GDT: Free Agent Frenzy 2022

[WTFMAN99]

The clips of Knies at the development camp make me wish he signed last year.

He’s going to be a great addition. Kid is a stud

The clip in front of the net fending off a 24 year old physically and then dangling around him like a pylon...I think he joins part way through the season and makes an impact in the top 6-9.

 

[justashadowof]

What has any of our signed forward prospects accomplished at the NHL level to start penciling them into the opening night lineup? Our best one (Robertson) has been largely invisible at the NHL level thus far.

Just a reminder: we are supposed to be contenders not trying to build a future contender.

 

[SprDaVE]

What has any of our signed forward prospects accomplished at the NHL level to start penciling them into the opening night lineup? Our best one (Robertson) has been largely invisible at the NHL level thus far.

Just a reminder: we are supposed to be contenders not trying to build a future contender.

Robertson dominated the AHL as a 20 year old after coming back from his injury. Robertson has largely been blocked in the lineup in a lower end role in the NHL. He played 2 games with Tavares and Nylander and he looked solid last season.

I don't think anything is being given to him or other young players, but they shouldn't be blocked long-term either. Prospect progression is a thing and while a bit risky, it can payoff to have confidence in your young players.

 

[Beaumaris]

I think it makes sense to leave a LW spot open for a young player.

We have a couple more mature LWs that need a chance to show what they can do (Steeves, Holmberg, Abbruzzese) and then Robertson who while still young has been in that fringe spot for a couple years now.

Let the 4 kids fight over it.

Kids lol!

 

[Apex Predator]

What has any of our signed forward prospects accomplished at the NHL level to start penciling them into the opening night lineup? Our best one (Robertson) has been largely invisible at the NHL level thus far.

Just a reminder: we are supposed to be contenders not trying to build a future contender.

He finished strong in the AHL so that was a good sign. Now the question is can he continue the momentum and bring it at training camp.

 

[justashadowof]

Robertson dominated the AHL as a 20 year old after coming back from his injury. Robertson has largely been blocked in the lineup in a lower end role in the NHL. He played 2 games with Tavares and Nylander and he looked solid last season.

I don't think anything is being given to him or other young players, but they shouldn't be blocked long-term either. Prospect progression is a thing and while a bit risky, it can payoff to have confidence in your young players.

Again what has Robertson accomplished in his auditions in the NHL? Bottom 6 opportunity also means easier opponents on the ice. It's never an excuse.

 

[kb]

Again what has Robertson accomplished in his auditions in the NHL? Bottom 6 opportunity also means easier opponents on the ice. It's never an excuse.

How about he's playing with far lesser players as well?

 

[CanHeDoIt99]

Again what has Robertson accomplished in his auditions in the NHL? Bottom 6 opportunity also means easier opponents on the ice. It's never an excuse.

I think with Robertson its more about projecting development than anything. His production at 20 in the AHL suggests that should he take a jump at 21, he would be more than capable of being an NHL regular (and how much of a jump will determine how good of an NHLer).

Its not a fool-proof science of course, he might just not translate. But, 20 year olds with his production in the AHL very rarely flop as NHLers, and he has various tools that are NHL level.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Again what has Robertson accomplished in his auditions in the NHL? Bottom 6 opportunity also means easier opponents on the ice. It's never an excuse.

I don't think you're gonna show much with our bottom 6, you could pass to Simmonds but what's the point? lol.

 

[SprDaVE]

Again what has Robertson accomplished in his auditions in the NHL? Bottom 6 opportunity also means easier opponents on the ice. It's never an excuse.

Not sure what you mean by accomplishments here but he also didn't look bad. He showed plenty. Players aren't linear and can progress. They all have to start somewhere.

Why waste your time drafting and developing if we'll always have that mentality?

 

[ULF_55]

What has any of our signed forward prospects accomplished at the NHL level to start penciling them into the opening night lineup? Our best one (Robertson) has been largely invisible at the NHL level thus far.

Just a reminder: we are supposed to be contenders not trying to build a future contender.

Yes, adjusting to the NHL is extremely hard to do in the NHL, and impossible to do in the AHL.

It is an investment, like the Avs did with Newhook.

 

[justashadowof]

I don't think you're gonna show much with our bottom 6, you could pass to Simmonds but what's the point? lol.

Robertson's a goal scorer not a playmaker and who's fault is it that the 4th line lacks skill to elevate our not-quite-ready-for-primetime skill forward?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Robertson's a goal scorer not a playmaker and who's fault is it that the 4th line lacks skill to elevate our not-quite-ready-for-primetime skill forward?

4th line was a problem all last year.

I think like others have mentioned, there will be some growing pains, development staff and coaches need to determine in training camp if there is anything left to do in the AHL or if he needs to learn at the NHL level. He seemed ready in most regards except strength.

 

[X66]

By far the biggest problem with the forward lines last year was the 4th line speed, that looks to be addressed.

The next two important areas is to make sure the PP stays good in the playoffs, and maybe that means improving PP2.

Also getting the Tavares line some help, maybe that comes in the form of Robertson.

Maybe swing for a more impact forward at the deadline if needed.

 

[Americanadian]

There's a very fun situation where the Leafs move Nylander, Holl for Fabbro, Tomasino and Sandin for McMichael or Hayton. They then spend the savings on Niederreiter on a Saad deal.

This would allow the Leafs to run an all 2019 draft line of Robertson-McMichael-Tomasino. This would inevitably be our 2nd line in 2-3 years.

This roster has 4.7M in cap space without Kerfoot - the Leafs could run Kerfoot as 4RW over Aube-Kubel or 3LW over Robertson if they wanted. You can also swap the 3rd and 4th line, it doesn't really matter. The 2nd line is less lethal but more responsible and better at sustained offense than a Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander line. Muzzin pairs with Fabbro.

 

[hamzarocks]

Was bored, so was going through some previous leaf teams on HockeyDB

I went on the 2013-2014 team (team which choked in March and fell out of a playoff spot after like a 85% chance of making it).

I noticed Dave Bolland had 12 pts in 23 games for us.

I was shocked, that he had only played so few games that year. I thought he played closer to 50-60 games then 23.

I was even more disgusted to recall that Dave Nonis offered Bolland a 5x5M extension which he, fortunately, turned down in favor of the panthers offer.

I don't think Dubas is an elite GM like some do here, but thankful that he's never been insane enough to offer a ridiculous contract like that yet.

I seriously don't get what went on in Nonis's mind to offer Bolland who was 28-29, and had been 59 games in 2014 a long-term deal at 5M (probably closer to 7M in today's cap).

We'd still be rebuilding if we had that contract and he hadn't gotten LTIR'd

 

[BayStBullies]

The clip in front of the net fending off a 24 year old physically and then dangling around him like a pylon...I think he joins part way through the season and makes an impact in the top 6-9.

Do you happen to have a link for that video?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Do you happen to have a link for that video?

 

[Knies iT]

What has any of our signed forward prospects accomplished at the NHL level to start penciling them into the opening night lineup? Our best one (Robertson) has been largely invisible at the NHL level thus far.

Just a reminder: we are supposed to be contenders not trying to build a future contender.

Replace Robertson with Liljegren and this is a recording of every argument before this recent season.

 

[613Leafer]

Replace Robertson with Liljegren and this is a recording of every argument before this recent season.

Liljegren had 140+ AHL games under his belt mostly playing as a top pairing guy, and was ~190lbs when he was finally called up to the Leafs permanently.

Robertson hasn't even hit 50 AHL games yet, and is under 170lbs.

I'm fine with having rookies in the lineup, but Robertson looks like he still has a lot to learn at the AHL level and can hopefully add another 10lbs of muscle on before making the NHL. Hyman, Brown, Johnson, etc transitioned smoothly to the NHL, I think largely because we took our time developing them.

 

[Cor]

The clip in front of the net fending off a 24 year old physically and then dangling around him like a pylon...I think he joins part way through the season and makes an impact in the top 6-9.

Yeah, his board work as well. Just phenomenal.

I assume Bunting going to cash in next summer, so Knies will be beside Matthews and Marner the year after.

And yeah, I imagine he joins us for the last few games of the regular season and the playoffs this year once his college season is done.

Maybe earlier if his team isn’t looking like a contender for the ncaa championship

 

[WTFMAN99]

Yeah, his board work as well. Just phenomenal.

I assume Bunting going to cash in next summer, so Knies will be beside Matthews and Marner the year after.

And yeah, I imagine he joins us for the last few games of the regular season and the playoffs this year once his college season is done.

Maybe earlier if his team isn’t looking like a contender for the ncaa championship

Bunting I don't think we can go beyond like 4x4 or he's walking and he's likely to get more on the open market.

Robertson, Knies and even Amirov are kinda critical to continue working under the cap structure Dubas has created.

I am hoping Amirov is able to get back onto the ice this year and ideally as a Marlie, we will just give him all the ice time he can handle to help his development.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I was even more disgusted to recall that Dave Nonis offered Bolland a 5x5M extension which he, fortunately, turned down in favor of the panthers offer.

I don't think Dubas is an elite GM like some do here, but thankful that he's never been insane enough to offer a ridiculous contract like that yet.

I seriously don't get what went on in Nonis's mind to offer Bolland who was 28-29, and had been 59 games in 2014 a long-term deal at 5M (probably closer to 7M in today's cap).

That was indeed just brutal and we were saved by Florida. I agree that Dubas is not an elite GM (far from I'd say), but he's nowhere near as bad as some people seem to think, and that offer to Bolland is a good reminder of just how bad our GM's have been over the years. Dubad for all his faults may well be the best GM we've had in the last 50 years.

 

[BlueForever75]

The players the Leafs must move are Kerfoot, Muzzin and Holl. If they move these players for picks there is alot out there that can be had for cheap to replace them providing the same on ice stats.

Sandin replaces Holl in a heartbeat. You can go out and sign Subban or De Haan on the cheap to replace Muzzin. Should come in cheaper than Muzzin. You also just signed Benn and Mete as depth. So the D can be fixed at a cheaper cost.

As for the rest of the money, there are some forwards still out there that would help out. Kessel, Neiderietter, Rask, Tierney, ZAR and Milano. I would target Neiderietter and ZAR to round out your forward group.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Neiderietter-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jankrok
ZAR - Gaudette - Aubel

Reilly - De Haan
Sandin - Brodie
Giordano - Lilly
Benn - Mete

Murray
Samsonov

 

[Gary Nylund]

On another note, I wonder WTF is going on with Kadri. Is the fact that nobody's opened up the vault for him yet a sign that GM's are starting to smarten up a bit? I can only guess that there's big gap between what Kadri's asking for and what he's being offered, fun stuff.