Who to sign to change the DNA? | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

Who to sign to change the DNA?

steelcurtain6

Registered User
Mar 31, 2025
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What to do to change the DNA and leadership core of this team?

Would convincing Reilly to accept a trade? Maybe Detroit (for his bride's family) or to his hometown, Vancouver?
Frees up money to throw at Ekblad. 7 x 8 mill

Sign Brad Marchand, maybe 3 x 7 mill.
Would change the leadership core, by removing Reilly, and adding a winner and a warrior. Would also have a profound effect on the development of Easton Cowan.

Resign Taveras. 4 x 7 mill.
We all know he is still a good hockey player, and is the best 2nd line center available. Line with Marchand and Nylander.

Bring back Downtown Connor Brown. 2 x 2 mill
Be a solid third line RW that can play up and down the lineup.

So that would be $24 mill out, (Reilly, Marner, reduction of JT salary) and $24 mill in. And then add Kniess on a bridge at say 6 mill

Kneiss Matthew McMann
Marchand JT Nylander
Cowan Domi Brown
Lorentz Laughton xx

Patches

Carlo Ekblad
McCabe Tanev
Benoit OEL

You could flip OEL and Carlo,

Just having fun, but thoughts??
 
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Too long and too much for Tavares.

Marchand isn't signing 3 x 7, he'll get more from someone.

Brown is getting more than 2 x 2 and someone will regret it.

I wouldn't touch Ekblad at 7 years. He'll get more than 8 per anyway.

That forward group listed above doesn't look good.

D core is ok, but just another year older.

You don't change the DNA or improve with this UFA class. That would be a mistake, like most UFA signings.
 
2 of Ekblad/Marchand/Bennett.

Personally I'm fine briding Knies and delaying his pay day because lets be honest in 3-5 years this team's window is closed anyways.

Backup considering given to Boeser/P.Kane/B.Tanev. And def bring back Patches if he wants to, load manage through the year and let him be with his family in Detroit, just have him be ready for the playoffs.
 
You don't change the DNA or improve with this UFA class. That would be a mistake, like most UFA signings.


Who said it has to be done this year? It should happen over the next two years. Even if McJesus resigns in Edmonton, next year's group is shaping up to be a good one.
 
I would take Ekblad, I'd even take him at $10M. But that's the number it's gonna take to get him here. $8M is dreaming.

Marchand is getting paid. He's not taking some "last chance at another cup" veteran deal. He's been underpaid for a decade.

Do you know what the NHL average salary is right now? Connor Brown is not taking just $2.0M.

I'd love to get rid of Rielly but it seems you're either eating the cap hit on a long buyout, or paying assets we don't have, for someone to take on the contract. At his age and salary he's a negative asset.
 
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Select 5 of the following to replace Tavares and marner:

Can you change the DNA, and still make the playoffs?

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Leafs are close to bankrupt when it comes to value assets.

Their only option is to go to free agency market, or just accept the decline to the next rebuild.

Their option is to take risks on guys they think can rebound like Washington and the Panthers have done.

One guy I look at is Lawson Crouse.
 
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Oilers traded Gretzky and won a Cup. Unfortunately this team does not have the depth the Oilers had. Messier, Kurri, Coffey, Lowe, Tikanen, Anderson, Huddy etc. Leafs have Willie.

You were a fan 10 years ago.. Do you not remember the drought between Sundin's decline as a #1 C to when we got Matthews? Impossible to fill a #1 C spot. It's a terrible take man
 

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