Engvall & Kerfoot - UFA's

[cipher]

A lot has been written about two these players on these boards and while I've been somewhat ok with their play in previous years I feel like their playing at a level or two below their normal standard at the quarter point in the season.

While not traditional point producers, at this time they have the following middling stats:

Engvall - GP-21, G-2, A-3, P-5
Kerfoot - GP-22, G-1, A-6, P-7

This is their UFA year, and they are both playing for their next contract which unfortunately for them isn't looking promising at the moment. Kerfoot currently earns 3,500,000 and Engvall currently earns 2,250,000 which is a combined 5.75 cap hit to the team. If their play continues along the current level, I can see them getting a drop in their next contract unless a team is desperate and over pays.

Personally, after this year, I think it's time the Leafs look to replace these players. Whether that is via internal options, a trade, or the free agent market.

I'm curious what other Leaf fans think. Will these players be resigned this offseason or will we be looking elsewhere?

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[Teeder Keon]

 

[Teeder Keon]

Ker

 

[Leafsfan74]

A lot has been written about two these players on these boards and while I've been somewhat ok with their play in previous years I feel like their playing at a level or two below their normal standard at the quarter point in the season.

While not traditional point producers, at this time they have the following middling stats:

Engvall - GP-21, G-2, A-3, P-5
Kerfoot - GP-22, G-1, A-6, P-7

This is their UFA year, and they are both playing for their next contract which unfortunately for them isn't looking promising at the moment. Kerfoot currently earns 3,500,000 and Engvall currently earns 2,250,000 which is a combined 5.75 cap hit to the team. If their play continues along the current level, I can see them getting a drop in their next contract unless a team is desperate and over pays.

Personally, after this year, I think it's time the Leafs look to replace these players. Whether that is via internal options, a trade, or the free agent market.

I'm curious what other Leaf fans think. Will these players be resigned this offseason or will we be looking elsewhere?

If I am Dubas, I probably look to move both of them at the deadline and I may still not be done with just those moves. This has to be the make or break year, regular season isn't motivating fans to plan the parade.

Leafs COULD be successful with two offensive lines and two shutdown lines, except it hasn't succeeded in 6 years with this group so why would it be different this playoffs with the same construction?

Both players have value, especially Kerfoot. Maybe not as much as they appeared to have in the past but more than their current stats would suggest, special team play alone is valuable. They could find a suitor with a contending team in the West for instance looking for a rental

Dubas might be able to make unique moves this deadline with Western contenders who are looking to move similar players they have who are out of favor production wise for a playoff run. A change of scenery is often all it takes for players to find their old groove.

The question is, will he dismiss the regular season and look hard and objectively at what appear to be holes in an "ideal" playoff lineup? We cannot be so stubborn as to believe that playoff Gamers are going to rise out of this lineup. They need a spark fom guys who will really sacrifice to win a Cup.

Not a round or a blue ribbon, a Cup If he has cap space he must use every last dollar to improve.

 

[Buds17]

I suppose both players have been underwhelming thus far (although it looks like last season may have been an outlier for Engvall rather than the start of something more). I'd probably be surprised with either returning for next season. If anything, Kerfoot might have to take a slight dip in either AAV or term. Engvall seems as though he'll be in tough to match or exceed his current AAV.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

I would keep Engvall if he signs under 1.5 and consider re signing him under 2 depending how the rest of this season goes and beyond. He’s huge, a great skater, very good defensively. If he played with more snarl it would go a long way.

Kerfoot is redundant with Jarnkrok here who’s a better version of him imo.

 

[Jojalu]

If I am Dubas, I probably look to move both of them at the deadline and I may still not be done with just those moves. This has to be the make or break year, regular season isn't motivating fans to plan the parade.

Leafs COULD be successful with two offensive lines and two shutdown lines, except it hasn't succeeded in 6 years with this group so why would it be different this playoffs with the same construction?

Both players have value, especially Kerfoot. Maybe not as much as they appeared to have in the past but more than their current stats would suggest, special team play alone is valuable. They could find a suitor with a contending team in the West for instance looking for a rental

Dubas might be able to make unique moves this deadline with Western contenders who are looking to move similar players they have who are out of favor production wise for a playoff run. A change of scenery is often all it takes for players to find their old groove.

The question is, will he dismiss the regular season and look hard and objectively at what appear to be holes in an "ideal" playoff lineup? We cannot be so stubborn as to believe that playoff Gamers are going to rise out of this lineup. They need a spark fom guys who will really sacrifice to win a Cup.

Not a round or a blue ribbon, a Cup If he has cap space he must use every last dollar to improve.

Kerfoot has been good in the playoffs except for the stupid penalties.

It is pretty rare to see a contending team trade their UFA's but if they can trade for different UFA's that fit the needs better than I would be happy.

 

[Gilmour1996]

I don't mind them next year as long as they are willing to sign 1-year contracts at league minimum. So they'll both have a year to prove to every team in the league that they deserve more money. This might sound cheap and unfair, but I really don't like either player.

 

[Leafs87]

Personally I’d prefer they’re replaced by Holmberg and Steeves.

The leafs also need some more size (not a goon) that can play in big games and create some energy, forecheck and so on to round out the bottom six

 

[Craig Button]

Trade them to Chicago for

Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou

 

[Leafsfan74]

Personally I’d prefer they’re replaced by Holmberg and Steeves.

The leafs also need some more size (not a goon) that can play in big games and create some energy, forecheck and so on to round out the bottom six

I'd argue they need multiple such players. Clearly he is a bit of a unicorn, but look.at what Wilson does to his team when he is in the lineup. Just hard nosed muckers who get in, cycle, battle in corners, get to the front.

Leafs are learning to play a more simple "get the puck on net and good things happen" game (finally). This is absolutely necessary at times in the playoffs when space isn't there. It isn't enough IMO.

If you can run a couple of lines who provide a spark and a physical cycle, you make the challenge for the opposition defenses more daunting. I've seen Leaf teams in the past who were worn down in series by such opponents that by the second or third round they were physically spent.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

They can both take a hike. Hell they should be gone even sooner in trades to bring in guys with more scoring touch and grit.

 

[ITM]

Kerfoot has been good in the playoffs except for the stupid penalties.

It is pretty rare to see a contending team trade their UFA's but if they can trade for different UFA's that fit the needs better than I would be happy.

Kerfoot’s drop passes are another plus.

 

[Menzinger]

I'm fine with them filling out the roster this season, but think the team likely moves on in the offseason from both.

Engvall in particular is getting to the point where it's better off finding the next cheaper in house replacement option given his rising salary.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

If I am Dubas, I probably look to move both of them at the deadline and I may still not be done with just those moves. This has to be the make or break year, regular season isn't motivating fans to plan the parade.

Leafs COULD be successful with two offensive lines and two shutdown lines, except it hasn't succeeded in 6 years with this group so why would it be different this playoffs with the same construction?

Both players have value, especially Kerfoot. Maybe not as much as they appeared to have in the past but more than their current stats would suggest, special team play alone is valuable. They could find a suitor with a contending team in the West for instance looking for a rental

Dubas might be able to make unique moves this deadline with Western contenders who are looking to move similar players they have who are out of favor production wise for a playoff run. A change of scenery is often all it takes for players to find their old groove.

The question is, will he dismiss the regular season and look hard and objectively at what appear to be holes in an "ideal" playoff lineup? We cannot be so stubborn as to believe that playoff Gamers are going to rise out of this lineup. They need a spark fom guys who will really sacrifice to win a Cup.

Not a round or a blue ribbon, a Cup If he has cap space he must use every last dollar to improve.

Exactly my opinion. Both are infinitely replaceable with AHL players or guys currently sitting and I wouldn't offer either one even league minimum next summer so get whatever you can for them at the deadline. It absolutely won't affect the team's playoff chances either way.

 

[Kiwi]

I'm fine with them filling out the roster this season, but think the team likely moves on in the offseason from both.

Engvall in particular is getting to the point where it's better off finding the next cheaper in house replacement option given his rising salary.

I don't mind them walking in the off-season or being traded at the TDL to "make the money work" for players in areas of need

I'm allergic to walking players to free agency and getting nothing for them but I doubt those two carry much surplus value

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Trade them to Chicago for

Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou

Ew. Max Domi is one of those players people say "Yeah but you'd take him on your team" and I really wouldn't.

 

[DarkKnight]

I didn’t really bash Engvall last year, but this year he’s really stood out to me. No heart, zero jam, the amount of board battles he loses with that size is embarrassing. I’m almost certain he’s a liability come playoff time, the biggest disappointment this year. Everybody makes a play here and there, but just watch this guy float around most of the game, I’m over him and would replace him now if we can, never mind re-sign.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Kerfoot has been good in the playoffs except for the stupid penalties.

It is pretty rare to see a contending team trade their UFA's but if they can trade for different UFA's that fit the needs better than I would be happy.

That's a pretty big "except". 10 minutes left in a game 6 closeout game and he took the stupidest penalty in history. It's not even hyperbole to surmise we win that series if it wasn't for him.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't mind them walking in the off-season or being traded at the TDL to "make the money work" for players in areas of need

I'm allergic to walking players to free agency and getting nothing for them but I doubt those two carry much surplus value

I think Kerfoot in particular is useful as a jack of all trades type heading into the playoffs. If an injury happens he can help plug holes better than most.

I'd be fine trying to replace Engvall with someone by the tdl if something came up

 

[Teeder Keon]

I didn’t really bash Engvall last year, but this year he’s really stood out to me. No heart, zero jam, the amount of board battles he loses with that size is embarrassing. I’m almost certain he’s a liability come playoff time, the biggest disappointment this year. Everybody makes a play here and there, but just watch this guy float around most of the game, I’m over him and would replace him now if we can, never mind re-sign.

 

[Craig Button]

Ew. Max Domi is one of those players people say "Yeah but you'd take him on your team" and I really wouldn't.

You wouldn’t take Domi over Kerfoot?

 

[Jojalu]

That's a pretty big "except". 10 minutes left in a game 6 closeout game and he took the stupidest penalty in history. It's not even hyperbole to surmise we win that series if it wasn't for him.

Fair enough. I still think Soup should have scored in OT and that moment would have been wiped clean. Or at least forgotten a little.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Hope we keep that King patch for the rest of the year

 

[Leafs87]

I'd argue they need multiple such players. Clearly he is a bit of a unicorn, but look.at what Wilsin does to his team when he is in the lineup. Just hard nosed muckers who get in, cycle, battle in corners, get to the front.

Lesfs are learning to play a more simple "get the puck on net and good things happen" game (finally). This is absolutely necessary at times in the playoffs when space isn't there. It isn't enough IMO.

If you can run a couple of lines who provide a spark and a physical cycle, you make the challenge for the opposition defenses more daunting. I've seen Leaf teams in the past who were worn down in series by such opponents that by the second or third round they were physically spent.

I agree with you 100%. I’d settle for at least 1 or 2 at least. Maybe if management sees what 1 does they’ll realize the team needs balance. Ideally I’d say the bottom six should look something like this cone playoffs below. I fully understand the players can be changed out for comparable a and getting them isn’t easy just my “ideal”


Jeannot-Holmberg-Knies
Martin-Steeves-Macewan