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

[Tony Romo]

This is kind of the view I have on the Leafs. Obviously cap is growing. But the Leafs should set a limit on the number they give players.

If we give Knies 8m, I don't think you sign anyone higher than that unless it's an absolute stud. It's probably the best to build an internal cap. Obviously this changes if Kaprizov or Makar or McDavid asks to play here

 

[ULF_55]

We have to remember ...

J.T. Miller took an indefinite leave of absence from the Vancouver Canucks for personal reasons, specifically to "reset mentally", according to Sportsnet.ca. The team's general manager, Patrik Allvin, stated that the organization's focus was on supporting Miller during this time. Reports indicate it was not related to substance abuse or a trade.

 

[weems]

Very true, as far as free agent

Bertuzzi - W
Domi - W
Benoit - Massive W (for the price)
OEL/Tanev - W Tanev is the best player back there lol
Stolarz - massive W
Reaves - Ehhh perhaps an L
Lorentz - W

The Laughton trade I don't like. Don't like kampf signing. Those weren't new UFA signings though

Treliving has been average for me.
He has made some good moves but also made some poor moves.
This offseason is a huge one and he needs to come through with some strong moves, especially if we lose Mitch for nothing.

 

[Duffman955]

Whoever our C acquisition is this year, must prioritize defense over offense

We need someone who is going to play shutdown role to take some of the defensive responsibilities off of Matthews.

That's why I have suggested player like Karlsson or Coyle before. Good for 40-60 points, can play PK, and excellent defensively. Share the defensive responsibilities between Matthews and this C

Not sure if Zibanejad fits that role. I'm not familiar with his defensive game

 

[ULF_55]

Whoever our C acquisition is this year, must prioritize defense over offense

We need someone who is going to play shutdown role to take some of the defensive responsibilities off of Matthews.

That's why I have suggested player like Karlsson or Coyle before. Good for 40-60 points, can play PK, and excellent defensively. Share the defensive responsibilities between Matthews and this C

Not sure if Zibanejad fits that role. I'm not familiar with his defensive game

Not sure but:

 

[Fogelhund]

Not sure if Zibanejad fits that role. I'm not familiar with his defensive game

Bad the first half of last year. In the past he's been pretty good.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Whoever our C acquisition is this year, must prioritize defense over offense

We need someone who is going to play shutdown role to take some of the defensive responsibilities off of Matthews.

That's why I have suggested player like Karlsson or Coyle before. Good for 40-60 points, can play PK, and excellent defensively. Share the defensive responsibilities between Matthews and this C

Not sure if Zibanejad fits that role. I'm not familiar with his defensive game

Faksa can be one for 4C but someone else at 2/3C needs to do it too.

 

[Americanadian]

My ideal lineup today:

Trade:
To PHI: Woll,Cowan
To TOR: Foerster, Hathaway

To NSH: Domi, 63OA, Villeneuve, Hildeby
To TOR: Barron, Sissons (50% retained)

To COL: Laughton, Benoit, Holmberg
To TOR: Rust, Coyle (50% retained)
To PIT: Robertson, McCabe, Jarnkrok, Coyle retention

To EDM: McMann
To TOR: Walman

To DET: 86OA, Kampf
To TOR: Talbot

UFA:
Marchand 7.5Mx3
Jeannot 2.5Mx4
Tavares 5Mx(?)
Lorentz 1.15Mx(?)

RFA:
Knies 6.5Mx3
Goncalves 2.34Mx2 (offer sheet, 26 3rd)

Roster:
Knies-Matthews-Rust
Marchand-Coyle-Nylander
Goncalves-Tavares-Foerster
Jeannot-Sissons-Hathaway
Lorentz

Walman-Tanev
Rielly-Carlo
OEL-Barron
Myers

Stolarz
Talbot

Cap space: 10k

I know 5 trades is way more trades than would actually happen. You would have 4 fun, balanced, lines. Obviously you're giving up a ton of futures (Cowan, Woll, Hildeby, 63OA, 86OA, 2026 3rd). You do get 3 good U25 players in Goncalves, Foerster and Barron.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Assuming Karlsson and Coyle are a no. I would definitely target Sissons. Not a long term commitment, Right handed Centre who’s gritty. Nashville appears to be selling, and we have the cap space to take him without retention and spending much.

 

[Torontonian]

If you have a 1-4C of Matthews-Zibanejad-Tavares-Laughton, who anchors a shutdown line?

I think the entire notion of a "shutdown" line is gone, 10 years ago, yes your 3rd line was the shutdown line. now a days it mostly your top line going head to head with the other teams top line.

 

[Americanadian]

I think the entire notion of a "shutdown" line is gone, 10 years ago, yes your 3rd line was the shutdown line. now a days it mostly your top line going head to head with the other teams top line.

And then you have teams like Florida who send out Luostorainen-Lundell-Marchand to match up with Knies-Matthews-Marner.

I do tend to agree with your point. It is still nice to have a defensively responsible C that can take top matchups away from Matthews.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I think the entire notion of a "shutdown" line is gone, 10 years ago, yes your 3rd line was the shutdown line. now a days it mostly your top line going head to head with the other teams top line.

And then you have teams like Florida who send out Luostorainen-Lundell-Marchand to match up with Knies-Matthews-Marner.

I do tend to agree with your point. It is still nice to have a defensively responsible C that can take top matchups away from Matthews.

Yeah, even the Kampf stuff...like okay yes, having a line I can put out there in the defensive zone to get stuff is nice but if you're on the ice, your job is to be better collectively than the other 5 guys on the ice.

 

[Americanadian]

Yeah, even the Kampf stuff...like okay yes, having a line I can put out there in the defensive zone to get stuff is nice but if you're on the ice, your job is to be better collectively than the other 5 guys on the ice.

If you have a 4th line that costs 8M but you can match them up against another teams top line and they’ll only lose their minutes 55/45 on the season I’d call that a win.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Let's see where they both end up. Bennett's playoff warrior run, seems to have made him more legend, than perhaps he deserves.

Bennett likely is a 40-50 point guy next year, on an $8-9.5 mil contract.
Zbad is likely a 65-80 point guy, on an $8.5 mil contract.

Zbad has 63 points, in 70 playoff games. 70 point per 82 game pace.
Bennett has 78 points in 106 games. 60 point pace...

Zbad has outproduced in the playoffs as well.

I swear, Jonas Siegel reads this forum. Guess what the first discussion was on overdrive today? Yep, the Bennet vs. Zbad debate you guys brought up. LOL Siegel wanted Zbad over Bennett. O'Dog and Hayes were furious. Here:

OverDrive - June 16, 2025 - Hour 1

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Panthers' domination and the lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the winning construction of Florida's roster, Sam Bennett's role for the team and free agents that would fit the Maple Leafs. They also dive...

www.tsn.ca

 

[Menzinger]

One thing is guaranteed

There will be a lot of over reactions and hot takes when Tre signs some guys or makes trades

All you have to do is scroll the OEL thread among others to see people that are quick to be negative without giving things a chance

Many of Tre’s acquisitions have worked out well so far

His defensive signings have been excellent.

His forward free agency work has ranged from lousy to meh. Which concerns me considering the off-season needs. But he will deserve a chance to prove himself one way or the other

 

[Americanadian]

I swear, Jonas Siegel reads this forum. Guess what the first discussion was on overdrive today? Yep, the Bennet vs. Zbad debate you guys brought up. LOL Siegel wanted Zbad over Bennett. O'Dog and Hayes were furious. Here:

OverDrive - June 16, 2025 - Hour 1

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Panthers' domination and the lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the winning construction of Florida's roster, Sam Bennett's role for the team and free agents that would fit the Maple Leafs. They also dive...

www.tsn.ca

I watched the clip on Twitter. What Jonas failed to bring up was the fact that Bennett is 3 years younger. He kept comparing term but didn’t acknowledge the fact that Zibanejad is actively declining and Bennett is in his prime.

Also he had Bennett at 10.5Mx8 which is just disingenuous.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Does this lineup compete?

-heavy lifting for Nylander on the right side.
-Very deep down the middle.
-Leaning on a Rookie to graduate AND a player who hasn’t shown top 6 ability.
-But….I think it’s interesting.
-Go big game winger fishing at the deadline and hopefully Robertson(or Cowan) looks good and slides/stays in 3RW.

Knies - Matthews - Robertson (relax)
Marchand - Zibanejab - Nylander
McMann - Tavares - Cowan or ?
Tanev - Laughton - Lorentz

McCabe - Tanev
Miller - Carlo
Benoit - OEL

Stolarz
Woll

 

[Torontonian]

Yeah, even the Kampf stuff...like okay yes, having a line I can put out there in the defensive zone to get stuff is nice but if you're on the ice, your job is to be better collectively than the other 5 guys on the ice.

I think the days of having two lines score & the other two lines just kind of get by are done. It's no longer good enough to hope your 3rd and 4th line go equal with the other teams lines and if they score it's a bonus.

You need 3 scoring lines & the ability to play at both end of the ice. Toronto's 3rd line was awful defensively, consistently hemmed in their own end, and rarely got anything going offensively.

FLA top 3 lines are running a muck over anyone they have faced in the playoffs, while there 4th line has been able to chip in a goal for them here and there.

 

[Zero1]

How much would Alex Tuch cost? McMann + Robertson + 2nd?

Domi-Matthews-Tuch
Knies-x-Nylander
Laughton-Tavares-x
Lorentz-Holmberg-x

Need a 2C, 3RW, and 4RW.

 

[The Shadow]

How much would Alex Tuch cost? McMann + Robertson + 2nd?

Domi-Matthews-Tuch
Knies-x-Nylander
Laughton-Tavares-x
Lorentz-Holmberg-x

Need a 2C, 3RW, and 4RW.

He’s a ufa next summer. Good idea to get him ahead but only with an extension in place

 

[ULF_55]

One player at ~$9mm.
One player at ~$4mm.

Boeser/Ehler/Duchene/Bennett
Kuzmenko/Suter/Mangiapane/Roslovic

Quillan, Haymes, Cowan

 

[thusk]

My ideal lineup today:

Trade:
To PHI: Woll,Cowan
To TOR: Foerster, Hathaway

To NSH: Domi, 63OA, Villeneuve, Hildeby
To TOR: Barron, Sissons (50% retained)

To COL: Laughton, Benoit, Holmberg
To TOR: Rust, Coyle (50% retained)
To PIT: Robertson, McCabe, Jarnkrok, Coyle retention

To EDM: McMann
To TOR: Walman

To DET: 86OA, Kampf
To TOR: Talbot

UFA:
Marchand 7.5Mx3
Jeannot 2.5Mx4
Tavares 5Mx(?)
Lorentz 1.15Mx(?)

RFA:
Knies 6.5Mx3
Goncalves 2.34Mx2 (offer sheet, 26 3rd)

Roster:
Knies-Matthews-Rust
Marchand-Coyle-Nylander
Goncalves-Tavares-Foerster
Jeannot-Sissons-Hathaway
Lorentz

Walman-Tanev
Rielly-Carlo
OEL-Barron
Myers

Stolarz
Talbot

Cap space: 10k

I know 5 trades is way more trades than would actually happen. You would have 4 fun, balanced, lines. Obviously you're giving up a ton of futures (Cowan, Woll, Hildeby, 63OA, 86OA, 2026 3rd). You do get 3 good U25 players in Goncalves, Foerster and Barron.

All those trade are awful i don't see at all the upgrade

 

[rumman]

Does this lineup compete?

-heavy lifting for Nylander on the right side.
-Very deep down the middle.
-Leaning on a Rookie to graduate AND a player who hasn’t shown top 6 ability.
-But….I think it’s interesting.
-Go big game winger fishing at the deadline and hopefully Robertson(or Cowan) looks good and slides/stays in 3RW.

Knies - Matthews - Robertson (relax)
Marchand - Zibanejab - Nylander
McMann - Tavares - Cowan or ?
Tanev - Laughton - Lorentz

McCabe - Tanev
Miller - Carlo
Benoit - OEL

Stolarz
Woll

I luke ghat Mo’s gone and Miller’s in…….

 

[Mess]

​

Rakell is coming off of a strong season, posting 35 goals and 35 assists, demonstrating both scoring touch and playmaking ability. Even more appealing is his cap hit, which is a reasonable $5 million per season, with two years remaining on his current deal.

With Mitch Marner all but confirmed to be moving on from Toronto, the Leafs are expected to have significant cap space to fill the offensive void. With Marner reportedly seeking over $14 million annually, Toronto may have dodged a financial bullet, freeing up room for potential additions like Rickard Rakell and others to help spread out the offense.

If the Penguins are entering a fire sale, a player of Rakell's caliber could be a great asset for the Leafs.


Leafs could send Dubas his boy Nikki Bobby and even some of his favourite drafted Marlies.

 

[Americanadian]

All those trade are awful i don't see at all the upgrade

You’d have to know who the players are to properly assess.