Your Rebuild Opinion? Next Move Coming?

[RabidBadger]

Fair. There's just nobody else from the Laffs that I'd want.

You and me both. I don't feel we should be in the business of acquiring players that Leafs fans hate. I feel like they know something.

 

[The Zermanator]

We need a lot more than that. Maybe to be Ottawa. I would hope the goal isn't just to make the playoffs. Yzerman said he wants to built a long term contender that will compete to win a Stanley cup. I don't get why everyone is so obsessed with just making the playoffs. I could care less about making the first round.

And there's a lot more on the way in case you hadn't noticed. The Stanley Cup is not relevant to us for at least a couple more seasons, however making the playoffs is a reasonable goal for next season. A top 6 forward and top 4 dman almost certainly lifts us into that position, considering how close we've been the last couple years. And that's on top of whatever improvement we get out of Edvinsson, Kasper, and others internally. Not sure why you think that would harm our ability to compete for Cups a few years down the line. Seems to me it would increase those chances, so I don't know what you're objecting to exactly.

 

[Oddbob]

You and me both. I don't feel we should be in the business of acquiring players that Leafs fans hate. I feel like they know something.

They do and don't. They will blame any big name player when they lose. Marner could have had 2 pts a game and they still lose and they would still be on him about not being good enough.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

Guys we should look to sign and trade for
- sign Bennett
- sign Beauvillier
- resign Kane
- trade for Marchement using Berggren and Tank
- trade for Hague using the 13th OA plus (assumption is Vegas will go after Marner and want cap space)

Improves top 6
Improves bottom 6
Improves top 4
Adds grit and size

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

The wings signing Tralmaks then looking hard at Comtois makes me believe Yzerman is looking for a lot more size this upcoming season.

Call me crazy but I’m really hoping for a trade for Marchment and/or signing Bennett. Both give the wings physical forwards with an edge that can score 50 points.

We need a solid top 4 defender to pair with Seider. If not Gavrikov and Hague who is a physical minute muncher we could sign or trade for?

 

[Run the Jewels]

The wings signing Tralmaks then looking hard at Comtois makes me believe Yzerman is looking for a lot more size this upcoming season.

Call me crazy but I’m really hoping for a trade for Marchment and/or signing Bennett. Both give the wings physical forwards with an edge that can score 50 points.

We need a solid top 4 defender to pair with Seider. If not Gavrikov and Hague who is a physical minute muncher we could sign or trade for?

Good chance Tralmaks and Comtois are for GR. They don’t seem like locks for NHL rosters.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Good chance Tralmaks and Comtois are for GR. They don’t seem like locks for NHL rosters.

I fully understand that, but it’s a trend. Two big, physical forwards that could play in the NHL on a call up. Likely in our identity-less bottom 6.

We really do need someone that can play with size in the top 6, but we also need someone fire in the bottom 6.

 

[DoMakc]

If Yzerman is looking for size he should trade for Anders Lee, one year left on very reasonable contract, can hopefully still skate and is a proven scorer. I don’t think Marchment is a top line player, especially I don’t think he is good enough skater to keep up with Larkin and Raymond

 

[norrisnick]

If Yzerman is looking for size he should trade for Anders Lee, one year left on very reasonable contract, can hopefully still skate and is a proven scorer. I don’t think Marchment is a top line player, especially I don’t think he is good enough skater to keep up with Larkin and Raymond

In what world is trading for a 35yo (before the season starts) "big body" a good idea for a team trying to open its contention window? Are the Islanders packaging some assets that are worth more with him? The Wings need to be identifying 25yo players that might be "change of scenery" and/or "cap casualty" types. Lee can only get worse from here and won't do anything for the Wings contention aspirations as he'll have to be replaced almost immediately anyway.

 

[DoMakc]

In what world is trading for a 35yo (before the season starts) "big body" a good idea for a team trying to open its contention window? Are the Islanders packaging some assets that are worth more with him? The Wings need to be identifying 25yo players that might be "change of scenery" and/or "cap casualty" types. Lee can only get worse from here and won't do anything for the Wings contention aspirations as he'll have to be replaced almost immediately anyway.

Why does his age have anything to do with this discussion? He is a better player than Marchment now, that's at least how i see it. He has one year left on his contract, so we don't need to do his projection or age curve. I don't get a notion why old players cannot be good now.

Other question is, do they need to acquire somebody at all? Theoretically they have Brandsegg-Nygard and Mazur who are not there yet. So there are three possibilities:

1. you spend a lot of capital to acquire somebody more aligned age wise (like Cuylle) and figure out what to do with MBN later
2. you spend less capital to solve the immediate issue short term (Lee, Marchand or Marchment) and still bet on MBN or Mazur being long-term solution
3. you just don't care about short-term issue and continue hording capital.

I don't see why option 2 is not a viable option as it improves roster and chances of making playoffs, while keeping long-term flexibility and cost low.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

According to Friedman, Buffalo is gauging value on Byram. Could we see Johansson+13th for Byram?

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Why does his age have anything to do with this discussion? He is a better player than Marchment now, that's at least how i see it. He has one year left on his contract, so we don't need to do his projection or age curve. I don't get a notion why old players cannot be good now.

Other question is, do they need to acquire somebody at all? Theoretically they have Brandsegg-Nygard and Mazur who are not there yet. So there are three possibilities:

1. you spend a lot of capital to acquire somebody more aligned age wise (like Cuylle) and figure out what to do with MBN later
2. you spend less capital to solve the immediate issue short term (Lee, Marchand or Marchment) and still bet on MBN or Mazur being long-term solution
3. you just don't care about short-term issue and continue hording capital.

I don't see why option 2 is not a viable option as it improves roster and chances of making playoffs, while keeping long-term flexibility and cost low.

There’s no guarantee DeBrincat is a wing after 2026-27.
There’s also no guarantee Kane is around in 2025-26. And almost a sure bet he’s gone in 2026 to retirement.

Roster spots will open up, but not fast enough unless Yzerman puts in the work. The two roster spots that we need to open up at forward are Compher and Tarasenko. Maybe add Ras to that list.
Gus and Holl on D need to go last year.

 

[JoesuffP]

I want to be in on any of the Flames defense if they start moving guys

Ed-Seider
Aljo-Rasmus Andersson
Chiarot-ASP/Gus

That top 4 can compete in the playoffs

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

According to Friedman, Buffalo is gauging value on Byram. Could we see Johansson+13th for Byram?

If 13th alone doesn’t get it done I’m not interested.

Byram apparently wants a bigger role. He’s not replacing Seider on the PP. and he’s not likely to replace ASP when ASP comes here.

I like Byram but it probably isn’t a good fit.

 

[Run the Jewels]

According to Friedman, Buffalo is gauging value on Byram. Could we see Johansson+13th for Byram?

Really don't think this is a fit as I've said above. He's purely an offensive d-man and has concussion issues. He wouldn't be an answer on our truly awful PK units. And we have plenty of young d-men, we need someone like Gavrikov who is a fantastic defensive d-man in his prime who kicked ass on the PK when he played for McLellan in LA.

 

[norrisnick]

Why does his age have anything to do with this discussion? He is a better player than Marchment now, that's at least how i see it. He has one year left on his contract, so we don't need to do his projection or age curve. I don't get a notion why old players cannot be good now.

Other question is, do they need to acquire somebody at all? Theoretically they have Brandsegg-Nygard and Mazur who are not there yet. So there are three possibilities:

1. you spend a lot of capital to acquire somebody more aligned age wise (like Cuylle) and figure out what to do with MBN later
2. you spend less capital to solve the immediate issue short term (Lee, Marchand or Marchment) and still bet on MBN or Mazur being long-term solution
3. you just don't care about short-term issue and continue hording capital.

I don't see why option 2 is not a viable option as it improves roster and chances of making playoffs, while keeping long-term flexibility and cost low.

Because we aren't good yet. We want to be good in the (near) future. So we need to not waste time or assets on players that won't be there for it. Lee is the type of player a team with a closing window should pursue for a last hurrah. Not a team on the (hopeful) upswing. I've had the same view of the Kane signing. It's a complete waste of time as a rebuilding team to acquire players on their last legs that won't be around when the young core is ready to compete. Tarasenko was a good short term add for Florida. Not for us.

 

[DoMakc]

Because we aren't good yet. We want to be good in the (near) future. So we need to not waste time or assets on players that won't be there for it. Lee is the type of player a team with a closing window should pursue for a last hurrah. Not a team on the (hopeful) upswing. I've had the same view of the Kane signing. It's a complete waste of time as a rebuilding team to acquire players on their last legs that won't be around when the young core is ready to compete. Tarasenko was a good short term add for Florida. Not for us.

The issue with Tarasenko was, he was not a good fit. They decided for whatever reason, he can play LW and replace Perron. We saw how it played out. With Kane you can argue that he helped a lot with development of Raymond.

But at this stage making playoffs has much greater impact than a possible 2nd round pick, Buyum/Wallinder or Berggren (I know you will disagree), not only for ownership/fans but also from player development perspective. I disagree with notion that you can make short term moves only if you contender - ithink not having holes in your line up will help your young players grow. Having Lee (or Marchand for that mattt9er creating space for Raymond and finishing his plays has a lot of value from my perspective, especially since there is no prospect ready to step in. (I don't think Berggren should be playing with Larkin/Raymond, sorry again).

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I'm going to say something brave yet controversial: any move that helps us make the playoffs next year but doesn't help us make the playoffs any year after that is a stupid move.

 

[SirloinUB]

I'm going to say something brave yet controversial: any move that helps us make the playoffs next year but doesn't help us make the playoffs any year after that is a stupid move.

Nuance is king.

• Trading 13th overall + Mazur for Lee is a bad move
• Trading Berggren + a 2nd for Lee would be a solid move.

 

[kook10]

I'm going to say something brave yet controversial: any move that helps us make the playoffs next year but doesn't help us make the playoffs any year after that is a stupid move.

Not sure I entirely agree. Making the playoffs is no small showcase of players. It has the ability to put some shine on otherwise dull assets. When we don't make the playoffs, it is more difficult to move anybody because they all look shitty. We need to create more market liquidity for our players so we can trade up and offload players when necessary. We can't get married to every player in hopes of a future that may never come.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Nuance is king.

• Trading 13th overall + Mazur for Lee is a bad move
• Trading Berggren + a 2nd for Lee would be a solid move.

Why would the Isles accept Berggren and a 2nd when they could get a first round pick at the deadline? That's just a low-ball offer, considering he's a first line forward.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Not sure I entirely agree. Making the playoffs is no small showcase of players. It has the ability to put some shine on otherwise dull assets. When we don't make the playoffs, it is more difficult to move anybody because they all look shitty. We need to create more market liquidity for our players so we can trade up and offload players when necessary. We can't get married to every player in hopes of a future that may never come.

So you want to trade for players to drum up interest so you can trade away bad players as though they're good players? I feel as though pro scouts would not fall for that.

 

[Snuggs]

I'm going to say something brave yet controversial: any move that helps us make the playoffs next year but doesn't help us make the playoffs any year after that is a stupid move.

Idk if it's either and I honestly don't see anyone saying make a move for 1 year.

If you're in the Bennett camp, Garvik, or Marner everyone collectively seems to be thinking long-term and team needs.

A few are in on this John Tavares 'thing' which, hey, he might be the definition of what you're saying but I dont even expect him to take us seriously at this point in his career.

 

[SirloinUB]

Why would the Isles accept Berggren and a 2nd when they could get a first round pick at the deadline? That's just a low-ball offer, considering he's a first line forward.

Totally fair but you're missing the greater point that there can be situations where a short term move in the mold of "helps us make playoffs next year but not the year after" can make sense.

Lee was an arbitrary example and I suspect that you are correct in saying they will wait until the TDL to sell a piece like him rather than settle for that kind of offer now.

 

[kook10]

So you want to trade for players to drum up interest so you can trade away bad players as though they're good players? I feel as though pro scouts would not fall for that.

Who said that would make them good? Not me. Unsalvageable pieces might get upgraded to rehab projects and find a home elsewhere. That is how we got them after all, and we have pro scouts. I'll fill you in on a trade secret - 49.99% of pro scouts are below average.