Trades and Free Agency - 2022/2023 Trade Deadline Edition

[TheDoldrums]

If we want Meier, it means trading Nylander this offseason. Meier is a dynamite player (who is having a career year and we must be cautious about overpaying), but if we trade a boatload of futures and as an additional consequence have Bunting and Kampf walk, that's just gutting our depth for a shiny new toy. Meier would be a great fit and is the kind of physical scoring force that we're looking for, but depth has constantly been our undoing and adding another big name will just make the problem worse.

I'd be fine with acquiring Meier and then trading Nylander once he's free to sign an extension with the new team in order to recoup the futures and restore balance to the lineup. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that if Bunting and Kampf walk this summer, we've fully lost the plot. We need to start hanging on to some of our valuable depth guys, because building around a core of 4 stars is right at the centre of why this thing hasn't worked so far. Quality depth isn't a blind spot, but it hasn't been prioritized and it needs to be.

Kampf is not a valuable depth guy. It is not that tough or expensive to acquire defensive players with zero offense and the risk of losing him should have no impact on bigger moves. Bunting is another story but the idea of being hesitant on acquiring Timo Meier because we're worried about re-signing David Kampf is ridiculous.

 

[ULF_55]

Kampf is not a valuable depth guy. It is not that tough or expensive to acquire defensive players with zero offense and the risk of losing him should have no impact on bigger moves. Bunting is another story but the idea of being hesitant on acquiring Timo Meier because we're worried about re-signing David Kampf is legitimately insane.

Kampf is UFA anyway isn't he?

So you can't even control what he asks for.

 

[Sypher04]

Kampf is not a valuable depth guy. It is not that tough or expensive to acquire defensive players with zero offense and the risk of losing him should have no impact on bigger moves. Bunting is another story but the idea of being hesitant on acquiring Timo Meier because we're worried about re-signing David Kampf is legitimately insane.

I agree. I’m a Kampf fan, but if we’re being honest, he’s replaceable, and probably at a lesser cap hit too. That said, my preference is still to keep him and I don’t think he’ll get much more AAV vs what he is at now tbh

 

[leafsfan5]

To me, Meier will be an all of nothing move bet on the top two lines to score in the playoffs. Where Kane and Toews or just one of them actually allow the Leafs to run with three lines.
Same reason I think ROR is a good fit depending on his injuries.

That's a valid concern but I think Meier provides Keefe with options, you can throw someone like Nylander on line 3 and have him drive it if you want a different look

 

[kb]

If we want Meier, it means trading Nylander this offseason. Meier is a dynamite player (who is having a career year and we must be cautious about overpaying), but if we trade a boatload of futures and as an additional consequence have Bunting and Kampf walk, that's just gutting our depth for a shiny new toy. Meier would be a great fit and is the kind of physical scoring force that we're looking for, but depth has constantly been our undoing and adding another big name will just make the problem worse.

I'd be fine with acquiring Meier and then trading Nylander once he's free to sign an extension with the new team in order to recoup the futures and restore balance to the lineup. Frankly, I'm of the opinion that if Bunting and Kampf walk this summer, we've fully lost the plot. We need to start hanging on to some of our valuable depth guys, because building around a core of 4 stars is right at the centre of why this thing hasn't worked so far. Quality depth isn't a blind spot, but it hasn't been prioritized and it needs to be.

It doesn't mean trading Nylander in the summer. Been shown over and over that it is possible to keep both for at least next season.

 

[Sypher04]

My gut says we should target two top 6 players but steer clear of the big names. I don’t see a strong argument for paying premium assets for players who in all likelihood cannot be retained long term, or at least not without a massive shift out of a core player to facilitate.

Winning two rounds this year, just to have to put Nylander on the block in the off-season and rush to trade him before his NTC kicks in doesn’t help us improve towards the cup.

It’s cup or bust at that point.

I want them to make meaningful moves, but you can do that in a way that doesn’t force you into massive changes fairly rapidly.

 

[ULF_55]

It doesn't mean trading Nylander in the summer. Been shown over and over that it is possible to keep both for at least next season.

Might even enable spreading the wealth over 3 lines, rather than 2.

 

[Sypher04]

It doesn't mean trading Nylander in the summer. Been shown over and over that it is possible to keep both for at least next season.

Nylander has an NTC in the final year of his deal, so it really does force our hand at least somewhat on moving up the timetable. It’s not full, but would be limiting enough depending on how the list is structured and how many teams

 

[kb]

Nylander has an NTC in the final year of his deal, so it really does force our hand on moving up the timetable. It’s not full, but would be limiting enough depending on how the list is structured and how many teams

It does, but it's only a 10 team NTC. Not an issue as it's not a NMC.

 

[Sypher04]

It does, but it's only a 10 team NTC. Not an issue as it's not a NMC.

Even still, it’s only the secondary issue

Adding Meier at 8M+ per without any moving money from the core will further exacerbate the cap strain on depth

 

[TMLAM34]

Definitely not a popular name around here but what do people think about Cody Glass? Could be a solid addition as our third line center.

RFA at the end of the year, don’t think it’ll take a ton to re-sign him.

 

[ACC1224]

If their only motivation is to put themselves in the best position to draft bedard (which I agree, it is) then they should be motivated to take a reasonable offer as soon as possible. This point kinda works against your previous one imo

How so?

What car dealer sells used for more than new?

Lots.

 

[kb]

Even still, it’s only the secondary issue

Adding Meier at 8M+ per without any moving money from the core will further exacerbate the cap strain on depth

@4thline put up a lineup that has 21 players on the roster.

Meier @ $8.5 million AAV, Samsonov @ $5 million, and Holmberg $1.1 million. The XXX are $800k (7th D, 4th line).

Murray traded.

The YYY's for the 3rd line can total $5 million. Comes in just under the $83.5 million cap.

Meier - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
YYY - YYY - Jarnkrok
McMann - Holmberg - XXX

Rielly - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren
Giordano - Timmins
XXX

Samsonov
Woll.

 

[Torontonian]

I watched the game yesterday against habs and i stop after 10 minute... it was a disaster and we will see it in next3 leafs how trash is the team around him...

I dont know if we cant blame kane for anything... i giving you just an exemple... chicago had 2 pp, kane was able to drive the puck in, decking and find his trammate creating good scoring chance but everything it was not kane with the pucj, hawks lost it in the next 5 second.

Everyone whos looking at kane stats, just watching hawks playing!!! I jist dont understand how columbus was able to be worst and i dont know how you can expect when hes playing with player who cant create anything or keep the puck enought long to give him a shoot to be open...

You removing toews and kane and Jones and you get an AHL team...

I tried to argue with another poster that looking purely at his number this year, he’s playing on a AHL level team that’s actively trying to lose games, with line mates that are generally 4th line players, and when he played with a finisher like DeBrincatt 1 year ago, he put up 92 points. It’s extremely hard to judge players that are playing on god awful teams.

“Showtime” being compared to Foligno is a slap in the face to Kane, they’re no where close to players and what they can still do, the only comparison is that he might have a injury and according to him, says is overblown.

Kane might be a liability in his own end, but I have no worries when you put him back into meaningful games, you’ll see the best of Kane. If you want to put the team over the top, someone like Kane is a good bet to help you do that.

 

[TMLAM34]

@4thline put up a lineup that has 21 players on the roster.

Meier @ $8.5 million AAV, Samsonov @ $5 million, and Holmberg $1.1 million. The XXX are $800k (7th D, 4th line).

Murray traded.

The YYY's for the 3rd line can total $5 million. Comes in just under the $83.5 million cap.

Meier - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
YYY - YYY - Jarnkrok
McMann - Holmberg - XXX

Rielly - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren
Giordano - Timmins
XXX

Samsonov
Woll.

I don’t think there’s any chance we can acquire Meier without giving up Knies. But yes, icing a competitive roster with Meier next year and fitting it under the salary cap is definitely doable.

 

[kb]

I don’t think there’s any chance we can acquire Meier without giving up Knies.

I don't know - very few top prospects get traded. I think Niemela, 1st, Robertson, Kerfoot (flipped for more picks) is a pretty strong offer. Even if more is required.

Karlsson didn't require SJ to give up Meier, Eichel only netted Krebs, who was not necessarily Vegas' #1 prospect at the time.

The fact is that the Leafs don't even require retention if Kerfoot goes the other way.

 

[Peace Frog]

Does anyone recall seeing an article in which Kane mentioned that if he were to be traded, he wants to keep his number on that new team?

Soooo… I guess that’s a “no”.

 

[TMLAM34]

I don't know - very few top prospects get traded. I think Niemela, 1st, Robertson, Kerfoot (flipped for more picks) is a pretty strong offer. Even if more is required.

Very few first line power forwards get traded also. Which is why I’d be all in for Meier, Knies involved or not.

The options acquiring Meier would give us is endless with our lineup…

Meier - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Nylander

OR

Meier - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner

OR split the wealth across three lines…

Bunting - Matthews - Meier
Jarnkrok - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - Kerfoot - Nylander

 

[kb]

Very few first line power forwards get traded also. Which is why I’d be all in for Meier, Knies involved or not.

Karlsson didn't require SJ to give up Meier, Eichel only netted Krebs, who was not necessarily Vegas' #1 prospect at the time - but was in the mix.

The fact is that the Leafs don't even require retention if Kerfoot goes the other way.

 

[TMLAM34]

Karlsson didn't require SJ to give up Meier, Eichel only netted Krebs, who was not necessarily Vegas' #1 prospect at the time - but was in the mix.

The fact is that the Leafs don't even require retention if Kerfoot goes the other way.

I hope you’re right. If you can get Meier for Niemela, Robertson, 1st, Kerfoot and whatever else they want aside from Knies, you take it and run.

 

[Sypher04]

@4thline put up a lineup that has 21 players on the roster.

Meier @ $8.5 million AAV, Samsonov @ $5 million, and Holmberg $1.1 million. The XXX are $800k (7th D, 4th line).

Murray traded.

The YYY's for the 3rd line can total $5 million. Comes in just under the $83.5 million cap.

Meier - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
YYY - YYY - Jarnkrok
McMann - Holmberg - XXX

Rielly - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren
Giordano - Timmins
XXX

Samsonov
Woll.

I’d say there are some immediate concerns there. 1 mcmann is not an nhl player at this point in time. This leaves us with no real checking center (though could be solved by the 3c hypothetically). Goaltending is the real red flag though. This gives us zero insulation in the event of a samsonov injury or drop in play. We also lose Bunting, who is a player, I believe, that really provides useful attributes.

Also, circling back to the Willy discussion. If one was not trading him this off-season, you’re not extracting value from him in a trade, so this is yet another reason why that trade would have to go down prior to next season if Meier was acquired.

You aren’t trading him at a deadline when we are playoff bound and likely among the best teams in the league, and you’re not getting much for his rights thereafter.

I’m not one of those who think ‘everyone should be traded before they can walk’ guys. Hyman didn’t need to be, Campbell didn’t either. But nylander falls in that group for me.

 

[kb]

I’d say there are some immediate concerns there. 1 mcmann is not an nhl player at this point in time. This leaves us with no real checking center (though could be solved by the 3c hypothetically). Goaltending is the real red flag though. This gives us zero insulation in the event of a samsonov injury or drop in play. We also lose Bunting, who is a player, I believe, that really provides useful attributes.

Also, circling back to the Willy discussion. If one was not trading him this off-season, you’re not extracting value from him in a trade, so this is yet another reason why that trade would have to go down prior to next season if Meier was acquired.

You aren’t trading him at a deadline when we are playoff bound and likely among the best teams in the league, and you’re not getting much for his rights thereafter.

I’m not one of those everyone should be traded before they walk guys. Hyman didn’t need to be, Campbell didn’t either. But nylander falls in that group for me.

If that's how you feel (I don't), then just think of McMann as a placeholder for a 4th liner....any minimum $$$ player will work.

Yes, the 3C can be a checker, but Holmberg has received a lot of kudos for his positioning and is more than fine as #4C.

There is $5 million to fill 2 third line spots......plenty enough.

Regardless, with Nylander having one season left on his deal, he will be looked upon as a rental anyway, so to extract maximum value he would have to be traded away at this deadline.

The cap is expected to go up $4 million in 2024-25, and Brodie comes off after next season.

There are a ton of ways of making this work. But the most important thing is that Meier would be here for 2 runs with the full firepower up front.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

It doesn't mean trading Nylander in the summer. Been shown over and over that it is possible to keep both for at least next season.

Curious what the contracts for Lily and Sandin looked like? Might be able to make it through a year but when Matthews and Marner need new contracts soon after I dont know how you fit in Matthews, Marner, Nylander, JT and Meier and still ice a decent team outside of the top 6. Obviously if JT is resigned it will free up like 5 million dollars or something like that but I imagine that will be eaten by other extensions

 

[Americanadian]

Any Meier deal should come with Benning, I am starting to feel that way about Eyssimont too. He would be a perfect 4C/LW for next season.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

@4thline put up a lineup that has 21 players on the roster.

Meier @ $8.5 million AAV, Samsonov @ $5 million, and Holmberg $1.1 million. The XXX are $800k (7th D, 4th line).

Murray traded.

The YYY's for the 3rd line can total $5 million. Comes in just under the $83.5 million cap.

Meier - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
YYY - YYY - Jarnkrok
McMann - Holmberg - XXX

Rielly - Brodie
Sandin - Liljegren
Giordano - Timmins
XXX

Samsonov
Woll.

Edit: nevermind, other already commented something similar