What big move can the leafs make?

[Trapper]

Nichushkin is a speedster - he won't work with Tavares any better than Nylander does.

Then JT can go play with Simmonds, because I certainly would want to negotiate a deal with a big, skilled player who performed in the playoffs. Especially after what I’ve seen the past 6 years.

 

[danny90]

Do you think he’ll be their number 1 goalie?

In tandem with another goalie

 

[justashadowof]

"I wonder if making the team even more top heavy is the key to success? What could go wrong?"

The Leafs don't have the luxury of paying market value for players who have raised their value before free agency. The Leafs have to find free agents who have under performed but have upside. Dubas tried that times 4 last summer with Bunting, Ritchie, Kase and Kampf. He hit big on one, missed big on another and got good value from the other two. Expect more attempts at this in July. Take note that apart from Bunting's 10 goals in 21 games, the other three had unspectacular 2020-21 numbers: Ritchie 15g/10a, Kase 0 points in 3 games, Kampf 1g/10a.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Incidentally this is the one criticism I have of Dubas to this day that I think was his biggest misstep. "If you have time use it"

Led to him waiting until Marner got 94 points in a contract year to extend him. If he had done it early we likely are only paying Marner $8-9 million

I find that to be very negative and critical about Dubas. It wasn't his fault. How was he supposed to know? I think his hands were tied.

 

[Nineteen67]

In tandem with another goalie

Oh my. Is the strategy to take this season off and go for it next year?

 

[mydnyte]

33 year old P.K. Subban says "I want to come home" and signs for cheaper than market, and if Leafs need some cap room they convince Muzzin its time with all his concussions to hang them up and his contract balance plays out on LTIR.

Leafs get that big shot from the point particularly on the PP.

Rielly -------- Brodie
Sandin ------ Subban
Giordano ---- Liljegren


Develop and "Play the Kids" with a veteran partner.

Subban is just a name right now, he'd be about as useful as Simmonds and play more of a role off ice than on

 

[justashadowof]

The above is why I'm thinking devalued talents (all under 30) like Nico Sturm, Colin Blackwell (returning), Victor Rask, Vladislav Namestnikov, Chris Tierney, Johan Larsson, Mattias Janmark are some names I'd consider signing. These guys are going to be more reliable and battle-hardened than most of the AHL forward fodder the Leafs currently have.

The Leafs would possibly have the money to give out one Nick Ritchie type contract this off-season (~$2.5M aav). Max Domi, Nick Paul, Andreas Athanasiou, Evan Rodrigues come to mind as achievable for this sort of money.

Subban is just a name right now, he'd be about as useful as Simmonds and play more of a role off ice than on

Subban here would be fine if the Leafs were in some rebuilding season. There's no point otherwise because he wouldn't be filling a need that isn't already covered.

 

[RoadWarrior]

The best moves the leafs could make is firing Dubas and Keefe.

Failing that they need to create cap space for 2 goalies and speedy forwards with grit.

 

[mydnyte]

Willy is not the all around player that matthews and marner are. His defensive play is terrible despite having the easier match ups.

perhaps why he makes 3-4 mil less than them

not a big move, but, i'd still like to see the Leafs snag Austin Watson.
he's solid defensively, can PK, is tough, and can play on the 3rd line easily and he's relatively cheap

 

[Beaumaris]

Subban is just a name right now, he'd be about as useful as Simmonds and play more of a role off ice than on

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

The leafs have lots of cap space and with the right move could add a top goalie and the missing pieces. They need someone who will step in and hold Matthews and Marner accountable, and sometimes that is by reputation alone.....

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don't know that they need to make a big move beyond goaltending of course.

The goaltending needs to completely over hauled but beyond that I don't think they need to do much.

I've been on record as saying that I'd like to see them trade Kerfoot, and then sign Kubalik if Chicago doesn't qualify him, maybe Dylan Strome.

Would replacing Kerfoot with Kubalik or Dylan Strome be a big move? depends how you look at that

But for me goaltending aside because that's obvious I'd be looking at Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha if NJ doesn't qualify them.

Or Frank Vatrano and Paul Statsny


Now does that mean that if they landed Miller or Garland from Vancouver that I wouldn't be fully on board?

I would LOVE that because that would make them better and I'm all for anything that makes them better.

But this is a 115 point team, I'm not looking for the BIG move unless it's in goal because otherwise it's not needed if we get it that's great.

But I'm looking for depth. I'm looking for Paul Statsny, Miles Wood, Pavel Zacha, Dominik Kubalik, Frank Vatrano, Possibly Max Domi maybe PK. Subban or Jan Rutta on defense


I'm looking for guys that can provide support to the big boys because the big boys performed this playoffs.

The Kerfoot, Engvall, Mikyehev, even Bunting did not

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Value of: Jonathan Quick to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

I like his .921 Career SV% in the playoffs.

Would LA retain?

 

[Nineteen67]

I don't know that they need to make a big move beyond goaltending of course.

The goaltending needs to completely over hauled but beyond that I don't think they need to do much.

I've been on record as saying that I'd like to see them trade Kerfoot, and then sign Kubalik if Chicago doesn't qualify him, maybe Dylan Strome.

Would replacing Kerfoot with Kubalik or Dylan Strome be a big move? depends how you look at that

But for me goaltending aside because that's obvious I'd be looking at Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha if NJ doesn't qualify them.

Or Frank Vatrano and Paul Statsny


Now does that mean that if they landed Miller or Garland from Vancouver that I wouldn't be fully on board?

I would LOVE that because that would make them better and I'm all for anything that makes them better.

But this is a 115 point team, I'm not looking for the BIG move unless it's in goal because otherwise it's not needed if we get it that's great.

But I'm looking for depth. I'm looking for Paul Statsny, Miles Wood, Pavel Zacha, Dominik Kubalik, Frank Vatrano, Possibly Max Domi maybe PK. Subban or Jan Rutta on defense


I'm looking for guys that can provide support to the big boys because the big boys performed this playoffs.

The Kerfoot, Engvall, Mikyehev, even Bunting did not

Don’t forget Nylander‘s lack of commitment in the playoffs.

I don’t think I’ve read anyone mentioning Bunting‘s sub-par playoffs. It got me thinking maybe he’s not a top line forward and could be moved down the lineup if they can find someone to play with M&M.

 

[deprw]

Don’t forget Nylander‘s lack of commitment in the playoffs.

I don’t think I’ve read anyone mentioning Bunting‘s sub-par playoffs. It got me thinking maybe he’s not a top line forward and could be moved down the lineup if they can find someone to play with M&M.

I think Nylander has been usually better version of himself in the playoffs. That one situation from Tampa series looked bad, but in grand scheme of things it might have been better not to get crushed into boards in that situation (could have played it better many different ways). He though upped his game later in the series after that.

Bunting was hurt in the end of regular season and came back to playoffs. Can't say for sure how he can perform in the playoffs before seeing another outing. Hyman was way better in Oilers when he was playing healthy. Bunting might not have that extra step for playoffs hockey, but it's premature to judge after that injury.

 

[frog]

Leafs need toughness and grit in top 6.. Dubas never understands that a 4th line tough guy doesnt make a team tough since they play 5 minutes a night... They need a top 6 forward that can score but also play with an edge and be physical...

 

[PaulD]

Fire the coach would be my big move

Fire the GM .
Let the new one get his own coach.
Trade Nylander.

 

[PaulD]

Value of: Jonathan Quick to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

I like his .921 Career SV% in the playoffs.

Would LA retain?

Best call on this thread

 

[Sypher04]

If Matthews didn't want to resign and would extend with Arizona that would be a haul for the leafs. It would retool us over night.

Actually would be an atrocious return for one of the best players in the game. I know people get all starry eyed for 1st rounders, but that return has zero garauntees of turning up even 1 impact player.

If it so happens eventually that Matthews needed to be traded because he won’t sign, you need to get really good young roster players and/or blue chip nhl ready prospects

 

[Nineteen67]

I think Nylander has been usually better version of himself in the playoffs. Those 8 or 9 terrible fly by situations from Tampa series looked bad, but in grand scheme of things it might have been better not to get crushed into boards or, heaven forbid, crush someone into the boards and miss the World Championships (Sure, he could have played like a committed NHL player ). He though upped his game later in the series after that and then had horrificly weak play in the dying minutes of game seven.

Bunting was hurt in the end of regular season and came back to playoffs. Can't say for sure how he can perform in the playoffs before seeing another outing. Hyman was way better in Oilers when he was playing healthy. Bunting might not have that extra step for playoffs hockey, but it's premature to judge after that injury.

FIFY

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Our big move is going to hope that we find another Bunting in free agency, someone we get for cheap that completely outperforms their contract.

Other than that it's status quo, because I see us getting Campbell back, if we don't than I guess any new goalie as your starter is a big move.

 

[ToneDog]

Actually would be an atrocious return for one of the best players in the game. I know people get all starry eyed for 1st rounders, but that return has zero garauntees of turning up even 1 impact player.

If it so happens eventually that Matthews needed to be traded because he won’t sign, you need to get really good young roster players and/or blue chip nhl ready prospects

I'd be interested in 5 top 8 first round picks. Maybe you win the lottery once or twice. You are not getting another Matty but what if you got a Marner, Nylander, Tkachuk, Rielly and Askarov ??

 

[notbias]

Best call on this thread

Ya, I am sure they are going to trade Quick after trading for Fiala...

 

[notbias]

I'd be interested in 5 top 8 first round picks. Maybe you win the lottery once or twice. You are not getting another Matty but what if you got a Marner, Nylander, Tkachuk, Rielly and Askarov ??

Could also get Galchenyuk, Campbell, Reinhart, Kotkaneimi, Zadina... there are a bunch of high picks who don't work out.

I'd trade Matthews for the collection you have assembled, I just don't think it'd be anything close to that.

 

[PaulD]

Ya, I am sure they are going to trade Quick after trading for Fiala...

The title stated not what could happen, but what you would like to see happen.
Besides maybe LA will pull a Dubas and convince themselves their back up is a number one! Nah.