Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 Season Edition

[LeafsStorm]

I had a horrible dream we traded Knies for Craig Smith and a 2nd round pick. I was freaking out and calling it the worst trade the Leafs ever made.

Wtf

 

[aingefan]

Not a bad list of targets. There are always a few surprises for both buyers and sellers so it will really depend on that. It also depends on our injury situation by the deadline, where some needs can grow exponentially.

I think Brandon Tanev will be among the high list of targets, but he's a winger so it may not make sense until the off-season.

I would add Scott Laughton as a top target for center upgrades (and there has been plenty of smoke the Leafs interest in him for awhile). Brock Nelson might be on the market if the Islanders don't do well and he's really good. I'd also have some interest in Jake Evans from Montreal.

For D, I think Alec Martinez might be a big time veteran. He can play both sides too. Leafs may circle back to Mario Ferarro (a lot of smoke they were in on him for a bit). I also like Savard and Borgren for RHD defensive upgrades.

If they’re trading for Gourde, expect it at American Thanksgiving.

 

[aingefan]

I am not saying he is one of our six best forwards, but I would like to see him on one of our more balanced top three lines with Nylander.

Knies Matthews Marner
Holmberg Domi Nylander
Pacioretty Tavares Robertson
Lorentz Kampf McMann

Jarnkrok Dewar Reaves

Holmberg brings defensive play to a line with Domi and Nylander and he has some creativity, flare and drive that he needs to bring more consistently.

Side Note. We have to move a F or two unless someone expensive goes on the LTIR. Dewar and Jarnkrok will be back and Reaves will still need to get some games. This doesn't even consider Minten. You have to think Kampf is getting moved.

You could showcase Kampf between Pontus and Willy.
Willy can run wild, Pontus can keep up, Kampf can get some secondary points, and there’s plenty of defence and tenacity there to complement the flow
Problem is, it might be pretty good.

 

[conFABulator]

You could showcase Kampf between Pontus and Willy.
Willy can run wild, Pontus can keep up, Kampf can get some secondary points, and there’s plenty of defence and tenacity there to complement the flow
Problem is, it might be pretty good.

Good idea, I don't get the impression that Berube is the "showcase" type. He already has Kampf off the prime as our PK and Liljegren in the press box

 

[rumman]

Good idea, I don't get the impression that Berube is the "showcase" type. He already has Kampf off the prime as our PK and Liljegren in the press box

Yeah, I could see friction if Tre asks Chief to play players they’re wanting to move, his mantra of players having to earn their ice time is a refreshing change, can’t make exceptions if you want it to work…….

 

[Mess]

Spittin' Chiclets co-host Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette planting seeds about Connor McDavid and the Maple Leafs in recent social media post.​

Bissonnette has often shown himself to be a very open Leafs fan, supporting the team with every opportunity he gets. His latest post is one that should be very entertaining for Leafs Nation and not so entertaining for fans of the Oilers. Biz Nasty suggests that McDavid is simply biding his time until he can sign with the Leafs.

 

[Sypher04]

Spittin' Chiclets co-host Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette planting seeds about Connor McDavid and the Maple Leafs in recent social media post.​

Bissonnette has often shown himself to be a very open Leafs fan, supporting the team with every opportunity he gets. His latest post is one that should be very entertaining for Leafs Nation and not so entertaining for fans of the Oilers. Biz Nasty suggests that McDavid is simply biding his time until he can sign with the Leafs.

I don’t see it happening, but would be amazing

 

[Menzinger]

I don’t see it happening, but would be amazing

While I suspect he will follow what LD did, but If they don't come close to repeating how far they got last year, he may opt to jump ship.

Going to be quite the shame of a career if he doesn't get a cup by his early 30s and I don't think he's going to do it in Edmonton

 

[Sypher04]

While I suspect he will follow what LD did, but If they don't come close to repeating how far they got last year, he may opt to jump ship.

Going to be quite the shame of a career if he doesn't get a cup by his early 30s and I don't think he's going to do it in Edmonton

The interesting question is do we just leave all that cap space open on the prayer that McDavid actually wants to come here. That’s gonna be a hell of a lot of money when he reaches UFA

Like, do we let JT and Marner walk and backfill them with on 1 year deals? Feels like a huge risk and putting our team on pause, so it’s hard to imagine us having the cap to add McDavid even if he wanted to come.

 

[Mess]

While I suspect he will follow what LD did, but If they don't come close to repeating how far they got last year, he may opt to jump ship.

Going to be quite the shame of a career if he doesn't get a cup by his early 30s and I don't think he's going to do it in Edmonton

Leafs walk from Marner and sign McDavid instead as UFA and bring him home after these next playoffs.

Marner and Tavares join Edmonton for 2025-26.

Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 2025-26. Story writes itself.

 

[hamzarocks]

Leafs walk from Marner and sign McDavid instead as UFA and bring him home after these next playoffs.

Marner and Tavares join Edmonton for 2025-26.

Leafs win the Stanley Cup in 2025-26. Story writes itself.

MCdavid is a free agent in 2025-2026 summer

If he tests the market that means it will be as a 29 going to 30 year old in the 2026-2027 season

If we let Marner and Tavares go (22M) we would have to do 1-year deals next year and keep capspace on chamce that 97 wants to come home

Could be super risky as if this season ends in R1 failure and we move from 16 and 91 and then next year we curb the season and get out in R1 again, we are halfway through 34s current 13.25M deal and only have 2 more years guaranteed with him before he needs another deal

Timing and risk of punting chances to contend during Matthews prime years in this 4 year deal are huge throw-off to getting Mcdavid

 

[ACC1224]

MCdavid is a free agent in 2025-2026 summer

If he tests the market that means it will be as a 29 going to 30 year old in the 2026-2027 season

If we let Marner and Tavares go (22M) we would have to do 1-year deals next year and keep capspace on chamce that 97 wants to come home

Could be super risky as if this season ends in R1 failure and we move from 16 and 91 and then next year we curb the season and get out in R1 again, we are halfway through 34s current 13.25M deal and only have 2 more years guaranteed with him before he needs another deal

Timing and risk of punting chances to contend during Matthews prime years in this 4 year deal are huge throw-off to getting Mcdavid

They won't not sign guys and hope.
They will find out what McDavids plans are before doing anything.

 

[rumman]

Spittin' Chiclets co-host Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette planting seeds about Connor McDavid and the Maple Leafs in recent social media post.​

Bissonnette has often shown himself to be a very open Leafs fan, supporting the team with every opportunity he gets. His latest post is one that should be very entertaining for Leafs Nation and not so entertaining for fans of the Oilers. Biz Nasty suggests that McDavid is simply biding his time until he can sign with the Leafs.

Sure I’m onboard if you get rid of 91, 16, and 88, then it might work cap wise, anything else is nothing but a wet dream……..

 

[hamzarocks]

They won't not sign guys and hope.
They will find out what McDavids plans are before doing anything.

Yeah that is what I think as well

We cant legally talk to Mcdavid ofcourse since he has a 1-year deal left this summer

discussions do occur between players most likely in the summer so chance that Matthews knows what is happening there if Mcdavid wants to come here

I think if we do well in playoffs we run back the core and believe they can get us over the hump without Mcdavid or any other superstar needed

If not we target a couple of UFAs this year and build with 34 and 88 + any new players added .

 

[conFABulator]

Yeah, I could see friction if Tre asks Chief to play players they’re wanting to move, his mantra of players having to earn their ice time is a refreshing change, can’t make exceptions if you want it to work…….

Exactly. It's not a bad thing, i would rather have everyone earning the ice they get even if it costs us value when trading someone.

 

[Fogelhund]

There is nothing like a media type stirring the pot to get clicks and mentions. I really don't have any faith, that there is anything behind this at all. Of course, if there was, you have to explore it.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't know, I like Pontus. I think he has shown flashes of upside and is decent offensively and defensively and very inexpensive.

Do we have any replacement level players that can play C or W, up and down the line up and PK? He does all of these things OK and none of them great.

How and the frick does one upgrade on Holmberg at $800k?

He's an NHLer who has played 101 NHL games.

 

[Fogelhund]

How and the frick does one upgrade on Holmberg at $800k?

He's an NHLer who has played 101 NHL games.

Pretty much. He's a guy who has shown flashes of being more than he currently is. If he can find a way to be that player regularly, he's a valuable (if not spectacular) player on our team.

 

[conFABulator]

Yeah that is what I think as well

We cant legally talk to Mcdavid ofcourse since he has a 1-year deal left this summer

discussions do occur between players most likely in the summer so chance that Matthews knows what is happening there if Mcdavid wants to come here

I think if we do well in playoffs we run back the core and believe they can get us over the hump without Mcdavid or any other superstar needed

If not we target a couple of UFAs this year and build with 34 and 88 + any new players added .

You're right, we can't formally or officially discuss anything with McD this coming summer. I am sure that back channels exist, plus we will also quickly find out if McD extends with Edmonton. It that is not an early July thing, I don't know when it happens.

I am less optimistic than I used to be about McD coming to TO after next year. The Cup run and the Draisatl signing were not things I was anticipating

 

[aingefan]

Good idea, I don't get the impression that Berube is the "showcase" type. He already has Kampf off the prime as our PK and Liljegren in the press box

Seems to lack logic, if they’re showcasing guys….cuz something is gonna have to give in the next little while.
Unless they’re showcasing Timmins to start, which is actually the most logical starting point.
Guess we’ll see soon enough.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Spittin' Chiclets co-host Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette planting seeds about Connor McDavid and the Maple Leafs in recent social media post.​

Bissonnette has often shown himself to be a very open Leafs fan, supporting the team with every opportunity he gets. His latest post is one that should be very entertaining for Leafs Nation and not so entertaining for fans of the Oilers. Biz Nasty suggests that McDavid is simply biding his time until he can sign with the Leafs.

Who's the goalie? Edmonton and Colorado may need to have a look if he's practicing with those two.

 

[Gabriel426]

They won't not sign guys and hope.
They will find out what McDavids plans are before doing anything.

MCD hits UFA in 26-27. If he is coming home, it will be via trade this summer.

 

[Rare Jewel]

There is nothing like a media type stirring the pot to get clicks and mentions. I really don't have any faith, that there is anything behind this at all. Of course, if there was, you have to explore it.

The only way to explore is to kidnap Connor and give him truth serum.

Also, it feels kind of unnecessary because if he does leave Edmonton, there's not much doubt that that here would be his first choice.

But if a post/article like this pisses off Bowman, then it's worth it.

 

[pspot]

Agree Lil to Utah would make sense now that Durzi went down, they are thin on D
Hayton is jokes though, he's their number 1a/b C

Bjugstad would be an interesting target. A big vet forward who is currently out . So buy's them some time to let the roster play out . determine who's in and out , i.e. move on from Kampf or not.

 

[Gabriel426]

I can see McD leaving if the Oilers constantly crash out in the first round year after year, bc he would want to win the Cup but Oilers went to the Finals last year and they literally had a horrible start last season and then went on a record breaking win streak.

Think they will bounce back.