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Ready for a long read?? I haven't posted a team in a while and was thinking about this a couple of weeks ago and typed it up...unfortunately last week would have been my parents 61st anniversary but my mom passed away a year ago this week so I have been spending time with my dad as he grieves.
I saw the 'Was Tavares a mistake thread' while I was visiting my dad and was surprised how many points I was thinking about for the last while that were mentioned.
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I know that everyone points out the obvious solution of trading Marner, Nylander or Tavares but I don't think anyone of the Leafs management is going to consider that.
The Leafs management has committed to the concept that Dubas has sold them which is going with four star forwards and I expect they will ride it out for another four years. They also have committed to Muzzin and when they are able I suspect they will try to lock down Reilly and Andersen for a combined $14 MIL.
Salary Structure I expect: $81.439-ish MIL (Mikheyev and Clifford have to split $2.25 MIL somehow)
**CHEAP UFA VETS, ELC, ETC DEFENSE**
2.0 Holl
0.925 Lehtonen
**SCRATCHES**
0.775 Petan
0.7 Marincin
**GOALIES**
5.00 Andersen
1.650 Campbell
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With the TOP HEAVY nature of the team with 4 star forwards Dubas SHOULD trade 2 middle forwards for 2 middle dmen but I don't know if he will.
Based on that expectation that he would move 2 of the forwards and get 2 dmen here's what I propose...
**Any Forward players not picked in point 1 and 4 and any Defense not used in point 3 and 4 should be moved for Defense in point 2**
FORWARDS:
Since the management has invested so heavily in 4 star forwards (Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander) the rest of the forwards has to consist of something like:
1) 2 mid-level paid players (Pick two of Hyman, Johnsson, Kapanen, or Kerfoot...might have to add Mikheyev...)
2) a couple of ELC contracts, (like Robertson, Barabanov, etc)
3) a couple of savvy but slow veterans on cheap $1 MIL or less veteran UFA contracts (like like Spezza, Clifford, Thornton, etc)
4) a couple of near league minimum contracts. ( Gauthier, Brooks, Engvall, Bracco, possibly Mikheyev??, etc)
DEFENCE
1) On defense I see they need the two anchors on first pair and second pair which we have with Rielly and Muzzin.
2) They need to add a couple of three to $4 million solid dmen. (Not news to anyone BUT this is what the Leafs need more than ANYTHING)
3) Rounded out with ELC contracts and/or near league minimum contracts. (Sandin, Liljegren, and Lehtonen on ELCs with Holl under a relatively cheap contract)
4) RFA Dermott??
GOALIES
I feel that Campbell runs out the goalie tandem for the next two years and I don't think the Leafs will move on from Andersen.
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I also thought that 1) the possible work stoppage over the high escrow held from player's paychecks as well as 2) the frustration that GMs are expressing over the annual changing salary cap amount... that the league is considering fixing the salary cap at $83 or $84 million for the next 3 years no matter the revenue. I might have mis-read that though.
Tampa gets an offensive minded young RHD on an cheap ELC for 2 more years, a young playmaking RW buried in Toronto and a high draft pick for a defenseman they can't sign due to cap problems.
It hurts to lose the best RHD and RH RW in the farm system with a high pick but Cernak is a young RHD who plays a defensive game that the Leafs need.
No offense to Manson (ANA), Larsson (EDM), Murphy (CHI), etc but Cernak plays a similar game and is younger. Cernak can't fight as well as Manson but he is a willing...and awkward...combatant when needed.
A tough, clean hard hitting 3rd pairing dman would be great for Toronto.
I don't think Gudas is good enough for the money he would expect, Byfuglien is going to be too expensive and is too good offensively for the role.
Colorado has the defence depth to trade Zadorov for help up front and they won't be able to protect him in the expansion draft. He hits like a freight train similar to Byfuglien and although his doesn't have ANYTHING resembling Big Buffs offensive output, Zadorov is 10 years younger and millions of $$ cheaper...which I understand is because Zadorov isn't as good as Big Buff...
If Cernak would sign that, Tampa would keep him. Would rather keep Dermott over Zadorov - not sure how they can't afford Dermott but can afford Zadorov at $3.2m. Spezza at 3C isn't ideal. Re-signing Clifford would mean the Leafs lose their 2nd next year. Mikheyev contract might be an underpay.