The Toronto Maple Leafs and their two-year window.
Okay, what am I exactly saying when I say Toronto Maple Leafs and a two-year window?
Well, I’m just regurgitating what Elliotte Friedman said on air today when he was speaking with Sportsnet’s Starting Lineup.
He was on the show talking about the Expansion Draft – I know, it’s like beating a dead horse – and the conversation eventually turned towards the Leafs.
Who would have thought it’d go there, huh?
Anyways, I’m very biased because Friedman is one of my favorite analysists, always has been.
He has his hatters out there, everyone does, but I like him and furthermore, I like what he had to say.
So, I jotted it down to share.
Enjoy.
The Quote
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The headline of the segment reads, “Elliotte Friedman: Don’t be surprised if Leafs make their own big move.”
Here’s what Friedman had to say.
"Toronto isn’t hurt by that, I think it gives them flebability [speaking of their Expansion Draft]. The Leafs are tight, they do a very good job of keeping information tight under Lamoriello.I think, though, that my guess is what we’re looking at here is we are looking at the Maple Leafs recognizing they’ve got a two-year window to do something big before they have to really start paying everybody.Nyladner’s got the one more year under contract, Marner and Matthews have two and I think they look at those three guys and I think, Nylander has shown that he’s going to be a heck of a player too, along with the other two guys.They have a two-year window to really go for it and that’s why I think they’re sitting there and they’re looking at it and saying, what allows us to be the best team we can be for the next two years and make a charge at this, and that’s what I think they’re looking at.I think that it would not surprise me if they pull out something big that has us all going, okay, we’re not sure if we really saw that, but not surprised it happened."
I apologize for the long quote.
Analyzing
What I’m gathering from this is that it might not be something right away, maybe more with the focus on these next two years.
Perhaps the Leafs do have something cooking and are just waiting for the right time.
I literally could have linked about 20 articles of mine for that line, but I chose one of the more recent ones.
The Leafs are sitting pretty in regards to expansion.
So, unless a deal presents itself that helps another team with their protection, I’d bet thing stay quiet until the middle of next week.
Unless they pull the rug out on me and do something monumental today, in which case, I retire.
Or before expansion in general.
Exciting times we live in, eh?
Seattle, you’re up next.