Trades and Free Agency - 2022-23 Season Edition

[dubplatepressure]

no way, they just locked him up

That doesnt prevent a trade, that just increases his value. But I can’t see what else we might be interested in over there unless it’s Horvat, which I doubt. But perhaps.

 

[Anthrax442]

It would be nice to have one more good center like Horvat or Toews

 

[LeafChief]

Pagnotta so a grain of salt required, but he mentions we're looking at ROR/Barbashev

Also said he wouldn't be surprised if we made a couple additions come TDL day. This is the 2nd reporter who has said this, CJ is the other IIRC

Pagnotta is an aggregator. He just re-posts what other people with actual sources have previously said. There's a reason Pagnotta has never been the first to report an actual move.

 

[dubplatepressure]

It would be nice to have one more good center like Horvat or Toews

All-in for sure, but yes, especially with AM34 out for the next few weeks. Send Kerfoot in the deal the other way and Horvat slots 2C until AM34 returns, then drops to what would be the best 3C in the league.

 

[leafsfan5]

Pagnotta is an aggregator. He just re-posts what other people with actual sources have previously said. There's a reason Pagnotta has never been the first to report an actual move.

Don’t necessarily disagree, but he was the first to report Tavares to Toronto

He’s been living off that since then, though. Maybe he has another big one in him lol

 

[SprDaVE]

Upgrading over Kerfoot and Engvall are seeming like a priority .. with a centre that can provide some offense and steady D, and a more physical winger

If the Leafs get a forward, I think it has to happen.

Kerfoot in the last few weeks (maybe months?) has had his minutes reduced quite a bit. I love his hustle and versatility, and he's been good in the playoffs, but for his cap hit, the Leafs will probably need to maximize the value he brings. I'd point to him as a roster casualty if the Leafs go big.

I think Engvall brings a unique skillset to the bottom lines and his analytics are very good.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Golden Knights Could Offer Penguins/Maple Leafs Goaltending In Potential Trade | Vegas Hockey Now

At the 2023 All-Star Break, the Vegas Golden Knights still have a trio of NHL-capable goaltenders in their system. Both Logan Thompson and Adin Hill have split the starts for the VGK so far this season, with coming-off-injury player Laurent Brossoit playing with the Henderson Silver Knights.

The NHL Trade Deadline is now only four weeks away, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon will have to make a decision regarding his goaltending soon. His options essentially boil down to keeping all three of these goaltenders or moving one of them for a small return and cap space.

With Thompson as the literal All-Star goaltender, trade rumors regarding pending unrestricted free agents Hill and Brossoit have circulated.

There are two teams that could use a backup goaltender in the NHL, given that their starter is hurt. The Pittsburgh Penguins are without Tristan Jarry indefinitely, who has missed the last three starts, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are missing injury-prone Matt Murray thanks to an ankle injury.

The Penguins' current tandem is that of Casey DeSmith and Dustin Tokarski, and the Maple Leafs Ilya Samsonov, and Joseph Woll.

On Sunday, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reported that the Penguins might be interested in either Hill or Brossoit.

 

[stickty111]

To be fair I can't think of a deadline where we only added 1 single piece, there's always minor trades on top of the main target.

True but I think this time they mean 2 meaningful adds

 

[stickty111]

Okay changing my tone a bit here. I would hang onto Engvall unless it's a deal where he has to go for salary or whatever. He doesn't always bring it but he still brings value even when not on his game. When he is on his game, he's such a good player.
Kerfoot is the one that needs to be dealt and upgraded on. He just doesn't bring much of anything and really hasn't all season. Engvall at least still brings a nice element even when off.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Okay changing my tone a bit here. I would hang onto Engvall unless it's a deal where he has to go for salary or whatever. He doesn't always bring it but he still brings value even when not on his game. When he is on his game, he's such a good player.
Kerfoot is the one that needs to be dealt and upgraded on. He just doesn't bring much of anything and really hasn't all season. Engvall at least still brings a nice element even when off.

If Kerfoot is moved, I'd expect at least a Jarnkrok return out of him.

7th on the team in points behind the top 6 forwards and he plays a defensive role. The points have gone down, and if you bring in an offensively-oriented 3C you can probably live without him, but that would really be it.

Do you dump him because you want to bring more depth offense when you are mostly just deploying a bunch of solid 30-40 point defensive guys between him, Holmberg, Engvall, Jarnkrok, and Kampf and you need the cap over just dropping ZAR (who is clearly the weak point in the top 12 but also is cheap)?

If we are talking about pure expendability, then Holmberg and ZAR are easily the most expendable, but also make practically nothing. Between Engvall, Kerfoot, Jarnkrok, and Kampf, then Engvall is likely the next most expendable. He does PK, and he is good when he does PK, but he is 6th in ice time. Whoever you bring in can probably replace him on the PK, or you can give Holmberg/Nylander more PK opportunities since it would be the 3rd PK pairing anyways. Same with whatever he does on the PP... The PP forwards should be Jarnkrok, Bunting, new guy, and then either go 2 defensemen or use Holmberg (or Knies if he is in the lineup over ZAR).

 

[stickty111]

If Kerfoot is moved, I'd expect at least a Jarnkrok return out of him.

7th on the team in points behind the top 6 forwards and he plays a defensive role. The points have gone down, and if you bring in an offensively-oriented 3C you can probably live without him, but that would really be it.

Do you dump him because you want to bring more depth offense when you are mostly just deploying a bunch of solid 30-40 point defensive guys between him, Holmberg, Engvall, Jarnkrok, and Kampf and you need the cap over just dropping ZAR (who is clearly the weak point in the top 12 but also is cheap)?

If we are talking about pure expendability, then Holmberg and ZAR are easily the most expendable, but also make practically nothing. Between Engvall, Kerfoot, Jarnkrok, and Kampf, then Engvall is likely the next most expendable. He does PK, and he is good when he does PK, but he is 6th in ice time. Whoever you bring in can probably replace him on the PK, or you can give Holmberg/Nylander more PK opportunities since it would be the 3rd PK pairing anyways. Same with whatever he does on the PP... The PP forwards should be Jarnkrok, Bunting, new guy, and then either go 2 defensemen or use Holmberg (or Knies if he is in the lineup over ZAR).

Calling Holmberg expendable is quite questionable.
I have been a fan of Kerfoot but he looks off this season. If we want an upgrade, the 3.5 is something we likely have to trade.

 

[Gabriel426]

Dubas was at the Canucks game.
This guy Aaron (that's literally all his name is as the article author) jumped to "A trade between the Maple Leafs and Canucks is likely already done."

Dubas has admittedly taken in a couple of Canucks games already this season, but I wouldn't read much into this guy's facebook post.

Pretty sure he pronounces his name A-A-Ron, lol

 

[OVO16]

I know people are aiming for big-time targets (as ya'll should)....but Barbasehv and Lafferty are two players that seem like ideal targets when it comes to cost and fit.

Both players would really boost our bottom 6 and they are both perfect playoff-type of players you want to add to your bottom 6/9.

Big, Fast, and Physical with offensive upside. Would be real pain in the asses type of players you need against Tampa

 

[X66]

Barbashevs underlying numbers are pretty shit since he’s a huge black hole defensively, he cannot be the main piece addition. I wouldn’t mind him in addition to something though.

 

[dubplatepressure]

Calling Holmberg expendable is quite questionable.
I have been a fan of Kerfoot but he looks off this season. If we want an upgrade, the 3.5 is something we likely have to trade.

Agreed. Future middle 6 C on ELC - we keep those. Kerfoot and ZAR are the most expendable IMO (assuming we don’t need to mention Simmer)

 

[Chief Leaf]

I dunno but to be honest, with Sammy playing like a #1 and Murray going down again,...I feel a deal with Arizona for Vegmelka would be a seriously great investment.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Calling Holmberg expendable is quite questionable.
I have been a fan of Kerfoot but he looks off this season. If we want an upgrade, the 3.5 is something we likely have to trade.

I don't see how it is questionable at all. He is not an important player in the lineup. He is playing like a solid 4th liner.

Long term, Holmberg could be a solid piece for the team. Right now, he is not on either special team and while he is doing fine with the minutes he has, they are not important nor particularly difficult minutes. Kerfoot is deservingly higher on the depth chart than him.

Cap is obviously the main difference maker, but Kerfoot is a lot more difficult to replace than Holmberg right now... And if we had a fully healthy lineup, found a way to add a center without needing to dump anyone for cap, and also add Knies to the mix (meaning we'd need to open up 2 roster spots), Kerfoot would not be coming out before Holmberg. ZAR and Holmberg would likely come out and you'd have the Big 4, Bunting, Jarnkrok, Kampf, Kerfoot, Engvall, Knies, and the new 3C as your top 12.

And if you are looking for reasons why he is off: His ES shooting percentage this year is just under 6%. His career ES shooting percentage before this year was over 13%. If Kerfoot had 8 ES goals instead of 4 right now, people probably are not saying he looks off. He has generated good chances but he hasn't been burying them. Maybe it does or does not normalize fully, but I find it hard to believe he won't hit some kind of hot streak at some point.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Why do I feel we're looking at a retained Garland? Dubas loves these 'big brain' ( he thinks) moves.

Kerfoot + LTIR Muzzin for Garland (2m retained)

Word was Van may look to buyout in offseason

 

[Gabriel426]

I can really see a McMann-Holmberg-Anderson, 4th line soon. Those three are pesky and can chip in here and there for offence. Won’t really touch any of those three for now bc they will be very useful next season or two esp since Kerfoot and possibly Engvall will be gone.

 

[Morgs]

Pretty sure he pronounces his name A-A-Ron, lol

 

[Gabriel426]

That would be Jason Balakey who used to play for the Leafs, lol.

 

[Gabriel426]

I don't see how it is questionable at all. He is not an important player in the lineup. He is playing like a solid 4th liner.

Long term, Holmberg could be a solid piece for the team. Right now, he is not on either special team and while he is doing fine with the minutes he has, they are not important nor particularly difficult minutes. Kerfoot is deservingly higher on the depth chart than him.

Cap is obviously the main difference maker, but Kerfoot is a lot more difficult to replace than Holmberg right now... And if we had a fully healthy lineup, found a way to add a center without needing to dump anyone for cap, and also add Knies to the mix (meaning we'd need to open up 2 roster spots), Kerfoot would not be coming out before Holmberg. ZAR and Holmberg would likely come out and you'd have the Big 4, Bunting, Jarnkrok, Kampf, Kerfoot, Engvall, Knies, and the new 3C as your top 12.

And if you are looking for reasons why he is off: His ES shooting percentage this year is just under 6%. His career ES shooting percentage before this year was over 13%. If Kerfoot had 8 ES goals instead of 4 right now, people probably are not saying he looks off. He has generated good chances but he hasn't been burying them. Maybe it does or does not normalize fully, but I find it hard to believe he won't hit some kind of hot streak at some point.

You raised some good points about Kerfoot but from a cap and asset mgt stand point, if the other team is asking for either Kerfoot or Holmberg, you trade Kerfoot without hesitation. The edge between them is really Kerfoot can PK(have not recall seeing Holmberg do it).
Kerfoot will be a UFA this summer while Holmberg is under control.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

You raised some good points about Kerfoot but from a cap and asset mgt stand point, if the other team is asking for either Kerfoot or Holmberg, you trade Kerfoot without hesitation. The edge between them is really Kerfoot can PK(have not recall seeing Holmberg do it).
Kerfoot will be a UFA this summer while Holmberg is under control.

It is less about trading Holmberg and more determining who would come out of a lineup tomorrow if we added someone new.

Perhaps "expendable" is not the best term to use if you are not talking about trading him. Replaceable would be more apt, even though they are synonyms.

Holmberg would come out before Kerfoot. Next year, when Kerfoot is likely gone no matter what, then there is a different conversation and a different set of options to fill holes in the bottom 6. Holmberg will likely be one of those guys.

 

[Nhlpowerweek]

no way, they just locked him up

Imagine if we had Luke Schenn. The ironman is hitting more than anybody in the league right nezow as we speak

 

[dubplatepressure]

Imagine if we had Luke Schenn. The ironman is hitting more than anybody in the league right nezow as we speak

You'd have to replace Holl with him and that's going to be quite a controversial move.