Trade and Free Agency Thread - 2021/22 Part XI - Deadline Looming

[LeafChief]

A few different insiders say the Sharks have been asking a 2nd plus another pick or a prospect.

So it'll be around that ballpark. The big positive with Middleton is that he's a pending RFA so you keep his rights, he's not a pure rental.

I read that Middleton becomes a Group 6 UFA (a la Bunting) if he misses another 1-2 games this season. Don't know how accurate that is but it's interesting if true.

 

[dubplatepressure]

Dermott is better than Middleton at the game of hockey.

based on what?

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I'd look to aquire Middleton and Mcbain who both should be long term assets and then use somthing like kerfoot + holl for soucy+Appleton. Our defense becomes way more physical, we gain a potential young 3c with size and a bottom 6 player who is very good defensively and plays with some Jam. We also still have our top picks and prospects if we need to address any roster holes.

 

[Leafs87]

I’d try and target Holtby and Hakanpaa from Dallas

 

[BertCorbeau]

The interest in Middleton might be a sign that they’re concerned about Muzzin’s health for the playoffs and maybe beyond

 

[Skullz]

I like Middleton as well, but we have a much more pressing need on the right side, be it currently or long term. On the left we have Rielly for the next 8 years, Sandin who is not going anywhere, Muzzin who we might all be down on, but certainly will be playing in the playoffs, and Dermott, who is fine as a 6/7. Furthermore Brodie is a left hand shot, and has looked really good playing on his natural side, I think he's looked better offensively because of it the last month. Whereas on the right we have Brodie, who as mentioned is better on the left, we have Lily who's looked solid and has potential but is still a bit of a wildcard, we have Holl who is up and down as well, but a lot better lately without Muzzin, and we have Lyub who's been awesome, but is a rental. I'd like to get a solid second pair right shot D to give us more options in case Muzzin can't go or is as bad as he was when healthy. That way we can shift Brodie to the left again and not have to play both Holl and Lily. Unless we are feeling more comfortable with Muzzin. Personally I do not. I see it as potentially being:

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Lily
Sandin Lyub
Dermott Holl
(Brodie)

So I think a right handed addition makes more sense to do Brodie being able to play both.

 

[Skullz]

The interest in Middleton might be a sign that they’re concerned about Muzzin’s health for the playoffs and maybe beyond

Why not leave Brodie on the left side then, and get another righty?

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I like Middleton as well, but we have a much more pressing need on the right side, be it currently or long term. On the left we have Rielly for the next 8 years, Sandin who is not going anywhere, Muzzin who we might all be down on, but certainly will be playing in the playoffs, and Dermott, who is fine as a 6/7. Furthermore Brodie is a left hand shot, and has looked really good playing on his natural side, I think he's looked better offensively because of it the last month. Whereas on the right we have Brodie, who as mentioned is better on the left, we have Lily who's looked solid and has potential but is still a bit of a wildcard, we have Holl who is up and down as well, but a lot better lately without Muzzin, and we have Lyub who's been awesome, but is a rental. I'd like to get a solid second pair right shot D to give us more options in case Muzzin can't go or is as bad as he was when healthy. That way we can shift Brodie to the left again and not have to play both Holl and Lily. Unless we are feeling more comfortable with Muzzin. Personally I do not. I see it as potentially being:

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Lily
Sandin Lyub
Dermott Holl
(Brodie)

So I think a right handed addition makes more sense to do Brodie being able to play both.

Brodie is actually much better on the right side.

I think he has had some of his worst stretch of hockey playing on the left side, and it is not even like he and Holl look particularly poor together. He just doesn't look comfortable on that left side.

 

[Buds17]

Why not leave Brodie on the left side then, and get another righty?

I'm of the opinion that Brodie is considerably more valuable to the team when playing on the right side. I think they'd need to shop for a much better RD than they would a lefty if Brodie has to continue on his strong/natural side.

 

[123offtheglass]

Here's a cheap rental forward that we know has fit in the Leafs top 6 as recently as last year, Alex Galchenyuk.

If other deals don't workout, Chucky as a plan B could be pretty low risk; 750k too.

Maybe a Vejmelka/Galchenyuk package, & some sort of Middleton for Dermott swap.

 

[Skullz]

I'm of the opinion that Brodie is considerably more valuable to the team when playing on the right side. I think they'd need to shop for a much better RD than they would a lefty if Brodie has to continue on his strong/natural side.

That's true. I just like having more options.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I read that Middleton becomes a Group 6 UFA (a la Bunting) if he misses another 1-2 games this season. Don't know how accurate that is but it's interesting if true.

I think that is why SJS is trying to move him. He would become a Group 6 there if they don't make the playoffs (I think playoffs count towards the 80 games needed).

He is still not worth that much, and I am not even sure he is better than a guy like Dermott at the LD; especially here. I haven't followed him much lately, but he always seemed like the kind of old-school stay-at-home guy who is similar in many regards to a guy like Lyubushkin.

 

[kb]

I think that is why SJS is trying to move him. He would become a Group 6 there if they don't make the playoffs (I think playoffs count towards the 80 games needed).

He is still not worth that much, and I am not even sure he is better than a guy like Dermott at the LD; especially here. I haven't followed him much lately, but he always seemed like the kind of old-school stay-at-home guy who is similar in many regards to a guy like Lyubushkin.

He's also been in and out of the lineup with ongoing concussion issues.

Hard pass.

 

[X66]

Every single trade deadline, every single contract negotiation, the Leafs are used by the media, by the agents, and likely the league as well to drive up buzz etc at our own expense.

Just look at what Manson cost, based on what was expected FROM Toronto.

Absolutely disgusting the team has to deal with this BS and then still have to deal with the old boys club of the league(officiating, discipline etc).

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He's also been in and out of the lineup with ongoing concussion issues.

Hard pass.

I would take him on if we moved Dermott elsewhere and needed a new 6/7 LD.

I would give them Duszak and a 5-7 pick or prospect. Not a 2nd + though.

Another guy out of San Jose worth looking at: Jaycob Megna. He may be the budget version of Middleton from San Jose. Ideally, he is not used, but if we need a guy with size to come in for a few games, he is fairly reliable in his own end and does use his 6'6" frame fairly well. Not a bad option as a #7 LD. He is out another few weeks with a foot injury, and we may be able to get him for Duszak straight up.

 

[Apex Predator]

Every single trade deadline, every single contract negotiation, the Leafs are used by the media, by the agents, and likely the league as well to drive up buzz etc at our own expense.

Just look at what Manson cost, based on what was expected FROM Toronto.

Absolutely disgusting the team has to deal with this BS and then still have to deal with the old boys club of the league(officiating, discipline etc).

Could it be that others around the league don’t respect Dubas and the Leafs. I can see people not happy about such a young GM. Could also be they think they can take Dubas to the cleaners.

 

[Shooter2x]

Knowing Tampa and Boston are the other names in on him does increase the interest. These are teams that know how to construct a balanced roster.

His cap hit is perfect for our team too. Those < 1 mil sneaky additions that help the run. Prime age of 26.

I've been clowning Dubas lately but he has my full support on this one. The 2nd round pick + prospect might amount to nothing for our cup runs, and that's also the starting price, not the ending price. Take the risk.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Dermott is better than Middleton at the game of hockey.

Probably, but his skills aren’t good enough to take ice away from Sandin or liljegren and doesn’t play the way Middleton does, something different might not be necessarily worse on this roster

 

[kb]

Probably, but his skills aren’t good enough to take ice away from Sandin or liljegren and doesn’t play the way Middleton does, something different might not be necessarily worse on this roster

don't know if it's been noticed that he has had concussion issues in the past and has missed a lot of time off and on this season due to that (11 games).

it's another Muzzin situation where the more he hits, the more he sits. Just like Michael Ferland and Muzzin.

That does nothing to help the leafs.

 

[123offtheglass]

I would give them Duszak and a 5-7 pick or prospect. Not a 2nd + though.

I could see Duszak being used as a trade chip this deadline to somewhere with NHL opportunity for him but I do not see that team being San Jose.

They're already have offensive RHD in Karlsson & Burns, + Ryan Merkley.

 

[Nylander88]

The interest in Middleton might be a sign that they’re concerned about Muzzin’s health for the playoffs and maybe beyond

Or they see what a big bodied Blueline could do in the playoffs. The lowly Habs just kept running out Weber-Petry & Chiarot-Edmubdson against our "how powered team" and we had no answer for their physicality and long wingspans to get a stick on pucks. I'm guessing Middleton would be to add size and bite to our back-end, which we need more of with or without Muzzin imo. Based on size and experience, honestly I think if we got Middleton, both Holl and himself would be starting over Sandin. Playoff D pairings:
Rielly-Lyubushkin
Muzzin-Brodie
Middleton-Holl

That's a much bigger/nastier defence than what we've had in any of the previous playoffs

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I could see Duszak being used as a trade chip this deadline to somewhere with NHL opportunity for him but I do not see that team being San Jose.

They're already have offensive RHD in Karlsson & Burns, + Ryan Merkley.

Merkley needs more AHL time, and I am not sure they will be keeping those two around for much longer.

There may be an opportunity for Duszak in San Jose. Meloche is not doing that well, and whatever opportunities they were giving to Merkley would be the same you could give to Duszak.

They don't have any other RD after that.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Or they see what a big bodied Blueline could do in the playoffs. The lowly Habs just kept running out Weber-Petry & Chiarot-Edmubdson against our "how powered team" and we had no answer for their physicality and long wingspans to get a stick on pucks. I'm guessing Middleton would be to add size and bite to our back-end, which we need more of with or without Muzzin imo. Based on size and experience, honestly I think if we got Middleton, both Holl and himself would be starting over Sandin. Playoff D pairings:
Rielly-Lyubushkin
Muzzin-Brodie
Middleton-Holl

That's a much bigger/nastier defence than what we've had in any of the previous playoffs

Also one which would have real troubles moving the puck and will likely get hemmed in a lot more than we were in the past. Probably not a good thing when we have struggled to get basic saves not just now, but in previous playoffs too.

 

[meefer]

Everyone has their take as to what the problems are. Mine:
1) 4th line is insufficient, Spezza cannot handle the demands of a 4C, good at RW, but too much for him at 4C today.
2) 2nd line: I like Kerfoot, but he's a quality player on a line that doesn't work.
3) Defense: we're missing something, but I don't think we're far off.
4) Goaltending: the Campell/Mrazek tandem looked enticing to start the season, not now.

How to address? Somewhat ordered...
1) Knies and 1st to Arizona. To Toronto, Crouse, 2nd and 3rd (while Knies may prove to be the the more valuable player, Crouse is better today and controllable tomorrow. Knies would have to be attractive to Arizona. I believe the two picks are more valuable than the 1st)
2) I am a fan of Michael McLeod with NJ. I think he would be a fine 4C, allowing Spezza/Simmonds to occupy RW on that line with success. To NJ: Abruzzes, Dermott and 3rd (Arizona) for McLeod, a 4th and 7th .
3) Roughly: To Seattle, Kerfoot and Mrazek, to Toronto, Gio at 50% and Grubauer(-1.5M/). For Toronto, a L side D of: Rielly/Muzz/Gio/Sandin is pretty solid, and Grubauer has been historically better than his effort this year...it's a gamble due to term. Seattle escapes Grubauer's bad year and adds the quality of Kerfoot and the shortness of Mrazek's term. I'd guess finagling would be required.

Bunting Matthews Nylander
Crouse Tavares Marner
Mikheyev Kampf Engvall
Robertson/Clifford McLeod Spezza/Simmonds

Rielly Brodie
Muzz/Gio Holl/Lubushkin
Gio/Muzz/Sandin Lily/Holl/Lubushkin

Campbell/Grubauer/pick your call-up

If only it were this easy

 

[OVO16]

This notion that adding Middleton "would crown up our bottom half"....is complete BS. Its like people refuse to learn to constant 1st rd exits.

Its called having depth. We have to be ready to play any type of game. Tampa Bay had Bogosian/Luke Schenn in their cup run last year. Good players will end up sitting out and being healthy scratched. Thats what a Good Stanley Cup team looks like.

Adding Middleton would give us the ability to play any kind of game we want to play based off our opponent. Having those options is what makes a good team.

A bruinsing defense goes a long way in the playoffs. Just look at what Montreal's defense was able to do to our highly powered offense last year.