If the team tanks now, they don’t have their 2028 pick as it will belong to Philly.
Best they go on that Glory Run and give Boston a pick in the teens.
If the Leafs owned their 1st over all picks, I’d be right with you on the tank so they can get some new blood on the team.
Behr should be interesting.
I agree with you.
The best case scenario is as follows:
Leafs go on a winning streak, shoot up the standings, Boston picks 12th-16th overall. Treliving is fired on the last day of the season.
Leafs hire Chris Pronger as GM and Ron Francis as the President of Hockey Ops. Pelley is told to stay the fuck away from the Leafs.
Leafs hire Mike Futa to run the Amateur Scouting Department. He did great work in LA, helped build winners, he’s local and looks like he’d take the job.
Leafs keep Berube as head coach. This prevents the hiring of DeBoer or Laviolette who could create a “wild card pretender” scenario for next season. Keeping Berube puts all the pressure on the players instead of giving them another excuse. They’ve had enough coaches fired already. Keep Berube until the core players are traded, then hire some rookie coach like Steve Sullivan to tank.
You make zero trades that cost draft picks or prospects. You only sign UFAs to short term deals that you can flip at the TDL. You trade Stolarz and run with Woll and Hildeby.
Run the 2026/2027 season out, Leafs won’t contend but won’t give up a top 10 pick to the Flyers either. Hopefully Matthews and Nylander put up some decent points to increase their value. You offload OEL, Tanev, McCabe; literally all depth players over 25 who gets you a draft pick. You make it clear as day to Matthews that his time is up in Toronto.
With 1 year left on Matthews’ deal, you trade him at the 2027 draft. After Matthews is gone to the highest bidder, Nylander would likely want out and so would Rielly, Tavares and everybody else. You acquire only 1st round picks, top prospects and roster players under 25. Should be able to accumulate 10-12 blue chips for all the assets. There’s also the possibility you could get a top 5 pick at the draft included in the package for Matthews or Nylander, depending on the situation.
Sign the worst goalie in the NHL available for tanking purposes.
Tank 2027/2028. Draft in the lottery. Tank 2028/2029. Draft in the lottery. Try to sign McDavid to the max contract if he’s available. Try to sign Rod Brind’Amour as head coach.
Contend in 2030 with a team loaded with new core players under 25, McDavid, Brind’Amour and cap space to plug the gaps.