Realistic Off-Season

Leafs sell 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 2022 3rd round pick (VAN) 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 and is fairly decent defensively. Finally Toronto adds a late round pick in a wild card draft to add to a prospect system that's lacking in quantity.

Vegas receives Kerfoot who's extremely versatile, being able to play any position in the top 9 while also being able to play power-play and penalty kill minutes. Kerfoot comes with team control at 2 more years on a very reasonable $3.5M. Likely replaces a player like Mattias Janmark who Vegas added for their playoff run this season.

The big move of the off-season for the Leafs comes from the rumour started by Chris Johnston that everyone's heard by now. I see Dubas targeting someone who plays a similar game to Nick Foligno, which is a versatile top 9 forward who plays a solid 2way game, but can jump into the top 6 if needed. CJ didn't say exactly who was being targeted, but Christian Dvorak fits everything Toronto needs in a player right now so I can definitely see a move being made. He's a 200ft player that can be a shutdown centre or can jump into that top 6 spot on the left side beside either Matthews/Marner or Tavares/Nylander. He's also a player that can help be a net front presence on the PP and give Toronto a boost on a PP that has struggled for 2 seasons now. He comes with multiple years left on his deal at a relatively reasonable cap hit for Toronto to manage while fitting the age of the core perfectly. Add in his history of playing with Marner in junior, and it seems like a perfect fit. I could also see Dubas looking to address the backup goalie situation in the same deal, as he's done in the past with the Clifford/Campbell deal. Here is where I like Adin Hill. Hill has been putting up solid numbers in Arizona for 2 seasons and will likely be looking for more of a shot at a starter's role soon. In Arizona, unless they move Kuemper, he really won't get that opportunity. In Toronto however, he comes in to immediately battle with Campbell for the starter's role, and while the edge may be in Campbell's favour, there's room for competition in net. With Campbell only having 1 season remaining on his contract, it gives Hill a better shot at a long term starter's role.

For Arizona, a big part of this deal is real money moved. They're not typically a wealthy franchise, so saving any kind of money is key. That being said, back at the deadline when they were rumoured to be listening to offers on Connor Garland, it was said that they were only willing to do so if they could restock their depleted farm system: they do that here by moving Dvorak instead. Arizona receives a highly offensive prospect in Mikhail Abramov who tore up the QMJHL, similar to Garland. Abarmov has been known as a great analytical prospect as well, so a future with him in Arizona's top 6 is a high possibility. They also receive a very good right handed defence prospect in Topi Niemela. Niemela's value shot up after being named the top defenceman in the u20 World Juniors, but he ceiling is still likely a #3-4 defenceman. The Coyotes also add a cheap backup option in Veini Vehvilainen, who's excelled in Europe but it hasn't translated to NHL success yet. However, if he's put in a good defensive system he should be a capable backup behind Kuemper, and he'll be a cheap option that can pass through waivers without worrying about getting claimed. Finally, the Coyotes add a relatively high draft pick after losing a high pick due to their scouting scandal that helps restock the prospect system even more.

For Toronto, they look to add another puck moving left handed defenceman. After Morgan Rielly and Rasmus Sandin it gets pretty thin, so some depth in case of injury will be needed. 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.