Trades and Free Agency Discussion - The Dog Days of Summer

[Nylanderthal]

To Toronto-
Adam Larsson
Shane Wright
Andre Burakovsky

To Seattle-
William Nylander
T.J Brodie
Nick Robertson

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Marner
Domi-Tavares-Burakovsky
Knies-Wright-Jarnkrok
Reaves-Kampf-Lafferty

Rielly-Larsson
McCabe-Klingberg
Benoit-Liljegren
Giordano

This trade allows Wright to develop without the pressure of being in the top 6 and eventually take over the 2C position once Tavares contracts runs out.

Don't hate the premise but i think there's too much "noise" there. Something around Willy for Wright + some draft capital works for both sides I think if there comes a point where an extension with willy simply won't happen. If seattle needs to juggle some cap around to make the deal work I get it, but I don't see the desire from Seattle to swap out parts like larsson brodie burakovsky and robertson. Value is fine though.

 

[Fogelhund]

Don't hate the premise but i think there's too much "noise" there. Something around Willy for Wright + some draft capital works for both sides I think if there comes a point where an extension with willy simply won't happen. If seattle needs to juggle some cap around to make the deal work I get it, but I don't see the desire from Seattle to swap out parts like larsson brodie burakovsky and robertson. Value is fine though.

Whether it's Burakowsky or Bjorkstrand who has also been discussed, they are the cap moving out to even the trade up a bit. Nylander I think is worth quite a bit more than Wright, and we could use Larsson... Then they'd need Brodie, and Robertson evens it back up. Seattle fans don't want to move Wright at all, and believe he is the guy, or can be the guy who had all the hype pre draft.

 

[Nylanderthal]

Whether it's Burakowsky or Bjorkstrand who has also been discussed, they are the cap moving out to even the trade up a bit. Nylander I think is worth quite a bit more than Wright, and we could use Larsson... Then they'd need Brodie, and Robertson evens it back up. Seattle fans don't want to move Wright at all, and believe he is the guy, or can be the guy who had all the hype pre draft.

I agree that Willy would be worth more than just Wright, that's why I suggested some draft capital coming back as well. After looking at seattles cap friendly page I'm not sure they would be interested in the Brodie for Larsson aspect, they have 8 NHL D under contract and I think their top 6 is set, although not spectacular. Dunn, Larsson, Oleksiak, doumolin, Borgen & Schultz all are top 6 NHL D, some being much better than that. They would need to send some cap back to make the move work though as surprisingly they are right up against the ceiling and have Burakovsky to come off LTIR. Not sure who or what that could be though. As a transplant to the west coast I've got a soft spot for the kraken as it annoys the canuck fan locals and Willy would definitely bring a lot of what they're missing.
Wright + Burakovsky/Bjorkstrand + 1st
Willy + something (dunno if I'd do robertson, i still have hope for him to be productive)

 

[LeafSteel]

Golden Knights to Sign Max Comtois to a PTO Contract

Comtois to sign PTO with Vegas.

If he’s clear to play, he’s well worth a league minimum contract to get him out of PTO’s.

Very low risk, high reward. At minimum is a solid 3LW option for us.

 

[Taylor Halls Teeth]

Golden Knights to Sign Max Comtois to a PTO Contract

Comtois to sign PTO with Vegas.

If he’s clear to play, he’s well worth a league minimum contract to get him out of PTO’s.

Very low risk, high reward. At minimum is a solid 3LW option for us.

Free wallet. A one way deal at league minimum trumps a pto and they could release or bury him with no negative cap implications. If a pto is all he gets then there are more concerns about his game beyond the junior thing.

 

[Stephen]

Golden Knights to Sign Max Comtois to a PTO Contract

Comtois to sign PTO with Vegas.

If he’s clear to play, he’s well worth a league minimum contract to get him out of PTO’s.

Very low risk, high reward. At minimum is a solid 3LW option for us.

Correct me if I'm wrong but any team could step in and offer Comtois a league minimum contract at any time, right?

 

[LeafSteel]

Correct me if I'm wrong but any team could step in and offer Comtois a league minimum contract at any time, right?

100% correct.

Anyone who offers him a league minimum contract can sign him.

If the NHL has investigated and given him the green light to play, he would absolutely be a signing that makes sense for us.

1 year deal, and let’s us slide Knies and Domi wherever works best for us, and would bring a lot of talent to 4 LW if that’s where he ends up slotting.

 

[Stephen]

100% correct.

Anyone who offers him a league minimum contract can sign him.

If the NHL has investigated and given him the green light to play, he would absolutely be a signing that makes sense for us.

1 year deal, and let’s us slide Knies and Domi wherever works best for us, and would bring a lot of talent to 4 LW if that’s where he ends up slotting.

I'm actually curious how often this happens. Seems like we've had a few guys over the years who were on PTO's and at risk of a third party offer but you don't often hear guys getting plucked away from their tryouts.

Wonder if there's an old boys club rule about that.

 

[LeafChief]

Jarnkrok worked well in the top 6 last year and was pretty invisible when outside of the top 6. With Nylander, Marner, Bertuzzi locking up 3/4 of the top 6 wing spots and Domi/Knies looking to grab the last one, I feel like Jarnkrok may be the spot to liquidate and sign someone cheaper.

Maybe a Tatar or a Heinen if you want someone that can PK.

 

[uncleben]

I'm actually curious how often this happens. Seems like we've had a few guys over the years who were on PTO's and at risk of a third party offer but you don't often hear guys getting plucked away from their tryouts.

Wonder if there's an old boys club rule about that.

I think most teams would just release the player from the PTO and let them go if they have a deal somewhere else and the team wasn't ready to match

Preseason 2015 we signed Mark Fraser to a PTO
We released him before the end of camp and he immediately signed an NHL deal with Ottawa

 

[LeafSteel]

I'm actually curious how often this happens. Seems like we've had a few guys over the years who were on PTO's and at risk of a third party offer but you don't often hear guys getting plucked away from their tryouts.

Wonder if there's an old boys club rule about that.

Interesting observation. I don’t remember a PTO offered by one team, only to be signed by another team before the end of camp.

Having said that, plucking a player from waivers seems more aggressive and annoying than offering a contract to a PTO, as most waivers are players teams want to keep but either are cash crunched or it’s a numbers game.

 

[Americanadian]

Interesting observation. I don’t remember a PTO offered by one team, only to be signed by another team before the end of camp.

Kris Versteeg did this when he signed with Calgary.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Kris Versteeg did this when he signed with Calgary.

Believe Sopel was with Detroit Red Wings in camp too and then signed with the Blackhawks.

 

[LeafSteel]

Goals and expectations for every centre on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Depth Chart

I enjoyed reading this.

Cheers

 

[jaric1862]

For cap reasons, the Leafs should deal Jarnkrok and sign Tatar.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

I think most teams would just release the player from the PTO and let them go if they have a deal somewhere else and the team wasn't ready to match

Preseason 2015 we signed Mark Fraser to a PTO
We released him before the end of camp and he immediately signed an NHL deal with Ottawa

Just was about to say it happens often when another team can't make it happen.

 

[Americanadian]

Leafs current roster:

The issue with this team is there are UFAs littered throughout the roster and there is not much team control.
UFAs:
Brodie
Bertuzzi
Nylander
Lafferty
Domi
Gio
Samsonov
Klingberg

My fixes:
Nylander to SEA for Wright, Borgen, Tolvanen

Seattle picks up a goal threat to add to their 2nd line with Wennberg/Burakovsky. They have the money to re-sign Nylander. Toronto picks up 3 players with team control past this season. Tolvanen is a very good 3rd liner and potentially a 2nd line player. Wright has 1C potential.

Borgen+Minten+Jarnkrok to CHI for Murphy

Chicago picks up a RD replacement for Murphy who is 4 years younger. They also pick up a prospect to add to their cupboards. Toronto picks up a RD who can play next to Rielly and is signed for 3 years at a reasonable cap hit. Murphy is better than all of Schenn, Lyubushkin and Hainsey. Jarnkrok is filler in this deal - I don't know his value or who would want him/not want him.

Lafferty to EDM for Foegele

This gives EDM their 4C and saves them 1.6M which will help reduce their bonus overage this season from the C. Brown contract. This opens up a spot at 3rd line wing which is presumably taken by Holloway or Lavoie. Both players are UFA - Toronto gets the better player in a lesser position but takes on more money.

Brodie to VAN for Garland

This assumes VAN moves out Myers. Brodie slides in on one of the top 2 pairs next to either of Hughes or Hronek and provides a steady defensive presence in a cap neutral move. VAN also frees up a spot to move Podkolzin up the lineup or Hoglander into the lineup. Toronto gets a top 6 RW to replace Nylander. Garland provides equal value to Nylander at 5v5 - making up for Nylander's offense with his defensive contributions. Garland is signed for 3 more seasons.

My team:

This team has significantly more team control moving forward. You now have enough money to re-sign 2 of Foegele/Domi/Bertuzzi the following season if they perform well. You also have a partner for Rielly for 3 seasons. The forward group is more balanced with Foegele anchoring the 4th line and none of the lines are below replacement level defensively (as a sum of the players values). Overall you shed 3 UFAs (Nylander, Brodie, Lafferty) and one prospect (Minten) while taking on 1 UFA and gaining a prospect who is the same age and better than Minten (Wright). The team is not significantly better on paper (1 point better) but they are better set up for the future.

 

[Menzinger]

Leafs current roster:

View attachment 740944
The issue with this team is there are UFAs littered throughout the roster and there is not much team control.
UFAs:
Brodie
Bertuzzi
Nylander
Lafferty
Domi
Gio
Samsonov
Klingberg

My fixes:
Nylander to SEA for Wright, Borgen, Tolvanen

Seattle picks up a goal threat to add to their 2nd line with Wennberg/Burakovsky. They have the money to re-sign Nylander. Toronto picks up 3 players with team control past this season. Tolvanen is a very good 3rd liner and potentially a 2nd line player. Wright has 1C potential.

Borgen+Minten+Jarnkrok to CHI for Murphy

Chicago picks up a RD replacement for Murphy who is 4 years younger. They also pick up a prospect to add to their cupboards. Toronto picks up a RD who can play next to Rielly and is signed for 3 years at a reasonable cap hit. Murphy is better than all of Schenn, Lyubushkin and Hainsey. Jarnkrok is filler in this deal - I don't know his value or who would want him/not want him.

Lafferty to EDM for Foegele

This gives EDM their 4C and saves them 1.6M which will help reduce their bonus overage this season from the C. Brown contract. This opens up a spot at 3rd line wing which is presumably taken by Holloway or Lavoie. Both players are UFA - Toronto gets the better player in a lesser position but takes on more money.

Brodie to VAN for Garland

This assumes VAN moves out Myers. Brodie slides in on one of the top 2 pairs next to either of Hughes or Hronek and provides a steady defensive presence in a cap neutral move. VAN also frees up a spot to move Podkolzin up the lineup or Hoglander into the lineup. Toronto gets a top 6 RW to replace Nylander. Garland provides equal value to Nylander at 5v5 - making up for Nylander's offense with his defensive contributions. Garland is signed for 3 more seasons.

My team:
View attachment 740946

This team has significantly more team control moving forward. You now have enough money to re-sign 2 of Foegele/Domi/Bertuzzi the following season if they perform well. You also have a partner for Rielly for 3 seasons. The forward group is more balanced with Foegele anchoring the 4th line and none of the lines are below replacement level defensively (as a sum of the players values). Overall you shed 3 UFAs (Nylander, Brodie, Lafferty) and one prospect (Minten) while taking on 1 UFA and gaining a prospect who is the same age and better than Minten (Wright). The team is not significantly better on paper (1 point better) but they are better set up for the future.

You'd be better off trading Brodie for futures and then getting Garland for future considerations.

Personally I don't want anything to do with him; he's barely a tier above Jarnkrok offensively for almost 3 mil more per year, locked in.

 

[Kiwi]

Leafs current roster:

View attachment 740944
The issue with this team is there are UFAs littered throughout the roster and there is not much team control.
UFAs:
Brodie
Bertuzzi
Nylander
Lafferty
Domi
Gio
Samsonov
Klingberg

My fixes:
Nylander to SEA for Wright, Borgen, Tolvanen

Seattle picks up a goal threat to add to their 2nd line with Wennberg/Burakovsky. They have the money to re-sign Nylander. Toronto picks up 3 players with team control past this season. Tolvanen is a very good 3rd liner and potentially a 2nd line player. Wright has 1C potential.

Borgen+Minten+Jarnkrok to CHI for Murphy

Chicago picks up a RD replacement for Murphy who is 4 years younger. They also pick up a prospect to add to their cupboards. Toronto picks up a RD who can play next to Rielly and is signed for 3 years at a reasonable cap hit. Murphy is better than all of Schenn, Lyubushkin and Hainsey. Jarnkrok is filler in this deal - I don't know his value or who would want him/not want him.

Lafferty to EDM for Foegele

This gives EDM their 4C and saves them 1.6M which will help reduce their bonus overage this season from the C. Brown contract. This opens up a spot at 3rd line wing which is presumably taken by Holloway or Lavoie. Both players are UFA - Toronto gets the better player in a lesser position but takes on more money.

Brodie to VAN for Garland

This assumes VAN moves out Myers. Brodie slides in on one of the top 2 pairs next to either of Hughes or Hronek and provides a steady defensive presence in a cap neutral move. VAN also frees up a spot to move Podkolzin up the lineup or Hoglander into the lineup. Toronto gets a top 6 RW to replace Nylander. Garland provides equal value to Nylander at 5v5 - making up for Nylander's offense with his defensive contributions. Garland is signed for 3 more seasons.

My team:
View attachment 740946

This team has significantly more team control moving forward. You now have enough money to re-sign 2 of Foegele/Domi/Bertuzzi the following season if they perform well. You also have a partner for Rielly for 3 seasons. The forward group is more balanced with Foegele anchoring the 4th line and none of the lines are below replacement level defensively (as a sum of the players values). Overall you shed 3 UFAs (Nylander, Brodie, Lafferty) and one prospect (Minten) while taking on 1 UFA and gaining a prospect who is the same age and better than Minten (Wright). The team is not significantly better on paper (1 point better) but they are better set up for the future.

Having a lot of pending UFA'S is fine, at least it gives us plenty of opportunity to alter the composition of the team in the offseason if we think it's necessary

Better that than a bunch of guys signed long term on iffy contracts

Also this looks like some roster building game on Xbox, there's no way in hell you're getting that kind of work done in one offseason

 

[Fogelhund]

Leafs current roster:

View attachment 740944
The issue with this team is there are UFAs littered throughout the roster and there is not much team control.
UFAs:
Brodie
Bertuzzi
Nylander
Lafferty
Domi
Gio
Samsonov
Klingberg

My fixes:
Nylander to SEA for Wright, Borgen, Tolvanen

Seattle picks up a goal threat to add to their 2nd line with Wennberg/Burakovsky. They have the money to re-sign Nylander. Toronto picks up 3 players with team control past this season. Tolvanen is a very good 3rd liner and potentially a 2nd line player. Wright has 1C potential.

Borgen+Minten+Jarnkrok to CHI for Murphy

Chicago picks up a RD replacement for Murphy who is 4 years younger. They also pick up a prospect to add to their cupboards. Toronto picks up a RD who can play next to Rielly and is signed for 3 years at a reasonable cap hit. Murphy is better than all of Schenn, Lyubushkin and Hainsey. Jarnkrok is filler in this deal - I don't know his value or who would want him/not want him.

Lafferty to EDM for Foegele

This gives EDM their 4C and saves them 1.6M which will help reduce their bonus overage this season from the C. Brown contract. This opens up a spot at 3rd line wing which is presumably taken by Holloway or Lavoie. Both players are UFA - Toronto gets the better player in a lesser position but takes on more money.

Brodie to VAN for Garland

This assumes VAN moves out Myers. Brodie slides in on one of the top 2 pairs next to either of Hughes or Hronek and provides a steady defensive presence in a cap neutral move. VAN also frees up a spot to move Podkolzin up the lineup or Hoglander into the lineup. Toronto gets a top 6 RW to replace Nylander. Garland provides equal value to Nylander at 5v5 - making up for Nylander's offense with his defensive contributions. Garland is signed for 3 more seasons.

My team:
View attachment 740946

This team has significantly more team control moving forward. You now have enough money to re-sign 2 of Foegele/Domi/Bertuzzi the following season if they perform well. You also have a partner for Rielly for 3 seasons. The forward group is more balanced with Foegele anchoring the 4th line and none of the lines are below replacement level defensively (as a sum of the players values). Overall you shed 3 UFAs (Nylander, Brodie, Lafferty) and one prospect (Minten) while taking on 1 UFA and gaining a prospect who is the same age and better than Minten (Wright). The team is not significantly better on paper (1 point better) but they are better set up for the future.

Wright isn't going to be a 1C. If things go really well, maybe a 2C.

I'm not a fan of the Seattle trade at all. Not to mention, it puts Seattle $2 mil over the cap... it's a trade that doesn't work. This is why you almost always see Bjorkstrand or Burakowsky in these trades, to even out the cap.

No interest in Garland, if anything, we need to be harder to play against, and he certainly doesn't do that for us. Well overpaid for what he provides. Besides, if you do a deal with Seattle, you end up with Bjork, or Burakowsky, which eliminates both the cap and roster space for Garland.

The rest of the trades fall apart from there.

 

[Americanadian]

You'd be better off trading Brodie for futures and then getting Garland for future considerations.

Personally I don't want anything to do with him; he's barely a tier above Jarnkrok offensively for almost 3 mil more per year, locked in.

If he was a pure offensive player I'd agree but that's not his game. He's consistently been a strong defensive player.

 

[Americanadian]

Having a lot of pending UFA'S is fine, at least it gives us plenty of opportunity to alter the composition of the team in the offseason if we think it's necessary

Better that than a bunch of guys signed long term on iffy contracts

Also this looks like some roster building game on Xbox, there's no way in hell you're getting that kind of work done in one offseason

When you say: "there's no way in hell you're getting that kind of work done in one offseason", you're referring to 4 trades?

Having UFAs offers flexibility in the worst way possible. The only way you can pivot once those contracts expire is by acquiring UFAs to replace them which rarely work out. The success rate of UFA contracts (the player's outperforms the contract) is <10%.

Wright isn't going to be a 1C. If things go really well, maybe a 2C.

I'm not a fan of the Seattle trade at all. Not to mention, it puts Seattle $2 mil over the cap... it's a trade that doesn't work. This is why you almost always see Bjorkstrand or Burakowsky in these trades, to even out the cap.

No interest in Garland, if anything, we need to be harder to play against, and he certainly doesn't do that for us. Well overpaid for what he provides. Besides, if you do a deal with Seattle, you end up with Bjork, or Burakowsky, which eliminates both the cap and roster space for Garland.

The rest of the trades fall apart from there.

Good points. I agree on Wright. I don't see Nylander returning Bjorkstrand/Burakovsky+ as others have suggested here so that was a non-starter for me. Seattle would have to move Driedger to LTIR or in a trade to facilitate the trade I proposed. Or include a 3rd team to retain 50% of Nylander's salary for this upcoming season. As far as Garland goes - I think he's more of what the team needs despite his small stature. I like the tenacity in his game and I think the Leafs need more tenacity.

 

[Fogelhund]

Good points. I agree on Wright. I don't see Nylander returning Bjorkstrand/Burakovsky+ as others have suggested here so that was a non-starter for me. Seattle would have to move Driedger to LTIR or in a trade to facilitate the trade I proposed. Or include a 3rd team to retain 50% of Nylander's salary for this upcoming season. As far as Garland goes - I think he's more of what the team needs despite his small stature. I like the tenacity in his game and I think the Leafs need more tenacity.

I mean Bjorkstrand has only gone over 50 points once, and has a career high of 28 goals and 57 points.

Nylander has outscored Bjork by a huge margin, including 87 points, and 40 goals last year... but you don't see Nylander returning Bjork plus?

Nylander is a pretty elite winger, and Bjork is the definition of average. More than anything Bjork is them moving cap to upgrade their wingers.

 

[Stephen]

Wright isn't going to be a 1C. If things go really well, maybe a 2C.

I'm not a fan of the Seattle trade at all. Not to mention, it puts Seattle $2 mil over the cap... it's a trade that doesn't work. This is why you almost always see Bjorkstrand or Burakowsky in these trades, to even out the cap.

No interest in Garland, if anything, we need to be harder to play against, and he certainly doesn't do that for us. Well overpaid for what he provides. Besides, if you do a deal with Seattle, you end up with Bjork, or Burakowsky, which eliminates both the cap and roster space for Garland.

The rest of the trades fall apart from there.

Shane Wright seems like a player who has had a lot disruption to his development over the past 3 years and more question marks than answers in terms of what he'll become.

 

[Kiwi]

When you say: "there's no way in hell you're getting that kind of work done in one offseason", you're referring to 4 trades?

Having UFAs offers flexibility in the worst way possible. The only way you can pivot once those contracts expire is by acquiring UFAs to replace them which rarely work out. The success rate of UFA contracts (the player's outperforms the contract) is <10%.


Good points. I agree on Wright. I don't see Nylander returning Bjorkstrand/Burakovsky+ as others have suggested here so that was a non-starter for me. Seattle would have to move Driedger to LTIR or in a trade to facilitate the trade I proposed. Or include a 3rd team to retain 50% of Nylander's salary for this upcoming season. As far as Garland goes - I think he's more of what the team needs despite his small stature. I like the tenacity in his game and I think the Leafs need more tenacity.

Yes, I'm referring to 4 trades

Did any team even come close to doing all of that this offseason? If you do one big trade your ahead of about 95% of the teams in the league and you have names like Nylander and Wright?

I was generous, no ******** way that's happening

You can also develop players and fill spots internally like Knies and Liljegren
Also a lot of our UFA buying is bottom 6F and bottom 4D which are plentiful and are minimal risk