Rumor: 2023-2024 Trade Rumors and Free Agency: Offseason Edition

[The Abusement Park]

I just want guys that contribute something when they aren’t contributing offensively. We had way too many guys that don’t add anything when they aren’t scoring. For some guys it was age, some engagement, some just general lack of ability

To be fair right now we have too many guys that don't provide ANY scoring at all.

 

[Avsboy]

Galchenyuk and Drouin practicing on the same ice

 

[Galactico]

That’s exactly what I’m expecting to happen unfortunately.

What I would love to see happen is:

To Col:
Kuz ($2m retained)

To Wsh:
2023 first
Newhook
Ranta

Sign:
Monahan (1x$3.5m)
Drouin (2x$1m)
Eller (2x$2m)
Malgin, Meyers (1x$1m)
Byram (2x$3m)

Run lines or:

Drouin-MacK-Nuke
Lehkonen-Kuz-Rantanen
Malgin-Monahan-Foudy
Meyers-Eller-LOC

Toews-Makar
Byram-Manson
Girard-Hunt/Malinski

Lol any team with Drouin on the first line is not making it out of the 1st round. Eller at 2M is a waste of cap space.

We’re the most injured team in the Universe and we should sign a injury prone center that just missed almost the whole season for 3.5M while we have 5M undersized defenseman playing on the 3rd pair?

 

[Linds]

That’s exactly what I’m expecting to happen unfortunately.

What I would love to see happen is:

To Col:
Kuz ($2m retained)

To Wsh:
2023 first
Newhook
Ranta

Sign:
Monahan (1x$3.5m)
Drouin (2x$1m)
Eller (2x$2m)
Malgin, Meyers (1x$1m)
Byram (2x$3m)

Run lines or:

Drouin-MacK-Nuke
Lehkonen-Kuz-Rantanen
Malgin-Monahan-Foudy
Meyers-Eller-LOC

Toews-Makar
Byram-Manson
Girard-Hunt/Malinski

5 of the bottom 6 are hardly an improvement from this past failure in the playoffs

 

[Gruyeriev]

How fast Jesper Bratt has fallen in the eyes of the fans. I remember NJ fans saying this guys was such a puck hound.

What’s the deal? Does he need a fresh start or different system to thrive?

 

[Spleenless Wonder21]

I recognize the Avs are in a cap crunch, therefore they need to properly manage assets, IE, not lose Toews to UFA for nothing. But, given Colorado’s seemingly perpetual struggle to build a stable of players who are difficult to play against moving Toews while retaining Girard is…suboptimal come April.

 

[MacKaRant]

I recognize the Avs are in a cap crunch, therefore they need to properly manage assets, IE, not lose Toews to UFA for nothing. But, given Colorado’s seemingly perpetual struggle to build a stable of players who are difficult to play against moving Toews while retaining Girard is…suboptimal come April.

I also don't think they will consider trading a legit top pair defenseman and Makar's best partner in a year they want to compete for the Cup. Even if it means Toews walks for nothing. You need value contracts to win, and he's probably at the best value among the whole team, except for maybe Makar.

 

[MacKaRant]

The correct and ONLY way to proceed is to negotiate an extension with Matthews right up to the draft. They'll probably have to pay him $13M x 8 years to keep him and that's IF he's willing to re-up for 8 years in Toronto.

Technically, I think it is illegal to talk about extensions until July 1. I'm sure that whoever is leading the Leafs at that time will have some informal discussions about the parameters of an extension with his agent, but it's my understanding that this is technically against the rules.

Also, I think we can look at MacKinnon's contract situation and how long it took to resolve to realize that the Leafs would need to massively overpay for Matthews to commit to an extension so early in the UFA period. Matthews' leverage and options on where to play the rest of his career only go up the longer he waits (barring a career-changing injury), so why would he rush into a deal?

 

[Spilot23]

I think Drouin could thrive with us. Where all the pressure is off. I mean everything you do in Montreal is under microscope and it's even worse for a french canadian. He wouldn't need to be that 3rd overall pick or the lord savior for us.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I think Drouin could thrive with us. Where all the pressure is off. I mean everything you do in Montreal is under microscope and it's even worse for a french canadian. He wouldn't need to be that 3rd overall pick or the lord savior for us.

Who's to say he's even the same player he was in Tampa, where he was propped up another player? A lot of guys can get numbers if on MacKinnons or Kucherovs wing. It's like people think there needs to be some kind of welfare system so that Drouin can be successful. He hasn't earned that anymore than several other guys.

 

[0BGYN Kenobi]

Trying to get creative with potential 2C trade targets led me to a name that I haven't seen mentioned her yet: Ryan Strome

He has a reasonable cap hit and term, and likely wouldn't cost too much to acquire. He's shoots right, and has shown the ability to put up 50ish points consistently

There's a decent chance he's available, because Anaheim has Zegras, McTavish, and soon Fantilli up the middle alread

 

[Spilot23]

Who's to say he's even the same player he was in Tampa, where he was propped up another player? A lot of guys can get numbers if on MacKinnons or Kucherovs wing. It's like people think there needs to be some kind of welfare system so that Drouin can be successful. He hasn't earned that anymore than several other guys.

Never said he would be the player he was in Tampa. I only referred to Montreal with all the pressure there is. As someone from Quebec who has to see these Drouin articles or bashing since he has been a Habs it would benefit him greatly being somewhere else where all the attention is off. We know the guy has skills and if he’s cheap why not try him out? After last playoffs where we did not have any kind of offense after Mack and Mikko IMO it wouldn’t hurt if again he’s cheap to acquire as reclamation project.

 

[Bender]

Why is Killorn's name even mentioned in this thread? Do we look like we can sign 34 yo wingers making 4M+?

He's also coming off a 64 point season - I don't know what that contract is going to look like but I hope it's not from the Avs unless it's only for 1 year and for under $4.5M.

I also don't think they will consider trading a legit top pair defenseman and Makar's best partner in a year they want to compete for the Cup. Even if it means Toews walks for nothing. You need value contracts to win, and he's probably at the best value among the whole team, except for maybe Makar.

I really think DT7 is coming back to the Avs and that extension will be announced in early July. He's just too good of a fit on this team to trade away. I think he'll cost less than most people on here seem to think he'll cost. I think he'll sign for 6-7 years at somewhere between $6.5M - $7.25M per.

I'm not necessarily convinced he wants to wait another year to test free agency just so he can make $8M X 7 but probably for a non-contending team. He may find out as Gaudreau did that when you're chasing big bucks, you don't necessarily get your pick of ANY of the 32 franchises.

I've said all along that D-Toews will re-sign with the Avs. I'll be completely shocked if he doesn't.

Technically, I think it is illegal to talk about extensions until July 1. I'm sure that whoever is leading the Leafs at that time will have some informal discussions about the parameters of an extension with his agent, but it's my understanding that this is technically against the rules.

Also, I think we can look at MacKinnon's contract situation and how long it took to resolve to realize that the Leafs would need to massively overpay for Matthews to commit to an extension so early in the UFA period. Matthews' leverage and options on where to play the rest of his career only go up the longer he waits (barring a career-changing injury), so why would he rush into a deal?

I don't think it's illegal or against the rules to 'talk' to the player about an extension before July 1st but I believe you just can't publicly announce that you've reached a deal. Like when we got Landeskog signed before UFA started - that was negotiated technically before July 1st.

I know that players that are on a 1 year deal can negotiate an extension as soon as January 1st of the expiring year of that contract. Players on multi-year contracts have to wait until there is exactly 1 year left on their deals (July 1st) until the officially announce the extension. However, teams would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't talk to the agent and get a feel for what's happening at least a couple of weeks before the draft, so that they can make decisions on the future of their team.

As far as Matthews goes, the leafs need to get this done - ASAP - because he has a NMC that's kicking in with 1 year left on his deal. So, IF they do not reach an agreement on a long-term contract, Matthews can just play out his last year in Toronto and then 'consider his options' -> AKA sign in Arizona as a UFA and the leafs get NOTHING.

I just saw an article on NHL.com that says he wants to be there (in Toronto) so they better not screw this up! (lol they probably will)

 

[Grigowski]

I just saw an article on NHL.com that says he wants to be there (in Toronto)

Did Matthews say that or is this something reporters think what could be....?

 

[John Mandalorian]

Never said he would be the player he was in Tampa. I only referred to Montreal with all the pressure there is. As someone from Quebec who has to see these Drouin articles or bashing since he has been a Habs it would benefit him greatly being somewhere else where all the attention is off. We know the guy has skills and if he’s cheap why not try him out? After last playoffs where we did not have any kind of offense after Mack and Mikko IMO it wouldn’t hurt if again he’s cheap to acquire as reclamation project.

If he can provide bottom 6 offense (ie "After Mack"), ok fine. But most of the time people are talking about re-uniting him with MacKinnon on a line.

He had skills in juniors. Not so much the NHL. Cap space is finite and involves opportunity costs (and yes that's a two way street) but it's not like this guy is without risk.

 

[Toothless Legend]

Trying to get creative with potential 2C trade targets led me to a name that I haven't seen mentioned her yet: Ryan Strome

He has a reasonable cap hit and term, and likely wouldn't cost too much to acquire. He's shoots right, and has shown the ability to put up 50ish points consistently

There's a decent chance he's available, because Anaheim has Zegras, McTavish, and soon Fantilli up the middle alread

Don't like the term. If we're bargain shopping from the Ducks, I'd rather take a swing at Henrique.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Trying to get creative with potential 2C trade targets led me to a name that I haven't seen mentioned her yet: Ryan Strome

He has a reasonable cap hit and term, and likely wouldn't cost too much to acquire. He's shoots right, and has shown the ability to put up 50ish points consistently

There's a decent chance he's available, because Anaheim has Zegras, McTavish, and soon Fantilli up the middle alread

Strome(both of them really) are guys who can produce at a fine clip, but aren’t great top 6 options on cup contending teams.

 

[Bender]

Did Matthews say that or is this something reporters think what could be....?

Matthews wants to remain with Maple Leafs beyond next season | NHL.com

Center's 'intention is to be here,' can become unrestricted free agent after 2023-24

www.nhl.com

 

[Muffin]

Did Matthews say that or is this something reporters think what could be....?

Every player says that. Pretty sure Tkachuk and Gaudreau said that publicly as well. When he says he wants to stay he means pay me what he wants and he'll stay.

 

[Grigowski]

Every player says that. Pretty sure Tkachuk and Gaudreau said that publicly as well. When he says he wants to stay he means pay me what he wants and he'll stay.

This.

 

[Avs91]

Every player says that. Pretty sure Tkachuk and Gaudreau said that publicly as well. When he says he wants to stay he means pay me what he wants and he'll stay.

Yep, there's no real reason not to. If it doesn't work out and he leaves, he can just say 'well I really wanted to but I had to do what's best... yadda yadda'. Didn't Taveras say something similar with the Islanders too?

 

[AvsCOL]

I think the Avs sign Toews and Byram long term if they can. A bridge deal is most likely for Byram, but if Toews will take 8 x $7m I think the Avs do it. Build your D core around 4, 7, and 8 and the rest will work itself out. The luxury of having one of, if not the best first pairing in hockey, then rolling out Bowen Byram can’t be overstated. The extensions would require Manson to be traded after his NTC expires next offseason.

 

[Ararana]

The Athletic's trade board:

 

[Balthazar]

The Athletic's trade board:

View attachment 709269
View attachment 709270

lol @ 4 Jets in the top 8

IMO if we get any center on that list it's going to be Schmaltz

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Who's to say he's even the same player he was in Tampa, where he was propped up another player? A lot of guys can get numbers if on MacKinnons or Kucherovs wing. It's like people think there needs to be some kind of welfare system so that Drouin can be successful. He hasn't earned that anymore than several other guys.

I mean... even last year he played at exactly a 0.5 PPG pace. 29 points in 58 games, on a god awful Habs team.

Every year of his career he's been a 40-50 point guy essentially.

Again if the Avs can get him for league minimum and can get 45-50- points out of him for $775k it's an absolute no brainer of a deal.