Re-tooling For One More Run With This Core

[Dreakmur]

I think one (1) 2nd. line glue player is needed. He has to fill the gulf between Tavares and Nylander.

I think there is enough talent to fill the bottom 6 if a couple character players are added.

Kampf is the only bottom 6 player who should return.

 

[ULF_55]

Kampf is the only bottom 6 player who should return.

Engvall is worthy and will be cheap.
Kerfoot might be moved.
Mikheyev too rich.
Kase should retire.
Blackwell who knows maybe training camp makes a difference?
A couple Euros will get a chance and maybe a college player or two.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

After setting a franchise record for points in the regular season, before making their same routine exit in round one, I find myself interested in seeing one more run with this core, provided some coaching and roster changes are made in an attempt to get the mix right. I'd love to hear everyone's plan in depth. Here is mine...

Trade Them
Alexander Kerfoot (3.5 million)
Jake Muzzin (5.6 million)
Justin Holl (2.0 million)
Petr Mrazek (3.8 million)

Let Them Walk / Retire
Ilya Mikheyev (1.6 million)
Ondrej Kase (1.25 million)
Jason Spezza (750k)

Re-sign Them
Mark Giordano (1× 1.0 million)
Jack Campbell (3x 4.0 million)
Ilya Lyubushkin (2× 2.0 million)
Timothy Liljegren (3x 3.0 million)
Rasmus Sandin (2x 1.5 million)
Colin Blackwell (1x 900k)
Pierre Engvall (2x 1.75 million)

New Money
Phil Kessel's cap retention (1.2 million)
Salary cap increase (1.0 million)

Roster Forwards
C #1: Auston Matthews (11.6 million)
C #2: John Tavares (11.0 million)
C #3: David Kampf (1.5 million)
C #4: Addition
RW #1: Mitch Marner (10.9 million)
RW #2: William Nylander (7.0 million)
RW #3: Addition
RW #4: Colin Blackwell (900k)
LW #1: Addition
LW #2: Michael Bunting (900k)
LW #3: Pierre Engvall (1.75 million)
LW #4: Addition
13th Forward: Wayne Simmonds (900k)
14th Forward: Kyle Clifford (763k)

Roster Defense
LD #1: Morgan Rielly (7.5 million)
LD #2: Mark Giordano (1.0 million)
LD #3: TJ Brodie (5.0 million)
RD #1: Addition
RD #2: Timothy Liljegren (3.0 million)
RD #3 Ilya Lyubushkin (2.0 million)
7th Dman: Rasmus Sandin (1.5 million)

Roster Goalies
Jack Campbell (4.0 million)
Addition

Total estimated Cap Hit: 71.2 million
Total remaining Salary Cap: 11.3 million

- IMO, this team needs to add a physical, top 6, power forward to play alongside Matthews and Marner, allowing Bunting to slide down to the 2nd line, where he would be a natural fit. I would expect this forward to cost in the $3.0-4.0 million range.

- IMO, this team requires a long term, steady, shutdown partner for Morgan Rielly. A natural RHD that will allow Brodie to play further down the lineup.

- There are numerous players in the system, on ELCs, that should get an opportunity to cheaply fill out some of the bottom 6 roster spots. The 5 names that come to mind include Nick Robertson, Nick Abruzzese, Joey Anderson, Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves. I expect at least 2 of those players will make the opening day roster in 2022.

- I think that Toronto will likely stick with Jack Campbell in goal, unless someone unexpected comes available. That said, it's imperative that Mrazek is replaced, with a cheap, solid backup, who has played meaningful games in the NHL. I'm expecting Campbell to cost a little bit of money, therefore, I'd hope that the backup comes in under $2.0 million.

- If the correct addition is made to the defense core, I really like the group on paper. Not only do I think the mix is right, I love the 7 man depth of that group, allowing some of the guys in the system to keep cooking and Sandin to rotate in regularly, keeping everyone fresh. I'd hope the addition they make costs between $3.0-$4.0 million and is a natural RHD.

nothing you do in your retool matters because you still have Jack Campbell as your #1 goalie, that doesn't work we have seen it not work

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think one (1) 2nd. line glue player is needed. He has to fill the gulf between Tavares and Nylander.

I think there is enough talent to fill the bottom 6 if a couple character players are added.

I think it is less a "glue" player and more finding a way to let Tavares use his skill more. Tavares worked well with lower skill, gritty guys in New York and even in Toronto because he was able to use his skill to compliment them and didn't just need to be the guy who constantly had to win board battles or battles in front of the net.

I think the problem with having Kerfoot or Mikheyev on that line was less that they couldn't work with Tavares or Nylander individually, but rather that Tavares was the best at tight battles (or Nylander was not willing to consistently engage in them) and was effectively relegated to that role on his line.

I guess someone similar to Zach Hyman could also work, given that is who Tavares worked with back when he scored 47 goals. However, even a Michael Bunting or Andreas Johnsson type could work. Someone who still has a shot to be a threat from the perimeter, but also had the energy and prowess to score in tight as well so that Tavares can find ways to score from beyond the front of the net as well. That is why I think Niederreiter probably makes the most sense out of the UFA's. Luke Kunin as well, if he is non-tendered by NSH. 223 hits should make some people happy (even though he is not huge and doesn't really strike me as an overly physical guy), and he fits right into the age of our core.

 

[Dreakmur]

Engvall is worthy and will be cheap.
Kerfoot might be moved.
Mikheyev too rich.
Kase should retire.
Blackwell who knows maybe training camp makes a difference?
A couple Euros will get a chance and maybe a college player or two.

Engvall is the only other one I’d even consider, but I’m not sure how cheap he’ll be, and he’s too soft for my liking anyway.

 

[notDatsyuk]

How do we improve our goaltending, defense, and depth scoring, while also building a more playoff style lineup, without giving up any quality assets or making significant cap space? Trading Kerfoot and Mrazek just isn’t going to do it…

I don't have the answer, but I'm not sure trading one of our best players, on probably our best contract is the only, or even best, way.

My comment was more directed towards the posters who are of the "omg, we didn't do any better than the last several years (not true), so let's throw away a good player because of one perceived error". Some of the suggested trades have been ludicrous at best.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Its with regards to comparing our post season success this year to that of the Oilers...which was brought up.

duh.


Dubas is the smartest GM we've had in my lifetime who seems to have managed to make us consistently better year after year...

Beyond his ability to negotiate smartly around the salary cap...(which is a HUGE plus in this era of cap management) You are willfully ignoring his getting Bunting, Campbell, Gio, Brodie, Lybushkin, Kampf, Kase all had sound impacts on an improved Leaf season this year. He has missed the mark specifically on Marchment but no GM wins them all.

Which GM is better? Whom would you replace him with? Or are you one of them "I'm sad so we need to burn it down" temper tantrum kind of fan?

No, not burn it down. And you’re right, most of his acquisitions turned out well, except for Mrazek, and to an extent Kase as well (both with injury histories). And he definitely messed up last season with how much he paid for Foligno.
So here’s my question to you. How long do we stick with Dubas and Shanahan (especially Shanny who has been here for 7 seasons)? They had home ice advantage this season, they were up 3 games to 2 with 2 chances to move on, and the last one on home ice. Yet once again, when it mattered the most, they couldn’t deliver. Not to mention Tampa had to play most of game 7 without Point. But hey, they’re getting closer, right?

Well thats your opinion, Gibson carries a huge risk of not bouncing back with a 6.4 mill cap hit for 5 more years. Comtois also has to bounce back in this scenario. Mrazek is a dump, kerfoot can be sold for a 2nd at the deadline and then Anaheim gets a 1st Robertson and a 2nd as well.

Then maybe if the Ducks would retain on Gibson, otherwise I would look elsewhere.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Checking in to see if Engvall cut yet.

No? Damn.


Okay bye.

He is a UFA in July I think.

 

[Stephen]

Chew on this for a second: Tampa is more banged up after one game against Florida than 7 against the Leafs.

Modern Leafs don’t do the best job at the attrition game. Those unrelenting blasts from the point and getting plastered into the end boards in puck retrievals are mandatory.

 

[Leaf Fans]

If Dubas didn't spend him time drafting mostly 5 foot nothing prospects maybe the leafs would have a shot at a decent prospect pool. The real issue here is Dubas, like his predecessor Burke, acts like hes the smartest in the room and quickly get slapped in the face by reality.

He hasn't drafted one five foot nothing prospect.

 

[Nylander88]

Wouldn't hate a guy like Zach Aston-Reese on the 4th line. Hits everything in sight

 

[Stephen]

I think it is less a "glue" player and more finding a way to let Tavares use his skill more. Tavares worked well with lower skill, gritty guys in New York and even in Toronto because he was able to use his skill to compliment them and didn't just need to be the guy who constantly had to win board battles or battles in front of the net.

I think the problem with having Kerfoot or Mikheyev on that line was less that they couldn't work with Tavares or Nylander individually, but rather that Tavares was the best at tight battles (or Nylander was not willing to consistently engage in them) and was effectively relegated to that role on his line.

I guess someone similar to Zach Hyman could also work, given that is who Tavares worked with back when he scored 47 goals. However, even a Michael Bunting or Andreas Johnsson type could work. Someone who still has a shot to be a threat from the perimeter, but also had the energy and prowess to score in tight as well so that Tavares can find ways to score from beyond the front of the net as well. That is why I think Niederreiter probably makes the most sense out of the UFA's. Luke Kunin as well, if he is non-tendered by NSH. 223 hits should make some people happy (even though he is not huge and doesn't really strike me as an overly physical guy), and he fits right into the age of our core.

Tavares works better with 2 guys who can help shrink the ice down to a hash marks and below game where skating in open ice or straight line speed is completely eliminated from the play. The problem seems to be all the other forward lines and players want to play the other speed, skill style.

 

[Dreakmur]

I don't have the answer, but I'm not sure trading one of our best players, on probably our best contract is the only, or even best, way.

My comment was more directed towards the posters who are of the "omg, we didn't do any better than the last several years (not true), so let's throw away a good player because of one perceived error". Some of the suggested trades have been ludicrous at best.

There are only a handful of teams that would both want Nylander and have the quality assets needed to make a deal. Chychrun, Provorov, Scheifele… can’t think of many others.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Kampf is the only bottom 6 player who should return.

Depending on the cost for Engvall, I would like to see him return. Same for Mikeyev(sp?).

 

[Racer88]

Tavares works better with 2 guys who can help shrink the ice down to a hash marks and below game where skating in open ice or straight line speed is completely eliminated from the play. The problem seems to be all the other forward lines and players want to play the other speed, skill style.

So sad that we have to prop up an 11 million dollar player with 2 guys that do all the hard work for him………and people wonder why many of us want Shanny and Dubas gone

 

[Dreakmur]

Depending on the cost for Engvall, I would like to see him return. Same for Mikeyev(sp?).

They're both fine players, but they're part of the too soft problem we have. We need a new mix.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Engvall is the only other one I’d even consider, but I’m not sure how cheap he’ll be, and he’s too soft for my liking anyway.

He's still young and made positive regular season strides this season. Not unreasonable to think he can improve as a post-season player.

 

[Dreakmur]

He's still young and made positive regular season strides this season. Not unreasonable to think he can improve as a post-season player.

He scored more, but he was still terribly soft.

 

[CelticDruid]

He hasn't drafted one five foot nothing prospect.

Why do you always take things literally?

 

[Leaf Fans]

Why do you always take things literally?

I don't always take things literally. I do sometimes though.

 

[CelticDruid]

I don't always take things literally. I do sometimes though.

I guess we all do at one time or another.

 

[Cowumbus]

You probably don't want to move Jenner?

I mean I wouldn’t mind, I think he would be perfect for the Leafs. But management just extended him and considers him the heartbeat of the team.

 

[Bomber0104]

I mean I wouldn’t mind, I think he would be perfect for the Leafs. But management just extended him and considers him the heartbeat of the team.

Like a Kadri type?

 

[notDatsyuk]

So sad that we have to prop up an 11 million dollar player with 2 guys that do all the hard work for him………and people wonder why many of us want Shanny and Dubas gone

I don't mind their playing him with the right kind of players to optimize his ability. That's just good coaching.

What I object to is their still trying to pretend he's a 2C, and largely doing that because they grossly overpaid for a player who started to fade badly in the third year of a seven year contract (the NMC is just icing on the dirt cake).

He's still pretty good on the PP where he can win faceoffs and then stand in the slot but beyond that he's a 3C or 3W ( for 11M - ).

 

[Gabriel426]

If we are going retool, just go all in in retooling instead of a half a** job with just Willie. Trading Willie is not enough. Trade both Willie and MM and just rebuild the team with more a cycling game instead of just speed speed and speed.
By trading both Willie and Marner, it allows us to actually spend money on a real goalie instead of on someone who we hope will break out. It also gives us flexibility when it comes to resigning AM.
Bc just moving Willie won’t do much and knowing Dubas and Keefe it will be another 1st round exit and by next year it will be well need to trade MM now and hope AM resigns….