Leafs moves Work in progress - Depth update

[Nineteen67]

I don't mind 5x5 for Soup but Leafs clearly did. Said I'd rather have Paul at 7x3.15 than Mik for similar money when Paul signed. No way do I give Lub that deal. Will be interesting to see what Engvall wants after seeing the deals handed out today.

He‘s arb eligible so I’m sure they know his ask.

 

[ToneDog]

He‘s arb eligible so I’m sure they know his ask.

Too bad for Pierre and Sandy the Dube has no money to overpay. Sucks to be last to the dinner table.

 

[LeafEgo]

And now one team is old, bad, and in caphell.

The other is young and elite.

Looking back four years the Islanders didn't have much talent, particularly after losing their franchise player. They prioritized playoff hockey, managed to squeak in several years, and as a result were one of the most successful teams in the league during this time span.

Past year they missed playoffs by one slot (Barzal bad year, lost sniper to SEA, aged). The downside of the strategy.

Leafs took the opposite approach. Not as much success, and did actually miss the playoffs one year themselves.

I wouldn't want the Islanders team this year, but it would be foolish not to appreciate what they accomplished and learn something from it.

The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

LOL at all the people actually thinking Ottawa & Detroit are threats to us this year. Absolutely no chance

Well let's talk about this.

What's a threat to you? A team that's chasing a wildcard spot? A team that might beat you on the road.

Every single year a team falls surprisingly and rises surprisingly.

I wouldn't write them off completely.

 

[zeke]

A more logical WIP update imho:

(In order of position and playoffs TOI)

C Matthews ---> Matthews
W Marner --------> Marner
W Nylander -----> Nylander

C Tavares -------> Tavares
W Bunting -------> Bunting
W Kerfoot -------> Kerfoot

C Kampf --------> Kampf
W Mikheyev --> xxxxxx
W Engvall -------> Engvall

C Blackwell ---> xxxxx
W Kase --------> Kubel
W Spezza -----> xxxxx

W Simmonds -> Simmonds
W Clifford ------> Clifford

XXX = Robertson, Abbruzzese, Holmberg, Steeves, Anderson, Gaudette, Malgin, Douglas


D Rielly ----------> Rielly
D Brodie ---------> Brodie

D Muzzin --------> Muzzin
D Giordano -----> Giordano

D Liljegren ------> Liljegren
D Holl --------------> Holl
D Boosh -------> Sandin


G Campbell ----> Murray
G Mrazek ------> Samsonov
G Kallgren --------> Kallgren

 

[Advanced stats]

I don't think this is fair to Dubas to judge 8 hours after free agency opens.

Additionally, Malgin and Gaudette should be looked at as AHL additions.
So really you could say we added a cheap high potential goalie and a Stanley cup winning 3rd liner for dirt cheap.

It's all about perspective and I'll definitely give Dubas the rest of the offseason to fill the few remaining holes.

 

[Nineteen67]

Too bad for Pierre and Sandy the Dube has no money to overpay. Sucks to be last to the dinner table.

Cant Engvall take the QO or negotiate a deal or go to arb. And if he goes to arb the Leafs can’t walk away.

 

[LeafEgo]

Well let's talk about this.

What's a threat to you? A team that's chasing a wildcard spot? A team that might beat you on the road.

Every single year a team falls surprisingly and rises surprisingly.

I wouldn't write them off completely.

Plus the Sens seems to be the only team we can consistently beat in the playoffs.

 

[ToneDog]

Cant Engvall take the QO or negotiate a deal or go to arb. And if he goes to arb the Leafs can’t walk away.

He can go to arbitration. Leafs can refuse to pay what he is awarded and he becomes UFA but don't quote me on it.

 

[Nineteen67]

He can go to arbitration. Leafs can refuse to pay what he is awarded and he becomes UFA but don't quote me on it.

I thought they can only walk away if the award is over 4.5 million.

 

[Gabriel426]

Pretty much expected today. Depth signings for the Leafs. A little excited about Samsonov.
There will be more depth signings till trades happen.

 

[Buds17]

Definitely a work in progress. The biggest challenge for the forward group at the moment might be that the top six and bottom six are clearly defined and separated from each other (the roster lacks previous middle six options like Mikheyev and Kase could be). Hoping that the team will now have the goaltending competition that last season ended up lacking. Can't argue with the team not competing with Buffalo's offer to Lyubushkin. Kase is a bit of a tough loss (for that AAV) and I admittedly was a fan of Blackwell's too. Long enough prepared for Campbell and Mikheyev playing elsewhere. Have to let the offseason play out now and see where this goes.

 

[Racer88]

I guess you have to tear a team down before you can build it backup because the Leafs are way worse then they were a week ago……..

 

[ULF_55]

So how many of the new guys can't be buried?

Other than the 2 time Cup winning goaltender.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

I guess you have to tear a team down before you can build it backup because the Leafs are way worse then they were a week ago……..

They really aren’t. Our goaltending last season was awful, Mikeyhev was hot and cold, I think Vancouver is going to regret that signing. We’ve added some depth and it’s still just the first day of free agency.

What were you expecting? The team doesn’t need more big stars, our best option to get one is through trades anyways.

 

[Racer88]

They really aren’t. Our goaltending last season was awful, Mikeyhev was hot and cold, I think Vancouver is going to regret that signing. We’ve added some depth and it’s still just the first day of free agency.

What were you expecting? The team doesn’t need more big stars, our best option to get one is through trades anyways.

I expected better goaltending. This tandem is riskier then last years. I expected a GM that had a clue about goaltending and actually had a plan when he took over not just treating the net like an afterthought.
I expected some decent players to replace the ones he let walk not some scrubs no one has heard of…….and Malgin……..didn’t we do that already

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

So how many of the new guys can't be buried?

Other than the 2 time Cup winning goaltender.

It’s really weird seeing people want to jump off the cliff over depth signings we can bury.

 

[Racer88]

So how many of the new guys can't be buried?

Other than the 2 time Cup winning goaltender.

Hopefully all of them or we are in serious trouble

It’s really weird seeing people want to jump off the cliff over depth signings we can bury.

Depth signings are one thing but when do the good players get here or are we prepared to waste another year.

Pretty much expected today. Depth signings for the Leafs. A little excited about Samsonov.
There will be more depth signings till trades happen.

You might be right but the sad part is Dubas will be doing the trades…….boom, up in smoke

 

[Gabriel426]

Hopefully all of them or we are in serious trouble


Depth signings are one thing but when do the good players get here or are we prepared to waste another year.


You might be right but the sad part is Dubas will be doing the trades…….boom, up in smoke

let’s just hope the other GM is worse than Dubas in trades, lol.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Hopefully all of them or we are in serious trouble


Depth signings are one thing but when do the good players get here or are we prepared to waste another year.

The good players are already here! Like the guy who was won the Hart, the Rocket and the Lindsay and scored 60 goals. We have great players, all we can do at this point is move the depth pieces around.

The players voted Matthews as the best player in the league, and you’re asking where the good players are?

 

[Racer88]

let’s just hope the other GM is worse than Dubas in trades, lol.

Lol. That seems to be our only hope

The good players are already here! Like the guy who was won the Hart, the Rocket and the Lindsay and scored 60 goals. We have great players, all we can do at this point is move the depth pieces around.

The players voted Matthews as the best player in the league, and you’re asking where the good players are?

We have 3 or4 very good players and That’s all we have. The rest or bargain basement or reclamation projects including goaltending.

 

[Mess]

It’s really weird seeing people want to jump off the cliff over depth signings we can bury.

I don't think burying in the minors is the issue, rather more providing impact to the NHL team.

The Leafs are annually looking for bottom 6 players that can contribute more secondary offense to support the core 4, particularly come playoff time.

Losing Spezza, Mikheyev and Kase alone reduced the team by 46 goals and 86 points from the bottom 6 through retirement and UFA from this past season.

At this point with only $2 mil free cap space and Sandin and Engvall unsigned and their qualifying offers > available cap space.

So it looks like some creative work is going to be required by the Leafs or some real internal growth from the farm system to address this.

 

[zeke]

I don't think burying in the minors is the issue.

The Leafs are annually looking for bottom 6 players that can contribute more secondary offense to support the core 4, particularly come playoff time.

Losing Spezza, Mikheyev and Kase alone reduced the team by 46 goals and 86 points from the bottom 6 through retirement and UFA from this past season.

At this point with only $2 mil free cap space and Sandin and Engvall unsigned and their qualifying offers > available cap space.

So it looks like some creative work is going to be required by the Leafs or some real internal growth from the farm system to address this.

Can't believe you're so dead against playing the kids.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

I don't think burying in the minors is the issue.

The Leafs are annually looking for bottom 6 players that can contribute more secondary offense to support the core 4, particularly come playoff time.

Losing Spezza, Mikheyev and Kase alone reduced the team by 46 goals and 86 points from the bottom 6 through retirement and UFA from this past season.

At this point with only $2 mil free cap space and Sandin and Engvall unsigned and their qualifying offers > available cap space.

So it looks like some creative work is going to be required by the Leafs or some real internal growth from the farm system to address this.

You can’t just take the points out because players left. New players will replace them, it’s not like we’re not going to have a 4th line or a second line winger.

 

[Gabriel426]

I don't think burying in the minors is the issue.

The Leafs are annually looking for bottom 6 players that can contribute more secondary offense to support the core 4, particularly come playoff time.

Losing Spezza, Mikheyev and Kase alone reduced the team by 46 goals and 86 points from the bottom 6 through retirement and UFA from this past season.

At this point with only $2 mil free cap space and Sandin and Engvall unsigned and their qualifying offers > available cap space.

So it looks like some creative work is going to be required by the Leafs or some real internal growth from the farm system to address this.

I don’t think the Leafs need 46 goals to make the playoffs next year.
Also, these goals will be score by someone else.
The key is having guys to score in the playoffs which beside those empty net goals, I think the only player who left the Leafs with a playoff goal this past season was Blackwell.