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

[Stringer Bell]

If we don't sign Saad we'll most likely end up trading an asset for an equivalent a month later.

 

[Legion34]

If we don't sign Saad we'll most likely end up trading an asset for an equivalent a month later.

Does Berube like him?

 

[hamzarocks]

The actual difference between a $1mil contract, and a $2 mil contract is $389k for the balance of the season... relatively small amount. I think it's more important for him to find a spot where he can excel, and earn another decent contract next year. It's about opportunity, not salary maximization. I mean, we can offer him the spot beside Nylander and Tavares..... how much better can he do?

Isnt Saad just a declined and finished version of Knies?

Less physical now since hes old and slow vs his prime but similar build, shooting/tight hand skills

He could be a good add but I dont recall if his skating sucks

Playing 2 slow skaters with nylander not sure if that will work well

 

[Taylor Halls Teeth]

Honestly fair. But I think Marner, Nylander, Knies, McMann, Pacioretty, Robertson, Domi and Lorentz have all been more or less good to capable for the most part. Saad would boost the goal scoring depth a lot for sure, but it certainly doesn't make our physicality or intangibles that much better. Saad is also having a rough season shooting wise, and it's possible he continues his struggles on a new team at which point he becomes another retread that can't produce consistently.

I think he has been so bad for the Blues he is a reclamation case rather than a solution. If he wants more than a buryable amount he is a risk and he won't want to be buried twice so he will want some kind of commitment. He doesn't seem like he has a lot to offer if he isn't at the top of his game.

 

[Folignos Helmet]

We have 7 forwards who are useful. The 4 plus Knies, McMann and Lorenz. Everyone else can go.
We have 4 d the rest can go.
Given league wide depth issues I don’t think that is too far off what other teams are dealing with as well.

The biggest disappointment is Domi who is not paid replacement level. The rest are.

I don’t think we have the assets to get a top line player but Brad really needs to shuffle the replacement level players out. If even to try something different. They aren’t working.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Domi is my major problem right now. He has 0 game at all, cant even make a simple area pass right now and isn't even willing to jump somebody anymore, which is how he fights.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Trade each core player for a different core player

 

[Torontonian]

Isnt Saad just a declined and finished version of Knies?

Less physical now since hes old and slow vs his prime but similar build, shooting/tight hand skills

He could be a good add but I dont recall if his skating sucks

Playing 2 slow skaters with nylander not sure if that will work well

All I know is, Saad has 7 goals, that would put him 8th on our team in goals, and 1 goal to tie him with 7th..

 

[SprDaVE]

Domi is my major problem right now. He has 0 game at all, cant even make a simple area pass right now and isn't even willing to jump somebody anymore, which is how he fights.

Domi, Reaves, Kampf, Holmberg and Dewar are major problems, and they are almost half the forwards. Treliving truly put on a masterclass of building a powerful physical playoff team I sure tell you. All that matters is the playoffs, surely this is when it all comes together.

 

[LeafEgo]

Domi is my major problem right now. He has 0 game at all, cant even make a simple area pass right now and isn't even willing to jump somebody anymore, which is how he fights.

He fought last game I went to, and tried to go Chucky, a bit crazy. Chucky is actually bigger than Reavo, a bit surprising.

He should get some mojo back once he lands a permanent spot on the wing and injuries settle down, and should be good again this playoffs. He's playing below his wages right now though.

Domi, Reaves, Kampf, Holmberg and Dewar are major problems, and they are almost half the forwards. Treliving truly put on a masterclass of building a powerful physical playoff team I sure tell you. All that matters is the playoffs, surely this is when it all comes together.

Yep, that's the plan, finally.

First three are good to go. Dewar was really a 13th man we got for two years for the price of one. Holmberg is just hanging around until folks are healthy - we really should have been looking at some other kids all this time imo.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Leafs - Canucks
Morgan Rielly & Nick Robertson
For
JT Miller

Leafs - Flames
Fraser Minten, Calle Jarnkrok & 1st
For
Rasmus Andersson

Knies - - Matthews - - Domi*
Patches - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - - Miller - Marner*
Lorentz - Kampf - Dewar/Reaves

McCabe - Tanev
OEL - Andersson
Benoit - Timmins/Myers/Hakanpaa

 

[WTFMAN99]

This is going to come off as harsh and over reactionary but it's not just last night...

I thought 1/4 of the way through the team had dug in, learned to play proper structure, defense, PK etc. They were playing in a way that inspired confidence. I thought Berube had gotten

The last while, it was similar to the last few years, coast for 2 periods and turn it on in the 3rd period. Last night is fresh in our minds and I am just thinking, you play hard for 3/3 or even 2/3 periods, the game is there for the taking.

On that ice surface last night, Matthews should have been the best in the world...it's so different from a guy like MacKinnon that I notice all over the ice or McDavid.

I am going to steal an analogy from someone else but we've changed the fluids, the brakes, the tires and the starter but here we are so many years later, haven't even thought about changing the engine and management / half the fan base is wondering why we don't have success? The engine is the core in this case, no other way to look at it.

 

[Torontonian]

This is going to come off as harsh and over reactionary but it's not just last night...

I thought 1/4 of the way through the team had dug in, learned to play proper structure, defense, PK etc. They were playing in a way that inspired confidence. I thought Berube had gotten

The last while, it was similar to the last few years, coast for 2 periods and turn it on in the 3rd period. Last night is fresh in our minds and I am just thinking, you play hard for 3/3 or even 2/3 periods, the game is there for the taking.

On that ice surface last night, Matthews should have been the best in the world...it's so different from a guy like MacKinnon that I notice all over the ice or McDavid.

I am going to steal an analogy from someone else but we've changed the fluids, the brakes, the tires and the starter but here we are so many years later, haven't even thought about changing the engine and management / half the fan base is wondering why we don't have success? The engine is the core in this case, no other way to look at it.

Matthews isn't the same type of players as the Kuch/McDavids/MacKs of the world. They take over games in a different way then Matthews. They make everyone around them better by play making / controlling the play and ability to finish.

While Matthews really only changes the game with his shot, he might be quiet most of the night, but all he needs is the puck in a scoring chance and it's in.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Matthews isn't the same type of players as the Kuch/McDavids/MacKs of the world. They take over games in a different way then Matthews. They make everyone around them better by play making / controlling the play and ability to finish.

While Matthews really only changes the game with his shot, he might be quiet most of the night, but all he needs is the puck in a scoring chance and it's in.

Yeah, that is a really easy guy to shut down IMO, playoffs everyone is blocking everything and pressuring the hell out of you.

We see it in the game 6 and 7 elimination games, he is hardly ever on the score board.

 

[SprDaVE]

This is going to come off as harsh and over reactionary but it's not just last night...

I thought 1/4 of the way through the team had dug in, learned to play proper structure, defense, PK etc. They were playing in a way that inspired confidence. I thought Berube had gotten

The last while, it was similar to the last few years, coast for 2 periods and turn it on in the 3rd period. Last night is fresh in our minds and I am just thinking, you play hard for 3/3 or even 2/3 periods, the game is there for the taking.

On that ice surface last night, Matthews should have been the best in the world...it's so different from a guy like MacKinnon that I notice all over the ice or McDavid.

I am going to steal an analogy from someone else but we've changed the fluids, the brakes, the tires and the starter but here we are so many years later, haven't even thought about changing the engine and management / half the fan base is wondering why we don't have success? The engine is the core in this case, no other way to look at it.

Matthews deserves some heat in producing when we need him the most but he's still a premier world class player. I'd rather keep him forever than knowing what the team would be without him. Plus I don't have a single ounce of trust in Treliving doing something good there anyway. But it's not always that simple and we can blame a lot of different parts of the team that failed in previous seasons and post-season.

Right now though we have about 8.5M of cap space tied up in forwards that have produced 6 goals in more than half the season. 6 freaking goals man. Matthews has quadruple that by himself and he missed a whole month. If you add the defense, it's really bad. All of them brought in and signed by our current GM except for Rielly, so don't blame the other guy.

 

[thewave]

Matthews deserves some heat in producing when we need him the most but he's still a premier world class player. I'd rather keep him forever than knowing what the team would be without him. Plus I don't have a single ounce of trust in Treliving doing something good there anyway. But it's not always that simple and we can blame a lot of different parts of the team that failed in previous seasons and post-season.

Right now though we have about 8.5M of cap space tied up in forwards that have produced 6 goals in more than half the season. 6 freaking goals man. Matthews has quadruple that by himself and he missed a whole month. If you add the defense, it's really bad. All of them brought in and signed by our current GM except for Rielly, so don't blame the other guy.

At this point there shouldn't even be discussions about this.

Auston Matthews when paired with Mutch Marner is a low intensity failure. It does not matter the points. His actual hockey game takes a massive !@#$ing hit and is hard to watch. They are forcing this combo down everyone's throats despite it being obvious.

The organization is stupid, dumb, lack accountability and there is zero sign of it changing yet again.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Matthews deserves some heat in producing when we need him the most but he's still a premier world class player. I'd rather keep him forever than knowing what the team would be without him. Plus I don't have a single ounce of trust in Treliving doing something good there anyway. But it's not always that simple and we can blame a lot of different parts of the team that failed in previous seasons and post-season.

Right now though we have about 8.5M of cap space tied up in forwards that have produced 6 goals in more than half the season. 6 freaking goals man. Matthews has quadruple that by himself and he missed a whole month. If you add the defense, it's really bad. All of them brought in and signed by our current GM except for Rielly, so don't blame the other guy.

Something to be said for having Matthews and JT healthy for like 5 games because centres do drive the bus but I look at the decisions facing down the team and yes Marner puts up points but I don't know if re-upping him for 12-14M is the wisest thing.

Yea, lack of D scoring and help from the bottom of the roster is an issue but in spite of the new problems we face, I also see a lot of the same problems that have plagued this team for nearly a decade now.

No one knows but we're all starting to ask/wonder, what the hell do you even do if the team gets bounced again round 1 again? For 3-4 years we've said they gotta trade a core guy after the playoffs and they didn't do it. If they just re-up Marner and JT...everyone is a bit older, potential has been reached, they are who they are.

Franky, they should have had a deep run at this point.

 

[thewave]

Something to be said for having Matthews and JT healthy for like 5 games because centres do drive the bus but I look at the decisions facing down the team and yes Marner puts up points but I don't know if re-upping him for 12-14M is the wisest thing.

Yea, lack of D scoring and help from the bottom of the roster is an issue but in spite of the new problems we face, I also see a lot of the same problems that have plagued this team for nearly a decade now.

No one knows but we're all starting to ask/wonder, what the hell do you even do if the team gets bounced again round 1 again? For 3-4 years we've said they gotta trade a core guy after the playoffs and they didn't do it. If they just re-up Marner and JT...everyone is a bit older, potential has been reached, they are who they are.

Franky, they should have had a deep run at this point.

Again. What is the harm of testing what AM can do without Marner. Are they not curious? Is the fact Marner could leave not real? Why are they stapled right now when you can be experimenting a bit.

Stupid Leafs never learn

 

[ULF_55]

Matthews deserves some heat in producing when we need him the most but he's still a premier world class player. I'd rather keep him forever than knowing what the team would be without him. Plus I don't have a single ounce of trust in Treliving doing something good there anyway. But it's not always that simple and we can blame a lot of different parts of the team that failed in previous seasons and post-season.

Right now though we have about 8.5M of cap space tied up in forwards that have produced 6 goals in more than half the season. 6 freaking goals man. Matthews has quadruple that by himself and he missed a whole month. If you add the defense, it's really bad. All of them brought in and signed by our current GM except for Rielly, so don't blame the other guy.

McMann is earning his paycheque+.

McMann is an example that you can add to the Core 4, without breaking the bank.
You can double his salary and he'd still be earning it.

 

[SprDaVE]

View attachment 969541

McMann is earning his paycheque+.

McMann is an example that you can add to the Core 4, without breaking the bank.
You can double his salary and he'd still be earning it.

Domi earned a solid deal last year even despite only scoring 9 goals. He started off terribly but felt like he had a strong 2nd half and things seemed to be looking up. He did play with Matthews but even outside of that stint he did well, he played center and seemed to be involved. I told myself there's no way he'd score less than 10 goals again. Domi said, hold my beer. He's gonna ruin playing for his childhood team very fast if he keeps it up.

Not all has been bad with the team. Some players have played more than good enough, if not great in some cases. The bad have been incredibly bad.

This team does need some form of shake up. They've needed one for awhile. I don't know why Treliving isn't getting more heat. Get to work.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Again. What is the harm of testing what AM can do without Marner. Are they not curious? Is the fact Marner could leave not real? Why are they stapled right now when you can be experimenting a bit.

Stupid Leafs never learn

At this point, it does seem like a player decision.

 

[ULF_55]

Again. What is the harm of testing what AM can do without Marner. Are they not curious? Is the fact Marner could leave not real? Why are they stapled right now when you can be experimenting a bit.

Stupid Leafs never learn

I can be convinced that keeping marner is a better option than keeping Matthews.

I know big man, big scorer.
Over the past 5 seasons he's almost scored (scored goals not earned assists) as well as Nylander in the post-season.

But I think marner can make other players better, even if he is a winger, I think he drives his line.

Remember GIlmour - Andreychuk?
Who is taking the goal scorer here?

Certainly, Matthews has a wider game than Andreychuk, but I'd take Gilmour over Matthews, even when you consider the Rockets.

 

[thewave]

I can be convinced that keeping marner is a better option than keeping Matthews.

I know big man, big scorer.
Over the past 5 seasons he's almost scored (scored goals not earned assists) as well as Nylander in the post-season.

But I think marner can make other players better, even if he is a winger, I think he drives his line.

Remember GIlmour - Andreychuk?
Who is taking the goal scorer here?

Certainly, Matthews has a wider game than Andreychuk, but I'd take Gilmour over Matthews, even when you consider the Rockets.

I get what you are saying but I have to see it in practice before my old clouded brain can commit. Why do they not sample this? Berube is very much a non accountability coach. This won't go well

 

[Rare Jewel]

I've been of this opinion for a while, but when Matthews and Marner are together, their roles become far too designated as shooter and passer to the point where it limits their overall effectiveness and is far too predictable.

Particularly with Matthews because he hardly touches the puck; a lot of times, he's just waiting around in space, which is a waste of his overall ability. The Bertuzzi- Matthews- Domi line post-all-star game last year was probably the best and most engaging version of him that I've seen, which was also backed by scoring at a 140 point pace, albeit in about 15 games or so.

So, more or that, please; it may also light a fire up Domi's backside as well.

 

[thewave]

I've been of this opinion for a while, but when Matthews and Marner are together, their roles become far too designated as shooter and passer to the point where it limits their overall effectiveness and is far too predictable.

Particularly with Matthews because he hardly touches the puck; a lot of times, he's just waiting around in space, which is a waste of his overall ability. The Bertuzzi- Matthews- Domi line post-all-star game last year was probably the best and most engaging version of him that I've seen, which was also backed by scoring at a 140 point pace, albeit in about 15 games or so.

So, more or that, please; it may also light a fire up Domi's backside as well.

These are my exact thoughts on the MM AM dynamic. The Berube question of why not experiment has never been answered. Is it player requests? Mandate from the top?

This team has much I feel it can improve without acquisitions.

MLSE is strange