Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 Season Edition

[seanlinden]

Maybe I'm reading your post incorrectly, and if so, I apologize. You can be at the roster limit of 23, and accrue cap. It's your total cap hit, not number of players on the roster.

Here is an example. Buffalo is at the 23 man roster limit. But their total cap hit is $81.7 mil, of a $88 mil cap. So they are accruing cap. At the deadline, they'll have $28.7 mil in "deadline" cap space.

Buffalo Sabres Salary Cap, Cap Hit, Buffalo Sabres Contracts | Puckpedia

puckpedia.com

Practically speaking, the Leafs cannot. They currently have a 27 man roster with Dewar, Hakanpaa, Mermis & Jarnkrok on LTIR.

If you assume that all 4 of those guys are healthy tomorrow, the Leafs will need to clear 4 spots on the 23 man roster for them. The spots they'd presumably clear, IMO, would be Myers, Benning, Mermis and Holmberg.

IF they did that today, they'd be under the cap by roughly $200k. If they maintained that $200k in space throughout the remainder of the season, it would baloon to about $600k in "deadline cap space".

The problem is -- they're not in a position to do that today. Jarnkrok isn't healthy. Mermis cannot be waived / assigned when he's injured... meaning they're going to continue to carry Holmberg and Mermis on their NHL cap hit at least until everyone's healthy.

It would be senseless to risk dropping a guy like Holmberg to waivers just in the hope of accruing cap space, when in reality, you're 1 injury away from needing to bring up a replacement player that would eliminate any of your cap space accrual anyways.

 

[SprDaVE]

Unless something's changed in the last couple of years TFP is not a legit source of anything anyway - just a regurgitator of other rumours. I don't buy it.

TFP has been reliable in some ways. They definitely know players, they go to events, they're obviously tied to a lot of the inner circle and that creates sources. I don't think they make any outlandish rumours. They keep it very basic.

 

[horner]

Tanev is too expensive, redundant and average to waste asset(s) on. Gourde would be solid but he's a small soft speedy player that has struggled to produce in the last year or so.

From the forecaster scouting report
On the plus side
2 way cener, grit, fiesta player, speed, plays both special teams , take a hit to make a play ,Stanley Cup pedigree
Negative
Small player but plays bigger

 

[SprDaVE]

From the forecaster scouting report
On the plus side
2 way cener, grit, fiesta player, speed, plays both special teams , take a hit to make a play ,Stanley Cup pedigree
Negative
Small player but plays bigger

Not sure he's that kind of player anymore. He works hard and I guess that means gritty, but Jarnkrok would be considered gritty too?

Gourde would be a nice buy low option and he's a capable center last I checked with speed but he's expensive and has struggled offensively quite a bit.

 

[LeafEgo]

Yeah let's move off of all of our RD depth so we can overpay at the TDL for someone the same level as those guys but hit really hard and can't move the puck at all

Like a Boosh at a 687k hit who is playing top 4 on Dallas this year? That wouldn't be so bad. We have Rielly, Tanev, and OEL this year, another McCabe-like redwood would round out a playoff D corps nicely.

Moving Timmins right now seems premature though. Think they are keeping an eye on McMann, Robo, Timmins, Hak, and goalies for now to rank priorities between RD, G, and the third line.

 

[rumman]

Yeah let's move off of all of our RD depth so we can overpay at the TDL for someone the same level as those guys but hit really hard and can't move the puck at all

Can’t keep them all up with the big team, would you rather lose them via waivers or get something back in return? I know what I’d do, what say you……….

 

[Skullz]

We really need a 3C, that is definitely the area to address.

If we look at the lineup, any injury to 34 or 91 makes us so thin. Need scoring help. We should address that ASAP.

Would like us to bring in some young with term.

 

[rumman]

Didn't think Gourde was soft


I would think to get anything for tanev the will have to eat 2 mill

Gourde is anything but soft, yes Tanev would need dollars retained or we dump a equally bad contract like Reeves, Kamptf……..

 

[Fogelhund]

Practically speaking, the Leafs cannot. They currently have a 27 man roster with Dewar, Hakanpaa, Mermis & Jarnkrok on LTIR.

If you assume that all 4 of those guys are healthy tomorrow, the Leafs will need to clear 4 spots on the 23 man roster for them. The spots they'd presumably clear, IMO, would be Myers, Benning, Mermis and Holmberg.

IF they did that today, they'd be under the cap by roughly $200k. If they maintained that $200k in space throughout the remainder of the season, it would baloon to about $600k in "deadline cap space".

The problem is -- they're not in a position to do that today. Jarnkrok isn't healthy. Mermis cannot be waived / assigned when he's injured... meaning they're going to continue to carry Holmberg and Mermis on their NHL cap hit at least until everyone's healthy.

It would be senseless to risk dropping a guy like Holmberg to waivers just in the hope of accruing cap space, when in reality, you're 1 injury away from needing to bring up a replacement player that would eliminate any of your cap space accrual anyways.

Just a note. Right now, the combined 27 bodies seems to be a cost of $90.518 mil.

Toronto Maple Leafs | Salary cap and contracts

If you remove the four players you've suggested, I get a cap hit of $87.018 mil.

roster size	cap space	total cap hit	ltir	dead cap	salary cap
23	$981,563	$87,018,437	$0	$100,000	$88,000,000

Team	Asset	Transaction	Rights Acquired
Toronto Maple Leafs	Holmberg, Pontus	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Benning, Matt	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Myers, Philippe	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Mermis, Dakota	Activated from IR
Toronto Maple Leafs	Jarnkrok, Calle	Activated from IR
Toronto Maple Leafs	Mermis, Dakota	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Hakanpää, Jani	NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs	Dewar, Connor	NHL

This suggests a current cap space of $981,563... which to me is a cap deadline of somewhere around $2.7 mil or something... plus whomever you remove from the roster.

 

[horner]

Gourde is anything but soft, yes Tanev would need dollars retained or we dump a equally bad contract like Reeves, Kamptf……..

Trade
Robertson
Kampf
Jamcrok
Reeves

Trade for
Tanev ( Seattle needs to retain 2 mil just toget anything for him )
Gourde

 

[Fogelhund]

Trade
Robertson
Kampf
Jamcrok
Reeves

Trade for
Tanev ( Seattle needs to retain 2 mil just toget anything for him )
Gourde

Maximum that Seattle can retain on Tanev is $1.75 mil.

Gourde has 3 assists this year.
Tanev has two points.

Gourde's production is really falling off a cliff at this stage. (Last year and this) It's hard for small guys to be productive when they lose their speed.

 

[Knies iT]

Not sure he's that kind of player anymore. He works hard and I guess that means gritty, but Jarnkrok would be considered gritty too?

Gourde would be a nice buy low option and he's a capable center last I checked with speed but he's expensive and has struggled offensively quite a bit.

Not that he should be someone we acquire, but calling Gourde soft and comparing him to Jarnkrok is a head scratcher.

 

[SprDaVE]

Not that he should be someone we acquire, but calling Gourde soft and comparing him to Jarnkrok is a head scratcher.

I didn't compare the players, merely the definition. I've seen plenty of Gourde and I don't see a truculent or super feisty player, certainly not more than what we already have. He's small and fast, and no issues with his on ice competitiveness.

 

[Menzinger]

Why couldn’t there be long term potential with Granlund? If they could land him they may even bring him back over Tavares if he fits in.

They can make it work cap wise with some cap maneuvering and cuts. Maybe bring a 3rd team into the deal for retention. They can dump Jarnkrok as well. They could also run with a 20-21 man roster. The cap won’t be a problem and we have the assets to get a deal done.

I'm not sure if he's going to be a Tre type player though.

I think he's intriguing as a player but I think the current front office will peruse someone whose got a bit more physicality in their playing style

 

[SprDaVE]

I'm not sure if he's going to be a Tre type player though.

I think he's intriguing as a player but I think the current front office will peruse someone whose got a bit more physicality in their playing style

I think so too. I think Laughton would fit a lot what they want but the price to acquire might be tough to make work.

 

[Menzinger]

I think so too. I think Laughton would fit a lot what they want but the price to acquire might be tough to make work.

Mirtle has also said the Leafs have been interested in him in the past. So I'd imagine they'll be a push for him

 

[WTFMAN99]

With Matthews going down today, JT getting older and Domi being Domi...I like him but there is nothing in terms of a young talented centre coming up in our organization.

Is there some centres around the league wide that could be a quality 2C for us? Some guys are similar age range to JT but I also look at the mix we have had for a while and don't mind a change just for that reason alone.

Couturier? Cozens? Suziki? Hertl?

Mavrik Bourque is younger, 2 pts in 7GP - maybe a Robertson swap but not sure what we'd be getting

McTavish is having a down year but still have to imagine the ask is a King's ransom, more likely Zegras is available but I am not a giant fan of his.

 

[SprDaVE]

With Matthews going down today, JT getting older and Domi being Domi...I like him but there is nothing in terms of a young talented centre coming up in our organization.

Is there some centres around the league wide that could be a quality 2C for us? Some guys are similar age range to JT but I also look at the mix we have had for a while and don't mind a change just for that reason alone.

Couturier? Cozens? Suziki? Hertl?

Mavrik Bourque is younger, 2 pts in 7GP - maybe a Robertson swap but not sure what we'd be getting

McTavish is having a down year but still have to imagine the ask is a King's ransom, more likely Zegras is available but I am not a giant fan of his.

Before the deadline? Probably not for the cap space we have and the assets we have to trade. I think we're looking at mid-line centers to bolster quality in some way. In the off-season, who knows... It's a long ways away.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Before the deadline? Probably not for the cap space we have and the assets we have to trade. I think we're looking at mid-line centers to bolster quality in some way. In the off-season, who knows... It's a long ways away.

This year? High end rental is Nelson and low/mid upgrade is likely Dvorak.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Nelson likely too expensive to acquire. Gonna be:
Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Dvorak - Marner
Patches - Tavares - Nylander

At least, that's what I would do - spread the talent. Most likely, Marner remains with Matthews and they roll with

McMann - Dvorak - Domi

 

[rumman]

I didn't compare the players, merely the definition. I've seen plenty of Gourde and I don't see a truculent or super feisty player, certainly not more than what we already have. He's small and fast, and no issues with his on ice competitiveness.

See below……..

 

[SprDaVE]

See below……..

4 fights in the last 6 years... He's got nothing on Domi.

Look I didn't mean to make it a big thing. I think he works hard, he's fast and obviously doesn't shy away from the physical stuff. At the end of the day, he's too expensive and has regressed quite a bit. I'm the last person that choses size over talent, but when you're both 5'9" and have a hard time contributing offensively, it's a rough mix considering our team isn't short of having those players.

 

[supermann_98]

With Matthews going down today, JT getting older and Domi being Domi...I like him but there is nothing in terms of a young talented centre coming up in our organization.

Is there some centres around the league wide that could be a quality 2C for us? Some guys are similar age range to JT but I also look at the mix we have had for a while and don't mind a change just for that reason alone.

Couturier? Cozens? Suziki? Hertl?

Mavrik Bourque is younger, 2 pts in 7GP - maybe a Robertson swap but not sure what we'd be getting

McTavish is having a down year but still have to imagine the ask is a King's ransom, more likely Zegras is available but I am not a giant fan of his.

If he's at all available I'd throw everything at Anaheim to get him, before he breaks out and he's never available again.

I'm talking Cowan, our 2026 1st, and another prospect plus salary filler.

That kid will be an absolute stud and the thought of him in this lineup makes me salivate.

Knies-Matthews-Domi
McMann-MacTavish-Marner
Patches-Tavares-Nylander
Scrub-Scrub-Scrub (who cares)

 

[seanlinden]

Just a note. Right now, the combined 27 bodies seems to be a cost of $90.518 mil.

Toronto Maple Leafs | Salary cap and contracts

If you remove the four players you've suggested, I get a cap hit of $87.018 mil.

roster size	cap space	total cap hit	ltir	dead cap	salary cap
23	$981,563	$87,018,437	$0	$100,000	$88,000,000

Team	Asset	Transaction	Rights Acquired
Toronto Maple Leafs	Holmberg, Pontus	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Benning, Matt	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Myers, Philippe	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Mermis, Dakota	Activated from IR
Toronto Maple Leafs	Jarnkrok, Calle	Activated from IR
Toronto Maple Leafs	Mermis, Dakota	Minors
Toronto Maple Leafs	Hakanpää, Jani	NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs	Dewar, Connor	NHL

This suggests a current cap space of $981,563... which to me is a cap deadline of somewhere around $2.7 mil or something... plus whomever you remove from the roster.

Perhaps my math was wrong... great work on this.

That being said, it isn't something that can be done right now given Jarnkrok and Mermis are both injured / not skating... so you can't demote Mermis, and need Holmberg on your NHL roster.

We're already a month into the season, so the effect of "banking" goes away each day.