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

[stickty111]

Hertl or Pavelski would be costly, but nice.

Any of those two would be great. Hertl would cost a lot though.
Dubas is in a tough spot though. If Muzzin/Holl don't improve, do you go defence route? Offense has crumbled many years in a row in the playoffs so you can't ignore that again if you're Dubas as well. Honestly since the kids on D have looked solid, you need to try them for an extended time in a bigger role. If they succeed, than just put your focus on a forward and add a depth D or something. The kids can't get worse then the Muzzin-Holl pairing.

Of course if the goalies don't hold up, then that adds another possible need.

The team has been consistent pretty much all year, but there are issues creeping up which is worrying. Tough month or so coming for Dubas to evaluate.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Been pushing this idea too.

I wonder if we're on his 10 team no trade list or not.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Spezza is slowing down too, and he was never a fast guy in the first place. He does fine on the cycle, but he has not looked good in transition and he is not great in his own end.

Spezza's value at this point is faceoffs and PP. That is really it. Simmonds mostly just brings a physical presence, and that mostly only shows itself when someone on the other team does something dirty (which doesn't happen as often as people thing).

I would be good with Anderson getting a longer look, or getting a solid 13th forward in a trade who can rotate into the lineup with Simmonds and Spezza. That is probably the place we can get the biggest bang for our buck in terms of an offensive upgrade right now.

I don't think Keefe is putting Spezza in a position for success. As you said he's slowing down. IIRC he was at his best when he had speedy wingers that could be gritty in the corners and win battles. That speed opens up space for Spezza.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Any of those two would be great. Hertl would cost a lot though.
Dubas is in a tough spot though. If Muzzin/Holl don't improve, do you go defence route? Offense has crumbled many years in a row in the playoffs so you can't ignore that again if you're Dubas as well. Honestly since the kids on D have looked solid, you need to try them for an extended time in a bigger role. If they succeed, than just put your focus on a forward and add a depth D or something. The kids can't get worse then the Muzzin-Holl pairing.

Of course if the goalies don't hold up, then that adds another possible need.

The team has been consistent pretty much all year, but there are issues creeping up which is worrying. Tough month or so coming for Dubas to evaluate.

Based on what I see today, I would suggest: goaltending, defense, then the offense are the priorities.

Personally I think we need a good insurance policy for Campbell and I don't think Mrazek is it.. Doesn't matter what the guys do in front of you if your goaltending is poor.

Defense would be nice. Muzzin is looking in decline and it is exposing Holl as a #5 d-man. Holl was always going to have a short effective peak with his age and lack of mobility. A top 4 RHD with some control/term would be great.

Beyond that an upgrade on Kerfoot would be the only offensive upgrade. But Kerfoot has stepped up in the playoffs before so maybe that would work out ok.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Based on what I see today, I would suggest: goaltending, defense, then the offense are the priorities.

Personally I think we need a good insurance policy for Campbell and I don't think Mrazek is it.. Doesn't matter what the guys do in front of you if your goaltending is poor.

Defense would be nice. Muzzin is looking in decline and it is exposing Holl as a #5 d-man. Holl was always going to have a short effective peak with his age and lack of mobility. A top 4 RHD with some control/term would be great.

Beyond that an upgrade on Kerfoot would be the only offensive upgrade. But Kerfoot has stepped up in the playoffs before so maybe that would work out ok.

Muzzin, right now, has been a larger problem than Holl. I think everyone expected Muzzin's skating to be his downfall, but it is his IQ which has failed him the most this year. He struggles to play even a simple game at times, and that is a problem for a veteran like him. It is on him to turn things around and to get his head in the game. Same goes for goaltending. It is mostly all mental right now.

Holl has performed very well in his role, even though people like the crap on him at every available opportunity.

I think the move to make is to get a solid 13th forward who could potentially steal Spezza or Simmonds' spot on the 4th line and maybe a more defensively-oriented version of Dermott as a #7. Doesn't need to be a big or physical guy, but just someone who can reliably handle defensive zone responsibilities. Those trades (or trade) can easily be cost effective and simple. We don't need a big fish, or a monumental change.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I don't think Keefe is putting Spezza in a position for success. As you said he's slowing down. IIRC he was at his best when he had speedy wingers that could be gritty in the corners and win battles. That speed opens up space for Spezza.

That is mostly because Spezza is a pure passenger at this point. He can't really drive a line. As it is, Engvall does most of the heavy lifting on that line.

He still has that slap shot that can be very effective (hence why he is good on the PP) and he still has a good amount of IQ and vision to spot guys with good passes, but there is not much Keefe really can do with him at 5-on-5 at this point because he needs to be sheltered like crazy. Spezza is turning 39 this year... He may have another year in him as a faceoff and PP specialist again, especially since he is cheap, but the Leafs are going to start turning to other options (whether they are internal like Holmberg, Abruzzese, or Abramov, prospect UFA's like McBain, Meyers, or McLaughlin, or NHL UFA's like Sturm or Lazar) fairly soon.

 

[horner]

Buyout Nick Ritchie

Trade
Holl

Mrazek for Fleury
Chicago gets a signed Goaltender for 2 yrs

JT Miller
1st (2022), Kerfoot and Amirov, 2nd (2023)
Ferland is never coming back we can eat his 3.5 mil

Mayfield
2nd (2022), Dermott, Mik

Bring up Joey Anderson

 

[jaric1862]

If they’re able to somehow move Ritchie, then they’ll have a lot more flexibility at the deadline.

 

[geo25]

really wondering if it isn’t just that. We need a top4 D too, either for Muzzin or Holl or in case of injury. We need more grit. But we also need to curb these silly habits we have that indicate we’re mentally weak still - plenty of blown leads, getting scored on in the first 1-2 minutes, got thoroughly pushed around in Calgary. There is a lot to address.

Agreed...

 

[dubplatepressure]

Buyout Nick Ritchie

Mrazek for Fleury
Chicago gets a signed Goaltender for 2 yrs

JT Miller
1st (2022), Kerfoot and Amirov, 2nd (2023)
Ferland is never coming back we can eat his 3.5 mil

Mayfield
2nd (2022), Dermott, Mik

Bring up Joey Anderson

I don’t like that JT Miller trade at all.

 

[Fogelhund]

Buyout Nick Ritchie

Mrazek for Fleury
Chicago gets a signed Goaltender for 2 yrs

JT Miller
1st (2022), Kerfoot and Amirov, 2nd (2023)
Ferland is never coming back we can eat his 3.5 mil

Mayfield
2nd (2022), Dermott, Mik

Bring up Joey Anderson

Salary Cap?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Salary Cap?

Buyout Ritchie and trade Mrazek for Fleury...the timeline isn't clear since MAF is a UFA.

 

[Fogelhund]

Buyout Ritchie and trade Mrazek for Fleury...the timeline isn't clear since MAF is a UFA.

I put this in CapFriendly. Even MAF 50% retained (Which the poster didn't suggest) we are over the cap... Plus, another $1.1 mil of Dead Cap for Ritchie next year isn't acceptable.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I put this in CapFriendly. Even MAF 50% retained (Which the poster didn't suggest) we are over the cap... Plus, another $1.1 mil of Dead Cap for Ritchie next year isn't acceptable.

I'm struggling with the team currently.

I think Marner even despite not being at his best made the top line a consistent threat all year. It's gone to the next level since his return.

Rielly-Brodie, steady all year.
Sandin a good surprise
Campbell has mostly been up

The rest has been weird. JT-88 at 5v5 hasn't been that good and the 4th line seems like a collection of misfit toys.

Kampf mostly goes out and does his job, just hasn't had Kase the whole time because of injuries.

Special teams have been very good this year.

I'd just like to see some synergy/chemistry throughout the line up. NYI 4th line as an example, their shifts were consistent, go out, hit, grind, try to get pucks to net.

JT has picked up some PP points but 5v5, the line should be producing more than it is.

 

[Cor]

I put this in CapFriendly. Even MAF 50% retained (Which the poster didn't suggest) we are over the cap... Plus, another $1.1 mil of Dead Cap for Ritchie next year isn't acceptable.

Ritchie’s buy out only costs 300K next year.

 

[Avilaj07]

To Toronto-
Miller
Schenn

To Vancouver-
Kerfoot
Holl
Amirov
1st Round Pick
3rd Round Pick

 

[Fogelhund]

Ritchie’s buy out only costs 300K next year.

Indeed, it's the following year we get hit with $1.1 million, which still isn't the right way to go. We also can’t buy him out until the offseason I believe. If there is interest around the league for him, move him, even if it's a bag of pucks we get back. Buyout isn't the smart move.

 

[Griffin76]

Arizona should be a trade team target for sure. They're going to have a lot of expiring contracts.

Galchenyuk, Kessel, Stralman, Boyd, Roussel, Dzingel and Lyubushkin are UFA

Crouse, Hayton, Fischer and Mayo (though I don't think he'll be available) all RFA

And then there's Chychrun with term.

I don't think all should targets for the Leafs. But there are a few. Lyubushkin, Crouse and Chychrun for sure. Hayton, Roussel, Boyd and Galchenyuk to a lesser degree.

People may argue that someone like Crouse's numbers are inflated because of lots of ice time on the worst team. But the #1 and #2 centers are??? Boyd and Galchenyuk. Would be interesting to see what he could do with Marner or Nylander.

 

[TheShape]

All these goalies aren't just having MVP performances against us. We're too perimeter and easily boxed out of games, it's a personnel thing and has been an issue for years.

Aside from one line, 5 on 5 we really lack finish and this team badly needs another scorer up front.

 

[TheShape]

I don't think Keefe is putting Spezza in a position for success. As you said he's slowing down. IIRC he was at his best when he had speedy wingers that could be gritty in the corners and win battles. That speed opens up space for Spezza.

Less is more. Spezza and Simmonds are both 13th forwards who should rotate in and out of lineup, not play together. It's Thornton all over again, Keefe isn't going to sit either player regardless of their performance. That ship has sailed.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Less is more. Spezza and Simmonds are both 13th forwards who should rotate in and out of lineup, not play together. It's Thornton all over again, Keefe isn't going to sit either player regardless of their performance. That ship has sailed.

Yeah that's the other problem, loyal to a fault. Spezza better to be RW at this stage in his career too.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

All these goalies aren't just having MVP performances against us. We're too perimeter and easily boxed out of games, it's a personnel thing and has been an issue for years.

Aside from one line, 5 on 5 we really lack finish and this team badly needs another scorer up front.

This is a blatant lie. We had 20 slot shots last night, and the slot is the hardest place to get to on the ice. But don't let that get in the way of your narrative.

 

[thusk]

I dont like how jt and nylander played... 3rd goal was just an awful play of jt... he just have to send to puck over the board and it was a 2v1 but unstead of a 2v1 he tried an low % backhend pass between 3 canuck who result on a turnover and game winning goal.

That kind of play just cant happen...when you have a offesnive first mentality it what happen, you do the impossible play unstead of safe play and work

 

[weems]

This is a blatant lie. We had 20 slot shots last night, and the slot is the hardest place to get to on the ice. But don't let that get in the way of your narrative.

That's a great stat.

Is there anywhere that you can look at individual slot chances by player? Does Naturalstattrick have them?

 

[ToneDog]

I dont like how jt and nylander played... 3rd goal was just an awful play of jt... he just have to send to puck over the board and it was a 2v1 but unstead of a 2v1 he tried an low % backhend pass between 3 canuck who result on a turnover and game winning goal.

That kind of play just cant happen...when you have a offesnive first mentality it what happen, you do the impossible play unstead of safe play and work

I seriously don't get blaming JT for that pass. It was right on Willie's stick and he mishandled it. I get it if it is to a guy with stone hands but it was to our most skilled winger.

Lammikko retakes lead on rush | NHL.com