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

[WillNy29]

As great as Nylander is, No one is trading a Potential 1c for a winger, let alone add a 1D

who's the potential 1c?

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Ferris special #2 -- use the media to negotiate, threaten or whatever else.

When you've got Dreger in your back pocket you can count on him to tow the line.

Tired of Ferris.

 

[ACC1224]

Ferris special #2 -- use the media to negotiate, threaten or whatever else.

Who is the media negotiating with?

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[TheGreenTBer]

This guy is all tools and no toolbox IMO.

 

[HeresJOHNNY]

### **Toronto Maple Leafs 2025-2026 Roster Update**
**Salary Cap:**
- **Current Cap Space:** $409,001
- **Total Cap Hit:** $95,090,999
- **Roster Spots:** 22/23

---

### **Key Signings**
- **Mitchell Marner** – 8 years × $12,500,000 (Sign-and-Trade)
- **Mikael Granlund** – 3 years × $5,500,000
- **Tanner Jeannot** – 3 years × $2,800,000
- **John Tavares** – 4 years × $4,250,000
- **Nick Bjugstad** – 2 years × $2,500,000

---

### **Trades**

#### **Trade 1: TOR ↔ CHI**
**Leafs Receive:**
- 2025 1st Round Pick (CHI)
- 2026 1st Round Pick (FLA)
- Tyler Bertuzzi

**Blackhawks Receive:**
- Matthew Knies (RFA)
- 2025 2nd Round Pick (FLA)

---

#### **Trade 2: TOR ↔ VGK**
**Leafs Receive:**
- William Karlsson ($5.9M AAV)
- 2025 3rd Round Pick (WSH)

**Golden Knights Receive:**
- Mitchell Marner ($12.5M AAV x 8)


---

### **Current NHL Roster**

Toronto Maple Leafs 2025-2026 Projected Lineup​

LW1 | Tyler Bertuzzi ($5.5M) - C1 | Auston Matthews ($13.25M) - RW1 | Max Domi ($3.75M)
LW2 | Mikael Granlund ($5.5M) - C2 | William Karlsson ($5.9M) - RW2 | William Nylander ($11.5M)
LW3 | Bobby McMann ($1.35M) - C3 | John Tavares ($4.25M) - RW3 | Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1M)
LW4 | Tanner Jeannot ($2.8M) - C4 | Scott Laughton ($1.5M) - RW4 | Nick Bjugstad ($2.5M)
Extra: David Kampf ($2.4M)

Defense:


LD1 | Jake McCabe ($4.51M) - RD1 | Christopher Tanev ($4.5M)
LD2 | Morgan Rielly ($7.5M) - RD2 | Brandon Carlo ($3.49M)
LD3 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($3.5M) - RD3 | Simon Benoit ($1.35M)


Starter | Anthony Stolarz ($2.5M)
Backup | Joseph Woll ($3.67M)



---

### **Key Takeaways**
- Marner moved in sign-and-trade (8 years × $12.5M)
- Added Karlsson ($5.9M) as cost-controlled 2C
- Future picks acquired from CHI and VGK

 

[Perratrooper]

Would Leafs fans be interested in something around Girard for Cowan?

 

[Skullz]

I love the Crouse idea if they are selling low.

Poke around on rfa’s. Any ones that might not get qualified to take a flyer on?

 

[Skullz]

We really need to try and add more offence from the back end as well. The lack of dynamic ability is very apparent.

Cannot go back to Rielly on the PP, and ideally he is moved.

McCabe - Tanev
OEL - Carlo
Benoit - XX (Skilled PMD)

 

[The Shadow]

### **Toronto Maple Leafs 2025-2026 Roster Update**
**Salary Cap:**
- **Current Cap Space:** $409,001
- **Total Cap Hit:** $95,090,999
- **Roster Spots:** 22/23

---

### **Key Signings**
- **Mitchell Marner** – 8 years × $12,500,000 (Sign-and-Trade)
- **Mikael Granlund** – 3 years × $5,500,000
- **Tanner Jeannot** – 3 years × $2,800,000
- **John Tavares** – 4 years × $4,250,000
- **Nick Bjugstad** – 2 years × $2,500,000

---

### **Trades**

#### **Trade 1: TOR ↔ CHI**
**Leafs Receive:**
- 2025 1st Round Pick (CHI)
- 2026 1st Round Pick (FLA)
- Tyler Bertuzzi

**Blackhawks Receive:**
- Matthew Knies (RFA)
- 2025 2nd Round Pick (FLA)

---

#### **Trade 2: TOR ↔ VGK**
**Leafs Receive:**
- William Karlsson ($5.9M AAV)
- 2025 3rd Round Pick (WSH)

**Golden Knights Receive:**
- Mitchell Marner ($12.5M AAV x 8)


---

### **Current NHL Roster**

Toronto Maple Leafs 2025-2026 Projected Lineup​

LW1 | Tyler Bertuzzi ($5.5M) - C1 | Auston Matthews ($13.25M) - RW1 | Max Domi ($3.75M)
LW2 | Mikael Granlund ($5.5M) - C2 | William Karlsson ($5.9M) - RW2 | William Nylander ($11.5M)
LW3 | Bobby McMann ($1.35M) - C3 | John Tavares ($4.25M) - RW3 | Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1M)
LW4 | Tanner Jeannot ($2.8M) - C4 | Scott Laughton ($1.5M) - RW4 | Nick Bjugstad ($2.5M)
Extra: David Kampf ($2.4M)

Defense:


LD1 | Jake McCabe ($4.51M) - RD1 | Christopher Tanev ($4.5M)
LD2 | Morgan Rielly ($7.5M) - RD2 | Brandon Carlo ($3.49M)
LD3 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($3.5M) - RD3 | Simon Benoit ($1.35M)


Starter | Anthony Stolarz ($2.5M)
Backup | Joseph Woll ($3.67M)



---

### **Key Takeaways**
- Marner moved in sign-and-trade (8 years × $12.5M)
- Added Karlsson ($5.9M) as cost-controlled 2C
- Future picks acquired from CHI and VGK

You traded away Knies? That doesn’t make any sense. The guy is the prized power forward in the NHL and every team wants that guy

 

[The Shadow]

I actually think Nylander should be taught how to penalty kill

Imagine the breakaways and short handed chances he’d pile up

 

[Menzinger]

lol.

I mean why not. Tdl trade already blocked, just keep the trend going I suppose

 

[Fogelhund]

Looking at it from an asset management perspective. Instead of changing the forward core through UFA, why not sign Ekblad and Gavrikov? Then trade Rielly and McCabe for forward pieces, or at least assets we can use to trade for them?

It's my expectation that Florida extends Ekblad, so I don't think he'll be available. The top two D, that likely make it to July 1st, will be Provorov and Gavrikov.

 

[LeafSteel]

lol.

Honestly it feels like the Marner is doing everything possible to ensure that he is absolutely loathed by this market after he moves on.

- Contentious RFA negotiations where the agents proactively seeks Offer Sheets from other teams? Check
- Chronic playoff underperformance (like everyone else on the team). Check
- Decline TDL trade to playoff contenders when you know your client Marner isn’t resigning? Check
- Intone no interest in a sign and trade so that your “beloved home-town team” can benefit in any way, even though it would be a team of Marner’s choosing? Check

Honestly, I think Marner is a good kid but his representation is going to ensure that he is vilified here. The way they have conducted business here since his RFA negotiation has been a clinic on casting their client in the worst possible light.

You can effectively negotiate without being assholes, and the manner that they’ve conducted business have soured many here on Marner, which is unfortunate.

He can move on and at this point I think it’s necessary for everyone involved, but there is no reason for Ferris and his representatives to pull dick moves at every opportunity to spite the the Leafs and this fan base.

Marner can still go anywhere he wants and sign for whatever he wants. Doing a sign and trade doesn’t stop that from happening. Refusing to do so comes across as petty spite, to be honest.

……. Which is consistent with everything related to Marner and his contract negotiations.

He came down in my eyes during the RFA bullshit, and at this point I just want to be done with him. He cost us Rantanen by refusing a trade (within his rights) and is intimating that he is good with us losing him with nothing to show for it.

I think Marner has been very well treated by the Leafs organization and it will not be reciprocated.

Good kid but made unlikeable and ultimately I think it will leave a bad taste in a lot of fans mouths and tarnish his legacy here.

 

[The Shadow]

lol.

Of course. I am so sick of this guy. I never want to see him in a leaf jersey again. He accomplished nothing here and just wants his money.

 

[rumman]

This guy is all tools and no toolbox IMO.

Depends on what they’re asking for, he’s got room to grow ala Benny imo………

 

[rumman]

I actually think Nylander should be taught how to penalty kill

Imagine the breakaways and short handed chances he’d pile up

That would require a totally different level of work ethic Styles obviously doesn’t possess……..

 

[rumman]

It's my expectation that Florida extends Ekblad, so I don't think he'll be available. The top two D, that likely make it to July 1st, will be Provorov and Gavrikov.

Even if Ekblad was available why would he want to sign here?

 

[rumman]

Honestly it feels like the Marner is doing everything possible to ensure that he is absolutely loathed by this market after he moves on.

- Contentious RFA negotiations where the agents proactively seeks Offer Sheets from other teams? Check
- Chronic playoff underperformance (like everyone else on the team). Check
- Decline TDL trade to playoff contenders when you know your client Marner isn’t resigning? Check
- Intone no interest in a sign and trade so that your “beloved home-town team” can benefit in any way, even though it would be a team of Marner’s choosing? Check

Honestly, I think Marner is a good kid but his representation is going to ensure that he is vilified here. The way they have conducted business here since his RFA negotiation has been a clinic on casting their client in the worst possible light.

You can effectively negotiate without being assholes, and the manner that they’ve conducted business have soured many here on Marner, which is unfortunate.

He can move on and at this point I think it’s necessary for everyone involved, but there is no reason for Ferris and his representatives to pull dick moves at every opportunity to spite the the Leafs and this fan base.

Marner can still go anywhere he wants and sign for whatever he wants. Doing a sign and trade doesn’t stop that from happening. Refusing to do so comes across as petty spite, to be honest.

……. Which is consistent with everything related to Marner and his contract negotiations.

He came down in my eyes during the RFA bullshit, and at this point I just want to be done with him. He cost us Rantanen by refusing a trade (within his rights) and is intimating that he is good with us losing him with nothing to show for it.

I think Marner has been very well treated by the Leafs organization and it will not be reciprocated.

Good kid but made unlikeable and ultimately I think it will leave a bad taste in a lot of fans mouths and tarnish his legacy here.

It would be nice to recoup something for him, but I’m just happy he won’t be back if that’s the case, worry not Leaf Nation, old Mitchie will disappear like a bad fart in the winds………

 

[The Shadow]

That would require a totally different level of work ethic Styles obviously doesn’t possess……..

Might be worth a try

 

[namttebih]

It's my expectation that Florida extends Ekblad, so I don't think he'll be available. The top two D, that likely make it to July 1st, will be Provorov and Gavrikov.

Sign Orlov too and replace the entire left side with Russians.

Seriously though, I did consider Provorov as well. With him and Gavrikov, the top two guys on left side would at the very least both become 3 years younger (based on draft year) They did play on a lot of junior national teams, so there will be some familiarity there. Maybe a desire to play together? I'm not delusional in thinking that we can land multiple firsts or a top line player in their prime for McCabe or Rielly, but we have very few tradable assets at this time. We could possibly some the slots up front with them.

 

[Clark4Ever]

John Shannon believes Sam Bennett will only consider Leafs, Panthers in free agency

NHL insider John Shannon believes that Sam Bennett will only consider signing with either the Florida Panthers or the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason.

During an appearance on Sekeres and Price with Matthew Sekeres and Blake Price on Monday, Shannon was asked about the possibility of Bennett making his way to the Vancouver Canucks. Shannon said he expects the 28-year-old forward will not be moving to British Columbia as his decision will boil down to the two aforementioned teams.

“Don’t waste your time. He’s gonna play in one of two places,” he said. “He’s gonna play in Toronto or he’s gonna play in Sunrise, Florida. That’s it, that’s his decision. He’s not going to market the way other free agents go to market.  He will go and play for the Panthers or the Maple Leafs. We just don’t know which one yet.”

 

[dangomon]

lol.

Not surprising at all, and that fact that all of this 'new' info is coming straight from Dreger is just *mwah chefs kiss*

There really couldn't be a more fitting end.

 

[Gallagbi]

The more I look at our options, the more I wonder if we'll move a goalie this summer

I can't see us filling all options via UFA, we don't have chips to move upfront or on D that move the needle. It basically leaves Stolarz/Woll

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Wow. Lots of news from this morning and last night. To summarize:

-Marner may not give us an S and T
-Rossi is going to be traded, but Leafs not one of the teams interested (so far)
-Marchessault wants to go to Montreal
-Bennett wants Panthers or Toronto

I'm also assuming that B. Nelson to the Wild is all but done given the Rossi news.

Maybe it's all a big misunderstanding, but the Marner camp is getting on my last nerve.

I actually have an expensive Marner jersey. I rarely wear it - mostly to games. I keep it in good condition. Yesterday, for the first time, I wore the jersey to shinny. It smells like shit today. Good. Also, I can't wait to wash it and slowly disintegrate the fibers. f*** that jersey.