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Yeah, they need a balanced top 9, so moving Nylander to 1RW doesn’t make a ton of sense there.
Almost wondering if Nick Robertson stays now, plays with Roy on the 3rd line.
I just haven’t liked JT/88 together most of the time. They’ve outscored the scary stats but generally speaking they’ve been buried in possession. 88 and 34 have been dynamite together and I like JT playing with a couple of big fast wingers …Knies and McMann?
JT’s resume was built from playing with big grindy wingers like Okposo and Moulson.
I’d heard for so long that Tanev wanted to play with his brother in Toronto that I’m believing this is his opportunity to make that happen – so I think he’s coming here. It doesn’t hurt that he has the same competitiveness and passion – albeit Brandon is less effective at his role than Chris is, but you want guys who don’t take shifts off. They can set the tone and elevate others around them.
McMann – Roy – Domi . . .I mean Domi probably needs size around him to excel, but what is the purpose of that line? Is it a scoring line? Supplemental scoring? Checking? Shut down? I don’t see it fitting into any of those boxes. The crazy thing is that Domi is a better player than Connor Brown, but Brown’s versatility would maybe make him preferable. With so few spots available, I don’t know. Could you go:
Knies – Matthews – Domi
Maccelli – Tavares – Nylander
Tanev – Roy – Brown
Lorentz – Laughton – McMann ?I think inherently I’d question Domi’s ability to hold down a top-6 job all season. This said, I’m not sure what credentials Maccelli brings to the table to get that promotion into a top-6 role either.[/quote]
Ya, Tanev’s a good candidate ..and he “might” come at a team friendly number if he’s zero’d in on playing with his brother.
If Ehlers won’t take a good number to come here then ya, I think you just zero in a good middle/bottom six types and you can go with a roster like yours.
Although I’m staying persistent on my take that 88 should be with 34.
Domi-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-JT-Maccelli/McMannThe one common thing most of us want is Brandon Tanev. Some comments in here for Suter (who I like but is probably overpriced), Eyssimont, Jeannot, Granlund . . .
I’d like Brown and Mangiapane or Ehlers. I don’t know if they can get in on the Ehlers conversation – the problem I’d have with him is that he’s not a “DNA” changer. He’s more of the same. Mangiapane competes hard – but he’s probably a 20 goal guy at best. He had 35 a few years back and I don’t think that’s likely to repeat itself. Hell, I like Roslovic for the same idea that I know he battles hard and works hard. You don’t just want physicality, you want guys who want the puck and are willing to get a bit dirty to get it. I’d definitely say that both Jeannot and Eyssimont fall into this category. I don’t get some guys. Jeannot had 24 goals in 2021-22 and in 198 games since has scored 26. Eyssimont loves net front and gets a lot of HD chances – with terrible finish. One year I think he had the most individual HDCF/60 of any player (taking regular shifts) and then Tampa traded for him – because they would be on the ball for that type of thing – and his shooting percentage remained around 3%. How is it that bad on the lip of the crease?!
Anyway – we’re about an hour away and we’ll see what happens as it happens.
I think he’s looking for one top 6 FWD and one bottom 6 FWD. I assume he’ll be on the phone with Ehlers/Boeser but I’m expecting those guys will have a bunch of overpayment on the table from Ducks, Sharks, Hawks ….and others. Maybe Granlund on a short term …but if he’s 4x6M then I’d probably rather overpay Ehlers. Going to be a day for covering your eyes …lot of cap space …little on offer. Here’s hoping Kampf and Jarnkrok are moved.
Bottom 6 shaping up …
McMann-Roy-Domi …..not sure I love that mix?
Lorentz-Laughton-XXX …I’m assuming they add a Jeannot, Brown or Kunin bottom 6’er.I’m assuming they’ll be after one of Ehlers/Boeser today. Lots of fancy stuff out there suggests Ehlers has upside offensively ….Boeser is what he is. Haven’t seen enough of either but if they nabbed Ehlers at a good number then sure …
One of Tanev and Jeannot on low AAV 4th line torpedo deals would be nice too.
So what, if anything, do the Leafs do tomorrow?!?
Seriously though …I’m a big believer that Knies and Nylander can, and will, elevate. Nylander’s been crying for more and now Berube’s got every reason to give him 22+ mins per night. We’ll find out soon whether he can level-up like he did when he was playing for a new contract. Knies is a beast ..skating, size …all of it. Hopefully he evolves into one of the best PF’s in the game. Matthews needs to find his health and shake off whatever was buggin’ him last year.
So what, if anything, do the Leafs do tomorrow?!?
Buy stock in the Florida Panthers?
Cardinal point does the financial planning for many nhlers. Yes there’s a couple of nuances to adjust the tax rate but taxes are a significant variable for these players.
The cap has become large enough that the issue is growing. The league will have to do something. My best guess is that this 4 yr CBA will be the last with a hard cap. They’ll soften it up allowing wealthy to spend above the Cap.
Looks like Marchand is going back Florida.
Big surprise.
Kyper is saying Kadri is coming back to Toronto.
Currently dusting off my 2017 Kadri jersey!
They’ll have to be creative (and so will Marchand) b/c if they dump Rodrigues they’ll have 7.9M with 10F, 6D and 1G. A goalie, a 7th dman, and an 11th fwd is going to eat up $3M minimum so Marchand would have to be under $5M. They’ll just sign someone else if he wants to get paid and they’ll add another big name at the deadline to fit under the cap.
Not too creative, they’d just have to make the deal longer to lower the cap hit so they can squeeze in league minimum veterans like Pacioretty looking to win a Cup on a stacked team.
They’ll have no problems getting the lower line-up filler if they keep all their big fish.
6 years for a 37 yr old is pretty damn creative. lol … Sounds like they got the AAV down to 5.25ish.
They can’t afford more than $1M with some bonuses that count against next year. He’s gone.
They have 4.9 AAV, 9.4 if they dump Rodrigues and Boqvist.
It’s manageable.
They’ll have to be creative (and so will Marchand) b/c if they dump Rodrigues they’ll have 7.9M with 10F, 6D and 1G. A goalie, a 7th dman, and an 11th fwd is going to eat up $3M minimum so Marchand would have to be under $5M. They’ll just sign someone else if he wants to get paid and they’ll add another big name at the deadline to fit under the cap.
Nice breakdown M.P.
I’ve been a big proponent of breaking up JT/Willie …for me they don’t work when it matters. I’ve always been of the opinion that JT’s one of those guys that works best with a pair of grindy mobile wingers. Okposo, Moulson, etc…. I’d give him Knies and McMann (or someone new) and let them role. Nylander is dying for an excuse to be that guy that looked like the best player in the world for 4 months (pre-contract). He wants more minutes, more responsibility, etc… put him with Matthews and play them 22 mins per night. I like the idea of Marchand barking in both their ears. I think/hope that Marchand and Nylander help elevate 34.
For me that’s how I’d draw up the top 6 for the playoffs.
I still think Laughton has some 3rd line in him. Him, Domi, Roy could be good. Love your 4th line options …Jeannot and Tanev would be instant energy every time they’re on the ice. Laughton could centre them or add a 4th line PK/Banger.
I’m with you ..I don’t see Rielly waiving so I’m expecting the D to look the same.
I’m not sold that we’re getting Roy. I guess we’ll see what happens. I figure if Vegas really was tampering and it can be proven – and the league will investigate it at their own discretion, not at the Leafs’ request – then they might be better off just not giving the Leafs anything since they could be punished even more for tampering. For instance Friedman said that the league investigated the Leafs for tampering when they signed Tavares – it wasn’t at the Islanders’ request, they just did it. So Treliving could be trying to play some hardball with McCrimmon – but if the end punishment were something like $5m, some draft picks and public embarrassment – as well as the termination of the Marner contract – why ALSO give up Roy? If Vegas is in the clear and didn’t do anything then why give up Roy to negotiate with Marner when they can sign him tomorrow?
Anyway, we’ll see.
One name I didn’t throw in the mix, but I really should have because I’d love him back on Toronto is Connor Brown . . . he’s probably a $2.5 – $3m player, but he can shift up and down the lineup and is an excellent penalty killer.
Watching Friedman right now …he says he thinks Marner-Roy trade will happen b/c they want an 8 yr deal. He says Vegas is just getting some other stuff done before they get Marner done. I’m not putting much into the tampering (probably just media noise). It makes sense b/c Vegas/Marner want 8 yrs and need his rights. They have to move about $3M to get it done so Roy makes sense.
Nice breakdown M.P.
I’ve been a big proponent of breaking up JT/Willie …for me they don’t work when it matters. I’ve always been of the opinion that JT’s one of those guys that works best with a pair of grindy mobile wingers. Okposo, Moulson, etc…. I’d give him Knies and McMann (or someone new) and let them role. Nylander is dying for an excuse to be that guy that looked like the best player in the world for 4 months (pre-contract). He wants more minutes, more responsibility, etc… put him with Matthews and play them 22 mins per night. I like the idea of Marchand barking in both their ears. I think/hope that Marchand and Nylander help elevate 34.
For me that’s how I’d draw up the top 6 for the playoffs.
I still think Laughton has some 3rd line in him. Him, Domi, Roy could be good. Love your 4th line options …Jeannot and Tanev would be instant energy every time they’re on the ice. Laughton could centre them or add a 4th line PK/Banger.
I’m with you ..I don’t see Rielly waiving so I’m expecting the D to look the same.
Jarnkrok becomes 775k on a 1 yr deal around noon tomorrow (Cap hit stays at 2.1) so he should be easy to move. Kampf less so but he’ll be ~ 1.7M over two years in cash so there’s hope.
Leafs look like this to me so far …
XXX-Math-Nyl
Kni-Tava-XXX
Dom-Roy-McM
XXX-Lau-XXXIf they find homes for Kampf and Jarnkrok then they’ll have about $16.2M to fill things out (and that includes the overage salaries for Patches, Reaves and Benning).
Maybe they can move the rights to Robertson and Holmberg for stuff too.
Probably enough to add Marchand, a middle six RW, and a pair of torpedo’s to play on the fourth line. I like Jeannot on the 4th if he’s willing to be $2M or less and short term.
Hague trade brings in Sissons (another bottom 6C). Roy to Toronto seems more likely.
Vegas will have to trim more salary to get marner under the cap, even at $12 x 4
Pietrangelo to LTIR and Roy traded gets them to 12.5M in space for Marner.
Ok, I’m coming around on signing Marchand. Leafs need to bump Kampf and Jarnkrok off the ship after bonus day and if they do they’ll have about 19M to spend on a top 6 FWD and 4 bottom 6 replacements. Nab Roy as one of the pieces and you’ve still got 16M to spend. Sign Marchand to bigger money, shorter term (b/c they really don’t need to back end it and lower the AAV). Spend some money on good 1 yr deals on the 4th line.
If the dust settles this week and the lineup looks like …
Marchand-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-McMann
Domi-Laughton-Roy
3 Heavy forechecking types…….I’m good. Maybe drop Laughton down a line and spend on another good 3rd liner.
Sorry but marchand on the top line just isnt a good idea, the only reason he was effective with the panthers was because he was on the 3rd line.
$6m for marchand or he can piss off. Leafs will be screwed if they sign him for anything more than that…..he’s 37 for crying out loud.
I hope to hell marchand is not a leaf.Saw you post this a few times. Marchand/Lundell played against top lines (most common match up for Marchand was Nylander/Tavares and McDavid/Draisatl). His line generally won their minutes. He’s still got it. I’d bet on him being an elite top 6 F for another year or two then he backslides. If he goes short term I’d have no problem with them giving him 8+ but if he wants a 3rd and 4th year then those years need to bring the AAV down.
