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

[1specter]

Marner is a much more dynamic and motivated player away from Matthews.

He can mesh with anyone and bring a playmaker’s dynamic to anyone on his line.

With Matthews, Marner is almost one dimensional and a much lesser version of himself. I don’t blame the players as much as I blame the coaches and management for stapling them together, to the detriment of the team.

Nice to see Crosby getting love, but he’s either staying in Pittsburgh or going to Colorado to play with MacKinnon.

He has no connection to Toronto and no motivation to come here. If he wants to win another Cup, Toronto isn’t where you go for it, period. We just aren’t there. Colorado is.

Love the big game hunting thinking but it’s all pretty pie in the sky stuff. Combine how weak we are with assets and picks and Treliving not making significant moves here, I think we are looking at small moves here and then seeing who makes it through to UFA.

I don’t see major moves here at all.

Sad but true. Treliving is a very risk averse GM generally unless his hands have been absolutely forced, and we are drained of assets. Not much can be done till the summer.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Sad but true. Treliving is a very risk averse GM generally unless his hands have been absolutely forced, and we are drained of assets. Not much can be done till the summer.

Consider Dougie Hamilton I think fetched a 1st and 2 2nds, we could go for a Noah Dobson maybe, might need to change out an asset with a prospect and send some salary there but it's not impossible.

 

[ULF_55]

Love the big game hunting thinking but it’s all pretty pie in the sky stuff. Combine how weak we are with assets and picks and Treliving not making significant moves here, I think we are looking at small moves here and then seeing who makes it through to UFA.

I don’t see major moves here at all.

I see two options, all in or a few deals to satisfy fan appetite.

Perhaps they throw a few assets for depth players that replace other depth players hoping a miracle happens and they make a difference.

Or they go after player(s) who easily push down players like Domi, Paccioretty, to where they should be on the 3rd. line or lower.

If they go option 1, they aren't serious about winning, just window dressing.

In either case some will be happy and some will accept the entertainment factor regardless of outcome.

 

[All Mod Cons]

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Toronto Maple Leafs and veteran forward John Tavares are close on a new extension, with some finer details all that needs to be done. He writes in a recent post, “There has been chatter of a three-year extension in place that requires some finetuning, but nobody will confirm. His AAV will drop, likely in the $7 million range.”

$7m might be fair but I'd rather do some shopping on July 1st to see if I can get a younger, speedier, better player for a bit more. Leafs might be concerned they lack C depth and may want to lock in JT sooner than later.

Oh yeah baby. Now we're talking. Get these core guys locked up ASAP.

 

[Americanadian]

Knies for Byfield could make sense as a base for both teams.

 

[Kiwi]

Are you familiar with fandom?

Probably more than most

I was a Wrexham FC fan before we got famous owners and a truck load of new fans

Consider Dougie Hamilton I think fetched a 1st and 2 2nds, we could go for a Noah Dobson maybe, might need to change out an asset with a prospect and send some salary there but it's not impossible.

I don't think he's even on the market and even if he is I doubt Lou is trading the kid here

 

[Skullz]

I'm sorry, but 7 million is too much for Tavares. He needs to take a bigger discount than that if he wants to return.

 

[thewave]

I'm sorry, but 7 million is too much for Tavares. He needs to take a bigger discount than that if he wants to return.

Exactly

 

[WTFMAN99]

Probably more than most

I was a Wrexham FC fan before we got famous owners and a truck load of new fans



I don't think he's even on the market and even if he is I doubt Lou is trading the kid here

Changed agents, it's been out there since the summer that Dobson might become available and then he changed agents recently. I don't think they want to pay him something that starts with an 8 in front of it.

Not the first time that Lou traded the wrong defenseman off that NYI team.

 

[Menzinger]

How do we get Sid here

I doubt Dubas' would ever think about trading him to Toronto. Even if there was a Marner + Knies + 1st on the table.

The optics would be awful for him

 

[ULF_55]

Knies for Byfield could make sense as a base for both teams.

If moving Knies, maybe a deal with Utah?

Knies, Minten, +?
for
Crouse, Barrett, +?

 

[Menzinger]

I'd trade every prospect and pick in the system before I moved Knies

 

[MarMarSab3]

If moving Knies, maybe a deal with Utah?

Knies, Minten, +?
for
Crouse, Barrett, +?

I've long been a fan of Hayton, he'd make a terrific 3C, that being said Knies is far better than Crouse and Minten projects to be in the Hayton mold so to be honest I'm uneasy with that proposal

I'm sorry, but 7 million is too much for Tavares. He needs to take a bigger discount than that if he wants to return.

Agreed he needs to be in the 4.75-5.25 range

 

[Malachi Crunch]

I'd trade every prospect and pick in the system before I moved Knies

Im with you. He is exactly what the team needs (and has). Hearing him in trade proposals is kinda depressing.

 

[Kiwi]

Changed agents, it's been out there since the summer that Dobson might become available and then he changed agents recently. I don't think they want to pay him something that starts with an 8 in front of it.

Not the first time that Lou traded the wrong defenseman off that NYI team.

Lou makes a lot of bad decisions but the way things ended here will make it tough for him to trade the kid here, especially when you think about some of the packages other teams can put together compared to us

 

[ULF_55]

I've long been a fan of Hayton, he'd make a terrific 3C, that being said Knies is far better than Crouse and Minten projects to be in the Hayton mold so to be honest I'm uneasy with that proposal


Agreed he needs to be in the 4.75-5.25 range

Well, Keller would be my ultimate acquisition from Utah, but ...

 

[TMLAM34]

Knies for Byfield could make sense as a base for both teams.

To be honest, I wouldn’t do that. Byfield has bounced from wing to center multiple times, he had his best season on the wing. Hasn’t been that good playing down the middle.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Knies for Byfield could make sense as a base for both teams.

I like Byfield quite a bit, but Knies is the tonic that the core guys need. His aggressiveness, size and net front play are all very much needed.

I would possibly entertain moving him, but I think only for a proper horse on the back end like Dobson.

 

[ULF_55]

I've long been a fan of Hayton, he'd make a terrific 3C, that being said Knies is far better than Crouse and Minten projects to be in the Hayton mold so to be honest I'm uneasy with that proposal

Not sure Hayton is going to top out as a 3rd. line center.

However, Knies could be a special player if he can stay healthy.

 

[nuck]

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Toronto Maple Leafs and veteran forward John Tavares are close on a new extension, with some finer details all that needs to be done. He writes in a recent post, “There has been chatter of a three-year extension in place that requires some finetuning, but nobody will confirm. His AAV will drop, likely in the $7 million range.”

$7m might be fair but I'd rather do some shopping on July 1st to see if I can get a younger, speedier, better player for a bit more. Leafs might be concerned they lack C depth and may want to lock in JT sooner than later.

There are no younger speedier centers available July 1st unless you are trading . 3 x $7M is a steal. Some people are so caught up their hate for $11M JT they forget how little you get for $7M today. If you want a winger Ehlers and Boeser are maybe there but they won't be signing for $7M and you will have Minten or Kampf or a repurposed Willie. Dropping JT solves nothing unless you have an actual replacement.

 

[Evilhomer]

Knies for Byfield could make sense as a base for both teams.

I'm not sure either team would make that deal, but it is a pretty even proposition.

 

[Americanadian]

I'd trade every prospect and pick in the system before I moved Knies

No one is suggesting trading Knies if the Leafs don't have to.

Knies is probably the 2nd most valuable asset on the Leafs given age and contract situation. I don't think any Leafs fan would keep a pick or prospect over Knies. Likewise I don't think any team would value a Leafs pick or prospect (or package) over Knies. Most teams that have the coveted 2C that will usurp Tavares in the near future aren't looking for picks and prospects - they are looking for win now players. The only player the Leafs have that could pry out any of the young players on the market is realistically Knies (maybe Woll).

Ultimately a top 6 LW is much easier to find in UFA than a top 6C (Byfield or Cozens) or a top 4 RHD (Dobson).

 

[thusk]

exactly and its a part people don't understand.

If you want value you need to give value. If you're only fine to trade exemple minten and 1st pick for player like Dobson/Cozens and doesn't rwally hurt you, good chance than the trade offer is not good enough in the other side.

Those kind of deal is kind of trade if you feel like mad about it, a good chance its a fair deal.

So ex3mple Knies deal for Dobson hurt our feeling? Yeah no doubt but do that make leafs a better team overall with a #1 RHD? Absolutly no doubt about it.

Knies will bring a similar game than Zach Hyman during their best time in Toronto and even with Hyman, leafs was not really a better team overall but with a real #1 RHD, that can change a lot of thing.

 

[WTFMAN99]

No one is suggesting trading Knies if the Leafs don't have to.

Knies is probably the 2nd most valuable asset on the Leafs given age and contract situation. I don't think any Leafs fan would keep a pick or prospect over Knies. Likewise I don't think any team would value a Leafs pick or prospect (or package) over Knies. Most teams that have the coveted 2C that will usurp Tavares in the near future aren't looking for picks and prospects - they are looking for win now players. The only player the Leafs have that could pry out any of the young players on the market is realistically Knies (maybe Woll).

Ultimately a top 6 LW is much easier to find in UFA than a top 6C (Byfield or Cozens) or a top 4 RHD (Dobson).

A top 6 LW with his qualities are not easy to find though

Mantha, Greenway and Bennett (C) are there in UFA but Greenway has like 3 goals this year.

 

[ULF_55]

exactly and its a part people don't understand.

If you want value you need to give value. If you're only fine to trade exemple minten and 1st pick for player like Dobson/Cozens and doesn't rwally hurt you, good chance than the trade offer is not good enough in the other side.

Those kind of deal is kind of trade if you feel like mad about it, a good chance its a fair deal.

So ex3mple Knies deal for Dobson hurt our feeling? Yeah no doubt but do that make leafs a better team overall with a #1 RHD? Absolutly no doubt about it.

Knies will bring a similar game than Zach Hyman during their best time in Toronto and even with Hyman, leafs was not really a better team overall but with a real #1 RHD, that can change a lot of thing.

So some comments about his suspect defence?
So what is Dobson's strengths beyond offense?

I gather he isn't very physical?