Last look at this got deleted somehow, so here's my view with a little twist from before on what to somewhat expect this off-season from Toronto. I personally don't see any of the "big 4" being traded, now just isn't the right time for a multiple of reasons. This team is still loaded with tons of talent and with the right support players in place and leaders in the room they can still turn it around and do damage in the playoffs hopefully. I also don't think it's a smart move to trade Rielly, but the further you look into it the more it makes a bit of sense depending what the return is. Management has backed this core up and said they're going to stick with it and win with it so even moving Rielly might be a long shot but I think it's worth exploring.
Here's how I see the draft working out, or at least how I'd prefer it work out for Toronto:
2nd round, 36th overall (D) Daniil Chayka - Guelph (OHL) *however if (G) Sebastien Cossa - Edmonton (WHL) is available here, I'd love to see Dubas add a high end goalie prospect to the system but I don't think he realistically does.
3rd round, 67th overall - (C) Daniil Lazutin - SKA St. Petersburg (MHL)
4th round, 99th overall - (D) Hugo Gabrielson - Frolunda HC (J20 Nationell)
5th round, 155th overall - (C) Josh Doan - Chicago Steel (USHL)
6th round, 187th overall - (D) Luke Mittelstadt - Eden Prarie High (USHS-MN)
*If you'd like an opinion or personal scouting report on any of these players, just ask in the comments*
The main need will be to re-establish the team's depth with players who have performed in playoffs before. I feel like Blake Coleman, William Carrier, and Jarred Tinordi are all perfect fits for those roles. From there the team's reliant on further development from it's star players and hopefully a little injury luck.
Le salaire annuel moyen (AAV) de l'offre hostile est calculé en divisant la valeur totale du contrat par: 1. La durée totale du contrat, ou 2. Cinq ans
Leafs sell high on Kerfoot after being one of their top 3 playoff performers but being at risk of losing him for nothing to Seattle. The main piece coming back is the 2021 2nd round pick (NJD) and cap space for the team to sign pending UFA's. Leafs also receive a 4th line physical role player to that brings energy most shifts.
Vegas receives Kerfoot who's extremely versatile, being able to play any position in the top 9 while also being able to play powerplay and penalty kill minutes. Kerfoot comes with team control at 2 more years on a very reasonable $3.5M.
2.
TOR
Seattle Kraken are compensated with Veini Vehvilainen for ensuring they will select Travis Dermott.
Rumours are that LA has been looking for a top pairing left handed defenceman to pair with Doughty in an effort to contend sooner rather than later. This would fit the comments made by Todd McLellan before last season and echoed by Doughty after the season. Rob Blake and Kyle Dubas have a trade history and look to match up again on draft day 2021. LA gets their top pairing, minute eating, elite puck moving defenceman to pair with Doughty and be a leader to the youth of their team. Morgan Rielly agrees to a contract extension as part of this deal, giving LA team control and a top pair of Rielly-Doughty for many years to come. They also receive a highly offensive skilled prospect that has a strong chance to be at least a top 9 player with solid powerplay production in the future.
Toronto acquires a young, right handed, two-way centre in Gabe Vilardi. Vilardi offers a strong defensive option as 3C immediately, and someone that can develop into a reliable 2C when Tavares inevitably moves to the wing in the future. Toronto also acquires a defensive minded replacement for Rielly on the back end in Olli Määttä who can help take up some of the minutes lost from Rielly. Along with a young defenceman in Kale Clague who I think long term could replace Jake Muzzin, Toronto also receives a mid round 2nd round pick as they look to target more prospects for organizational depth.
4.
TOR
Choix de 3e ronde en 2021 (NJD)
Choix de 4e ronde en 2021 (NJD)
Détails additionnels:
67th overall pick and 99th overall pick
Dubas pulls his "Dubas special" and uses the analytical model of moving down in the draft to select 2 prospects instead of 1 prospect.
After free agency opens and Toronto doesn't see any fits for their vacant spot at LW in the top 6, they turn to the trade market and bring in a big power forward in Miles Wood. He's coming off a career year and fits what Toronto needs.
For New Jersey, they add a high ceiling potential right handed defenceman to their lineup that can be the replacement of P.K. Subban when he leaves. Liljegren is ready for more NHL minutes but likely doesn't get many in Toronto with the amount of depth they have. A change of scenery will provide him the chance to show what he really has.
After searching the open market for a suitable backup to Jack Campbell, Dubas again looks to the trade market to address the area. Adin Hill is a guy that I personally like and he's been sneakily good for a few seasons now. With a .913sv% this past season and a .918sv% the season before, it seems like the skill is there to be a solid tandem option with Campbell. The tricky part here is that Hill is arbitration eligible this season so if he does file for arbitration he's not eligible to be traded until the hearing or a new contract is signed. However if that happens I could see a sign and trade as an option for both teams.
For Arizona, they look to restock the prospect system with a solid offensive prospect in Mikhail Abramov and a low end pick. Abramov lit up the QMJHL and looks to be a decent option at a future top 9 role, possibly top 6. This may be a slight overpayment by Toronto in terms or potential however there's also a possibility that a prospect doesn't pan out and for the Leafs it's all about winning now (or at least the first round).
For Toronto, after moving Rielly the need for a puck moving left handed defenceman becomes something to look at. Rasmus Sandin will still likely run the first powerplay unit, but after that it's pretty thin. Oliver Kylington is a guy that was praised in his draft year for his skating and puck moving but ultimately fell to 60th overall due to his defensive ability. Rumours were out that Toronto wanted to take him with the 61st pick, but ultimately he wasn't available. In him they add a depth defenceman that can come into a more offensive coaching system where he may be able to fit better.
As for Calgary, they've been repeatedly reported as looking at wanting more right shooting forwards, and as much as Der-Arguchintsev isn't NHL ready yet, he could be in a few years time. The Flames see this as a change of scenery trade for Kylington who was placed on waivers earlier this season, so doesn't have much trade value at the moment.
I don’t hate it, maybe a little too much knowing that Seattle can just take him for free. I’d try and do a 3rd and Carrier, but one of the better trades for vegas I’ve seen on here
I don’t hate it, maybe a little too much knowing that Seattle can just take him for free. I’d try and do a 3rd and Carrier, but one of the better trades for vegas I’ve seen on here
100% agree with this, however I think that because Kerfoot had such a strong post-season it would drive the price up a bit more to that 2nd. Vegas could argue that they're the only team that doesn't have to worry about losing him for nothing, but I think they'll be enough interest in him to support the 2nd whether it be the early one from Vegas or a later one from some other team. I was shooting a little high in hopes of adding Chayka with that pick if he slips to the 2nd round, but definitely open to adding a late round pick from another year to keep it at a 2nd.
Coming from a diehard Kings fan..... I don't hate it. I really like Vilardi and his potential but I agree with your explanation. In all likelihood though Toronto won't trade Rielly.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
TrueCanuck a aimé ceci.
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