Trade and Free Agency Discussion Thread - Don't Expect More Augmenting

[ToneDog]

really like what Ottawa has done.....looking forward to a renewed battle of Ontario

All Canadian teams appear to have improved on paper. It is going to be one hell of a hockey season if they go with a Canadian division.

 

[The Nic]

I think there's a good chance you might see Engvall traded for futures. The bottom six is extremely crowded with

Kerfoot
Simmonds
Vessey
Spezza
Thornton
Barabanov
Anderson
Korshkov
Malgin

Moving Engvall gives us some breathing room cap wise. Besides his first week or two after his call up, he really tailed off and doesn't really bring much minus his speed.

Isn't it a little soon to be throwing Engvall out with the trash? If you really want to see someone accomplish virtually nothing on the ice for the Leafs last season, try re-watching some of Malgin's games.

 

[showtime8]

really like what Ottawa has done.....looking forward to a renewed battle of Ontario

I think they will be slightly improved from last season based on goaltending alone. They were 2nd last in terms of goals against per game and having Murray there will help a lot.

But I think they might be challenged to get scoring production from anything outside of the top line and their defense isn't anything to write home about.

They've got guys that are tough to play against in Brown and Gudbranson. They also brought in Austin Watson up front.

 

[Fogelhund]

SO, this idea of expanded taxi squads, appears to be gaining traction.

“We discussed broadening the taxi squad, instead of just your three extra players,” Chris Gear, a Canucks assistant general manager and AHL governor, said Thursday, knowing that the plan would first require league approval. “Could you have five or six extra players because then the need to shuttle players back and forth across the border isn’t there?

Ben Kuzma: Canucks ponder expanded taxi squads, Canadian AHL division due to COVID-19 | The Province

It's pretty speculative to say how this could work, with the Salary Cap and all, but at least we know that the league has discussed this. With the number of guys that the Leafs have signed, it can be surmised, that they expected something like this, or are even the champions of the idea.

 

[Fogelhund]

 

[SprDaVE]

SO, this idea of expanded taxi squads, appears to be gaining traction.



Ben Kuzma: Canucks ponder expanded taxi squads, Canadian AHL division due to COVID-19 | The Province

It's pretty speculative to say how this could work, with the Salary Cap and all, but at least we know that the league has discussed this. With the number of guys that the Leafs have signed, it can be surmised, that they expected something like this, or are even the champions of the idea.

If they do add taxi squads, the Leafs are very well setup for it with a couple 'fodder' but capable players (Dell, Malgin, Boyd, Marincin, etc). I'd assume the players in the taxi squad would act in the same way the AHL waiver/sending down process works. Instead of going down to the AHL, they would follow the team but they wouldn't be allowed to practice with the main squad.

 

[meefer]

If they do add taxi squads, the Leafs are very well setup for it with a couple 'fodder' but capable players (Dell, Malgin, Boyd, Marincin, etc). I'd assume the players in the taxi squad would act in the same way the AHL waiver/sending down process works. Instead of going down to the AHL, they would follow the team but they wouldn't be allowed to practice with the main squad.

I'm not sure that would be the case. In the A they'd be allowed to practice with the team. On a taxi squad wouldn't they in a sense be 'rotting fruit' were they not allowed to practice? Would you want to throw a player into a game situation if they'd been absent practices for a two week period?

 

[Fogelhund]

If they do add taxi squads, the Leafs are very well setup for it with a couple 'fodder' but capable players (Dell, Malgin, Boyd, Marincin, etc). I'd assume the players in the taxi squad would act in the same way the AHL waiver/sending down process works. Instead of going down to the AHL, they would follow the team but they wouldn't be allowed to practice with the main squad.

I'd agree with @meefer here... if they have taxi squads, they'll be practising with the teams on a regular basis. It also wouldn't shock me, to see players rolling on, and off the taxi squad very regularly. With the potential for a compressed schedule, having a platoon of players, who can move on, and off the roster, could be advantageous.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I am still waiting for the Leafs to sign a guy like Perlini for the Marlies. Still have one more hole in their top 9 LW IMO.

 

[Magic Man]

I am still waiting for the Leafs to sign a guy like Perlini for the Marlies. Still have one more hole in their top 9 LW IMO.

I've got guys like B.Ritchie, Zykov, Haley and Gaunce as an extra add on forward for the Marlies. One that brings some bite with his game, in terms of everyday players they may need that element. Do you know of any other guys I've missed that could bring both bite and top-9 forward skill to the Marlies?

 

[HC7]

Would like to see Leafs try to sign Jakob Stenqvist.

Having a breakout season in Liiga. 22 year old 6'2 RHD, who supposedly has great mobility. Haven't seen much, but would take a flyer on this type of player any day.

Jakob Stenqvist at eliteprospects.com

 

[Keon1963]

I feel Toronto is short on forwards to expose in the Seattle draft that meet the minimum draft requirement of 70 games played in 2019/2011 or 40 games played in 2020/2021 and will be under contract. At the moment the likely two forwards are Kerfoot and Engvall. Signing a player that is close to the 70 game requirement and stashing him on the Marlies might improve exposure flexibility at the Seattle draft. The likely exposed defenseman will be Holl.

 

[exporta]

would you trade Tavares, and retain 50% for Mattias Janmark (Kerfoot), Nick Seeler(Holl), Adam Boqvist(Sandin), a 1st and 2nd in 21? ...because that would be the equivalent offer from Chicago, and likely a better offer to boot, as their picks project higher

Its highly unlikely, but Matthews - Tavares - Toews - Thornton is a wet dream

 

[stickty111]

2 things worth mentioning.
Mirtle mentioned with the added up cap space Leafs can get in the season, they will be set up for a big addition come the deadline if required.

I think Andersen will be the one they trade mid season if they want an upgrade in net. He will start the season though.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I feel Toronto is short on forwards to expose in the Seattle draft that meet the minimum draft requirement of 70 games played in 2019/2011 or 40 games played in 2020/2021 and will be under contract. At the moment the likely two forwards are Kerfoot and Engvall. Signing a player that is close to the 70 game requirement and stashing him on the Marlies might improve exposure flexibility at the Seattle draft. The likely exposed defenseman will be Holl.

Having one of Kerfoot, Engvall or Holl taken is a desirable conclusion.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

I feel Toronto is short on forwards to expose in the Seattle draft that meet the minimum draft requirement of 70 games played in 2019/2011 or 40 games played in 2020/2021 and will be under contract. At the moment the likely two forwards are Kerfoot and Engvall. Signing a player that is close to the 70 game requirement and stashing him on the Marlies might improve exposure flexibility at the Seattle draft. The likely exposed defenseman will be Holl.

Right now most on here seem to want a combination or all 3 of those guys gone for cap room lol.

 

[jfc64]

If they do add taxi squads, the Leafs are very well setup for it with a couple 'fodder' but capable players (Dell, Malgin, Boyd, Marincin, etc). I'd assume the players in the taxi squad would act in the same way the AHL waiver/sending down process works. Instead of going down to the AHL, they would follow the team but they wouldn't be allowed to practice with the main squad.

I know my dream job would be invented during my lifetime.

 

[The Nic]

I am still waiting for the Leafs to sign a guy like Perlini for the Marlies. Still have one more hole in their top 9 LW IMO.

I would love to see that happen...

 

[Stephen]

I wonder if Connor Brown's 3 Year $3.6 million contract with Ottawa is a suitable precedent for Zach Hyman's next contract? That would represent a $1.35 million raise on his AAV, which is quite modest, but we also see the kind of players available to Toronto in a flat cap world too.

 

[Stephen]

I am still waiting for the Leafs to sign a guy like Perlini for the Marlies. Still have one more hole in their top 9 LW IMO.

They could build an all-bust duo with Michael Dal Colle...

 

[Antropovsky]

All Canadian teams appear to have improved on paper. It is going to be one hell of a hockey season if they go with a Canadian division.

Seems that each year, the league gets closer to parity as good teams have to unload to accommodate their best players getting raises and the bad teams acquire the middle of the pack guys to fill out their depth.

 

[gabeliscious]

I wonder if Connor Brown's 3 Year $3.6 million contract with Ottawa is a suitable precedent for Zach Hyman's next contract? That would represent a $1.35 million raise on his AAV, which is quite modest, but we also see the kind of players available to Toronto in a flat cap world too.

I would be good with that. I would even give him an extra year or so. He has been a good soldier.

 

[Fogelhund]

League revenue was $5.09 Billion in 2018/19, of which approx $530 mil is TV contracts, $3.75 Billion in gate receipts, and game day related merchandise/food/beer etc... and the ($810 mil) balance in Merchandise and licensing...

I don't care how you choose to discount that for this year, but even if you just decided to keep revenues flat, but for 48 regular season games, instead of 82, and regular playoff (on average 86) games... then you end up reducing the revenue... If 48 games + playoffs, you have 830 games total, when normally you have 1357 games per year.... This assumes completely full stadiums, and normal merchandise sales.

This drops revenue to $2.29 billion at the gate etc....

This results in league revenue of $3.63 Billion, which takes us back to 2013/14 numbers, when the salary cap was $64.3 million. Now... this is under the assumption that arenas are full. If they aren't... discount that further, and probably by quite a bit.

If we are near the end of the season, few fans in some arenas, none in others... Covid is still prevalent... well, the salary structure might just end up taking a hit for a bit.

Giving raises to many guys, including Hyman, is going to be very difficult next season. He deserves more, but how do you make that work? It's basically move out Kerfoot, and hope to replace him, and keep the Hyman + Kerfoot salary static. No other UFA/RFA getting a raise... it's going to get difficult at some point, or we change the way things are done, and do a massive salary rollback.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Mickey Marner]

League revenue was $5.09 Billion in 2018/19, of which approx $530 mil is TV contracts, $3.75 Billion in gate receipts, and game day related merchandise/food/beer etc... and the ($810 mil) balance in Merchandise and licensing...

I don't care how you choose to discount that for this year, but even if you just decided to keep revenues flat, but for 48 regular season games, instead of 82, and regular playoff (on average 86) games... then you end up reducing the revenue... If 48 games + playoffs, you have 830 games total, when normally you have 1357 games per year.... This assumes completely full stadiums, and normal merchandise sales.

This drops revenue to $2.29 billion at the gate etc....

This results in league revenue of $3.63 Billion, which takes us back to 2013/14 numbers, when the salary cap was $64.3 million. Now... this is under the assumption that arenas are full. If they aren't... discount that further, and probably by quite a bit.

If we are near the end of the season, few fans in some arenas, none in others... Covid is still prevalent... well, the salary structure might just end up taking a hit for a bit.

Giving raises to many guys, including Hyman, is going to be very difficult next season. He deserves more, but how do you make that work? It's basically move out Kerfoot, and hope to replace him, and keep the Hyman + Kerfoot salary static. No other UFA/RFA getting a raise... it's going to get difficult at some point, or we change the way things are done, and do a massive salary rollback.

I think the current climate will drop Hyman's AAV from ~5 to 4-4.5. Losing one or Holl/Kerfoot in the ED should pay for most of that raise and the cost of a replacement. Finding a cheap replacement for Andersen is the key. If we can keep out goaltending expenditure =<5AAV, we're in a good spot. To me, moving one of 16/88 is inevitable. Spending >20% of the cap ceiling on two wingers that offer the same thing has diminishing returns and is a luxury we can't afford long-term. Some of that money will need to be redistributed towards LW/3C/RD/G to get full value out of it.

I agree that the league finances don't look like they will come close to balancing when you look at what escrow and the cap are locked in at. There should've been a salary rollback as well, IMO. I imagine the new US TV deal will mostly be reimbursing owners for the first couple years. I don't expect the cap ceiling to hit 90 million until close to 2030.