Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 Season Edition

[WTFMAN99]

McMann and Domi can put up points, it's just not working right now, and they are playing up higher than they should... put them back down to the third line, give them someone other than Holmberg to play with, and I think you have something.

Unless you want to move McMann or Domi, and replace them with someone who has a higher end... but then, I'd give Steeves a few more games, or ideally Grebenkin, who I feel has more potential than McMann... But Grebenkin needs a bit more Marlies time... Grebenkin/Laughton/Domi would be a nice line as well.

Grebenkin might be someone to look at in mid January ahead of the TDL

Also going to be hard to ignore Minten if he keeps putting up a pt/game in the AHL.

 

[4thline]

McMann and Domi can put up points, it's just not working right now, and they are playing up higher than they should... put them back down to the third line, give them someone other than Holmberg to play with, and I think you have something.

Wouldn't mind seeing what a McMann-Domi-Jarncrok line could do- but we'd either an add in the top 6 or one of Robertson/Steeves/Greb to step up and seize a role in a big way

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Bjugstad would be a great target for us without having to give up a boatload of assets if Utah falls out of it and he’s willing to come here.

 

[Fogelhund]

Wouldn't mind seeing what a McMann-Domi-Jarncrok line could do- but we'd either an add in the top 6 or one of Robertson/Steeves/Greb to step up and seize a role in a big way

Who are you taking out of the top six?

Knies?
Pacioretty?
Marner?
Nylander?
Matthews?
Tavares?

If everyone is healthy, the top six doesn't need anything.

 

[4thline]

Who are you taking out of the top six?

Knies?
Pacioretty?
Marner?
Nylander?
Matthews?
Tavares?

If everyone is healthy, the top six doesn't need anything.

I'm not counting on Pacioretty being available/and or playing at a top 6 level come playoff time.

 

[OVO16]

Bugstad and Mcbain arent massive upgrades over the 4th lines players/center we have now.

I think we need to guys like Scott Laughton more, who has more offensive flare to their game as well

Has Branden Tanev played center before?

 

[Fogelhund]

Bugstad and Mcbain arent massive upgrades over the 4th lines players/center we have now.

I think we need to guys like Scott Laughton more, who has more offensive flare to their game as well

Has Branden Tanev played center before?

McBain has 33 points this year and last.
Bjugstad has 49 points, this year and last.
Kampf has 22.


Laughton would be a third liner... not a fourth.

Both Bjugstand and McBain are far more physical than Kampf as well. McBain would be targeted as a 4th liner. Bjugstad could be a third liner, and has more production than Laughton does, though I'd prefer Laughton to be honest.

I doubt Utah is a seller though.

All three are big upgrades over Kampf. IMO.

Tanev has never been a C.

 

[DarkKnight]

This is an overreaction to getting shutout last night but we really need to acquire another capable offensive player if possible.

I think our defense and goaltending is good enough to go on a long run but this offensive depth just wont cut it. It hurts that Robertson is struggling, because he's someone that you could have seen score 20+.

Should be some cheap adds available at the deadline to augment our forward core.

 

[SprDaVE]

I wonder if the Penguins would budge on an O'Connor and Acciari trade for Robertson and Holmberg, straight up. Not even sure if the Leafs budge on that. A big risk for the Leafs trading for a pending UFA and an older often injured player.

But they get younger/cheaper assets to develop further into their retool/rebuild, we get ready assets now that likely fit more what they want from their bottom line forwards and I believe Berube would be very happy. Not sure if it makes sense.

 

[Fogelhund]

I wonder if the Penguins would budge on an O'Connor and Acciari trade for Robertson and Holmberg, straight up. Not even sure if the Leafs budge on that. A big risk for the Leafs trading for a pending UFA and an older often injured player.

But they get younger/cheaper assets to develop further into their retool/rebuild, we get ready assets now that likely fit more what they want from their bottom line forwards and I believe Berube would be very happy. Not sure if it makes sense.

Someone is going to need to explain to me the attraction in O'Connor. He's a big guy, not very physical, and outside of one year, not very good offensively.

 

[SprDaVE]

Someone is going to need to explain to me the attraction in O'Connor. He's a big guy, not very physical, and outside of one year, not very good offensively.

A very good forechecker with good speed and solid skill. He's basically a McMann level player. He's got size and a top PKer as well. 925k on the cap this season.

Not everyone needs to be a big time physical player to be effective in the bottom lines. Just need to be efficient, make an impact on special teams and in their limited ice time if that's where they are. He has played a lot with Crosby and I think Malkin because of his speed and forechecking, so I think he could be someone that can play with Tavares and Nylander.

I'm a big fan of Robertson and I don't think Holmberg is as bad as he's been but not sure if they'll put it together fast enough for the Leafs appetite to find post-season success. And Robertson as far as I know still wants to be traded.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Buffalo Sabres among active teams in trade talks, but Byram unlikely to be dealt | TSN

The NHL trade market has been active to start the season and it appears the Buffalo Sabres could be the next team to get involved in swinging a deal.

www.tsn.ca

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports the Sabres have been active in talking with teams, with Bowen Bryam among the players on their roster drawing attention.

"You know, the Sabres are good, then they're not so good. And it's that inconsistency that's powering Kevyn Adams, the general manager there, to engage in more conversation than the average GM," Dreger said on Thursday's edition of Early Trading. "Now I wouldn't say anything is imminent there, and he doesn't really want to tackle the core of their top young NHL players, but they've got a good pool of prospects."

"Bo Byram’s name as an example, has been out there. There's an experienced defenceman. I can't see him getting traded by the Buffalo Sabres, and that's unless the return is can't miss. But I would say that Adams is among the more interested in listening to what's available on that trade front."

Byram, 23, was acquired last season in a one-for-trade with the Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt this past March. He has three goals and 10 points in 16 games this season. Selected fourth overall in 2019, Byram had 11 goals and 29 points in 73 games between the two teams last season. He has 29 goals and 82 points over 182 career NHL games.

Dreger noted that trade talk appears to be picking up across the league following the general managers meetings.

"I think we could, based on the amount of chatter that's happening now by NHL general managers," Dreger said when asked if more trades will come. "And that's not unusual. I mean, the U.S. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You're coming out of the Hall of Fame weekend, the general managers were face to face on Tuesday, and then a bunch of them actually went to a restaurant after the GM meetings in Toronto to watch their games, Watch games around the NHL. And that face to face stuff often gets things percolating. So that's what I'm told, is that there's more talk by NHL general managers as we speak."

 

[Fogelhund]

One C that I hadn't considered, depending on how the team continues to play is Brock Nelson. He's a UFA after this year, would need retention.

 

[LeafSteel]

Buffalo Sabres among active teams in trade talks, but Byram unlikely to be dealt | TSN

The NHL trade market has been active to start the season and it appears the Buffalo Sabres could be the next team to get involved in swinging a deal.

www.tsn.ca

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports the Sabres have been active in talking with teams, with Bowen Bryam among the players on their roster drawing attention.

"You know, the Sabres are good, then they're not so good. And it's that inconsistency that's powering Kevyn Adams, the general manager there, to engage in more conversation than the average GM," Dreger said on Thursday's edition of Early Trading. "Now I wouldn't say anything is imminent there, and he doesn't really want to tackle the core of their top young NHL players, but they've got a good pool of prospects."

"Bo Byram’s name as an example, has been out there. There's an experienced defenceman. I can't see him getting traded by the Buffalo Sabres, and that's unless the return is can't miss. But I would say that Adams is among the more interested in listening to what's available on that trade front."

Byram, 23, was acquired last season in a one-for-trade with the Colorado Avalanche for Casey Mittelstadt this past March. He has three goals and 10 points in 16 games this season. Selected fourth overall in 2019, Byram had 11 goals and 29 points in 73 games between the two teams last season. He has 29 goals and 82 points over 182 career NHL games.

Dreger noted that trade talk appears to be picking up across the league following the general managers meetings.

"I think we could, based on the amount of chatter that's happening now by NHL general managers," Dreger said when asked if more trades will come. "And that's not unusual. I mean, the U.S. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You're coming out of the Hall of Fame weekend, the general managers were face to face on Tuesday, and then a bunch of them actually went to a restaurant after the GM meetings in Toronto to watch their games, Watch games around the NHL. And that face to face stuff often gets things percolating. So that's what I'm told, is that there's more talk by NHL general managers as we speak."

Leave it to Dregs to use so many words and say nothing….

 

[Menzinger]

Florida won the cup with a 3C that put up 35 regular season points.

Colorado won the cup with a 3C that put up 33 regular season points.

Bozak was St Louis’s 3C with 38 points.

Hertl puts up sixtyish points when healthy. Nobody has sixtyish point 3C’s winning cups, and we don’t need one either. We need our stars to score when it counts, or our 3C is irrelevant. A 30-40ish pace C will suffice, depending on how defensively strong they are. Eller is defensively strong.

Take a look at teams who won’t make the playoffs and who they “might” be willing to part with. That is your shopping list.

Anaheim - maybe Ryan Strome. 2 x $5 mil 40ish pt, weak on draws, weak defensively, no physicality.

San Jose. - Granland. $5 mil. Will be traded for more than we should spend, would be a pure rental. Near PPG

Kunin. 5 points this year. 4C material.

Seattle. - Gourde. 31 points last year, 4 points this year.. appears to be cooked, small, not physical $5.1 mil.

Nash. - Sissons. He’s on 2 points for the year. 20ish pt guy.

Chi. - Dickinson. $4.25 mil x 2. 30ish point guy. Physical.

Columbus - maybe Monahan, but he’s got a forever contract at $5.5 mil.

Philly - Laughton - $3 mil. 30ish pt guy. (Probably the most realistic reasonable option left)

NYI - Pageualt. - $5m, 30ish pt guy.

MTL. - Dvorak or Evans. Evans is 4C, Dvorak is a 30ish pt guy who is meh.

Detroit. - Copp? $5.625 with term. Meh.

Buffalo - McLeod? RFA, probably wouldn’t trade him. Too young.

Tampa? If they nose dive. Nick Paul?

That’s about the list of guys who “might” be on the market this year. So pick your poison… Eller would have been one of the best on the list, your choices are likely Laughton or Granlund now, depending on what you want.

Mirtle has said that in the past at least the Leafs had shown interest in acquiring Laughton

 

[All Mod Cons]

Can't we just circle back to last year's sweetheart - Maxime Comtois?

 

[WTFMAN99]

One C that I hadn't considered, depending on how the team continues to play is Brock Nelson. He's a UFA after this year, would need retention.

He's the cadillac of UFA centres, I could see Tree and Berube loving him but not sure we have the assets to get it done, we're behind the 8 ball already in having not having a 1st to offer so it's a 2nd+??, another team might beat us on that.

I actually think if I was Winnipeg, he's the guy I am going for.

 

[LeafChief]

Can we just keep things simple and send Kampf back to Dubas straight up for Acciari?

 

[SprDaVE]

Can we just keep things simple and send Kampf back to Dubas straight up for Acciari?

Treliving decided to re-sign Kampf and let Acciari walk. Not sure that would be considered sending him back.

 

[jaric1862]

I know we can't be picky, but it would be beneficial if the center they bring in is a right shot instead of a left shot. Bjugstad checks a lot of boxes.

 

[aingefan]

I know we can't be picky, but it would be beneficial if the center they bring in is a right shot instead of a left shot. Bjugstad checks a lot of boxes.

I agree abou handedness.
It’s why I like Jake Evans, who’s in a situation where he might viably move.
Need more right shots system wide.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I know we can't be picky, but it would be beneficial if the center they bring in is a right shot instead of a left shot. Bjugstad checks a lot of boxes.

He also adds size and speed.

 

[Fogelhund]

Can't we just circle back to last year's sweetheart - Maxime Comtois?

Comtois was a guy I thought we should have taken a chance on. We could have used the size, and I started on him before Knies or McMann emerged. He's a really weird situation, had a really nice season in 20/21, lead the Ducks in points. It looked like he was going to be the leagues "next" power forward... and then, that was it... just downhill from there... no idea why, or what happened to him. He's in the KHL, with 9 points in 20 games, and 11th on his team in scoring. He's basically washed now

 

[Torontonian]

Laughton, Bjugtstad, and Bunting for the 3rd line are three targets I would target for the 3rd line. Team is going to need at least 2 players for the 3rd line, secondary scoring is a must on this team in the middle 6/9.