Speculation: Armchair GM Thread

[BigFatCat999]

I’m wondering what the cost would be if Toronto were to trade both Marner and Tavares in the same deal

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

I’m wondering what the cost would be if Toronto were to trade both Marner and Tavares in the same deal

Is there some reasoning that makes any logical sense that a division leader (at the 50 game mark) would trade 2 PPG forwards (Tavares is 2 off) in the same deadline, let alone the same deal?

 

[BigFatCat999]

Is there some reasoning that makes any logical sense that a division leader (at the 50 game mark) would trade 2 PPG forwards (Tavares is 2 off) in the same deadline, let alone the same deal?

21 million dollars, both UFAs, just curious

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

21 million dollars, both UFAs, just curious

It would have to be a very weird situation where the return is able to replace their production, aren't albatross contracts, presumably aren't UFAs, and are good fits with the Leafs roster and system and then for the other side to then be able to re-sign Marner and/or Tavares and/or trade them for the desired asset return. It's a unicorn of a trade.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

We can just sign Tavares in the summer as a UFA. I think he'd fit beautifully on our roster, he checks basically all the boxes! Just print off a copy of the Stamkos contract, scratch off his name and write Tavares in on top (preferably with blue crayon). Done!

 

[Armourboy]

We can just sign Tavares in the summer as a UFA. I think he'd fit beautifully on our roster, he checks basically all the boxes! Just print off a copy of the Stamkos contract, scratch off his name and write Tavares in on top (preferably with blue crayon). Done!

He's definitely old enough.

 

[ShagDaddy]

With the amount of cap space Trotz has and the organization’s inability to draft forwards, if I’m the GM I offer sheet every one of these this summer.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

It'll be more difficult to construct un-matchable contracts on offer sheets next season if the Cap is going up as much as expected. Teams will have that extra bit of breathing room to absorb any uncomfortable offers.

Plus I guess where we're possibly going to be sitting in the draft order for the forseeable future, it'd be pretty risky to start throwing our 1st round picks out there... we could be in the running for players even better than these in every draft for the next little while.

But who knows, we'll just have to wait and see how everything looks. Good GMs should consider all options. I think St.Louis obviously found the perfect scenario grabbing Broberg and Holloway. For just a 2nd and a 3rd they walked away with two solid young regular players. I suspect more GMs will set aside their old school solidarity and start looking at least at these kinds of lesser "bargain" offer sheets at least. Smart ones will, anyway. I'm not entirely optimistic that Trotz will fall into that group.

 

[ShagDaddy]

I’d give away the Predators first this year for Johnston with no hesitation.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I’d give away the Predators first this year for Johnston with no hesitation.

Me too. This year's isn't on the table, though. Would you give the next 4 1sts?

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Me too. This year's isn't on the table, though. Would you give the next 4 1sts?

Not a chance. He is good, but not that good. If I thought we were going to be picking in 20s each of those years it might be different.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Not a chance. He is good, but not that good. If I thought we were going to be picking in 20s each of those years it might be different.

Yeah, I agree. Plus we're paying Johnston more than $11.5M on that contract. You have to do it to get him. And he's a fine young player. But if you give up 4 top-10 picks and pay a PPG player that much money, I don't think it's a good idea.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Holy ****

 

[ILikeItILoveIt]

Holy ****

Will the Preds remain a Cap Team as those numbers climb?

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Or the full view now...

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

So if you bring the new Cap number to next season's projection....

2025-26 Nashville Predators

Forsberg ($8.5M) - Stamkos ($8M) - Marchessault ($5.5M)
Novak ($3.5M) - O'Reilly ($4.5M) - Sissons ($2.857M)
L'Heureux ($0.8633M) - Svechkov ($0.925M) - Evangelista (RFA ?$2.5M?)
Jankowski ($0.800M) - McCarron ($0.900M) - Smith ($1M)
Hinostroza ($0.775M)

Josi ($9.059M) - Barron ($1.15M)
Skjei ($7M) - Blankenburg ($0.775M)
Lauzon ($2M) - Schenn ($2.75M)
Stastney ($0.825M)
Wilsby (RFA ?$0.825M?)

Saros ($7.74M)
Annunen ($0.8375M)

Ekholm retention: $0.250M
Turris Buyout: $2M
Duchene Buyout: $6.5556M

TOTAL: $82.3874M
2025-26 NHL Cap: $95.5M
REMAINING CAP SPACE: $13.1126M

Lots of space to extend Nyquist...

Or jettison some of the chaff and have $20M or more to spend.

Although I guess lots and lots of teams will have lots of $$$ to spend, so it could definitely be tough to get the biggest names. All the players at every level of free agency is going to win pretty big, however. Obviously with Hinostroza still in the above we are going to sign at least 1 UFA, bump Sissons down. At the very least.

 

[Roman Yoshi]

I doubt the Preds are a cap team in that scenario. But who knows, Trotz retirement home for hockey players may be open for business this summer too.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I doubt the Preds are a cap team in that scenario. But who knows, Trotz retirement home for hockey players may be open for business this summer too.

I'm not sure the UFA crop is super exciting, obviously Carolina will lock up Rantanen, I don't think they made that trade for a rental? Players are going to get PAID though.

...

CapWages - NHL Salary Cap Data

CapWages provides the latest NHL salary cap data and player contracts.

capwages.com

 

[ShagDaddy]

Me too. This year's isn't on the table, though. Would you give the next 4 1sts?

He’s a 21 year old 1C. Do you think the Predators will get a 1C with their next 4 1sts?

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

There are going to be some mediocre players making some big money the next few seasons.

He’s a 21 year old 1C. Do you think the Predators will get a 1C with their next 4 1sts?

No. But we will also need other young core players to put in place around him as we rebuild, which having no 1sts for 4 years is going to put a pretty massive dent in.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

There are going to be some mediocre players making some big money the next few seasons.


No. But we will also need other young core players to put in place around him as we rebuild, which having no 1sts for 4 years is going to put a pretty massive dent in.

He's also not a "franchise star" level of 1C. He's more in the Johansen/O'Reilly/Legwand category. Which is still good. 148 pts even in 214 NHL games is nice. I do think he can rise up to 1 PPG in his peak seasons as he matures. Obviously every NHL team would love to have Wyatt Johnston. We drafted Svechkov ahead of him. Oops. But. Yeah, if we can't do better with 4 1st round picks, some of which will be in the top-10, then wow, that's a horrifically cynical view of our drafting ability. I don't want to be THAT cynical about the draft.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

He’s a 21 year old 1C. Do you think the Predators will get a 1C with their next 4 1sts?

I will definitely consider it a major FAIL if we don't. We should have at least 3 top-10 picks in the next 5 drafts. One this year. Then at least 2 more amongst the ones we'd have to give up to land Johnston. Who knows what year the other tanking teams rise up and we're left picking #1 overall. It could happen in any of those 4 years. If we can't get 2 or 3 Johnston-level players out of the upcoming draft stretch, then we've really screwed up abysmally. Which is not entirely impossible... just... I wouldn't want to lock that in by giving those picks away for a player who we already KNOW is not going to be a superstar.