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Leafs have their 4 centers. It’s in the top 6 on the wing that they require an upgrade.
Regardless of who they get, it’s not like a centre couldn’t be moved to the wing – including Kadri if you got him, for that matter.
My guess is that Robbie is a sign and trade as part of a top 6 deal. Toss Cowan in and we can hopefully pick up somebody good in their prime.
Since Bobbyson is RFA, and this goes to arbitration, the Leafs would not be able to trade him.
You can still trade him NOW. I’m pretty sure the arbitration restrictions apply once the hearing happens. So there’s like a 48 hour window between the hearing and the ruling – during this period a player can’t be traded. Even after a player (or team) elects for arbitration, the player can be traded until the hearing happens.
So if the player elects arbitration, the team can’t trade them if they don’t accept the award, but they can walk away (losing the player as a UFA).
If the team elects arbitration, the team cannot walk away and must accept the award.Once an award is accepted, the player can be traded.
So I’m just looking things over and here’s a little interest.
Maccelli: $3.43 million (40P estimate)
Roy: $3 million (30P estimate)Find another guy for $3 million who can dump 30P in and bang, there’s Marner’s 100P replaced for $9.43 million while offering far more balanced scoring.
The ship has sailed but I was really hoping to get Brown in the bottom-6 because he’s an exceptional penalty killer and still puts up 30 points / season with limited opportunity to do so.
One way of looking at it is that Marner scored roughly 30 goals but a healthy Auston Matthews will make up half of that. Nic Roy will contribute another 15 from the third line. If Maccelli works out, you get another 15 or so. The question isn’t the offense, per se, it is the penalty killing and the defensive awareness that Marner brought. As much as we all got frustrated when he’d screw up, he did make a lot of good defensive plays and was typically reading plays well and being in the right position to stop plays from developing. Maccelli has some larger shoes to fill there – a more mature Knies will help, a healthy Matthews will help – but I did want them to find a faster guy or two to enhance that PK.
Lots of summer left. Not a lot of options.
Beggers can’t be choosers at this point. Leafs need to add some offense into the top 6 any way they can. JT or Roy can both play the wing if needed.
The talking heads are all saying nobody is selling. So the options are Ehlers …..or somebody’s bad contract (Kadri).
I posted this twice now and it didn’t take. I find that unusual. Something in the original tagging of your post when quoting it maybe?
Most teams consider themselves in the window, on the way up or sustaining a level of competitiveness right now. The only teams I can see who would or should be dealing are Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, the Islanders, Nashville, Boston and Calgary.
If you look at the moves they made in the past few days . . .the Islanders dealt Dobson and their only notable signing was Drouin; I will say that outside of Pelech and Pulock, I’ve never liked the performance vs. salary for most of their forwards.
Philly overpaid Dvorak and Vladar – but I think they are just biding time while they wait for some of their picks to come to fruition while never bottoming out enough to finish the job. Michkov is excellent but the rest of their youth is pretty questionable. I like Bonk, Luchanko and Barkey fine but none of them are significant needle movers. This year they drafted Martone, who feels a little like Knies – but it’s far from enough to help them. That said their only players of interest are Couturier, Konecny and Ristolainen. Personally not a fan of Risto and neither Konecny (8.8) or Couturier (7.8) are worth their contracts.
I think Nashville, Boston and Calgary all want to see where their teams end up before they consider making a move.
Off of Nashville we all like O’Reilly and Bunting isn’t dreadful @ $4.5, albeit there are better options at that cap hit.
Not clear on Boston but most of their signings feel like guys you sign to trade later – like Eyssimont and Jeannot both feel like TDL guys, but the term given to Jeannot says otherwise.
Calgary – who haven’t said their open for business, but they have also said that they are adhering to a process which strongly alludes to a rebuild. They have pieces people would like – Andersson, Weegar or Coleman – The other problem is that they have guys who are making more than most teams would want to pay for the guys – like Huberdeau, Kadri, Sharangovich or Lomberg
Pittsburgh seem the only team that’s truly understood their fate and word is that Dubas is basically Monty Halling the teams around the league. Granted – and it’s been discussed to death before – Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson and Letang all have full NMCs and Rakell, Hayes, Heinen, Graves and Acciari all have partial NTCs. The only guys they can easily move that I’d think are marketable are Rust and Lizotte
You know an interesting thing . . . has anyone seen any of the Leafs players post farewells to Marner? Knies reposted the Leafs PR release. Usually teammates post emotional farewells to their friends and I haven’t seen anyone say anything about it.
I’m not saying they wanted it to happen or that they’re happy it did – but it doesn’t feel like anyone is all that devastated that he left. I find that a little strange. I don’t think he was a problem in the room – but maybe some of that yelling he was doing at the team while he was also flailing and failing was just wearing a little too thin.
Who dafuq is Pazzetta?!?!?!
He is the Simon Benoit of the forwards
This is a pretty good description.
The 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’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.
The 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.
Leafs need to target Boeser, to replace the Marner offense. Also move on from Kampf, Robertson & McMann.
Insofar as I’m aware the Leafs have no interest in Boeser. I think he’s going to be around $8.5m – maybe more – and that’s not money we need to be spending.
Let’s assume that they trade Jarnkrok and Kampf, you basically have something like this:
Knies (7.8) – Matthews (13.3) – Maccelli (3.4)
?? – Tavares (4.4) – Nylander (11.5)
Domi (3.8) – Roy (3) – McMann (1.4)
?? – Laughton (1.5) – Lorentz (1.35)Rielly (7.5) – Carlo (3.5)
McCabe (4.5) – Tanev (4.5)
Benoit (1.4) – OEL (3.5)Stolarz (2.5)
Woll (3.7)$300k in dead cap to Benning and Reaves buried in the AHL and that leaves about $12.95 (just for the math of it, if they traded Domi it would make that 16.6m).
You could go after a Boeser and leave yourself little room . . . I’d commented a couple of pages back that I might just be okay with trading Domi if it could create more board competition in the bottom-6.
Guys like Mangiapane, Tanev or Brown add a more competitive dynamic. There are rumours they might try and acquire Kadri. I’d be somewhat down with that idea – but I’d like some retention given his age and the amount of term left. Granted I think that’s probably nostalgia talking more than sense. That said they have enough wiggle room if they can make some moves to control how to fill out those 2-3 forward places.
But context-wise these are projected cap numbers from capwages (some of which I’d disagree with, but it’s a basis for conversation):
Boeser: 8.5
Ehlers: 8.1
Drouin: 5
Suter: 5
Granlund: 5
Roslovic: 4.1
Mangiapane: 3.8
Olofsson: 3.4
Dadonov: 3.3
Nyquist: 3.2
Appleton: 3.2
Beauvillier: 3.2
Brown: 2.9
Raddysh: 2.7
Skinner: 2.6
Armia: 2.5
Bjugstasd: 2.3
Tanev: 2.2
Eller: 2.1
Kunin: 1.8
Dvorak: 1.8
Tatar: 1.5
Kuraly: 1.5
Brazeau: 1.5
Jeannot: 1.4
Sturm: 1.4
Eyssimont: 1.4
Faksa: 1.3So what, if anything, do the Leafs do tomorrow?!?
I like the idea of going after Mangiapane & Tanev and probably Connor Brown . . .but that leaves something like this:
Knies – Matthews – Maccelli
Mangiapane – Tavares – Nylander
Tanev – Roy – Brown
Lorentz – Laughton – McMannI’m not sure Domi fits in. I mean this lineup offers over $7m in cap room – and it assumes that Domi, Jarnkrok and Kampf all find new homes – although I’ve always loved what Domi brings in terms of passion. But something like Tanev – Roy – Brown would offer speed, checking, tenacity and some size/physicality. A 4th of Lorentz – Laughton – McMann would also have some size, cycle ability, solid forecheck, decent speed on the wings and work ethic.
The problems ultimately – line 1 doesn’t get any more competitive; line 2 doesn’t get much better defensively; there’s not a ton of goals in the bottom-6 still, but probably as many as we have had – they would likely be scored on less and it creates a lot of PK options throughout the lineup.
The leafs have been bounced for 9 years straight in the 1st or 2nd round. So no difference.
Only now we dont have to watch marner float for the final 3 games of a playoff round.Wrong. Panthers are going to be the same and the Leafs took them to 7. If they dumped Tavares and Rielly, brought in two-way centers to play 2C and 3C via trade, they could have had a chance.
This team is just going to be stitched together with pieces of scrap held together with chewing gum.
So the Panthers presently have a cap of $95.933m, which is over the cap. They have 12 forwards signed, 6 defenseman and 1 goalie. They traded for Tarasov but he’s an RFA – assume he’s around $1m. Samoskevich is also unsigned.
I’d guess Rodrigues is going to be traded to fit in a goalie ($1m) and Samoskevich ($1.5m), leaving them with about $70k and no spares on their roster of 20. The first non-LTIR injury is going to be a bitch. We watched Dubas try and run that gauntlet.
Bottom line: Florida is getting older, they have played a lot of hockey and they are losing pieces and putting themselves into precarious positions to try and hold it together. It’s a bold strategy and they have all the right character assholes to win again, but I’m not sure if it’ll hold together again.
Quite sincerely Mitch Marner’s presence wasn’t what took us to game 7 – Marner had 1 point in the final 4 games of the series. He had decent results killing penalties – but truthfully the whole team did an admirable job there, led largely by Laughton and Lorentz, but credit is due to Marner there.
In those final 4 games, Domi had 3 points, McMann 2, and then Patches, Marner, Lorentz, Matthews and Robertson each had 1. Marner isn’t the solution, he’s been part of the problem.
With Barkov seemingly signing for roughly $6M, the Cats are going to find a way to keep Marchand.
Tell me again how no tax states aren’t a massive advantage?
Get a load of this idiot.
I mean word was that Marner wanted $14m to stay here but is willing to take $12m in Vegas where they also don’t have state tax – which pretty much equates to the tax difference between the two places.
Bettman is – and always has been – a lying prick. These are the areas with the lowest overall tax rates: Dallas, Seattle, Vegas, Nashville, Tampa Bay and Florida. Now a nice climate is hard to beat – but LA has a great climate and everyone isn’t clamouring to go there with one of the higher tax rates. Winning is important and that is likely why Nashville and Seattle aren’t attracting a ton of talent – but as much as I thought Trotz was a decent coach, he’s proving to be an inept GM; and now that Ron Francis is out in Seattle, let’s see if Jason Botterill can do much – but he didn’t impress anyone very much in Buffalo.
But if you can put together a winning team, attracting talent sure is a lot easier where the money goes 20% further.
Lorentz stays!!!
This is good stuff. 3 years @ $1.35m.
