Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 Season Edition

[arso40]

Knies?

I get what he’s saying though regardless there’s a huge gap from Matthews to Knies

 

[CincoHolio]

Was Benoit a benefactor of McCabe's good play, just like Holl as with Muzzin before him?

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If we move on from Robertson and Holmberg... here is the list of skaters on the Leafs we've drafted.

Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly.

That's an epic failure.

Championship seasons:


"Of the 22 players to play at least one postseason game, 10 were signed in free agency, eight were acquired via trade, three were selected by Florida in the NHL Draft, and one was claimed on waivers."

"Of the 23 to play at least one postseason game, 11 were acquired via trade, six were selected by Colorado in the NHL Draft, five were signed in free agency and one was acquired via waivers."

Of the 24 players to play at least one postseason game, 12 were acquired via trade, six were signed in free agency, four were selected by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, one was selected in the NHL Draft, and one was claimed off waivers.

I don't see the problem personally.

 

[Zero1]

Just looking at the free agent class in the coming years and the Leafs asset pool… they should have been more proactive in getting a 2C and another top-4 defenseman.

There’s nothing in free agency and they maybe have the assets to get one but they would have to move Cowan ++

 

[ULF_55]

There’s nothing in free agency and they maybe have the assets to get one but they would have to move Cowan ++

Maybe if they were closer to winning the whole thing, than hoping they make it past the first round again would they move Cowan.

 

[Gabriel426]

Was Benoit a benefactor of McCabe's good play, just like Holl as with Muzzin before him?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If we move on from Robertson and Holmberg... here is the list of skaters on the Leafs we've drafted.

Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Rielly.

That's an epic failure.

Knies but yes, it still sucks in the draft and development department

 

[seanlinden]

To activate two of the long term IR players, the obvious move is to waive Myers and Benning.

Timmins seems to have won the role of the #7 defenseman when Hakanpaa returns in the eyes of Craig Berube. Playing in 8 of the first 10 games.

Benning is coming off hip surgery and has played a reduced role on a poor Sharks team in his recovery. He has an extra year on his contract, with his recent injuries he is a risky claim for another team. He will likely clear and fit well as a reclamation project.

Myers is good value on an expiring league minimum contract, he could be claimed. Likely doesn't have trade value.

To activate the last player off LTIR in the event the Leafs ever reach complete full health. The cap isn't an issue anymore, just roster spots. I think the obvious move is trade Nick Robertson. He has already asked for a trade. He's a project and like Liljegren would fit better on a young team where he can be put in a better position to succeed. If the Leafs could score a couple more picks to add into their cupboard they would be in better shape going into the deadline and draft with more ammo.

If the Leafs actually get to full health, I'd imagine that Pontus Holmberg might be just as likely to go as Nick Robertson... simply because he & Calle Jarnkrok largely occupy the same type of role.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Liljgren -> Hankapaa
Jarnkrok -> Dewar

Left over cap to work some deadline magic.

I’m not sure his availability. But a utility player like Laughton would fit nicely.

L3
Domi-Laughton-McMann

 

[dubplatepressure]

Just looking at the free agent class in the coming years and the Leafs asset pool… they should have been more proactive in getting a 2C and another top-4 defenseman.

There’s nothing in free agency and they maybe have the assets to get one but they would have to move Cowan ++

Forcing moves is how you lose them. Taking advantage of emerging opportunities allows for continued flexibility. Right now we may need a 2C, but we also have options. JT, Domi, Nylander. We have Minten off injury and have a lot of bottom-6 C depth. The time to look to a 2C is probably closer to March than in November, where pending free agents are being sold by teams. We have assets which can be used both in draft picks and on the Marlies.

 

[SprDaVE]

Liljgren -> Hankapaa
Jarnkrok -> Dewar

Left over cap to work some deadline magic.

I’m not sure his availability. But a utility player like Laughton would fit nicely.

L3
Domi-Laughton-McMann

He's been struggling in the past year. He's been moved to the wing this season, so it's possible he could make the move back if acquired but I'd be wary about it. With that said, he does seem like he'd fit what the Leafs want. He's an aggressive forechecker and throws a good amount of hits, and seems pretty solid in a checking/defensive role. But he's only scored above 15 goals once in his career, never reaching the 20 goal mark. I'd be hesitant about the price to acquire and when the Flyers were sellers last season, their asking price was pretty steep.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Warden of the North]

Knies needs a new contract ASAP

 

[MarMarSab3]

Knies needs a new contract ASAP

Feeling he goes the Matthews route of short contracts

Feeling he goes the Matthews route of short contracts

Like 3x6

 

[sxvnert]

Robertson and Holmberg need to be packaged somewhere immediately.

 

[LaPlante94]

We might have different definitions haha
A 3rd and a 6th is not a good return
Benning is just a warm body

We sat him and then sold him low

2nd coach now that didn't trust him or play him consistently. A lot of these so called analytic darlings we supposedly throw away for nothing usually end up being nothing on other teams as well. He couldn't clear the crease well, he wasn't that strong breaking up cycles and I've never seen a player fan on a pass as much as Liljegren. His value was never that high and us sitting him probably saved it from dropping even more. Look at Robertson for example now. I bet his value was pretty high after the end of last season. Now he's played 10 games already this season and that value has probably lowered.

Getting back a good 3rd pair guy in Benning who has always been a good player until he played for the depressing San Jose Sharks and 2 picks which we need is a pretty good haul.

Engvall
Sandin
Holl
Anderson
Liljegren

He's just another name added to the list of we're gonna regret not keeping them. Only difference is Liljegren has a better chance than all of them to actually be something. SJ could be a good team in 2 years when his deals up and if he plays well enough he could earn a nice long term deal just when that team is ready to compete.

 

[Warden of the North]

We might have different definitions haha
A 3rd and a 6th is not a good return
Benning is just a warm body

We sat him and then sold him low

With the caveat he's playing on a really bad team now, I could see home out of the league as early as next season.

He'll go to Europe and we'll never hear about him again

 

[SprDaVE]

Robertson and Holmberg need to be packaged somewhere immediately.

"Immediately" ? There's no rush really. They are cheap and efficiient. Robertson has some potential. Jarnkrok is out for awhile it looks like and we're an injury or two away from dipping into Marlies.

 

[Fogelhund]

Robertson and Holmberg need to be packaged somewhere immediately.

Strange comment after Holmberg had a reasonably good game IMO.

 

[sxvnert]

"Immediately" ? There's no rush really. They are cheap and efficiient. Robertson has some potential. Jarnkrok is out for awhile it looks like and we're an injury or two away from dipping into Marlies.

Leafs need a proper third line asap.

 

[Zero1]

Feeling he goes the Matthews route of short contracts


Like 3x6

Laf signed for 7-years at $7.45 mill AAV.

Knies is coming off a 35 point season and even if he has a really good year at say 60 points, I would hope the AAV is less than $6 mill on a 3-year bridge.

 

[Menzinger]

Laf signed for 7-years at $7.45 mill AAV.

Knies is coming off a 35 point season and even if he has a really good year at say 60 points, I would hope the AAV is less than $6 mill on a 3-year bridge.

He has zero leverage to ask for that on a bridge. Maybe with 7+ years of term he might get 6-6.5.

I suspect the Leafs will either go 4 or 6 years. Either way I hope it happens soon. He's a special player

 

[arso40]

He has zero leverage to ask for that on a bridge. Maybe with 7+ years of term he might get 6-6.5.

I suspect the Leafs will either go 4 or 6 years. Either way I hope it happens soon. He's a special player

He’s a 7 million dollar player as it looks right now playing on the top line and arguably looking like the best player on it and not cause of the other two players on it mind you that’s what happens when we put our rfas on the top line with great players shoot ourselves in the foot every time

 

[Canada4Gold]

Knies needs a new contract ASAP

What are we looking at in terms of cap space next year? This was so much easier with CapFriendly. Other websites have the info but then you gotta do the math and alternations by hand yourself.

_____ - Matthews - _____
Domi - _____ - Nylander
McMann - Minten - _____
_____ - Kampf - Reaves
Cowan

Rielly - Tanev
OEL - McCabe
Benoit - _____
Benning

Woll
Stolarz

If we set the cap at 93 million then we have ~29 million to fill those holes.You have to think 3RW, 4LW, and 3RD won't cost much more than 5 million combined with options being UFA, some prospects like Grebenkin, or Cowen with a different 13th F, and RFA like Robertson or Holmberg. That leaves 24 million for Marner, Knies and a 2C. The FA Center market doesn't look too fruitful. Like giving Sam Bennett way too much money is the sweepstakes. Giving Bennett a crazy 8 million and Marner 12 is about the maximum you could imagine filling those 2 holes with which would leave 4 for Knies. Realistically you gotta think they'll have at least 6-7 leftover for Knies. Which is where a 8 year extension probably lands. I really hope they go that route rather than bridge.