Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 Season Edition

[LeafEgo]

That's fair but giving up a 1st round pick for another RHD who doesn't really provide any sort of offensive boost seems unnecessary. He's another physical defensive defenseman. He's good but not sure it addresses any needs. I'd be fine picking up a depth D, especially if Hakanpaa isn't healthy.

We don't have a ton of assets and we have a big hole. We need goals too. Fix that and I think it feels like a better overall lineup.

This is just a general thought to put out there.

It's pretty common to hear that the 'superstars need to show up' and its true - it's a requirement. 40%+ of our resources are tied up in superstar forwards expected to break games.

My thinking is that as we prepare and shape the team for the playoffs the assumption should be made that they do show up, and we build the ship that will translate that to success, as opposed to taking from areas of need to back fill the superstar scoring talent we have in case it faulters.

If the amigos fall down a fancy Granlund isn't going to get us there. If they do show up we probably don't need Granlund, we just need to make sure the ship is built so that it isn't wasted. Give the stars everything they need except players to do their job for them, including a D/G that can participate in playoff soccer matches and move the puck up the ice.... and then pray.

 

[Kiwi]

Do you think that Myers or Hakanpaa would look beside Rielly, and make for a strong pairing? Schenn did.

That was a couple of years ago now and he's a physical guy, that doesn't tend to age well

 

[Fogelhund]

Last year, Domi had 11 points after 20 games. This year he has 6. I appreciate he had some injury issues, but he's got to pick it up. He's on the same number of points as Holmberg... let that sink in.

 

[ULF_55]

Domi is killing us big time at his cap hit. I like the guy but I'm confused why he escapes any sort of heavy criticism.

Low expectations?

Can't say Bertuzzi nor Domi were impressive last year.

 

[Fogelhund]

That's fair but giving up a 1st round pick for another RHD who doesn't really provide any sort of offensive boost seems unnecessary. He's another physical defensive defenseman. He's good but not sure it addresses any needs. I'd be fine picking up a depth D, especially if Hakanpaa isn't healthy.

We don't have a ton of assets and we have a big hole. We need goals too. Fix that and I think it feels like a better overall lineup.

I think we just need to be patient, and see how this team plays over a stretch of games when healthy, and with everyone back in the lineup for a bit. We may find the big holes are different than we think they are now.

Low expectations?

Can't say Bertuzzi nor Domi were impressive last year.

47 points for $3 mil contract last year, was pretty good value from Domi... I'd call that impressive.

If he was close to pacing for that, we'd be satisfied.

 

[Fogelhund]

That was a couple of years ago now and he's a physical guy, that doesn't tend to age well

Let's suppose we think that our biggest needs ends up being a different partner for Mo.... who would you target and why? At 35, Schenn is having a decent season, on a not great team... wouldn't cost much, and likely can be had at 50% for this year and next. Who would you target...

 

[Kiwi]

Let's suppose we think that our biggest needs ends up being a different partner for Mo.... who would you target and why?

I haven't really looked around at what's available but I want somebody who's playing consistently for a start

Getting a guy who's injured or being healthy scratched is to hard to evaluate

 

[SprDaVE]

I think we just need to be patient, and see how this team plays over a stretch of games when healthy, and with everyone back in the lineup for a bit. We may find the big holes are different than we think they are now.

I don't see how it gets any better even if you wait 3 months. They will still want a center, they've been saying it since training camp. And yeah injuries and other issues could arise by the deadline, but the issue will always be the need for a center upgrade.

 

[ULF_55]

47 points for $3 mil contract last year, was pretty good value from Domi... I'd call that impressive.

If he was close to pacing for that, we'd be satisfied.

I don't.
Acceptable yes.
Impressive no.

 

[SprDaVE]

Low expectations?

Can't say Bertuzzi nor Domi were impressive last year.

Domi was pretty solid last year, especially in the 2nd half. I will say his lack of goal scoring is an issue though... and this year it seems even worse. I expected him to bounce back into 15-20 goal territory. The guy just doesn't want to shoot and his passing seems average this year.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Domi was pretty solid last year, especially in the 2nd half. I will say his lack of goal scoring is an issue though... and this year it seems even worse. I expected him to bounce back into 15-20 goal territory. The guy just doesn't want to shoot and his passing seems average this year.

Agreed. He played his best hockey in the top six, especially with Matthews. If we expect to get that type of production out of him, he should be playing with Matthews and let Marner drive his own line.

 

[arso40]

Fair but I think using valuable cap space and low amount of assets into another RHD seems unwise at this time unless they do big things. Murphy is another low event/skill, physical defenseman. If you got both Dickinson and Murphy, I think that works a lot more than going after Hall.

I wonder if the Preds would dump Schenn for almost nothing? He was very good with Rielly and I think Berube would love him. He seemed to want to stay but took the money. He hasn't fit in well with the Preds from reading complaints.

Don’t need schenn we’re slow enough with no offence atleast Murphy can move it and make plays but I agree him and a low cost forward at 50% makes sense

 

[Torontonian]

Acquiring a top 9 forward this year is going to be a lot more affordable than a legit top 4 D, especially based on whose likely available.

It's also nice that Toronto for now anyways doesn't need to go out and acquire 5-6 dmans for mid round picks, if everyone is healthy that is... Those can be used to get a top 9 F.

 

[SprDaVE]

Agreed. He played his best hockey in the top six, especially with Matthews. If we expect to get that type of production out of him, he should be playing with Matthews and let Marner drive his own line.

If Domi is playing like that, he's not gonna help much. But we'll see I guess. I much prefer to play Marner with Matthews and play a lot.

Don’t need schenn we’re slow enough with no offence atleast Murphy can move it and make plays but I agree him and a low cost forward at 50% makes sense

Murphy is 100% better but he'll cost a lot to get him at 50%, so it's tough. Schenn would basically be free to pick up in this line of thinking. I really don't want either to be honest. I much prefer to keep the cap and assets to go get a really good center that fits, likely into next season and beyond hopefully. Push Domi to the wing, and then balance it out as needed.

 

[arso40]

If Domi is playing like that, he's not gonna help much. But we'll see I guess. I much prefer to play Marner with Matthews and play a lot.



Murphy is 100% better but he'll cost a lot to get him at 50%, so it's tough. Schenn would basically be free to pick up in this line of thinking. I really don't want either to be honest. I much prefer to keep the cap and assets to go get a really good center that fits, likely into next season and beyond hopefully. Push Domi to the wing, and then balance it out as needed.

Just think we’re missing a real right shot dman I’m not a believer in myers or Timmins

 

[SprDaVE]

Just think we’re missing a real right shot dman I’m not a believer in myers or Timmins

Timmins has been solid in a bottom pairing role. Myers is depth and not playing full time if healthy. In a perfect world you could push everyone down that would be great but can't realistically add a bunch of upgrades with our cap and available assets. If Hakanpaa isn't playing this season, I will say a defenseman to replace might be in the cards.

 

[arso40]

Timmins has been solid in a bottom pairing role. Myers is depth and not playing full time if healthy. In a perfect world you could push everyone down that would be great but can't realistically add a bunch of upgrades with our cap and available assets. If Hakanpaa isn't playing this season, I will say a defenseman to replace might be in the cards.

Doesn’t look like he is playing so the right side needs a solid top 4 on the cheap

 

[sxvnert]

Want to see this lineup before making any changes:

Domi Matthews Marner
Pacioretty Tavares Nylander
Knies Minten McMann
Dewar Kampf Lorentz

 

[Roo]

I don't think Toronto has used Domi properly for the majority of the time he's been in Toronto. He's not a centerman, and Toronto keeps putting as the 3C. He's much better suited for the wing the way he plays, and playsmakes. There's a reason why he looked his best playing beside 34 last year.

Domi played wing quite a bit during the regular season last year. He only looked good playing with Matthews, likely, because it was Matthews in a 69g year. He started the year on the wing and looked lost just like he did starting this season. I agree he’s not a great centre, but he hasn’t been great at anything really. I hope I am wrong and that he finds his role on the team, but it’s been over a year and he hasn’t found it yet. He’s not a high IQ player, he is small and doesn’t do much physically, so what does he really bring that makes this team better?

 

[Stephen]

I don't think Toronto has used Domi properly for the majority of the time he's been in Toronto. He's not a centerman, and Toronto keeps putting as the 3C. He's much better suited for the wing the way he plays, and playsmakes. There's a reason why he looked his best playing beside 34 last year.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a "right way" to use Max Domi sustainably because he usually has these 2-3 year tours where he's good but it gets away from him. Hopefully he finds it again though.

 

[thusk]

Domi played wing quite a bit during the regular season last year. He only looked good playing with Matthews, likely, because it was Matthews in a 69g year. He started the year on the wing and looked lost just like he did starting this season. I agree he’s not a great centre, but he hasn’t been great at anything really. I hope I am wrong and that he finds his role on the team, but it’s been over a year and he hasn’t found it yet. He’s not a high IQ player, he is small and doesn’t do much physically, so what does he really bring that makes this team better?

Even before playing with Matthews, he was amount top leafs player in 5v5 pts/60.

If he can drive the 3rd line of play with matthews to help to split marner from matthews, it would be great

 

[Fogelhund]

I haven't really looked around at what's available but I want somebody who's playing consistently for a start

Getting a guy who's injured or being healthy scratched is to hard to evaluate

 

[Fogelhund]

I haven't really looked around at what's available but I want somebody who's playing consistently for a start

Getting a guy who's injured or being healthy scratched is to hard to evaluate

Who is getting healthy scratched? Schenn’s played every game this season.