dappleganger
Well-known member
It does seem like the Leafs did a better job of navigating the salary cap when that Pridham guy was around...
2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office
- Thread starter herman
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It does seem like the Leafs did a better job of navigating the salary cap when that Pridham guy was around...
YYZ
Well-known member
Miles Wood ($2.5M) being recalled and immediately going on IR didn't exactly help the cap situation.
I think we've now seen a second season where they seem to suffer defensively without Tanev. If he's healthy, he's an asset - their best defensive dman and the only pure defensive dman they have. But he's aging with injuries as many thought he would.
Some of the improvement was identifying McKenna's defensive liabilities and containing them
Over the course of the season - particularly the playoffs, you need guys who will go to the dirty areas of the ice. And you need to win faceoffs. John does those things well. PPG player with 60% faceoff win% and was tied for the lead in PP pts. A hunk of his -ve +/- is on Nylander & McKenna. He's still the second best center the Leafs have in my opinion. They have little cap space or few contracts they can move this season and next to do much there - or it is very hard.
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herman
Well-known member
I have all the time in the world for Tavares and Tanev, but their injuries elevated the ice time for Cowan and Raddysh and Paul and Stecher. These are players who are getting on the puck a split second or two earlier than Tavares/Tanev would and it makes all the difference in a game of trying to chain as many plays together as possible.
See PP1 with Matthews taking Tavares’ role and McKenna injecting a different look
See PP1 with Matthews taking Tavares’ role and McKenna injecting a different look
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rjd
Well-known member
We'll have to see if they can keep it up. Stetcher has hot streaks and then cools off. We saw that last year. Paul and Raddysh should be able to maintain the type of play they have been showing. Cowan is still an x-factor.
I like your idea of keeping Paul with Marchenko and Nylander when Tavares gets back, and putting Tavares with Scissons and McKenna. Hopefully they read your suggestion and go with it. That would really be a balanced roster.
The Leafs have 5 guys taking up almost $14mil in cap space on the IR right now. Most teams, especially playoff teams near the cap, wouldn't really be able to budget for that.
YYZ
Well-known member
That's what really sets a really good player apart from someone like Stecher. I love the guy, but obviously the consistency hasn't been there otherwise you don't pick up those types of players off waivers.
Tavares goes down and PP1 starts scoring. It's difficult to ignore these things.
Paul has been filling in great with 86 and 88 but as a line they haven't exactly been great 5v5.
Could even take it a step further and try having Matthews, Nylander, and Marchenko all on separate lines. Obviously a popular suggestion the last time we had 3 elite players like that, but I think the supporting cast right now suits it way better than it did back then.
dappleganger
Well-known member
When Tavares gets back you could have lines of:
Cowan - Matthews - Roslovic
Marchenko - Paul - Nylander
McKenna - Tavares - Sissons
All three lines would have some scoring punch.
I'd like to see Marchenko and Nylander produce more at 5-on-5 if they're together, but fine giving them some more games to see if they're just warming up.
herman
Well-known member
This is what I’m aiming for as well, now that we have more drivers.
I’d move Tavares to the wing with Marchenko opposite, centred by Sissons so the line has faceoff ability on both sides and leans more defensive and straight line attack.
McKenna-Paul-Nylander is the counter rush line.
herman
Well-known member
dappleganger
Well-known member
I think putting McKenna and Nylander together will be a disaster unless you have Matthews between them.
I think it would still be problematic defensively but if they were going to do it, Matthews would be the guy for the wingers with limited defensive conscience.
Maybe revisit that when McKenna has developed more.
herman
Well-known member
I don't like starting Nylander with Matthews, but I do like them meeting up mid-game from time to time if a push is needed.
McKenna/Nylander just need someone who diligently remains above the puck and can skate enough to get to and win a board battle. It didn't work with Tavares because he was missing that ability to arrive on time to puck battles. Nylander single handedly made Pontus Holmberg and David Kampf work for good stretches. The other Cs on the team this year can do all three other things, not just Matthews.
McKenna/Nylander just need someone who diligently remains above the puck and can skate enough to get to and win a board battle. It didn't work with Tavares because he was missing that ability to arrive on time to puck battles. Nylander single handedly made Pontus Holmberg and David Kampf work for good stretches. The other Cs on the team this year can do all three other things, not just Matthews.
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