Confirmed with Link: Leafs acquire Dzingel, Lyubushkin from ARI for Ritchie, c.2nd... Dzingel on waivers &claimed

[Ports]

Nick Ritchie is always going to have teams falling over themselves to see if they're the ones who can get him to put together his package of skill and strength. I know some of you are gonna cry like hell next year when he gets a pick at the deadline but that's how it goes. Leafs didn't pay extra to dump him so that's a big W.

Lybushkin is a sneaky good pickup like Kampf. He definitely adds something to the d core than Holl/Dermott/Liljegren don't. Based on Dubas' comments I think they will take what they get from him this year and work to re-sign him this offseason and get him working with the staff to see if they can mold him into a top-4 guy.

The only time I’ve seen him play was against the Leafs in January and I was impressed by how physical he was. That’s definitely something the team needs in their own zone. Too many goals are being scored in and around their net with opponents left untouched.

 

[Bluelines]

Maybe not to you but a 2C who is 40th in the league in scoring while playing on the best PP in the league doesn’t warrant $11M AAV. He’s poor defensively and one of the slowest skaters in the league. He’s at best a $7M player and that’s only because of his faceoff ability and his play below the dots in the offensive zone. Nothing the Leafs can do though. They’re stuck with his contract as he continues to regress. Signing looked good at the time but it didn’t allow them to build a cup contender defense or enough forward depth.

JT will go on a tear, he has always been a super hot and cold player. His value (from a points perspective) will be closer to 11 mil than 7 mil by teh end of the year.

 

[Bluelines]

He plays on the worst team in the league so someone has to get the mins .

With that logic Jacob Chycrun is a bum too?

 

[hotpaws]

With that logic Jacob Chycrun is a bum too?

So your saying we got a solid top 4 D for a dump and a 2nd or 3rd ?

 

[Budz]

This team needs a top 6 winger who can shoot and finish.

 

[Ports]

JT will go on a tear, he has always been a super hot and cold player. His value (from a points perspective) will be closer to 11 mil than 7 mil by teh end of the year.

Hopefully you’re right but it sounds more like wishful thinking. His likely regression over the next three seasons and the flat cap may be too big a disadvantage for the team to get over.

 

[Mess]

Lyubushkin alone was likely going to fetch a 2nd or 3rd. Big bodied, RHD, on a cheap expiring contract coming up to the Trade Deadline. The fact we got them to take on Ritchie @ 2.5mil with an extra year to go is laughable. This was a shrewd move by Dubas

Who do you see him as an upgrade on of Leafs Dcore?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Maybe not to you but a 2C who is 40th in the league in scoring while playing on the best PP in the league doesn’t warrant $11M AAV. He’s poor defensively and one of the slowest skaters in the league. He’s at best a $7M player and that’s only because of his faceoff ability and his play below the dots in the offensive zone. Nothing the Leafs can do though. They’re stuck with his contract as he continues to regress. Signing looked good at the time but it didn’t allow them to build a cup contender defense or enough forward depth.

1. This is really a different argument than putting our PPG center on the 3rd line.
2. He's not a 2C. He's a 1C playing on the 2nd line because our 1C is one of the best players in the world.
3. He's not poor defensively, and there's no evidence that he's regressing.
4. Whether you currently like Tavares at 11m or not, he was and still is unquestionably worth much more than 7m as a UFA signing. I think you need to take a look at UFA forwards that sign in the 7m range.
5. We are one of the best teams in the league, in part because of Tavares. Tavares did not prevent us from having a very good defense or forward depth - we have both.
6. I think Toronto is still happy to have made the signing, and don't feel "stuck" with him, even with the hindsight knowledge of the flat cap.

 

[NinjaKick]

I like what I'm reading about Lube.. sounds like he's exactly what the doctor ordered... a nasty/mean/hitting machine.
props to Dubs for dumping Rich and filling a need in return... (hopefully)

 

[2 Slick]

He will 100% get claimed, no chance he doesn’t.

 

[hotpaws]

Lyubushkin alone was likely going to fetch a 2nd or 3rd. Big bodied, RHD, on a cheap expiring contract coming up to the Trade Deadline. The fact we got them to take on Ritchie @ 2.5mil with an extra year to go is laughable. This was a shrewd move by Dubas

If he was worth a 2nd or 3rd alone why wouldn’t they have done that deal instead of doing the deal with us ?

 

[4thline]

If he was worth a 2nd or 3rd alone why wouldn’t they have done that deal instead of doing the deal with us ?

Because they got a player that they wanted to sign in the offseason in a dollar neutral way?

 

[djdev]

I don't know much about him so I'll take your word for it

i wouldnt take the word of any random dude on the internet honestly, its more than likely he knows as much as u do lol.

 

[Jozay]

Lyubushkin alone was likely going to fetch a 2nd or 3rd. Big bodied, RHD, on a cheap expiring contract coming up to the Trade Deadline. The fact we got them to take on Ritchie @ 2.5mil with an extra year to go is laughable. This was a shrewd move by Dubas

He was not going to get a 2nd on his own lol, cmon bro.

He's a bottom pair guy. Guys like him get moved for like 4th rounders all the time.

 

[Bluelines]

So your saying we got a solid top 4 D for a dump and a 2nd or 3rd ?

So your saying using a False Equvliancy is reasonable?

 

[stickty111]

Our boy paws has been having a full blown meltdown over the last 15 pages. Get it together.

So the usual?

 

[Voodoo Child]

Easily would have fetched a 3rd for a playoff team as insurance, bottom-pair. My first choice would have been Oleksiak but I’m pleased with giving a low risk shot to Lyu.

Now let’s try to snag a Lehkonen or similar player for defensive shut downs

I can jump behind Lehkonen, but he’s put up decent numbers on a dismal team, is an arbitration-eligible RFA and Montreal is in the division and will try to put the squeeze on the Leafs, they will open with a 1st - and I can see some team giving them a 1st.

I’m also interested in Armia but in no way, shape or form at 3.4, more like 2.5 and they take money back.

The guy I really want is Crouse, looking at Tampa (and STL) with Maroon and even Washington with Wilson - a big, nasty guy who hits, fights and chips in offense.

Simmer is a mild deterrent when he feels like it, but he can’t contribute more than 4th line points anymore.

He’s also an arbitration eligible RFA, and - unlike Lehkonen, screams ‘Hard to play against’ from the rooftops.

Mik, Dermott, 2022 2nd and 2024 1st for Crouse, I’m in.

 

[LeafChief]

I can jump behind Lehkonen, but he’s put up decent numbers on a dismal team, is an arbitration-eligible RFA and Montreal is in the division and will try to put the squeeze on the Leafs, they will open with a 1st - and I can see some team giving them a 1st.

I’m also interested in Armia but in no way, shape or form at 3.4, more like 2.5 and they take money back.

The guy I really want is Crouse, looking at Tampa (and STL) with Maroon and even Washington with Wilson - a big, nasty guy who hits, fights and chips in offense.

Simmer is a mild deterrent when he feels like it, but he can’t score anymore.

He’s also an arbitration eligible RFA, and - unlike Lehkonen, screams ‘Hard to play against’ from the rooftops.

Mik, Dermott, 2022 2nd and 2024 1st for Crouse, I’m in.

LMAO what.

 

[Stephen]

Did he play because he was capable or because Tavares was knocked out and Foligno was never healthy?


With that said, I wouldn't be surprised for Dzingle to work himself into a regular spot.

Seemed like they were grooming Galchenyuk for a mix and match option on the top line. Which doesn't necessarily equate to being a first line quality player, but merely a guy who can be the third wheel.

I don't have too much hope for Dzingel as a big impact player because obviously he isn't that. But if we manage to keep him I think he's a versatile mix and match guy who can give you a bit of zip and a decent shot.

 

[Shooter2x]

Great asset management, overpay a fringe player and than trade a pick to dump his salary.

If someone told you on day 1 you can take a chance on a age + skillset combo like Ritchies and all it will cost you if it goes wrong is a 2nd round pick 3 years down the line, you take that deal every single time. The benefit from it working out far out weighs the cost. This is just basics.

A 2025 2nd is what, a 2022 5th.

 

[djdev]

u

I can jump behind Lehkonen, but he’s put up decent numbers on a dismal team, is an arbitration-eligible RFA and Montreal is in the division and will try to put the squeeze on the Leafs, they will open with a 1st - and I can see some team giving them a 1st.

I’m also interested in Armia but in no way, shape or form at 3.4, more like 2.5 and they take money back.

The guy I really want is Crouse, looking at Tampa (and STL) with Maroon and even Washington with Wilson - a big, nasty guy who hits, fights and chips in offense.

Simmer is a mild deterrent when he feels like it, but he can’t contribute more than 4th line points anymore.

He’s also an arbitration eligible RFA, and - unlike Lehkonen, screams ‘Hard to play against’ from the rooftops.

Mik, Dermott, 2022 2nd and 2024 1st for Crouse, I’m in.

wanna give more than what mtl got for toffoli for crouse?????? wth lol

 

[Ports]

1. This is really a different argument than putting our PPG center on the 3rd line.
2. He's not a 2C. He's a 1C playing on the 2nd line because our 1C is one of the best players in the world.
3. He's not poor defensively, and there's no evidence that he's regressing.
4. Whether you currently like Tavares at 11m or not, he was and still is unquestionably worth much more than 7m as a UFA signing. I think you need to take a look at UFA forwards that sign in the 7m range.
5. We are one of the best teams in the league, in part because of Tavares. Tavares did not prevent us from having a very good defense or forward depth - we have both.
6. I think Toronto is still happy to have made the signing, and don't feel "stuck" with him, even with the hindsight knowledge of the flat cap.

We disagree. He’s a 1C on a bad team not a cup contender. A lot of knowledgable hockey people see his signing and the flat cap being a real problem for the team and it’s hard to see any way around that. He’s too slow for the fast paced puck possession style they play and that will only get worse. I wish it wasn’t the case but it is. He can’t drive a line and a $11M player should be able to do that. They should have kept Kadri and used the extra $6.5M to build a championship caliber defense. I hope they can find a way to put him on Robidas island. Otherwise there is no chance they can build a cup contender.

 

[Voodoo Child]

u

wanna give more than what mtl got for toffoli for crouse?????? wth lol

A player who’s 90% gone in UFA, a now 25 year old #6-7 Dman and a few picks?

 

[Nylanderthal]

Pretty sure Dubas quoted Ray from TPB here…. Fooking legend

 

[Dekes For Days]

He’s a 1C on a bad team not a cup contender. A lot of knowledgable hockey people see his signing and the flat cap being a real problem for the team and it’s hard to see any way around that. He’s too slow for the fast paced puck possession style they play and that will only get worse. I wish it wasn’t the case but it is. He can’t drive a line and a $11M player should be able to do that. They should have kept Kadri and used the extra $6.5M to build a championship caliber defense. I hope they can find a way to put him on Robidas island. Otherwise there is no chance they can build a cup contender.

We've already built a cup contender. We are one. Tavares is a 1C by any measure, and can drive a line. He's always been relatively slow, and that has never prevented him from being an elite player, and has not prevented him from being an effective and valuable part of our puck-possession team for years. There's no reason to think he's regressing, or will anytime soon. Our team has the 7th best defensive results in the league this year, and were similar last year - he hasn't prevented us from building a great team in all areas. Tavares is a better player than Kadri, and Kadri sealed his fate here when he took a 2nd consecutive playoff suspension.