The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Its amazing at times that the Leafs are in 1st given everything that's happened.

Injury wise, almost everyone has missed time already.

Hyman, Simmonds, Thornton, Robertson, Campbell, Dermott among others, and now Muzzin and Andersen too. Even Matthews missed a game earlier on due to injury as well.


Also, some crazy news coming out of NY. Panarin will be out for who knows how long due to personal/political reasons. Seems like some political opinions he had didn't sit to well in Russia, and now some allegations about domestic abuse a decade ago have surfaced (although many seem to feel this is more of a setup than a "he did it" situation).

Seems he could be kicked off the national team as well. If I'm him, I'm staying in the US forever (if he's allowed to when he becomes a full citizen, even join the US national team). Didnt a similar thing happen with Kanter a while back? Although Panarin is obviously way bigger than Kanter.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

There have been 10 penalties in this Leafs/Flames game. And despite how their last games ended, this had nothing to do with bas blood. These refs are out of control.

I've always said NHL has the best refs of the big 4 leagues, but this season might be the worst officiated season I've seen in the NHL.

Leafs were losing this game before it started when they have 2 of their top 6 forwards injured, one of their top 4 dmen out AND starting goalie out as well. But sucks to see a loss regardless.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

A shocking move. Ducks place Henrique on waivers.

Sure, his cap his is almost 6m for next 4 years, but he's still a 20-20 guy and only 30 years old.

Cant imagine him going unclaimed. Sens should be a fave to get him. Highest waiver priority, they have the room for him, and he grew up in Ontario (although not close to Ottawa, but this would be the closest location to his home besides Toronto)

Too many years. He went unclaimed. If Tony DeAngelo went unclaimed, pretty much every sizable contract is making its way through.

I tried to warn people Detroit, despite the moves in the offseason, was going to be just as crap this year as last. Blashill is not a good coach.

Leafs should be in on Fleury. He can be to them what Mike Vernon was to Detroit back in the day. Send picks and Andersen to Vegas and picks to Detroit to retain 2 M in cap to make the money work. Toronto has their clearest path to a conference finals they will ever get; they need to be aggressive.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Leafs should be in on Fleury. He can be to them what Mike Vernon was to Detroit back in the day. Send picks and Andersen to Vegas and picks to Detroit to retain 2 M in cap to make the money work. Toronto has their clearest path to a conference finals they will ever get; they need to be aggressive.

I'd love getting Fleury. If the price was Andersen, a pick to someone like Detroit, and a conditional pick to Vegas (condition rests on how many games he wins in the playoffs, I'd set it at 8 or 9) for Fleury, I'd do it.

Andersen is probably the 4th best goalie in the North division. That's not a good sign for a team entering a 4 team divisional playoff when no matter which of the 3 other teams you play, unless its Edmonton, you're at the disadvantage in net.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Lehner's been hurt for 6 weeks now. Fleury's posting the best numbers in the league.

Why in the world would Vegas downgrade in net for a conditional pick?

[nikethebike]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Can you get Nylander into a goalie trade some way?


I feel he is hard to judge how much value he could be to another team that would put him on the top line and the top PP...

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

I wouldn't move any of the top guys at this point. If Nylander is moved for a goalie, it basically has to be some young goalie who's a top vezina candidate.

That Rask deal from 15 years ago still haunts the Leafs to this day. That was absolutely the worst deal in franchise history. Set them back well over a decade, with so many picks being dealt over the years to find a goalie who could be anywhere close to the guy Rask had been in Boston. Leafs with goalies reminds me of Packers with WR. You have a clear need, but refuse to ever use a top draft pick to get a young guy at that position.



And speaking of moves, the Habs have fired Julien! So much for "Habs are THE team to beat in the North". I hear Babcock is available....actually nevermind. Knowing Leafs luck, Habs with Babcock will beat them, and Galchenyuk probably scores an own goal.

Given all the issues in Vancouver, should Travis Green be let go (they now have another new option in a coach with Julien being available, and Babcock back in Canada), Paul Maurice could become the only Canadian team coach who has been on his team since before last season.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Lehner's been hurt for 6 weeks now. Fleury's posting the best numbers in the league.

Why in the world would Vegas downgrade in net for a conditional pick?

I meant at the deadline, and in my mind Toronto was giving up more than a conditional pick to Vegas. Either way, it'd be wise for Vegas to cash out on Fleury while he's crushing it and for Toronto to make an upgrade in net.

Meh the Habs were never the team to beat in the North (at least not in my mind). Most said it was Toronto-five bubble teams-Ottawa from the get go, and the season has basically played out that way. Montreal kinda handicaps themselves with the whole French speaking coach thing, so unless Gallant, Babcock or BBQ Bruce can speak French, they're probably rolling with the interim guy this season.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Leafs wouldn't be having so much trouble vs the Flames if they didnt have to go up against vezina candidate Rittich

/s


Edit- Leafs win a game their offense had no business winning. Hutchinson actually was their best player, who would've thought.

[nikethebike]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

I wouldn't move any of the top guys at this point. If Nylander is moved for a goalie, it basically has to be some young goalie who's a top vezina candidate.

That Rask deal from 15 years ago still haunts the Leafs to this day. That was absolutely the worst deal in franchise history. Set them back well over a decade, with so many picks being dealt over the years to find a goalie who could be anywhere close to the guy Rask had been in Boston. Leafs with goalies reminds me of Packers with WR. You have a clear need, but refuse to ever use a top draft pick to get a young guy at that position.



And speaking of moves, the Habs have fired Julien! So much for "Habs are THE team to beat in the North". I hear Babcock is available....actually nevermind. Knowing Leafs luck, Habs with Babcock will beat them, and Galchenyuk probably scores an own goal.

Given all the issues in Vancouver, should Travis Green be let go (they now have another new option in a coach with Julien being available, and Babcock back in Canada), Paul Maurice could become the only Canadian team coach who has been on his team since before last season.

I think they could try something else even though they were entertaining to watch last year.


What bothers me is that Quinn Hughes doesn't exactly play better defensively this year than what he did last and EP had his best dominant period directly when he came over from sweden up until the allstar break. It has basically been downhill from then.
I don't see the development needed in these guys and I'm starting to question whether Green and his staff has what it takes to develop these young guys.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

I think they could try something else even though they were entertaining to watch last year.


What bothers me is that Quinn Hughes doesn't exactly play better defensively this year than what he did last and EP had his best dominant period directly when he came over from sweden up until the allstar break. It has basically been downhill from then.
I don't see the development needed in these guys and I'm starting to question whether Green and his staff has what it takes to develop these young guys.

The one good thing for the Canucks is that in 2 years, they'll have so much flexibility. Eriksson and Luongos deals both come off their cap.

Even this offseason, they have 4 guys over the age of 30 who have expiring deals, the rest expire after next year.

If I'm the Canucks, I'm going full tank mode next season. Cant really sell assets in this kind of season so they might have to just watch guys leave in free agency over getting a draft pick.

Next season should be all about selling and tanking and getting another lottery pick (they'll obviously get one this year too).

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Sabres healthy scratch Skinner yet again.

23pts in 59 games last year

1 point in 14 games so far this year

Could he go down as the worst contact in NHL history? 9m cap hit for 8 years (this is only year 2) with a full NMC!

[nikethebike]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

Sabres healthy scratch Skinner yet again.

23pts in 59 games last year

1 point in 14 games so far this year

Could he go down as the worst contact in NHL history? 9m cap hit for 8 years (this is only year 2) with a full NMC!

The Loui contract looks like a steal in comparison. 🤣

[nikethebike]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

The one good thing for the Canucks is that in 2 years, they'll have so much flexibility. Eriksson and Luongos deals both come off their cap.

Even this offseason, they have 4 guys over the age of 30 who have expiring deals, the rest expire after next year.

If I'm the Canucks, I'm going full tank mode next season. Cant really sell assets in this kind of season so they might have to just watch guys leave in free agency over getting a draft pick.

Next season should be all about selling and tanking and getting another lottery pick (they'll obviously get one this year too).

So that's why they keep Green? To make sure they'll tank?


With Horvat Boeser EP Miller Hughes all still there they'll still be better than wings, anaheim and sens. So I doubt full tank will be achieved if they go back to a more normal schedule. Unless they play a bad keeper ofcourse. Like Holtby right now...

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2020-2021 Season Talk Thread

So that's why they keep Green? To make sure they'll tank?


With Horvat Boeser EP Miller Hughes all still there they'll still be better than wings, anaheim and sens. So I doubt full tank will be achieved if they go back to a more normal schedule. Unless they play a bad keeper ofcourse. Like Holtby right now...

Tanking doesn't mean they'll for sure be the worst, but they'll definitely have great odds at a top 5 pick. Something they've only done twice since their downfall 6 years ago. The Juolevi pick was a major bust, but I'd say Pettersson worked out well.