Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 - Deadline-ageddon

[Fogelhund]

Yeah no kidding. Why mess with it.

It will probably be a quiet deadline and that's OK. We are not close to contending anyways, and it's not worth to mortgage the farm for a cup run yet.

McCabe Tanev
Rielly XXX
OEL Timmins
Benoit Myers

Is how I see it too... don't mess with what has worked this year, and find a way to address what hasn't worked. It doesn't need to be fancy.

As far as competing... I'm not sure we are somehow going to get more competitive in the future, as these guys get older. I'm just not sure where the growth is... it's either the next two or three years, or this group will never do it. I'm not saying I'm confident in them, just that the window is now....

 

[Budz]

I think I might even consider Deharnais @50% = 1 million as depth.

I’m still gunning for a retained Schenn.

 

[Fogelhund]

I think I might even consider Deharnais @50% = 1 million as depth.

I’m still gunning for a retained Schenn.

Which Schenn? Given there are two, it's probably best to clarify.

 

[Commander Clueless]

McCabe Tanev
Rielly XXX
OEL Timmins
Benoit Myers

Is how I see it too... don't mess with what has worked this year, and find a way to address what hasn't worked. It doesn't need to be fancy.

As far as competing... I'm not sure we are somehow going to get more competitive in the future, as these guys get older. I'm just not sure where the growth is... it's either the next two or three years, or this group will never do it. I'm not saying I'm confident in them, just that the window is now....

I don't think Timmins or Myers should be a regular. I like both players, but they are #7s in my mind. Good depth to have if we can afford it, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Timmins moved in a deadline deal.

I think either you get one RD (a beefy, defense first partner for Rielly) and run

Rielly-XXX
OEL-Tanev
Benoit-McCabe

(You can swap OEL and McCabe, but I'm not sure about Benoit-OEL as a pairing. Benoit-McCabe was killer last year, and OEL-Tanev has been good)


OR get two RDs and push Benoit to #7.

Rielly-XXX
McCabe-Tanev
OEL-XXX

 

[Fogelhund]

I don't think Timmins or Myers should be a regular. I like both players, but they are #7s in my mind. Good depth to have if we can afford it, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Timmins moved in a deadline deal.

I think either you get one RD (a beefy, defense first partner for Rielly) and run

Rielly-XXX
OEL-Tanev
Benoit-McCabe

(You can swap OEL and McCabe, but I'm not sure about Benoit-OEL as a pairing. Benoit-McCabe was killer last year, and OEL-Tanev has been good)


OR get two RDs and push Benoit to #7.

Rielly-XXX
McCabe-Tanev
OEL-XXX

Here is the data with OEL on the third pairing.

With Timmins, they are plus two, positive in Shot %, and Corsi.
With Benoit, they are break even, but negative in Shot %, and Corsi.

It's the same with McCabe.

We are better with Timmins on the third pair, than Benoit.

Benoit has been bad this year.

GF	GA	+-	SF	SA	S%	CF	CA	C%
1	446:37	42.6	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - MORGAN RIELLY	20	18	2	228	228	50.0	442	465	48.7
2	237:11	22.6	CHRIS TANEV - OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON	14	3	11	106	91	53.8	218	210	50.9
3	122:19	11.7	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - JAKE MCCABE	7	6	1	78	56	58.2	161	122	56.9
4	113:22	10.8	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - CONOR TIMMINS	6	4	2	60	56	51.7	143	102	58.4
5	77:43	7.4	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - SIMON BENOIT	4	4	0	32	37	46.4	65	74	46.8
6	23:12	2.2	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - PHILIPPE MYERS	1	1	0	9	14	39.1	27	23	54.0

1	507:34	55.2	CHRIS TANEV - JAKE MCCABE	34	21	13	213	224	48.7	443	530	45.5
2	122:19	13.3	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - JAKE MCCABE	7	6	1	78	56	58.2	161	122	56.9
3	115:19	12.5	MORGAN RIELLY - JAKE MCCABE	6	4	2	56	59	48.7	115	111	50.9
4	105:18	11.5	JAKE MCCABE - SIMON BENOIT	8	5	3	43	55	43.9	91	134	40.4
5	47:56	5.2	JAKE MCCABE - CONOR TIMMINS	4	3	1	35	22	61.4	70	45	60.9

 

[pspot]

sounds like Carlo might be available, he'd be a great target for leafs. Age , cap hit and addresses a few needs

 

[Commander Clueless]

Here is the data with OEL on the third pairing.

With Timmins, they are plus two, positive in Shot %, and Corsi.
With Benoit, they are break even, but negative in Shot %, and Corsi.

It's the same with McCabe.

We are better with Timmins on the third pair, than Benoit.

Benoit has been bad this year.

GF	GA	+-	SF	SA	S%	CF	CA	C%
1	446:37	42.6	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - MORGAN RIELLY	20	18	2	228	228	50.0	442	465	48.7
2	237:11	22.6	CHRIS TANEV - OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON	14	3	11	106	91	53.8	218	210	50.9
3	122:19	11.7	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - JAKE MCCABE	7	6	1	78	56	58.2	161	122	56.9
4	113:22	10.8	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - CONOR TIMMINS	6	4	2	60	56	51.7	143	102	58.4
5	77:43	7.4	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - SIMON BENOIT	4	4	0	32	37	46.4	65	74	46.8
6	23:12	2.2	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - PHILIPPE MYERS	1	1	0	9	14	39.1	27	23	54.0

1	507:34	55.2	CHRIS TANEV - JAKE MCCABE	34	21	13	213	224	48.7	443	530	45.5
2	122:19	13.3	OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON - JAKE MCCABE	7	6	1	78	56	58.2	161	122	56.9
3	115:19	12.5	MORGAN RIELLY - JAKE MCCABE	6	4	2	56	59	48.7	115	111	50.9
4	105:18	11.5	JAKE MCCABE - SIMON BENOIT	8	5	3	43	55	43.9	91	134	40.4
5	47:56	5.2	JAKE MCCABE - CONOR TIMMINS	4	3	1	35	22	61.4	70	45	60.9

Sounds like an argument for Option #2?

 

[Stephen]

Trotz is an awful gm, call him up and see what happens Brad

Would you seriously blow out all your assets to support a playoff run led by a 30 goal Auston Matthews? Even if the field is weak, there’s just a lack of star power to drive this thing. At the rate things are going the number one priority should be to find a 70 goal scoring center and put AM34 on the second unit. I’m being facetious but that’s literally the Team USA slotting from Four Nations. And the guy was being load managed in a 4 game tourney.

 

[Stephen]

I don't know how we'd properly compensate Carolina for acquiring Rantanen. Sure, great player and all, but wing is the least position of need, after C/RD... to spend assets on a non-need seems silly to me, but maybe there is a way to address everything? I don't have confidence in Tre to do such things though.

If we got Rantanen it would allow for a much more robust reworking in the offseason, presuming we sign him and mold the team differently.

 

[Americanadian]

I think I might even consider Deharnais @50% = 1 million as depth.

I’m still gunning for a retained Schenn.

Pittsburgh has 1 retention slot left. It’s very unlikely they use up a slot for 2 seasons for what micht be a 3rd round pick in return. It’s far more likely they use that last retention slot for Rakell or Karlsson or even as a 3rd team where they can probably fetch a similar pick.

 

[TMLAM34]

I would try and keep Timmins and have Myers as our #7. I like Benoit but 3rd pair LHD are so easy to find and replace. Heck we may already have one already within the system in Rifai. I’d either use Benoit in a package deal or trade him to recoup some draft capital.

Murphy would be a fantastic addition to this blueline as I’ve given up hope on acquiring Parayko.

Ideal blueline post TDL heading into the playoffs for me would be -

McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Murphy
Ekman Larsson - Timmins
Myers

I think that has a good blend of size, physicality, puck moving ability and experience to go deep in the playoffs.

 

[SprDaVE]

I think I might even consider Deharnais @50% = 1 million as depth.

I’m still gunning for a retained Schenn.

Desharnais is really struggling and I struggle to think he'd be any better than Myers... but the Leafs had a lot of interest in him last season. I don't know how he got 2M from the Canucks but yeesh.

 

[Fogelhund]

If we got Rantanen it would allow for a much more robust reworking in the offseason, presuming we sign him and mold the team differently.

This is true... but then, it probably makes far more sense to fix the team with what it needs NOW, and then explore signing Rantanen as a UFA, if we choose to make a change in direction. We aren't getting a discount by trading, and then signing... and we are giving up a ton of assets. I'm not sure trading for another winger, and no longer having the assets to obtain a C, or RD really makes us more competitive now.

I'm also highly skeptical that this organization really has the appetite to make the type of change, that we as fans might feel is necessary. They've just shown no real indication that such changes are in the pipeline. I mean it's been talked about that Marner and Tavares extensions have been discussed already... that doesn't seem to indicate that a rework is coming at all.

 

[Stephen]

This is true... but then, it probably makes far more sense to fix the team with what it needs NOW, and then explore signing Rantanen as a UFA, if we choose to make a change in direction. We aren't getting a discount by trading, and then signing... and we are giving up a ton of assets. I'm not sure trading for another winger, and no longer having the assets to obtain a C, or RD really makes us more competitive now.

I'm also highly skeptical that this organization really has the appetite to make the type of change, that we as fans might feel is necessary. They've just shown no real indication that such changes are in the pipeline. I mean it's been talked about that Marner and Tavares extensions have been discussed already... that doesn't seem to indicate that a rework is coming at all.

If we trade for him the upshot is we have one run with Rantanen, Marner and Tavares under one umbrella. But after the offseason, that trio becomes a duo at best.

Fundamentally, I think we need to future plan and start the next era and getting a new core player would be a good start.

 

[TMLAM34]

I would stay clear from acquiring Rantanen at the TDL, if he’s even available. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carolina ends up keeping him as their own rental and hoping a deep playoff run or a championship keeps him around longer. Awful look on the organization however acquiring two stars in back to back deadline who end up walking away.

However, if we have another disappointing playoff run all hands on deck this off-season. Maybe swap negotiation rights with Carolina for Marner and Rantanen and if Rantanen is actually serious about playing with Matthews and then you lock him up. Knies - Matthews - Rantanen would be dirty.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would try and keep Timmins and have Myers as our #7. I like Benoit but 3rd pair LHD are so easy to find and replace. Heck we may already have one already within the system in Rifai. I’d either use Benoit in a package deal or trade him to recoup some draft capital.

Murphy would be a fantastic addition to this blueline as I’ve given up hope on acquiring Parayko.

Ideal blueline post TDL heading into the playoffs for me would be -

McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Murphy
Ekman Larsson - Timmins
Myers

I think that has a good blend of size, physicality, puck moving ability and experience to go deep in the playoffs.

As long as the cap allows it, I'd keep Benoit for this season as depth insurance. Off season, maybe I agree, to find someone at a marginally cheaper cap hit. He should be a 7/8, if we've got McCabe, Rielly, OEL ahead of him. It doesn't make sense LT to keep someone at $1.35 as insurance....

Murphy is likely the most obtainable guy who "should" be a fit for Mo. I'd love Gudas, but I doubt they'd move him. Schenn is a guy who worked before, but who knows if age has affected that. Murphy's mobility isn't what it once was though... Carlo if truly available would be a good pickup as well.

 

[hullsy47]

Its the closest we will be for a while unfortunately.....we already mortgaged the farm when we cut the rebuild short years ago.....its do or die this season

And i strongly believe if management doesnt assess our issues it forces Marner & Tavares to sign with another team.

Worst part about this is no one wants to deal draft picks but not one draft pick for the next 10+ years will turn out to be like Marner...thats reality

Dubas figured he d have outscored his way to the cup by now

 

[Fogelhund]

Fundamentally, I think we need to future plan and start the next era and getting a new core player would be a good start.

Do you believe that management would see it the same way, and is likely to start a new era, if we fail to progress in the playoffs this year?

 

[Stephen]

Do you believe that management would see it the same way, and is likely to start a new era, if we fail to progress in the playoffs this year?

That’s their problem, I’m just outlining what I think is right.

 

[SprDaVE]

I see TBL and FLA having high interest in him. Leafs should also be calling but their needs are a little different. Maybe a Gourde + Tanev thing happens

 

[Commander Clueless]

I see TBL and FLA having high interest in him. Leafs should also be calling but their needs are a little different. Maybe a Gourde + Tanev thing happens

Is it wishful thinking to hope for Gourde and Tanev both retained?

 

[ULF_55]

Rantanen or McTavish

What would cost more?

Really be interested in McTavish ... but not sure he moves the needle this year.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Is it wishful thinking to hope for Gourde and Tanev both retained?

Nope but it’ll cost you

 

[BertCorbeau]

Rantanen or McTavish

What would cost more?

Really be interested in McTavish ... but not sure he moves the needle this year.

Is Anaheim actually going to move him? I’d be all over it but I feel like that’s an offseason move around the draft.

 

[SprDaVE]

Is it wishful thinking to hope for Gourde and Tanev both retained?

Seattle has used 0/3 retention slots so it's very possible they do it for both players and gain better value.

Gourde is on LTIR and is questionable to be ready before the playoffs. So you might not need him retained. A trade involving him needs to happen soon so that you can do a medical beforehand and make sure you're not getting something awful.