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That seems like a pretty f***in' stupid thing to do.

I'm not for the Vanek signing, but I really dont see it as a big deal. Signings like the Nielsen signing, or even the Abby & Helm signings, those are signs that they are not thinking re-build. Contracts for mid tier players that are 1 or 2 years don't stop a re-build. Bernier was 3 years, but I think is so they have someone somewhat decent once the inevitable Howard trade takes place. I think Holland wants to be competitive up to the deadline, then sell and hope to do well in the lottery, opposed to being a team that is way out of it from the first month. Again, not necessarily my approach, but nothing to get worked up about. I'm sure a lot of this is coming from Illitch as well. Selling tickets does matter, and regardless of whether or not myself/posters here think this will matter, I think the perception of ownership is that it will. Either way, I'm sure come deadline time we sell Howard, Nyquist, Vanek, Jensen, possibly Frk and IF he wants one more shot Konrwall for picks. To me, today isnt a good day or a bad day in our re-build, its just a day.

As much as I'd love this to be a bad thing for the Leafs, it's not. And unfortunately, no matter how hard you try, there's no way to spin this signing into a negative. They won't need to lose two of Matthews, Marner, Nylander. They'll likely lose one (my guess would be Nylander), and that will be in a trade for a top 3 defenseman. As much as I hate it, the Leafs are putting together a power-house team. Will it bring them a Cup? Time will tell, but I certainly hope not. They have one of, if not the best top 9 forward groups in the league. I don't see any team having any better center depth than Tavares, Matthews, Kadri, whoever. Their defense is bad now, but Rielly is a legit top pair defenseman and Dermott looks like he could be as well in couple years time. Gardiner is a legit top 4 defenseman. Then they have two promising prospects with top 4 potential in Liljegren and Sandin. That's all in house. They will also likely have that trade chip in Nylander to acquire a legit top pair defenseman to pair with Rielly. I f***ing hate it, but the Leafs are going to be a damn good team for the next decade, and the Tavares signing solidified that.

So they prolly had dirty dishes then.

Detroit Red Wings: all Swedish, no finish.

Did this last year, might as well again... Jordan Sambrook - 2016 5th round pick. To seemingly everyone's surprise (including my own) he went unsigned and re-entered the draft in 2018. He went un-drafted this time around. Mattias Janmark - 34 points and 19 goals this past season with Dallas. Played 2nd line duties. IMO he will probably end up a solid 3rd line point getter in the NHL. Currently RFA. Tomas Jurco - 10 points in under 30 games played for Chicago this past season. Hawks did not submit a qualifying offer and he's now a UFA. Probably done in the NHL. I bet Detroit doesn't seem so boring now... Xavier Ouellet - Asked for a trade to get a fresh start elsewhere. Bought out. Signed a two-way deal with Montreal (shocked). Even with the buyout money, he'll be making less this year than he would have had he stayed with Detroit for another season. Wonder if he regrets that... Ryan Sproul - 5 points and minus 6 for NYR in 16 games this past season. Rags did not submit a qualifying offer and he is now a UFA. Probably finished at the NHL level. Matt Puempel (who we got for him) was qualified by Detroit and is currently our RFA waiting on a deal. Brendan Smith - Really rough start this past season. Entered Rags camp fat and out of shape. Was waived to their AHL affiliate and went unclaimed. He rejoined the team later in the season. Played the bottom pair and ended the season with 8 points in 44 games. I was a bit surprised that NYR did not buy him out before FA... but it looks like they will not need the cap space as they are rebuilding now. No point in adding a long buyout to the books. Kyle ******* Quincey - Played 18 games for Minny this past season. In all likely hood done at the NHL level. Current UFA. Teemu Pulkkinen - Played zero NHL games this past season, but (per usual) had another great year in the AHL. Vegas has qualified him and he's currently their unsigned RFA. IMO he'll probably never make an impact at the NHL level. Tomas Nosek - Played his first full season in Vegas on their 4th line and PK. Seemed to fit right into their system as a reliable defensive forward. Scored 15 pts. He is currently an unsigned RFA for Vegas. Calle Jarnkrok - 35 points in 68 games for Nashville this year playing 2nd and 3rd line minutes. Mitch Callahan - No NHL games played. 9 points in 45 games played in the AHL this year. A dramatic drop off from his time as a Griffin. He had an alcohol abuse problem in Grand Rapids... looks like the move to the Oilers didn't sober him up at all. Probably no hockey future in North America. Petr Mrazek - After a rough go with the Wings this year, more ups and downs in Philly, he goes unqualified by the Flyers, and then signs with the Canes. From a $4 million goalie in Detroit, to a $1.5 million goalie in Carolina. Oh how the mighty have fallen. Riley Sheahan - Played 3rd line center for the Pens, notching 32 points. Was just re-signed for similar money that we gave him, about $2 million per. Tomas Tatar - Since being traded to Vegas has scored very little and is often a healthy scratch. He's still has term on his contract, but his future looks somewhat uncertain. Probably needs time to adjust to Vegas's polar opposite play style/system. Val Filppula - 33 points in 81 games for the Flyers last season playing on the 2nd and 3rd lines. Signs for $2 million and change with the Islanders. Jiri Hudler - ?? where has he gone ?? Alexey Marchenko - KHL Drew Miller - Sweden Pavel Datsyuk - KHL Joakim Andersson - Sweden Jakub Kindl - Czech Andrej Nestrasil - KHL Jonas Gustavsson - Sweden If I forgot anyone lemme know where deh at yo

They could get Nylander and a 1st and probably a 2nd. That winger is overrated. No way Ottawa trade him to the Leafs. Babcock 's an *******. He belongs there.

Yep. I hate me some Leafs. But everyone bitchin about Toronto and praying for the Tavares deal to backfire and for the team to fail just sound like 1996-2009 Leaf fans talking about Detroit. Jealousy. We should aspire to be classier than that.

I agree with you. Daley is silently one of the best Dmen on this team. I could entertain the argument that he's better than Green.

Which ends Feb 20th 2020. Do the math. Anyway, why would you sign someone for two years if you planned on trading them during year one. Makes no sense for either side.

Fire Holland

I'm definitely not expecting him to become a legit top-line scorer, but I'm starting to think he might have a future as a solid middle-six complementary winger. With the right centerman and maybe some PP skillz, 20+ goals a season might not be out of the question, even if he isn't A True Scorer. Like I said, I'm tempering my expectations with him, but Holmstrom and to a lesser extent Abby have done great things as piano pullers. If he ever becomes as effective as Abby circa Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abby, that's a win. If he gets anywhere close to Simmonds? Like you, I'll be ecstatic.

Between Fil and Vanek, Vanek was the better option IMO

Not his fault he's stuck on the 3rd line without top 6 wingers. We'll see how he does centering Vanek and Rass this season. I think people will be pleasantly surprised with his increased offensive production this year. Besides having someone like Nielsen as a 3C is a luxury. There are quite a few young forwards coming up in the next few seasons: Zadina, Rass, Svech, plus you still have young guys in Bert, Mantha, and AA. Having guys like Larkin, Z, and Nielsen down the middle will be a huge boost to their development as forwards. All 3 centers play a solid 2 way game, are steady, and think the game very well. What many of you see as a waste of money, I see as a huge advantage for the kids to learn from. Overpaid or not, we aren't going after expensive free agents, and we are still able to re-sign core building blocks, so I don't see spending money on players that will benefit the youth movement as a a bad thing.

Our goalies shouldn't be fighting.

And here I thought that Lefty used the nuclear option...

We dont mention traitors. Hossa is dead to me. Spat on the floor of my kitchen when I saw his name. Worth it.

Bergevin is going to offer sheet Larkin

too balanced. it'll never work.