Speculation: Which teams that are out face the biggest changes this off season?

[varano]

Babcock is a hard ass that can get nasty when they don't listen but he don't suck. Leafs didn't go any further with their new coach. Is the depth as good as Dubas says it is?

Dude. We got Muzzin and Babcock immediately shit on it because he plays a different side. He's a cry baby that just wants to bury people. Most of his contract is paid out in a front loaded deal and he's not in the NHL right now. What does that tell you ?

 

[shadow1]

Chicago and Tampa are going to have to move multiple pieces to re-sign key RFA's, so I could see a block buster happening with each franchise.

 

[The Podium]

I would LOVE Hamilton but I don't know how you make that a permanent solution but Rielly-Hamilton as a pair? f*** yeah I'd want that

Agreed, Hamilton checks nearly every box from a Leafs perspective.

Big bodied, two-way RHD, good on transition, solid shooting option to open lanes in the offensive zone. Maybe not as physical as we need but we can add grit on on the bottom pairing.

Biggest concerns = pending UFA, and inability to find a long term home.

Ideally he comes relatively cheap or with an extension in place

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Agreed, Hamilton checks nearly every box from a Leafs perspective.

Big bodied, two-way RHD, good on transition, solid shooting option to open lanes in the offensive zone. Maybe not as physical as we need but we can add grit on on the bottom pairing.

Biggest concerns = pending UFA, and inability to find a long term home.

Ideally he comes relatively cheap or with an extension in place

How cheap? He could easily command $7.5 million on the low end.

 

[The Podium]

How cheap? He could easily command $7.5 million on the low end.

With a flat cap I'd hope somewhere around 7 mill

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

With a flat cap I'd hope somewhere around 7 mill

I dont know, he's one of the best goal scoring defenseman, puts up 40+ points when healthy and will be one of the best RD available.
I think OTT would put in a serious bid for him at $8 million per and have Chabot and Hamilton anchor their D for the next 6-7 years.

CAR will likely shed a ton of cap room to re-sign him as well.

 

[Forge]

Saw this trade proposal the other day between the Leafs and Devils:

To the Devils: William Nylander

To the Leafs: Pavel Zacha
Damon Severson(spelling?)
1st round pick (it wasn’t New Jersey’s, might have been the Ducks)

Personally, I don’t feel we’re good trading partners as the Devils are trying to rebuild. Also, the Devils are probably giving too much.

I’m interested to hear people’s thoughts.

I would hope that the Devils don't do that. They're a worse team after making that trade, and that's saying something given how bad they are as it is. I'd love to acquire Nylander, but the trade can't include Severson when we already are missing 3 defenders on the back end, and I doubt it would include pick #7, so I'm with you in that I find it unlikely that the two teams would make good trade partners.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I dont think the Leafs sell on their core unless they are doing a 1-for-1 hockey trade. A combination of lesser pieces probably wont work.

I think the more realistic offseason is completely gutting their bottom 6, finding a new #1 with big game history (Murray, Holtby, Markstrom for example) and figuring out a semi-permanent solution in their top 4 (Hamilton, Tanev, etc.).

The only problem with that, and I agree about needing to improve our bottom 6 and goaltending, is unless Marner (bigger cap hit) or Nylander is traded, we can’t make those improvements and stay cap compliant.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I would hope that the Devils don't do that. They're a worse team after making that trade, and that's saying something given how bad they are as it is. I'd love to acquire Nylander, but the trade can't include Severson when we already are missing 3 defenders on the back end, and I doubt it would include pick #7, so I'm with you in that I find it unlikely that the two teams would make good trade partners.

Thanks for your reply. That’s what I thought.

 

[The Podium]

The only problem with that, and I agree about needing to improve our bottom 6 and goaltending, is unless Marner (bigger cap hit) or Nylander is traded, we can’t make those improvements and stay cap compliant.

The Leafs have the 5th most expensive 3rd line in the league, they already are paying for depth, just the wrong depth.

Add to that Ceci and Barrie walking, ELC regulars in Robertson and Sandin making ~2 mill less than the players they are replacing and cap going out in any deal to improve the bottom 6 and D, they can easily stay cap compliant.

With that said, a big cap big name D would require a Marner or Nylander deal, or Andersen out with a cheap replacement in.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Chicago and Tampa are going to have to move multiple pieces to re-sign key RFA's, so I could see a block buster happening with each franchise.

Hawks have to do two things

- Buyout Smith
- Trade one of Maatta , Saad , Shaw or De Haan

Not exactly needing a blockbuster. I wouldn't rule anything out but my guess is given how well Maatta played in playoffs and having an overall solid year that he has decent enough trade value given his age and contract that Hawks should be able to move him

Hawks also have glut of young LHD in rockford and Koekkoek on NHL roster who was good all year and should be affordable to sign longterm and slot as regular fixture in #5 spot

 

[Legion34]

I dont know, he's one of the best goal scoring defenseman, puts up 40+ points when healthy and will be one of the best RD available.
I think OTT would put in a serious bid for him at $8 million per and have Chabot and Hamilton anchor their D for the next 6-7 years.

CAR will likely shed a ton of cap room to re-sign him as well.

I think people are really underestimating the pandemic. We will see how it all plays out but the money isn’t there for most teams. Especially if we have no idea when fans will be back.

 

[Fatass]

The Leafs have the 5th most expensive 3rd line in the league, they already are paying for depth, just the wrong depth.

Add to that Ceci and Barrie walking, ELC regulars in Robertson and Sandin making ~2 mill less than the players they are replacing and cap going out in any deal to improve the bottom 6 and D, they can easily stay cap compliant.

With that said, a big cap big name D would require a Marner or Nylander deal, or Andersen out with a cheap replacement in.

Canucks aren’t out yet, but after last night’s game it looks like they will be soon. I think their fourth line (when Tofoli is healthy) has Loui, Beagle, and Sutter. That’s just shy of 14 million. Got to be the most expensive fourth line in the league, no?
Benning has to do a lot this off season to shed cap, so he can resign his UFAs (Markstrom, Tanev, Tofoli) and his RFAs (Virtanen, Stecher). Lots of work to do in Van City to keep them progressing, and not regressing.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

I think people are really underestimating the pandemic. We will see how it all plays out but the money isn’t there for most teams. Especially if we have no idea when fans will be back.

People aged 60+ should worry about it more than others but the majority of the population will be fine.
The Bundesliga and EPL have already said the fans will be allowed back this year starting in September and October.
Not full capacity but nearing 25% to gauge the pros/cons.
I think by 2021-22, we will be back to 50% or above.
We can't wait this out forever, I know that sounds selfish and cold but we will get back to normal sooner than later imo.

 

[Legion34]

People aged 60+ should worry about it more than others but the majority of the population will be fine.
The Bundesliga and EPL have already said the fans will be allowed back this year starting in September and October.
Not full capacity but nearing 25% to gauge the pros/cons.
I think by 2021-22, we will be back to 50% or above.
We can't wait this out forever, I know that sounds selfish and cold but we will get back to normal sooner than later imo.

sure. And in 2 years.... it might be different. But by October.... can they have any guarantees about fans and start dates? Would he want to wait to go to FA and risk a second wave? Or secure the bag now? Would the team risk it?

it will be fascinating

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

sure. And in 2 years.... it might be different. But by October.... can they have any guarantees about fans and start dates? Would he want to wait to go to FA and risk a second wave? Or secure the bag now? Would the team risk it?

it will be fascinating

Typically if one league starts the trend of allowing fans, others will follow.
Right now CAR holds the cards if/when he gets re-signed before he hits UFA.

 

[Legion34]

Typically if one league starts the trend of allowing fans, others will follow.
Right now CAR holds the cards if/when he gets re-signed before he hits UFA.

yes they absolutely do. But have they ever not traded a player in the last year if not signed? Seems like a pretty big pattern

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

yes they absolutely do. But have they ever not traded a player in the last year if not signed? Seems like a pretty big pattern

Vatanen, Edmundson, TVR and Williams are their big UFA's. I'd say one of those D re-signed (probably Vatanen) and Williams if he comes back for one more year.
Fleury and Foegele are RFA's this year, both combine for maybe $4-5 million, if that?

Dzingel, McGinn, Martinhook and both goalies are UFA's in 2021-22 (maybe re-sign one of those forwards and Mrazek)
Svech is their key RFA, he will get paid handsomely.

They're in good shape to re-sign him with all their other good value contracts (Slavin, Pesce, TT and Aho) imo.

Maybe some CAR fans can chime in to help clarify their intent/cap room for Hamilton being re-signed

 

[Groo]

People aged 60+ should worry about it more than others but the majority of the population will be fine.
The Bundesliga and EPL have already said the fans will be allowed back this year starting in September and October.
Not full capacity but nearing 25% to gauge the pros/cons.
I think by 2021-22, we will be back to 50% or above.
We can't wait this out forever, I know that sounds selfish and cold but we will get back to normal sooner than later imo.

They also play outside.
Best laid plans and all

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

They also play outside.
Best laid plans and all

There's 7 NFL teams that play in domes that are preparing for fans at games in limited capacity.
Now there's also teams that play outdoors that have announced no fans for a portion of the first few games and then some who have said no fans for the entire year.

Don't want to derail this thread, if you want to continue, we can head over to the Covid thread.

 

[Groo]

There's 7 NFL teams that play in domes that are preparing for fans at games in limited capacity.
Now there's also teams that play outdoors that have announced no fans for a portion of the first few games and then some who have said no fans for the entire year.

Don't want to derail this thread, if you want to continue, we can head over to the Covid thread.

Domes that have fixed roofs?

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Domes that have fixed roofs?

Yes, 3 of them

 

[dredeye]

I wonder how many ufa’s take one year deals to try and get past the flat cap

 

[smirob]

I wonder how many ufa’s take one year deals to try and get past the flat cap

It’s gonna go past a year....

I expect salaries lose inflation this year (obviously) but high end guys will still get close to what they’re worth.

I expect the mid tier to low end guys to get less than typical though.