GDT: Free Agent Frenzy 2022

[SprDaVE]

Murray.
Samsonov
Kallgren
Woll
Mckay
Petruzelli
Wildebeest
Russian goalie 1
Russian goalie 2

We have 2 many goalies

2 of those are on AHL contracts, and one of them is Sweden bound for the season. The 2 Russian goaltenders are at least 1 to 2 year away as well.

Woll is injured to start the season I believe. Last year we went down to the 4th goaltender on the depth chart and we had 4 goaltenders injured long-term in the organization.

DiPietro isn't really the kind of goaltender to add for our needs but adding a 5th stringer wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

2 of those are on AHL contracts, and one of them is Sweden bound for the season. The 2 Russian goaltenders are at least 1 to 2 year away as well.

Woll is injured to start the season I believe, so adding a goaltender wouldn't be a bad thing, but I don't think DiPietro fits too much.

I think the Leafs will probably look for

Seems likely that the Marlies will use Petruzzelli and Kallgren until Woll is healthy. If McKay is suspended for the first little bit of the Growlers' season, then Cavallin and some ECHL loanee will probably be the starting duo until he is ready to take the mantle as the Growlers' starter.

 

[SprDaVE]

Nah imo we have so many guys with top-4 quality that even with injuries we should have little problem just upping the minutes of some of the guys to cover for a typical cheapo #7D getting some limited bottom pair minutes.

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

 

[leafsfan5]

Mirtle also thinks Kerfoot is the logical choice to trade, especially considering they need to shed over 2M in cap space if they ice a 22-23 man roster, and probably sit more comfortably under the cap.

There are also a bunch of forwards available still to sign.

Mirtle: The Maple Leafs have a trade coming. And it's probably Justin Holl or Alex Kerfoot

It’s clear looking at the Leafs’ cap situation that something has to give.

theathletic.com

Stastny as 3C would give us a big boost for depth scoring. Also pushes Kampf into 4C which suits him better imo

 

[SprDaVE]

Seems likely that the Marlies will use Petruzzelli and Kallgren until Woll is healthy. If McKay is suspended for the first little bit of the Growlers' season, then Cavallin and some ECHL loanee will probably be the starting duo until he is ready to take the mantle as the Growlers' starter.

Very likely what happens but I wouldn't be surprised if they looked at insurance.

 

[Americanadian]

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then either flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

I've been parading the idea of Sandin for Hayton here for two months now. The only other fit I see is McMichael. Washington's LD depth is Orlov, Fehervary, Gustafsson, Irwin. Their C depth is Kuznetsov (3 years remaining), Backstrom (3 years remaining), Strome (RFA on expiry), Eller (1 year remaining), Dowd (3 years remaining). McMichael has a limited chance at playing top 9 C in Washington as it stands. He has a track record of putting up big point totals (OHL, WJC, AHL). Per EvolvingHockey he underperformed his xEVO by 3 GAR so he may be primed for some regression. He has 2 years left on his ELC.

 

[Gaberd2608]

Stastny as 3C would give us a big boost for depth scoring. Also pushes Kampf into 4C which suits him better imo

Always liked stastny. If we could get him on the cheap it would be pretty good for 3c.

Move out kerfoot, sign stastny for $1 million x 2 years and maybe one more bottom 6 winger who can actually play and contribute.

 

[zeke]

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then either flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

Not the worst idea.

 

[Coachcorner]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jarnkrok
Anderson - Gaudette - Aube-Kubel

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Gio - Liljegren

Murray
Samsonov

This is technically cap compliant right now with Clifford and Simmonds both waived.
Be interesting to see what moves they wanna make from here.

Ie: Sandin/Kerfoot/Holl.

That 4th line in particular still needs work.

They is moving Kerfie out sire, like the others have found out Then' we'll be getting stastny on our vet end and having even more faceoffs with tavares and mathews. Then our team will be solified in blood oaths.

 

[Americanadian]

Victor Rask is an interesting name that's still out there.

Edit: never mind - too soft.

 

[Duke16]

Expectation:
-Kerfoot/Holl out, Sandin signed, Heinen/Kuokkanen in.

My most galaxy brained idea:

•Muzzin to anywhere he will waive for a Keith-like return (ie. To ANA for Hunter Drew, 2023 3rd)
•Sandin, Kerfoot (probably tough now cause he has to waive), B prospect of choice, 2023 3rd (OTT), 2024 7th (OTT) for Chychrun, SPC dump
- people will say add Knies or some shit, but this is pretty high up on the list of returns in recent years if they view Sandin highly. Kerfoot and his non-existent real dollar salary flipped at the deadline (50% ret even) for a 2nd+, their choice of B prospect who they could love, and even more picks.
•will have about $4M left - sign Niederreiter at shortest term possible to play top 6. He can have another go at FA in a year or two after he crushes it.

TOR solves LD in an unorthodox way without losing out on ability or much youth by landing Chychrun AND gets a real proven Top 6 fit (been a 20 goal guy for the better part of a decade)

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Niederreiter-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Kids and Aube-Kubel

Rielly-Brodie
Giordano-Liljegren
Chychrun-Holl
Mete, Benn

Murray-Samsonov

... and then I woke up

 

[showtime8]

Kerf is only owed $750k. That IS the lowest price possible. And they get to spend $2.75m less and still hit the cap floor.

Yeah, I guess that's a good point too.

The Ducks basically have 2 options. Spend some cash on some of the remaining UFA's at a larger number than the 750k, but get less in terms of talent.

Or you trade for a guy similar to Kerfoot and use some of the assets in the organization.

There's going to be other teams in the league looking to do the same thing. Dubas needs to get in front of this and get the best he can.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

2 of those are on AHL contracts, and one of them is Sweden bound for the season. The 2 Russian goaltenders are at least 1 to 2 year away as well.

Woll is injured to start the season I believe. Last year we went down to the 4th goaltender on the depth chart and we had 4 goaltenders injured long-term in the organization.

DiPietro isn't really the kind of goaltender to add for our needs but adding a 5th stringer wouldn't be a bad thing.

our goalie luck last year was insane...like actually wild. I know there is a question mark regarding our upcoming season goalie but Jesus people are selling our team short forgetting what we had to deal with in the back end.

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

Same but the question is who...we'd strongly need a winger, Preferably LW.

 

[htpwn]

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

Not against it, but the concern for me would be that we really don't have anyone coming behind Sandin (Niemela looks very promising, but he's a rightie).

There have been cases in the past where teams have had a surplus of RHD and finding that extra LHD is not always easy. Yes, they are easier to find than RHD, but only in the relative sense. Finding good players is difficult, period.

EDIT: Although now that I think about it... Brodie is a natural leftie. Assuming he's still got lots in the tank, our top 4 D in two years could be something like:

Rielly -- Liljegren
Brodie -- Niemela

The bottom pairing is easy enough to fill out via FA and we do have guys in the system like Kral who could develop in that role as well. So... I guess I've talked myself into the idea of a Sandin trade.

 

[Avilaj07]

Not against it, but the concern for me would be that we really don't have anyone coming behind Sandin (Niemela looks very promising, but he's a rightie).

There have been cases in the past where teams have had a surplus of RHD and finding that extra LHD is not always easy. Yes, they are easier to find than RHD, but only in the relative sense. Finding good players is difficult, period.

EDIT: Although now that I think about it... Brodie is a natural leftie. Assuming he's still got lots in the tank, our top 4 D in two years could be something like:

Rielly -- Liljegren
Brodie -- Niemela

The bottom pairing is easy enough to fill out via FA and we do have guys in the system like Kral who could develop in that role as well. So... I guess I've talked myself into the idea of a Sandin trade.

As of now, you have Rielly, Muzzin and Gio on the left side for the next 2 years. Unfortunately Sandin is blocked on the left and he doesn't want to play the right side. As for not having anyone in the pipeline on the left side, I wouldn't rule out Kral, who I personally think will be a better all around defenseman then Sandin anyways.

If we could move Sandin for a similar aged rhd or a similar aged center, then I'm all for it.

 

[jaric1862]

If Kerfoot is traded, how do the Leafs have enough ice time for Holl and Sandin. One of them would have to sit every night, and the relationship between Sandin and the organization already seems to be fractured because of that.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

They kind of made a mess of what the lines realistically could be.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Anderson - Tavares - Nylander
Kerfoot - Jarnkrok - Malgin
Engvall - Kampf - Aube-Kubel

Uses the exact same names, except Anderson over Gaudette for the exact same money, but the lineup configuration makes a lot more sense.

He should be. We don't have a better fit for that line in our organization right now besides Knies.

Hyman also made the same jump to the top 6 at the same age, and Anderson is coming off of a much better season in the AHL (26 goals, 42 points in 56 games vs. Hyman's 15 goals, 37 points in 59 games playing with a much better Marlies team).

Josh Anderson as 2LW makes zero sense. You would sooner put Engvall there considering he’s actually scored 15 in the show whereas Anderson has proven nothing.

At that time, Hyman was only viable LW option, who else was going to play there, Matt Martin?

 

[Hoglund4MvP]

I love Sandin as a player but I wouldn't be against if they explored trading him for a similar aged young forward, preferably signed to a sub 2M contract or on their ELC. It's risky but it feels a lot easier to get LHD and the Leafs have 3 LHD signed for 2 seasons.

I would then flip Kerfoot for as much value as possible.

Why would you do this.

Our best defenceman are getting old / are old and declining. If you're not trading sandin in package for someone like chychrun (young top 4) then we have to keep him.

The over rating of our blue line will kill us I hope Dubas doesn't over rate it the same way as this place

 

[ULF_55]

I don't see Stastny signing for less than 2.5-3.5.

Unless Muzzin and Kerfoot are moved out I don't see much action going forward.

Of course there is always Nylander for prospects and picks.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Josh Anderson as 2LW makes zero sense. You would sooner put Engvall there considering he’s actually scored 15 in the show whereas Anderson has proven nothing.

At that time, Hyman was only viable LW option, who else was going to play there, Matt Martin?

And it worked despite a ton of criticism did it not?

Pretty sure we heard the same criticism about Bunting last year too, and that worked out pretty darn well.

The Leafs need a guy who can play a specific way. Anderson may not be sexy, but he plays that specific way and we don't need sexy if it is going to be cost-prohibitive.

I look at it like this:

(Realistic) Best case: We get a guy who can put up 20-25 goals and 40-50 points with Tavares and Nylander and 2LW is no longer a problem.

Worst case: We have to make 2LW another rotation of guys like McMann (who could also be a solid fit for that line), Steeves, Robertson, Abruzzese, Holmberg, and whichever cheap UFA we sign if (or when) we trade Kerfoot. Or you can even try Engvall. We have to ride out the regular season with a 2nd line which has been able to make it work with far from optimal 3rd wheels until we can try out what is likely the ultimate option in Matthew Knies.

Knies is why committing major money to 2LW makes zero sense and trying out an unproven but low commitment and high upside option like Anderson makes a ton of sense.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I try to generally be optimistic and I acknowledge that it's July and there are MONTHS before puck drop but I am a bit confused about the roster construction to this point.

What is confusing? Defense is practically the same, which is a good thing. Murray/Samsonov have major risk but also major upside and are at a cap hit and term which makes sense for us.

Jarnkrok solidifies the center group and we are going to have some young guys competing for spots, which is what Dubas said would happen months ago.

It doesn't look like Simmonds or Clifford will have a spot with this team, which is also a good thing. He added more functional grit in NAK and we could see more in the way of Anderson on this team too. Still a few guys we could add similar to NAK like ZAR, Motte, etc. to fill out a bottom 6 after we move Kerfoot.

Michael Stone fits Dubas' agenda for a physical RHD who doesn't completely suck when called upon if he moves Holl. Heck even Stralman and Subban could easily be solid and cheap replacements for Holl. Or you take a shot at Grigori Dronov, who is not a RHD but plays RD.

The only thing at this point is what happens with Kerfoot and maybe Holl/Sandin.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Sandin + Holl for Roy from LA
Kerfoot for ducks 3rd and wild 3rd 2023
Sign Stastny 3 x 1, Zar 1.5 x 2

Bunting Matthews Marner
Robertson Tavares Nylander
Engvall Stastny Jarnkrok
Zar Kampf Nak

Reilly Roy
Muzzin Brodie
Gio Liljegren

Murray
Samsonov

 

[Dreakmur]

What is confusing? Defense is practically the same, which is a good thing. Murray/Samsonov have major risk but also major upside and are at a cap hit and term which makes sense for us.

The defense being the same is fine. It was middle of the pack last year, but that should be good enough with out offense.

The goalies were about as good as could be done with the cap limitations. As you said, risky... but could also work out well.

Jarnkrok solidifies the center group and we are going to have some young guys competing for spots, which is what Dubas said would happen months ago.

Jankrok solidified center the same way Kerfoot did... he can play it in a pinch, but shouldn't be there on a full time basis.

I don't see much room for youth on this club. We still need a quality LW for Tavares. I can see them trying to shoehorn Robertson there, and I can't see that being anything short of a disaster.

It doesn't look like Simmonds or Clifford will have a spot with this team, which is also a good thing. He added more functional grit in NAK and we could see more in the way of Anderson on this team too. Still a few guys we could add similar to NAK like ZAR, Motte, etc. to fill out a bottom 6 after we move Kerfoot.

It's too bad, because Simmonds was so good until he broke his hand two years ago. Been useless since.

Michael Stone fits Dubas' agenda for a physical RHD who doesn't completely suck when called upon if he moves Holl. Heck even Stralman and Subban could easily be solid and cheap replacements for Holl. Or you take a shot at Grigori Dronov, who is not a RHD but plays RD.

The only thing at this point is what happens with Kerfoot and maybe Holl/Sandin.

Address all those things by packaging Kerfoot, Sandin and 1st for JT Miller and Luke Schenn.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Miller-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
_______-_______-Aube Kubel

Rielly-Liljegren
Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Schenn

Murray
Samsonaov

2.8 million to fill those last two spots. I'd probably start with Gaudette and Robertson there to have a high energy line that can chip in despite being erratic. 1.25 million in space to add during the season.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Trading Muzzin opens a roster spot for Sandin, and opens up the cap to spend on RD with size and a 4th liner.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Robertson Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kerfoot Jankrok
Aston-Reese Kampf Aube-Kubel
Clifford

Rielly Liljegren
Giordano Brodie
Sandin Subban
Benn Holl

Murray
Samsonov

 

[WTFMAN99]

That Engvall deal came in at least 250k more than I would have wanted to pay, worse is it's 1 year.

Is today the day we hear a trade?