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

[TheGreenTBer]

his d zone starts were f***ed something like 60% done starts versus all of his peers who were in the complete opposite direction. You're asking for trouble if you're having your top line center do that and then have no one else on your team be able to score.

Agreed.

Part of the problem is that there wasn't enough meat on the cap hit bone to afford enough depth scoring, and Matthews is the ringleader for that IMO.

 

[WillNy29]

Agreed.

Part of the problem is that there wasn't enough meat on the cap hit bone to afford enough depth scoring, and Matthews is the ringleader for that IMO.

not necessarily, you can pay your super star center that kind of money (though I believe the NHL is the only league in the world that punishes teams for having too much talent).

we were spending almost 6 million on Cardio merchants and press box warmers. we also gave up a first for Laughton who didnt score even though he's a 40 pt type of player every year.

from a chance creation perspective matthews and knies were somehow 2 of the best leafs but marner was one of the worst lol thats another 10m.

not counting marner or Laughton though its still 6million spent on 3 players who did nothing. Meanwhile Eetu Luosterainen who was terrorizing us had a 3m cap hit. One Nichuskin costs $6.1m etc.

you can live with paying your 1C 13million you cant then have 6 million in cardio merchants while florida has luosterainen eating them alive for $3m

edit: to add to that you'd think you want to give you 1C who admittedly is a Selke level forward more O starts because of his injury but I guess not lol

 

[ryno23]

read this the other day and really puts things into perspective. If you sign JT for 5 mil and he's a 2c or 3c you get his usual roughly 30 goals plus between 70-80 points that is well worth the money. If he was making 11 mil that would be a different set of expectations

at 5 million and that production that is amazing.

 

[Looney Toonies]

Knies-Matthews-Domi
??-JT-Nylander
Patches-Laughton-Cowan
Brazeau-Frederic-Jeannot

D-Same
G-Same

In a perfect world we stop this brutal cycle of overpaying anyone with an ounce of skill, Knies seems like he wants to be here Hopefully 7ish range x 7 or 6.

JT re-signs for 5 or let him walk. I get he just had 38 and is elite in the circle, but he was invisible when it really mattered, and lets face it he’s getting old. Max 3 year deal.

Patches earned a fan in me, really hope he comes back. If he does he needs off days, load manage him so hes ready to be a bull in a china shop in the playoffs.

Line 4 could be super interesting.

Brazeau: Hometown guy, got his start with the Marlies, absolute unit of a human-being. 6’6” 230, has a bit of snarl to his game, potted 11 this season.

Frederic: Another big fella. Skates decently well, 6’3” 220, has some grit. More importantly has shown in the past he can put up numbers. Has seasons with 17 & 18 goals. Could be a candidate to move up the lineup if he can still play with top end skill. If not a solid addition to a crash and bang 4th line.

Jeannot: 6’2” 220. Loves the rough stuff. When Tampa picked him up in 2023 I was a bit heartbroken, until I saw what they paid. Could be a low risk high reward signing (most likely not) but has shown he can give you 20 tucks on top of being a psychopath.

The bottom 6 oozes physicality getting away from the cardio merchants we’ve seen this post season, while ideally not costing too much in term or dollar value, allowing you to either throw money at Bennett (Ideally we find the next Bennett *Cough* McBain *Cough*) or Ehlers. Or you add additional money to 1 year deals saving cap space for next years absolutely loaded UFA class.

 

[SprDaVE]

According to this website: Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

Matthews is at 53.33%

McDavid 73.85%
Tkachuk 82%
Mackinnon 81%

Matthews, Marner the only forwards in the top 10 for total DZ faceoffs. Johnston, Benn, Duchene, Knies are the other forwards in the top 20.

A big reason for that is because Berube didn't trust anyone else in the defensive zone and the other part is because Matthews and Marner are great defensively. Another reason is that the Leafs were in their DZ a lot more than they'd like through the season.

They definitely need to find a way to give Matthews more OZ starts and find a way to give the tougher DZ starts to their other players. Hopefully with a lot of money to play with they can do something to shift.

 

[SprDaVE]

Knies-Matthews-Domi
??-JT-Nylander
Patches-Laughton-Cowan
Brazeau-Frederic-Jeannot

D-Same
G-Same

In a perfect world we stop this brutal cycle of overpaying anyone with an ounce of skill, Knies seems like he wants to be here Hopefully 7ish range x 7 or 6.

JT re-signs for 5 or let him walk. I get he just had 38 and is elite in the circle, but he was invisible when it really mattered, and lets face it he’s getting old. Max 3 year deal.

Patches earned a fan in me, really hope he comes back. If he does he needs off days, load manage him so hes ready to be a bull in a china shop in the playoffs.

Line 4 could be super interesting.

Brazeau: Hometown guy, got his start with the Marlies, absolute unit of a human-being. 6’6” 230, has a bit of snarl to his game, potted 11 this season.

Frederic: Another big fella. Skates decently well, 6’3” 220, has some grit. More importantly has shown in the past he can put up numbers. Has seasons with 17 & 18 goals. Could be a candidate to move up the lineup if he can still play with top end skill. If not a solid addition to a crash and bang 4th line.

Jeannot: 6’2” 220. Loves the rough stuff. When Tampa picked him up in 2023 I was a bit heartbroken, until I saw what they paid. Could be a low risk high reward signing (most likely not) but has shown he can give you 20 tucks on top of being a psychopath.

The bottom 6 oozes physicality getting away from the cardio merchants we’ve seen this post season, while ideally not costing too much in term or dollar value, allowing you to either throw money at Bennett (Ideally we find the next Bennett *Cough* McBain *Cough*) or Ehlers. Or you add additional money to 1 year deals saving cap space for next years absolutely loaded UFA class.

The big issue I have with this lineup is it's slow. It's also pretty bad in terms of defending and generating offense. I assume you're also punting away McMann who is pretty fast and showed good physicality through his first run at the playoffs. I think overall the lineup misses a balance and mix of players and going too much into one part of what makes a good team. But I do see 3 of those players as targets, but I'd be surprised if all 3 are signed.

Patches hinted at retirement or going closer to home, I think he'll go to the Red Wings or closer to there if he plays. I'd take him back for a cheap deal?

 

[Rare Jewel]

A big reason for that is because Berube didn't trust anyone else in the defensive zone and the other part is because Matthews and Marner are great defensively. Another reason is that the Leafs were in their DZ a lot more than they'd like through the season.

They definitely need to find a way to give Matthews more OZ starts and find a way to give the tougher DZ starts to their other players.

Kampf.

Seems silly cause everyone wants him gone, but that's what he does. Wins draws, and helps you get out of the Dzone.

 

[SprDaVE]

Kampf.

Seems silly cause everyone wants him gone, but that's what he does. Wins, draws, and helps you get out of the Dzone.

He should be gone but he was ok at it, yeah. His line was always stuck in the D zone though so Im not sure if he helped much. The fourth line only got into the positive with Lorentz, Laughton and Jarnkrok.

 

[Rare Jewel]

He should be gone but he was ok at it, yeah. His line was always stuck in the D zone though so Im not sure if he helped much.

Well, it can happen sometimes. But if you look into his numbers, the guy yields 47 CF% from about 30%ozs. He's doing something right back there.

 

[Zero1]

Karlsson + Roy as a return in a Marner sign-and-trade would be pretty sweet.

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Marchand-Karlsson-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Roy
Lorentz-Laughton-Perry

 

[Fogelhund]

Knies-Matthews-Domi
??-JT-Nylander
Patches-Laughton-Cowan
Brazeau-Frederic-Jeannot

D-Same
G-Same

In a perfect world we stop this brutal cycle of overpaying anyone with an ounce of skill, Knies seems like he wants to be here Hopefully 7ish range x 7 or 6.

JT re-signs for 5 or let him walk. I get he just had 38 and is elite in the circle, but he was invisible when it really mattered, and lets face it he’s getting old. Max 3 year deal.

Patches earned a fan in me, really hope he comes back. If he does he needs off days, load manage him so hes ready to be a bull in a china shop in the playoffs.

Line 4 could be super interesting.

Brazeau: Hometown guy, got his start with the Marlies, absolute unit of a human-being. 6’6” 230, has a bit of snarl to his game, potted 11 this season.

Frederic: Another big fella. Skates decently well, 6’3” 220, has some grit. More importantly has shown in the past he can put up numbers. Has seasons with 17 & 18 goals. Could be a candidate to move up the lineup if he can still play with top end skill. If not a solid addition to a crash and bang 4th line.

Jeannot: 6’2” 220. Loves the rough stuff. When Tampa picked him up in 2023 I was a bit heartbroken, until I saw what they paid. Could be a low risk high reward signing (most likely not) but has shown he can give you 20 tucks on top of being a psychopath.

The bottom 6 oozes physicality getting away from the cardio merchants we’ve seen this post season, while ideally not costing too much in term or dollar value, allowing you to either throw money at Bennett (Ideally we find the next Bennett *Cough* McBain *Cough*) or Ehlers. Or you add additional money to 1 year deals saving cap space for next years absolutely loaded UFA class.

Brazeau is well below average in skating speed.
Frederic is below average in skating speed.
Jeannot is above average... but not by a lot.

Above average physicality, but as a line or group, would be slow. We do need some size, but we should probably try and get size, with speed. We also need someone who can score from that depth. Jeannot is a good start, on speed, doesn't provide much offense.

I don't think Bennett moves from Florida, they have the cap space.
I don't see Utah moving McBain, but he's a guy I've been a fan of obtaining for a few years.
Ehlers is a UFA, and very fast.... we could use a guy like that at the right price.

 

[SprDaVE]

Well, it can happen sometimes. But if you look into his numbers, the guy yields 47 CF% from about 30%ozs. He's doing something right back there.

Marginal numbers for one of the most expensive 4th line centers in the league.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Marginal numbers for one of the most expensive 4th line centers in the league.

Would disagree there.

Sure, he's not the cheapest, but he might be the best 4th line C in the league, and who are you getting to replace him with that kind play?

Florida has Nico Sturm, who's quite similar to Kampf (poss/shot #s relative to usage) and is a UFA, but he'll likely get $1.5 2M and if it's from Florida (no tax) you're in that range anyway.

If there's not such a glut of money tied up top, and it looks like there won't be, I don't see a rush to move him.

 

[RomanianLeafs]

We'll get nothing for Marner he will leave for free I'm not getting any hopes of this sign and trade for real players...maybe a 3rd rd pick max

 

[SprDaVE]

Would disagree there.

Sure, he's not the cheapest, but he might be the best 4th line C in the league, and who are you getting to replace him with that kind play?

Florida has Nico Sturm, who's quite similar to Kampf (poss/shot #s relative to usage) and is a UFA, but he'll likely get $1.5 2M and if it's from Florida (no tax) you're in that range anyway.

If there's not such a glut of money tied up top, and it looks like there won't be, I don't see a rush to move him.

Best 4th line center in the league? Yeah, we're gonna disagree heavily there. He can't play more than the minutes he gets and has been a negative in shot attempts for so long. He's what the kids would call "soft", he doesn't really do much other than win a faceoff. If you're paying that much for a defensive 4th line player, it better be really damn good. But it's not. And he gets paid more than almost any player that plays around 10 to 12 minutes a game.

Cut your losses and get a cheaper alternative if they are gonna have to be in that position. I still think Minten at the time or someone like Quillan could have give you similar results without even noticing.

Panthers went to to get Sturm because they had a ton of LTIR cap space and wanted acquirable depth for cheap. He's not gonna get paid 2M to stay there. It doesn't matter who they play there because their other lines dominates puck possession. After they lost the first 2 games, they changed their entire 4th line. I can promise you that they would punt out Kampf so fast if he was paid that much for so long to be a mediocre 4th line player that isn't a pain in the ass to play against.

 

[Dreakmur]

Krebs is above average speed as well.

Laughton Krebs Jeannot/Sherwood gives you some decent speed, a real C, and physicality.

Laughton is better as a winger than a C.

Pretty much everyone is better as a winger, especially production wise

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Re: the poll

I chose "do nothing run it back" only because JT and MM have expiring contracts, and their defense is signed for the immediate future. Woll and Stolarz are signed too.

Tanev, Carlo, OEL, etc. I like a lot of these players Tre brought in.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

• Let Marner walk (10.9M)
• Let JT walk (11M)
• Dump Kampf (2.4M), Reaves (1.35M), Jarkrok (2.1M) , and Robertson (875K) for picks and cap space.
• Explore trades for Rielly

Cap space: 27.8M + 7.5M cap increase

• Trade a 2nd for Pageau (5M). Apparently that's the price Isles fans want for him.
• Resign Lorentz (1M x 2)
• Sign Bennett (6.5M × 5)
• Sign Marchand (7M x 3)
• Sign Geekie (5M × 5)
• Sign Provorov (5M × 5)
• Sign Tanev (2.5 × 3)

Total: 32M

Knies - Matthews - Marchand
Bennett - Pageau - Nylander
Domi - Geekie - McMann
Laughton - Tanev - Lorentz

McCabe - Tanev
Provorov - Carlo
Benoit - OEL

Stolarz
Woll

 

[SprDaVE]

• Let Marner walk (10.9M)
• Let JT walk (11M)
• Dump Kampf (2.4M), Reaves (1.35M), Jarkrok (2.1M) , and Robertson (875K) for picks and cap space.
• Explore trades for Rielly

Cap space: 27.8M + 7.5M cap increase

• Trade a 2nd for Pageau (5M). Apparently that's the price Isles fans want for him.
• Resign Lorentz (1M x 2)
• Sign Bennett (6.5M × 5)
• Sign Marchand (7M x 3)
• Sign Geekie (5M × 5)
• Sign Provorov (5M × 5)
• Sign Tanev (2.5 × 3)

Total: 32M

Knies - Matthews - Marchand
Bennett - Pageau - Nylander
Domi - Geekie - McMann
Laughton - Tanev - Lorentz

McCabe - Tanev
Provorov - Carlo
Benoit - OEL

Stolarz
Woll

Isn't Geekie a RFA? Per capwages he is.

I'd try to fit JT in here and push Pageau to the perfect 3spot.

And id be shocked if Bennett leaves Florida for under 7M.

 

[Fogelhund]

A few Fourth line options, discussed... happy to add players for us to look at.

Brazeau - ~ 20 points, Hits 140, well below average speed, BIG, UFA
Jeannott - 14 points, hits 200+, slightly above average speed Good size, physical, will fight, UFA
Sherwood - 40 points in 14:53 ice time, 462 hits!!!!!!! slight above average speed, Average size 6' 195lbs (trade)
Krebs - 28 points in 13:56, 136 hits.... only true C option listed, 6' 186lbs 67% skater, so brings speed to the table (trade... even Robertson might work)
Laughton - below average speed, 31 points, 178 hits. Better Winger than C... didn't gel with anyone here yet.
McBain - average skating speed, 27 points, 291, C.. could be a 3C... Big, physical, can fight... Probably not available... would be a trade.
Brandon Tanev - 22 points, 168 hits, winger, 88th percentile speed... so it would make us faster. 6' 190lbs.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Best 4th line center in the league? Yeah, we're gonna disagree heavily there. He can't play more than the minutes he gets and has been a negative in shot attempts for so long. He's what the kids would call "soft", he doesn't really do much other than win a faceoff. If you're paying that much for a defensive 4th line player, it better be really damn good. But it's not. And he gets paid more than almost any player that plays around 10 to 12 minutes a game.

Cut your losses and get a cheaper alternative if they are gonna have to be in that position. I still think Minten at the time or someone like Quillan could have give you similar results without even noticing.

Panthers went to to get Sturm because they had a ton of LTIR cap space and wanted acquirable depth for cheap. He's not gonna get paid 2M to stay there. It doesn't matter who they play there because their other lines dominates puck possession. After they lost the first 2 games, they changed their entire 4th line. I can promise you that they would punt out Kampf so fast if he was paid that much for so long to be a mediocre 4th line player that isn't a pain in the ass to play against.

That's fine.

But using a shot attempt against a guy who gets so much defensive usage isn't a fair appraisal.

Also, if the idea was to get someone to take defensive responsibility away from Matthews, a rookie like Quillan would not be the answer. You can put him there, but you're not getting the same kind of effectiveness, and Matthews' role remains basically the same.

So what #2 ad #3 Cs are you getting to help alleviate Matthews' defensive role?

 

[Dreakmur]

Karlsson + Roy as a return in a Marner sign-and-trade would be pretty sweet.

Knies-Matthews-Domi
Marchand-Karlsson-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Roy
Lorentz-Laughton-Perry

You’re not getting big value in a sign and trade. Only reason we can get Karlsson is because they need to shed the salary.

 

[Legion34]

I wonder if we can get Mavrik Bourque. Dallas has no cap space. He is a healthy scratch.

We got Dallas head scout.

Could we try to get our pick from Chicago to offer sheet?

Fast. Competitive. RHC. Not big

 

[WTFMAN99]

A few Fourth line options, discussed... happy to add players for us to look at.

Brazeau - ~ 20 points, Hits 140, well below average speed, BIG, UFA
Jeannott - 14 points, hits 200+, slightly above average speed Good size, physical, will fight, UFA
Sherwood - 40 points in 14:53 ice time, 462 hits!!!!!!! slight above average speed, Average size 6' 195lbs (trade)
Krebs - 28 points in 13:56, 136 hits.... only true C option listed, 6' 186lbs 67% skater, so brings speed to the table (trade... even Robertson might work)
Laughton - below average speed, 31 points, 178 hits. Better Winger than C... didn't gel with anyone here yet.
McBain - average skating speed, 27 points, 291, C.. could be a 3C... Big, physical, can fight... Probably not available... would be a trade.
Brandon Tanev - 22 points, 168 hits, winger, 88th percentile speed... so it would make us faster. 6' 190lbs.

Connor Brown?

Projected 2 years at 2.6M

 

[the real Fox mulder]

What's everyone opinion on Nikolaj Ehlers and Brendon Tanev?