Trade and Free Agency Thread - 2021/22 - Post Deadline

[SeaOfBlue]

he's not playing with any talent ...Mik is a bit of a puck hog, who cant pass, and Kerfoot also holds onto the puck too much. JT's a shooter, and has nobody setting him up, so, he's alone trying to make space, and he's getting the double teams that worked so well on Matthews last year, because other than him, there is no pure goal scoring threat.
Nylander needs to move back up with JT, so TB can fixate on him and let Nylander get open/free looks Kerfoot is okay on the line as long as Nylander is there with him.

With Kase on the line, it looks like they want Nylander to be the primary playmaker. Tampa can't just smother Nylander's passing lanes like teams do with Marner because Nylander can snipe, and they can't just smother Nylander because our defensemen will be open to shoot for a less covered Tavares to tip or jump on rebounds, or Kase/Tavares will be open to shoot and both can snipe if they have space.

There is nothing wrong with Mikheyev, Kase, or Kerfoot on a line with Tavares, but you are pretty much going for grinding-it-out goals because none of them can snipe like Nylander (especially when they won't have the kind of space they would have if they had Tavares and Nylander on the same line). Vasilevsky is great at covering the lower part of the net and Tampa will just cover Tavares in front of the net so you likely won't have a ton of success getting grind-it-out goals on him. There have been more than a few occasions where Tavares was close to getting a goal but there were just too many bodies and sticks around for him to fight through to get his stick on the puck.

I also think it goes without saying that Nylander >>> Mikheyev as the primary puck carrier, which is what Mikheyev has effectively been on a line with Tavares. Mikheyev has wheels, he can shoot the puck decently well, and he can use his large frame in puck battles, but he is not a guy who is dangling around people and leading possession on the cycle. He needs to be more catch and release or go in for the garbage goals, which could fit better on that 3rd line with Kampf and Kerfoot.

If everyone plays their part, Tampa will have a tough time stopping that line.

 

[GQS]

Kinda sucks that when Mikheyev is finally finding his groove and is looking good that we're probably not going to be able to resign him at a reasonable price. All this time we kept waiting for him to bloom and now that he's contributing to the team very well we're likely going to lose him.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Kinda sucks that when Mikheyev is finally finding his groove and is looking good that we're probably not going to be able to resign him at a reasonable price. All this time we kept waiting for him to bloom and now that he's contributing to the team very well we're likely going to lose him.

The good thing is that we have a tonne of depth there moving forward with Bunting/Engvall/Kerfoot still in the fold next year plus Anderson/Steeves/Robertson and likely Knies by next years playoffs.

I'll miss Mik but unless he takes an extremely reasonable deal I'm perfectly fine moving on.

 

[123offtheglass]

Kinda sucks that when Mikheyev is finally finding his groove and is looking good that we're probably not going to be able to resign him at a reasonable price. All this time we kept waiting for him to bloom and now that he's contributing to the team very well we're likely going to lose him.

You need this from some pending UFAs to have success; guys pricing themselves out can bee looked at as a good thing too.

If they can't resign him for a cheaper than market value deal then looking back he's been terrific for his 925k, 1.645m, 1.645m deals; & they acquired him for free.

 

[uncleben]

Kinda sucks that when Mikheyev is finally finding his groove and is looking good that we're probably not going to be able to resign him at a reasonable price. All this time we kept waiting for him to bloom and now that he's contributing to the team very well we're likely going to lose him.

I've been saying it for a while now, if Mikheyev can finish, we can't afford him

Guy is sneaky good, but his base stat line doesn't necessarily show it always

 

[SprDaVE]

Mikheyev I feel like would be a risky signing. When he's on, he's a really good player but he does have an issue staying healthy and he's not exactly the most talented. He relies on his speed, high motor and reach to make a lot happen, so I'm skeptical of him living up to his next contract if he goes for a pay day.

He's top notch on the PK and in situations where he's got room. I'm not sure going all out to retain him is really something I'm worrying about.

 

[TMLAM34]

I’d rather trade Kerfoot and use that money to re-sign Mikheyev.

 

[123offtheglass]

I’d rather trade Kerfoot and use that money to re-sign Mikheyev.

If they can pull that off with fair deals on both, that's a win I'm all for.

 

[Duke16]

They might end up losing Mikheyev and still dealing Kerfoot tbh.

Basically any contract to be signed is due for a raise.

They could go to Engvall-Kampf-Kase for the third line, which will still accomplish a lot of the good things the current one does.

 

[Menzinger]

Mikheyev likely is able to find a higher bidder on another team. Engvall will be resigned without too much trouble

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I think the leafs resign Mikheyev, 3.75 x 3 front loaded. If we trade kerfoot, Mrazek, and holl signing him to that dollar amount and term should be doable.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Mikheyev I feel like would be a risky signing. When he's on, he's a really good player but he does have an issue staying healthy and he's not exactly the most talented. He relies on his speed, high motor and reach to make a lot happen, so I'm skeptical of him living up to his next contract if he goes for a pay day.

He's top notch on the PK and in situations where he's got room. I'm not sure going all out to retain him is really something I'm worrying about.

Eventhough I’m a big Kerfoot Stan if Mik is willing to take kerfs’ aav you have to consider re signing mik and flipping kerf to rebuild some trade capital.
If the payday is unreasonable than cut bait.

 

[Kiwi]

I think the leafs resign Mikheyev, 3.75 x 3 front loaded. If we trade kerfoot, Mrazek, and holl signing him to that dollar amount and term should be doable.

I wouldn't

He's a useful but streaky player who plays in a position we can replace cheaply from within

This reminds me a lot of Hyman, get his cheap production years and move on once he needs a decent pay rise

The caps going to be pretty flat, teams will be cutting bait on young guys with talent, find the next Bunting or give Robertson or Anderson and extended look

 

[Dreakmur]

Eventhough I’m a big Kerfoot Stan if Mik is willing to take kerfs’ aav you have to consider re signing mik and flipping kerf to rebuild some trade capital.
If the payday is unreasonable than cut bait.

I like Kerfoot, but you’re bang on. Swap Kerfoot for a pick and use that money to keep Mikheyev.

 

[Menzinger]

Mikheyev I feel like would be a risky signing. When he's on, he's a really good player but he does have an issue staying healthy and he's not exactly the most talented. He relies on his speed, high motor and reach to make a lot happen, so I'm skeptical of him living up to his next contract if he goes for a pay day.

He's top notch on the PK and in situations where he's got room. I'm not sure going all out to retain him is really something I'm worrying about.

I think there's a reason management opted to only give him a short deal during the last negotiations.

 

[Havoc]

Mik doesn't have the IQ to give a big cap hit too. I would feel safer sticking to a guy like Kerfoot who can play in both fast or slow environments. Mik is only useful when there's open space to eat up. When players like this become too expensive to keep you unfortunately have to part ways.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Mikheyev probably gets low top-6 winger money on a medium term deal .. something in the $4.5-$5 range around 3-5 years

20-goal scorer with his combination of size and speed is pretty desirable.

To me, he's more of a high end third liner. He's probably worth more on the higher side of a top 9 player over a medium term.

3-4 years at around $3.5-$4 mill would be solid. But I can't see the Leafs getting him for that.

 

[LeafChief]

Unforunate that the Leafs weren't one of the reported teams that have spoken to Kuzmenko.

 

[SprDaVE]

Unforunate that the Leafs weren't one of the reported teams that have spoken to Kuzmenko.

Kuzmenko probably wants the NHL as early as next season and that won't be on the Leafs I think. Leafs are typically in on the EU free agents. I'd expect them to pick up one or two.

A few names to keep an eye out for the Leafs -- Filip Chlapik, Denis Alexeyev and Jiri Smejkal.

I hope the Leafs can also bring back Malgin for depth.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Leafs are typically in on the EU free agents. I'd expect them to pick up one or two, probably a little lesser known and willing to go to the AHL. Kuzmenko probably wants the NHL as early as next season and that won't be on the Leafs I think.

One player I think the Leafs will be linked to will be Sergei Tolchinsky.

There aren't many good ones this year. Kuzmenko and Grigori Dronov are pretty much it.

After that, we might as well just sign Malgin. He is one of the best Euros out there.

Tolchinsky just re-signed with Omsk and he is not good enough to crack our lineup anyways.

 

[uncleben]

Kuzmenko probably wants the NHL as early as next season and that won't be on the Leafs I think. Leafs are typically in on the EU free agents. I'd expect them to pick up one or two.

A few names to keep an eye out for the Leafs -- Filip Chlapik, Denis Alexeyev and Jiri Smejkal.

I hope the Leafs can also bring back Malgin for depth.

Idk if any of those guys cracks the Leafs right away either, but I do like Smejkal, and I'd kind of be surprised if Chlapik doesn't undertake an NHL comeback attempt at some point. I'd play him on the Marlies in a heartbeat if he's willing to report there to start

All 3 have contracts for next year, too. Chlapik and Smejkal signing contracts with new teams in new leagues


Coaxing Malgin back would be my preference

 

[SprDaVE]

Idk if any of those guys cracks the Leafs right away either, but I do like Smejkal, and I'd kind of be surprised if Chlapik doesn't undertake an NHL comeback attempt at some point. I'd play him on the Marlies in a heartbeat if he's willing to report there to start

All 3 have contracts for next year, too. Chlapik and Smejkal signing contracts with new teams in new leagues


Coaxing Malgin back would be my preference

I think all those players could use the Leafs magic touch of going to the Marlies for a bit and then earning their NHL job. I don't see Chlapik or Aleyexev making any NHL team out of camp. Smejkal in particular is a big project.

Chlapik always impressed me and was a draft favourite of mine back in 2015. I think the Leafs could easily convince him for the year and I think there is a transfer agreement, so their current contract doesn't matter much.

 

[Duke16]

I think all those players could use the Leafs magic touch of going to the Marlies for a bit and then earning their NHL job. I don't see Chlapik or Aleyexev making any NHL team out of camp. Smejkal in particular is a big project.

Chlapik always impressed me and was a draft favourite of mine back in 2015. I think the Leafs could easily convince him for the year and I think there is a transfer agreement, so their current contract doesn't matter much.

Had this conversation earlier and learned he signed a two-year deal in Switzerland. Would have been a decent target for sure.

I'd take a look at Rickard Hugg, but he'd have to be willing to start in the AHL. He's in a similar spot to Holmberg in development right now

 

[Visnovsky]

If I had my way, we'd start next year with something like this:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Mikheyev
Engvall-Holmberg-Nylander
Steeves-Kampf-Aston-Reese
Simmonds

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Liljegren
Sandin-Brodie
Muzzin

Campbell
Woll/Källgren

The deals that were made for UFA's/RFA's:

Mikheyev, 5x3,5m$
Engvall, 3x2m$
Lyubushkin, 3x1,75m$
Giordano, 1x1m$
Liljegren, 3x2m$
Sandin, 3x1,4m$
Campbell, 3x3,75m$
Aston-Reese, 2x1,1m$

Mrazek is on Robidas-island, Kerfoot was traded to Vancouver for picks and Holl to Minnesota for picks.

This line-up would leave us with an extra D and an extra F, plus 600k$ in cap space. There would be room for the youngsters to grow and take their place in the line-up, there's also call-ups to be made during the season:

Abruzzese, Anderson, Douglas, Král, Kokkonen, maybe even Abramov for a few games and SDA.

If needed, room could be made by also dealing Muzzin during the summer, but I don't really see the need with the current cap situation - he's a magnificent vet D for the team, and only has two more seasons left on his deal... which is by the way the same time when Brodie, Nylander and Matthews also come off their respective deals. There will be enough dollars to go around at that point.

The only concern might be for 23-24, since Bunting comes off his sweetheart deal during 23 summer - that might be the time to deal Muzzin, rather than this summer.

 

[aingefan]

I think all those players could use the Leafs magic touch of going to the Marlies for a bit and then earning their NHL job. I don't see Chlapik or Aleyexev making any NHL team out of camp. Smejkal in particular is a big project.

Chlapik always impressed me and was a draft favourite of mine back in 2015. I think the Leafs could easily convince him for the year and I think there is a transfer agreement, so their current contract doesn't matter much.

I don’t know much about these guys, but one is giving me serious ‘precious’ vibes.

I’m all for adding euro talent, but to me the player needs to be up for the challenge and competition against the internals. Lotsa guys ready to compete for those open forward slots.