Maple Leafs Free Agent Hindsight with James Mirtle | The JD Bunkis Podcast

James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic, joins JD Bunkis to dive deep into the Maple Leafs' off-season including Mitch Marner's status, Nick Robertson's trade request, the team's July 1st additions, and if it's time to give Auston Matthews the captaincy.
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[@willisfigueroa6841]

Ask the Oilers if they think a coaching change makes a difference. I believe it was the same roster Knoblauch inherited that was 3-9-1 and then finished 2nd in their division and won the western conference finals and lost the stanley cup by 1 game.

[@maciekgutkowski8075]

@@willisfigueroa6841 seems to be what Leafs fans are going to be hanging their hope on for 2024 … that Berube will coach this team much better then Keefe did.

[@TMBpk]

It was a fluke run and I bet the Oilers will miss the playoffs in 24-25. It's a flawed team.

[@ronmatthews2164]

The huge problem with this team is most of the cap is spent on a core four forwards who have very little battle level when it's needed in the very physical playoffs.

[@davidhamilton699]

You can debate this until the cows come home, however the biggest issue with this team is the fact that the big three (Matthews, Marner and Nylander) are "me first" guys when it comes to money and the salary cap! This was solidified when Dubas and Shanahan caved in during the first round of contract negotiations basically giving them each what they wanted with little to no concessions and the current dye was set! As a result, in the salary cap era, their allocation ratios are all screwed up with too much money tied up in 4 forwards which causes them to be thin in terms of depth. Also, trading away all the picks to dump bad contracts and bolster the line up for another 1st round exit has absolutely caught up to them, as well! Basically, bad management has doomed this franchise once again! It will be another book for Gord Stellick chronicling how the Leafs screwed up again....and the cup drought continues!

[@macleanclassics]

The scew up was the tavares signing because, they all know they are as good or better... so that 11 million set the leaf barre. Tavares wasn't needed and I'd bet we're 2 million cheaper on each of them if his contract wasn't here. Not to mention we might still have Kari and hyman

[@RochelGermain]

You're right

[@davidhamilton699]

@@macleanclassics : I don't necessarily disagree, however Dubas did a very poor job of negotiating with the "big three!" They left NO money on the table in a market where the difference could easily be made up with rich endorsement deals! In a salary cap league this is a killer and we continue to see the results! Like it or not selfish players very rarely win, regardless of their lip service to the media! Teams like Boston and Pittsburgh have won cups because of culture of taking a little less in order to build a more complete team that can win! Hopefully, as a Leafs fan for over 45 years I hope I'm proven wrong but I don't think so, unfortunately!

[@macleanclassics]

@@davidhamilton699 he sure did.... Nylander was a good contract.... Marner should've been closer to that. The players have a chip and an argument that the cap isn't thier fault and they should be paid.... otherwise they are letting down future players. The guys to blame are the ones handing them out.

[@davidhamilton699]

I don't disagree that Shanahan, Dubas and company did a piss poor job of managing the contracts for these three! However, don't give me that baloney about the players and not their fault about the cap! This is clearly a part of the CBA and any team/players serious about winning understands the ramifications of taking a greater percentage of it! So my only conclusion is that they really don't seriously care about winning a cup! It's that simple! Hockey is one of the few professional sports left where some players still embrace a team concept! Hopefully, Tanev can a positive effect on the room but it's really hard to change things with three "me first superstars!" I hope I'm wrong and Berube can catch magic in a bottle for long playoff run!

[@pjmmaloney4458]

The Leafs have a real coach, overhauled D and very promising goaltending. The team is improved, plain and simple - I don’t get the panic.

[@Einstein-420]

U have a point but they also have shaky/unproven goaltending and scoring that dries up in the playoffs

[@paulstrife]

The panic is that Mirtle is too emotional to cover the Leafs fairly. He is still angry that his friend Dubas isn't here sabotaging the team.

[@gylduran9217]

They still haven't addressed the number one issue when it comes playoff time...scoring 🤣They are improved at D for maybe 2 years, goaltending is still questionable as both their goalies barely play 30 games a season and they are super thin up top

[@zilzia94]

We also have no scoring in the playoffs still probably haha

[@johnbates7949]

Paying these guys more $ doesn’t make them better players.

[@leaf16nut]

Buuuuuuuuut, it might? lol

[@maciekgutkowski8075]

I would have really preferred a 29 year old D in Pesci or Zadorov over a 34 year old D in Tanev

[@Mick-zz]

JD tells it like it is - full credit unlike most of the other podcasters and Leaf-focused media. I will now subscribe.

[@jimstoyles7617]

Sorry about that I was not finish ,, the money they are Worth !! The players that take less money so they can get other good players to play on the same team and better chances to win and players that do this are really great players what's to Win !!! Thank you for your time and video! Thanks again Jim Go Habs Go!!!🤔

[@7jorjaty]

Complain, complain, overreact, overreact!!! THATS JD!!

[@robm9999]

JD Bumpkin

[@bbvududaddi7216]

💯

[@davidhamilton699]

He needs something to talk about! LOL.

[@hurtlocker6611]

i would rather lose a marner trade then let him walk for nothing

[@CC-pj7iy]

It won't be nothing. Between Tavares and Marner, the cap space next off season is gonna be wide open. Tavares is the worst contract on this team. Marner gets all the hate, but at least he could actually pull value. JT is worth less than half his cap hit. Unmovable.

[@ach2337]

Maybe the Leafs not being able score enough goals is a good problem to have during the regular season. Hopefully that triggers them to finding ways to scoring meaningful goals that could translate to something during playoffs

[@marcob6880]

Bunkis is such a fan

[@MrNicolas61]

Is this the best defence of the mathews era?

[@Gum_Cuzzler]

Not a high bar but best opening night d core 100%

[@Gum_Cuzzler]

Not a high bar but best opening night d core 100%

[@Sir_Godz]

as sad as that is yes

[@Dawg476]

Won’t be as much offence as last season. Matthews probably only gets max 60 goals next year, Tavares probably only gets 55 points, lose 21 goals of Bertuzi without replacement. Hopefully the defence mitigates the Offence reduction.

[@Mattoilers97]

Leafs are brutal this year lmfao Matthews will lucky enough to 50 goals

[@pjmmaloney4458]

Knies will score more, as will McMann.

[@JM-oy5yv]

You have no idea what’s gonna happen 😂😂😂

[@kkhezkkhez3375]

these guys are sooooo depressing omg

[@troycul6552]

yea its guys like these that make the Toronto media look like clowns

[@Takhar7]

​@@troycul6552clowns? They were spot on with everything they said

[@Spike10111]

The team is depressing

[@eddiemcgreat11]

This is the definition of insanity

[@oceanghose7978]

The real issue is the belief that the team is actually in a competitive window. They might be if just one of their core four had playoff grit. The problem is the team is built on a polished house of cards with nothing but regular season goals to show for it. The structure is fundamentally unsound with Tavares AND Marner on the books. And that's assuming Nylander's contract ages well.

[@maxpayne9041]

I believe lilligren is a liability on the ice your gonna pay a guy this much money to ride the bench.

[@Gypsyalchemy333]

Little miss Lilly , Kampf and a pick or prospect for a quality 3rd line center. Thats 5.5 mil right there if you get rid of those two plugs

[@Sir_Godz]

no other way to see it than that... cant make line up..... pay him double ffs

[@people3865]

​@@Gypsyalchemy333And another team wants 2 plugs in exchange for a 3C because...?

[@Gypsyalchemy333]

@@people3865 Because A) the prospect or high draft pick will be the sweeter B) teams that sucked so bad last year and have an abundance of draft picks could be involved in a 3 way deal, happened allot last year but have not seen many 3 team deals as of late C) there are some unhappy players centers around the league that want to be moved..... D) right shot D man with youth had overrated perceived value, so there will be teams willing to take on Lilly and his two year deal.

[@jimstoyles7617]

I am a Habs fan but why are the Leafs not doing the same things other Canadian teams are doing ? They are supposed to get Better . You can't be saying it's because of John Tavares contract there are more people who are getting paid like that !! They are the ones who offered him it !! I would say that I think that he would take about 3-4 Million a year and that is a good and a drop of 7 or8 Million a year . The rest of the players should also take a drop till they Win 2 rounds of the playoffs ! Then they would get the money back that they p

[@jimstoyles7617]

If the players don't get the big contract the Owners would get it !! What should be done is lower Ticket prices ? So we all could go !but

[@ericwilliams1845]

Bunkis has a very appropriate last name. He sounds like a total bunkis sometimes when he talks out his ying Yang. What centres made sense there buddy? At this point a trade like mirtle suggests seems like a likely and appropriate option and those take time

[@robgorham4938]

Offensive will improve because OEL and Tanev will be better at getting the puck moved up ice than guys like Edmunston and Lybuskin. Lilly will.benefit from learning d from Tanev and being paired with an experienced fellow Swede like OEL.

[@mcfolie4184]

Other than Bertuzzi who else did they lose up front?

[@t.m.l.t.m.l.5399]

They needed to improve the defence. So the idea is to reduce goals against. We have enough goal scoring. The thing that gets forgotten is the lack of production from the defence last year. There should be better puck movement from the D as well. What they are lacking up front is size.

[@robgorham4938]

You tie the turnover of captaincy with early contract ext with Toronto $4 mil (O Rielly comparable) x 5 years for JT, exchanges C for new deal, acknowledge changing era.

[@jim4004]

Rolling the dice this year but I think their strategy is waiting for next year when marner and tavares come off the books. They can balance the team off properly next year..hopefully

[@michaelthompson9985]

Bunkis has perfected hand wringing. OEL had a solid bounce back year avg 18 mins a game, and played important mins when Ekblad was hurt, and won a cup. There was no perfect answer this offseason.

[@babayaga4355]

Look where the team is ffs!! Can’t sign anyone because of these brutal contracts. If Marner won’t agree to a trade, let his a$$ walk!

[@chrismichie3632]

Did Marner give four teams he'd take a trade to? I heard Chicago, Dallas, Vegas and Nashville were acceptable?

[@wanderingthepeaks]

Why the assumptioin that just matching the dollars is enough to get the likes of Roy or Skjei? There's no reason to believe that either wanted to play here. If, like O'Reilly, they preferred to play elsewhere, then Treliving could only go with whoever was willing to come. The UFA centers available were not the answer at the asking price. So, barring the unlikely event of a Marner trade, a significant upgrade at center will probably have to wait until there's a good option available, either via deadline trade, or next years' UFAs, when the dollars can be freed up--letting Marner walk if need be.

[@stevestojanovich3105]

Draisaitl had 3 points in the final, would you trade him? TKacuk had 3 points in the final, would you trade him?

[@Rob-ob3sh]

What about Nylander at Centre ?

[@beofonemind]

i'm surprised at your level of pessimism on things. I think you have to see them play to see that maybe this mix could work. I am actually excited about the goaltending and so we are set there. We are set on D, for now. We still have Mitch. I think we are in a good spot for now. Remember in 4 years the cap will be higher.

[@noomJ]

Former Athletic Shapiro writer says Tanev would have payed more in Taxes in Texas than home in Canada

[@Calers-gu1ib]

Leaf followers always undervalue Leaf players. I'd like to see the Leafs take Robertson, Minten and someone else and offer it to Anaheim for Zegras. I've watched videos of Zegras with team USA and just drool thinking about his perfect set-ups being served to Matthews. Matthews would get 70 every year. He's exceptionally cool under pressure and made many American Jrs look good. If he started in New York or Boston instead of Anaheim he would be untouchable right now.

[@sachads5322]

Zegras loves it in Anaheim. He’d be a nightmare in Toronto with the hype around the team. It would become more of a circus than it already is.

[@robgorham4938]

Move Marner to centre, creates new talk. Berube says he wants to see step up by Marner in playoffs or goodbye.

[@zascorpusa]

They would be fools to resign Mitchy

[@Ferg13]

What about this trade. Marner to Vegas. Pietrangelo + 2/4 depth players ?

[@leebird76]

If Marner has no intention of waiving then I'm OK with letting him walk him and Tavares. It would be bad asset management to sign them. if he has no value like Mirtle thinks. Then he can lose a year in free agency and play for 7-8 mil somewhere else. And take Shanahan with him. So if negotiating is so easy with the leafs. What was Treliving brought in here to do again?🤔

[@sals79]

the biggest mistake of the matthews era comes off the books next year...captain robot.

[@user-ce4tk4ko5v]

They scored 303 goals 2nd most in the league, but can't score in the playoffs

[@Sir_Godz]

no heart

[@smokinjoe45]

Boy, J.D. sure likes to complain about the Leafs, something's always really wrong. I think Tre's done a good job so far with what he has. Our D has definitely gotten better and our goalie situation hopefully will be more stable and better and we'll see what else he has up his sleeve. I think there are some that will complain no matter what unless Mitch get's traded in some "big splash" deal.

[@karolkosakowski5160]

Marner, Robertson, 1st rd pick for Ehlers and Mcgroarty

[@maciekgutkowski8075]

I would have really preferred a 29 year old RD in Pesci or Zadorov over a 34 year old RD in Tanev

[@Rob-ob3sh]

The Leafs D is now solid as I would rather have OEL over Brodie as Brodie was lost and I’m sure OEL is gonna allow Timothy L to play be much better playing with OEL

[@mr0glass]

Our goalie had a .890 last year and we've replaced Brodie with Tanev. OEL can move the puck better than Boosh and Edmundson, obviously. Just those things are huge improvements but probably not good enough to win.

[@GrandpasGaming]

2nd year Knies...Macmann...more goals

[@maciekgutkowski8075]

So is it 100% now the Leafs don’t trade Marner!?

[@TheFranchiseLive]

They dont have many options now. They have to see the year through. Tavares is still a great second line center. OEL was 18 mins a night last year..hard to say how it looks. Tjs defense is underatted and hasnt been acknowledged by anyone in this towns media. Tanevs perfect for Reilly..ROR was a major miss for their depth.

[@spuzzum100]

Tanev is a solid defenseman. He has been his entire career. OEL on the other hand is more of a liability and you're not going to get what you think you are. He only plays when he feels like it.

[@stewdumplings7847]

10 years and a rebuild away from having a team that could win. 1 win in the 2nd round will be this groups Stanley cup. A shame.

[@onlygknows7793]

"They are 2 years away from being 2 years away"

[@Parmen0901]

Glass half full guy…maybe team building isn’t over yet. I’ll bet there will be more…

[@noomJ]

When He plays his Brother's Team

[@leebird76]

The NHL Trade lol what a conundrum. When player is new or having a down year its " his value is low can't trade him " when he's an established or having a good year its " his value is to high can't trade him " .There's never a good time to trade, That's why you're trading to address a need rather then trading for future higher value or trying to one over the other GM. Nylander and Madness Value was never higher and the right time to shake things up. And thanks to Shanahan that ship sailed due to over Valuing his players instead of addressing other area's of weakness. So now this team is looking at 4- 8 years of first round exits because of greed and ego. Shanahan was brought in to change the culture of this team, Turns out its just more of the same.

[@ronmatthews2164]

If the Leafs d are all healthy i would try Liligram on forward.

[@jefferoo5908]

Trade---Nike Robertson and lilligren to Winnipeg for Rutger McGroarty!!!!

[@TheDaysEnd]

Youth movement is what I have been saying. This team never learns. They wasted prime years of the core by not playing hard ball with them come contract time.

[@johnpaulgeorgeandringo3559]

Leafs are willing to extend and pay Marner, Millions of Dollars; but are not willing to pay Roy, 2 Million Dollars more than Larsson?

[@AlistairArbour-qi3xp]

Bro you have locked nmc contracts, minimal cap space and no prospects wtf do expect to be different this year? Next year when marner and tavares are gone then you can have some pieces move

[@macleanclassics]

I'd give the kids a shot... Minten or Holmberg in that 3 C.... but let them settle into it.... none of this two games it's done crap sheldon did... ride it until december and correct the mistakes...

[@kempnicholson3597]

Why are you always looking at the negatives

[@coopersbullhorn]

I guess JD's schtick is to be a panicked pessimist no matter what. Like complaining about the forward group and specifically center when you have Matthews, JT, Kampf, Holmberg, Domi if you need him and Nylander if you need him, plus Minten coming up... How many centers do we need?

[@availuponreq]

Might just have to settle for draft picks for kampf, jarnkrok, Robertson liljagren, Reeves Which would allow leafs to build a better bottom six

[@TheFranchiseLive]

Move Marner to D

[@kaylporter276]

Stanley Cup?? How about showing up and making a deep run.

[@marcob6880]

The big hoss don't run in that race.

[@steverobinson8771]

The Leafs season will hinge on Woll's health. If he stays healthy, I honestly think you guys will have a better season than you're all expecting. If Woll gets injured again... it could get messy.

[@Ferg13]

What I’m most frustrated with is the Hakenpaa signing. No announced yet. Then Rat Simmons comes out and says what he said about Hakenpaa. Man is he a negative Nelly. And a wonder why people don’t like the dude.

[@user-oi3jz6fv8p]

It's obvious to me that the Leafs have changed their perspective on how a team should be constructed. Mirtle seems to have an adult view as to the difficulty of implementing it. Bunkis is reflecting a very immature reaction. Fixing this team will take time.

[@Einstein-420]

Bunkis talkin like it's easy peasy to change the majority of the team and sign anyone u want within a couple weeks. Very annoying to listen to

[@Einstein-420]

Oh and also easily move a guy with a no trade clause cuz all the other teams are clamouring for a guy that can't step up in the playoffs

[@boombastickmonke3509]

He has no clue lol hate when kyper isn’t around

[@zascorpusa]

Dubas screwed the team with those NMCs and crazy $$$ contracts

[@wilseph1]

Classic Leaves overspend come the first second of free agency.

[@maciekgutkowski8075]

And overspending on the wrong guys … you could have had 2 RD that are 29 in Pesci or Zadorov for roughly the same money they got a 34 year old Tanev

[@86daytonaz]

WAKE UP LEAF FANS!!!!!!….. we signed a bunch of old farts !!!!… so they think their gonna win a cup in the next few years?. LMFAO!…. Two Dallas players that have no knees and injury prone! Way to go Leaf Management!👍👍👍👍👍

[@madelyns9908]

They don’t need knees when we have kneelander

[@TMBpk]

You're not even a leafs fan. Cope harder when the Oilers miss the playoffs this year. 😂

[@onlygknows7793]

Blaming our forwards for that one trick pony, dump and chase Keefe. stop talking Marner trade, he is one of the best players in the league and bleeds blue.

[@taeros00]

These two sure are fun. Just the saddest two lamenting the team they "cheer" for. bleh.

[@maxpayne9041]

Speed up the middle is gonna be a problem for the leafs their too slow.

[@jamesnewman48]

They can’t do anything until JT is gone and marner is decided. They can’t make real moves.

[@spazz27]

I love the Toronto way: point out the flaws, the errors, mistakes (which are often many with the Leafs), but never ever offer proper actual solutions or good idea, alternatives, because if you try to do that, you end up looking like like a know-nothing fraud...

[@waldmarwolchuk9483]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@meanmaverick7256]

The Leafs could have gone out and got a top 3 goalie at half value, 3 big right shot D that can easily play in the top 4 at half value and you STILL wouldn't be happy because the only thing you care about is the fact the top 4 are all still here. You been crying for how many years about how bad the Leafs D is/was? Do you honestly think that has ZERO effect on offense?! Do you honestly believe the forwards spending over 1min in the D-Zone just trying to help get the puck out because the Defense suck and somehow still have enough energy to drive offense?! All you see is the stats in the playoffs and pin the blame all on the forwards for not getting it done offensively.. at least try and see the root problem/big picture.

[@Sir_Godz]

whoever Bunkis takes hair advice from should be blocked for life

[@mrzedlyt]

there are none so blind as those who will not see: RIELLY is the problem: lazy, sloppy, entitled!

[@chuckwiseman3772]

The Leafs are not making to playoffs. They have actually gotten weaker. Thank you core 4 for leaving nothing behind to build a real solid team. Costume dressing at its best.

[@onlygknows7793]

Reilly, Tavares, are horrible at what they do but I know they always need elite talent to bail them out , both soft and horrible passers, selfish etc etc. I would also lose Kampf and Jarnkrok. Knies-Minten-Cowan would have won us the cup last year but next season, they will be the most exciting line, it's a young mans league stop hiring grandpas. Retire Brodie, trade Liljgren.Force Tavares out of town. Send Reilly to Vancouver. Rember kids, Reilly and Tavares= Early playoff exit. Btw if Berube is also like Babs, Keefe and employs dump and chase we are not going anywhere our elite players don't and have noit buyig into it and I don't blame them.

[@user-sn8sw2vi8z]

TJ Brodie signs 2 yrs for $3.75 milllion per yr with Chicago black hawks he joins Bertuzzi.

[@lancepayne4035]

Don’t be less than honest, tanev great but the term was bad. Lilly contract bad. Domi contract little high but great. Hakanpaa contactmaybw ok but heard some injury is there, may not play. Oel bad term and little high. Bert gone. I think if you stop and look at what is going on with the leafs they got older, slower but bigger maybe. The team is a little and maybe a lot less of than last year. Marner not gone yet is wrong , the only way they can change up the team, which is what management said, so you decide- better or worse , you know my choose .

[@nicholasbjj9472]

Dawg. Oel played first pair while montour and ekblad were hurt. You two are bafoons

[@Takhar7]

Dawg - the PP SUCKED in Florida with OEL on PP1 during the playoffs, and he was the pointman in the final when the PP didn't score ans they gave up more shorties than PP goals. 😂😊

[@daniel-jm7lj]

James mirtle wears a girdle