What Would You Do With This Team Over the Offseason?

[myleafs]

Outside of the core 4 we really don’t have much at all, Mathews, Nylander, Rielly, Knies we would be old school expansion level at best. Just because we will have some cash it doesn’t mean we will hit home runs. We more than likely continue on the hit miss acquisitions like in the past, Klingburg, Brodie, Bertuzzi, Domi, Samsonov, Mrazek etc…

Our core 4 are good players but not good enough to do what we need them to do at their price. ....in the playoffs

 

[kevsh]

If he is coming in at a much lower cap hit then it's fine.

So, running it back.

The core is the problem and at best we're going to be sticking with 3/5ths of them (including Reilly). That's still at least one too many but this team needs a new look, new direction and that means new faces.

And even on an extremely team-friendly, short-term deal his play is falling off, he's not getting any faster and I'm not sure he's up to playing a Berube-style of hockey at this point in his career.

Of course, if he really shows something this year and the team goes on a run with a notable contribution from him then sure, a very short-term, team-friendly deal. Like one year with nothing resembling a NMC so he can be moved at the deadline if needed.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Trade everyone for garbage deals.

Sign deal to relocate franchise to Houston.

Resign position.

Retire a legend with the millions I've presumably made.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Trade everyone for garbage deals.

Sign deal to relocate franchise to Houston.

Resign position.

Retire a legend with the millions I've presumably made.

I agree but realistically...
RUN IT BACK!

 

[mikeyz]

Trade Marner for Saros.

Sign 2 of Montour/Pesce/Zadorov

Bring back Edmundson.

I highly doubt any of the 3 will happen. But, that would be a successful offseason IMO.

 

[Gabriel426]

Let’s run it back bc we know sooner or later they will do it esp all the lessons they had been learning over the past years. But we did lose respect bc Keefe is no longer with us.

For real, if I am in charge, trade JT, MM, Kampf and Calle.
Resign Domi, Bert and Edmundson.

JT to Utah for 2nd round picks and Bjugstad
MM to Blues for Binnington, Parayko and 1st rounder.
Trade both Kampf and Calle for picks

Use the remaining cap to sign Marchessault, Toffoli and Pesce.

 

[81Leafs50]

get a new coach.

my roster if I was GM.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Trade Marner for Saros.

Sign 2 of Montour/Pesce/Zadorov

Bring back Edmundson.

I highly doubt any of the 3 will happen. But, that would be a successful offseason IMO.

I’d be careful with Pesce. His play has started to drop off the last 2 years. I used to have a great appreciation for his game but watching him the last 2 seasons has taken some of the appeal away.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Yep.
Love Johnny, and it was great that he came home.
But ultimately, if you truly want change & a culture reset, you aren't bringing him back - even if he wants to come back on a Gio / Spezza deal.

I know people sometimes romanticize his coming back and that because he did that, he shouldn't be approached to be traded...but at the same time...we paid him very good money (arguably more than he should have received based on his PPG stats) to win the cup and he was one of the constant no shows after the first playoff series he played against Boston. I think we need to wash away the previous regimes stink and that means cutting it down to the bare bones of who you want to keep moving forward. I would trade Robertson to someone who thinks his almost 0.5ppg is a coming out party of sorts. We need guys who can play playoff hockey for us and play well...enough of the Dubas era NuHockey.

 

[Gabriel426]

I know people sometimes romanticize his coming back and that because he did that, he shouldn't be approached to be traded...but at the same time...we paid him very good money (arguably more than he should have received based on his PPG stats) to win the cup and he was one of the constant no shows after the first playoff series he played against Boston. I think we need to wash away the previous regimes stink and that means cutting it down to the bare bones of who you want to keep moving forward. I would trade Robertson to someone who thinks his almost 0.5ppg is a coming out party of sorts. We need guys who can play playoff hockey for us and play well...enough of the Dubas era NuHockey.

All we need to do is tell JT, there is no more lessons for you to learn as a Leafs. Time for you to find lessons on another team.
He will waive right away.

 

[robertmac43]

So, running it back.

The core is the problem and at best we're going to be sticking with 3/5ths of them (including Reilly). That's still at least one too many but this team needs a new look, new direction and that means new faces.

And even on an extremely team-friendly, short-term deal his play is falling off, he's not getting any faster and I'm not sure he's up to playing a Berube-style of hockey at this point in his career.

Of course, if he really shows something this year and the team goes on a run with a notable contribution from him then sure, a very short-term, team-friendly deal. Like one year with nothing resembling a NMC so he can be moved at the deadline if needed.

Don't get me wrong, he is slowing down. That being said he still had 20 even strength goals this season and came up with some big moments in the playoffs. If he is taking up a lower % of the cap in a reduced role, then to me, it's a no brainer to bring him back.

 

[Evilhomer]

get a new coach.

my roster if I was GM.

View attachment 873339

I doubt guys like Pesce or Skjei are signing with a Canadian team. They will almost certainly stay in the US. The Leafs will throw piles of cash at Montour instead.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Re-tool

Move anyone even if their names are Matthews, Knies, Woll, Cowen, etc. to try to strengthen this team. They are shy of a competive top 6, a starting goalie, depth at defense, and depth in the bottom 6. Do this for 1 or 2 seasons and then they will probably be competitive.

I highly doubt anyone will like my post, but it's the most honest thing you've read today.

Sadly there are people at the top (Shanny/Tre) who are likely worried about their survival. They will attempt to do a 1 season Hail Mary so Shanny can save face. Once more he's going to try and convince Leaf fans that the right thing to do is to believe in the core 4.

 

[Lightsol]

Extend Domi, Lyubushkin and Edmundsson, try to sign Pesce, and I'd try to send Marner to Utah for Crouse + Valimaki.

Is the goal to become the answer to the Jeopardy question, "What is the worst trade in NHL history?"

 

[Dreakmur]

I doubt guys like Pesce or Skjei are signing with a Canadian team. They will almost certainly stay in the US. The Leafs will throw piles of cash at Montour instead.

No interest in Montour.

I'd take a run at a trade for Colton Parayko, and sign Chris Tanev.

Parayko is probably the second best shut-down defenseman behind Jaccob Slavin. He led the league in non-PP minutes played.

Tanev is a gritty defensive specialist, but he's a very under-rated passer. I forgot how good he was at breaking the puck out until I watch some Dallas/Colorado games.

 

[conFABulator]

This is a big off-season and if we get it right, we can be better next year and set ourselves up for a run where the cap keeps rising and some our young players and prospects are low to mid cost contributors. We will have cap space and fee holes.

FREE AGENCY
Bertuzzi @ 5 x $5.5M
Domi @ 3 x $3.5M
Tanev @ 2 x $5M
Joshua @ 3 x $3M
Stolarz @ 2 x $2M
Monahan @ 1 x $4M
Edmundson @ 2 x $2M
Jones and Murray @ 1 x $900K

TRADE
Marner [traded on July 1st once we have paid his $$7.5M bonus and he signs an 8 x $12M extension]
Robertson
Liljegren
Timmins

- for -

Wright
Larsson
Oleksiak

Trade Jarnkrok and Kampf for picks.

Bertuzzi Matthews Domi
Joshua Monahan Knies
Tavares Wright Nylander
Holmberg Dewar McMann
Cowan

Rielly Tanev
Oleksiak Larsson
Benoit McCabe
Edmundson

Woll
Stolarz
Jones/Murray/Hildeby

LTIR or waive Reaves. He can play when we have injuries, no fear of losing him on waivers.

This roster is cap compliant on CapFriendly.

Next year's the cap goes up and covers raises for Knies and Woll. Larsson is UFA and we have that $4M plus $8M or savings with Tavares gone and replaced or resigned to sign another defenceman. We also have Cowan, Minten, Grebenkin, Niemela, and Hildeby in the discussion for roster spots.

What are the fundamental flaws with this model? Serious question. I think the Seattle trade is one they would seriously consider. Larsson is UFA in one year, Wright is an unknown, and Oleksiak is a nice piece but they get the best player in the deal BY FAR, a couple young defensemen, and a good young scorer with upside.

 

[sunstersun]

Build around Matthews and Nylander. Tbh I'd ship every forward out except Knies, Domi and
McMann. In the Marner trade I hope we get a D or a top 6 F with a 1st. If we get a D. I hope we sign a 2C and give Nylander a solid line. For Matthews to truly elevate, we're gonna need him a winger alongside Domi who can self create and also shoot.

I'd also ship Rielly outta here. He's great and all. But I'd like to sign Montour. He can take over PP1 right away and then boom we have a functional PP.

Lilly can grow into the PP2 and RHD #4 role. If he sucks, oh well. Move on next year.

Next year has to be retool year, and when Tavares comes off the books we have Cowan and cap space and we can make a deep run in the playoffs.

 

[ULF_55]

Accept the reality it is unlikely anyone is going to waiver their NMC.

So don't re-sign the same players who just accomplished nothing.

What does it take a second brick to fall on your head to know it hurts?

This is what you're working with:

Webber is unlikely to be a NHL player this upcoming season.
Dewar and Gregor aren't difference makers.

There are enough openings that with the right moves this could be better.

Kampf and Jarnkrok with 10 team NTC's.
McCabe 7 team NTC.

1 top 6 forward > 2 bottom 6 forwards, when you have options on ELSC.
1 #1 defender is unlikely but it would give the team 1.

Spend as much as you can afford on 2 players, and use the internal assets to fill in the holes.

 

[647Hockey]

Assuming JT and Marner are unmovable, do nothing.

Let both contracts expire, as well as any other ones expiring after 2025 too. The team will have $22M alone from JT/MM and any other contracts gone should pool together $30M+. I dont know and am too lazy to google what other contracts are over by end of 2025, so I'm assuming the timing has more dead.

If the team has $30M+ to play with, take your time and sign 3-5 solid players, with the minimum format being 1F, 1D, 1G. Dont go gonzo after $10M+ player for the sake of it. Leafs already learned their lesson with this strategy already.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Bertuzzi can walk. He never really had a role on this team, he looked aloof. Domi sparked him down the stretch and they had some chemistry. Bertuzzi isnt worth 5.5 million. I wouldnt pay Bertuzzi 4 million.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

KEY TO GETTING RID OF TAVARES- TELL HIM HE CANT SAY OBVIOUSLY FROM NOW ON.

 

[Tak7]

I know people sometimes romanticize his coming back and that because he did that, he shouldn't be approached to be traded...but at the same time...we paid him very good money (arguably more than he should have received based on his PPG stats) to win the cup and he was one of the constant no shows after the first playoff series he played against Boston. I think we need to wash away the previous regimes stink and that means cutting it down to the bare bones of who you want to keep moving forward. I would trade Robertson to someone who thinks his almost 0.5ppg is a coming out party of sorts. We need guys who can play playoff hockey for us and play well...enough of the Dubas era NuHockey.

While I agree it's time to wash away the stink, I basically disagree with everything else:

• Tavares wasn't a no-show
• He wasn't overpaid at the time
• You don't trade Robertson - you pencil him into the top 9 to start the year and see what you have.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

While I agree it's time to wash away the stink, I basically disagree with everything else:

• Tavares wasn't a no-show
• He wasn't overpaid at the time
• You don't trade Robertson - you pencil him into the top 9 to start the year and see what you have.

Except for the very first series against Boston...JT has been pretty much invisible. Tell me the series that he played well in please....and don't count a random shot that was going wide and hit a skate to win against TB. That was as flukey as you can get. He was a ppg player on the NYI...he has not improved at all considering he always had the crutch of being on the Isles and having no superstar to play with. Well, he had MM and WN since he has been here and guess what? He is a ppg player who tailed off this year. He was paid too much for what he brought to the team.

 

[Confucius]

I’d see what the new coach can do with these guys before I got rid of them

 

[BlackAdam]

Start easy.
Find a sucker to take Ryan Reaves