I think the 30 goal season from Toffoli was a bit of a Cheechoo.
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Let's call it like it is -- we need someone who can come in and get Gaudreau and Monahan out of the funk they've been in all season. Hudler made it work. Ferland had a terrific 40 game run. Same with Lindholm last year. Treat it like a 30 game audition -- if you can find that guy, the rest will take care of itself.
Is it Toffoli? I don't know enough about the player other than he has a punchable face and looks like the quintessential meathead in this video:
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I want hungry players. I want players looking to cash in on major performances. If the flames move a good pick and get to the conference final or the cup final or are hoisting the goddamned thing, will anyone care if toffoli turns around and signs in Columbus or St Louis or Montreal?
I want a guy looking to show he's a playoff performer so that 7 weeks later he can make an extra couple million per.
I want James Neal in the last year of his contract, not the first.
Preoccupation with term is dumb and I hope it's not a major obstacle for the flames.
“Term” is also a euphemism for someone whose AAV is low, relatively speaking, for the current cap.
That’s great if you can get it but it also costs more (a la Hamonic).
I hope finding contract bargains isn’t the priority.
I don't get the notion of not adding toffoli if he's available.
Getting no one vs toffoli, and icecube is saying no?
5 goals over 24 games could easily be the difference between going out in round 2 and winning a cup.
The question about an addition is always 'will this guy add or prevent more goals than the current guy over 24 games?'
Often that's an incremental improvement of a couple of goals or so and doesn't register as much over a playoff series.
But the flames are in a position where you are all but guaranteed that a legit top 6 player is going to present an improvement over the current weak links. Over 48 games, a 10% shooting percentage instead of six means about 10-11 goals. Call it 5 extra goals over 50 games for a legit winger in the top 6 instead of backlund.
If you can add one guy that gives you 5-6 extra goals over 24 games, or two guys that can do the same, you're a much better suited team to making noise in the playoffs.
The flames flat out couldn't compete offensively against the Ava last year because they couldn't score goals. Playoffs are about momentum and emotion and if you've got Zucker or Stone out there receiving passes from Tkachuk instead of Backlund or Frolik, who knows how the momentum shifts game to game? We know how it shifted when they had great chances and couldn't finish; it was a momentum killing let down.
I'm my mind, by bridging tkachuk they've already puts their chips in to go for it, so what's a few more to actually put together a hand and try to win the pot?
If the price for toffoli is a 2nd and a prospect, I'm pulling the trigger on just about anyone deal that has conditional picks in it instead of a body.
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Toffoli is a guy that I have ranked fairly high from the list of players that are rumoured to be available. I think he is a good buy-low candidate, if the acquisition cost is a 2nd plus a prospect. He is a solid finisher, and his metrics seem to align with what I see on the ice - he is a strong 2-way player in every zone and is decent along the boards.
I am not sure I prefer Josh Anderson over Toffoli - for me they are neck-in-neck. Toffoli is a much more proven and rounded scorer, but Anderson adds other intangibles as well. I would be happy with either. Glad that the Flames are looking at Toffoli at least. I would bet he turns his game around in Calgary.
They really just need a guy with a better shot than Backlund on that 2nd RW to finish off plays so that Backlund can be moved to the 3C where he is best suited. Size would be a bonus.
While I am sure there is some interest, there’s always an element of the fact the Flames have rolled into Toronto for the one time a year and the eastern insiders have to dig a bit deeper into the “speculation” bucket (or not dig that much,just toss one out there that isn’t widely reported yet)to provide a relative story regarding the visiting team.
Toffoli is an interesting option.
If you remove his first year in the NHL (10games) and his best and worst seasons, he's averaged 21goals and 44points per year. He's on pace for 21goals and 47points this year.
If the ask was a B prospect + 2nd, i think that'd be pretty fair.
In terms of signing him, you'd think that the Backlund contract would be on the top end of the spectrum. Something in the range of under $5M x 5/6years.
It should be Kapanen or bust IMO. Lottery protected 1st should do it. I'd spend a 1st for him.
Seems like more than necessary for the Leafs’ third liner. In any event, i don’t think they want futures. They want a player. A defenceman to be precise. Hamonic plus a conditional pick of some sort (condition being a re-signing).
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I’m on the Tyler Toffoli train. I think he’s a great option (https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=103653) and based on recent precedents, I think he could be resigned at 4 years for 6M or less.
I want hungry players. I want players looking to cash in on major performances. If the flames move a good pick and get to the conference final or the cup final or are hoisting the goddamned thing, will anyone care if toffoli turns around and signs in Columbus or St Louis or Montreal?
I want a guy looking to show he's a playoff performer so that 7 weeks later he can make an extra couple million per.
I want James Neal in the last year of his contract, not the first.
Preoccupation with term is dumb and I hope it's not a major obstacle for the flames.
Not at the end of this contract haha
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