returning to it's ancestral home... the suburban outskirts of Fort Lauderdale.

 

[jncuse]

The ultimate in pissy would be if Marner uses his NMC to block the Leafs from trading his negotiating rights for a 4th or 5th rounder.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

The ultimate in pissy would be if Marner uses his NMC to block the Leafs from trading his negotiating rights for a 4th or 5th rounder.

I hope he signs somewhere in the east so he can dominate in the regular season and then face us in the playoffs where he will tuck tail

 

[OburgOrange]

I hope he signs somewhere in the east so he can dominate in the regular season and then face us in the playoffs where he will tuck tail

Read a rumor that Carolina is going to take a run at him. If so, and he signs there, he better be on IR when they play in Toronto, after exercising his ntc when the Leafs wanted to trade him there for Ratanen.