2025-26 NHL Season

[jncuse]

Mariner was just taking a page out of the Mats Sundin playbook

The Muskoka Five!

I don't remember anything similar for such a large number of players since then. Guys have waived no trade clauses at the deadline in their last year. But those guys all refused.

Although I do believe at the time some were overstating what the Leafs could get for a pending 37 year old free agent in Sundn. They would have been able to get a late first and a few other goodies, but it wasn't going to be the multiple assets some thought they were going to get. Trading him would have help the franchise but wasn't going to alter it massively either.

Sundin was good that year - but I'm thinking returns like Flyers and Bruins got for Giroux and Marchand in recent years might have been his value. A first between #20-#30 and second rounder.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I think Buffalo and Montreal have more talent than the Bruins, particularly on the back end. I think Boston will eventually fall on the outside looking in. And they will have the leafs #1 pick and Frasor Minten to show for the corpse of 6-5” soft as charmin Brandon Carlo

Nah. They weren’t booing him because he left the leafs. He was booed because he still has the leafs stink on him.

 

[upperdeck]

Habs took over the Sabre's arena Sat night. Lower bowl was 75% red. Buffalo fans had a hard time drowning out the Ole Ole and lets go Habs cheers. I imagine the STH sold those tickets in the fall thinking they would not be competitive and no way to turn back that clock now.

We bought our tickets Xmas break for under $70 and they were 2-3x times that in the upperdeck for the game. Sold out and fun game.

Going thru the food I can't believe SU can't get some of those options in the Dome.

The Beef on Wick and the Walking Tacos were good and don't require special grills. Multiple Ice cream stations. Pizza that was hot. Dogs that were grilled hot and fresh rolls.

SU cant get a sandwhich station
Milk Shakes
Chill cheese burgers

sabres food items

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Time is a bit on their side for a Matthews deal as he is signed through the end of the 2028 season -- and no need to tank as they don't have picks.

He has not been at a "superstar level" in 2025 and especially in 2026. Do you wait for him to bounce back to try to get more value next year?

He also has a superstar price tag at $13.5 million, but has not played as a superstar for the last 2 years. (although that is becoming less "high" as the cap goes up). Another reason to wait for a year perhaps.

That being said if his 2027 is like his 2026, the allure of his elite seasons from 2022 and 2024 will be even further away and his value goes down.

I think the Leafs should be open to trading anybody. I'm not sure, but I'd imagine he has a no trade clause as well that will hurt his return. Marner really screwed the Leafs with his.

I don’t think you trade Matthews to tank. You make a legit , good hockey trade. You trade him to get multiple pieces that will usher in a new era. You don’t trade him necessarily at the deadline but in the offseason when as many teams as possible can get in the mix. You try and get back a combination of picks, prospects , and young current roster players. You get more back for him if you trade him with more years left on his deal. As far as the no trade, there are plenty of places he will agree to go to in order to get out of the fishbowl.

 

[OburgOrange]

I don’t think you trade Matthews to tank. You make a legit , good hockey trade. You trade him to get multiple pieces that will usher in a new era. You don’t trade him necessarily at the deadline but in the offseason when as many teams as possible can get in the mix. You try and get back a combination of picks, prospects , and young current roster players. You get more back for him if you trade him with more years left on his deal. As far as the no trade, there are plenty of places he will agree to go to in order to get out of the fishbowl.

Apparently he wants to stay. I read it on the internet

 

[tbonezone]

islanders / penguins tonite on MAX. 2 and 3 in the metro.

 

[jncuse]

Apparently he wants to stay. I read it on the internet

It was reported by Elliott Friedman, who is pretty credible.

But things can always change quickly over an offseason, especially if they miss the playoffs.

The value on the NTC guys always depends on how many teams they are willing to move to. If they give you only one option, you get some value but your cents on the dollar is reduced significatly,

 

[jncuse]

I don’t think you trade Matthews to tank. You make a legit , good hockey trade. You trade him to get multiple pieces that will usher in a new era. You don’t trade him necessarily at the deadline but in the offseason when as many teams as possible can get in the mix. You try and get back a combination of picks, prospects , and young current roster players. You get more back for him if you trade him with more years left on his deal. As far as the no trade, there are plenty of places he will agree to go to in order to get out of the fishbowl.

Agreed that its done to get the best trade possible which involves young players and picks.

But the side benefit of the sedeal is that your team will tend to regress a bit for a few years when you do the sale of established players, which will help with your draft pick # in those years. For the Leafs that is not a consideration for a few years.