Trades and Free Agency - 2022 Off-season

[Nylander88]

I wouldn't be surprised if Bunting is another cap casualty tbh unless he repeats his seasons and signs a deal that starts with a 4.

I feel like a big reason why TOR hasn't really made commitments on LW or tried to address it via trade in a big way is because three of their better prospects can all play that side and bring a nice mix of skills (Knies/Robertson/Amirov). Wouldn't be the least bit shocked if they are in the Top 9 together as soon as 2023-24.

I think Bunting truly wants to be a Leaf. Imo he likely didn't need to sign for a second year at sub 1mil in free agency. He wanted to be here, and I think has a great relationship with Matthews & Marner. I don't see him pulling a Hyman personally (not that I blame Hyman, just a direct relation with hometown boy, complimentary role next to superstars, cashing in). I think if Bunting repeats his year, you see him sign a 4mil x 6yrs type of contract here

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

I know health has been a big issue, but we really do need Muzzin for his style and leadership he brings. He's something we sorely lack on D. If Sandin thinks he's worth the moon now ...imagine what a headache he'll be if he puts together a year or two actually making/playing in the top 4. He's been our #6-#7 and is an RFA... usually an easy contract to get hammered out (see Liljegren...who I actually think is better, and bonus is a RHD). Keep Muzzin, and cross that cap bridge when you get to it. Package Sandin with someone like Kerfoot or Holl to become cap complaint, and get a hopefully promising young player in return that comes at a low dollar figure.

Thats a possibility as well.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

Bunting is currently an absolute steal. I expect him to cash in next summer . Something similar to Hyman imo , maybe not the term but the dollars; in leaf land or somewhere else .

 

[Americanadian]

If Kerfoot stays on the books this year his cap hit will go to Bunting next year. I'd expect 4.5-5M if he keeps up his production from this season.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

If Kerfoot stays on the books this year his cap hit will go to Bunting next year. I'd expect 4.5-5M if he keeps up his production from this season.

I think 4.25 x 6 gets it done. Its more about contract security then a 5 mill cap hit. I think he's a fixture at LW in the top 6 and the Leafs hope Robertson or knies can come in this season and next to take the other LW job. Thats why a player like trenin would be an excellent add at 1.7 per to help bridge the gap if Robbie and Knies aren't quite ready.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I've said this before but Bunting is the one high end depth guy I really want to keep. I think given everything he's the better investment than Hyman, Kapanen, Mikheyev, Johnsson, etc.

I love that he's had such a late start to his NHL career. I think that still gives him a little more upside than his age suggests because he's still relatively inexperienced. I also love that his body hasn't already taken a pounding over a ton of NHL games, I like him to age well.

I also think that the perception he's completely carried by Matthews/Marner will keep his market value somewhat reasonable. But the advanced stats on Bunting last year were insane, even supposedly accounting for team effects (whether they do that well enough is another debate). I think he's the best player of all those guys I listed above.

Really hope we make a good effort to keep him, I want him to be a long term Leaf.

 

[CatchyTune]

I wish we could turn 3-4 meh prospects into a really good player like how MLB trades work.

Im kidding. Trades make so much more sense in the NHL

 

[Fogelhund]

I like Bunting, but is it necessary to commit to $4.25 LT to the LW, when we have Knies, Robertson, Amirov and possibly Holmgren in the system to play LW? Bunting is very good depth, but you still don’t overpay depth, when you are loaded with prospects and potentially high end ones, at that position. How this season goes for all of our LW prospects, will tell us more about this though.

 

[Menzinger]

I like Bunting, but is it necessary to commit to $4.25 LT to the LW, when we have Knies, Robertson, Amirov and possibly Holmgren in the system to play LW? Bunting is very good depth, but you still don’t overpay depth, when you are loaded with prospects and potentially high end ones, at that position. How this season goes for all of our LW prospects, will tell us more about this though.

He definitely is not a 'must sign'. Especially after a fairly lackluster playoffs.

Better for team and player to see how he produces over a portion of the regular season and then see if a reasonable compromise can be found. Ideally a 3ish mil aav would be best

 

[Ziggdiezan]

I like Bunting, but is it necessary to commit to $4.25 LT to the LW, when we have Knies, Robertson, Amirov and possibly Holmgren in the system to play LW? Bunting is very good depth, but you still don’t overpay depth, when you are loaded with prospects and potentially high end ones, at that position. How this season goes for all of our LW prospects, will tell us more about this though.

If some of the cap rise projections are true 4.25 million will be almost 3rd line money in not too many years so probably worth it depending on the term and if he continues to produce

 

[Anthrax442]

If some of the cap rise projections are true 4.25 million will be almost 3rd line money in not too many years so probably worth it depending on the term and if he continues to produce

I rather give 4 mil to Bunting than to Marchment

 

[rocketman588]

If some of the cap rise projections are true 4.25 million will be almost 3rd line money in not too many years so probably worth it depending on the term and if he continues to produce

I would be weary of cap rise projections for a bit

Gary plays the game and the yotes are about to lose a f*** load of money that'll be passed onto the players

 

[Knies iT]

Sticking with my prediction from the spring. Management will walk away from Bunting next summer.

Mmgt seems satisfied with rotating one physical top 9 player every year. Instead of supplementing him it'll be justified as a Knies in/Bunting out swap.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Sticking with my prediction from the spring. Management will walk away from Bunting next summer.

Mmgt seems satisfied with rotating one physical top 9 player every year. Instead of supplementing him it'll be justified as a Knies in/Bunting out swap.

Rather do that than have an overpaid top 9 player in the lineup.

I am totally fine with Bunting wanting to get his pay day. It will probably be the only one he can get. We should just not be the team to give it to him.

We will just have to rely upon either finding another hard working guy in UFA who can work well with elite players, or we need to continue developing them... Whether that is Anderson, Steeves, McMann, or someone else.

 

[Knies iT]

Rather do that than have an overpaid top 9 player in the lineup.

I am totally fine with Bunting wanting to get his pay day. It will probably be the only one he can get. We should just not be the team to give it to him.

We will just have to rely upon either finding another hard working guy in UFA who can work well with elite players, or we need to continue developing them... Whether that is Anderson, Steeves, McMann, or someone else.

Gonna see this for every non-core four player including Knies, Robertson, etc. post ELC or bridge.

Not being able to afford even one 4-5m support forward is not an approach id favour.

 

[OVO16]

Sticking with my prediction from the spring. Management will walk away from Bunting next summer.

Mmgt seems satisfied with rotating one physical top 9 player every year. Instead of supplementing him it'll be justified as a Knies in/Bunting out swap.

No wonder this team can't get past the 1st rd.

Cant wait till Dubas is gone

 

[Stephen]

I think Bunting truly wants to be a Leaf. Imo he likely didn't need to sign for a second year at sub 1mil in free agency. He wanted to be here, and I think has a great relationship with Matthews & Marner. I don't see him pulling a Hyman personally (not that I blame Hyman, just a direct relation with hometown boy, complimentary role next to superstars, cashing in). I think if Bunting repeats his year, you see him sign a 4mil x 6yrs type of contract here

I wonder how much the Mangiapane contract will factor into Bunting's next deal? $5.8 million over 3x years is quite player friendly. Mangiapane scores more goals and has a slightly longer track record, but if Bunting puts up a similar or superior season, I think we'll want to keep him but it'll cost a lot.

 

[Stephen]

Rather do that than have an overpaid top 9 player in the lineup.

I am totally fine with Bunting wanting to get his pay day. It will probably be the only one he can get. We should just not be the team to give it to him.

We will just have to rely upon either finding another hard working guy in UFA who can work well with elite players, or we need to continue developing them... Whether that is Anderson, Steeves, McMann, or someone else.

I think there's a judgement call in terms of whether Bunting deserves to be locked up. You can't keep everyone, but you also can't let everyone go and expect the playoff failings and lessons learned to be retained. Just look at Hyman. Keeping him probably didn't make sense, but the playoff run he had was rather invaluable.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Letting Bunting walk due to a 4 million ask long term would be a massive mistake. This team bleeds talent almost every year and then some fans complain that we can't make it out of the first round. I think Robertson and knies are great prospects but thats all they are until they aren't. You resign Bunting and if knies and Robertson both become impact players while Bunting is still putting up 50 to 60 points you Achieve somthing called depth.

 

[socko]

I would expect Bunting's production to really fall off if he were taken off the Matthews line. It's not like he's going to get to play with McDavid next.....
I like him but wouldn't get carried away throwing money at him. We were wise to not match that Hyman deal. That was not a great contract.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Gonna see this for every non-core four player including Knies, Robertson, etc. post ELC or bridge.

Not being able to afford even one 4-5m support forward is not an approach id favour.

It has more to do with not wanting to be saddled with hefty, overpriced contracts for support players than not having the ability to pay them.

And yes, that extends to guys like Knies and Robertson too. I would hope we get at least a good 5 or 6 years of their prime before we have to make that decision though, and having overpaid and old support players on the books does not make it any easier to keep those guys around longer.

It all depends on what Bunting wants. If he wants to be Hyman 2.0, then he can be that somewhere else.

 

[rocketman588]

I would expect Bunting's production to really fall off if he were taken off the Matthews line. It's not like he's going to get to play with McDavid next.....
I like him but wouldn't get carried away throwing money at him. We were wise to not match that Hyman deal. That was not a great contract.

Still a skill to play with them

As we saw with Ritchie and Jumbo

 

[DraftSchmaft]

What use is regular season breakouts if you play at your cap hit when it counts. I'd rather Bunting get 20 points and then pace 60 come April.

If Bunting wants to get a retirement contract here he needs to come through as sixth man of the year and just piling up points beside matthews and marner in the regular season isn't going to cut it. Our top 6 is winger friendly we even advertise it to ufas as a destination to get yourself paid.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

What use is regular season breakouts if you play at your cap hit when it counts. I'd rather Bunting get 20 points and then pace 60 come April.

If Bunting wants to get a retirement contract here he needs to come through as sixth man of the year and just piling up points beside matthews and marner in the regular season isn't going to cut it. Our top 6 is winger friendly we even advertise it to ufas as a destination to get yourself paid.

I think he can do it. I expected more from him last playoffs, but he was coming off an injury/potentially still injured. Same situation as Hyman who stepped it up in the playoffs this year, albeit with a different team. If Bunting takes a next step and Knies/Robertson play to their potential, we’d have the clear-cut best top 6 in the league imo.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I'd much rather win the Cup, or have some Stanley Cup final appearances, or a handful of Conference final appearances with some dubious contracts on the team, as opposed to continually being bounced as soon as the playoffs begin, all the while looking nice and neat on paper.

Every team that goes deep each year seem to have some dodgy contracts in their bottom 6/bottom 4, but I bet they don't care.

I think we've been too concerned about paper and not what actually goes on, on the ice for a while now.