Free Agents and Trade Thread - Offseason Part II

[biotk]

So Dean Blundell is reporting that Leafs and Blues working on a deal for Parayko. Mango, Lilly and #15 OA for Colton. Not sure if Blues would be sending anything else?

Take it for what it's worth.....

Who knows? I don't know who Blundell is at all. But it makes some sense to me. I said from the get go that the 15OA was obtained to get a high-RHD. Ekblad was my top guess. Parayko was among a couple possibilities right below (especially as the Leafs' trying to obtain the 1st rounder from Anaheim, NJ, Minny, Nashville, Carolina, Chicago and Pittsburgh knocked all of those teams out of the running for the team being targeted for the high-end RHD).

The problem I had with a Parayko trade is that I assume STL would not want to take back cap, but I guess in this hypothetical situation they could flip Johnsson.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Yes it is.

OK thx.

 

[Morgs]

I've got no problem with the player or how he plays I'm just wondering how he's going to fit cap wise and who's switching to the right

I have no idea how it would fit cap wise (I'd leave that to Dubas & co), but it'd be similar cap to adding Pietrangelo. We can always get Arizona to retain a small amount to make it fit.

I'd assume Rielly/OEL switches to the right side. I can't see it being Muzzin. I don't think handedness should be a problem when adding a potentially elite player to a team.

 

[Kiwi]

I have no idea how it would fit cap wise (I'd leave that to Dubas & co), but it'd be similar cap to adding Pietrangelo. We can always get Arizona to retain a small amount to make it fit.

I'd assume Rielly/OEL switches to the right side. I can't see it being Muzzin. I don't think handedness should be a problem when adding a potentially elite player to a team.

They seem to care about handedness more than you and I do, I'd have played Rielly on the right years ago but they seem unwilling to go in that direction

That cap thing is going to take some serious manovering, you'd be very close to having to move one of our big ticket players and I'm not to keen on that

 

[Morgs]

They seem to care about handedness more than you and I do, I'd have played Rielly on the right years ago but they seem unwilling to go in that direction

That cap thing is going to take some serious manovering, you'd be very close to having to move one of our big ticket players and I'm not to keen on that

It's the same issue with Pietrangelo, it's just getting him for free would obviously be better than paying for OEL as you could get assets for the cap "dumps".

I'm also liking that Dean blundell rumour. Not that he's reliable at all.

 

[LeafParade]

I've always assumed the elite defenders (or at least the ones that can handle the puck) could play on their off side. When they skate with the puck, they handle it closer to the middle of the ice and have better passing lanes. If you are useless with the puck, this is actually a disadvantage and makes you prone to turnovers. Weak puck handlers are better off having it closer to the boards and on their strong side. Then the boards is always an option.

Growing up, I use to prefer not playing on my strong side. I use to do the same in soccer. I just get a better view of the field for passing rather than being pigeon holed towards the side. Maybe its just my experience. I was always pretty good with my backhand, or weaker foot in soccer so maybe thats way.

 

[biotk]

I've always assumed the elite defenders (or at least the ones that can handle the puck) could play on their off side. When they skate with the puck, they handle it closer to the middle of the ice and have better passing lanes.

As far as I know it has more to do with retrieving the puck with a heavy forecheck and D-to-D passes with a heavy forecheck. Once you have a bit of time or space it doesn't matter.

 

[DougGilmour93]

If we trade Engvall, I'm all in on Perry/Maroon for the 4th line.

Why trade Engvall?
Makes no sense. Kid can play.

 

[LeafParade]

As far as I know it has more to do with retrieving the puck with a heavy forecheck and D-to-D passes with a heavy forecheck. Once you have a bit of time or space it doesn't matter.

The forechecking is understandable when you are going back into your zone and being chased on the wrong side, you are highly dependent on your backhand to make passes or clearances.

I just always assumed that elite defenders are better puck handlers and have better control on their backhand than some bottom pairing D on their strong side.

 

[aingefan]

He's broken nothing before so... I doubt it.

But he tries exactly once per year.

 

[Stephen]

If you delete Kerfoot, Johnsson and Engval then you would have created enough cap space ($3.5 +$3.4+ $1.2 mil = $8.1 mil) to sign Pietrangelo, however then Leafs have only 5 forwards for next year Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander and Hyman under contract.

Who are the 8 other forwards you're hoping to fill out the roster with (7 starters and 1 spare) and are certainly making things interesting?

Okay, let's play armchair capologist and see where we land in terms of rough ballpark. I think it can be done, but you'd have an extreme of haves and have nots.

Matthews $11.634 million
Tavares $11 million
Marner $10.893 million
Nylander $6.962 million
Hyman $2.25 million
Mikheyev $1.75 million (small raise)
Perry $1.5 million
Rodrigues/Cheap UFA C $1.0 million
Barabanov $0.925 million
Spezza $0.7 million
Thornton $0.7 million (min as speculated)
Robertson $0.85 million

$50.164 at Forward for 12 Forwards

Kessel Retain $1.2 million

Pietrangelo $8.0 million (upper limit would be $8.0, but reports of a AAV in the $7.0's as well)
Rielly $5.0 million
Muzzin $5.625 million
Holl $2.0 million
Dermott $1.25 million (small raise)
Lehtonen $0.925 million
Sandin $0.894 million

$24.644 million on Defense for 7 D-Men

Goalie 1 $5 million
Campbell $1.65 million

$6.65 million in Goal for 2 Goalies

=$83.15 million out of $81.5 million

I think this would be the structure you'd look at. Andersen could be our goalie, or we could replace him. Dermott may or may not deserve a $1.5 million contract, Rodrigues may or may not be retained at a discount or moved on entirely. We may or may not be in on Thornton, but it would be a UFA dumpster dive along those lines. Pietrangelo could come in under $8 million if the economic landscape is especially poor.

 

[LeafParade]

I think Dermott is getting between 1.5-1.75 depending on whether its a 2 or 3 year deal. So I agree with that number. And I have Soup in the same range.

I don't think Rodrigues is getting more than 1 M.
Doubas clearly saw Rodrigues defensive numbers and think he can be a cheap 4th liner. He is probably hoping for Rodrigues to take 1 M in his hometown than 1.5 M elsewhere.

 

[pspot]

Trade Dermott imo

Reilly, muz and sandin are all better and less injury prone

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think Dermott is getting between 1.5-1.75 depending on whether its a 2 or 3 year deal. So I agree with that number. And I have Soup in the same range.

I don't think Rodrigues is getting more than 1 M.
Doubas clearly saw Rodrigues defensive numbers and think he can be a cheap 4th liner. He is probably hoping for Rodrigues to take 1 M in his hometown than 1.5 M elsewhere.

Mikheyev is getting more than 1.5-1.75. His comparables put him in the mid-high 2's to low 3's for 2-3 years. Since he was injured and did not have the best playoff performance, we may be able to get him in the mid 2's for 4 years.

 

[LeafParade]

Mikheyev is getting more than 1.5-1.75. His comparables put him in the mid-high 2's to low 3's for 2-3 years. Since he was injured and did not have the best playoff performance, we may be able to get him in the mid 2's for 4 years.

My only issue with Soup is that he basically only showed us half a year of NHL hockey, and I think the Leafs are going to try to get him cheap on a 2 year deal because of this.

 

[Gallagbi]

Mikheyev is getting more than 1.5-1.75. His comparables put him in the mid-high 2's to low 3's for 2-3 years. Since he was injured and did not have the best playoff performance, we may be able to get him in the mid 2's for 4 years.

Who are the comparables out of curiousity? Seems rich for a half season of good hockey and a bad playoff.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Kerfoot to Detroit for their second round pick and Luke Glendening at 50% retained (900k)

Andreas Johnsson and our 4th round pick to Arizona for Lawson Crouse.

Ilya Mikheyev for 1.75 x 2
Travis Dermott for 1.25 x 1

That leaves 9.75 million to fill the following holes....

1st pair RD
4th line LW
4th line RW

Let's say you sign two of Zengus Girgensons, Tyler Pitlick, and Wayne Simmnds or 750,000 each.

That leaves 8.25 left for Pietrengelo


Zach Hyman - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Lawson Crouse - John Tavares - William Nylander
Nick Robertson - Pierre Engvall - Ilya Mikheyev
Zemgus Girgensons - Luke Glendening - Wayne Simmonds

Morgan Rielly - Alex Pietrangelo
Jake Muzzin - Justin Holl
Mikko Lehtonen - Travis Dermott

Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell

Interesting. Update/edit - Better than my effort though. I was over cap.

Total is $81,422,366 for 20 players. Not much wiggle room, plus its just 20 players.

Girgenson is currently paid $1.6 m, so no idea if he'll sign for $750k. As others have pointed out, Mikheyev for $1.75 m might be a little light.

Have to assume Detroit likes Kerfoot enough to retain 50% on Glendening plus move their 2nd round pick. Might be feasible I suppose.

Hard to say if its a better team, but 1st pairing is definitely better.

 

[Bigmarycombo]

The forechecking is understandable when you are going back into your zone and being chased on the wrong side, you are highly dependent on your backhand to make passes or clearances.

I just always assumed that elite defenders are better puck handlers and have better control on their backhand than some bottom pairing D on their strong side.

Just watch the Vegas series and it’s a perfect example of why you need a righty. All 5 of their power play players are left handed including their dman. When someone passes to him from the corner and off the boards to the point he has to take it on his backhand and move it across to his left hand and he doesn’t have time to do that when the opposing player is closing on him.
Have seen on many occasions him losing the puck and is rushed in his decision making

 

[Bigmarycombo]

Just wondering

Can you trade retained cap money

Ie. Kessel cap hit to Ottawa for bracco

Is this legal

 

[biotk]

Just wondering

Can you trade retained cap money

Ie. Kessel cap hit to Ottawa for bracco

Is this legal

Nope.

 

[Antropovsky]

Is there anyone who got to feel worse than Lebanc in San Jose right about now?

Last pffseason he was coming off a career year. He also had a 4 point game in game 7 of the playoffs (increases his negotiating power)... he signs a team friendly team (only 1 million dollars), so the team can remain competitive. The team cant sign their captain who goes to Dallas...then COVID... his totals decline, hes a minus 33 and now he is prob going to take a huge paycut in comparison to the long term contract he may have been able to get last season.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

What if one gets hurt? None of those players can play top-6 minutes. Not to mention it's arguable that Spezza or Thornton could even get through another full season.

Nylander could move to the middle.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Just wondering

Can you trade retained cap money

Ie. Kessel cap hit to Ottawa for bracco

Is this legal

No.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Is there anyone who got to feel worse than Lebanc in San Jose right about now?

Last pffseason he was coming off a career year. He also had a 4 point game in game 7 of the playoffs (increases his negotiating power)... he signs a team friendly team (only 1 million dollars), so the team can remain competitive. The team cant sign their captain who goes to Dallas...then COVID... his totals decline, hes a minus 33 and now he is prob going to take a huge paycut in comparison to the long term contract he may have been able to get last season.

This is why people should not be surprised when players either do not want bridge deals, or expect a massive overpayment when their deal is up... And usually the teams give it to them.

Bridge deals are only for players who are extremely unproven or struggled. There is no incentive for players who have already shown their worth, like Labanc, to take a bridge deal unless they feel like they have another huge gear to reach... And Labanc did not have another huge gear to reach.

 

[dubplatepressure]

Nylander could move to the middle.

Fair enough, as long as we have him still that's a solid plan.