Trades & Free Agency Thread: 2024-2025 - Trade Deadline Approaches

[Fogelhund]

These points are fair, but I think we've just about run the course with the Kampf experiment at 3C.

Yes he's decent defensively,.but I don't think it's to the point we can think of him as irreplaceable. Let's mix things up and go with more offensive minded guys

Worth noting his icetime.is also at the lowest since he was a rookie. Current coaches aren't as high on him as Keefe's were

Who is talking about him as a 3C? He's a 4C, he's been a 4C all year. He's been on the 4th line all year.

Sure, we could use a 3C... but we also need a 4C... which Kampf currently is. If you want to replace Kampf on the 4th line, we still need a defensive guy, who can PK well. We need one defensively minded C.

 

[Menzinger]

Who is talking about him as a 3C? He's a 4C, he's been a 4C all year. He's been on the 4th line all year.

Sure, we could use a 3C... but we also need a 4C... which Kampf currently is. If you want to replace Kampf on the 4th line, we still need a defensive guy, who can PK well. We need one defensively minded C.

They need a 3C a lot more than a defensive 4C and if they have to shed cap, it's hard not to look for Kampf first given that caphit

 

[Torontonian]

"Brad Treliving doesn't believe it's "realistic" to acquire a centre better than Matthews or Tavares. "

Ya no shit.

Get a defenceman instead. Its a train wreck back there when a D gets injured.

Much more important to acquire a forward or two, I don't think we have ever said in a series "we lost because we couldn't keep the puck out of the net". It always "We lost because we score a maximum 2 goals a game and our powerplay is dogshit".

 

[Fogelhund]

They need a 3C a lot more than a defensive 4C and if they have to shed cap, it's hard not to look for Kampf first given that caphit

"If they need to shed cap" Which I doubt they do.

You trade Reaves, move Holmberg, Rifai, Mermis and Hildeby off the current roster, and you end up with $5.126 in cap space.

I did run a scenario previously where I obtain Trochek and Kastelic, moving Kampf off the roster. If you have to find a mil, and Boston was willing to trade Kastelic, it would be a good move to replace Kampf with him... I just doubt Boston is moving Kastelic.

 

[sxvnert]

LC - Dickinson, Jason (50% - $2,125,000 - 1yr remaining)
RD - Murphy, Connor (50% - $2,200,000 - 1yr remaining)
$4,325,000

2026 1st TOR (top 10 protected)
2025 2nd FLO
Reaves, Ryan $1,350,000
Timmins, Conor $1,100,000
Holmberg, Pontus $800,000
$3,250,000

Bury Mermis ($775,000) & Rifai ($775,000)
-----------------------------------------------------
Knies Matthews Marner
McMann Tavares Nylander
Pac Dickinson Domi
Lorentz Kampf Dewer

McCabe Tanev
OEL Murphy
Rielly Myers
Benoit

 

[LeafEgo]

These points are fair, but I think we've just about run the course with the Kampf experiment at 3C.

Yes he's decent defensively,.but I don't think it's to the point we can think of him as irreplaceable. Let's mix things up and go with more offensive minded guys

Worth noting his icetime.is also at the lowest since he was a rookie. Current coaches aren't as high on him as Keefe's were

I think it was more filling in for injuries than an experiment.

The thing with Kampf is you know what you're going to get. On top of his defensive/pk acumen, he actually played well in top six minutes one playoffs and he can win half or more draws in the defensive zone. I think the reliability he brings is worth more than people give him credit for given where this team is right now - we're desperately trying to avoid gaps in the lineup with little money and few assets through final runs with the stars.

He's always going to be on the block in case you can find the same thing for a milly cheaper, cause who wants a 2.4m 4C, but it doesn't seem that easy to find. Trustworthy Kampf isn't getting replaced for an energy guy like Bastion for example.

 

[Americanadian]

Noah Cates is back to playing C and he’s been hot lately. His defensive metrics are still elite and he’s back to a half pt/gp. He’s immediately my first choice for a 3C.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Mark Masters: Leafs GM Treliving looking at centre market, but he's not alone | TSN

With the trade deadline now less than two months away, Brad Treliving is keeping an eye on the centre market. "Is that an area that we'd like to continue to look at? Sure," the Leafs general manager confirmed. "We, probably along with about 15 or 18 other teams, are looking at centre depth, so...

www.tsn.ca

With the trade deadline now less than two months away, Brad Treliving is keeping an eye on the centre market.

"Is that an area that we'd like to continue to look at? Sure," the Leafs general manager confirmed. "We, probably along with about 15 or 18 other teams, are looking at centre depth, so it seems to be a position du jour."

The Leafs like their one-two punch of Auston Matthews and John Tavares down the middle.

"The guys at the top of the food chain are pretty darn good," Treliving said. "Like Auston and, you know, how can you talk anything but positively about the year John's had, right? So to say you're going to go and get somebody above that, I don't think that's realistic."

But what about upgrading the third-line centre? Max Domi is currently in that spot, but he's experienced his most productive time with the Leafs while playing on the wing. Domi has just three goals and 12 assists in 36 games so far this season.

What kind of middle man could Treliving be targeting on the open market?

"Did I say I was going to add a centre?" the general manager quipped with a grin before answering. "Reliable on both sides of the puck. Certainly somebody that can add offence."

Treliving warned that making a deal isn't going to be easy. The Leafs don't own a first-round pick in the 2025 draft and are reluctant to part with top prospects like Minten and London Knights forward Easton Cowan, who is on a 58-game point streak in the Ontario Hockey League.

"It's not fantasy hockey," Treliving stressed. "You look at good teams too. You need to have those good young players on, quite frankly, on entry-level deals and lower money."

And the price is only one potential issue.

"What you want and sometimes what's available is two different things," Treliving noted. "So we'll keep looking."

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Leafs - Bruins
David Kampf, Nick Robertson & 3rd
for
Trent Frederic

Leafs - Flyers
2026 1st, Calle Jarnkrok & Topi Niemela
for
Scott Laughton & Garnett Hathaway @ 50%

Knies - - Matthews - - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Frederic / Laughton - Domi
Lorentz - Dewar - Hathaway

Rielly - - - Tanev
Benoit - McCabe
OEL - Hakanpaa/Myers

Stolarz
Woll

 

[horner]

This isn't a trade but tells why we are still looking for a young center to take over for JT
The Summer of 2022 UFA season Dylan Strome was available for free
A big young center who was a top 3 pick in 2015
2021-22 season
69 gp 22g 26a 48pts
He had never played with a great team
he signed a 1 yr deal for 3.5 mil
we didn't have any young centers in the system

Dubas was never a forward thinking GM

And here we are today looking for a Center to take over for JT

And it is not about what he is doing today I wanted him back then

 

[The Podium]

Noah Cates is back to playing C and he’s been hot lately. His defensive metrics are still elite and he’s back to a half pt/gp. He’s immediately my first choice for a 3C.

Yup, been saying it for a while.

Easily the best option when you consider age, cost to acquire, cost against the cap and fit.

 

[sxvnert]

Much more important to acquire a forward or two, I don't think we have ever said in a series "we lost because we couldn't keep the puck out of the net". It always "We lost because we score a maximum 2 goals a game and our powerplay is dogshit".

Any forward(s) the leafs acquire won't fix the pp or make the core four show up the playoffs either.

 

[Leaffan1991]

I see Gourde and Brandon Tanev being targets obviously with money retention.
On the D side probably a depth 5-6 guy

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Good for him getting healthy! No idea what level of player he might still be but thats a f***in grind just to get past what must have been a lot of doubt.

 

[ULF_55]

Dubas was never a forward thinking GM

And here we are today looking for a Center to take over for JT

And it is not about what he is doing today I wanted him back then

Not all the fans here are either.

When I mentioned getting a 2nd. line center many took exception to the idea.

I guess living only in the moment is a thing, but I'm guessing Tavares is not Duncan MacLeod.

Transition planning isn't a bad thing.

 

[Fogelhund]

Noah Cates is back to playing C and he’s been hot lately. His defensive metrics are still elite and he’s back to a half pt/gp. He’s immediately my first choice for a 3C.

Here's Elliotte about the Flyers today at 27:22: The FAN Hockey Show
"They are not afraid to do things." Having Qs about goaltending. and looking for centres. Hopeful but want to accelerate. Looking around. Laughton has some interest. Are they really willing to move Frost or Farabee?

Do we think they'd move a 25 year old, who has been playing well at C? Last 15 games: 6 goals, 6 assists. He's set to be a RFA, I wonder what that contract would be?

He'd be a good acquisition, if we could do it. They want C's.... does that mean Minten goes the other way? Is that an attractive deal for us?

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

I'd inquire about Kastelic from Boston, also pretty young, low cap hit, physical 4C, could replace Kampf much cheaper.

Similar to Cates, I'd look at Krebs, good on the $, should be better... but Buffalo.

 

[Torontonian]

Any forward(s) the leafs acquire won't fix the pp or make the core four show up the playoffs either.

No, they won't win you a series, but it would be nice if our depth showed up and was able to steal you a game in the series.

Your best players have to be your best players, but you also need some unsung heros along the way.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

This isn't a trade but tells why we are still looking for a young center to take over for JT
The Summer of 2022 UFA season Dylan Strome was available for free
A big young center who was a top 3 pick in 2015
2021-22 season
69 gp 22g 26a 48pts
He had never played with a great team
he signed a 1 yr deal for 3.5 mil
we didn't have any young centers in the system

Dubas was never a forward thinking GM

And here we are today looking for a Center to take over for JT

And it is not about what he is doing today I wanted him back then

Also, the 2021/2022 Trade Deadlines:

2021: Leafs were in on Foligno and Bennett, chose Foligno:

1 x 1st & 2 x 4th for Foligno & Noesen​

​

Panthers got Bennett & 6th for 1 x 2nd and Emil Heineman.​

​

2022: Leafs were in on Giordano and Middleton, chose Giordano:

2 x 2nd & 1 x 3rd for Giordano​

​

Wild got Middleton & 5th for Kaapo Kahkonen.​

Here's Elliotte about the Flyers today at 27:22: The FAN Hockey Show
"They are not afraid to do things." Having Qs about goaltending. and looking for centres. Hopeful but want to accelerate. Looking around. Laughton has some interest. Are they really willing to move Frost or Farabee?

Do we think they'd move a 25 year old, who has been playing well at C? Last 15 games: 6 goals, 6 assists. He's set to be a RFA, I wonder what that contract would be?

He'd be a good acquisition, if we could do it. They want C's.... does that mean Minten goes the other way? Is that an attractive deal for us?

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

I'd inquire about Kastelic from Boston, also pretty young, low cap hit, physical 4C, could replace Kampf much cheaper.

Similar to Cates, I'd look at Krebs, good on the $, should be better... but Buffalo.

Boston is not moving Kastelic, esp not to the Leafs.

 

[francis246]

Leafs apparently in on bringing Jon Klingberg back. Could he be worse than Timmins as a 3 pairing D?

 

[SprDaVE]

Good for him getting healthy! No idea what level of player he might still be but thats a f***in grind just to get past what must have been a lot of doubt.

Good for him for making a comeback but for the Leafs I don't understand at all what this provides them over what they have. We already have Hakanpaa as a broken down player... Why give yourself someone that hasn't played in a year? Stop with the band-aids and hail Mary's. Treliving needs to get off his ass and start getting creative... Klingberg is not that.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Leafs apparently in on bringing Jon Klingberg back. Could he be worse than Timmins as a 3 pairing D?

Yes. He was last year.

 

[ToneDog]

This isn't a trade but tells why we are still looking for a young center to take over for JT
The Summer of 2022 UFA season Dylan Strome was available for free
A big young center who was a top 3 pick in 2015
2021-22 season
69 gp 22g 26a 48pts
He had never played with a great team
he signed a 1 yr deal for 3.5 mil
we didn't have any young centers in the system

Dubas was never a forward thinking GM

And here we are today looking for a Center to take over for JT

And it is not about what he is doing today I wanted him back then

Passed on Bennett only to trade for a broken down old war horse a day? later. Don't worry, all those smurfs he drafted will be breaking down the door soon.

 

[rumman]

Travis Koneckny and go back to sleep Tre.

Do people really think this group is worth wasting futures to get them over the hump? If I’m Tre, I tell them what’s here is all there is, suck it up and prove your winners……..

 

[Kiwi]

If we're not moving Kampf for Cap reasons (I seriously doubt he's going anywhere) we can get a 3C who's more offensively inclined because we have plenty of centers who can do a job defensively

Frost isn't very old, has some skill, maybe we could run him as the 3C?

 

[Fogelhund]

Also, the 2021/2022 Trade Deadlines:

2021: Leafs were in on Foligno and Bennett, chose Foligno:

1 x 1st & 2 x 4th for Foligno & Noesen​

​

Panthers got Bennett & 6th for 1 x 2nd and Emil Heineman.​

​

2022: Leafs were in on Giordano and Middleton, chose Giordano:

2 x 2nd & 1 x 3rd for Giordano​

​

Wild got Middleton & 5th for Kaapo Kahkonen.​

Boston is not moving Kastelic, esp not to the Leafs.

Would Boston trade Kastelic? I don't know, as I suggested I'd "Inquire"..... that being said, it really depends on their direction, and what they think of their team. If they decide to do a rebuild, there shouldn't be a single piece on that roster that is untouchable.

I do find it ironic, that your most recent trade suggestion has Boston trading us a 26 year old, but somehow the 25 year old I suggested is completely off the table, and they wouldn't deal with us. I get one has an extended contract, and the other is a UFA... but the bottom line, they aren't trading either unless they are rebuilding, and if they are... move everything.