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

[aingefan]

I certainly think there’s a good scenario for JT being useful in this team.

I aways felt he was misused….always succeeded with lesser but grinding wingers.

On a third line he’s a strength. Can he mesh with Domi on one flank? A defensively responsible third winger who can skate.

I think there’s a world where you can really stretch the lineup:

Knies-Matthews- RW
LW - C maybe Pius Suter - Nylander (or a similar two-way type C)
Domi - Tavares - RW
McMann - Laughton - RW

There’s still money to spend with 4 solid tandems.

And I know people like to crap on ‘vanilla’ players, but if the complementary guys work hard they’re doing their part. Bobby McMann just went through his first playoff, that’s out of the way. He also put up 20 goals, can fly, forechecks well and wasn’t shy physically in the playoffs.

Try to add some upside with some Euro FA’s. Add some competition with Group sixes. Maybe Cowan can fight his way on, Quillan’s close.

 

[SprDaVE]

I haven't been a fan of Domi's a cap allocation or deployment for much of his Leaf stint, but he's been a successful 2C in the league. In a post Tavares world where an xxx-Domi-Nylander line is allowed to feast on the bulk of the pure offensive minutes/matchups, I wouldn't be shocked at a return of 18-19 Canadiens or 22-23 Blackhawks level production from him.

That's fair. With Chicago he took 2nd most faceoffs after Toews and did pretty well. It's a possibility but for my money, I think it would be wise to keep center depth and use Domi in a RW role unless you need him to shift to center in a pinch. I think shifting to PP1 and likely on Matthews wing could make him collect a lot of assists.

 

[SprDaVE]

I think it's really aggressive but not entirely unheard of.

Colorado changed out 2 goalies in-season, added Coyle, added Nelson, added Lindgren, E.Johnson, traded Rantanen for Necas,

So 7 trades within a season...

Treliving hasn't done a significant off-season trade since he's been here. He hasn't made any trades in the off-season outside of draft pick swapping. Most of his moves have been either an early season dump or deadline adds. Maybe that changes but he's been very quiet. I don't see that changing a lot but hopefully he gets on his phone and gets to work.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

I certainly think there’s a good scenario for JT being useful in this team.

I aways felt he was misused….always succeeded with lesser but grinding wingers.

On a third line he’s a strength. Can he mesh with Domi on one flank? A defensively responsible third winger who can skate.

I think there’s a world where you can really stretch the lineup:

Knies-Matthews- RW
LW - C maybe Pius Suter - Nylander (or a similar two-way type C)
Domi - Tavares - RW
McMann - Laughton - RW

There’s still money to spend with 4 solid tandems.

And I know people like to crap on ‘vanilla’ players, but if the complementary guys work hard they’re doing their part. Bobby McMann just went through his first playoff, that’s out of the way. He also put up 20 goals, can fly, forechecks well and wasn’t shy physically in the playoffs.

Try to add some upside with some Euro FA’s. Add some competition with Group sixes. Maybe Cowan can fight his way on, Quillan’s close.

I like the Pius Suter idea. Is he a 2C who is a late bloomer? A 3C? Either way, he would be a good guy to rotate with Tavares.

I would imagine him being part of a return for Rielly. The only issue is that he costs way less than Rielly. We would probably have to retain on Rielly and also pick up a cap dump. Do the Canucks have a cap dump though? Not sure. Maybe Dakota Joshua is getting into that territory. That's a guy I wouldn't mind as a cap dump though.

It would probably have to be a larger, and more complicated, deal to get Suter here and Rielly there.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Treliving hasn't done a significant off-season trade since he's been here. He hasn't made any trades in the off-season outside of draft pick swapping. Most of his moves have been either an early season dump or deadline adds. Maybe that changes but he's been very quiet. I don't see that changing a lot.

Let's see what he does, he had them in Calgary in the past.

I actually remember he wasn't considered much of a TDL kind of guy but he did add Laughton and Carlo.

Other off-seasons he's added Lindholm, Hanifin, D.Hamilton, Weegar and Huberdeau.

 

[SprDaVE]

Sounds very likely he'll be back.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Sounds very likely he'll be back.

This is so frustrating.

 

[Zero1]

This is so frustrating.

You can’t be surprised by this.

The new President should be making these decisions, not Treliving or Berube.

 

[WTFMAN99]

You can’t be surprised by this.

The new President should be making these decisions, not Treliving or Berube.

No, definitely Tree should make the decision, he is the GM.

 

[Zero1]

No, definitely Tree should make the decision, he is the GM.

I disagree. Bringing back the core guys is a big f*** you to the fans.

I want the new president’s input before Treliving starts telling these guys he wants them back.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I disagree. Bringing back the core guys is a big f*** you to the fans.

I want the new president’s input before Treliving starts telling these guys he wants them back.

I don't want JT or Marner back, or even Rielly.

The GM's job is to construct the team though, not the President's.

Things get worse when you have guys trying to do another guy's job.

 

[Pinkcat]

Tough situation @ C, a Tavares that wants to sign cheap to stay in Toronto is hard to say no to- but it's also hard to change the identity of the team if you still have him, Matthews, and Nylander in the top 6/9.

The questions I'm asking myself are:-

• if you had a Knies-Matthews-xxx line power on power matchup line, with the xxx being a heavy, reasonably aggressive, defensively responsible winger, and Matthews leans into the "Barkov" aspects of his game to be more of a Selke type, 40/40 for 80 points grindy 1C rather than a 60/40 sniper we gameplan around enabling- can that change be beneficial come playoff time?
• if you had an xxx-Domi-Nylander sheltered offensive usage 2nd line, do you lean into the identity and get them the most offensively talented LW you can afford, or also get someone that brings a higher ratio of weight/aggression/defensive play, and can that line be effective in the playoffs?
• if your top 6 was as above- how much offense do you need from the bottom 6? Can you afford to focus on a grindy, aggressive identity and score by committee?

Depending on the answers to those questions- looking at UFA's available, knowing Berube, it's not hard to see a revamped F group with Matthews/Nylander/Knies/Domi providing the skill- everyone else selected for some combo of size/speed/aggression/work rate. A real lunch pail group. Assuming Kampf/Jarncrok/Robertson traded + Marner and Tavares gone, Bennet and Marchard re up in Florida and are off the table.

Matthews/Knies/Nylander/Domi/Laughton/McMann/Lorentz (re-signed) returning. Do you go after a Granlund/Ehlers/Boeser? Or keep that powder dry and reinvent the team with 5 of Mangiapane/ Raddysh/ Kunin/Kuraly/Appleton/Tanev/Bjugstad/Robinson/Gourde/Jeannot. Could a Brock Nelson fit into that kind of a heavy bottom 6, or displace Domi to the wing?

Matthews will be the best 2c in hockey a year from now, I hope and dream.

 

[SprDaVE]

This is so frustrating.

It all depends what the extension looks like. To me, it's good news. Someone that wants to see this through and loves being here. It's refreshing in the midst of plenty of bailers over the years.

And if you want to look into the future, when the inevitable rebuild starts happening, he'll fetch a nice package of picks and prospects.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It all depends what the extension looks like. To me, it's good news. Someone that wants to see this through and loves being here. It's refreshing in the midst of plenty of bailers over the years.

And if you want to look into the future, when the inevitable rebuild starts happening, he'll fetch a nice package of picks and prospects.

I mean if his contract came without any trade protection, that's something.

I just think he and Matthews are too similar.

You need other core guys to bring that intensity.

Barkov isn't a prick but Bennett and Tkachuk are. Ekblad is too...they brought Marchand.

Anze Kopitar had Mike Richards behind him, much more bite.

JT is a good player but easy to play against and not fast...even if Marner goes...that is Matthews, JT & 88 that just don't have a mean bone in their body.

 

[mapleleafs34]

Been pounding this drum for a while. Why can't Domi be a long term winger for Matthews? They were great together last year

 

[WTFMAN99]

Fair?

Seattle wanted to shake up their D core going back to around the TDL acording to Friedman

Seattle isn't far from Vancouver / BC which is where Rielly's family is from.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Given the top heavy approach hasn’t worked, I think the hope for me is you turn Marner and JTs cap into two decent players each.

If you lump in Kampf and Jarnkrok as well, You think of it like:
Marner and Jarnkrok is 13.5 of wingers. That can become Marchment and Marchessault for example. Or Kane or Boeser or whoever.

JT and Kampf is 13 million that could become Pageau Frederic and JT at a team friendly deal. Or Bennett or whoever.

Send Domi back to Chicago for whatever and spend his 3.75 more wisely.

I also think that especially if JT is coming back that all 9 other forwards need to be a-holes or willing to be A-holes to compensate for the lack of intensity of AM Willie and JT if he’s back.

Cowan, Laughton and Knies are all willing to be a-holes. Not sure about McMann or Lorenz.

 

[Rare Jewel]

This is so frustrating.

If they think Mitch is the only change they need or will make, then they definitely need to go as well.

 

[Rare Jewel]

View attachment 1039435

Fair?

Seattle wanted to shake up their D core going back to around the TDL acording to Friedman

Seattle isn't far from Vancouver / BC which is where Rielly's family is from.

Seattle isn't doing that.

And you know the reason Dunn isn't in STL is Berube, right? If you're not 6'3, he's not interested.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Seattle isn't doing that.

And you know the reason Dunn isn't in STL is Berube, right? If you're not 6'3, he's not interested.

Rielly is 6'0 or 6'1, not much bigger and plays way smaller than Dunn.

Dunn also did fine with Berube, he just got taken in an expansion draft.

As for Seattle doing it, they apparently want to shake up their D core and told people asking about Larsson that they wouldn't do it. Seattle also signed Montour last summer to a big deal and I doubt they're trading Ryker Evans so that leaves Oleksiak or Dunn as the guys they would consider moving.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Rielly is 6'0 or 6'1, not much bigger and plays way smaller than Dunn.

Dunn also did fine with Berube, he just got taken in an expansion draft.

As for Seattle doing it, they apparently want to shake up their D core and told people asking about Larsson that they wouldn't do it. Seattle also signed Montour last summer to a big deal and I doubt they're trading Ryker Evans so that leaves Oleksiak or Dunn as the guys they would consider moving.

They didn't protect him because Berube didn't value him, and his stock went through the floor.

Here, he has to play Rielly, though. Look at his contract. But he would trade him for Joel Edmundson every day of the week. Then they would be the slowest, least productive D in the league.

I very much agree with wanting Dunn, but it's not happening with this coach.

 

[djdev]

Given the top heavy approach hasn’t worked, I think the hope for me is you turn Marner and JTs cap into two decent players each.

If you lump in Kampf and Jarnkrok as well, You think of it like:
Marner and Jarnkrok is 13.5 of wingers. That can become Marchment and Marchessault for example. Or Kane or Boeser or whoever.

JT and Kampf is 13 million that could become Pageau Frederic and JT at a team friendly deal. Or Bennett or whoever.

Send Domi back to Chicago for whatever and spend his 3.75 more wisely.

I also think that especially if JT is coming back that all 9 other forwards need to be a-holes or willing to be A-holes to compensate for the lack of intensity of AM Willie and JT if he’s back.

Cowan, Laughton and Knies are all willing to be a-holes. Not sure about McMann or Lorenz.

honestly domi has performed well with matthews as a marner light option since he LOVES to pass before anything, so im giving him a shot there and hope he can be a 65ish pt player on that line which is great value. hes been miscast on this team so far imo. he can be a great deal on that contract for that money if used correctly. but thats just my opinion.

 

[djdev]

Rielly is 6'0 or 6'1, not much bigger and plays way smaller than Dunn.

Dunn also did fine with Berube, he just got taken in an expansion draft.

As for Seattle doing it, they apparently want to shake up their D core and told people asking about Larsson that they wouldn't do it. Seattle also signed Montour last summer to a big deal and I doubt they're trading Ryker Evans so that leaves Oleksiak or Dunn as the guys they would consider moving.

i would look at ottawa as a rielly destination, dont know what a deal would look like but their defense is something they clearly arent happy with.

 

[djdev]

Been pounding this drum for a while. Why can't Domi be a long term winger for Matthews? They were great together last year

100% agree, on that contract he can be considered super high value as a 60-70pt winger on the 1st line. he loves to pass and hes not afraid to make a hit. i was super irritated they didnt try it at all this year.