GDT: Trade and Free Agency Thread - 2021/22 PART III

[LeafChief]

Three trades I'd consider:

To Arizona: Sandin, Amirov, 1st in '22, Ritchie
To Toronto: Chychrun, Crouse
(Essentially, 3 1sts for Chych, which I believe is a decent return and .967M benefit to us in the lateral move between Ritchie and Crouse, .75M if we were to qualify him next year. I do like Crouse more for us because of his skating and he has PKed)

To Buffalo: Muzzin, Mrazak, Mikheyev
To Toronto: Miller, C. Anderson
(Miller needs to be re-signed next year, I don't know if we'd pursue, or for that matter if Buffalo would pursue, this year he'd be an upgrade on Holl. Anderson offers us a backup goalie with playoff experience and reasonable numbers, though injured now, his return date is close. His contract expires this year, but at .75M this year we could match if wanted and it gives us flexibility to re-sign Jack. While it would be a slap to Muzzin, Buffalo could certainly use his professionalism to help guide the mess that is Buffalo. They've got 3 1sts this year, some young talent, they could use the pro that Jake is...I'd give him the C. Mrazak offers some guidance and protection for their young RFA goalie Lukkonnen)

To Chicago: Kerfoot, Holl, and Gogolev
To Toronto: Strome, DeHaan (at 25%-3.4M) and A. Nylander
(Chicago gets the most complete player in Kerfoot. We take a chance on Stromes' improving game and DeHaan's ability to play both sides of the ice. With Kerfoot and Holl both signed for next year, Chicago avoids having to decide what to do with either of their players. With Tavares and Nylander, in the Ozone - which is where I'd start most of their shifts - Strome might regain some of the confidence and scoring touch he displayed in the past. )

Bunting Matthews Marner
Strome Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kamph Kase
Crouse Spezza Simmonds
Clifford

Rielly Brodie
Chychrun Miller
DeHaan Liljegren
Dermott

Campbell
Anderson

Cap hit this year: 78.3M 22 man roster, including Kessel's last year at 1.2M. We could make a move at the TDL.

*Bolded need new contracts next year.
**I would expect: Kase, Crouse, Spezza, Liljegren, and Campbell to be re-signed, with only Jack to receive a big raise. We would have the space to accommodate them all.
***Engvall, Strome, Clifford, Miller, DeHaan, and Anderson tbd.

Not trying to be rude but this is on par with that Shannyplan guys terrible trade ideas.

 

[AvroArrow]

Every team in the league is going to throw money at him. I imagine he gets 7-8M on his next deal, maybe at 4 years but I can see him pushing for a 5-6 year deal to a potential contender. You're giving him the extra 1-2 years for a chance to win now. He knows this is going to be his last big pay day, so he'll want to cash in. I imagine someone giving him a Brad Richards type of contract except he's much better at this stage than Richards was.

 

[AvroArrow]

I’m fairly new to Hockey. Been watching for about 4 years and can’t believe we are still paying a guy (Kessel) that I’ve never seen play for us.

I think he comes off the books next year. Kessel was absolutely worth his full cap hit, we just retained for reasons that helped both teams. Pitts fit him under the cap and won 2 cups, we got Kapanen + 1st (didn't really work out) but still a 1st. And now flipped Kapanen for Amirov. But Kessel was an elite PPG player here on a very bad team with bad line mates.

 

[egd27]

Maybe Dubas can talk him into a very friendly team discount.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Can someone explain to me what Chychrun has done to deserve the equivalent of 3 1st rounders++? 1 year where he put up a bunch of goals shooting at 10.2% whereby before he was a 6.1% career average shooter?

I just don't see why he returns more than any player in the past decade+

 

[Sweetpotato]

Can someone explain to me what Chychrun has done to deserve the equivalent of 3 1st rounders++? 1 year where he put up a bunch of goals shooting at 10.2% whereby before he was a 6.1% career average shooter?

I just don't see why he returns more than any player in the past decade+

-He's be extremely steady on a bad team for years.
-He provides great offense and puck movement even if he isn't at the numbers from that season, but more than likely if he moves to a team with a good offense those go up from his average.
-hes only 23.
-hes on a bargain contract with term.

What dman has been traded that ticks off those boxes? That's why he's highly sought after and will return the moon.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

-He's be extremely steady on a bad team for years.
-He provides great offense and puck movement even if he isn't at the numbers from that season, but more than likely if he moves to a team with a good offense those go up from his average.
-hes only 23.
-hes on a bargain contract with term.

What dman has been traded that ticks off those boxes? That's why he's highly sought after and will return the moon.

How steady can you be if you haven't played more than 68 games a season in your career (6 seasons)?

The thing is when he moves to a different team he likely won't get near the amount of ice time he gets now nor the PP#1 time etc so I dont actually expect his number to massively increase if he moves to a better team.

To me he is an often injuried young defender who had 1 good offensive year then a bunch of ~30 point pace years. Definitely on a pretty good contract and can be a top defender but certainly isn't yet and may never reach that point. To me it would be an massive gamble to pay like 3 1sts++ for. As someone else said EK was like 3 years older at the time of his trade and had 2 norris trophies already. Yes he was a pending UFA but a far far superior player to Chychrun now and likely will ever be.

Thanks for taking the time to reply though. I do get it but think he is very overrated

 

[BertCorbeau]

Whatever contract he gets will not age well

 

[Stephen]

Can someone explain to me what Chychrun has done to deserve the equivalent of 3 1st rounders++? 1 year where he put up a bunch of goals shooting at 10.2% whereby before he was a 6.1% career average shooter?

I just don't see why he returns more than any player in the past decade+

I think of him as a 23 year old Jake Muzzin type player with an arsenal of shots from the blueline and judging from random highlights he's also adept at jumping into the rush or being the trailing 4th forward who can snipe. He's also signed to a very team friendly small market bridge deal that has him locked up for 4x playoff runs. So age, contract, upside, he's a pretty unique asset in a moment where we could be looking for a Muzzin replacement. Only thing that would make him more perfect would be being a RHD and a little more durable. Also you never know how guys on bad programs translate.

Whether or not he's worth 3x first round picks, I leave it for you to decide, but he seems like a really good big fish to go after.

 

[ShaneFalco]

No - he had to go for a reason, no way they bring him back.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

I think of him as a 23 year old Jake Muzzin type player with an arsenal of shots from the blueline and judging from random highlights he's also adept at jumping into the rush or being the trailing 4th forward who can snipe. He's also signed to a very team friendly small market bridge deal that has him locked up for 4x playoff runs. So age, contract, upside, he's a pretty unique asset in a moment where we could be looking for a Muzzin replacement. Only thing that would make him more perfect would be being a RHD and a little more durable. Also you never know how guys on bad programs translate.

Whether or not he's worth 3x first round picks, I leave it for you to decide, but he seems like a really good big fish to go after.

Thanks for the explanation. I get why he would seem attractive but I don't think he is a franchise defender and these packages are franchise player level and then some.

Personally i would never pay 3 1sts for a 23 year old jake muzzin who is more of a #2 or excellent #3. Plus it is Amirov/Sandin being included who I value more than a mid to late 1st at this point

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

-He's be extremely steady on a bad team for years.
-He provides great offense and puck movement even if he isn't at the numbers from that season, but more than likely if he moves to a team with a good offense those go up from his average.
-hes only 23.
-hes on a bargain contract with term.

What dman has been traded that ticks off those boxes? That's why he's highly sought after and will return the moon.

Good young defensemen have been traded before, none of them return the equivalent of 3 first round picks. Especially in a cap world.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Naz just got suspended five games for this thread.

 

[unitedstars87]

Anyone here remember how his last handful playoffs ended? Jeez

 

[stickty111]

Giving up Sandin or Liljegren to get Chychrun kind of defeats the whole purpose of the trade.

You get a more advanced/expensive version of what you are trying to develop Sandin/Liljegren into and you don't really address your weakness in Holl.

If you can add Chychrun to Rielly/Muzzin/Brodie while keeping Sandin and Liljegren then yea you absolutely would love to add that luxury.

Pretty much. If your getting him, you keep the 5 you mentioned and load up on D. However that means you are likely trading a Niemela or a Amirov in the trade and I have no interest in that.

 

[Stephen]

Good young defensemen have been traded before, none of them return the equivalent of 3 first round picks. Especially in a cap world.

Off the top of my head, young stud defensemen who get traded are rare, but when it happens it's often in a battleship for potential battleship

Hamilton and Fox for Hanifin and Lindholm, or Jones for Boqvist + type thing.

Feels like we really missed the boat on that franchise altering Dermott + Johnsson for Weegar a couple of summers ago. Who would have known that guy had it in him? Maybe the approach is to find a diamond in the rough and not pay full retail.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. I like Kadri, but he's well on his way to having the record for playoff suspensions, if he doesn't already own it. Also, his price tag will absolutely be too high.

 

[Stephen]

Pretty much. If your getting him, you keep the 5 you mentioned and load up on D. However that means you are likely trading a Niemela or a Amirov in the trade and I have no interest in that.

I don't want to trade him, but I wonder how much Arizona guy Matthews Knies' stock goes up after the WJC's?

 

[stickty111]

It's a pretty bad look to bring back a player who individually cost you 2 playoff series with selfish plays. No thanks.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Off the top of my head, young stud defensemen who get traded are rare, but when it happens it's often in a battleship for potential battleship

Hamilton and Fox for Hanifin and Lindholm, or Jones for Boqvist + type thing.

Feels like we really missed the boat on that franchise altering Dermott + Johnsson for Weegar a couple of summers ago. Who would have known that guy had it in him? Maybe the approach is to find a diamond in the rough and not pay full retail.

At that point Weegar's performance was very much a byproduct of playing with Ekblad. His numbers away from him suffered significantly.

He's reached another level since then but that's the way it goes sometimes.

 

[ULF_55]

Ottawa, Buffalo, Detroit, Arizona, Seattle would be a good options for him.

 

[zeke]

Feels like we really missed the boat on that franchise altering Dermott + Johnsson for Weegar a couple of summers ago. Who would have known that guy had it in him? .

The stats knew. Dubas knew. That's why he was the highest bidder. Unfortunately they didn't accept the offer.

 

[francis246]

Thanks for the explanation. I get why he would seem attractive but I don't think he is a franchise defender and these packages are franchise player level and then some.

Personally i would never pay 3 1sts for a 23 year old jake muzzin who is more of a #2 or excellent #3. Plus it is Amirov/Sandin being included who I value more than a mid to late 1st at this point

the asking price wouldn’t be 3 1st. It’s probably a lot of speculation. Probably a 1st, prospect and roster player: which is a reasonable ask for Chychrun

 

[PROUD PAPA]

No thanks on Kadri but a similar player with the ability to keep his emotions in check would be a great addition.

 

[ITM]

Off the top of my head, young stud defensemen who get traded are rare, but when it happens it's often in a battleship for potential battleship

Hamilton and Fox for Hanifin and Lindholm, or Jones for Boqvist + type thing.

Feels like we really missed the boat on that franchise altering Dermott + Johnsson for Weegar a couple of summers ago. Who would have known that guy had it in him? Maybe the approach is to find a diamond in the rough and not pay full retail.

I think that's exactly the right thing to do...It won't be the first or last time this happens. And let's be careful not to be the team that trades that diamond in the rough. Let's remember, Liljegren is still "growing". This is the same player that was seen as a legitimate number one prospect his draft year (certainly before.).

This to say, players like Sandin and hopefully Amirov represent championship depth. We can't continue to move forward without depth. We will NEED contracts like Amirov's, Sandin's, etc in the NEAR future.

Is there a Pesce,Weegar, Slavin, Toews type defenseman out there? Is the cost Marner rather than five prime pieces?

Nothing wrong with kicking tires, but if we keep playing these silly games with our future depth we're going to keep yielding poor prizes ie first round knockouts.