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

[LaPlante94]

Nemec pissed off and the Devils right side is locked up for a while. I was gonna joke and say Timmins for Nemec straight up should do the trick but Keefe didn't play Timmins much either. Might have to overpay and throw in Kampf as well.

 

[Kurtz]

Howard Berger... enough said

He probably doesn't have any more sources than an average fan at this point, but that's a fun trade proposal to consider.

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[thewave]

""

The way Mo is playing he probably would take the buyout retire and go be a dad.

 

[Americanadian]

The way Mo is playing he probably would take the buyout retire and go be a dad.

A buyout is unfortunately more realistic than trading him at this point. The odds of finding a team that 1) wants to take on his full deal, and 2) he wants to play for, are extremely low.

 

[Fogelhund]

Anything to this Cowan for Josi rumor? I'd do it in a heartbeat

Everyone is Missing the Mark — Again

betweentheposts.ca

I think it's complete BS, but I'd do Cowan + Mo for Josi....

 

[seanlinden]

How much on top of Minten would a guy like Jack McBain cost?

Utah has absolutely no reason to consider trading McBain when the best piece coming back is Minten.

Utah has a ton of prospects, young players and picks. If they're trading one, it's to do an upgrade.

If they liked Liljegren, considering their relative weakness on the blueline, you probably could have made an argument for a trade like that... but that ship has sailed.

At this point, Utah will probably sell off guys like Kerfoot and Bjugstad at the deadline... but there's absolutely no reason to "sell off" a 25 year old player.

 

[Torontonian]

Team desperately needs to address the center ice position, both in the long term and short term. Don't think they will be finding a 2nd line centerman, but should easily be able to find a suitable 3rd line C for the next 2-3 years..

 

[seanlinden]

A buyout is unfortunately more realistic than trading him at this point. The odds of finding a team that 1) wants to take on his full deal, and 2) he wants to play for, are extremely low.

Rielly has earned enough respect in this league, and with the cap jumping like crazy, that there would be a lineup of teams more than happy to trade for him even with 5 years at $7.5m remaining. He is the 27th highest paid defenceman in the league this year.

As for production, much is made of the fact that the Leafs don't get much production from their blueline, but I think that has more to do with how the Leafs are attacking the game than him all of a sudden forgetting how to play hockey.

It's also worthwhile noting that he hasn't exactly had the best stable of partners this year.. His even strengh partners have been OEL (38.3% of the time), Myers (24.8% of the time), Tanev (14.7% of the time), and Timmins (8.2%) of the time. He's not an ideal fit OEL, and Myers/Timmins are #7-quality defencemen in the NHL.

Also interesting to note, that his on ice-shots percentage when playing with Tanev was 58.4% and Corsi 53.8%.... which is actually better than the Tanev-McCabe pairing.

I know +/- is a flawed stat... but I think it's also worth noting that McCabe-Tanev are a +8 (51% of Tanev's EV-TOI) together, while OEL-Tanev are a +8 in 21% of Tanev's time (less than half).

I think there's a really strong case to be made that the left side of the Leafs D needs to be Rielly, McCabe, and OEL; with an understanding that a right side of Tanev, Myers and Timmins is obviously not good enough.

 

[Americanadian]

Rielly has earned enough respect in this league, and with the cap jumping like crazy, that there would be a lineup of teams more than happy to trade for him even with 5 years at $7.5m remaining. He is the 27th highest paid defenceman in the league this year.

As for production, much is made of the fact that the Leafs don't get much production from their blueline, but I think that has more to do with how the Leafs are attacking the game than him all of a sudden forgetting how to play hockey.

It's also worthwhile noting that he hasn't exactly had the best stable of partners this year.. His even strengh partners have been OEL (38.3% of the time), Myers (24.8% of the time), Tanev (14.7% of the time), and Timmins (8.2%) of the time. He's not an ideal fit OEL, and Myers/Timmins are #7-quality defencemen in the NHL.

Also interesting to note, that his on ice-shots percentage when playing with Tanev was 58.4% and Corsi 53.8%.... which is actually better than the Tanev-McCabe pairing.

I know +/- is a flawed stat... but I think it's also worth noting that McCabe-Tanev are a +8 (51% of Tanev's EV-TOI) together, while OEL-Tanev are a +8 in 21% of Tanev's time (less than half).

I think there's a really strong case to be made that the left side of the Leafs D needs to be Rielly, McCabe, and OEL; with an understanding that a right side of Tanev, Myers and Timmins is obviously not good enough.

I am a long-time Rielly hater so I am not making my comments based on this season. I would have loved to see the Leafs walk from him rather than sign him to his current deal.

As far as Rielly/McCabe/OEL as 1/2/3 LD - I agree with McCabe/OEL as 2/3 LD. I think Rielly as 1LD is a recipe for meidocrity. I also think - based on everything that we see in the league, that LD is very easy to fill and it wouldn't be difficult for the Leafs to replace Rielly.

 

[ULF_55]

Rielly has earned enough respect in this league, and with the cap jumping like crazy, that there would be a lineup of teams more than happy to trade for him even with 5 years at $7.5m remaining. He is the 27th highest paid defenceman in the league this year.

As for production, much is made of the fact that the Leafs don't get much production from their blueline, but I think that has more to do with how the Leafs are attacking the game than him all of a sudden forgetting how to play hockey.

It's also worthwhile noting that he hasn't exactly had the best stable of partners this year.. His even strengh partners have been OEL (38.3% of the time), Myers (24.8% of the time), Tanev (14.7% of the time), and Timmins (8.2%) of the time. He's not an ideal fit OEL, and Myers/Timmins are #7-quality defencemen in the NHL.

Also interesting to note, that his on ice-shots percentage when playing with Tanev was 58.4% and Corsi 53.8%.... which is actually better than the Tanev-McCabe pairing.

I know +/- is a flawed stat... but I think it's also worth noting that McCabe-Tanev are a +8 (51% of Tanev's EV-TOI) together, while OEL-Tanev are a +8 in 21% of Tanev's time (less than half).

I think there's a really strong case to be made that the left side of the Leafs D needs to be Rielly, McCabe, and OEL; with an understanding that a right side of Tanev, Myers and Timmins is obviously not good enough.

Rielly is not the player he was 2-3 years ago.

His skating looks average, and brass tacks that was his major strength.
I don't notice, but he probably still passes well enough.
Doesn't and never has had a great shot.
Isn't and never was great defensively.

NMC

Talk of buyout seems unnecessary, unless he refused to waive and they have an attainable target for his money. Now this would not be in season, but in summer, if the $3.8mm in savings was going to be used to upgrade the defence.

I think they'll just live with it, the same way they'll end up living with the Tanev deal in a few years.

I am kind of surprised at how slow he looks today. He is only 30 years old but has had 3 knee injuries.
Is he carrying too much weight?

 

[SprDaVE]

Rielly has earned enough respect in this league, and with the cap jumping like crazy, that there would be a lineup of teams more than happy to trade for him even with 5 years at $7.5m remaining. He is the 27th highest paid defenceman in the league this year.

As for production, much is made of the fact that the Leafs don't get much production from their blueline, but I think that has more to do with how the Leafs are attacking the game than him all of a sudden forgetting how to play hockey.

It's also worthwhile noting that he hasn't exactly had the best stable of partners this year.. His even strengh partners have been OEL (38.3% of the time), Myers (24.8% of the time), Tanev (14.7% of the time), and Timmins (8.2%) of the time. He's not an ideal fit OEL, and Myers/Timmins are #7-quality defencemen in the NHL.

Also interesting to note, that his on ice-shots percentage when playing with Tanev was 58.4% and Corsi 53.8%.... which is actually better than the Tanev-McCabe pairing.

I know +/- is a flawed stat... but I think it's also worth noting that McCabe-Tanev are a +8 (51% of Tanev's EV-TOI) together, while OEL-Tanev are a +8 in 21% of Tanev's time (less than half).

I think there's a really strong case to be made that the left side of the Leafs D needs to be Rielly, McCabe, and OEL; with an understanding that a right side of Tanev, Myers and Timmins is obviously not good enough.

I'm a huge Rielly fan but he definitely has struggled. He's never been a defensive powerhouse by any means but he typically used his skating and skill to make up for it in spades. He's turning more and more into a Phaneuf type defenseman without the physicality.

I do think though that players have tough stretches/seasons and they can easily bounce back. We saw it with JT and a lot of different players through the years. Talking about buyouts and all that is exaggerating it but he does need to take a step back and find a way to get back to the player we know he can be.

 

[SprDaVE]

Nemec pissed off and the Devils right side is locked up for a while. I was gonna joke and say Timmins for Nemec straight up should do the trick but Keefe didn't play Timmins much either. Might have to overpay and throw in Kampf as well.

Nemec to me is a lot like Jiricek. Sometimes the draft pedigree doesn't make up for a player not able to stick to the NHL. I can't say I've seen enough of him to really have an opinion one way or another though.

If there's a way of adding him for a good ol' hockey trade then sure, but just like Jiricek, someone will probably give up a first rounder package to get him. It's just not a good time for us to get a player like that.

 

[TheDoldrums]

As far as Rielly/McCabe/OEL as 1/2/3 LD - I agree with McCabe/OEL as 2/3 LD. I think Rielly as 1LD is a recipe for meidocrity. I also think - based on everything that we see in the league, that LD is very easy to fill and it wouldn't be difficult for the Leafs to replace Rielly.

It's more like McCabe 1LD, Rielly 2LD, OEL 3LD which isn't terrible.

It's better than the other side at least.

 

[TheShape]

As for Rielly, every season we hear it's impossible to move players with NMC and every year the player(s) get moved. Where there's a will, there's a way. But so far that doesn't apply to this current regime.

 

[Torontonian]

I'm a huge Rielly fan but he definitely has struggled. He's never been a defensive powerhouse by any means but he typically used his skating and skill to make up for it in spades. He's turning more and more into a Phaneuf type defenseman without the physicality.

I do think though that players have tough stretches/seasons and they can easily bounce back. We saw it with JT and a lot of different players through the years. Talking about buyouts and all that is exaggerating it but he does need to take a step back and find a way to get back to the player we know he can be.

I think the system has been tough on 44. He's always been mediocre in his own end, but his bread and butter is joining the rush etc and Berube system doesn't let him do that anymore.

I also personally just think he's having a off year. Everything he's doing out there just seems to be hard for him right now.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Rielly is not the player he was 2-3 years ago.

His skating looks average, and brass tacks that was his major strength.
I don't notice, but he probably still passes well enough.
Doesn't and never has had a great shot.
Isn't and never was great defensively.

NMC

Talk of buyout seems unnecessary, unless he refused to waive and they have an attainable target for his money. Now this would not be in season, but in summer, if the $3.8mm in savings was going to be used to upgrade the defence.

I think they'll just live with it, the same way they'll end up living with the Tanev deal in a few years.

I am kind of surprised at how slow he looks today. He is only 30 years old but has had 3 knee injuries.
Is he carrying too much weight?

I hope this off season the tough decisions will be made and that includes either trading Reilly with retention or buyout, 2.13 million buyout is better than 7.5 million when his play level has been bottom pairing level the last 2 seasons

 

[ACC1224]

As for Rielly, every season we hear it's impossible to move players with NMC and every year the player(s) get moved. Where there's a will, there's a way. But so far that doesn't apply to this current regime.

Aren't those players typically on non playoff teams?

Every situation is different but it's hard to imagine why he or any of the Leafs NMC would want to leave here.

 

[SprDaVE]

I think the system has been tough on 44. He's always been mediocre in his own end, but his bread and butter is joining the rush etc and Berube system doesn't let him do that anymore.

I also personally just think he's having a off year. Everything he's doing out there just seems to be hard for him right now.

I dunno I've seen him activate plenty. Most of his goals is because he's been attacking. His defense was always average but now he's leaking way too much.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Nemec would be the homerun type prospect this team never takes a chance on. We always end up with the Myers, Benoits and Timmins type, which are nice depth and helpful but f***, swing for the fences once in a while. Cant draft them ourselves, dont pick high enough.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Aren't those players typically on non playoff teams?

Every situation is different but it's hard to imagine why he or any of the Leafs NMC would want to leave here.

Why stay somewhere where the fan base doesn't want you and if you're asked to waive then clearly the team doesn't want you.

 

[ACC1224]

Why stay somewhere where the fan base doesn't want you and if you're asked to waive then clearly the team doesn't want you.

Sure if all those things are true, the reference was to Reilly though.
I think any Leaf would remain first for his family and second for his teammates.

 

[ULF_55]

Sure if all those things are true, the reference was to Reilly though.
I think any Leaf would remain first for his family and second for his teammates.

I doubt the majority of Leafs fans want him moved.
My guess a very small minority would be in that boat.
This is a social media site with hardcore, more than casual fans.

 

[Americanadian]

Nemec would be the homerun type prospect this team never takes a chance on. We always end up with the Myers, Benoits and Timmins type, which are nice depth and helpful but f***, swing for the fences once in a while. Cant draft them ourselves, dont pick high enough.

Cowan for Nemec actually could make sense for both teams.

 

[Fogelhund]

If you choose to move on from Rielly, the question becomes... who do you replace him with, what is the cost to get said player, and does that actually make us better?

Here are the UFA's available... and there is a good chance some will be extended before we could even get up to bat.

2025 NHL Free Agents

Tracking the status and signings of all NHL free agents.

www.spotrac.com

Rielly has his warts, but replacing him with Cody Ceci doesn't make us a better team... what is the plan if he's gone?