Roster Building/Team Building/Future Trade/Drafting thread.

[Tony Romo]

We need players who can help our team play more in the offensive zone. For all the talented players we got the numbers I see on NHL Edge stats page going back as far as it can to 2021/22 season our offensive zone time is just not good enough for the money we spend on this top end talent.

2021/22 season was our best regular season for offensive zone time with 43.5% which was 90th percentile with the league average at 41.6%. Then during the playoffs we drop to 41.7% which was 53rd percentile.

2022/23 season we drop in the regular season to 42.3% which was 61st percentile and then the playoffs we drop to 39.7% which was below 50th percentile.

2023/24 season same pattern continues. 42.1 % during the regular season 58th percentile to 39.5% below the 50th percentile during the playoffs.

2024/25 season 40.9% below 50th percentile and then 39.0% below 50th percentile playoffs.

Some more speed might help too.

For sure. Speed would be up there on my traits list for this offseason. As much as I love our defence, it seems like all of the guys we have handle the puck like a grenade, which lead to unneeded hits, extra time spent in our own zone etc.

 

[LeafSteel]

Bowen Bryam is available… bring him in and move out Rielly please.

Byram-Krebs
for
Rielly-?

Or sign Donato as a UFA.

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Mangiapane-Donato/Krebs-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Boeser
Lorentz-Laughton-Quillan/Cowan

McCabe-Tanev
Byram-Carlo
OEL-Korczak
Benoit

Don’t ask me how the cap fits and what’s trade. Treliving and Pridham can do that easy stuff.

I just told them who to get and Berube where to play them…….

 

[Stringer Bell]

For some reason I don't think there is any way Berube puts Domi on the top line right wing.

 

[hamzarocks]

Benoit Fabbro is a nice 3rd pair

McCabe Tanev
OEL Carlo
Benoit Fabbro

There is no puck rushing/carrying

no strong puck passes for stretch passes to breakout

No strong in zone offensive player who can get shots on net and walk the line to put pressure on defenses

Also no one to run a PP now with Marner probably leaving

If we run that D-core were getting out in R1

You can't play both Carlo and Benoit on the team regularly. 1 has to be upgraded to a good 2-way PMD

McCabe and OEL need to upgrade 1 of them to a high potential offensive player

 

[The Shadow]

How did Ehlers look in the playoffs ?

This has to be the main focus. Bringing in killers that show up in the playoffs. That’s our biggest failure

Also yes to reclamation projects and the key with those guys is support them around other great players and a team structure. That’s exactly what Florida has done amazingly

 

[weems]

How did Ehlers look in the playoffs ?

This has to be the main focus. Bringing in killers that show up in the playoffs. That’s our biggest failure

Also yes to reclamation projects and the key with those guys is support them around other great players and a team structure. That’s exactly what Florida has done amazingly

He was good this playoffs but historically hasn't done much.

His speed and finishing ability would be a nice add up front tho.

 

[The Shadow]

There’s Lot of good Finnish players left in the playoffs. I’m curious why we don’t have any on the roster

 

[LeafSteel]

There’s Lot of good Finnish players left in the playoffs. I’m curious why we don’t have any on the roster

Once you go Aki, you can’t go backi…..

 

[hamzarocks]

Trades made

1. Rielly + Cowan + Woll for Byram + UPL

2. OEL to Canes for a 2nd + 3rd

3. Kampf to LA for a 5th

4. Jarnkrok to NJD for a 5th

5. Robertson to Dallas for 2 5ths

Defense is better and more mobile along with being younger.

Offense take some shots at Mangniapaine, Robinson, roslovic and hope they can really break out for us

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

OEL, Lorentz, and Stolarz all worked because they were cheap and they filled depth roles (Stolarz outperformed his contract and OEL occasionally gave more than expected). Overpaying Bennett for $8-9 million would kill us cap-wise.

Finding guys who can outperform their contracts is critical for this team to find future success. Scouts will have to come up huge like they have for teams like Florida, Washington, and Tampa of yesteryear.

 

[GQS]

Read the post, man.

The Leafs don’t have many avenues to improve because the free agent class is pretty bad especially for their needs and they barely have any assets.

If McCabe + gets you a 2C or a 2RW and you can replace McCabe with a guy like Provorov in free agency then the team overall is better in my opinion.

First of all are we sure a guy like Provorov would want to sign here? Second he's going to want more than what we just signed McCabe to with his new contract, probably 5+ million at least while McCabe is at 4.5 million. Third what does Provorov bring to this team that McCabe doesn't already? For years people were saying that the Leafs defense was soft and easy to push around. Now we have a defense that's mostly made up of big, physical guys who can hit, block shots and aren't easily pushed around. Why mess with it other than tracing Rielly if you could.

As well in what way does Provorov improve upon McCabe? We know Jake is tough as nails and stands up for his teammates and I don't think Provorov is that type of player. And also while McCabe has value, I'm not sure its high enough that it would bring you that second line center or winger you're looking for. I'd just rather see if I could sign a guy like Kuzmenko for cheap or see if Kane or another decent forward who can produce some offense has any interest in playing here.

 

[The Shadow]

OEL, Lorentz, and Stolarz all worked because they were cheap and they filled depth roles (Stolarz outperformed his contract and OEL occasionally gave more than expected). Overpaying Bennett for $8-9 million would kill us cap-wise.

Finding guys who can outperform their contracts is critical for this team to find future success. Scouts will have to come up huge like they have for teams like Florida, Washington, and Tampa of yesteryear.

Maybe it’s time to either be better than Florida at finding guys and supporting them like Florida does or getting some of Floridas staff/pro scouts and unload some money on them.

 

[Wrong Wilson]

Mangiapane seems like a great fit to bring in on a 1 year deal for him to try and regain his value. Hometown kid too.

Also has history with Treliving

 

[aingefan]

Cowan turned 20 yesterday, it's not impossible for him to make the roster.

Yeah, it wouldn’t be the worst idea ever to develop him in the NHL on lower lines.
He’s got a reputation for being tenacious and smart, but trying too much in his recent NHL exposure. He might provide a spark and some offence against 3rd/4th lines.
Give him some camp/roster competition.
McMann-Laughton-Cowan is a group with good complementary skills. Good cost effective regular season 3rd line potentially, depending what happens with JT and the centre ice spot.

 

[aingefan]

He is and he did very well after being picked up on waivers by Columbus. If he makes it to free agency, I would definitely be very interested.

Love this suggestion.
He brings puck movement.
I particularly like this D core with both him and Mo - feeling like Mo will rebound next year, hopefully better conditioned and abit more explosive again.
McCabe-Tanev
Reilly-Carlo
Ekman-Larsson-Fabbro
Maybe Benoit’s post season highlights elevate his value a bit?

 

[aingefan]

They should; the last one they got was Bunting, probably. That was more similar to Verhaeghe than the others because neither had had very much NHL success prior.

It's interesting; Dallas has the kid Blumej there, and that's one I'd be looking at. He's a group 6 UFA

Matej Blümel - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Matej Blümel, 2000-05-31 Tabor, CZE Czechia. Most recently in the AHL with Texas Stars. Complete player biography and stats.

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Yeah, I mentioned this guy and Olle Lycksell the other day.
TO should be optimally positioned to target group six types.
As a rule, I’d love it if my GM brought in two top-end group 6’s and 1-2 euro UFA every year to build depth and competition.
Rotate those guys with a couple ELC-waiver exempt guys, and you should be able to fill a 1/4 roster with some upside, hunger at a reasonable cost.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Yeah, I mentioned this guy and Olle Lycksell the other day.
TO should be optimally positioned to target group six types.
As a rule, I’d love it if my GM brought in two top-end group 6’s and 1-2 euro UFA every year to build depth and competition.
Rotate those guys with a couple ELC-waiver exempt guys, and you should be able to fill a 1/4 roster with some upside, hunger at a reasonable cost.

Yeah, I mentioned him specifically because of the Dallas connection and Leach.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

I really want the Leafs to target Pageau for our second line center spot. He's a good two-way center, who plays physically and can chip in some offense. He's signed for one more year at 5M. I wonder if they would take Laughton + Robertson in exchange.

Then sign Bennett (6M x 5) and Marchand (7M x 3). Not only do we add scoring and grit but more importantly, we greatly weaken our rival Florida. They both grew up Leafs fans.

 

[SprDaVE]

Love this suggestion.
He brings puck movement.
I particularly like this D core with both him and Mo - feeling like Mo will rebound next year, hopefully better conditioned and abit more explosive again.
McCabe-Tanev
Reilly-Carlo
Ekman-Larsson-Fabbro
Maybe Benoit’s post season highlights elevate his value a bit?

Benoit earned a shot to play on the bottom pairing for sure but you always need 8 defenseman in training camp ready to go. Injuries can pile up. I would probably move him to a #7 role in this scenario.

I would look at moving OEL before Benoit though, just based on age and style. I do like OEL at his cap hit and role.

 

[Americanadian]

He is and he did very well after being picked up on waivers by Columbus. If he makes it to free agency, I would definitely be very interested.

I'm going to bet they move off Severson (to CAR) and sign Fabbro.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Cowan I think needs a year in the AHL at minimum. Knies came in as a 21 year old. Cowan is 19?

It’s not an easy market for a young player. Plus he clearly showed he was nowhere near ready this past training camp

Let him cook in the AHL. Don’t ruin this guy before he has a chance

One hundred percent he needs AHL time.

 

[TMLAM34]

Bowen Bryam is available… bring him in and move out Rielly please.

This is the move we need to make. Byram would be a real nice addition to our blueline.

 

[Rare Jewel]

I'm going to bet they move off Severson (to CAR) and sign Fabbro.

They might. I'd think about clearing room for Severson in that case.

 

[Skullz]

Elias Pettersson with a little retention. Cap is going to go up, we have a huge hole at centre.

Do we take that bet? Resign Tavares at 4.5 and you run:

Matthews
Pettersson
Tavares
Laughton

That’s a great centre depth. If Pettersson can bounce back.

 

[TMLAM34]

Byram-Krebs
for
Rielly-?

Or sign Donato as a UFA.

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Mangiapane-Donato/Krebs-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Boeser
Lorentz-Laughton-Quillan/Cowan

McCabe-Tanev
Byram-Carlo
OEL-Korczak
Benoit

Don’t ask me how the cap fits and what’s trade. Treliving and Pridham can do that easy stuff.

I just told them who to get and Berube where to play them…….

Don’t see Buffalo interested in Rielly at all, they already have Dhalin, Power and Samuelsson on the left side. I think my Byram deal would need to include Woll.