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

[Folignos Helmet]

He’s a natural winger playing out of position. Of course he looks bad.

He's looked bad on the wing for most of this year as well.

I'd agree the only logical spot to put him at now is on Matthews wing, I think Berube is hesitant because it pusehd Willie to a 3rd line without a strong C. Maybe once they trade for that, we will see it happen.

I still hope we move on in the offseason.

 

[Americanadian]

Kovacevic - at 27 years old, he has a career 10 NHL goals, over four seasons. He's projecting for 22 points. I don't see him as a solution for making the D better, or even close.

Fabbro is just ok. He's got three goals, and 10 points total. Again, this isn't near a replacement.

Part of the replacement need for Rielly, is a PP quarterback. Fabbro and Kovacevic have a combined ZERO PP points this year... that's not anywhere near an acceptable replacement.

Your legitimate option, that might make the team better is Chychrun.... that's about it. Provorov isn't terrible... Chych likely extends with Washington.

I get the idea of using Rielly's money for forwards... but we've already got too much money in forwards, and need money in D.... It's not that I love Rielly or anything, but without some type of major trade, there are few UFA options that are near good enough.

If the Leafs move off Rielly and sign a D for half the price I don’t know why that D is expected to outproduce Rielly offensively. They should use the savings on a C.

They have too much money committed to 4 forwards, the rest of their F group is cheap.

 

[Fogelhund]

If the Leafs move off Rielly and sign a D for half the price I don’t know why that D is expected to outproduce Rielly offensively. They should use the savings on a C.

They have too much money committed to 4 forwards, the rest of their F group is cheap.

We have what, the second lowest number of goals in the NHL from the D, you want to remove the best of the bunch, who is the best puck mover, and best PP quarterback on the team... and your response is... let's improve the C position, and forget the D....

C is an important position, but if you don't have a good D, balanced, some physicality, and some who can move the puck, run the PP... you are screwed. Adding a C, and wrecking the D core, isn't a solution, at least not a bright one.

Adding a C like Bennett, doesn't help the PP, at all.
Removing Rielly, makes it worse. It's already struggling...

Special teams are critical, particularly in the playoffs, and your plan is to make it worse.

Rielly is having a poor year by his standards, but is 36th in the league in scoring. You want to replace him with Dog poop.

First it seems you have no idea what Rielly brings to the team, then you demonstrate you don't care that the PP suffers, our puck moving ability out of our zone doesn't matter... I guess we will agree to disagree here, because I'm just shaking my head, that anyone would say who needs a good D core, who needs a good PP, who needs the ability to move the puck out of our zone... like you haven't witnessed what an inability to move the puck out of the zone means for this team. Moving Rielly, and using replacement level 3rd pairing guys, or a 2nd pairing non-offense guy, instead, is dumb. Fine, move Rielly, improve the team by doing so, not make it worse.

 

[The Iceman]

Just for stuff and giggles... Hall @ 50%, Murphy @ 50%, and Krebs added, fits into the cap.

Robertson, Reaves, Timmins traded. Hildeby, Holmberg, Mermis to the Minors.

Knies Matthews Marner
Hall Tavares Nylander
McMann Krebs Domi
Patches/Dewar Kampf Lorentz

Rielly Murphy
McCabe Tanev
Benoit OEL
Myers

Realistically. Are we trying to win a round or go deep.
Need a RHD, OEL can't play in the playoffs on his off side.

 

[Americanadian]

We have what, the second lowest number of goals in the NHL from the D, you want to remove the best of the bunch, who is the best puck mover, and best PP quarterback on the team... and your response is... let's improve the C position, and forget the D....

C is an important position, but if you don't have a good D, balanced, some physicality, and some who can move the puck, run the PP... you are screwed. Adding a C, and wrecking the D core, isn't a solution, at least not a bright one.

Adding a C like Bennett, doesn't help the PP, at all.
Removing Rielly, makes it worse. It's already struggling...

Special teams are critical, particularly in the playoffs, and your plan is to make it worse.

Rielly is having a poor year by his standards, but is 36th in the league in scoring. You want to replace him with Dog poop.

First it seems you have no idea what Rielly brings to the team, then you demonstrate you don't care that the PP suffers, our puck moving ability out of our zone doesn't matter... I guess we will agree to disagree here, because I'm just shaking my head, that anyone would say who needs a good D core, who needs a good PP, who needs the ability to move the puck out of our zone... like you haven't witnessed what an inability to move the puck out of the zone means for this team. Moving Rielly, and using replacement level 3rd pairing guys, or a 2nd pairing non-offense guy, instead, is dumb. Fine, move Rielly, improve the team by doing so, not make it worse.

Rielly doesn’t help the PP - they’re actively playing Knies and McMann over him. The reporting in the off season was they wanted OEL to play PP1 over him, like Sandin and Barrie before him.

I’m not suggesting replacing Rielly improves the PP but suggesting moving off him would make it worse when he’s not even a lock on the PP right now is ridiculous.

If the Leafs lost 5 goals from Rielly and replaced them with a C who scores 20-25 for the same price they’d have more goals. Especially when that C comes at the cost of a Kampf or Holmberg or Dewar.

 

[Fogelhund]

Rielly doesn’t help the PP - they’re actively playing Knies and McMann over him.

I’m not suggesting replacing Rielly improves the PP but suggesting moving off him would make it worse when he’s not even a lock on the PP right now is ridiculous.

The PP is better with Rielly, than with Knies or McMann instead. Statistically. Facts

If you have D, that can't move the puck out of the zone... bringing in a better scoring C, than Kampf, isn't going to be of net benefit.

 

[SprDaVE]

They aren't gonna trade Rielly anyway for many reasons. Treliving is at the helm... The guy hasn't made a big trade in 2 years, he's not going to trade the longest serving player and beloved member of the team in the midst of trying to win the cup.

 

[Americanadian]

The PP is better with Rielly, than with Knies or McMann instead. Statistically. Facts

If you have D, that can't move the puck out of the zone... bringing in a better scoring C, than Kampf, isn't going to be of net benefit.

I genuinely don’t know where to find this info but I’m curious what the difference in % is with Knies or OEL on PP1 with the core 4 over Rielly since you’re stating it’s better.

 

[Fogelhund]

They aren't gonna trade Rielly anyway for many reasons. Treliving is at the helm... The guy hasn't made a big trade in 2 years, he's not going to trade the longest serving player and beloved member of the team in the midst of trying to win the cup.

The discussion is more around the offseason, if we fail again. It's theoretical. This guy thinks moving Rielly + Kampf out, and adding Kovacevic + Bennett, makes the team better.... you build from the net out.

 

[Fogelhund]

Realistically. Are we trying to win a round or go deep.
Need a RHD, OEL can't play in the playoffs on his off side.

McCabe Tanev have been one of our better pairings this year, so that's kept.
Murphy brings a good RD to help Rielly.

OEL is our next best D. His best RD partner has been... Timmins statistically. Benoit and OEL haven't been terrible together this year, but not as good as Timmins... Benoit brings the physicality you'd want in the playoffs though. In most scenarios, Timmins is moved out for cap room in a trade... but I'd be fine with keeping him and using him beside OEL, as it's worked well enough.

 

[1specter]

First it seems you have no idea what Rielly brings to the team

A lot of the posters on this board do not, the Rielly discussion thread itself has turned into a cesspool. He's not been very good this year but he's still very important to the team's transition game.

 

[LeafEgo]

We need a top four RD so if you move Rielly then now you need a top two D as well - not very realistic. Get the first guy first and maybe revisit Rielly in the offseason depending on how the playoffs go.

He isn't an elite paid player to begin with, more upper middle class these days at 7.5. It's hard to like him at the moment but it's a bad stretch and I think you just hope him and Tanev take over in the playoffs as they have in the past.

IMO he should be playing with Tanev. Cabe and Murphy would make a good shut down pair behind that. Hopefully Hak works out and he's with OEL on the 3rd but we could get Benny involved in a pinch.

 

[Torontonian]

He's looked bad on the wing for most of this year as well.

I'd agree the only logical spot to put him at now is on Matthews wing, I think Berube is hesitant because it pusehd Willie to a 3rd line without a strong C. Maybe once they trade for that, we will see it happen.

I still hope we move on in the offseason.

How many games has Domi played on the wing this year, it can't be many with Matthews being hurt for 15 games and Now with Tavares hurt. Domi poor play doesn't get a pass, but not putting him in the best position to succeeded isn't fair to him either. He's a natural winger trying to play center.

I don't agree with the only spot is top line with 34 and 16. His bread and butter is passing and distributing the puck, putting him on a line with a two way 3C, and a shooter like Robertson would benefit him greatly IMO.

I'll keep saying it, a proper 3C will make this team offensively a threat in the playoffs with a healthy lineup..

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Robertson - XXX - Domi
Dewar - Kampf - Jankrok

Extras being Patches for Robertson, Holmberg for Dewar/Kampf and Reaves.

 

[MarMarSab3]

They aren't gonna trade Rielly anyway for many reasons. Treliving is at the helm... The guy hasn't made a big trade in 2 years, he's not going to trade the longest serving player and beloved member of the team in the midst of trying to win the cup.

And that's why they're never going to win a cup, there's no room for touchy feely nonsense in sports

 

[SprDaVE]

And that's why they're never going to win a cup, there's no room for touchy feely nonsense in sports

Is that why?

 

[MarMarSab3]

Is that why?

One of

 

[Budz]

He's looked bad on the wing for most of this year as well.

I'd agree the only logical spot to put him at now is on Matthews wing, I think Berube is hesitant because it pusehd Willie to a 3rd line without a strong C. Maybe once they trade for that, we will see it happen.

I still hope we move on in the offseason.

Sure, on the third line without a true Centre.

 

[SprDaVE]

One of

Making big changes could also mean the end of any sort of competitiveness, we realize that right? Making changes big doesn't always mean net positives.

Rielly has had a tough year no doubt, but he's generally been a very good contributor in the post season, he's been a warrior and far from the issue as to why we can't win a playoff round consistently. No one is untouchable in the true sense of the word but just dumping players at the first sign of struggle isn't really realistic either.

 

[Malachi Crunch]

Friedman just mentioned that there has been some trade talk concerning Cozens from Buffalo (first time I've heard someone confirm it).

He also mentioned Oleksiak as a player that may get traded. I'm not sure if he just pulled his name out of thin air or he's heard something.

 

[SprDaVE]

Friedman just mentioned that there has been some trade talk concerning Cozens from Buffalo (first time I've heard someone confirm it).

He also mentioned Oleksiak as a player that may get traded. I'm not sure if he just pulled his name out of thin air or he's heard something.

Buffalo about to take another step back. They are never going to get out of the rut by drafting and giving up on players before they turn 25.

Oleksiak is struggling hard from what I've read. If he was right handed I'd take a shot but not sure he fits at his cap hit and position.

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[nuck]

Making big changes could also mean the end of any sort of competitiveness, we realize that right? Making changes big doesn't always mean net positives.

Rielly has had a tough year no doubt, but he's generally been a very good contributor in the post season, he's been a warrior and far from the issue as to why we can't win a playoff round consistently. No one is untouchable in the true sense of the word but just dumping players at the first sign of struggle isn't really realistic either.

Is it the first sign of a struggle though? He has had some real down seasons since his breakout year but that hasn't translated to team failure so I doubt losing Mo will trigger some kind of collapse. If he doesn't produce offense he can't be anywhere near the top pair and the money is way too much for a second pair guy. Even a buyout leaves them $5M to find something better and there are about a hundred $5M< D men performing better than him these days. Having said all that, the best option to me is to play him but dial back the minutes. The guy from 2021 may still be out there but the club isn't talking. If he doesn't earn back more ice time and sucks the rest of the year then they have some soul searching to do.

 

[SprDaVE]

Is it the first sign of a struggle though? He has had some real down seasons since his breakout year but that hasn't translated to team failure so I doubt losing Mo will trigger some kind of collapse. If he doesn't produce offense he can't be anywhere near the top pair and the money is way too much for a second pair guy. Even a buyout leaves them $5M to find something better and there are about a hundred $5M< D men performing better than him these days. Having said all that, the best option to me is to play him but dial back the minutes. The guy from 2021 may still be out there but the club isn't talking. If he doesn't earn back more ice time and sucks the rest of the year then they have some soul searching to do.

I would say it's definitely the first season where he's had a lot more bad than good. Last year he was pretty good to me. He's been generally on the 2nd pair most this season, paired a lot with Myers...

Rielly is nowhere near buyout territory the same way Tavares wasn't a negative last season despite having a tough season, but people were losing their minds with Tavares over the last couple seasons and he's been a beast this season.

 

[dubplatepressure]

So, Rust and Rackell. No one's taking Bunting or Hayes, and Malkin and Crosby aren't getting moved. Very much doubt Letang would be moved too.

 

[1specter]

I would say it's definitely the first season where he's had a lot more bad than good. Last year he was pretty good to me. He's been generally on the 2nd pair most this season, paired a lot with Myers...

Rielly is nowhere near buyout territory the same way Tavares wasn't a negative last season despite having a tough season, but people were losing their minds with Tavares over the last couple seasons and he's been a beast this season.

The overreaction takes here are definitely insane. We're now at the point where multiple members on this forum are rewriting history and claiming that Rielly has been mediocre for a number of years now which is complete delusion.