pietrangelo's deal has a NMC, and a signing bonus in the last two years so a buyout can't happen. He said he'd be willing to accept the 8 x 7 in st louis if he knew they couldn't buy him out in the last year. so he'd probably take the 8.25 x 7. hed for sure want to play in st louis, but if that's not happening, he would want to come home. it's a reliable contract for petro, and the Athletic predicts that he only begins to show major decline when he turns 36. That's one year of a bad contract that we'll have to take on after 6 years of a star defenseman. i'd take that deal any day.
The fourth line I thought'd it be fun to have a few vets playing. Spezza was awesome last year, Simmonds has said he's going to play for more than his salary (which is great, and if he doesnt, ship him off for a 5th rounder - he's only at a 800k salary though and we have Marleau). J.T. Brown deserves another chance - at league minimum why not on the leafs? And we add some diversity to the team outside of Robertson and Matthews. Team has solid depth; our top 6 is great, mikheyev and kerfoot are great on the 3rd line, and while Barabanov is a risk, we have other scorers so it should be fine. 4th line is good, they're not going to do a ton but that's okay cause they're the fourth line. If they can pop in a goal every 2 games that's all we need. The defense is great. Rielly - Pietrangelo immediately becomes one of the best pairings in the NHL, as we have 2 top-10 defensemen. Muzzin gives dermott some chance to explore, and Sandin, Lehtonen, and Liljegren will be playing sheltered minutes. Murray is a proven goalie who will be on a mission to prove himself. At a bargain contract, why not take a 2x stanley cup champion with a desire to prove himself (not sure why he has to again but the fans there hated him so he feels he does). Obviously we love campbell. It's a solid, cup contending team.
I've also just signed Clutch Hutch as a no. 3 goalie bc why not. He's gonna get at tops 3-4 games next season.
As for drafting, here's the plan:
15OA: Kaiden Guhle or Braden Schneider
41OA: Topi Niemela
44OA: Ozzy Wiesblatt
48OA: Justin Sourdif
60/61 OA: Roni Hirvonen or Luke Evangelista
77 OA: Simon Kubicek
93 OA: Antonio Stranges
105 OA: Zion Nybeck
143OA: Hayden Fowler
152 OA: Brandon Coe
167 OA: Nico Daws
176 OA: Ruben Rafkin
188 OA: Victor Mancini
194 OA: Jackson van de Leest
211 OA: Alex Lafrriere
Canadiens get a solid 2nd line winger for Suzuki/Kotkaniemi, and a solid 3rd pairing defender to replace Xavier Oullet. (Or Mete, whoever's not playing better).
(essentially the trade is Murray for Andersen; but the penguins have no use for andersen. they want a first rounder this year. Carolina's is at 22nd right now).
So your giving up Freddy even know he’s out played Murray badly over the last 2 seasons seems logical to me.
Leafs aren’t getting a first from any team for Freddy
In case you missed it the rangers just bought out a legend in hank to make room for the 2 guys they won’t in the crease in what world did you believe they’d want Freddy if your going to trade the guy maybe put a little thought into like maybe a team might need a goalie or have interest in him.