Trades and Free Agency - 2022-23 Season Edition

[Dreakmur]

Never been a Kerfoot guy. He’s too vanilla for me.

He is winning me over so far this year. The guy competes, no question about it.

Still think we have lower cost options wiithin the organization that can fill the need, but it’s nice to see someone competing like Kerfoot has this far.

Kerfoot is a useful player who can contribute on a contender. As has been mentioned countless times before, however, the cap hit can be used more efficiently somewhere else.

The fact that his work ethic does stand out is more of a statement about the team than it is about him. Why are so few guys working hard that Kerfoot is so noticeable?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Holl is better than Schenn though

At what? Advanced stats EV defense shows Schenn is actually quite good at what we'd need him to do and would bring some elements the team lacks.

Visually? Holl is hot garbage and isn't an NHL level defenseman.

Schenn's been a monster the last 5 games and doing better with added ice time. He's being trusted as the defensive guy for Hughes at 5v5;

 

[Cor]

I know this probably won't go down well on here but I'd be seriously thinking about keeping Kerfoot around after this year, he's versatile and can play with the core 4 if needs be

I think that has value to us moving forward

Unless Murray proves he's not a walking band aid I'd be looking to offload him and Muzzin, that would open up some room

Agreed on Kerfoot. He’s the best secondary scorer we’ve got outside the top 6. Can play anywhere in the lineup. Top 6, bottom 6, powerplay, defense. Important as we bring in kids like Robertson, Knies, and Amirov and want to try them in different spots.

Murray will be here after the draft cause the buyout period doesn’t open until after it IIRC

 

[Fogelhund]

Isn't a big reason for the Leafs powerplay topping the league is because they got off to a hot start and had a good stretch where they were scoring PP goals at a good rate and then it drastically declined in the last couple of months of the season?

In the playoffs they were a not so mightly 4/28 against the Lightning on the PP and especially in game 7 when they had 3 chances and couldn't convert.

As I said the Leafs are certainly capable of scoring alot of goals, but do you not often see them struggle to generate good scoring chances and/or have trouble put away the chances they get? The Yotes game is what I'm talking about where for almost the entire game they weren't able to create many dangerous scoring chances and then at the end they score two and almost three goals to make it look respectable.

With the kind of talent the Leafs have they should look dangerous on offense almost always even if they're not scoring and this isn't the case in a number of games each season that I watch them and its why they so often frustrate their fans.

Every team, in the history of the league has had moments when their PP didn’t work, or they had games they had trouble scoring in. You need to watch more than the Leafs, if somehow you think this is unique to them. Again, that isn’t why we didn’t win the series.

How do you expect a team to win a game, or series, when they have games where they have given up seven, five and four goals?

The Leafs didn’t have trouble scoring in those games, they put up three goals in each loss. They just couldn’t keep the puck out of the net. Defense wins championships. Ours team D wasn’t good enough when it counted.

.. and yet you cling to a narrative about a lack of scoring and the PP being a problem?

 

[Americanadian]

I know this probably won't go down well on here but I'd be seriously thinking about keeping Kerfoot around after this year, he's versatile and can play with the core 4 if needs be

I think that has value to us moving forward

Unless Murray proves he's not a walking band aid I'd be looking to offload him and Muzzin, that would open up some room

I’ve been leaning this way too - but at what price? If Kerfoot took a Jarnkrok contract id be happy to have him back.

 

[LeafGrief]

Then you go after a defender who helps you reduce goals against. So far in his career, that isn’t Chychrun.

Idk how many times I have to write that the name wasn’t important to me and that I don’t want to trade Nylander for Chychrun. Five clearly wasn’t enough, hopefully this sixth is.

 

[LeafSteel]

Idk how many times I have to write that the name wasn’t important to me and that I don’t want to trade Nylander for Chychrun. Five clearly wasn’t enough, hopefully this sixth is.

Connor Murphy, Mayfield, Matt Roy are all names that would be good fits for us.

RHD's, stay at home defence types, physical, and much less required in trades going the other way than Chychrun.

This is the direction we should be looking at, while giving up significantly less, while keeping Nylander, who can really dominate and consistently elevates his game in the playoffs.

 

[LeafGrief]

Connor Murphy, Mayfield, Matt Roy are all names that would be good fits for us.

RHD's, stay at home defence types, physical, and much less required in trades going the other way than Chychrun.

This is the direction we should be looking at, while giving up significantly less, while keeping Nylander, who can really dominate and consistently elevates his game in the playoffs.

I'm thinking guys like Orolv or Provorov as targets. Provorov is the one who would cost Nylander.

The names you listed would be good pickups, it would be fine to upgrade on Holl. But none of those would come even close to replacing Muzzin, who has been one of our greatest playoff performers every year he's worn the jersey.

I simply do not see the left side as optimistically as others now that Muzzin is out. Gio is great, but he's 39. Sandin is full of upside, but he's unproven and not even on the same planet as Muzzin defensively. Losing the all situations, 22 minutes a night of shutdown presence that Muzzin brings will be felt very keenly as the season goes on. Both of those guys will fill in and do well, but they're not Jake Muzzin.

 

[SprDaVE]

I know this probably won't go down well on here but I'd be seriously thinking about keeping Kerfoot around after this year, he's versatile and can play with the core 4 if needs be

I think that has value to us moving forward

Unless Murray proves he's not a walking band aid I'd be looking to offload him and Muzzin, that would open up some room

I'd keep Kerfoot 100% but it can't be much higher than Jarnkrok in terms of cap hit. Maybe around 3M for 3-4 years at the most. Would he take that? Probably not.

One of the best swiss army knife players in the league.

 

[mydnyte]

we should be chatting non stop with the Jackets, they are full of cheap and young RHD, and target specifically Peeke
I'd flip Sandin for him if it came to that and add if need be.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Connor Murphy, Mayfield, Matt Roy are all names that would be good fits for us.

RHD's, stay at home defence types, physical, and much less required in trades going the other way than Chychrun.

This is the direction we should be looking at, while giving up significantly less, while keeping Nylander, who can really dominate and consistently elevates his game in the playoffs.

I think if the Muzzin situation is as dire as it seems, Dubas will have to try and pull the trigger on a defensive defenseman.

Top 4 would be ideal, but expensive in the current market. Hopefully Liljegren and Sandin can take strides this year.

Obviously a healthy Muzz would be ideal for the Leafs but at this point I'm honestly worried about Muzzin's quality of life. Probably best for him to collect his cheque on LTIR for the next two years.

I've liked Scott Mayfield for a while. Is he still good and/or potentially available?



Dubas took two huge risks this offseason in Murray and keeping Muzzin, and they immediately blew up in his face.

Now we're looking at potentially a ~$10M gap in our defense and goaltending to rebuild early into the season rather than in the offseason when it would have been easier.....rough start for our TML.

 

[Havoc]

I'm a no on Jakob too now. Need to replenish the muzzin department first

 

[notDatsyuk]

Idk how many times I have to write that the name wasn’t important to me and that I don’t want to trade Nylander for Chychrun. Five clearly wasn’t enough, hopefully this sixth is.

But you keep mentioning them.

So, who do you want to trade, and for whom?

 

[notdoneyet]

With matthews getting probably close to 15m and im sure if willy keeps putting up points he will cost between 10/11 because he will want to be paid then kerfoot
is as good as gone

Engvall can be easily replaced for what he brings at 2.25

The good part is dubas will be gone and the cap going up 4m next year the new manager has lots of options

Knies matthews xxx
Xxx tavares marner
Xxx nylander robertson

Bunting if he doesn’t want too much
Muzzin should be gone
Hopefully murray stays on ltir for rest of his contract

Fill in the xxx

 

[LeafSteel]

I'm thinking guys like Orolv or Provorov as targets. Provorov is the one who would cost Nylander.

The names you listed would be good pickups, it would be fine to upgrade on Holl. But none of those would come even close to replacing Muzzin, who has been one of our greatest playoff performers every year he's worn the jersey.

I simply do not see the left side as optimistically as others now that Muzzin is out. Gio is great, but he's 39. Sandin is full of upside, but he's unproven and not even on the same planet as Muzzin defensively. Losing the all situations, 22 minutes a night of shutdown presence that Muzzin brings will be felt very keenly as the season goes on. Both of those guys will fill in and do well, but they're not Jake Muzzin.

Provorov would definitely be the Home run swing, but availability and cost of acquiring him would be significant, as it should be.

The other reason why I want a RHD is so that not only are we improving in our top 4, but ideally we are getting a partner for Rielly that frees him to play to his strengths, as opposed to limiting him due to his partners weakness.

Another LHD doesn't do that for Rielly.

Looking at Connor Murphy and Matt Roy, they both represent significant upgrades on Holl, with higher ceilings. With the evolution of Liljegren, Topi, and hopefully Villeneuve, our RHD depth should be better than we've had in years. Adding a top 4 RHD will lock up that weakness for the next few years.

Particularly, if Topi can slot in next season on the 3rd pair, he makes it that much easier to trade Holl.

 

[Rubyblue]

Connor Murphy, Mayfield, Matt Roy are all names that would be good fits for us.

RHD's, stay at home defence types, physical, and much less required in trades going the other way than Chychrun.

This is the direction we should be looking at, while giving up significantly less, while keeping Nylander, who can really dominate and consistently elevates his game in the playoffs.

Totally agree. Team has lots of talented finesse players. Lack the grittier type players that can play up front & the back end. Probably won't happen with current mngt.

 

[TMLAM34]

Murphy would be my top choice. Brings exactly what this team needs and would be an ideal partner for Rielly. He’s also locked up to a fair contract.

Won’t be cheap however, I can see Chicago wanting Sandin in return as part of the package.

 

[Stephen]

At what? Advanced stats EV defense shows Schenn is actually quite good at what we'd need him to do and would bring some elements the team lacks.

Visually? Holl is hot garbage and isn't an NHL level defenseman.

Schenn's been a monster the last 5 games and doing better with added ice time. He's being trusted as the defensive guy for Hughes at 5v5;

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Holl's biggest characteristic is plays beyond his skillset. He's enabled to do much more in transition and offensively than he should be allowed to, which results in GWG's on occasion, and catastrophic miscues in others. If he played the defensive shutdown role like in the mini series vs Edmonton in the bubble he would be more reliable.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Holl's biggest characteristic is plays beyond his skillset. He's enabled to do much more in transition and offensively than he should be allowed to, which results in GWG's on occasion, and catastrophic miscues in others. If he played the defensive shutdown role like in the mini series vs Edmonton in the bubble he would be more reliable.

Oh the 1% of the time he skates to the front of the net and got the GWG? Cool but he's responsible for about a million things going wrong the other time. The amount of times he pinches with zero support resulting in an odd man rush against blows my mind.

Schenn took his lumps early but knows his role now, finish hits, stand up for teammates, don't make stupid plays. Risk adverse.

 

[Stephen]

Oh the 1% of the time he skates to the front of the net and got the GWG? Cool but he's responsible for about a million things going wrong the other time. The amount of times he pinches with zero support resulting in an odd man rush against blows my mind.

Schenn took his lumps early but knows his role now, finish hits, stand up for teammates, don't make stupid plays. Risk adverse.

Oh I agree. Usually the payoff on Holl getting offensive is not worth the impact to the defense. Like count the number of ways a RHD roaming down the sidewall to the corner, getting caught up in a puck battle, emerging with the puck and driving to the net creates issues with coverage on the back end.

 

[TMLAM34]

Hey maybe Dubas will shock the hockey world and if Columbus continues to stay at the bottom of the standings he’ll make a blockbuster trade like Knies, Sandin and a 1st for Werenski. Jk people don’t go trying to take my head off now lol

 

[WTFMAN99]

Oh I agree. Usually the payoff on Holl getting offensive is not worth the impact to the defense. Like count the number of ways a RHD roaming down the sidewall to the corner, getting caught up in a puck battle, emerging with the puck and driving to the net creates issues with coverage on the back end.

How many guys are actually strong defensively in our group?

Hey maybe Dubas will shock the hockey world and if Columbus continues to stay at the bottom of the standings he’ll make a blockbuster trade like Knies, Sandin and a 1st for Werenski. Jk people don’t go trying to take my head off now lol

I'd only take Werenski if Rielly went the other way.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I'm thinking guys like Orolv or Provorov as targets. Provorov is the one who would cost Nylander.

The names you listed would be good pickups, it would be fine to upgrade on Holl. But none of those would come even close to replacing Muzzin, who has been one of our greatest playoff performers every year he's worn the jersey.

I simply do not see the left side as optimistically as others now that Muzzin is out. Gio is great, but he's 39. Sandin is full of upside, but he's unproven and not even on the same planet as Muzzin defensively. Losing the all situations, 22 minutes a night of shutdown presence that Muzzin brings will be felt very keenly as the season goes on. Both of those guys will fill in and do well, but they're not Jake Muzzin.

Orlov and Provolov are better targets, but neither one should cost us our second-best player.

 

[LeafGrief]

Provorov would definitely be the Home run swing, but availability and cost of acquiring him would be significant, as it should be.

The other reason why I want a RHD is so that not only are we improving in our top 4, but ideally we are getting a partner for Rielly that frees him to play to his strengths, as opposed to limiting him due to his partners weakness.

Another LHD doesn't do that for Rielly.

Looking at Connor Murphy and Matt Roy, they both represent significant upgrades on Holl, with higher ceilings. With the evolution of Liljegren, Topi, and hopefully Villeneuve, our RHD depth should be better than we've had in years. Adding a top 4 RHD will lock up that weakness for the next few years.

Particularly, if Topi can slot in next season on the 3rd pair, he makes it that much easier to trade Holl.

Brodie is a fantastic partner for Rielly, our top pairing tilts the ice in our favour every minute they’re on the ice. They’re not a matchup pair, but they dominate. Muzzin and Rielly played barely a handful of games together and the Lightning won cups with their 1-3D all on separate pairs. A partner for Rielly is at the absolute bottom of my shopping list, I think we’re totally set there.

Liljegren is the only one of our young defenseman worth betting on IMO. I think Sandin has what it takes, but the other guys are too far away to be anything other than hopefuls. Betting on Marlies to be roster players is something I learned to count out long ago.

 

[LeafGrief]

Orlov and Provolov are better targets, but neither one should cost us our second-best player.

Orlov, no. Upcoming UFA means he’d be a futures package. Provorov is an all situations #1D. Not amazing, but about as good as Muzzin was, which is to say a fantastic hockey player. Age 25, 3 years left on his deal, he’s only on the table if a player like Nylander is in the deal.

Nylander is not our 2nd best player. Marner is and it’s not particularly close. The argument between them ended nearly four years ago. Nylander always had the upside to be on Marner’s level and he’s a better goal scorer, but Marner is a 100p caliber winger who plays the most ice time on our team. Nylander is an electrifying talent, but he is *only* a PPG winger.