GDT: Trades & Free Agency

[Magic Man]

I wouldn't mind if the Leafs at least tried a JT trade this summer. If they float the idea to teams and find out who is interested they could present some of the more realistic options to JT and see if he wouldn't mind waiving for any those destinations.

At full cap I wouldn't expect much of a return if he continues like this until the end of the season. But, someone will take him at full pop on the hope of him returning to form. He is also owed only 910K in money on the year after his signing bonus. Paying JT 910K for the season is a pretty a good investment.

They reallocate his cap to Matthews and Nylander's raises and replace him with a 5-6M dollar forward.

They can still negotiate again after his contract ends.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

JT has three young kids I don't think he'll want to uproot his life and leave his family, friends, support system to save the Leafs cap space and then come back in a year

 

[WTFMAN99]

JT has three young kids I don't think he'll want to uproot his life and leave his family, friends, support system to save the Leafs cap space and then come back in a year

He really needs to go but the odds are not good.

 

[ACC1224]

JT has three young kids I don't think he'll want to uproot his life and leave his family, friends, support system to save the Leafs cap space and then come back in a year

Silly to think otherwise, IMO.

 

[TMLAM34]

Yep, I love Werenski’s potential. Thought of him in the background while thinking about this. And yeah other guys on that list were definitely reclamation style guys. We need to start looking for those too. That’s why I wanted to grab that underachieving Swedish kid via LA and VGK.

It would cost a shit ton to acquire him but I wouldn’t be against paying the price. My only untouchables would be Matthews, Knies, Rielly and Cowan, the rest would be fair game.

Matthews and Werenski are actually pretty good buddies off the ice which could help convince Werenski to come here.

To Toronto: Zack Werenski
To Columbus: Nick Robertson + Fraser Minten + Dennis Hildeby + TOR 1st Rounder

Not even sure that’s enough. Figured they’d want a young center in Minten and our 1st to even start a conversation.

 

[Evilhomer]

JT has three young kids I don't think he'll want to uproot his life and leave his family, friends, support system to save the Leafs cap space and then come back in a year

Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct answer. There is also no reason to believe that the team won't resign him when his current contract ends. It would just be a matter of how much, but I think it's reasonable to assume that it would be at a pretty good discount. I'm sure he wants to retire here.

 

[TMLAM34]

I would love to move on from JT but that unfortunately won’t happen. I think we need to build a third line that has two cheap wingers next to him. My ideal third line would be Knies - Tavares - McMann. Helps offset JTs contract a little and it would be a pretty effective third line.

Focus on a defensive fourth line. Dewar - Minten - Jarnkrok would be pretty solid.

 

[Avilaj07]

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Nylander
Robertson-Domi-Marner
Knies-Tavares-McMann
Holmberg-Kampf-Reaves

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct answer. There is also no reason to believe that the team won't resign him when his current contract ends. It would just be a matter of how much, but I think it's reasonable to assume that it would be at a pretty good discount. I'm sure he wants to retire here.

Post 11M JT I think we'll fall in love with the player again. I'd love for him to play the rest of his career here like Spezza/Gio

 

[WTFMAN99]

I don't think JT is getting moved and I find it extremely unlikely that any of the core guys get moved but I think defense and PK will be a priority.

The cap situation is extremely tight so if I am even remotely off on my salary projections, the house of cards collapses.

Treliving kept referring to Dewar as a centre so I think he's got the 4th line centre position

I think Robertson / Liljegren for completely different reasons are not back next year.

Holmberg with his age and the Blues minimum investment into Hayes makes it a relatively easy transaction.

Rip it though in all honesty.

 

[Americanadian]

I don't think JT is getting moved and I find it extremely unlikely that any of the core guys get moved but I think defense and PK will be a priority.

The cap situation is extremely tight so if I am even remotely off on my salary projections, the house of cards collapses.

Treliving kept referring to Dewar as a centre so I think he's got the 4th line centre position

I think Robertson / Liljegren for completely different reasons are not back next year.

Holmberg with his age and the Blues minimum investment into Hayes makes it a relatively easy transaction.

Rip it though in all honesty.


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High probability Montour stays in Florida on a deal that looks near identical to Forsling's deal. If he's available though he's probably getting 6.5M+ on the open market given his playoff performance last year and solid play for Florida. He'd be an awesome add.

 

[WTFMAN99]

High probability Montour stays in Florida on a deal that looks near identical to Forsling's deal. If he's available though he's probably getting 6.5M+ on the open market given his playoff performance last year and solid play for Florida. He'd be an awesome add.

I wasn't sure how to gauge what his next deal would look like.

Not as prolific this year versus last year but early on was coming off a bad injury, a playoff run could definitely get him into that 6+ range but then I looked at what some guys got last year, you have a guy like Graves (more defensive than offensive) at 4.5M and then Ghost got 5M (correction 4.15M) but 1 year. Montour is a local Brantford kid so I figured maybe there is some play but if he's "good" these playoffs, he might be a luxury that can't be afforded.

Kinda wondered if they'd jettison Ekblad to fit everyone else back in.

Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[Americanadian]

I wasn't sure how to gauge what his next deal would look like.

Not as prolific this year versus last year but early on was coming off a bad injury, a playoff run could definitely get him into that 6+ range but then I looked at what some guys got last year, you have a guy like Graves (more defensive than offensive) at 4.5M and then Ghost got 5M but 1 year. Montour is a local Brantford kid so I figured maybe there is some play but if he's "good" these playoffs, he might be a luxury that can't be afforded.

Kinda wondered if they'd jettison Ekblad to fit everyone else back in.

Thanks for the feedback though.

I read somewhere on this board from a Florida fan that the desired outcome would be retaining Montour and Forsling and moving out Ekblad. It seemed crazy as an outsider but looking at the production it makes sense. Montour plays 2 minutes more per game than Ekblad this season and played 3 minutes more than Ekblad in the playoffs.

The more I look at his numbers the more I think he's holding out for Ekblad money.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I read somewhere on this board from a Florida fan that the desired outcome would be retaining Montour and Forsling and moving out Ekblad. It seemed crazy as an outsider but looking at the production it makes sense. Montour plays 2 minutes more per game than Ekblad this season and played 3 minutes more than Ekblad in the playoffs.

The more I look at his numbers the more I think he's holding out for Ekblad money.

Defense tweak might be in order then.

 

[SprDaVE]

A lot of this will depend entirely on their success this post season. I think another big time failure, like say a 4-0 series lost, I think it will create a much much much bigger desire to really change things up as opposed to say a SCF lost or god forbid making it to the finals. Now I know we're Leafs fans and we're not allowed to have any optimism or hope they can win more than a series win, all very valid, but you never know.

Whatever happens will dictate a lot of the direction moving forward -- whether it's to trade to trade a core player or make more secondary changes or whatever in between.

 

[WTFMAN99]

A lot of this will depend entirely on their success this post season. I think another big time failure, like say a 4-0 series lost, I think it will create a much much much bigger desire to really change things up as opposed to say a SCF lost or god forbid making it to the finals. Now I know we're Leafs fans and we're not allowed to have any optimism or hope they can win more than a series win, all very valid, but you never know.

Whatever happens happens and I think whatever happens will dictate a lot of the direction moving forward -- whether it's to trade to trade a core player or make more secondary changes or whatever in between.

I mean how much change can you really make?

Rielly recently re-signed, ditto Nylander and they have some NTC/NMC protection

Tavares/Marner also have NMC - doubtful they'd waive

Matthews well...that's the end of the era if he goes and we all wanna hold on for dear life

If Tavares wakes up tomorrow and open to change, I would totally adjust this but playing within the confines of the assumption those guys aren't able to be moved because of NTC/NMC/Management related reasons, it's tough.

 

[jaric1862]

If we could make the money work, I would like to simply swap out Brodie for Roy for next season. There are some good plan B's in free agency as well if we miss out on Roy. I'd hope Lyubushkin would come in at a reasonable number.

Rielly-Lyubushkin
McCabe-Roy
Benoit-Liljergren

 

[SprDaVE]

I mean how much change can you really make?

Rielly recently re-signed, ditto Nylander and they have some NTC/NMC protection

Tavares/Marner also have NMC - doubtful they'd waive

Matthews well...that's the end of the era if he goes and we all wanna hold on for dear life

If Tavares wakes up tomorrow and open to change, I would totally adjust this but playing within the confines of the assumption those guys aren't able to be moved because of NTC/NMC/Management related reasons, it's tough.

A lot can change in 3-4 months. I don't really disagree that it's unlikely to happen even if they flame out early but I do think if things go badly this post season that it's not entirely impossible that there is a lot more effort to make serious changes at multiple levels.

Tavares isn't likely based on age, production, captaincy and all that but I don't know why Marner wouldn't waive for the right team and opportunity if the Leafs really want to make the changes. Players waive their NMCs all the time. Nylander isn't likely based on his extension but I've seen weirder things happen. Matthews is probably the only one you keep at all cost for very obvious reasons.

I'm fine with keeping the core around and keep making changes around them to be honest. They are great players. I hope they figure it out.

 

[WTFMAN99]

A lot can change in 3-4 months. I don't really disagree that it's unlikely to happen even if they flame out early but I do think if things go badly this post season that it's not entirely impossible that there is a lot more effort to make serious changes at multiple levels.

Tavares isn't likely based on age, production, captaincy and all that but I don't know why Marner wouldn't waive for the right team and opportunity if the Leafs really want to make the changes. Players waive their NMCs all the time. Nylander isn't likely based on his extension but I've seen weirder things happen.

Matthews is probably the only one you keep at all cost for very obvious reasons.

Rielly / Marner *could* happen for the reasons you mentioned. I don't know if we get better off a Marner trade but we should be open.

Ekholm basically got 1 year into his new extension and Nashville moved him, now he didn't really have any NTC protection from what I recall but I agree in that if we flame out, whatever makes the team better.

 

[SprDaVE]

Rielly / Marner *could* happen for the reasons you mentioned. I don't know if we get better off a Marner trade but we should be open.

Ekholm basically got 1 year into his new extension and Nashville moved him, now he didn't really have any NTC protection from what I recall but I agree in that if we flame out, whatever makes the team better.

I added a phrase to say I'd be fine with keeping the core together and keep changing the pieces around them. Like you said, it's going to be very hard to be better without those players. They are great players and I'm a fan of all of them in their own right. It's a shame it hasn't been successful in the post-season yet but it can still happen.

A new coach and a new focus from Treliving might be what's needed... I don't know. But another bad post-season and this market will be eating them alive and it's possible they are a lot more willing to go at that point.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Rielly / Marner *could* happen for the reasons you mentioned. I don't know if we get better off a Marner trade but we should be open.

Ekholm basically got 1 year into his new extension and Nashville moved him, now he didn't really have any NTC protection from what I recall but I agree in that if we flame out, whatever makes the team better.

It is not the players alone who require the change to happen, it begins with Shanny.

If there is anyone on being insistent on keeping the core intact it is him frankly. Agreed we need to rotate the supporting casts to figure out how to end our drought for the holy grail.

 

[Menzinger]

I'd expect the Leafs to be very active in the free agent prospect market this off-season. Funk and Bravaro already signed with NHL teams.

We already know the Leafs are among almost every team interested in signing Tsyplakov. I also read a report weeks/months ago about the Leafs scouting/interested in Connor Punnett from the Generals. EDIT: Punnett signed with Dallas.

Collin Graf seems to be the top free agent right now but the Red Wings apparently have the inside edge.

Oscar Eklind is a 6'3" winger doing really well in the SHL (and 64 PIMs) so I'd expect the Leafs to be in on that very much.

Samuel Mayer is another big body 6'3" defenseman. I saw him play the other day with the 67s and he was pretty decent. Nothing standing out.

Definitely..Tre has repeatedly said to the media wants to change up the D core. Paired with the fact the team has less picks next year for tdl moves, strongly suggests an aggressive free agency search for the back end

I could see 3, even 4 new bodies added depending on what happens with Lily

 

[Avilaj07]

With David Jiricek not being too happy in Columbus, I wonder if there's a possibility we can steal him this summer. Obviously it'll take quite the package but he can definitely turn into a top pairing RHD for the next 10 years.

To Toronto-
Jiricek
Texier

To Columbus-
Liljegren
Jarnkrok
Robertson
1st Round Pick

 

[LeafsFan89]

If there is a early playoff fizzle, I would soon move JT than Marner to be honest. If he's open to moving his NMC.

We're in a tough situation to be honest. I don't really see the light at the end of the tunnel; just hope that Tre can right the ship.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

This Tavares trade talk is complete nonsense. It's not happening. Period, end of story.