Post-Game Talk: 2023-2024 Leafs Roster/Changes/Turnovers & Replacement(s)

[hockeywiz542]

Can the Maple Leafs get better by trading one of their stars?

It feels like something has to change with the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer, but can a 111-point team get better by trading one of its core forwards? Justin Bourne looks at a few options to consider.

www.sportsnet.ca

Back to logic, though. The Leafs are coming off seasons of 115 and 111 points and they beat the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs in the playoffs. The Vegas Golden Knights just won the Stanley Cup a year removed from missing the playoffs, while the Florida Panthers snuck in by a point. It’s hard to feel like Toronto is that far off, or that they need a full overhaul.

So if they were to trade one of their core pieces, how do they get -- and I want to phrase this correctly... how do they get different without getting worse? They’re already in the clump of teams good enough to win the Cup. But this exact formula hasn’t worked, fans are angry, and you need to start with the vibes and energy in a different place.

For clarification: You already know that we’re talking about trading Mitch Marner or William Nylander, right? If Auston Matthews doesn’t want to re-sign that changes things, but assuming he does (and there is reason to believe he will), they’re obviously not trading him. And John Tavares is the captain with an ironclad no-trade clause, so he’s sticking around.

So if you were willing to trade Marner or Nylander -- maybe the latter on a sign-and-trade? -- what are some of the options you could pursue to get different, without getting worse (and hopefully improve a little)?

You’d love to go into a playoff series feeling like you clearly have the best goaltender, wouldn’t you?

I realize that, on the talent front, Leafs fans may not love it. Marner has twice been voted the best right-winger in the NHL, he’s a perennial 100-point-ish guy, and he’s in his prime. He gets Selke votes. He’s a star.

But he also makes almost $11 million for the next two seasons, and if we’re not leaving anything unsaid, his playoff performances have left something to be desired.

If that extra $6 million per season frees you up to pay for, say, a big portion of Dmitry Orlov’s next contract in free agency, how much better do you like the Leafs with Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, an ascendant Matthew Knies, and a few other nice pieces complemented by Saros in net and Orlov on D? Cap space is an asset, and when you trade a player for nothing (think: Max Pacioretty to Carolina for “nothing,” as Vegas did last off-season), you have to think of that open money as the asset gained. It’s a flexible asset that can become another valuable piece.

 

[hockeywiz542]

If the Maple Leafs need cap space, buying out Matt Murray could help

Treliving has a lot of balls to juggle, from possible Matthews and Nylander extensions to the goaltending situation to free agency.

www.thestar.com

No more Justin Holl, no more Alex Kerfoot, and no more Michael Bunting.

Nothing is official, but it’s no surprise that word is beginning to spread that the perennially cap-strapped Maple Leafs will be moving on from some of their players.

In a very weak free-agent pool, all will command contract dollars that will be beyond what the Leafs can fit into their cap.

But free agency is perhaps furthest from the mind of Brad Treliving as he enters his third week as the Leafs GM. Time is ticking toward some sort of clarity for the team’s future. The calendar is unforgiving. And cap space is at a premium, somewhere in the $15 million to $17 million (U.S.) range of available space for the Leafs.

...................

Other free agents

The list around the league is deep but not very strong at the top. If any unrestricted free agent receives more than $7 million a year, it will be a surprise.

If the Leafs strike out on O’Reilly, and move on from Bunting, the most likely target would be Boston’s Tyler Bertuzzi. Toronto wanted to trade for him when the Red Wings made him available. He, too, will be asking for a cap hit higher than $5 million but he can produce offence — he has scored 30 goals in a season — and brings grit to the table.

Ivan Barbashev will be highly sought after, too, after playing on the top line and winning the Stanley Cup in Vegas. He can score and he can skate, and would look as good with Matthews as he did with Jack Eichel. Barbashev is another player who would be in the $5-million-a-season range.

If Schenn doesn’t work out, there’s Florida’s Radko Gudas. He’s 33, he’ll do anything to win, and he would probably be available in the $3-million range.

An intriguing name to consider is Sean Monahan, who played for Treliving in Calgary and got an eight-year, $44,625,000 contract. He’s from Brampton and just 28, but he is coming off a litany of injuries. He may be willing to sign a bet-on-himself deal to try to become the goal-scorer of his early days.

Another name with a link to Treliving is Calgary’s Milan Lucic, who still wants to play at 35. If he took the kind of contract that Jason Spezza and Mark Giordano agreed to in Toronto — close to the league minimum — the Leafs could find a spot for a character player with a tough side on the fourth line.

 

[Nineteen67]

If they’re signing Lucic Treliving is worse than beta boy at filling out a roster. Just find a Marlie and see if he can play himself into a NHL player.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

The Leaf's need six forwards and couple defence and a goalie. I think they only have 9/10 mil to spend. It's not looking good.

 

[pcruz]

The Leaf's need six forwards and couple defence and a goalie. I think they only have 9/10 mil to spend. It's not looking good.

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Just under 15 million I'm space.

15/23 signed.
Mostly bottom line players to fill in.

 

[the Mighty Oak]

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Just under 15 million I'm space.

15/23 signed.
Mostly bottom line players to fill in.

I'm thinking they have 5 legit top 6 guys and three top 4 defence men. So they need to add one top six guy, a 3rd line centre. and one legit top 4 Dman and a goalie That will almost eat up all their cap space.

 

[Erndog]

I'm thinking they have 5 legit top 6 guys and three top 4 defence men. So they need to add one top six guy, a 3rd line centre. and one legit top 4 Dman and a goalie That will almost eat up all their cap space.

Well yeah exactly.

They also likely deal/buyout Murray saving additional monies and run with Samsonov/Woll.

Team will have close to $20M to spend on:

A) top 6 forward (wing)
B) 3rd line C
C) couple bottom 6 players (think Brown and Perry around $1M)
D) a dman

Very, very doable.

 

[Maple Leaf]

I think they can turn this ship around and be knocking at the door if you know what I mean

 

[the Mighty Oak]

Well yeah exactly.

They also likely deal/buyout Murray saving additional monies and run with Samsonov/Woll.

Team will have close to $20M to spend on:

A) top 6 forward (wing)
B) 3rd line C
C) couple bottom 6 players (think Brown and Perry around $1M)
D) a dman

Very, very doable.

Sure, it can be doable. but it has to be winnable at the same time. That's the problem.

 

[LeafSteel]

Barbashev-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-Marner
Comtois/Robertson-O'Reilly-Jarnkrok/Lafferty
Acciari-Haula-Hathaway/Lafferty

Rielly-Pesce/Mayfield
McCabe-Liljegren
Gio-Timmins
OEL-Schenn

Samsonov
Woll

Move out Brodie ideally, or keep him on 3LHD with Timmins, leaving the decision for 4LHD between Gio or OEL.

 

[ULF_55]

Move out Brodie ideally, or keep him on 3LHD with Timmins, leaving the decision for 4LHD between Gio or OEL.

Did not know Brodie's contract was so bad.

7.5mm actual dollars.

 

[ACC1224]

Most of that is speculation and not fact. It would be dumb for Treliving to come right out and say yes we are for sure trading a core four piece. That would drive the value of any of those guys right down. Not to mention a good way to have the locker room turn against you immediately.

I think there will be some change we just have to wait and let Brad do his work.

Yes it’s never smart to announce your intentions but how would it drive their value down?

 

[justashadowof]

A terrible summer for UFAs you say? Excellent summer to jump ship for a GM whose yearly plan has been about re-filling the bottom half of his lineup with UFAs.

 

[LeafSteel]

Did not know Brodie's contract was so bad.

7.5mm actual dollars.

It really is, particularly how he played down the stretch last year.

Maybe overuse, but also maybe the start of a decline.

Beyond the obvious hope to move Murray's salary, and not bringing back UFA's like Holl and Kerfoot, getting out of Brodie's contract while he still has some value is also an important piece of necessary business, both to improve our defence and free up $5m in cap space.

 

[Mess]

Did not know Brodie's contract was so bad.

7.5mm actual dollars.

Yup Treliving is inheriting a mess, as Brodie is owed $7.5 mil in real dollars thanks to a back-loaded contract that pays him more now near then end of his carrer then when he was in his prime 4 years ago.

 

[Maple Leaf]

A terrible summer for UFAs you say? Excellent summer to jump ship for a GM whose yearly plan has been about re-filling the bottom half of his lineup with UFAs.

Maybe you can build a balanced team like a certain cup winner who I will not name you know what I mean?

 

[hockeywiz542]

NHL Rumour Roundup: Maple Leafs trying for max-term deal with Matthews

It’s unclear when the news will come, and what the number will be, but it appears good news is on the horizon when it comes to Auston Matthews staying with the Toronto Maple Leafs beyond next season.

www.sportsnet.ca

One piece of “other” business is the fate of Michael Bunting in blue and white. Bunting, a UFA come July 1, found incredible success with the Maple Leafs upon signing a two-year, $1.9-million pact with the club two summers ago. So strong has his play been, he may have priced himself out of what Toronto can offer.

“I heard they had a really short meeting or conversation with Bunting and I think everybody knows here that it’s gonna be very hard to do but I don’t think they’ve specifically said ‘no’ yet,” Friedman said. “I think they’re gonna get through this week and kind of have a better idea.”

 

[ULF_55]

Yup Treliving is inheriting a mess, as Brodie is owed $7.5 mil in real dollars thanks to a back-loaded contract that pays him more now near then end of his carrer then when he was in his prime 4 years ago.

View attachment 718822

And Treliving saddled the Flames with an 8 year 10.5mm cap hit 30 year old winger who needs a goal scorer to produce points. Averages 23 goals per year.

Not a promising scenario.

 

[Mess]

And Treliving saddled the Flames with an 8 year 10.5mm cap hit 30 year old winger who needs a goal scorer to produce points. Averages 23 goals per year.

Not a promising scenario.

Leafs former GM saddled the Leafs with a winger that makes $10.9 mil AAV that needs goal scorers to produce points and averages 24 goals per year.

Wonder what his new deal is going to look like when it is up for renewal in 2 years. That is why some Leaf fans want this situation to change via trade so the same mistakes are not made.

“Those Who Do Not Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It.”

Maybe our new GM will learn from his past mistakes, and hopefully not double down on inherited ones.

"Two wrongs don't make a right"

 

[ShaneFalco]

Team rarely starts on time
They were apparently unprepared for the Panthers
He mixes lines up all season but sticks with what isn't working in the playoffs
MM and MM could be playing terribly but get even more ice time
He's weak, a mouthpiece, and the team seems to tune him out
Let's extend him!

 

[Mess]

Here is an easy link to make .. Newly bought out OEL by Vancouver with links to Treliving and Doan from Arizona.

With the buyout Ekman-Larsson get to double dip and might be able to get him signed to a nice contract. Always been a fan myself.

 

[Nineteen67]

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Just under 15 million I'm space.

15/23 signed.
Mostly bottom line players to fill in.

If they want to make a run after JT is gone and they keep The core and Rielly they’ll need
1 first pair D,
2 second pair,
1 top 6 C
2 top 6 wingers
3 or 4 bottom 6 players

Maybe a 1 goalie.

They have lots of time to gather these players, but do they have the resources?

 

[notbias]

Yup Treliving is inheriting a mess, as Brodie is owed $7.5 mil in real dollars thanks to a back-loaded contract that pays him more now near then end of his carrer then when he was in his prime 4 years ago.

View attachment 718822

Dubas inherited an amazing opportunity with players like Zaitsev and Marleau.

Treliving is inheriting a mess with players like Brodie.

 

[justashadowof]

If the Maple Leafs need cap space, buying out Matt Murray could help

Treliving has a lot of balls to juggle, from possible Matthews and Nylander extensions to the goaltending situation to free agency.

www.thestar.com

Did Kevin McGran just write that article from the speculations made in this thread?

 

[Mess]

Dubas inherited an amazing opportunity with players like Zaitsev and Marleau.

Treliving is inheriting a mess with players like Brodie.

There are certainly bigger messes than Brodie like Matt Murray who has $6 mil in actually Leafs money on the books.

Only with a $7.5 mil base salary next year that would not be an easy contract to trade for an aging Dman.

Treliving inherited Brodie with the Calgary job and let him walk years ago as UFA unwilling to pay him his current deal the Leafs gave him so he certainly can't be too happy to be inheriting it with the job now. He also thought he had dealt Brodie to Toronto for Nazem Kadri but Naz nixed the deal with his NTC. So seeing as our current GM has attempted to part ways with TJ Brodie numerous times in the past, so you know he is not a player the new GM sees as a building block for his new team.