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

[SprDaVE]

I'm going to work off the assumption that Marner takes off, and we keep Tavares on a team friendly deal ($5mil for 3 years). He will play 2/3C

The following players I would take a hard look at:

Pius Suter - slots in nicely as a 2/3C to compliment Tavares. Puts up 40-50 points, heavy defensive minutes, match-up against other teams top 2 lines to take some pressure off of Matthews and Tavares

Bennet - a 2/3C that adds some elements we are missing. I don't see him coming here, due to reputation, but would show some interest

Boeser/Ehlers - high skill winger to replace some of the offense lost from Marner. I fully expect Domi to be wing next year as well

Rest of the players, we would need to add some beef to the bottom 6 that actually has an impact on play. Mix of defense, offense, and physicality. No more Jarnkork, kampf, holmberg type players

- Coyle
- Kastelic
- Frederick
- Tanev
- Jeannott
- Bjugstad

I would be fine with these kind of additions. I think Coyle is underrated. Tanev I fully expect to be on the Leafs. Jeannott would be an interesting one for sure. Kastelic is whatever and hardly of note, just a face puncher and not that good. Bjugstad is whatever. I'd add Kunin to this list and also Appleton.

That’s not bad. Jets fans were saying Tanev was useless but I didn’t really watch. Bjugstad is huge but I don’t know if he is a playoff type of guy. Is he?

Tanev had 0 pts in 13GP and his playoff stats other years are mediocre, he is a hard pass.

It's a good time to sign him on a low then. The games I saw he was skating hard, hitting and forechecking. 7.6 Blocked shots per 60 and 18.6 hits per 60, which would be 2nd on the Leafs. Probably wouldn't expect much more than a 20 to 30 point guy but he'd impact other areas.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I would be fine with these kind of additions. I think Coyle is underrated. Tanev I fully expect to be on the Leafs. Jeannott would be an interesting one for sure. Kastelic is whatever and hardly of note, just a face puncher and not that good. Bjugstad is whatever. I'd add Kunin to this list and also Appleton.




It's a good time to sign him on a low then. The games I saw he was skating hard, hitting and forechecking. 7.6 Blocked shots per 60 and 18.6 hits per 60, which would be 2nd on the Leafs. Probably wouldn't expect much more than a 20 to 30 point guy but he'd impact other areas.

I genuinely like the bottom 6 here but would have liked to have moved on from Domi but I don't see it happening.

Ran out of money so it's not like you could go Tanev-Laughton-Brown

 

[notbias]

Did anyone hear the story MacKinnon told of training with Crosby?
He talked about them doing these uphill races and that Crosby always beat him but that finally MacKinnon was about to win one when Crosby grabbed his leg from behind and tripped him. Basically saying that this guy hated to lose so much that he was willing to do ANYTHING to win. Marchand literally just said this exact thing yesterday in some long article.

Then you see this clip of Marchand last night. I don't feel like we have much of this amongst the core and their willingness to do whatever it takes to win is questionable.

Who knows what Marchand will have left in the tank at 37+ but I can gurantee he'd bring a TON of value off the ice and helping establish the needed sacrifice.

We need to find more players that have this but that are also somewhat skilled.

What'd Marchand do here? Take a borderline run at someone and then lose a scuffle to one of the softest players in the league?

Marchand brings a lot of things, but Ghost getting the best of him is not one of them...

 

[hamzarocks]

I don't love this but it feels semi-realistic.

View attachment 1039985
View attachment 1039986
View attachment 1039987


Just put Matthews and 88 together, JT & 88 don't have any real chemistry, they're just 2 good players.

I was debating between Duchene and Granlund at 2nd line RW but Granlund's PK ability sold me.

Quillan/Toews/Kuraly/Faksa would all be guys I consider at 4C

Ultimately, I don't love that JT and Domi project as the 2 and 3C again but you could also mix it around a bit...

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Marchand-JT-Cowan
Kane-Granlund-88

(Or cut it up another way)

I hate Marchand and never want to see him on the leafs so I'd pass on him and target someone else instead

The Dunn deal dont think SEA does it. Dunn is better than Rielly and a bit younger too

The rest is fine and realistic

 

[WTFMAN99]

I hate Marchand and never want to see him on the leafs so I'd pass on him and target someone else instead

The Dunn deal dont think SEA does it. Dunn is better than Rielly and a bit younger too

The rest is fine and realistic

Marchand is the kind of player you hate to play against but want on your team.

In terms of the Dunn deal, it's a bit suspect but lots of deals occur where you're surprised that's all it took. Primarily I would be wanting to move on from Rielly. I do believe that for real change to occur, you need to move on from at least 2 core guys.

Matthews won't be traded, JT is talking like he's going to be back.

Marner is gone...

So if Matthews/JT back, Marner gone...

Pick 1 of 88 or Rielly

 

[hamzarocks]

Marchand is the kind of player you hate to play against but want on your team.

In terms of the Dunn deal, it's a bit suspect but lots of deals occur where you're surprised that's all it took. Primarily I would be wanting to move on from Rielly. I do believe that for real change to occur, you need to move on from at least 2 core guys.

Matthews won't be traded, JT is talking like he's going to be back.

Marner is gone...

So if Matthews/JT back, Marner gone...

Pick 1 of 88 or Rielly

Oh I agree to move on from Rielly. Great solider once but he's done now and its trading time.

The issue is Dunn is a better and younger rielly. I dont think McMann is much incentive to deal Dunn for Rielly.

If the deal goes through I'd be very happy though.

I think we need to turn 1 of Carlo/Benoit/McCabe/Tanev into an additional PMD type like Provorov to round out our offense and defense from the backend

 

[weems]

What'd Marchand do here? Take a borderline run at someone and then lose a scuffle to one of the softest players in the league?

Marchand brings a lot of things, but Ghost getting the best of him is not one of them...

I don't understand why this stuff gets you so worked up.

Noone is asking for a goon squad. I specifically said we need to acquire players that play this way that also have some skill.

It's like the sheer mention of grit, physicality or toughness sends you into some emotional state that you have to "educate" everyone why it's not really that important.

This video showed a player that finished his check with intent and was willing to step up to a physical battle. The fact that he arguably lost that battle is beyond the point. He went there and he will go there again and if he has to go further he will, no questions asked. I don't see this attitude with our team but I'm sure Ill just be told I'm wrong or that this knuckle dragging stuff has no value.

 

[notbias]

I don't understand why this stuff gets you so worked up.

Noone is asking for a goon squad. I specifically said we need to acquire players that play this way that also have some skill.

It's like the sheer mention of grit, physicality or toughness sends you into some emotional state that you have to "educate" everyone why it's not really that important.

This video showed a player that finished his check with intent and was willing to step up to a physical battle. The fact that he arguably lost that battle is beyond the point. He went there and he will go there again and if he has to go further he will, no questions asked. I don't see this attitude with our team but I'm sure Ill just be told I'm wrong or that this knuckle dragging stuff has no value.

Nothing works me up, I just think that was the most laughable thing Marchand has done, it is the first time he hasn't hid behind a ref recently and he gets the worst of it against Ghost...

This year, the coaching/GM/player changes were all to bring in this type of style, and it is always the narrative, and they always try to address it in some way, and it is also scoring that is the issue, so yes, I am sure now the issue is they don't have enough rats on the team...

 

[WTFMAN99]

Oh I agree to move on from Rielly. Great solider once but he's done now and its trading time.

The issue is Dunn is a better and younger rielly. I dont think McMann is much incentive to deal Dunn for Rielly.

If the deal goes through I'd be very happy though.

I think we need to turn 1 of Carlo/Benoit/McCabe/Tanev into an additional PMD type like Provorov to round out our offense and defense from the backend

Another option which is kind of 3 dimensional is Seattle trades Dunn in a separate deal to shore up an area of need, has a spot at LD open, adds Rielly and we sign Provorov but we'd just need to see how things shake out in the off-season.

 

[weems]

Nothing works me up, I just think that was the most laughable thing Marchand has done, it is the first time he hasn't hid behind a ref recently and he gets the worst of it against Ghost...

This year, the coaching/GM/player changes were all to bring in this type of style, and it is always the narrative, and they always try to address it in some way, and it is also scoring that is the issue, so yes, I am sure now the issue is they don't have enough rats on the team...

Our core stayed the same dude.

Our core has very little of this attitude in them.

If you think this is not accurate that's cool but I know for certain a large percentage of the fanbase disagrees with that and some of these are people who played, coached and are lifers.

 

[notbias]

Our core stayed the same dude.

Our core has very little of this attitude in them.

If you think this is not accurate that's cool but I know for certain a large percentage of the fanbase disagrees with that and some of these are people who played, coached and are lifers.

Marchand is not a core player... so which PPG player that has this quality is available?

 

[weems]

Marchand is not a core player... so which PPG player that has this quality is available?

Why does it have to be one singular PPG player? Why can't we add a few of these types?

Marchand plays the game a certain way. I feel we need more of these players that are skilled but will do anything to win. If you disagree that we're currently not devoid of this up front than that's fine, we will just not agree on that no matter how much debate.

 

[mapleleafs34]

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.

 

[Fogelhund]

Need to get bigger, faster and more skilled

Florida will be the same team for several years to come. They are the bench mark in the east

Piece by piece. Florida as an example was built over several years. That’s a bad the news

Need to get bigger... Florida used as an example

I ask, how are we going to do that this year..

You respond.. piece by piece.. Florida as an example.

I mean.. these are your words. If you meant something different, try different words maybe?

 

[Folignos Helmet]

I’m not sure how to even suggest players anymore. Success stories seem more about players buying in and working as a team.

I would argue Florida on paper doesn’t look that good. A bunch of reclamation projects who have bought in and elevated big time. Vegas was same story.

This year look at edmontons defence. They look terrible individually especially when Ekholm went down but they have all bought in and are playing well.

We can suggest all the players we want but if they don’t all buy in to winning it’s useless. Not sure how to get there? More time with Berube? A new voice added like Tkachuk in Florida? Our best players deciding to elevate like McDavid and Drai in Edmonton? All of the above?

 

[pspot]

pie in the sky...probably separate trades but something like this

To Leafs: Hamilton (with retention)
To Vancouver: Rielly, Mercer, Nemec, NJ picks
To NJ: Q Hughes

 

[The Shadow]

Need to get bigger... Florida used as an example

I ask, how are we going to do that this year..

You respond.. piece by piece.. Florida as an example.

I mean.. these are your words. If you meant something different, try different words maybe?

Well since neither of us are GMs or talk to agents we don’t know whose available nor do we know which UFAs would want to come here

So again you start by making a list of the traits you want and try to get players that fit those traits

On the other side you need to get rid of guys like Kampf and Jarnkrok and hopefully Rielly. So you have to get on the phone and start putting those names out there.

Everyone here is just making up names without an idea if the players are available or want to come here

Most importantly if the team isn’t following the system and plan the coaches put out then it will fail. The players have to be demanding and the leadership group needs to excellent. That’s something we don’t have now. Matthews is not showing he’s leading by example in the playoffs

So this will all be a waste of time until they buy in

 

[beachcomber]

pie in the sky...probably separate trades but something like this

To Leafs: Hamilton (with retention)
To Vancouver: Rielly, Mercer, Nemec, NJ picks
To NJ: Q Hughes

Rielly is terrible.

 

[Dreakmur]

This is just proper asset management. There’s too much emotion on all sides (player, management, fans) for this to happen but it’s the best way to keep the Leafs competitive.

Asset management is great, but Marner has become a huge culture problem on this team.

 

[Americanadian]

Asset management is great, but Marner has become a huge culture problem on this team.

Agree but so are Matthews and Nylander.

 

[Rare Jewel]

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.

He could, I think, it'll require more than 1 year, though

 

[Rare Jewel]

Marchand is not a core player... so which PPG player that has this quality is available?

There isn't one this summer.

But you're not suggesting they just bring them all back, right?

Who am I kidding, of course you are....

 

[Zero1]

Why in the heck would you want to trade McCabe when he's been playing pretty well for the Leafs and facing the other team's best players alot of the time?? Him and Tanev are the team's top defensive pair now. Why break that up when his contract is pretty damn reasonable for what he brings to the team? Same with Benoit who played so well for much of the playoffs and his contract is dirt cheap. Why trade him away just so you have to go out and search for a guy just like him in free agency or through a trade?? Makes no sense.

Best thing to do is to convince Rielly to waive his NMC and trade him. If he refuses, then at least reduce his minutes and only use him more when the Leafs need more offense. For the first time in a very long time, if everyone is healthy and playing to their capabilities then the Leafs have a pretty good defensive group where Rielly is the weakest link. Why break that up and trade away one or more from this group just when you finished building yourself a good group of Dmen??

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.

 

[Duffman955]

I would be fine with these kind of additions. I think Coyle is underrated. Tanev I fully expect to be on the Leafs. Jeannott would be an interesting one for sure. Kastelic is whatever and hardly of note, just a face puncher and not that good. Bjugstad is whatever. I'd add Kunin to this list and also Appleton.




It's a good time to sign him on a low then. The games I saw he was skating hard, hitting and forechecking. 7.6 Blocked shots per 60 and 18.6 hits per 60, which would be 2nd on the Leafs. Probably wouldn't expect much more than a 20 to 30 point guy but he'd impact other areas.

Actually Kastelic had some of the best advanced stats. I understand he was playing against other 3rd and 4th liners, but if he can dominate his even that level, whats wrong with that?

 

[Fogelhund]

In another thread, there is talk about replacing current Leafs, with past Leafs...

I brought up guys like Tucker, Roberts, Corson, even Sundin... they played with Fire in their bellies, and I think most of us who watched those guys, really admired them, still do..... Does anyone think that the current cast will be looked at the same way in the future? Maybe by younger people? Are there people in their twenties here, who really appreciate our current stars?

We tend to like those type of players... Knies, Benoit, Tanev, McCabe type players... guys who make a real effort in their game.

I appreciate we need talent too, but I can't recall ever see talent so fragile. Not everyone needs to be a tough guy, and I'm not some guy who believes in everyone needs to be an alpha.. but jeez... some of these players really need to toughen up some. The game isn't figure skating when it matters, you've got to be able to play it, and dictate the pace when it counts, and some of these guys have trouble with that.... actually most of the top guys do.