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

[seanlinden]

I'd say our lenses are actually pretty similar. There was a lot of praise on our D this year, but I see a group that struggled in transition, which is rare for cup Winners and no clear upgrade given the assets and dollars spent

With Mo's fall off we're missing an offensive spark, and honestly you need more than just 1. I don't see any available in UFA.

Re Burns: his offense dropped off a cliff and he watched Aho get jumped this playoff. That would have been on every clip/twitter going if it happened here

My "out there" take is flipping Rielly for EK. Mo is a buyout option, so you have that threat to combat the NMC and he's familiar with Dubas. He may not have an option of being a Leaf next year, so is Pitts palatable for his family

Mo's contract is longer, less AAV, and you likely move him at some point for a half decent return with eating some money. In the meantime he's a good vet who can support on a retool or rebuild.

EK can carry an offense, raises his game in playoffs and has 2 years left. You'll get defensive issues at times (not unlike Mo), high dollars at 10M, but he's a boom or bust option who seems to rise to the occassion and knows Canadian markets.

Morgan Rielly is not a buyout candidate.

While you might be able to argue that he's not a $7.5m defenceman, pretty much every single team in the league would take him at a $4m cap hit. To "burden yourself" 4 years down the road, to save $4m and not have him, makes absolutely no sense.

Ultimately, if you want to fix "struggles in transition", you don't look to replace your best / only puckmover. You need to look to replace/upgrade your worst puckmovers... which are probably Tanev, Carlo and Benoit.

That being said, I'm not so sure the Leafs are all that intent on fixing the transition game as much as they are focused on trying to get bigger and stronger upfront; with a "back of mind" need to get a PP QB given the loss of Marner will mean no more 5-forward arrangement.

To me, that's where a guy like Burns might come in handy, although I can also see Rielly / OEL getting a huge confidence boost by being put into a position where they are actually able to quarterback the powerplay, which Marner has been doing for a while.

 

[Americanadian]

And therein lies the rub - not easy to get an acceptable replacement.

Our D corps is pretty solid. The fragility of the system is that we only have one offensive piece, whom can transition, maintain offensive pressure, and support superstars against top competition - even in the playoffs. Warts aside.

If we had a second one, you could take a gamble on trying to select the 'next' Ghost - scramble mid season if it doesn't work out.

But given our contending status, and our current crop, we can only replace Rielly with a known commodity, like Ghost, otherwise you are taking on too much risk for a top contending team.

The only reason we are one step away from making sense of a Rielly move is because Tre secured a 3rd top-4 d man in Carlo. But that last step is tricky.

Florida tried acquiring big name D in UFA (Yandle) and failed. They shifted to buy-low options (Montour, Forsling, Mikkola, Kulemin, OEL) and have made 3 straight cup finals. Toronto should compete in that pool.

 

[seanlinden]

Put me in the crazy department... and it might result in us having the oldest team in the league, but I'd not only pursue Toews, but try to reunite Toews & Kane, while also bringing back Tavares.

Kane is by far the most direct replacement for Marner, knows how to win, should come in at half of Marner's cost, and may like the idea of playing alongside Matthews.

Knies-Matthews-Kane
Domi-Tavares-Nylander
McMann-Toews-Cowan
Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok

 

[seanlinden]

I'd imagine his contract is bonus loaded so it's almost buyout proof, most of our guys have those types of deals

I'd just play him and pray he's better next season, that's probably the best of a lot of terrible options because there's no way he's waiving imo

Something interesting to consider:

Morgan Rielly's totals... while only considering even strength:

2024-25 - 6g/20a/26p - 82 games played
2023-24 - 6g/32a/38p - 72 games played
2022-23 - 3g/21a/24p - 65 games played
2021-22 - 8g/34a/42p - 82 games played
2020-21 - 4g/18a/22p - 55 games played

Yes, it was a dropoff this year... but guys don't forget how to play hockey at age 30. Give him the benefit of the doubt with respect to the coaching / system change, get him back on the powerplay without Marner (which never works because they're both pass-first guys), and you may yet see a renewed Morgan Rielly.

 

[LeafEgo]

Florida tried acquiring big name D in UFA (Yandle) and failed. They shifted to buy-low options (Montour, Forsling, Mikkola, Kulemin, OEL) and have made 3 straight cup finals. Toronto should compete in that pool.

Florida had a different path under different circumstances. They acquired Montour and Forsling when they were a basement team - it's a different risk profile.

The other three don't apply to replacing Rielly.

 

[Americanadian]

Florida had a different path under different circumstances. They acquired Montour and Forsling when they were a basement team - it's a different risk profile.

They acquired Montour and Forsling in 2020-21 when they finished 4th in the NHL.

 

[LeafEgo]

They acquired Montour and Forsling in 2020-21 when they finished 4th in the NHL.

Where did they finish the year before? That’s where they were in their journey, making decisions in alignment with an appropriate strategy.

 

[Americanadian]

Where did they finish the year before? That’s where they were in their journey, making decisions in alignment with an appropriate strategy.

They finished 15th in 2019-20 (right behind Toronto in 13th). Can the Leafs make decisions in alignment with winning a cup?

 

[Gallagbi]

Put me in the crazy department... and it might result in us having the oldest team in the league, but I'd not only pursue Toews, but try to reunite Toews & Kane, while also bringing back Tavares.

Kane is by far the most direct replacement for Marner, knows how to win, should come in at half of Marner's cost, and may like the idea of playing alongside Matthews.

Knies-Matthews-Kane
Domi-Tavares-Nylander
McMann-Toews-Cowan
Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok

Does it give you Selanne/Kariya to the Avs vibes? Does for me

 

[Gallagbi]

Morgan Rielly is not a buyout candidate.

While you might be able to argue that he's not a $7.5m defenceman, pretty much every single team in the league would take him at a $4m cap hit. To "burden yourself" 4 years down the road, to save $4m and not have him, makes absolutely no sense.

Ultimately, if you want to fix "struggles in transition", you don't look to replace your best / only puckmover. You need to look to replace/upgrade your worst puckmovers... which are probably Tanev, Carlo and Benoit.

That being said, I'm not so sure the Leafs are all that intent on fixing the transition game as much as they are focused on trying to get bigger and stronger upfront; with a "back of mind" need to get a PP QB given the loss of Marner will mean no more 5-forward arrangement.

To me, that's where a guy like Burns might come in handy, although I can also see Rielly / OEL getting a huge confidence boost by being put into a position where they are actually able to quarterback the powerplay, which Marner has been doing for a while.

I'm not sure Burns is a PPQB at this point, but I'd agree with all of it.

What I see isn't necessarily what I think they'll addresse

 

[LeafEgo]

They finished 15th in 2019-20 (right behind Toronto in 13th). Can the Leafs make decisions in alignment with winning a cup?

It was a 92 point pace, 86 the year before. Barkov was 24yo.

Toronto has gone 115, 111, 102, 108 last four years. We're the third oldest team in the league.

If you pretend the circumstances are the same when making decisions you are lost.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Bennett is exactly what we need. Pains me to say.

 

[Americanadian]

It was a 92 point pace, 86 the year before. Barkov was 24yo.

Toronto has gone 115, 111, 102, 108 last four years. We're the third oldest team in the league.

If you pretend the circumstances are the same when making decisions you are lost.

So Toronto is not in a position to unearth players, they can only acquire household names?

 

[LeafEgo]

So Toronto is not in a position to unearth players, they can only acquire household names?

We probably can't keep going on like this but no, we were talking about replacing Rielly, and his specific role, within Toronto's current crop of defensemen, at this time.

Kudos to the Ghost example, that was a really good one.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[TMLAM34]

Warming up to the idea of adding Boeser. We have the cap space and playing alongside a couple fellow Americans in Knies and Matthews would be pretty attractive.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

The thought of Marchand in a Leafs jersey makes me sick but you can’t deny he’d be the perfect mentor for Cowan.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

Warming up to the idea of adding Boeser. We have the cap space and playing alongside a couple fellow Americans in Knies and Matthews would be pretty attractive.

If people were mad about Marner disappearing during important moments, they're gonna hate Boeser.

 

[HomelessPepper]

Give me Marchand and Bennet. I'd do 8M each, at appropriate terms, but I'd hope for some lesser numbers.

Then go after 1 of Kreider / W. Karlsson.

No to Toews. Isn't he like 38 and 2+ years removed from hockey? He can have a PTO, but that's about it.

No to Tavares unless he takes 3M for up to 2 years max. Anything more, f*** off.

Try to trade Rielly, but certainly not expecting it.

And hell no to paying 2-3M for guys like Tanev / Jeannot on the 4th line.

Knies - Matthews - Marchand
Kreider / Karlsson - Bennett - Nylander

Both top 6 lines have playoff warriors. If they can't make the top-6 work come playoff time, then blow it all to hell.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

Here is my pie-in-the-sky current hope of what they will do this off-season.

Trades:
- Kampf to NJ for a late pick (re-unite with Keefe)
- Jarnkrok to Nashville for a late pick (re-unite with Trotz)
- McMann and Robertson (RFA right) to Dallas for Marchment (Dallas needs to clear cap - Marchment has 1x4.5 left on his contract)
- Trade Benoit to Colorado (try to cash in on his solid playoffs - maybe you can grab a 2nd or a 3rd out of this)

RFA Signings:
- Knies: 3 x $5,750,000 (bridge)
- Villeneuve (2 x $850k - had a pretty good year with the Marlies and can move the puck. Allows for OEL to move back to the left side of the ice)
- Certainly they will sign other RFAs but these are the only two I will focus on for the purpose of this exercise

UFA Signings:
- Patrick Kane: 1 x $3,457,100 (estimated value as per Cap Wages - replaces some of Marner's offense with Matthews line)
- Sam Bennett: 7 x $8,300,000 (will likely not age well but this is the best thing they can do too change the attitude of this team)
- Tanner Jeannot: 2 x $1,423,453 (estimated value as per Cap Wages - he's not as good as Tampa thought he was by giving up an entire draft class for him but he's in his 20's and he's a mean son-of-a-bitch)
- Brandon Tanev: 4 x $2,000,000 (similarly to his brother, gets to come home and gets some term on a low salary)

Lineup:

Domi - Matthews - Kane
Knies - Bennett - Nylander
Marchment - Tavares - Cowan
Jeannot - Laughton - Tanev
Lorentz

McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Carlo
OEL - Villeneuve
Myers

Stolarz
Woll

$926.2k in salary cap space. It's not perfect but it's June and I'm curious to see what others think.

On board with the trades but if you move McMann for a team looking to shed cap I would prefer to grab another centre. Pageau, Copp etc.

Past few years has taught the lesson you should spend your money on Centres and RD. Wingers and LD you can grab for cheap whenever.

Bennett would be perfect, but If we can’t get a 2C I would try to have 3 really good 3C behind AM. Get more and force luxury of Laughton and if we resign JT to the wing.

 

[Apex Predator]

Could it be there management teams are doing a good job? Why is this only an issue in the NHL?

 

[KMNRB]

If people were mad about Marner disappearing during important moments, they're gonna hate Boeser.

Not sure if he's a good fit on this team, but Boeser actually scored some super clutch goals this year down the stretch and performed well in last year's playoffs.

 

[Legion34]

Could it be there management teams are doing a good job? Why is this only an issue in the NHL?

1.) yes there are some that are doing an incredible job

2.) that job is made a heck of a lot easier when you can sign star players for 8-10.5 instead of 10.5-12

All of there managers just disproportionately do an incredible job in negotiating the second they get to a no state tax team.

Remember when yzerman “made stamkos blink”…… he gave Justin holl 3.4.

It is a massive issue. I would suggest
Taking a little time to research it if you want an informed opinion. It’s pretty nuts

 

[Americanadian]

I think I actually put together a cup winning team.

Trades:

Marner's rights+2025 3rd for Karlsson (use 2025 2nd if Marner to VGK doesn't happen)
Benoit+Holmberg for Colton
McMann+2026 3rd for Raddysh
Domi for Kreider
Robertson+Jarnkrok+Villeneuve for Eberle
Kampf waived

UFA:

Kane - 1x2M base salary+2M performance bonuses (4M total)
Tavares - 3x4.5M
Lorentz - 8x1.15M (bury him when he's no longer an NHLer)
Bastian - 7x1.15M (bury him when he's no longer an NHLer)

RFA:

Knies - 6.5Mx3

Knies-Matthews-Kane
Kreider-Karlsson-Nylander
Colton-Tavares-Eberle
Lorentz-Laughton-Bastian

McCabe-Tanev
Rielly-Carlo
OEL-Raddysh
Myers

Stolarz
Woll

Cap hit with 21 man roster: 95.13M

Kane cap hit can be altered with more or less PB. Knies maybe gets less on a bridge. Tavares maybe signs for less than 4.5M.

 

[The Shadow]

When you watch Edmonton’s stars you realize how far ahead they are to ours. Look who won them game 1 in OT

Where were our top guys in OT for their big moments ?

The bigger the stage the better they get. Our players do the opposite. We really have zero chance against a team like this. Our core guys are a joke