Trade and Free Agency Thread - 2022 - Off-season

[LeafChief]

Someone wrote in here earlier that Stastny said he would take a discount to play for a good team. I wonder how much his AAV would be and if he would have interest in playing here.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Whoever of Cogliano and Helm Colorado doesn’t re-up is someone I’d be interested in signing. Both guys bring decent wheels and that do anything to win toughness this team could use at the bottom of the line up.
That’s if we’re looking for a spezza old man replacement.
Otherwise guys like Lazar ZAR Motte Blackwell should all be options. Ideally I’d bring in one from the older group, one from the younger group and leave a spot open for a marlie to compete for in camp.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think they are likely to bring in a different type of player to play 4C, someone a little harder to play against. If not, why not just bring Spezza back? The names on the free agent board I think that are most likely in the 750K to 1.75M range are Acciari, ZAR, Larsson, Lazar, Cousins, Namestnikov, Motte, Blackwell are the names I'd gun for.

I'd welcome Stastny if he was willing to take a significant financial hit to come play here. If not he wouldn't be a major target of mine.

Spezza had a lot of trouble bringing value. He was good on draws and he was still solid on the PP, but he was a liability at ES. I guess at that point, they agreed that was enough and they needed someone who can bring it every night in more than a few select situations.

I don't think they are focused on bringing in a different type of player. I think they would more than welcome a Spezza from last year, and that is what Stastny can bring to the table. Pair him with a couple of solid offensive wingers like Robertson and Kase, or a guy who can split center duties with him like a Malgin, Abruzzese, Holmberg, Lazar, or Acciari, and you have a line which is a lot for the other team to handle.

Imagine you are a team having to go up against Matthews/Marner and then Tavares/Nylander, and your "break" is going up against a line of players who can easily put up 30-40 points each despite playing limited minutes or a shutdown line who can counterattack the crap out of you while making it very hard for you to get anything on them offensively?

If you ask me, that is a lot tougher to play against than a line full of energy guys who do practically nothing except maybe throw a few hits around for less than ten minutes a night.

 

[Knies iT]

Stastny is a very good leader and would be an ideal mentor for Robertson on a 3rd line. Allows you to run Engvall-Kampf as a 4th line.

He's coming off 6m, 6.5m, and 7m cap hits on his last three deals so he's made some nice career earnings. Played in a Canadian market before.

Still doesn't solve the 2/3LW problem though so the discount would have to be in the 2-3m range at most.

 

[ULF_55]

Stastny is a very good leader and would be an ideal mentor for Robertson on a 3rd line. Allows you to run Engvall-Kampf as a 4th line.

He's coming off 6m, 6.5m, and 7m cap hits on his last three deals so he's made some nice career earnings. Played in a Canadian market before.

Still doesn't solve the 2/3LW problem though so the discount would have to be in the 2-3m range at most.

I don't see Stastny going to Toronto at a rate within their budget.

I could see him replacing Bozak in St. Louis though.

 

[Americanadian]

I don't see Stastny going to Toronto at a rate within their budget.

I could see him replacing Bozak in St. Louis though.

I could see him wanting to return to Colorado at league minimum but I don't see him fitting Colorado's system.

 

[showtime8]

But, we had Jason Spezza in that role and he was a few points away from 1000, while being a 55%+ guy on the draw and they decided he is no longer good enough for this team. Beagle isn't an NHL player anymore, he should retire. Gagner is a fairly decent Spezza comparable, but even in that one vs one comparable you lose size, leadership and faceoff ability and you don't really gain anything. It's a downgrade. Spezza is the bar, if they're not better than him, then no thanks.

I'm sure the Leafs gave him every opportunity to come back at a lower role (maybe 50-70% games) and he decided that it wasn't something that he wanted. That's just my guess though.

And there are a lot of options to fill that 4th line role, but I just don't think it's a Toronto Marlie player.

We often look for promotion through the system, but the start of this past season, there was zero full-time Marlies promoted on the opening day roster from the 2020-21 previous season. Kase, Amadio, Ritchie, and Kampf, were all signed to the roster either because the Leafs felt that the Marlies weren't ready or they were an increase in what they were looking for. The season previous to that, Vesey, Barabanov and Simmonds.

We also can't expect to sign a 1-2 million dollar player for the 4th line, unless they get a 3rd line centre and bump Kampf down to the 4th line spot, so they have to go into that value signing mentality of guys that have played before and can get you 3/4 of a season at least.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I don't think Stastny will sign in Canada.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I don't think Stastny will sign in Canada.

He waived his NTC/NMC from Vegas to play in Winnipeg...Toronto is a way better city than Winnipeg.

 

[Stephen]

He ultimately has next to no leverage other than refusing to sign a deal and playing in Europe. Which is why I expect this to not be too much of an issue

The only real risk is destroying relationship between player and team - which could be an issue if the team sees the guy as a longer term piece.

He'll sign a 1-2 year deal by the draft

Agreed. This should be a nothing burger as Sandin doesn’t have any status beyond Liljegren. He needs to prove himself indispensable.

 

[Mickey Marner]

He waived his NTC/NMC from Vegas to play in Winnipeg...Toronto is a way better city than Winnipeg.

And later he donated to the convoy and was critical of Canada's covid measures. Wouldn't be surprised to see him sign with one of the Florida teams for dirt cheap.

 

[WTFMAN99]

And later he donated to the convoy and was critical of Canada's covid measures. Wouldn't be surprised to see him sign with one of the Florida teams for dirt cheap.

Covid is over now so for 1 year he might be okay if he thinks that his best chance to win.

Unless we're talking REALLY dirt cheap...he's a tough fit for a lot of contenders.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Depending on what we'd have to add, Muzzin and Sandin out for Chychrun and Hague would go a long way to changing our look on the backend and adding two big shots on the PP.

 

[Apex Predator]

i really think the Leafs need to move Muzzin. When healthy he’s great but there’s a lot of wear and tear on him and it might be best to cut ties with him. He can still get you something decent and use the cap space to fix some other holes.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Depending on what we'd have to add, Muzzin and Sandin out for Chychrun and Hague would go a long way to changing our look on the backend and adding two big shots on the PP.

Remember that Chychrun, despite being a defenseman, does not line up on the point in Arizona's PP system very often, and that is not where he scores his goals. He is used in the circles and rips wristers.

If he is shooting from the point, he is usually hoping it hits something or finds a hole. He is not "sniping" or ripping one-timers from the point like that Sandin playoff PP goal against MTL very often, if at all.

Point shots for tips/deflections and having our defensemen rotating into the circles may be something we should incorporate more into our system (especially on the PP), because Rielly has racked up a ton of points doing both of those things (and I am sure Sandin could be the same). Not exactly seeing why we would need to add Chychrun or Hague to do that, because Rielly and Sandin have more than good enough shots to execute that system.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

This draft is so all over the place that we could land some really good prospects. The UFA class is also very good. With that being said I'd look to move Nylander, Kerfoot, Holl for picks in this draft, and go hard after 1 of Forsberg, Nichuskin, Copp, Gaudreau, Burakovsky etc.

To
Toronto
2022 2nd Sens

To
Ottawa
Kerfoot

To
Toronto
13th overall
Raty
Mayfield

To
Islanders
Nylander
Holl

To
Toronto
Future considerations

To
Chicago
2024 2nd
2022 3rd
Mrazek

Leafs end up with 13th overall, 25th overall, and 39th overall and add Raty who projects as a strong 2 way number 2 C.

Ufa
Forsberg 9.5 x 7 or Nichushkin 5.5 x 7
Fleury 5 x 2
Comrie 1.2 x 2
Lazar 1.5 x 2
Zar 1.5 x 2


Bunting Matthews Marner
Forsberg Tavares Kase
Robertson Kampf Engvall
Zar Lazar Anderson

Reilly Brodie
Sandin Mayfield
Muzzin Liljegren
Gio

Gio and Muzzin Rotate to stay fresh and avoid injury.

Fleury
De Smith

 

[ER89]

This draft is so all over the place that we could land some really good prospects. The UFA class is also very good. With that being said I'd look to move Nylander, Kerfoot, Holl for picks in this draft, and go hard after 1 of Forsberg, Nichuskin, Copp, Gaudreau, Burakovsky etc.

To
Toronto
2022 2nd Sens

To
Ottawa
Kerfoot

To
Toronto
13th overall
Raty
Mayfield

To
Islanders
Nylander
Holl

To
Toronto
Future considerations

To
Chicago
2024 2nd
2022 3rd
Mrazek

Leafs end up with 13th overall, 25th overall, and 39th overall and add Raty who projects as a strong 2 way number 2 C.

Ufa
Forsberg 9.5 x 7 or Nichushkin 5.5 x 7
Fleury 5 x 2
Comrie 1.2 x 2
Lazar 1.5 x 2
Zar 1.5 x 2


Bunting Matthews Marner
Forsberg Tavares Kase
Robertson Kampf Engvall
Zar Lazar Anderson

Reilly Brodie
Sandin Mayfield
Muzzin Liljegren
Gio

Gio and Muzzin Rotate to stay fresh and avoid injury.

Fleury
De Smith

that is a horrific deal for nylander.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

that is a horrific deal for nylander.

that is a horrific deal for nylander.

Really ? Raty projects as a high end 2c, 13th overall would give us another fantastic prospect and we get a big physical top 4 d at 1.4 million for this year before we extend him. Thats a solid deal for willy, All while gaining the ability to replace him through ufa. The 9.5 we spend on Forsberg this year is essentially what willy will ask for at minimum in two years time.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Really ? Raty projects as a high end 2c, 13th overall would give us another fantastic prospect and we get a big physical top 4 d at 1.4 million for this year before we extend him. Thats a solid deal for willy, All while gaining the ability to replace him through ufa. The 9.5 we spend on Forsberg this year is essentially what willy will ask for at minimum in two years time.

It's absolutely awful which you've been told by multiple people before.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Remember that Chychrun, despite being a defenseman, does not line up on the point in Arizona's PP system very often, and that is not where he scores his goals. He is used in the circles and rips wristers.

If he is shooting from the point, he is usually hoping it hits something or finds a hole. He is not "sniping" or ripping one-timers from the point like that Sandin playoff PP goal against MTL very often, if at all.

Point shots for tips/deflections and having our defensemen rotating into the circles may be something we should incorporate more into our system (especially on the PP), because Rielly has racked up a ton of points doing both of those things (and I am sure Sandin could be the same). Not exactly seeing why we would need to add Chychrun or Hague to do that, because Rielly and Sandin have more than good enough shots to execute that system.

Imo the PP could use a prime Franson kind of shot to feed Matthews and Tavares rebounds to work with in case our current set up runs cold in the playoffs again.

 

[ER89]

Really ? Raty projects as a high end 2c, 13th overall would give us another fantastic prospect and we get a big physical top 4 d at 1.4 million for this year before we extend him. Thats a solid deal for willy, All while gaining the ability to replace him through ufa. The 9.5 we spend on Forsberg this year is essentially what willy will ask for at minimum in two years time.

No it isn't. That high end 2C isn't going to be developed within the next few years. You're taking away a proven playoff performer in his prime for a flash in the pan. The 13th pick? Yeah, the last 30 years the best 13th overall pick has probably been semin. And lets say we even grab the best 13th overall of all time, how long will it take for them to make the team? Another 2-3 years at minimum,

And why would we screw our top 4 forward cap hit even more with forsberg's 9.5M when we have william who is an 80 pt player for 2.6M cheaper?
It makes ABSOLUTELY no sense.

 

[notdoneyet]

that is a horrific deal for nylander.

Why is that terrible. Nylander scored 34 goals in 81 games and was a -9 on the season. He is crap defensively and plays most of the time against the other teams lessser lines and 3/4 dmen. I would take his money and give it to forsberg in a heartbeat along with the other assets in the trade

Since willy got here most posters that try to build him up against marner lose that battle.

Compare to marner
35 goals in 72 games and a +23. Plays against other teams top lines and top dmen. Great defensively and one of if not the best penalty killers in the league.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Why is that terrible. Nylander scored 34 goals in 81 games and was a -9 on the season. He is crap defensively and plays most of the time against the other teams lessser lines and 3/4 dmen. I would take his money and give it to forsberg in a heartbeat along with the other assets in the trade

Since willy got here most posters that try to build him up against marner lose that battle.

Compare to marner
35 goals in 72 games and a +23. Plays against other teams top lines and top dmen. Great defensively and one of if not the best penalty killers in the league.

Mayfield is a pending UFA
13th overall pick in a weak draft
Raty isn't a sure thing in the NHL

Basically unless NYI is offering Dobson or Sorokin in a trade for Nylander, there isn't a conversation to be had.

34 goals isn't nothing and +/- is hilarious. I am open to trading him, more open than most on here but some people are truly undervaluing the asset.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Stastny is a very good leader and would be an ideal mentor for Robertson on a 3rd line. Allows you to run Engvall-Kampf as a 4th line.

He's coming off 6m, 6.5m, and 7m cap hits on his last three deals so he's made some nice career earnings. Played in a Canadian market before.

Still doesn't solve the 2/3LW problem though so the discount would have to be in the 2-3m range at most.

He could solve the 3rd line LW issue

 

[Apex Predator]

Are there any NHL ready players in the draft this year? I don’t think New Jersey trades the second overall pick to Toronto for Nylander but if they did could they draft a player NHL ready and then use his money in free agency to bring in some depth to the line up?