Trades & Free Agency Thread - Too Soon Off-Season Edition

[ER89]

Buffalo isn’t even in my top 5 of realistic places to trade Marner.

Point is, Eichel for Marner solves nothing

Yes it does. It solves the fact that eichel's game translates better In the playoffs, he provides more goals in general and gives us a fantastic third c where we can role three great lines.

 

[Trapper]

Maybe not capwise but you get another big proven goal scoring scoring C for a small winger who's game does not translate to the playoffs. If he is healthy 1 for 1 is a no brainer. You then could move Nylander if you want. Anyway this talk is moot cause Marner all but not being moved.

None of the 4 are getting moved so it’s all talk.
I wouldn’t be looking at a guy like Eichel, You want to change the dynamic you look at a guy like Brock Boeser. 5 million dollars and room for more balance.

 

[Cleetus]

Yes it does. It solves the fact that eichel's game translates better In the playoffs, he provides more goals in general and gives us a fantastic third c where we can role three great lines.

how has Jack done in the playoffs just curious? cant say his game translates better when he has not been there....

 

[ToneDog]

None of the 4 are getting moved so it’s all talk.
I wouldn’t be looking at a guy like Eichel, You want to change the dynamic you look at a guy like Brock Boeser. 5 million dollars and room for more balance.

I like Boeser but a healthy happy Eichel is the better player. Canucks would want the AAV to work though.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It's going to be the fab 4 and guys that that they think will help them win.
It's beyond pathetic now

 

[ToneDog]

Yes it does. It solves the fact that eichel's game translates better In the playoffs, he provides more goals in general and gives us a fantastic third c where we can role three great lines.

Yup so when one of your top 2 Cs goes down you are not left with only 34 down the middle.

 

[Trapper]

I like Boeser but a healthy happy Eichel is the better player. Canucks would want the AAV to work though.

Again the point is balance and Eichel (with suspect health problems) puts you back at 3 x double digit forwards.

Matthews 11 Boeser 5
Tavares 11 Nylander 7

Gives you cash for a quality 3C and more depth in the lineup. Changes the dynamic from assist heavy winger to 2 scoring threats. Everyone up there is capable of 30 goals and some more.

 

[nuck]

The key to a successful Dubas offseason to meaningfully remake the team, produce upgrades and keep the Big 4 together can be found in the "Kapanen Method."

That is you take tradeable assets and move them out for pure futures to replenish the organization, while simultaneously translating those cap savings to buy big on a pandemic deflated free agent market.

In the Kapanen method, we got the Amirov pick, Hallander and a bunch of other trimmings for moving on from Kapanen.

This summer, I would probably look at trading Jake Muzzin as the big sacrifice, work with Seattle to determine whether they are picking Dermott or Kerfoot and then dispose of Kerfoot if Seattle doesn't want him and then also let Andersen walk and make a final decision on Hyman. If we lose all of these guys, we gain about $16 million cap space. Then there's the lower end free agents like Simmonds, Thornton who might add another $2.25 million to the pot.

Then I go spend that money like a drunken sailor: target big ticket Dougie Hamilton to replace Muzzin. Re-sign Morgan Rielly within reaason. Get a platoon goalie, and look at forward options like Palmieri, Granlund. If we don't have success with Hamilton, maybe we bring on a couple of extra D like Larsson, David Savard and a reclamation like Ryan Murray. Maybe be we look at Taylor Hall finally or Gabriel Landeskog.

Basically the idea is to carve out as much cap space for futures as possible and then spend the money aggressively. The big enemy here is a stagnant roster and nibbling around the edges. Dubas needs to attack the middle class contracts, bring in a flow of assets and then spend that new found cap. He did it last year. He's got to do the same again this year.

If you look a Hamilton he seems like a RD analog for Rielly except they get there in different ways. Dougie has the shot and Morgan has the skating but the results aren't much different. More goals, fewer assists and not really any better defensively. He has had 50 points just once and has never hit 20 goals so at 28 what will he show that he hasn't already and what is the realistic chance he doesn't cost more than Rielly? The biggest attraction was really that he is a right shot but that isn't the big issue for the club it was a couple of years ago.

I don't know that the team would miss Rielly's game more than Muzzin's so of the two, MR is the one I would move, and save the $2M raise. Hyman I am afraid will walk but thats fine. He is a quality guy and at that contract the fact he does little damage in the playoffs can be ignored but his last deal won't be under $4M or under 4 years. They are so top heavy with salary this is going to be the first middle class contract they walk away from. They can't roll back the salaries of the big 4 to reflect the flat cap environment so it comes off every deal they make for the next couple of years has to be squeezing the shit out of the player. It would be interesting to see what Hall could be had for though. If they could somehow replace Kerfoot with a true #3 center for Spezza money maybe they make that work.

 

[ToneDog]

I like Boeser but a healthy happy Eichel is the better player. Canucks would want the AAV to work though.

Last year it was a some grit and veterans who were hungry to win a cup. Wonder what it will be this year. Perhaps more players that have won the cup but not past their best before date.

 

[ShaneFalco]

It's going to be the fab 4 and guys that that they think will help them win.
It's beyond pathetic now

And it's not like they're bad players at all its just not the right combo for this team

 

[Menzinger]

Again the point is balance and Eichel (with suspect health problems) puts you back at 3 x double digit forwards.

Matthews 11 Boeser 5
Tavares 11 Nylander 7

Gives you cash for a quality 3C and more depth in the lineup. Changes the dynamic from assist heavy winger to 2 scoring threats. Everyone up there is capable of 30 goals and some more.

If they were to move Marner that's the type of deal I'd like. A 5-6 mil top six skilled winger (Boser fits that perfectly) and then money to spread to the third line. Plus ideally they'd also get a good prospect or pick too

 

[ToneDog]

If you look a Hamilton he seems like a RD analog for Rielly except they get there in different ways. Dougie has the shot and Morgan has the skating but the results aren't much different. More goals, fewer assists and not really any better defensively. He has had 50 points just once and has never hit 20 goals so at 28 what will he show that he hasn't already and what is the realistic chance he doesn't cost more than Rielly? The biggest attraction was really that he is a right shot but that isn't the big issue for the club it was a couple of years ago.

I don't know that the team would miss Rielly's game more than Muzzin's so of the two, MR is the one I would move, and save the $2M raise. Hyman I am afraid will walk but thats fine. He is a quality guy and at that contract the fact he does little damage in the playoffs can be ignored but his last deal won't be under $4M or under 4 years. They are so top heavy with salary this is going to be the first middle class contract they walk away from. They can't roll back the salaries of the big 4 to reflect the flat cap environment so it comes off every deal they make for the next couple of years has to be squeezing the shit out of the player. It would be interesting to see what Hall could be had for though. If they could somehow replace Kerfoot with a true #3 center for Spezza money maybe they make that work.

A free Hamilton allows you to move Rielly for a top 6 forward or top prospect or picks.

As far as #3C goes, gonna come down to how much cap space is available. I would love to steal Kuraly from the Bruins.

 

[showtime8]

I brought this up in the line-up thread, but I think you could kill 3 birds with one stone if you focus on a trade with the Coyotes.

1. Nick Schmaltz - Really talented 3rd line centreman, that can play 2nd line centre with injury or on the wing if needed. Locked in to a contract for another 5 years at a decent number and I think he fits the style in which the Leafs play.

2. Lawson Crouse - Power forward that needs work on his skating, but would fill in the lack of physicality in the line-up. Could play anywhere from 1st - 3rd line wing, but more suited for the 2nd line.

3. Darcy Keumper - Not an elite goaltender, but a really good 1B that the Leafs would love to get for this upcoming season in the final year of his deal.

* add ons based on contracts, value, etc. I'm not sure what the additional players would be, but I feel like if you trade Marner, it has to be in a package deal and not a 1 for 1.

You easily lose the deal in the short term. Marner is a 90 point winger with a bloated contract and mixed reputation within the city. But the important part of the deal is that you spread money throughout the line-up and add 3 spots that you will be looking for anyways. Physicality, depth and goaltending.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I don't think Vancouver will trade for Marner if they're negotiating with Pettersson and Hughes this summer.

I figure Philadelphia is a good bet with their affinity for ridiculous contracts, Edmonton is desperate for talent, Doug Wilson is probably willing since his core wants to compete and his cap situation is irreparably f***ed already and there's always Seattle as a wildcard with tons of cap space. Secondary possibilities could be Columbus if they opt to retool instead of rebuild, Minnesota might want to make a splash, and the Devils have oodles of space as well.

 

[Menzinger]

I brought this up in the line-up thread, but I think you could kill 3 birds with one stone if you focus on a trade with the Coyotes.

1. Nick Schmaltz - Really talented 3rd line centreman, that can play 2nd line centre with injury or on the wing if needed. Locked in to a contract for another 5 years at a decent number and I think he fits the style in which the Leafs play.

2. Lawson Crouse - Power forward that needs work on his skating, but would fill in the lack of physicality in the line-up. Could play anywhere from 1st - 3rd line wing, but more suited for the 2nd line.

3. Darcy Keumper - Not an elite goaltender, but a really good 1B that the Leafs would love to get for this upcoming season in the final year of his deal.

* add ons based on contracts, value, etc. I'm not sure what the additional players would be, but I feel like if you trade Marner, it has to be in a package deal and not a 1 for 1.

You easily lose the deal in the short term. Marner is a 90 point winger with a bloated contract and mixed reputation within the city. But the important part of the deal is that you spread money throughout the line-up and add 3 spots that you will be looking for anyways. Physicality, depth and goaltending.

Utility assets could definitely be part of the deal but you'd also really need to include some of real value, ie a blue chip prospect or picks. Because you could also use the gained capspace to sign those types of roster players too

 

[sxvnert]

I don't think Vancouver will trade for Marner if they're negotiating with Pettersson and Hughes this summer.

I figure Philadelphia is a good bet with their affinity for ridiculous contracts, Edmonton is desperate for talent, Doug Wilson is probably willing since his core wants to compete and his cap situation is irreparably f***ed already and there's always Seattle as a wildcard with tons of cap space. Secondary possibilities could be Columbus if they opt to retool instead of rebuild, Minnesota might want to make a splash, and the Devils have oodles of space as well.

Seattle is the perfect destination. West coast expansion team. Out of sight, out of mind.
That 2nd overall pick.++ would be nice

 

[Stephen]

I'd much rather Reinhart, Risto, 1st overall pick for Marner and Holl

I’d see about Dahlin actually.

 

[Brobust]

Would Marner in a package for Eichel be something we can look at?

It'll take more than just Marner but Marner may be the best overall player the Sabres get back in any return for him.

The LAK have Byfield off the table, the Rags have Lafreniere off the table. But we're going to go Marner++ for Eichel.

I know we follow a joke team, but this is too much.

 

[showtime8]

Utility assets could definitely be part of the deal but you'd also really need to include some.ofnreal value, ie a blue chip prospect or picks. Because you could also use the gained capspace to sign those types of roster players too

To be honest, I wouldn't know how to gauge true value at the moment. There's going to be a flat cap for another year, where a lot of teams rely on gate driven revenue. Eventually the cap will increase and the contract percentage on the cap will decrease, but until then, the Leafs will struggle it.

The other thing will be, what teams are going to want a winger that makes 11 mill a year and will likely be among the highest paid on the team. I don't want to dismiss Marner's value because he's still a very good player...

 

[nuck]

A free Hamilton allows you to move Rielly for a top 6 forward or top prospect or picks.

As far as #3C goes, gonna come down to how much cap space is available. I would love to steal Kuraly from the Bruins.

The thing is I don't think Hamilton will come for the same money as Mo will re-up for, and they can't even afford that. What they could do is trade MR and then obtain Giordano with some salary retention while they see if Sandin develops. That gets them to 22-23 where Letang, Nurse, Parayko, Jones, Pullock, Werenski, Lindholm, Ristolainen, and Rielly himself are potential UFAs, or Sandin might be there and they don't add any FA.

 

[Dreakmur]

If they can make a GOOD hockey trade that improves your team and by circumstances frees up some cap. You do it, but I’m sorry you don’t move Marner just to clear cap space.

which is why I think a lot of people need to get in touch with reality. Unless we get a new GM Marner isn’t going anywhere lol. So get used to him being here.

will they look at moving him? I’d hope so, be open to it. But I don’t think they will find a deal they like enough to pull the trigger

Yeah, you don't trade him for nothing... but the cap space that opens up is an asset.

Just the players and picks coming back don't necessarily have to equal Marner. Add in the open cap space, then evaluate the deal.

 

[Cor]

Who's your top 5 target destinations?

My top one is LA. I think it makes a lot of sense. They have plenty of assets and need to start making some moves. Another is Calgary. They seem poised for a shake up this off-season. Arizona, mainly once we pay Marner’s bonus is another target. They’ve got some pieces. Depending on how the expansion draft goes, Seattle has some potential as well. Finally, I think there’s potential for something with Columbus. It’s not my favourite possibility, however.

LA by far, makes the most sense to me.

 

[socko]

Why would LA want Marner though? Aren't they a rebuilding team that would rather keep their young pieces.... This would seem like a Kessel type of deal for them. Except Kessel showed up in the playoffs.

I would think a team like Buffalo, that has had a failed rebuild and a disgruntled captain, not to mention that Dahlin is heading towards bustville, would be far more willing to deal.

 

[ER89]

Yup so when one of your top 2 Cs goes down you are not left with only 34 down the middle.

Plus think about the matching problems it could cause. Not to mention if you're smart about it you can always stack up two of the three in certain situations with the leftover C getting willy. It would be a nightmare to defend if utilized correctly.

 

[ER89]

how has Jack done in the playoffs just curious? cant say his game translates better when he has not been there....

Well firstly he has a shot so that threat opens up more space for others. With mitch if you let him open and take away his passing lane you get a muffin shot to the logo. Secondly, he is bigger, better on the boards and more physical. Could he be a collosal bust? Sure. But I bet he'd get you more than zero goals in 18 games.