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

[Nylanderthal]

Funny you mentioned Ristolainen. Eklund says that the Leafs are interested in him.

I started to get nervous then realized you said Eklund. Although isn’t Philly the one team he actually might have a pulse on?

 

[hockeywiz542]

Elliotte Friedman speaks on the Leafs' untouchable prospects, JT Miller, Jake Muzzin's injury timeline, and if the Leafs would consider adding a goalie - Maple Leafs Hot Stove

On Kyle Dubas’ appetite to move out a top prospect:

The one thing about Toronto is that they don’t have a ton of draft picks, but they do have some really good prospects other teams would like. I don’t think they are [moving] them for rentals.

Let’s just put Matthew Knies in this conversation. He and Niemela are probably at the top of Toronto’s prospect list. They have Abruzzese and Robertson — they are all good prospects — but I think Knies and Niemela are at the top.

Someone said to me today that they think Toronto could do a deal for JT Miller, but are you doing a Knies or Niemela for someone who is only there for a year and a half potentially. He is not even sure Toronto would do that.

Someone said to me that Kyle Dubas knows he has to have a good playoff this year. He asked me, “Do you think he is the kind of guy whose ego is so big that he would make that deal to save himself potentially?” My answer was that I don’t think he would do anything he thought was dumb for now or for the future. I don’t think he is that kind of person.

He said to me, “I agree.” I just think Dubas, regardless of the situation around him, is not going to do anything he thinks is long-term bad for short-term gain. I just don’t see it.

On the team’s biggest need:

As much as I think they want to add another forward, I just wonder where they think their biggest need is.

I wonder if they are thinking about net. My theory on Campbell has been that the situation disrupted him — the pause. It is getting tougher and tougher to say that because it has been longer and longer since the pause, right? I do feel that way, but at some point in time, it is a results-based business, and you have to come back and say, “Enough of that.” I have to think they are considering it in goal.

Also, especially with Muzzin out… We are talking about whether Muzzin is out to the end of the regular season, but while I hope I am wrong about this, what if he is out for longer?

Now they have an extra ton of cap room. By the math, they could have around $7 million in cap room by using LTIR.

I don’t think the GM is afraid — put it that way.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Rielly’s raise is covered by the $1m cap increase and the Phil kessel retention coming off the books. There’s the goaltending and bridging the two young D. Otherwise it’s not a very crazy list for this off-season.
What big raises down the road? Matthews and Nylander expire at the same time as muzzin and Brodie, and that’s not even after next season, but the season after.
They’re set up beautifully and there’s room to adjust the look of the team without sacrificing much up top.

There is also all the depth guys like Kase, Mikheyev, Bunting etc coming up soon or next summer plus Jack Campbell. Rather not run league min for every forward outside the top 6 F basically. Also when Brodie, Muzzin and Holl leave the leafs are going to have to replace 3 out of 4 of their top4. Hopefully there will be internal options.

All I'm saying is adding a higher cap piece that has more than 1 year term is going to be really tight as Muzzin isn't going anywhere

 

[mydnyte]

There is also all the depth guys like Kase, Mikheyev, Bunting etc coming up soon or next summer plus Jack Campbell. Rather not run league min for every forward outside the top 6 F basically. Also when Brodie, Muzzin and Holl leave the leafs are going to have to replace 3 out of 4 of their top4. Hopefully there will be internal options.

All I'm saying is adding a higher cap piece that has more than 1 year term is going to be really tight as Muzzin isn't going anywhere

only if we dont throw them away on guys like Miller, and rentals regardless of caliber

 

[Nylanderthal]

There is also all the depth guys like Kase, Mikheyev, Bunting etc coming up soon or next summer plus Jack Campbell. Rather not run league min for every forward outside the top 6 F basically. Also when Brodie, Muzzin and Holl leave the leafs are going to have to replace 3 out of 4 of their top4. Hopefully there will be internal options.

All I'm saying is adding a higher cap piece that has more than 1 year term is going to be really tight as Muzzin isn't going anywhere

They can easily fit another medium ticket player for next year. Lyubushkin + mikheyev are both ufa who you can replace internally with ELC players or cheap vets. Holl Dermott are $3.5 combined you can probably shave dollars from if need be too. Kerfoots an easy move in the summer as well.
Kase & Engvall I don’t see getting huge raises and if they do you move off them.
Remember when everyone was worried about how they’d fill out the roster with competent players for last and this year? The bottom of the line up is always in flux and I wouldn’t worry about not having enough money to spend down there, that’s where you get bad value.
Down the road on the back end, you have to expect guys like Sandin & Liljegren to take over fir guys like Brodie & Muzz and capable vets brought in with the cap savings between their cap holds & Sandin liljegren extensions.

 

[Warden of the North]

Hell no to moving Knies
Nononononononono

 

[GoodNewfieBoy]

Knies won’t get moved. I personally don’t think any of Knies, Robertson , Niemela or Abruzzesse get moved. I think the prospects that could move include Hirvonen, Holmberg, Kokkenen, Steeves, Tverberg, SDA. I think the one guy on the NHL roster that might get traded is Liljegren. I think all those pieces including all the draft picks is what Dubas will use to make upgrades. Obviously guys like Mrazek, Holl, Dermott, Engvall or Mikyahev could get moved to balance out money and contracts as well

 

[LeafParade]

I am hoping they can sign Gio in the summer to a cheap Spezza like deal.
He is still playing significant minutes for Seattle.

 

[fahad203]

Why are we trading either for Chychrun? Have people watched him?

I can 100% guarantee that the posters advocating for him haven't watched him play. I remember being villified for my stance on Severson until......they watched.

Its the same posters who wanted Foligno because he was available

I had an entire argument with a poster who insisted this was same as the gilmour trade

 

[Kiwi]

Knies won’t get moved. I personally don’t think any of Knies, Robertson , Niemela or Abruzzesse get moved. I think the prospects that could move include Hirvonen, Holmberg, Kokkenen, Steeves, Tverberg, SDA. I think the one guy on the NHL roster that might get traded is Liljegren. I think all those pieces including all the draft picks is what Dubas will use to make upgrades. Obviously guys like Mrazek, Holl, Dermott, Engvall or Mikyahev could get moved to balance out money and contracts as well

Yeah, trading Liljegren would be a massive mistake

He's in his first NHL season and had the 3rd highest TOI of all our defenseman last night and around 5 minutes of PK TOI

He's also putting up points with no PP time

Trading him is the sort of short sighted move I expect bad organisations to make, not this one

 

[cookie]

I haven't gone through the entire thread so I'm sure a bunch of names have been mentioned, but I read somewhere Cal Clutterbuck could be available, for a mid round pick. Cap hits a little high at 3.5 for a bottom sixer, but would add some snarl...

Assets	Excels at the hitting game. Is also a true shift disturber. Has excellent drive and determination. Plays a sound defensive game. Is versatile, industrious and gritty. Can also produce some offense in a complementary role.
Flaws	Must stay out of the penalty box, since he can take very ill-timed penalties. Can also deliver questionable hits on occasion. Lacks consistency when it comes to producing points at the National Hockey League level.
Career potential	Hard-hitting energy winger.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I would rather pay a bit more to get Jordan Greenway, who's signed for the next 3 years for $3M per.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Ice Breakers: Stars and Joe Pavelski begin preliminary extension talks - Daily Faceoff

One big name of intrigue could soon be removed from the Trade Targets board: Joe Pavelski.

Sources say the Stars and Joe Pavelski’s camp have engaged in preliminary contract extension talks, which have gone well and seem to indicate there has been some traction there.

While a deal does not appear to be imminent at the moment, getting one done in short order would take a significant load off GM Jim Nill’s plate leading up to the March 21 trade deadline.

The biggest question from the Stars perspective was: Does Pavelski want to remain in Dallas?

The early indication seems to be yes, Pavelski and his family like it in Dallas, and that provides a path forward.

Pavelski is having a career-best season at age 37, racking up 53 points in 50 games to start the year, the most he has posted in the first 50 games of any in his 16 NHL seasons. He is in the final year of a three-year, $21 million deal signed with the Stars in 2019.

It’s not often that a 37-year-old is in line for a pay bump, but Pavelski is certainly in the conversation for one. He fell just shy of a point-per-game last year and collected 25 goals in 56 games. He already has 21 in 50 games this season and is one of 33 players league-wide north of a point-per-game average.

The sticky part of this negotiation is not just dollars, but also term.

 

[Stigma]

I started to get nervous then realized you said Eklund. Although isn’t Philly the one team he actually might have a pulse on?

That’s true.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I started to get nervous then realized you said Eklund. Although isn’t Philly the one team he actually might have a pulse on?

Eklund isn't even the same guy anymore. He sold the website.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Eklund isn't even the same guy anymore. He sold the website.

I don’t pay much attention to him just remember he actually has a pulse on that team

I would rather pay a bit more to get Jordan Greenway, who's signed for the next 3 years for $3M per.

he’s on a real top end team that is going to have serious cap issues in a few seasons. Why would they move him?

 

[OVO16]

Shouldn't be on top of the list or anything but Cal Clutterbuck is the exact type of Bottom 6 forward that Leafs need for the playoffs.

Cap hit is a little high but with retention should be doable considering the amount of cap-space we have now

 

[Mckay]

Not sure why some say Eklund is correct when it comes to philly. Even if I accept he was correct about Richards and Carter… that was like 10 years ago.

 

[showtime8]

Shouldn't be on top of the list or anything but Cal Clutterbuck is the exact type of Bottom 6 forward that Leafs need for the playoffs.

Cap hit is a little high but with retention should be doable considering the amount of cap-space we have now

How is his skating? Even at 34, I think he still moves pretty well and he plays the way you would want the 3rd line to play. Problem would be that the other 2 on his line wouldn't necessarily play the same style.

I think an alternate version would be Roussel on a bottom line/3rd line role.

 

[OVO16]

How is his skating? Even at 34, I think he still moves pretty well and he plays the way you would want the 3rd line to play. Problem would be that the other 2 on his line wouldn't necessarily play the same style.

I think an alternate version would be Roussel on a bottom line/3rd line role.

His skating is still very strong. He's 2nd in the league in hits. Extremely powerful skater. Finishes his checks with authority.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

only if we dont throw them away on guys like Miller, and rentals regardless of caliber

Yup exactly

 

[TheShape]

People have been trying to trade Liljegren since the Leafs drafted him. Heck people wanted Liljegren + for Taylor Hall last year lmao.

Liljegren is trending in the right direction and worth his weight in gold going forward being on an ELC deal.

 

[Nylanderthal]

People have been trying to trade Liljegren since the Leafs drafted him. Heck people wanted Liljegren + for Taylor Hall last year lmao.

Liljegren is trending in the right direction and worth his weight in gold going forward being on an ELC deal.

To be fair his ELC expires this season. I see a bridge 2-3 years at 1.2-1.8 and he’ll easily out perform that too

 

[BertCorbeau]

His skating is still very strong. He's 2nd in the league in hits. Extremely powerful skater. Finishes his checks with authority.

Yep, he'd be an upgrade on Simmonds.

One of the reasons why the 4th line hasn't been as effective is that Simmonds just isn't quick enough to disrupt on the forecheck that often

 

[Nylanderthal]

Not sure why some say Eklund is correct when it comes to philly. Even if I accept he was correct about Richards and Carter… that was like 10 years ago.

No One says they believe what he says at all, I merely added that philly is the one team that he might have a beat on

 

[TheShape]

To be fair his ELC expires this season. I see a bridge 2-3 years at 1.2-1.8 and he’ll easily out perform that too

Yes it does but he and Sandin won't break the bank. Holl and Dermott coming off the books will cover both more or less.