Trades and Free Agency - 2022/2023 Trade Deadline Edition

[The Podium]

Agreed. I think McCabe takes Holl's role as he's just the upgraded version though. Gustafsson's played the right side though and I don't see why you shouldn't just go full shelter with him and Rielly with every offensive zone start essentially and maximize them.

Rielly-Gustafsson
McCabe-Brodie
Giordano-Liljegren
Schenn/Timmins

I can’t imagine Gustafsson in a starting role in any capcity. The only way he makes sense is if Reilly gets hurt and they need an offensive D replacement.

I still think he’s dealt and following the deal Edmonton made, they’re now short a puck moving D. 2023 2nd? 3rd? I don’t even know how to gauge his value.

 

[Leafs1991]

Assuming you run Kerfoot-Acciari-Lafferty who is the 3rd line? If the Leafs do deal Knies for a forward on a good contract (let's say Verhaeghe) they can run:

Bunting-Matthews-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Marner
Verhaeghe-ROR-Acciari
ZAR-Kampf-Lafferty

There aren't many forwards I would trade Knies for but Verhaeghe would be one.

Wow, no. That's also terrible, and that's coming from someone who watched Verhaeghe here in Niagara and stated he'd be an NHLer one day. Don't trade Knies.

 

[Cor]

I can’t imagine Gustafsson in a starting role in any capcity. The only way he makes sense is if Reilly gets hurt and they need an offensive D replacement.

I still think he’s dealt and following the deal Edmonton made, they’re now short a puck moving D. 2023 2nd? 3rd? I don’t even know how to gauge his value.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the reason we got him as our 7th D.

If Rielly gets hurt, with Sandin gone, there’s no obvious replacement other than running 5F again, which I don’t think they want.

 

[Kurtz]

Assuming you run Kerfoot-Acciari-Lafferty who is the 3rd line? If the Leafs do deal Knies for a forward on a good contract (let's say Verhaeghe) they can run:

Bunting-Matthews-Nylander
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Marner
Verhaeghe-ROR-Acciari
ZAR-Kampf-Lafferty

There aren't many forwards I would trade Knies for but Verhaeghe would be one.

That'd be my 3rd line. All 3 are energetic, good defensively, can skate, crash the net, and 2 of them are physical. The line reminds me of that gourde-coleman-goodrow line that was so integral to Tampa's runs.

And then you have a very safe 4th with Jarn-Kampf-ZAR. Or if you want a bit more pop, replace ZAR with Knies.

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

I would not. Getting a ton of players is all well and good, but we have to be able to retain them if we're moving major futures and there is only so much cap to go around.

Knies is a total non-starter for me.

Not quite sure what that has to do with my proposal. Crouse is signed for 4 more years at 4.3M, whilke V is signed for two more years at 2.7M. Murray makes 4.68M, so that covers Crouse, so all would need to clear is about 2.5M (Kerfoot or Holl).

Knies is a nice prospect, and while I think he'll be more well-rounded offensively than Crouse eventually, we would be ecstatic if he even came close to producing at the level Crouse has so far. Crouse is a plus player on a horrendous team, and of his 19 goals, only 4 have come on the PP. His 135 hits would also lead our team by 10. And, he's only 25.

Not only that but we get rid of Murray's contract and add a capable, cheap, young backup with term on his contract. We might even be able to ask Ari to retain on V so we don't have to dump anyone.

 

[Americanadian]

Wow, no. That's also terrible, and that's coming from someone who watched Verhaeghe here in Niagara and stated he'd be an NHLer one day. Don't trade Knies.

Verhaeghe is a legitimate top line NHL player right now who is under contract for 2 seasons after this at ~4.2M. Knies is still a mystery. His projected NHL points this year is 31 based off his NCAA season.

 

[Commander Clueless]

95% certain Justin Holl is being traded for a 3rd.

5% Erik Gustafsson is being flipped for more picks

63.47% sure the BOS 1st and Kerfoot are going for a 2LW + cap shenanigans?

 

[Americanadian]

That'd be my 3rd line. All 3 are energetic, good defensively, can skate, crash the net, and 2 of them are physical. The line reminds me of that gourde-coleman-goodrow line that was so integral to Tampa's runs.

I like the concept.

 

[Gabriel426]

If somehow, Dubas can get Bennett and Gudas, for picks, Gustafsson and Holl. The team really got no excuses.

 

[Kurtz]

Not quite sure what that has to do with my proposal. Crouse is signed for 4 more years at 4.3M, whilke V is signed for two more years at 2.7M. Murray makes 4.68M, so that covers Crouse, so all would need to clear is about 2.5M (Kerfoot or Holl).

Knies is a nice prospect, and while I think he'll be more well-rounded offensively than Crouse eventually, we would be ecstatic if he even came close to producing at the level Crouse has so far. Crouse is a plus player on a horrendous team, and of his 19 goals, only 4 have come on the PP. His 135 hits would also lead our team by 10. And, he's only 25.

Not only that but we get rid of Murray's contract and add a capable, cheap, young backup with term on his contract. We might even be able to ask Ari to retain on V so we don't have to dump anyone.

Having Crouse on the books at that cap hit means goodbye to Bunting for sure. At least Murray is an expiring that we can move to make the numbers work. Going forward would you rather have Bunting+Knies or Crouse alone? I think the answer is clear.

 

[TMLeafer]

Leafs bring Schenn back, Raps bring Poeltl back, TFC bring Vasquez back. It's reunion season over here.

 

[Ashdown2]

95% certain Justin Holl is being traded for a 3rd.

5% Erik Gustafsson is being flipped for more picks

agreed , at this point holl, kerfoot, gust are getting shot out of a cannon

 

[GoLeafsGo96]

Any chance Calgary pulls shoot here and puts one of their guys up? They have Toffoli, Lindholm, Backlund all with a year remaining at reasonable cap hits. BOS 1st + for one of them, two playoff runs with them sounds good to me..

 

[fahad203]

Leafs bring Schenn back, Raps bring Poeltl back, TFC bring Vasquez back. It's reunion season over here.

Kelley Gruber was seen warming up few weeks ago

 

[123offtheglass]

Gustafsson's GSVA projected for the year is 2.4 and he's been playing 21 mins a game of mostly unsheltered minutes.

Out of defensemen who've played 1000+ minutes 5v5

He ranks #1 overall out of 56 qualified for least % of shifts being Dzone starts

View attachment 659526

He ranks #1 out of 56 qualified for highest % of shifts being Ozone starts

View attachment 659527

He's really solid depth as an offensive defenseman & insurance to Rielly's responsibility to produce offense QB a PP.

More often then not I think he'll be out of the lineup when Rielly is in. Maybe they play on different pairs & put them both together for (or at least one for the majority of) some offensive zone starts while sharing PP duty... comes down to matchups & how well the team, pairs, & special teams are rolling.

Leafs' D has never had this much quality depth with different types of personel, it's exciting.

Not just because he was recently acquired with only 800k AAV, but I think he stays because they'll likely need him if they go far. Timmins was recently signed to a cheap extension & so I think he sticks. Holl is probably now the most expendable for an upgrade somewhere now that they've beefed up on D & have some quality shutdown defensemen.

Biggest thing they'd lose dealing him is that he's a great penalty killing option, but arguably they're still strong with Giordano, Brodie, McCabe, & Liljegren/Schenn/... Rielly in a pinch. The new forward crop certainly would lessen the blow.

As it stands now they have almost the exact amount of cap for a max ELC for Knies, just 21k short. Leafs are stacked & set, but maybe another upgrade (or several if he's wired) is up Dubas' sleeve.

 

[Morgs]

I can’t imagine Gustafsson in a starting role in any capcity. The only way he makes sense is if Reilly gets hurt and they need an offensive D replacement.

I still think he’s dealt and following the deal Edmonton made, they’re now short a puck moving D. 2023 2nd? 3rd? I don’t even know how to gauge his value.

So they acquired a defenseman having an amazing season based on every metric and on pace for 50+ points in a top-pair role just to have him sit unless Rielly gets hurt? Seems.... unlikely.

I could see them acquiring him because they think they can flip him (as I mentioned in my post), but he's essentially Sandin, having a better season, and playing way more. He's got a spot on this team and they ought to use him if they choose to keep him.

 

[Legion34]

So they acquired a defenseman having an amazing season based on every metric and on pace for 50+ points in a top-pair role just to have him sit unless Rielly gets hurt? Seems.... unlikely.

I could see them acquiring him because they think they can flip him (as I mentioned in my post), but he's essentially Sandin, having a better season, and playing way more. He's got a spot on this team and they ought to use him if they choose to keep him.

Wait Gus was playing top pair? I saw him with the hat trick. But really?

 

[The Podium]

So they acquired a defenseman having an amazing season based on every metric and on pace for 50+ points in a top-pair role just to have him sit unless Rielly gets hurt? Seems.... unlikely.

I could see them acquiring him because they think they can flip him (as I mentioned in my post), but he's essentially Sandin, having a better season, and playing way more. He's got a spot on this team and they ought to use him if they choose to keep him.

I know it seems unlikely, but someone has to sit… one of the worst defensive defensemen in the league doesn’t have a place on my playoff D pairings. But that’s just my opinion

 

[Morgs]

He's really solid depth as an offensive defenseman & insurance to Rielly's responsibility to produce offense QB a PP.

More often then not I think he'll be out of the lineup when Rielly is in. Maybe they play on different pairs & put them both together for (or at least one for the majority of) some offensive zone starts while sharing PP duty... comes down to matchups & how well the team, pairs, & special teams are rolling.

Leafs' D has never had this much quality depth with different types of personel, it's exciting.

Not just because he was recently acquired with only 800k AAV, but I think he stays because they'll likely need him if they go far. Timmins was recently signed to a cheap extension & so I think he sticks. Holl is probably now the most expendable for an upgrade somewhere now that they've beefed up on D & have some quality shutdown defensemen.

Biggest thing they'd lose dealing him is that he's a great penalty killing option, but arguably they're still strong with Giordano, Brodie, McCabe, & Liljegren/Schenn/... Rielly in a pinch.

As it stands now they have almost the exact amount of a max ELC for Knies, just 21k short. Leafs are stacked & set, but maybe another upgrade (or several if he's wired) is up Dubas' sleeve.

He's sheltered in terms of zone starts, but you can't shelter defenseman that play 21+ minutes. It's like saying Roman Josi is a sheltered defenseman, when in reality they're minimizing short-comings and optimizing their strengths- which Washington did a fantastic job of this year with Gus.

 

[stickty111]

Man I'm on a plane for 9 hours and Dubas decides to go full video game mode.
The Sandin trade is wierd but understandable. Gustavsson as depth is find but odd. The first is fine value but keeping it past the deadline would be wierd after all we did. Used on a top 6 forward?
I rather Kerfoot dealt than Engvall but I get it. Good player but could be a lot more. Got a 3rd which is where his value is, and Kerfoot could be dealt anyways.
Schenn trade seems like overdoing it but maybe by design. A physical #7 who might be an #8 here lol. 9 d man now though

 

[Americanadian]

Having Crouse on the books at that cap hit means goodbye to Bunting for sure. At least Murray is an expiring that we can move to make the numbers work. Going forward would you rather have Bunting+Knies or Crouse alone? I think the answer is clear.

If Murray is gone you could keep Crouse and Bunting at 4.3M each, ROR at 3M and Samsonov at 3.5M.

 

[Fogelhund]

Having Crouse on the books at that cap hit means goodbye to Bunting for sure. At least Murray is an expiring that we can move to make the numbers work. Going forward would you rather have Bunting+Knies or Crouse alone? I think the answer is clear.

Murray's contract isn't expiring until the end of the 23/24 season.

 

[Kurtz]

I could see Edmonton being interested in Gustafsson. They were hot and heavy for a pair of offensive dmen in Karlsson and Chych, but pivoted to a defensive dman today, while trading their main pp guy away in Barrie. They still look to have a hole on D as a result and now need an offensive guy. If we could flip him for a 2nd, that'd be a neat bit of business.

 

[Sypher04]

If Murray is gone you could keep Crouse and Bunting at 4.3M each, ROR at 3M and Samsonov at 3.5M.

There is no chance you're getting ROR for 3M AAV.

Think 5M+

 

[Kurtz]

Murray's contract isn't expiring until the end of the 23/24 season.

Yes - in the offseason he's an expiring that you can move to make the numbers work to bring back ROR and Bunts.