Mike Augello: Leafs (Finally) Lock Up Hakanpaa To One-Year Deal

about time

when will bodies be moved?

about time

when will bodies be moved?
- dmnted

Once these guys arrive.

Leafs D looks a bit better than last season overall. Tanev is so good.

but man, a few injuries and its not looking so great. with a few players who tend to get injured

about time

when will brodie be moved?
- dmnted

He’s already gone

Once these guys arrive.


- Fakepartofme

I was thinking this with Berger being the driver

He’s already gone
- Dozzer

To the Galatic Stoner from the crazy State USA.....

Please refrain from bragging about Tampa Bay's ability to run pick plays with immunity for years and years amongst the Toronto Maple Leaf faithful.

The BS call against the Leafs on JT's game tying goal in game 7 still stings, stings a bit more considering some say Nick Paul's first goal (odd man rush) was created by an uncalled Tampa Bay interference in their own end to cause the odd man rush.

- dmnted

Thank you for laughing at my incredibly stupid, yet easy, joke

Leafs D looks a bit better than last season overall. Tanev is so good.

but man, a few injuries and its not looking so great. with a few players who tend to get injured
- senstroll

Im guessing Tanev plays 65 - 70 games this year

Timmins on waivers for sure, probably picked up. That takes care of Robertson and Hockeypaw, but Pachuli Oil means somebody's getting moved and my guess its Robertson.

Timmins on waivers for sure, probably picked up. That takes care of Robertson and Hockeypaw, but Pachuli Oil means somebody's getting moved and my guess its Robertson.
- gravyface

Picked up by who? Dubas? Already crapped out

Im guessing Tanev plays 65 - 70 games this year
- Fakepartofme

The biggest question is who steps in as the defensive guy on pairing one when he’s out? Will it be Rielly with someone like OEL beside him?

Timmins on waivers for sure, probably picked up. That takes care of Robertson and Hockeypaw, but Pachuli Oil means somebody's getting moved and my guess its Robertson.
- gravyface

I won’t be shocked one bit if Liljegren gets moved now. Him going elsewhere may have simply been waiting for Hakanpaa to prove he’s worth signing first.

Moving Liljegren would also open up the space they need for Pacioretty if they end up wanting him.

I won’t be shocked one bit if Liljegren gets moved now. Him going elsewhere may have simply been waiting for Hakanpaa to prove he’s worth signing first.

Moving Liljegren would also open up the space they need for Pacioretty if they end up wanting him.
- Dozzer

I'd be shocked - I personally don't think they re-signed a 25 year old RHD at the end of June this year to a 2 year deal to turn around & trade him.

I also hope the Leafs don't sign Pathes, I feel like he's toast.

Id' rather they let a young kid on a cheap deal play and prove to the young talent they have that there is opportunity within the organization, I'm sure many of them are watching the Robertson situation closely.

Timmins on waivers for sure, probably picked up. That takes care of Robertson and Hockeypaw, but Pachuli Oil means somebody's getting moved and my guess its Robertson.
- gravyface

I hate this move but it probably happens. I don't feel like he was every given a fair shot here, again another 25 year old RHD - why wouldn't' they give him a real shot? Sigh.

I'd be shocked - I personally don't think they re-signed a 25 year old RHD at the end of June this year to a 2 year deal to turn around & trade him.

I also hope the Leafs don't sign Pathes, I feel like he's toast.

Id' rather they let a young kid on a cheap deal play and prove to the young talent they have that there is opportunity within the organization, I'm sure many of them are watching the Robertson situation closely.
- Cush29

Really? You honestly think that a meh 3rd pairing d man who plays a game that doesn’t fit under his coach or GM is a guaranteed guy?

As for the LW they need experience there BADLY. You honestly want to run with Knies, Robertson, McMann, and Dewar? A whole 426 GP combined? (Dewar with the most at 190 and then Robertson at #2 with 87)

The leafs get eaten in the post season for a very obvious reason. All their strength is C and RW and unlike the regular season the opposition’s D can focus very strongly on this and it has shown. Gotta be ready for every style in the regular season but in the post season you focus round by round on who you’re playing and the specific attacks they like to make.

Ok, this is not a popular take, but here goes...

I'd rather Timmins over Haaktuah.

If this was the Haaktuah of a few seasons ago, then I'd think differently.

Shopping for D in the bargain bin rarely works out and Haaktuah is one bad check or awkward fall away from LTIR.

He either pulls a Muzzin and performs well enough to raise hopes before ending up on LTIR.

Or, he pulls a Klinger and ends up on LTIR before the season really gets going.

At least Timmins isn't made of glass and still has room to progress. I think it's a safe bet we already know what we have with Timmins, but at 26, he could be a late bloomer d-man.

If Lily wasn't overpaid AF, I'd say the same thing about him, but he should be getting Timmins money.

At least it's only one year of term. If his bones hold up, then resign him next season.

Mike Augello: Leafs (Finally) Lock Up Hakanpaa To One-Year Deal
- mikeinbuffalo

Really? You honestly think that a meh 3rd pairing d man who plays a game that doesn’t fit under his coach or GM is a guaranteed guy?

As for the LW they need experience there BADLY. You honestly want to run with Knies, Robertson, McMann, and Dewar? A whole 426 GP combined? (Dewar with the most at 190 and then Robertson at #2 with 87)

The leafs get eaten in the post season for a very obvious reason. All their strength is C and RW and unlike the regular season the opposition’s D can focus very strongly on this and it has shown. Gotta be ready for every style in the regular season but in the post season you focus round by round on who you’re playing and the specific attacks they like to make.
- Dozzer

I think a guy the organization just signed a 2 year deal with on June 30th is part of their plans yes. Not sure where you are getting that he doesn't fit under the GM's style since the GM extended him? If it was to sign an trade I think he would have already been gone.

So you feel Patches is needed at LW on what line? The most games he has played in a season since 2019-2020 is 48 and he played 47 last year and was a lovely -14. The guy is 35 today and will be 36 in November - IMO he's toast. I'd try starting with Knies, Robertson (unless his deal was a sign and trade) and McMann in the top 9 sure. 4th line LW can be just about anyone they have in the system who is defensively responsible and can cause some chaos and bring some energy and throw the body.

I'd also give some thought to seeing if Willy or Marner is willing to try sliding over to the Left side to provide more options.

The Leafs making panic moves and shipping out young-ish RHD seems like the type of move that a few years from now we will all be complaining about to me is all.

Guess we will see because they definatley need to make some moves if they intend on signing Patches and Lorenz out of camp - moving Timmons only gives them the cap space they need for Hawk-Tuah and Robertson but nothing beyond that.

At least there is some interesting stuff happening and we may see some more changes I guess. I won't lie a fairly big trade would be fun to see happen for the discussions it'll prompt.

To the Galatic Stoner from the crazy State USA.....

Please refrain from bragging about Tampa Bay's ability to run pick plays with immunity for years and years amongst the Toronto Maple Leaf faithful.

The BS call against the Leafs on JT's game tying goal in game 7 still stings, stings a bit more considering some say Nick Paul's first goal (odd man rush) was created by an uncalled Tampa Bay interference in their own end to cause the odd man rush.


- Cush29

He's not wrong though. It is how you win in the playoffs and it's something that Keefe never seemed to grasp. Yes Holl did get called on a play that no one ever gets called for - but it's also because it was so atypical of a Leaf to be doing something like that.

If they did it all the time like Boston, Tampa, Florida, Vegas, Dallas, Carolina, the Islanders and the Jets - they might draw a penalty here and there, but it would be common place for their system and refs just ignore it.

I always sort of felt that Keefe's PK was so weak that the Leafs lived by the mantra of never getting penalized - but as we've seen the "game management" aspect of hockey does poop for you in terms of getting real benefits. As a pretty soft and clean team:

Last year we had 238 for and 238 against and outscored the opposition 57-55.
In 22-23 we had 246 for and 248 against and outscored the opposition 64-45.
In 21-22 we had 231 for and 234 against and outscored the opposition 63-42.
In 20-21 we had 155 for and 144 against and scoring was even at 31-31 (56 games)
In 19-20 we had 195 for and 193 against and scoring was 45-43
In 18-19 211-204 and 46-41
In 17-18 224-231 and 56-43
In 16-17 244-251 and 57-44

. . .and the year before Matthews for poops & giggles:

In 15-16 259-272 and 40-50

To me the fact that the Leafs have drawn more power plays than they've received three times in 9 years is honestly surprising - and they have pretty much outscored that problem in almost every year.

Because the Leafs do run their powerplay through Marner, they need to start executing plays that create room for the primary distributor because in the playoffs gaps are tighter, people get less room to move and there's less useful open space . . . And let's not make this about Marner - let's say it was Domi or Nylander or Rielly - I don't care. Whoever has the role of primarily distributing the puck needs more clear lanes to make that PP work better.

Ok, this is not a popular take, but here goes...

I'd rather Timmins over Haaktuah.

If this was the Haaktuah of a few seasons ago, then I'd think differently.

Shopping for D in the bargain bin rarely works out and Haaktuah is one bad check or awkward fall away from LTIR.

He either pulls a Muzzin and performs well enough to raise hopes before ending up on LTIR.

Or, he pulls a Klinger and ends up on LTIR before the season really gets going.

At least Timmins isn't made of glass and still has room to progress. I think it's a safe bet we already know what we have with Timmins, but at 26, he could be a late bloomer d-man.

If Lily wasn't overpaid AF, I'd say the same thing about him, but he should be getting Timmins money.

At least it's only one year of term. If his bones hold up, then resign him next season.
- GalacticStone

Really. That's a knock against him cause he's always hurt for a reason or another.
Look a t last year, he was good during camp but got hurt and was out till November ish

Welcome, Jani Hockeypuck.

It would be nice to get an official statement as to the extent of his knee injury. I wonder if it's something he could have had surgically repaired back in June, and been ready to go come training camp, or later.

Really. That's a knock against him cause he's always hurt for a reason or another.
Look a t last year, he was good during camp but got hurt and was out till November ish
- dmnted

Ok, probably a bad comparison in that aspect. But, he's back and playing again. Next injury for Haak probably ends his career.

I'd be shocked - I personally don't think they re-signed a 25 year old RHD at the end of June this year to a 2 year deal to turn around & trade him.

I also hope the Leafs don't sign Pathes, I feel like he's toast.

Id' rather they let a young kid on a cheap deal play and prove to the young talent they have that there is opportunity within the organization, I'm sure many of them are watching the Robertson situation closely.
- Cush29

I think you're probably right. Treliving and Berube had already been working together for 6 weeks when they resigned Liljegren.

They have $30k in cap space right now with a 13-7-2 (22 man) roster that does not include Timmins. He was also a Dubas acquisition and while I do like his play, he doesn't have a noticeable physical game.

From a fan's perspective, while Liljegren has failed to play consistently enough to establish himself as a top-4D, Timmins hasn't played consistently enough to establish himself as a bottom pair guy.

If someone has to go, I have to believe it'll be Timmins.

Now here's the kicker - if Pacioretty actually impresses (I doubt this very, very much) or if Lorentz does - or both - then the landscape may change and trading Holmberg or Robertson or both - or whatever - might require more cap movement and suddenly Timmins draws back into the picture because he's only $1.1m on the cap.