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

[Pinkcat]

Well, it would be nice not to hand a top 5 pick to either Philly or Boston. That is part of the reason for dismissing BT. But at the same time, it sure feels like spinning your wheels with this lot.

The reset is just as much for off-ice as it is for on-ice, too. Any suit that Shanahan has hired (save for the scout from Dallas) would be fair game.

The reset starts at the top with Shanahan not being retained. They do not offer a contract to Marner and only offer Tavares 3rd line centre money with as much deferred as is allowed.
There just has to be more balance and more bottom six performance. Treliving has done more to build the team in two summers that what we saw in the 20 years prior, I think he deserves the opportunity to keep improving the roster. Moving on from 1 or 2 of the core 4 is a start.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Treliving has done more to build the team in two summers that what we saw in the 20 years prior, I think he deserves the opportunity to keep improving the roster. Moving on from 1 or 2 of the core 4 is a start.

He's signed Tanev, what else? That's actually good?

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Goalies and d rebuilt. Need to do the forwards next.

 

[dubplatepressure]

I could see a scenario where Marner dosent sign and then Mathews wants out .
Marner signs with Chicago and the Mathews wants to play with his set up man .
Chicago is desperate to keep Bedard happy, they have 59 mil cap next season.
They have alot of 1st Rd pks alot of young players
What would the Mathews trade look like also we sign and trade Marner for the 8 the yr.
We won't get the top 10 pk this year
They have. Flo pk and 2 next year plus young prospects

I could see that too. But again you can’t sign and trade UFAs.

 

[dubplatepressure]

He's signed Tanev, what else? That's actually good?

Thought OEL, Stolarz, and Lorentz were all prudent signings. Didn’t love the Carlo trade though we have a solid blue line now so that’s not terrible. Didn’t like the Laughton trade but wasn’t the worst trade made either at TDL.

There are always solid bottom 6 options to be had around the league come July 1st. Taking Jarnkrok out, trading Robertson and Kampf, and replacing them with guys with motors would be very good for this group. We have the room for 1 marquee signing or a high ticket trade. I’m assuming that goes to the forward group though you could turn that into a couple strong top 9 players to round out the remaining roster. All hypothetical of course. We have no prospects remaining.

 

[The Shadow]

Players will stay clear from Toronto this summer as UFAs. I remember a few reporters last summer that some guys refused to go to Toronto when the whole Marner thing was going on.

It’s going to be worse now.

They will either have to overpay or be passed over

 

[weems]

It sucks if we lose this series but is anyone else actually excited that we might finally see some change?

I mean, I look at some of these other teams that are having success and there's many different builds and you don't need to have some super top heavy roster to win.

 

[TMLAM34]

Players will stay clear from Toronto this summer as UFAs. I remember a few reporters last summer that some guys refused to go to Toronto when the whole Marner thing was going on.

It’s going to be worse now.

They will either have to overpay or be passed over

I think so too.

I think we’ll have to seriously consider trading guys like Rielly, Woll, Cowan and even potentially Matthews for multiple roster pieces. Otherwise I don’t see Toronto being a very appealing destination if we’re running the same shit for the 10th year in a row unless we’re seriously overpaying them…

It’s getting real ugly here, again unfortunately.

 

[Pinkcat]

It sucks if we lose this series but is anyone else actually excited that we might finally see some change?

I mean, I look at some of these other teams that are having success and there's many different builds and you don't need to have some super top heavy roster to win.

I agree, if we lose we will win because I don't believe Mr. Pelley will stand pat. From a strictly business perspective the Leafs are inefficient because they don't get play-off productivity commensurate with outlay. Although if you pose the argument that the players don't get paid in the play-offs the Leafs are actually breaking even, as in zero dollars = zero effort.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

If we trade Matthews, I prefer Anaheim as a target than L.A. Anaheim have Quenneville now and are probably ready to make a splash.

We need a C in a trade for Matthews and I don't like what L.A. has in that regard. In contrast, Anaheim have McTavish and Carlsson.

How about this for Matthews:

Leo Carlsson (projects as a decent 1C)
Olen Zellweger (power play QB, puck moving D)

 

[Fogelhund]

It sucks if we lose this series but is anyone else actually excited that we might finally see some change?

I mean, I look at some of these other teams that are having success and there's many different builds and you don't need to have some super top heavy roster to win.

I mean... if posters controlled the Leafs, we'd see meaningful change... but does anyone have faith that this management group will make really hard decisions? I can see window dressing, but I don't know if there will be more. I can be hopeful though.

 

[Menzinger]

I mean... if posters controlled the Leafs, we'd see meaningful change... but does anyone have faith that this management group will make really hard decisions? I can see window dressing, but I don't know if there will be more. I can be hopeful though.

To be blunt, Tre was brought in to finish Shanny's vision. I'd like to see a full front office reset. Dump them all and a completely new set of eyes to make moves (quickly).

 

[weems]

I mean... if posters controlled the Leafs, we'd see meaningful change... but does anyone have faith that this management group will make really hard decisions? I can see window dressing, but I don't know if there will be more. I can be hopeful though.

I think it might be easier this time around because two of the major players are UFA's. so some of it is out of our control.

If we lose, I would be extremely surprised if we come back with the same 4 forwards configuration.

 

[TMLAM34]

At least Shanny’s contract is up, therefore there’s zero percent chance he returns. It’s pretty pathetic this organization cares more about feelings than results and we had to wait for his contract to expire instead of firing him 2 years ago when it was needed.

 

[hamzarocks]

It sucks when this team looked like it had finally learned to play heavy, responsible playoff style grinding hockey everything fell apart

We looked to have strong goaltending early in R2.

Our core was producing well and playing responsible hockey

The depth was producing and defending well in Pacioretty, OEL, Domi etc

3 games and we lost all that with the team looking to have lost its entire identity and approach they had spent months building.

So frustrating if you were watching all regular season games ( I wasn't, was watching maybe 30-35 full games and then partials + highlights waiting for playoffs to come).

They have a shot still at this but they need to play an intense and passion fueled game 6. A big blowout win would be major boost for team and fan confidence for a do or die game 7.

 

[Fogelhund]

To be blunt, Tre was brought in to finish Shanny's vision. I'd like to see a full front office reset. Dump them all and a completely new set of eyes to make moves (quickly).

We have a pretty short window here to make meaningful changes. IMO, we have less than a month to get meaningful change completed, with a new strategy in place. Surely it can get done if there is willingness, and a mandate.

Could a board selected group of posters do worse?

 

[Fogelhund]

I think it might be easier this time around because two of the major players are UFA's. so some of it is out of our control.

If we lose, I would be extremely surprised if we come back with the same 4 forwards configuration.

I think Marner is gone either way. I don't think he likes, or can handle the pressure of being in Toronto, as a Toronto kid... so he's gone somewhere with less pressure, less media pressure on him.

From there... we'll see.

We all have our opinions... I guess it comes down to money too... how badly does JT want to stay? Can we move Matthews? What can we get in return.

This sucks... great individual talents... not enough heart/desire to win.

 

[Ciao]

The Leafs are done. Time to clean house, starting at the top.

I don't know that I would even keep Keith Pelley. He's too much of a fan-boy. Shanahan -- gone. The whole front office -- gone. The whole coaching staff -- gone. Then let new management decide on the players.

There has to be some accountability.

The sooner the better.

 

[horner]

I could see that too. But again you can’t sign and trade UFAs.

If he wants the 8th year and Mathews wants out because the heat on him is going to be intense.

 

[SprDaVE]

To be blunt, Tre was brought in to finish Shanny's vision. I'd like to see a full front office reset. Dump them all and a completely new set of eyes to make moves (quickly).

Agreed. I think they'll give them a little more time, probably another year or two though. Maybe Shanahan leaving after this season might shape up the rest. If this team has to rebuild, you definitely need to switch up your entire coaching and GM staff before.

All this is kind of a mess. Very little foresight and just a lot of "let's see what happens". It doesn't help the players take huge massive dumps on their coaches and management, from the ice to the cap demands.

I'd probably keep an eye on Jason Spezza. I know he left to follow Dubas but if the Leafs change up Shanahan and make a big environment change, I think he'd be a potentially good head to right the ship.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Not that my opinion counts for much but I thought Tree did a good job, he surrounded the stars with damn near everything you could ask for. The star players just sucked.

We can't rebuild/blow it up because this year and the 2 years following, the 1st round picks are gone. I'd likely mandate that future 1sts are not to be traded.

Berube did well, again, I blame the players more.

It's easier to say who I am advocating for keeping

Knies
88
McCabe
Tanev
Carlo
Stolarz

If someone makes me a "fair" offer for Matthews that includes a "1st line centre" - I am doing it - Does that deal exist? Not really, no.

You hope McDavid is willing to come home...because that's what it will take to pull this era out of the dumpster.

I don't see how you can re-sign Marner and/or JT - too much stink on them

Rielly, Domi, Kampf and Jarnkrok would be guys I would be looking to move as well.

It's harsh but it needs to be.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Look at Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly. Never good enough for fans until they won Stanley Cups and Conn Smithes. Then never good enough afterward.

Great players don’t win Stanley cups every year - especially with such there’s a high level of pairity. You don’t trade players like Auston Matthews away….that’s cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Instead: let Marner walk, re-sign JT for cheap, and have your pick of the best UFAs and reload for next year when Matthews is healthy.

This is the best Leafs team I’ve seen in a very long time. Finally a balanced defense, a good bottom 6…this team is set up to have a shot every year until Matthews is well into his 30s.

 

[SprDaVE]

Look at Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly. Never good enough for fans until they won Stanley Cups and Conn Smithes. Then never good enough afterward.

Great players don’t win Stanley cups every year - especially with such there’s a high level of pairity. You don’t trade players like Auston Matthews away….that’s cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Instead: let Marner walk, re-sign JT for cheap, and have your pick of the best UFAs and reload for next year when Matthews is healthy.

This is the best Leafs team I’ve seen in a very long time. Finally a balanced defense, a good bottom 6…this team is set up to have a shot every year until Matthews is well into his 30s.

I have a lot of patience to keep building around Matthews, Nylander and Knies as the nucleous upfront. Matthews is on pace to break every Leaf record quite easily. Like you said, he's a franchise player through and through. JT neeeeeeds to take a team friendly deal for me to bring him back into his late 30s.

Treliving needs to get busy and aggressive to fill the blanks and improve the rest of the areas. He has to use the off-season properly this time and not just sign a bunch of players and hope it fits.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I have a lot of patience to keep building around Matthews, Nylander and Knies as the nucleous upfront. Matthews is on pace to break every Leaf record quite easily. Like you said, he's a franchise player through and through. JT neeeeeeds to take a team friendly deal for me to bring him back into his late 30s.

Treliving needs to get busy and aggressive to fill the blanks and improve the rest of the areas. He has to use the off-season properly this time and not just sign a bunch of players and hope it fits.

To be fair to Tree, he did hit on a lot of his guys - Stolarz, OEL, Lorentz, Tanev...

Misses have occurred but not that badly.

JT is a 1 year deal - that's it, I want $$ available for McDavid.

 

[SprDaVE]

To be fair to Tree, he did hit on a lot of his guys - Stolarz, OEL, Lorentz, Tanev...

Misses have occurred but not that badly.

JT is a 1 year deal - that's it, I want $$ available for McDavid.

He did well with the free agents. I'm hoping he can do the same with the trade market through the off-season, especially to dump a lot of dead weight. But also maybe do push for a Rielly trade or maybe look at making an aggressive hockey trade. I dunno who or what yet... we'll see.

Being able to accrue cap space for once in our life time would be nice.