Trades and Free Agency - 2022 Off-season

[zeke]

Traded Holl?

Yeah. The cleanest move. Except it leaves us with very little wiggle room.

Upfront my only difference is Engvall to "4", Kerfoot to Left, NAK to which ever of 3 and "4" he fits better on, other RW spot wide open. More of a 3A/3B

Yeah Engvall and kerf both left and Kubel and Anderson both right in the bottom 6 makes sense too.

 

[zeke]

My lineup is pretty much the same at this time too outside of a few minor things.

Getting both Jarnkrok and Kampf into the bottom 6 C spots really solidifies both lines I think.

But if Robertson doesn't get or can't earn that 2LW spot then I'd be scared kerf bumps back up then Kampf back up to the 3rd then suddenly the 4th line is a bit makeshift again.

Hopefully they give Nick some real run, because I kind of like the way the bottom 6 shapes up if he does.

 

[Jozay]

Calgary fans says Jarnkrok is much better on the wing and part of the reason he didnt work there was because Sutter had him playing C.

 

[zeke]

Calgary fans says Jarnkrok is much better on the wing and part of the reason he didnt work there was because Sutter had him playing C.

Every forward is better on the wing.

Center is hard.

In this set up, though, Jarnkrok would have e Matthews Tavares and Kampf taking all the toughs ahead of him.

 

[SprDaVE]

Getting both Jarnkrok and Kampf into the bottom 6 C spots really solidifies both lines I think.

But if Robertson doesn't get or can't earn that 2LW spot then I'd be scared kerf bumps back up then Kampf back up to the 3rd then suddenly the 4th line is a bit makeshift again.

Hopefully they give Nick some real run, because I kind of like the way the bottom 6 shapes up if he does.

Don't think Simmonds and Gaudette will be completely left off, especially Simmonds. I also have Dahlstrom over Kokkonen. Those are the minor things I see happening. I also have Robertson as the 2LW. I also think Kerfoot is getting traded but for now...

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Kerfoot - Jarnkrok - Kubel
Engvall - Kampf - Anderson
Simmonds, Gaudette

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Giordano
Sandin - Liljegren
Benn

 

[SeaOfBlue]

We aren’t seeing any more Leaf moves this offseason aren’t we

There is still a major log jam with some RFA's and Kadri/Klingberg.

For Holl:

- Rangers have Schneider, but they seriously need to look at better short-term options on both LD and RD on their bottom pairing if they are serious about competing. Holl fits much better than Stralman/Stone/Subban/Klingberg for them on that right side, and could possibly pair well with another LD they sign like de Haan.
- If Colorado moves Johnson to sign Kadri, then Holl makes sense as a cheap replacement. They may be fine with one of the UFA RD though.
- Boston may be a team that looks to dump a Forbert or Reilly (either could fit for the Sens, Rangers or Islanders) and Holl would be a proper and cheaper RD who can probably upgrade both.

For Kerfoot:
- Minnesota makes a lot of sense but they may be going after some of the UFA guys instead.
- Dallas still needs to re-sign Robertson and Oettinger, but I think they need another good forward or two to upgrade Kiviranta and Studenic.
- STL probably doesn't have the cap for Kerfoot, but they could take away some of the UFA crop to upgrade some of their depth up front as well.
- Winnipeg and Calgary also make a ton of sense depending on how they want to orient themselves this year... And worst case, Kerfoot is an excellent asset for them to move at the TDL.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Calgary fans says Jarnkrok is much better on the wing and part of the reason he didnt work there was because Sutter had him playing C.

Meh, he can win draws as a right-handed guy, and he is not going to be counted on to play 15-16 minutes like he has been in the past.

Plus if he is on a line with Malgin and Engvall, there are two other guys with some experience playing center on that line. Malgin can be the "official" center and Jarnkrok can just take draws like Spezza did.

 

[zeke]

Don't think Simmonds and Gaudette will be completely left off, especially Simmonds. I also have Dahlstrom over Kokkonen. Those are the minor things I see happening. I also have Robertson as the 2LW. I also think Kerfoot is getting traded but for now...

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Kerfoot - Jarnkrok - Kubel
Engvall - Kampf - Anderson
Simmonds, Gaudette

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Giordano
Sandin - Liljegren
Dahlstrom

Sure you can stick the waiver fodder vets in there ahead of the kids. But we're not going to have any room to carry more than one extra in this set up anyways.

 

[OVO16]

Kessel is a playoff performer. Most years he was right around ppg. He was just barely beat out by Crosby as the Conn Smythe Winner in 2016 too.

People clearly misunderstood my Kessel comment. I have nothing against Phil Kessel, but he's not the TYPE of player the Leafs need to get over the hump.

Kessel right now is purely a one-dimensional offensive soft winger with a lethal wrist shot. It's one-and-done wrist shot.

He doesn't give you anything else offensively or defensively. Not to mention zero grit and physicality.

 

[SprDaVE]

Sure you can stick the waiver fodder vets in there ahead of the kids. But we're not going to have any room to carry more than one extra in this set up anyways.

Fair but those would be the call-ups I think based on experience and what not. It won't matter too much. A lot can happen between now and then though.

 

[jaric1862]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Simmonds-Gaudette-N.A.K

Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Rielly
Sandin-Liljergren
Benn

Murray-Samsonov

My one qualifier is if Robertson can show in camp that he’s better than Kerfoot, then I bump Simmonds out of the lineup (he becomes the extra) and Robertson goes to 2LW.

 

[The Podium]

Nylander - Tavares - Kessel would certainly get a portion of the fanbase riled up

In the rare event this team signs Kessel, you can’t make that line

Either have him with Matthews or have him as 3rd line depth scoring

 

[aingefan]

He has comparables in Dermott and Liljegren who signed for less. The Leafs have a good defense core and depth beyond the top-7.

The kid has no leverage, he can sit out and see if that works.

Or just take the QO.

 

[Dreakmur]

Every forward is better on the wing.

Center is hard.

Some players are better at centre, and some are better on the wing.

Centre is physically harder, but mentally easier.

 

[Rielly4]

I honestly think you need speed to be a C in todays game and you need to manage the puck very well. JT does neither. Im all for trying Marner/Nylander/Kerfoot/Jarnkrok at C if it means JT on the wing.

 

[Menzinger]

I'd love nothing more than to have Kessel back for a victory lap. Don't think he has any desire to come back to this type of environment - especially the media, which he clearly hated

I will say with kessel though, he too shows up in the playoffs. I remember he was absolutely trash against boston in the regular season and he'd get rubbed off the boards. Playoffs started and he delivered. Might not be a bad guy to bolster that top 6 and give willy some speed to play with and john some more space considering you have to respect phil's shot.

We'd be lucky if the Leafs guys could learn from Kessel about how to fight through challenges in the postseason. The guy knows how to shake things off when pressure is on and actually deliver

 

[jaric1862]

Sandin is NOT signing for $1.25 mil... It's going to be closer to $2 mil at this point.

Uhhh On a one year deal, 1.25 million is even a bit high.

You also have to take into account that he has no arb rights.

If he doesn’t like the offers, he can sit. He’s not that important to the team.

 

[Torontonian]

Kadri would suspend the whole trade and free agency market

Makes sense, teams clearing cap space and signing Kadri is priority number one, once that happens teams will resort to plan B.

The longer this goes on the better for Toronto when trying to get depth in FA for cheap. Still some intriguing names out there unsigned, Subban/Kessel/Klingberg/Kadri/Statsny/ZAR/Milano/Motte/Larsson/Heinen/Rodrigues

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Crazy to think that Nick Robertson isn't even 21 yet! It feels like he's been hanging around the organization forever now. I feel like we have to give him a shot in the top 9 instead of playing him like 10 mins/night. However, with the ELC still in the last year I do think getting a full season healthy is ideal for Nick before making the jump or atleast half a year in the AHL unless it's a stand out camp.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Kerfoot-Stastny-Engvall
Simmonds-Kampf-NAK

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Giordano-Liljegren

 

[conFABulator]

Crazy to think that Nick Robertson isn't even 21 yet! It feels like he's been hanging around the organization forever now. I feel like we have to give him a shot in the top 9 instead of playing him like 10 mins/night. However, with the ELC still in the last year I do think getting a full season healthy is ideal for Nick before making the jump or atleast half a year in the AHL unless it's a stand out camp.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Kerfoot-Stastny-Engvall
Simmonds-Kampf-NAK

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Giordano-Liljegren

I am not picking on your line-up specifically, but it is the latest example of a line-up that I think has a major flaw.

Kampf is a very strong checking centre and he needs to be part of a checking line, putting him with Simmonds or Robertson just doesnt make sense to me and I think makes the line fairly useless, Kampf does not provide offense and Simmonds and Robertson should not be on a checking line. I think we need to think about the purpose of each line if we want to achieve balance and depth. With no trades or signings, I like something like:

Bunting/Matthews/Nylander
Robertson/Tavares/Marner
Engvall/Kampf/Jarnkrok
NAK/Kerfoot/????

??? = Simmonds, Malgin, Anderson, or Gaudette

 

[zeke]

Some players are better at centre, and some are better on the wing.

Centre is physically harder, but mentally easier.

how do you figure its mentally easier in the middle?

center is much much harder than wing in pretty much every way.

 

[Dreakmur]

how do you figure its mentally easier in the middle?

center is much much harder than wing in pretty much every way.

Centre is a lot more work and winger is a lot more play reading and knowing when to go and when to wait.

In the d zone, for example, the centre’s job is to supply the puck down low, which is much more physical than mental. Wingers on the other hand, play more of a positional game, reading the offensive schemes and taking away the more dangerous passing lanes, which is much more mental than physical.

 

[OVO16]

Johan Larrson should be the remaining target over ZAR tbh. I thought he had signed with the Penguins but he hasn't.

Larrson is actually better than ZAR, while also having that toughness. He's also a C and can play wing. More versatile

 

[Budz]

The Kesell talk is ridiculous.
Like I can’t even…

Half of our idiot fan base hates JT. Let’s bring 3 hotdog Phil back. COME ON.

The season and training camp can’t start soon enough.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Johan Larrson should be the remaining target over ZAR tbh. I thought he had signed with the Penguins but he hasn't.

Larrson is actually better than ZAR, while also having that toughness. He's also a C and can play wing. More versatile

Thought he’s signed with Pittsburgh