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

[Torontonian]

Pretty good list, would like some term on the center, but if they are able to resign a potential UFA, that would be good as well. Seems to be a lot of smoke on the top 3 and #7 Toronto has been linked to 3 of them the entire year.

 

[SprDaVE]

Pretty good list, would like some term on the center, but if they are able to resign a potential UFA, that would be good as well. Seems to be a lot of smoke on the top 3 and #7 Toronto has been linked to 3 of them the entire year.

It's shocking how ROR is at the top of the list. It makes no sense to me. The player himself fits, nothing else about the situation does.

 

[Fogelhund]

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[Americanadian]

The question was asked of you. What are your expectations for that salary? You ignored it.

You were provided every player from $3-4 million, who signed last year as a UFA, who were forwards. You chose to focus on a reality that a number have been injured.

You listed Foegele as one player in that range, who has been excellent value at $3.5 mil, and 24 points.

I listed every other player I could find, in that data range.

Trenin signed for $3.5 mil. He has 8 points.
Duclair at $3.5 mil has 8 points. (missed games with injury)
Arvidsson $4 mil 15 points
Perron $4 mil 9 game, zero points
Mantha $3.5 mil 7 points, just 13 games.

Out of the 7 forwards signed between $3-4 mil I could find, I'd say we are getting second best value, and given the recent performances... Foegele have the same number of points over the last 18 games. In addition, Domi has the versatility to fill in at C for us, which given our situation has been invaluable.

Expectations should be for your players to perform at least to the level of their peers, signed in the same $ range. Domi is doing that. If he keeps up his last 18 game pace, that's a 50 point pace. That would be excellent value for the money, particularly given the ability to play C. He likely ends the season around 40-42 points, which is decent for the money.

I'm up for a good debate, and discussion on players, but repeatedly the pattern has to be ignore questions asked, to spin things, and focus on minutia such as.. some of these players missed games.


This is a trite response, ignoring the original questions, is argumentative, and shows an unwillingness to actually focus on the data. Be better.

I would expect Domi to produce the way he did last season when paired with Matthews to earn his salary. He hasn’t been given that opportunity as I stated in my original post.

 

[Fogelhund]

I would expect Domi to produce the way he did last season when paired with Matthews to earn his salary. He hasn’t been given that opportunity as I stated in my original post.

But without playing with Matthews, what do you think realistic expectations are, of a third line player, with utility at the $3-4 million price tag.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It's shocking how ROR is at the top of the list. It makes no sense to me. The player himself fits, nothing else about the situation does.

That list was weird but if we're going through that and the HMs...

Coyle and Pageau would appeal the most to me.

 

[Americanadian]

But without playing with Matthews, what do you think realistic expectations are, of a third line player, with utility at the $3-4 million price tag.

I’d expect 2/3 of 20 goals, 40 points, good defensively.

 

[Fogelhund]

I’d expect 2/3 of 20 goals, 40 points, good defensively.

Domi isn't a 20 goal scorer, and I don't think we need him to be. If he has guys like McMann and Robertson on his line, he just needs to get them the puck. He needs to play with goal scorers. If we can get 10 goals out of him, that's really good. He isn't shooting enough though for sure.

40 points is realistic. I think the target should be 0.5PPG+. Knowing most of that is going to be assists.

Good defensively... I'd hope he can be better, but good.. I don't think he will be.

More goals scored while he's on the ice 5v5, than we get scored on... I think that's the goal. Winning the game while he's on the ice, that should be the main goal. (Edit - he is currently 2.9 GF/60, 2.8 GA/60.. so winning!!)

If every line can win the game of 5v5 scoring while they are on the ice, and our Special teams are good (The PP isn't right now).. we've got a strong team.

 

[Torontonian]

It's shocking how ROR is at the top of the list. It makes no sense to me. The player himself fits, nothing else about the situation does.

Player fits, has term on his contract, caphit is 4.5m which isn't outrageous. Seems like everything Toronto is looking for. Just speculation, but feels like ROR didn't like the fit with Keefe at the helm, might have different opinion on Toronto now with Chief behind the bench.

There's been a lot of smoke/talk about a reunion with ROR.

 

[SprDaVE]

That list was weird but if we're going through that and the HMs...

Coyle and Pageau would appeal the most to me.

All the rest of the names except for Kadri kinda make sense one way or another at face value.

Frederick is interesting. Only turns 27 in a few weeks. Big guy that plays physical. Capable offensively in a depth role. My big concern is that he hasn't played center very much for the Bruins and his faceoff percentage are bad. He also doesn't PK for them. But maybe you transition him back to center and look at giving him PK time? Might need a bigger opportunity. This is where pro scouting needs to be clutch and get it right.

 

[SprDaVE]

Player fits, has term on his contract, caphit is 4.5m which isn't outrageous. Seems like everything Toronto is looking for. Just speculation, but feels like ROR didn't like the fit with Keefe at the helm, might have different opinion on Toronto now with Chief behind the bench.

There's been a lot of smoke/talk about a reunion with ROR.

ROR mentioned he hates the spotlight of Toronto. It's the first thing he said when he landed in Nashville. Maybe he also hated Keefe and the coaches but the team and environment didn't change. If he changed his mind on the situation, I guess? Doesn't seem likely to me. And giving up even more assets for a player that decided he wanted to jump ship to a place that has little pressure doesn't bold well for me.

 

[WTFMAN99]

All the rest of the names except for Kadri kinda make sense one way or another at face value.

Frederick is interesting. Only turns 27 in a few weeks. Big guy that plays physical. Capable offensively in a depth role. My big concern is that he hasn't played center very much for the Bruins and his faceoff percentage are bad. He also doesn't PK for them. But maybe you transition him back to center and look at giving him PK time? Might need a bigger opportunity. This is where pro scouting needs to be clutch and get it right.

I will preface in saying that I absolutely love Trent Frederic and I would chase him as a UFA, perfect 3rd line winger, he's functional toughness, he can fight, check and probably chip in 10-16 goals a year, this is a down year.

He cannot play centre in the NHL though IMO.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Pretty good list, would like some term on the center, but if they are able to resign a potential UFA, that would be good as well. Seems to be a lot of smoke on the top 3 and #7 Toronto has been linked to 3 of them the entire year.

Of that list, I think two of them are good fits.

 

[rumman]

I don't disagree, but we are talking about a Defensive D man, to partner with Rielly, to help him be more reliable in his own zone. Is Connor Murphy for example going to do that for us?

Or is a more reliable 3C, who is better defensively than Domi going to do that for us?

I mean ideally, both right?

Your looking for a unicorn my friend, there’s no D man that can make Mo look defensively competent. Have we not realized this yet?

 

[WTFMAN99]

So the contract for Knies that makes the most sense to me is 5.5M x 6-7 years, the comparable I would use is Alex Tuch.

Tuch signed his contract in October of 2018

His 2017-18 and 18-19 stat lines...

17-18 - 37 pts in 78gp
18-19 52 pts in 74gp (or 58 pt pace)

He was 22 years old and his contract was 5.83% of the cap, he signed for 7 years at 4.75M

Knies is 22 years old, he's got 31 pts in 46GP or a 55 pt pace

92.5M and 5.83% of cap = 5,392,750 M

So bump it up a bit to 5.5M and 6-7 years...seems pretty fool proof to me.

 

[notDatsyuk]

So, summarizing... adding players hasn't worked for us in the past, so let's give this team a lower chance of success this year, and hopefully they want to leave, so we can blow the team up and rebuild. Alright, it's an opinion.

Adding players at the TDL hasn't improved our chances in the past, and acquiring them has lowered our chance of success the following year(s), so let's not make the same mistakes.

I don't think Tre is as likely to make such poor trades as his predecessor, but still....

 

[SprDaVE]

Adding players at the TDL hasn't improved our chances in the past, and acquiring them has lowered our chance of success the following year(s), so let's not make the same mistakes.

I don't think Tre is as likely to make such poor trades as his predecessor, but still....

Treliving added 3 players last season at the deadline for a bunch of picks, 2 of them rentals, the non rental has 1 goal since acquired.

He's going to do the same thing because that's what GMs do.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Marner and Rielly for Miller and Pettersson. Then trade Miller to NYI for Dobson

Leafs dump Rielly early. Do not have to overpay Marner and get a cost controlled #2C and top dman.

Miller goes to a US market. Lou gets cost controlled Miller and moves dman who he may not want to pay.

Canucks get super elite winger to replace Petey and local boy MR and Tessa Virtue.

Everybody wins.

Interesting, but I don't think Tessa makes up for the difference between Mitch and Mo and Miller and Petterson.

I'd be happy to get Petterson and Dobson, but I suspect it would take a bit more.

 

[Fogelhund]

If I'm looking at Boston, I'd target Kastelic. He's 25, they just extended him at $1.57 mil for three years, He's physical, good in the dot, and used heavily defensively. Down side... hasn't played the PK much. This would be a Kampf replacement, not a 3C. I also doubt Boston moves him given his age, extension and they aren't out of this enough to become sellers yet.

I like Krebs out of Buffalo. They don't seem to be able to develop anyone, he has draft pedigree and seemed to have more potential. He's decent in the dot, cheap contract, about to be RFA so control, and has some grit to his game. He is being used very heavily in the Dzone, and isn't getting killed with such minutes on a terrible team. I think there is more there, maybe a reclamation project for the Pro scouts to look at. I might be wrong, but the cap hit is good, the acquisition cost might not be huge, and would allow us to maybe go out and get a quality RD. $1.45 mil x 2 years, then RFA.

NYI... this list talks about Nelson.. but I'd be looking at Pageau instead. More physical, better defensively, and good enough offense for a 3C. $5 mil contract... retained and it's excellent value.

Noah Cates is a name people have bounced around some too. He's young, proving he can play C well enough, is being used defensively a lot, but with very good results. He can PK. $2.625 RFA at the end of the year.

I've always liked McBain, but Utah loves him, and I doubt they move him. They are playing him at wing this year, and frankly given he is playing with Cooley and Guenther his production hasn't been as good as you'd hope.

Most of these lists seem like click bait, of the biggest names out there, without regard to fit.

Your looking for a unicorn my friend, there’s no D man that can make Mo look defensively competent. Have we not realized this yet?

Schenn did, Boosh did, Hainsey did.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Treliving added 3 players last season at the deadline for a bunch of picks, 2 of them rentals, the non rental has 1 goal since acquired.

He's going to do the same thing because that's what GMs do.

Ignoring Webber, he spent two 3rds, a 4th, a 5th, and a 6th on two half-price rental D and Dewar, a 4th line C.

Not quite the same as trading several 1sts and 2nds plus prospects for rentals that didn't help either.

 

[SprDaVE]

Ignoring Webber, he spent two 3rds, a 4th, a 5th, and a 6th on two half-price rental D and Dewar, a 4th line C.

Not quite the same as trading several 1sts and 2nds plus prospects for rentals that didn't help either.

That's a lot of future capital regardless and the quality was far different. ROR + Acciari and McCabe + Lafferty in the years prior to Treliving. You pay for what you get. You might as well acquire good talent instead of half assing it. There's only really been Foligno as the one major dud throughout the last 10 or whatever how many years you wanna look back.

Treliving will do the same thing in his tenure either way, I will guarantee you that much.

 

[Fogelhund]

That's a lot of future capital regardless and the quality was far different. ROR + Acciari and McCabe + Lafferty in the years prior to Treliving. You pay for what you get. You might as well acquire good talent instead of half assing it.

Treliving will do the same thing in his tenure either way, I will guarantee you that much.

Pretty much every GM tries to do it.

 

[WTFMAN99]

That's a lot of future capital regardless and the quality was far different. ROR + Acciari and McCabe + Lafferty in the years prior to Treliving. You pay for what you get. You might as well acquire good talent instead of half assing it. There's only really been Foligno as the one major dud throughout the last 10 or whatever how many years you wanna look back.

Treliving will do the same thing in his tenure either way, I will guarantee you that much.

Pretty much every GM tries to do it.

I think we've all noticed it but it's wild that Vegas gets guys with term (usually) versus rentals or they extend the pending UFA more often than not. The guy they acquire with term generally isn't much more if at all than the pure rental we've been acquiring.

 

[rumman]

If I'm looking at Boston, I'd target Kastelic. He's 25, they just extended him at $1.57 mil for three years, He's physical, good in the dot, and used heavily defensively. Down side... hasn't played the PK much. This would be a Kampf replacement, not a 3C. I also doubt Boston moves him given his age, extension and they aren't out of this enough to become sellers yet.

I like Krebs out of Buffalo. They don't seem to be able to develop anyone, he has draft pedigree and seemed to have more potential. He's decent in the dot, cheap contract, about to be RFA so control, and has some grit to his game. He is being used very heavily in the Dzone, and isn't getting killed with such minutes on a terrible team. I think there is more there, maybe a reclamation project for the Pro scouts to look at. I might be wrong, but the cap hit is good, the acquisition cost might not be huge, and would allow us to maybe go out and get a quality RD. $1.45 mil x 2 years, then RFA.

NYI... this list talks about Nelson.. but I'd be looking at Pageau instead. More physical, better defensively, and good enough offense for a 3C. $5 mil contract... retained and it's excellent value.

Noah Cates is a name people have bounced around some too. He's young, proving he can play C well enough, is being used defensively a lot, but with very good results. He can PK. $2.625 RFA at the end of the year.

I've always liked McBain, but Utah loves him, and I doubt they move him. They are playing him at wing this year, and frankly given he is playing with Cooley and Guenther his production hasn't been as good as you'd hope.

Most of these lists seem like click bait, of the biggest names out there, without regard to fit.


Schenn did, Boosh did, Hainsey did.

Ancient history……..

 

[ShameOnYouZidlicky]

Chicago are not in the same spot than 2 years ago when they did everything to win Bedard lottery. Chicago want to build something around Bedard and young core and hope make a step up next year. so im not sure if they really want to move one of their top 3 dmen whos playing on shutdown pair with Vlasic, still under contract and who will maybe bring the same kind of value next year...

Its what leafs fan want but really not sure its what Chicago want

You may very well be right as both players provide leadership and are under contract for next season. I would still push for both, especially Murphy. That would really round out the D-core and would be the best we have seen in the Matthews era.