Tanev is worth a 2 year deal. We all know you’re playing with fire on 3 years. Meaning the team willing to go 3x $6.5 is gonna land him. Scary money because of the obvious.
Doubt he even hits July 1. Dallas is trying to sign him.
Montour has Toronto BUST written all over him. Will he help? Absolutely, but how much is the real question? How much more than handing Gostisbehere 3x $4.5-$5 million? Montour is gonna get 6x $6.5-$7.
I say they’re 100% better off signing Brady Skjei and Gostisbehere, and whatever they get for Marner. Ghost gives them the secondary offense from the 3rd pairing like he did for Detroit last year, as well as the PP, and Skjei can eat minutes. If it’s Theodore they get in a Marner trade, that pairing makes the Leafs such a better team. Remember, Theodore has played the right side most of his career. So can Ghost btw.
Then they go sign DeBrusk to take Marner’s spot. He can play their high pace, and when he struggles, he can play a different role. He’s not useless when he’s slumping like Bertuzzi.
They don’t have to get crazy stupid. If Ghost signs somewhere else cause his money gets semi stupid, sign Justin Schultz for that bottom pairing spot, and secondary PP. They need someone like Skjei who can eat minutes effectively. That’s the most important thing after whoever they get in the Marner deal.