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

[Menzinger]

Mangiapane is probably a fine option with a bit of track record to suggest he could keep up as a complementary part on the second or third line.
But he didn’t outproduce NickRob last year so that could be a head-to-head to watch, and he is a little lighter in tools.
Buy lows are fine, but am hoping for a mix of skills and abilities.

Berube just has no interest in Robertson. I think Mangiapane could be an okay alternative to provide some much needed scoring depth plus he's got the past connections with Tre

I agree the free agent C’s aren’t an option but which C are you getting for Carlo?

There aren’t many teams around the league that have extra C’s and need 2RD. Tampa for Nick Paul would make sense but he has a full NTC.

Fair question, and I don't have an answer off the top of my head. But I'd imagine at least one top 9 vet C would shake loose (and probably more than one) with the Leafs dangling a fairly rare piece with a top 4 RHD with term

The laughton trade being a bit of a bust really makes this more irritating than it should. Two of the teams most moveable futures used to fill out the 4th line.....

 

[Torontonian]

I think logically it makes sense if you can trade a d-man for a forward/centerman, but you need to fill in that gap afterwards in FA. Trading OEL for a middle six forward makes the most sense as he's probably the easiest to replace in FA.

I think it only makes sense to trade anyone else if you are signing Ekblad to replace someone like McCabe or Carlo, I don't think it's gonna be possible to replace those two types of players.

As others suggested, if you can sign Fabbro in and around the same number as OEL, it would make sense.. Plus it gets everyone on their proper side.

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Beniot - Fabbro
Myers

 

[Menzinger]

I think logically it makes sense if you can trade a d-man for a forward/centerman, but you need to fill in that gap afterwards in FA. Trading OEL for a middle six forward makes the most sense as he's probably the easiest to replace in FA.

I think it only makes sense to trade anyone else if you are signing Ekblad to replace someone like McCabe or Carlo, I don't think it's gonna be possible to replace those two types of players.

As others suggested, if you can sign Fabbro in and around the same number as OEL, it would make sense.. Plus it gets everyone on their proper side.

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
Beniot - Fabbro
Myers

OEL is probably a better candidate because his caphit gets too pricey if he slides to the 3rd pairing but they absolutely need to sign a pick moving D man to replace him if traded

 

[rumman]

after seeing what Nelson got, and being better than Nelson, it doesnt help.
if we let him walk though, it will be a tough refill spot

Sure, it might be hard to replace his regular season points, but not impossible and I won’t miss the playoff disappearing act……

 

[rumman]

View attachment 1054140

12:00 to 3:00 bad times indeed, is this pie chart Boy Wonder approved or is it just a happy coincidence?

 

[rumman]

Yep, that appears to be the big Treveling strategy for this offseason; find out which players want to play on a team with only half the Big 4 and clearly trending downward for LESS than what they could get in no-tax states. Which is why I keep saying they're going to end up signing a couple of fourth liners and miss the playoffs next year. They're going to hinge this entire season on two questions:

1. Can Auston Matthews score like he did in the past with an ailing wrist and less offensive support?
2. If not, can William Nylander handle being the guy that other teams will send their number 1 shutdown guys after after years of being able to feast while Matthews and Marner drew those guys?

And I'm betting the answer is no, and no.

So why did Bubbles pay them the big bucks? We know he shopped Stules to no avails so he overpaid him to stay. That doesn’t dound very “nickle and dime” to me……..

 

[Brobust]

View attachment 1054140

The fact that Kampf's name is visible annoys me.

 

[Brobust]

So why did Bubbles pay them the big bucks? We know he shopped Stules to no avails so he overpaid him to stay. That doesn’t dound very “nickle and dime” to me……..

Shanahan decision.

 

[Trapper]

Sure, it might be hard to replace his regular season points, but not impossible and I won’t miss the playoff disappearing act……

We had 7 years with him, barely made it to the 2nd round. NY had 9 years with him, barely made it to the 2nd round. He’s not the DNA we need at any price.

 

[Menzinger]

CJ echoing what Mirtle said earlier today. Reads more and more the front office is bracing fans for a very quiet July 1st - or no big fish.

The trade route makes sense in theory, especially if they're chasing reclamation projects. But if these are planned for late summer, post-draft the Leafs have almost no picks next draft. Which means '26 3rd, '27 2nd, 3rd + Cowan/Danford + roster players as the trade bait

 

[showtime8]

CJ echoing what Mirtle said earlier today. Reads more and more the front office is bracing fans for a very quiet July 1st - or no big fish.

The trade route makes sense in theory, especially if they're chasing reclamation projects. But if these are planned for late summer, post-draft the Leafs have almost no picks next draft. Which means '26 3rd, '27 2nd, 3rd + Cowan/Danford +broster players as the trade bait

I can understand that there's trying to find value of free agents and not overpaying trades, but how can they justify not making a significant move after running it back for the past 5 off-seasons without change.

 

[shaner8989]

Spend no money this summer be smart. Trades sure. No stupid UFA contracts. Wait until next offseason when there is a ton of talent available.

 

[Menzinger]

I can understand that there's trying to find value of free agents and not overpaying trades, but how can they justify not making a significant move after running it back for the past 5 off-seasons without change.

Fair question. I can sort of mentally justify it if they want to be more aggressive next summer when there's likely more bigger named free agents. But that's a big risk that they stay unsigned and are available in the summer of '26

 

[58 Years No Cup]

Yep, that appears to be the big Treveling strategy for this offseason; find out which players want to play on a team with only half the Big 4 and clearly trending downward for LESS than what they could get in no-tax states. Which is why I keep saying they're going to end up signing a couple of fourth liners and miss the playoffs next year. They're going to hinge this entire season on two questions:

1. Can Auston Matthews score like he did in the past with an ailing wrist and less offensive support?
2. If not, can William Nylander handle being the guy that other teams will send their number 1 shutdown guys after after years of being able to feast while Matthews and Marner drew those guys?

And I'm betting the answer is no, and no.

And I'm betting the answer is YES, YES, AND YES. I GUARANTEE you that a team with Matthews, Willie, Knies, Tavares signed at under $5, this D and goaltending and all of the replacements signed with freed up salary cap money will EASILY make the playoffs.

I'm sorry your employer Marner is out the door. You'll find a new job soon.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Spend no money this summer be smart. Trades sure. No stupid UFA contracts. Wait until next offseason when there is a ton of talent available.

Could do
But that talent might re-sign with their clubs leaving the leafs in the dust

 

[Caesium]

Spend no money this summer be smart. Trades sure. No stupid UFA contracts. Wait until next offseason when there is a ton of talent available.

UFAs available always looks interesting before all the good players sign new contracts. Most of the interesting ones will be off the board before July 1st 2026 rolls around.

 

[Maple Leaf]

View attachment 1054140

So why does matthews take up all that cap and not score in the playoffs? How does that work?

 

[rumman]

Shanahan decision.

Purely speculation……..

 

[rumman]

CJ echoing what Mirtle said earlier today. Reads more and more the front office is bracing fans for a very quiet July 1st - or no big fish.

The trade route makes sense in theory, especially if they're chasing reclamation projects. But if these are planned for late summer, post-draft the Leafs have almost no picks next draft. Which means '26 3rd, '27 2nd, 3rd + Cowan/Danford + roster players as the trade bait

Maybe they’re waiting to find where Marner lands and propose to that team. Mathews trade? Okay, one can wish……

 

[rumman]

I can understand that there's trying to find value of free agents and not overpaying trades, but how can they justify not making a significant move after running it back for the past 5 off-seasons without change.

Sounds about right for MLSE…….

 

[rumman]

So why does matthews take up all that cap and not score in the playoffs? How does that work?

It’s not the highest paid players fault they don’t succeed in the playoffs, it’s all those passengers on the bus, at least that’s Captain Arrogant’s take……

 

[Zero1]

Well apparently Pietrangelo is going on LTIR because he can’t play anymore. Vegas doesn’t need to move anyone to make room for Marner.

Karlsson dreams are dead.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Well apparently Pietrangelo is going on LTIR because he can’t play anymore. Vegas doesn’t need to move anyone to make room for Marner.

Karlsson dreams are dead.

Then he will magically recover for Game 1 of the playoffs

 

[SprDaVE]

The Zegras trade is something the Leafs should have been all over. They need relative buy low candidates with high upside. Would also fit well on the LW here potentially.

I get the warts but I agree, he would have been a very a good buy low scoring option and with pretty good potential to be a big contributor on a better team.

 

[Americanadian]

I get the warts but I agree, he would have been a very a good buy low scoring option and with pretty good potential to be a big contributor on a better team.

Perfect Berube player.