Editor In Leaf
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: The Roast of the Atlantic Division

By Mike Stephens

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 21: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs poses after winning the Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 23: Dale Tallon of the Florida Panthers leaves the NHL general managers meetings at the Bellagio Las Vegas on June 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 23: Dale Tallon of the Florida Panthers leaves the NHL general managers meetings at the Bellagio Las Vegas on June 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Florida Panthers

Notable Adds: Evgeni Dadonov, Radim Vrbata, Jamie McGinn (lol).

Notable Losses: Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Marchessault, Jason Demers.

I’ve held priceless china less fragile than Dale Tallon‘s ego. By reversing every analytics-driven move from the bygone “computer boys” era, I guess he’ll finally be able to look in the mirror and whisper “you’re a big boy, Dale” without lying to himself.

Let’s take a gander at the Panthers summer moves, shall we? Rielly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, and Jason Demers were all sent packing. In return for that bountiful package, Florida received Jamie McGinn and a 4th round pick. Wow.

Those moves are so bad, it actually makes a compelling case for relegation. Let Trader Dale face plant his way through the AHL. The NHL’s already hit their quota on dumb people.

*cough* Gary Bettman *cough*

No team in the entire league botched the expansion draft as badly as the Panthers did. Florida had 30 goals scorer Jonathan Marchessault locked up at under $1 million per year. That was, and still remains, the best contract in the NHL. Don’t believe me? Alex Radulov’s goal total was a little over half of that, and Dallas threw over $6 million at him.

So, how could Dale and his precious feelings possibly find a way to blow this one? By sitting idly by while Vegas snatched Marchessault for free, of course! And, if that wasn’t enough, Tallon decided to throw Reilly Smith, who’s hot off a 37 point season, in the deal as well. For all the flack the Panthers “Computer Boys” got last year, I’m fairly certain that a Microsoft Zune wouldn’t have screwed this up as badly as Dale Tallon did. In a perfect world, he would follow the Zune’s lead and be discontinued.

Remember: you’re a big boy, Dale.

Home/Editorials