Trades and Free Agency 2021 | Trade Deadline 6 weeks away

[IrishInOntario]

my guess is:

1.) we go 4/4 and protect top 4 d and big 4

expansion. We lose dermott.

2.) we trade kerfoot once bonus is paid for space.

3.) we sign Hyman to a tanev deal. 3.5 x6

4.) we run Campbell in a platoon with a ufa like ulmark/dreiger/gru or trade for korpisalo


We have like 15 million to spend then with

Hyman. Matthews. Marner
Soup. Tavares. Nylander.
Robertson. Xxxxxxx. Xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx. Engvall. Anderson

Reilly. Brodie.
Muzzin. Holl
sandin. Lilly
Xxxxx

Campbell

- depending on how bottom 6 goes we can easily get a spezza/Thornton/staal/simmonds type to fill the wings. For cheap.
-I think we need a vet 3rd center. For 3.5 ish. If danault or Lowry would come that would be perfect.
- we need a vet 3rd pair d to help sandin and Lilly get games in. I would take Bogo or look at larson if he would come cheap.

In your scenario I'd, I'd trade for Rackell right now at 50% retained and have him through next year at a 1.9 million dollar cap hit. I'd also go after a guy like Ryan Getzlaf or Eric Staal for my 3C, at a reduced price if you can get them. Those guys can still play. I'd also finally move Nylander up to the top line and let that group run wild....

Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot (or FA)-Tavares-Rackell
Hyman-Getzlaf/Staal-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Boyd-Spezza
Robertson / Anderson

Reilly / Brodie
Muzzin / Holl
Sandin / Bogosian
Lehtonen / Liljegren

Campbell
Korpisalo / Riddich

 

[Buds17]

Who in the forwards do we need to decide on? Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Kerfoot, Hyman if he's resigned before the draft.....

Engvall and/or Anderson.

 

[Menzinger]

Muzzin is the teams best even strength D man. I dont think they're going to lose him to expansion.

They'll protect 4-4 and if need be pay Seattle to take Kerfoot or Engvall to protect Dermott

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Muzzin is the teams best even strength D man. I dont think they're going to lose him to expansion.

They'll protect 4-4 and if need be pay Seattle to take Kerfoot or Engvall to protect Dermott

I doubt the Leafs pay. They'll just let Seattle take their pick of Kerfoot or Holl, especially since they will almost certainly take the former.

 

[Menzinger]

I doubt the Leafs pay. They'll just let Seattle take their pick of Kerfoot or Holl, especially since they will almost certainly take the former.

I think they will protect Holl over Dermott (at least as of this moment)

 

[IrishInOntario]

Muzzin is the teams best even strength D man. I dont think they're going to lose him to expansion.

They'll protect 4-4 and if need be pay Seattle to take Kerfoot or Engvall to protect Dermott

I don't think anyone wants to lose Muzzin, but admittedly, I am a touch concerned with his 5.6 million contract that takes him through age 36. I'm not saying that he didn't deserve a raise, but will that contract look better 2 years from now (age 34) than 26 year old Travis Dermott, entering his prime (relative to defensemen) signed for a deal around 3.0 million?

2.6 million per year to allocate elsewhere. More term and control. Age 26 vs age 34...

I don't know that it's a "cut and dry" decision.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I don't think anyone wants to lose Muzzin, but admittedly, I am a touch concerned with his 5.6 million contract that takes him through age 36. I'm not saying that he didn't deserve a raise, but will that contract look better 2 years from now (age 34) than 26 year old Travis Dermott, entering his prime (relative to defensemen) signed for a deal around 3.0 million?

2.6 million per year to allocate elsewhere. More term and control. Age 26 vs age 34...

I don't know that it's a "cut and dry" decision.

He would have just turned 35 when his deal expires.

 

[GBLeaf]

I think this team would really miss Muzzin.

I know he's gonna get slower. I'm a huge fan of Timmy and Sandin, and I think Dermott will get better. But Muzzin out and one of those three in means a serious amount of physicality is out the team on the backend. That would need replacing.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't think anyone wants to lose Muzzin, but admittedly, I am a touch concerned with his 5.6 million contract that takes him through age 36. I'm not saying that he didn't deserve a raise, but will that contract look better 2 years from now (age 34) than 26 year old Travis Dermott, entering his prime (relative to defensemen) signed for a deal around 3.0 million...

2.6 million per year to allocate elsewhere. More term and control. Age 26 vs age 34?...

I don't know that it's a "cut and dry" decision.

You raise some fair points (though I think Muzzin will be 35 when his contract ends).

Though this team is also trying to win as much as possible before Matthews needs a new contract 3 seasons from now so I'm wary they'd be willing to lose a top 4 guy for nothing so soon.

Part of the issue is Dermott is still a bit of a question mark as to what he will end up as. Hes got the rest of the season to make the case he should be kept instead imo

 

[Eb]

Could we afford Hall at 50% retained at the TDL?

 

[BertCorbeau]

I can accept that Muzzin will become and overpaid third pairing defender by the end of his deal

I'm hoping we can get at least one more solid top 4 season out of him though before a decline. He provides a lot of qualities needed on the back end.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think they will protect Holl over Dermott (at least as of this moment)

I think at best it is a toss up. Holl benefits a lot from playing with Muzzin right now, and he is older.

 

[Menzinger]

I can accept that Muzzin will become and overpaid third pairing defender by the end of his deal

I'm hoping we can get at least one more solid top 4 season out of him though before a decline. He provides a lot of qualities needed on the back end.

Thing is, hes playing like a good #2/3 guy. So depends on the pace of that decline. A lesser Muzzin could still potentially be a top 4 guy.

Worth noting I think his contract is pretty frontloaded

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Could we afford Hall at 50% retained at the TDL?

We can, but the assets required to do that trade would not be significantly more valuable than whatever Hall would bring to this team.

 

[SprDaVE]

Muzzin is the teams best even strength D man. I dont think they're going to lose him to expansion.

They'll protect 4-4 and if need be pay Seattle to take Kerfoot or Engvall to protect Dermott

I agree 100% but part of me wonders if Dubas won't try to get ahead of Muzzins regression and dump his salary soonish. It would be a high risk move but one that could perhaps be very smart. It's unlikely though for sure and there are no signs of Muzzin slowing down anyway. He's far too important right now.

I don't think the Leafs can escape losing Dermott in the expansion draft unless they trade him prior.

 

[OVO16]

Low-key Target would be Derek Grant from Anaheim. Would Solidify out bottom 6.

Good Defensive Checking type of Player. Good on the PK. Big and Gritty. Can pot some goals here and there. Would solidify our bottom 6 for the playoffs. Also versatile when it comes to Postion.

Vesey + Pick for Grant?

 

[TMLAM34]

We’ll loose one of Kerfoot, Holl or Dermott. Holl would be the biggest loss but we do have Liljegren who is looking real steady for the Marlies. A Muzzin - Liljegren pairing doesn’t sound too bad.

 

[OVO16]

Maybe an Expanded deal with the Ducks where we get both Rakell and Grant? Get our top 6 in the deal as well

 

[BertCorbeau]

We’ll loose one of Kerfoot, Holl or Dermott. Holl would be the biggest loss but we do have Liljegren who is looking real steady for the Marlies. A Muzzin - Liljegren pairing doesn’t sound too bad.

Muzzin's probably the perfect partner for Lily to break into the league with.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Maybe an Expanded deal with the Ducks where we get both Rakell and Grant? Get our top 6 in the deal as well

You would have to protect 7 forwards and 3 defensemen, which likely means the Leafs lose one of Holl or Dermott (unless Dermott goes the other way in which case we will lose Holl guaranteed).

Dubas likes deals with term, but he is not going to pay through the nose for a guy who he will lose in expansion. This is the one year he may prefer a rental, or ideally even a rental he can re-sign.

 

[LeafChief]

People are talking about protecting Holl in the 4/4 option because he brings value at his price. If Dermott will re-sign for less, can't he bring similar value for even cheaper?

I hated Holl but he's forced me to come around on him. With that said, Liljegren needs to get in next season (and Muzzin would be a perfect partner for him) so losing Holl wouldn't be the end of the world.

Who knows, maybe Seattle picks Kerfoot and we replace him with a 1-2 million 3 without losing much in terms of output.

 

[Eb]

We can, but the assets required to do that trade would not be significantly more valuable than whatever Hall would bring to this team.

Eh I don't know. It's tough to judge what the asking price would be but that would be my main target to offer a 1st +

 

[OVO16]

I'm also ok with losing Holl if need be. He's def improved his game year by year but I've noticed his game seems to fall of a bit as the season progresses.

I also think he's overhyped on this board. Not that I'm saying he's bad. Just a tad bit overhyped.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I can accept that Muzzin will become and overpaid third pairing defender by the end of his deal

I'm hoping we can get at least one more solid top 4 season out of him though before a decline. He provides a lot of qualities needed on the back end.

I'm not terribly against it either. I'm also a "win now" guy, but cap stagnation is tough for a lot of teams to deal with and Toronto is no exception to that. Anderson and Muzzin are the only realistic contracts that you could move if you wanted to make roster alterations. Obviously Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander and Reilly aren't going anywhere and nobody else is making significant enough money to to create real cap flexibility.

Kerfoot at 3.5 gives you a little room, but extending Hyman + an ELC replacement eats up the vast majority of that money. Kessel's 1.2 comes off the cap next year, but that money will go to Reilly, likely along with savings from trimming Engvall, Simmonds and maybe even Anderson, over the next 2 years... By time Hyman and Reilly are extended, this team is pretty much "cap spaced" out in terms of real flexibility. Let's hope what they have is good enough.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Muzzin's probably the perfect partner for Lily to break into the league with.

Dermott-Liljegren reunites a really good Marlies pairing as well.

Sandin is the real wildcard. We may need him to get more time with the Marlies, but he may also be able to replace Dermott if Liljegren is playing with Muzzin.