Toronto Maple Leafs: Weekly Thoughts v.2

Dec 29, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates after he scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates after he scored a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a quiet week.

But that isn’t going to stop us from recapping it anyways.  The Stanley Cup Final is ongoing, and so we must wait another week yet before the off-season and the fun of drafts, free agency and trades begins.

Still, there’s lots to talk about.

The Final

After last night’s domination by the Predators, the series is 2-1 in favor of Pittsburgh.  Of course all Leaf fans want the Predators to win so that we can see the Montreal Canadians lose.  P.K Subban is of course going to win the Cup a year after being traded in one of the dumbest trades in NHL history.

That is what you get when you trade your most popular player, your franchise player and your best player.    As Leaf fans, we’re used to horrible GMs and we can sympathize, but that doesn’t mean we can’t also get some immature cheap thrills.

On the other hand, if Phil Kessel wins his second straight Cup, we can rejoice in the success of our ex-player.  Kessel winning doesn’t sting at all and we only want whats best for him.

If you want to know why, check out this breakdown of the Kessel trade that shows the Leafs just keep getting paid off.

Offer Sheets

An idea making the rounds on Leafs-twitter this week was to offer sheet certain restricted super-star-in-the-making players like Leon Draisaitl and Colton Parayko.

In theory, I think these are great ideas.  The Leafs have a ton of cap space, they have a window where their best players all make peanuts, and much of their core is signed to team-friendly deals.

So, if the Toronto Maple Leafs were to blow the bank on an offer-sheet, it would pay off handsomely while posing very little risk.

The idea that you’ll alienate other teams is ridiculous.  Who cares? You don’t win friends with salad.

The Leafs should absolutely try a move like this.  Worst case scenario is that the offer gets matched.  Best case, you get super-star defenseman that can anchor your team for years.

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I just don’t see it happening, because in the NHL hardly anyone is that bold.

Other than that, it’s been a slow week. It’s been 50 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs won the cup, and in those 50 years the Penguins – if they beat Nashville – will have won five.   The Predators didn’t even exist for most of those 50 years, and they might win one.

So that’s kind of weak, but that’s how she goes! The Leafs have Auston Matthews now and so, we should get our turns soon.