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

[Rare Jewel]

Lets see what Bennett’s price tag will be before ruling him out that is if he doesn’t resign with the Panthers which imo is the likely scenario………

Well, the feeling/rumour is it's around $9m, probably a bit less if he stays in Florida.

[MOD]

 

[Menzinger]

If we're going all in the next 3-4 years in terms of not caring about the inevitable rebuild down the line, the Leafs probably don't care about the latter years of his contract. It makes sense to bring back Kadri. Flames seem happy with keeping him but obviously as a rebuilding team it's probably worth it for them to sell with his value at a good spot.

I struggle to come up with a good trade that makes sense for both teams though. It's gonna be hard to get him after a 35 goal campaign and the obvious grudge Calgary owner has with Treliving. The one caveat is that he's got a full NMC so if Kadri wants it to happen, they may not have much of a choice. No doubt in my mind he wants another run at the cup and I doubt Calgary is anywhere near that.

The way I see things I'd rather try and get a guy like Kadri then give a guy like a Bennett a David Clarkson level contract.

Tre signed Kadri to that deal,. I think? Plus the guy obviously loved Toronto and with no Babcock,.Keefe, Dubas, Shanny, ect I doubt Kadri would block a trade.

Though admittedly doesn't HAVE to be Kadri. I'm sure there's more than a couple vet seconds line centres who might be found on the market, there's always a team needing cap space to extend a RFA

 

[Kiwi]

Why not just get Morgan Rielly to do a bunch of steroids and take a 20 game suspension? Could have him in peak form for the playoffs, well rested and ready to crosscheck players faces through the boards.

It's an option, steroids would definitely help the aggression levels

 

[Menzinger]

Don’t need to make trades. Leafs will have $30M in cap space. Tons of room to sign free agents.

They will have capspace, but trades may still end up being the desirable route for some upgrades.

Few centres available in free agency this summer,.and the best ones are going to get ugly deals

 

[Kiwi]

The way I see things I'd rather try and get a guy like Kadri then give a guy like a Bennett a David Clarkson level contract.

Tre signed Kadri to that deal,. I think? Plus the guy obviously loved Toronto and with no Babcock,.Keefe, Dubas, Shanny, ect I doubt Kadri would block a trade.

Though admittedly doesn't HAVE to be Kadri. I'm sure there's more than a couple vet seconds line centres who might be found on the market, there's always a team needing cap space to extend a RFA

I wouldn't mind rolling the dice on a young guy, Krebs or Glass types to add to Cowan and try to put some pressure on the guys that are already here

We need more guys coming into there prime rather than a team aging out of those years

 

[Menzinger]

I wouldn't mind rolling the dice on a young guy, Krebs or Glass types to add to Cowan and try to put some pressure on the guys that are already here

We need more guys coming into there prime rather than a team aging out of those years

Fair. Though younger guys will cost more to acquire.

Maybe Woll + (Danford or another prospect)

 

[Kiwi]

Fair. Though younger guys will cost more to acquire.

Maybe Woll + (Danford or another prospect)

You also have the option of taking useful players off cap strapped teams like Dallas and Vegas

Marchment and Karlsson?

 

[The Shadow]

Could you imagine how much McDavid will lose it if and when they lose to the Panthers for the second time in a row ?

 

[Stephen]

The way I see things I'd rather try and get a guy like Kadri then give a guy like a Bennett a David Clarkson level contract.

Tre signed Kadri to that deal,. I think? Plus the guy obviously loved Toronto and with no Babcock,.Keefe, Dubas, Shanny, ect I doubt Kadri would block a trade.

Though admittedly doesn't HAVE to be Kadri. I'm sure there's more than a couple vet seconds line centres who might be found on the market, there's always a team needing cap space to extend a RFA

I'm conflicted about Kadri because he's as old as John Tavares. He'd be a much better personality upgrade and would be nice to see him back in blue and white, but it's a real question of how much he has left in the tank.

One thing I'd like to see the Leafs do this summer in a retool is maybe get some picks, prospects and cap flexibility by moving some combination of Jarnkrok, Kampf, Laughton, Rielly if possible, potentially Woll, maybe even one of Carlo, OEL or McCabe.

The reason I would do this is to just be more proactive in asset churn and turn some roster pieces into more ammunition, more futures, and just re-invest all that cap space on the free agent market. Kind of do what Boston did at the deadline but just reload and cycle in a fresh cast of players and regenerate the prospect cupboard.

 

[ashs]

Could you imagine how much McDavid will lose it if and when they lose to the Panthers for the second time in a row ?

Enough that he could sign here?

 

[Torontonian]

I keep looking back the 27m we have in cap space, and the free agent list and oof, I do not have a good feeling. People will want change for the sake of change, but I am never a fan of giving up talent for less talent and depth... see COL as an example on this.

Spending stupid money on medicore players to plug into your lineup is how you kill your team.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Enough that he could sign here?

Nope

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I keep looking back the 27m we have in cap space, and the free agent list and oof, I do not have a good feeling. People will want change for the sake of change, but I am never a fan of giving up talent for less talent and depth... see COL as an example on this.

Spending stupid money on medicore players to plug into your lineup is how you kill your team.

Refusing to change a failed core for 9 years is also how you kill your team, as proven by actual outcomes.

 

[Leaffan1991]

It would be nice if we could switch Rielly for Ekblad, he's been an absolute beast.

 

[Legion34]

I keep looking back the 27m we have in cap space, and the free agent list and oof, I do not have a good feeling. People will want change for the sake of change, but I am never a fan of giving up talent for less talent and depth... see COL as an example on this.

Spending stupid money on medicore players to plug into your lineup is how you kill your team.

One good thing about Brad is that he has already shown he will sign one year deals.

Bennett would be a need. Sure.
But I think that if he strikes out there…. He will try to use that space to sign 1 year big tickets for Players like Kane/benn/duchene etc rather than go term.

Keep your powder dry for 2026

 

[Torontonian]

Refusing to change a failed core for 9 years is also how you kill your team, as proven by actual outcomes.

I personally like watching the Leafs in the playoffs, don't like the results obviously maybe they get lucky after in 15-16 years of making it and win once.

Spending money stupidly trying to build your team in free agency is a a disaster waiting to happen and will hinder the team in few years. 9.5m for Bennett? 8.5m for Ehlers? 5m+ for older players like Duchane etc.. I don't see them getting better via free agency.

What would you do make the team better via free agency? Maybe there's a trade to be made trading Cowan/Danford, but I don't see it.

 

[Torontonian]

One good thing about Brad is that he has already shown he will sign one year deals.

Bennett would be a need. Sure.
But I think that if he strikes out there…. He will try to use that space to sign 1 year big tickets for Players like Kane/benn/duchene etc rather than go term.

Keep your powder dry for 2026

I understand the logic of maybe swinging big for 2026 with the players there, but are you gonna waste a year on a hop and a prayer none of these players sign a contract for a year? Doesn't seem like the logical thing to do..

If they are there in 2026, spend the money then and worry about being cap compliant then.

 

[Legion34]

I understand the logic of maybe swinging big for 2026 with the players there, but are you gonna waste a year on a hop and a prayer none of these players sign a contract for a year? Doesn't seem like the logical thing to do..

If they are there in 2026, spend the money then and worry about being cap compliant then.

Ok but who is worth term here?

Bennett ok.
But are you giving years to
Marchand? Kane?
Ehlers?

I knew players might be gone but if we have 32 million to spend on 4 forwards. Who would you spend on?

I would rather use that now and sign a Benn/kane/duchene for 1x8 instead of 2-3 x6

 

[jaric1862]

My Leafs 2025 Free Agent theory:

This year’s free agent class is full of 'old but still good' players — Tavares, Duchene, Nelson, Marchand, Kane, Giroux, Benn — and the Leafs seem well-positioned to capitalize. They've shown a willingness to sign aging veterans to longer-term deals with manageable cap hits (as seen with Tanev and OEL), likely banking on the idea that these players will eventually land on LTIR (long-term injured reserve) once they can no longer contribute. With MLSE having no issue paying players not to play, this could be where Toronto uncovers real value in the market."

 

[Torontonian]

Ok but who is worth term here?

Bennett ok.
But are you giving years to
Marchand? Kane?
Ehlers?

I knew players might be gone but if we have 32 million to spend on 4 forwards. Who would you spend on?

I would rather use that now and sign a Benn/kane/duchene for 1x8 instead of 2-3 x6

Exactly, I don't know how this team looks better next season spending 32m in this free agency, It seems very unlikely Toronto doesn't spend to the cap this year, but I don't see how they sell it to the fans they are trying to win a championship and sign only older players to a 1 year contract.

I've said it before, this is wrong year to try to be replacing a top 1RW on your team. People might hate it, but resigning Marner is the better option then any 1-2-3 players this UFA IMO, unless you're getting Marchand/Ehlers/Bennett.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

There was a good opinion piece in the Star today saying leafs have no alpha dog to lead them. I agree completely. Like the panthers traded Huberdeau for Tkachuk. Leafs need to bring in someone with an unrelenting desire to win which their current best players don’t have. Until that happens we will be on repeat and the roster fillers won’t make a difference.

 

[fahad203]

There was a good opinion piece in the Star today saying leafs have no alpha dog to lead them. I agree completely. Like the panthers traded Huberdeau for Tkachuk. Leafs need to bring in someone with an unrelenting desire to win which their current best players don’t have. Until that happens we will be on repeat and the roster fillers won’t make a difference.

That player is not available. Those old school players who can score and be an impact physically doesn't come around. I can't see Capitals departing from Tom Wilson. Maybe a lighter version in Lawson Crouse


One player I liked and has a dog in him is JT Miller. But I am sure he's committed to Rangers and they are not trading him

 

[ashs]

Sign marner, sign Marchand.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Sign marner, sign Marchand.

Yeah Marchand definitely would want to play on the Toronto Maple Leafs featuring Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. I definitely can see no flaws in that plan.