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

[Americanadian]

I never changed anything, i said 2,34 M will not be good enough to get him with an offer sheet...

And 2,34 would not be that hard to match for Tampa... In real money with taxes exemption, 2,34 M in Toronto its what like +/- 1,8 M or 1,9 M contract in Florida?

If Tampa offered him 1.8-1.9M he'd most likely sign today. I think they're offering him 1-1.25M. If Toronto were to OS him at 2.34M Tampa would be able to match today. Will they be able to match in 2 weeks if they make a big splash?

 

[JKG33]

I think both Ekblad and Marchand price themselves out

They seemingly positioned themselves to ease Ekblad's departure with the Jones trade earlier too. And Marchand is looking after his retirement first and foremost and it's hard to see Florida being able to meet the ask despite what their GM might say publicly (at least unless he's willing to hurt the teams depth even further,.which seems unlikely).

Tre will probably jump on both guys if given the chance

I dont get this logic. I think they seen how much the loss of Montour hurt and Jones was his replacement. Losing Ekblad puts them right back where they were. I think if they can get Ekblad and Bennett signed to matching 8x8 deals they do it, both could probably get 7x10 as UFAs but would be leaving a good situation.

Might have to deal E-Rod to re-coup some futures, and fill out the roster with near league minimum players. But after next season they'd be set when Bob gets a paycut and everyone else is signed

 

[Nineteen67]

The huge advantage he has is he has cap space. There will be alot of desperate teams

Once he spends all his cap gold then he loses his advantage because he has no picks or prospects of any value. Thanks to his Laughton/Carlo trades

Is there anything worth spending the cap gold on this year? You have to over pay to get what you need in FA so I don’t know if he can get everything they need.
His track record is abysmal so i anticipate a backward K and not a grand slam.

 

[58 Years No Cup]

from some people I know who know he trained with mackinnon and crosby and both made pitches to him to join them

Speaking of fantasies...

 

[weems]

 

[ULF_55]

Is there anything worth spending the cap gold on this year? You have to over pay to get what you need in FA so I don’t know if he can get everything they need.
His track record is abysmal so i anticipate a backward K and not a grand slam.

You ask the wrong question.
The question isn't, "Is there anything worth spending the cap gold on this year?", it is do the Leafs have the scouting staff capable of identifying the best use for the "cap gold."

Of course there are players worth pursuing when your roster has 8 NHL forwards under contract, and there are NHL players available in free agency. Okay, that 8 includes Reaves so is he still a viable NHL player?

 

[Menzinger]

The worse thing about the Marchment trade is making the Laughton tdl deal look even uglier in retrospect.

I dont get this logic. I think they seen how much the loss of Montour hurt and Jones was his replacement. Losing Ekblad puts them right back where they were. I think if they can get Ekblad and Bennett signed to matching 8x8 deals they do it, both could probably get 7x10 as UFAs but would be leaving a good situation.

Might have to deal E-Rod to re-coup some futures, and fill out the roster with near league minimum players. But after next season they'd be set when Bob gets a paycut and everyone else is signed

They now have another guy who can play a bigger role in their top four, and seem to have (this is pure speculation) a degree of skepticism about Ekblad longer term.

 

[JKG33]

The worse thing about the Marchment trade is making the Laughton tdl deal look even uglier in retrospect.



They now have another guy who can play a bigger role in their top four, and seem to have (this is pure speculation) a degree of skepticism about Ekblad longer term.

Who are you referring to.. Mikkola? Kulikov? Re-signing Schmidt?

Agree completely regarding Marchment btw

 

[Tony Romo]

I mean I guess some people want the DNA change, anyone find it slightly concerning there's been no Tavares announcement?

I saw someone compare it to the Stamkos situation of last year, I wonder if it's getting to that point now.

 

[ULF_55]

Matej Blümel

June 2025- Blumel saw some NHL action in the middle of the 2024-2025 season, posting a goal in a seven game stint. He led the Texas Stars of the AHL in scoring by 12 points, and scored 15 goals more than the closest competition. Those numbers were good for the AHL goal-scoring lead and

dobberprospects.com

Swift skating forward who is aggressive on the forecheck. Can add some secondary scoring while also being a threat on the penalty kill.

June 2025- Blumel saw some NHL action in the middle of the 2024-2025 season, posting a goal in a seven game stint. He led the Texas Stars of the AHL in scoring by 12 points, and scored 15 goals more than the closest competition. Those numbers were good for the AHL goal-scoring lead and put him second in league scoring. The offensive pop comes as Blumel turned 25 this season, and saw himself become an Unrestricted Free Agent. His time to make the NHL is now, and given his strong performance in a pro league, someone- if not the Dallas Stars- will be in need of depth and willing to take a chance on a 6-0, 205 pound winger who can add some energy and secondary scoring. Keep an eye on where he ends up this summer. Alex Wyatt

 

[Nineteen67]

You ask the wrong question.
The question isn't, "Is there anything worth spending the cap gold on this year?", it is do the Leafs have the scouting staff capable of identifying the best use for the "cap gold."

Of course there are players worth pursuing when your roster has 8 NHL forwards under contract, and there are NHL players available in free agency. Okay, that 8 includes Reaves so is he still a viable NHL player?

That is the question. That why I say it’ll take a grand slam to fit all the pieces together to have back to back successful seasons.

 

[rumman]

I just think its crazy there are so many here to expect 4 out of 12 forwards to score every single goal -- and expect to have any sort of succuss. Just because they are the best and highest paid forwards.

You'd think with the free pass everyone not named Mattews/Marner/Rielly/Tavares/Nylander gets, people would be itching to sign here with the lack of expectations.

It’s not the expectation that 4 forwards score all the goals, it’s that when 4 forwards take up more than half the cap it leaves little money left to improve the rest of the team. This is exemplified every spring when the high priced talent disappears. The Leafs don’t need shiny tempermental sports cars, they need heavy duty work trucks like Knies, Florida keeps showing this is the template for success………

 

[The Shadow]

Is there anything worth spending the cap gold on this year? You have to over pay to get what you need in FA so I don’t know if he can get everything they need.
His track record is abysmal so i anticipate a backward K and not a grand slam.

What I mean by keeping the cap space is there will be teams that need to move guys and are desperate and will pay a premium for it. Like we did with giving a 1st for Carolina taking Marleau

 

[HockeyVirus]

6'4 RHD 25 year old with a 70 point season to his name. The Islanders would rightfully ask for Knies+ and if the Leafs don't pay that another team will pay a similar price. What else could the Leafs offer that gets the conversation started?

Guess who else wants to get paid!

What team in the NHL even has a Knies nvm one for trade?

 

[rumman]

That Laughton trade still haunts me

Mofo played like a mid tier 4th line C.

Even if he played like a 3C, you don't trade a 1st for crap like that. Save 1st for big moves that can change the entire look of a team

Bubbles definitely screwed the pooch on that deal, huge overpayment…….

 

[Americanadian]

What team in the NHL even has a Knies nvm one for trade?

I didn't say a team is going to trade Knies, I said a team will pay a price similar to Knies to get Dobson.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I didn't say a team is going to trade Knies, I said a team will pay a price similar to Knies to get Dobson.

I think you are under rating Knies. After #1 C and #1D, a top line powerforward is the most valuable asset type in the NHL

 

[rumman]

Marchand's final prank being cashing in on the leafs and being ineffective would be an insane end to his career of punking us. We're so unoriginal

Definitely would get his number retired and sent to the Rafters in Beantown if he signed here and promptly shit the bed…….

 

[Americanadian]

I think you are under rating Knies. After #1 C and #1D, a top line powerforward is the most valuable asset type in the NHL

What is Dobson?

 

[rumman]

In response to the tweet about them claiming Tavares can get the Nelson contrac on the open market? If so, bye Tavares, if he really wants to stay here, I want his cap cap hit under 5 mil. f*** off already

I’d say closer to 4 than 5 or see ya Johnny…….

 

[rumman]

I think you are under rating Knies. After #1 C and #1D, a top line powerforward is the most valuable asset type in the NHL

I’d argue Knies is the most important player on the team going forward……..

 

[Nineteen67]

What I mean be keeping the cap space is there will be teams that need to move guys and are desperate and will pay a premium for it. Like we did with giving a 1st for Carolina taking Marleau

I would be looking for those opportunities. I’d consider “helping” Pittsburg if they need cap room by taking a couple of first rounders.

 

[ULF_55]

That is the question. That why I say it’ll take a grand slam to fit all the pieces together to have back to back successful seasons.

They need a center and right winger for the top 6.

They need some all wheel drive vehicles for the bottom 6.

 

[HockeyVirus]

What is Dobson?

An offensive top pairing dman. Behind Knies in how hard it is to find one of those.

For context, there were 3 players with 25+ goals 150 hits this season.

Knies, Brady Tkachuk, Tom Wilson.

 

[Americanadian]

An offensive top pairing dman. Behind Knies in how hard it is to find one of those.

For context, there were 3 players with 25+ goals 150 hits this season.

Knies, Brady Tkachuk, Tom Wilson.

You just said yourself Knies is the 3rd most difficult type of player to find after a 1C and 1D. I don’t know in which world Dobson isn’t a 1D.