In my opinion, none of the big four will be moved due to their impossible to navigate NMC. I truly believe we should have sold on Nylander at his highest. Anyways, the roster is a complete flip on defence while not spending a cent on goal tending for this season unless absolutely necessary by trade deadline.
The Leafs currently this season have a single top defenceman in Reilly and the rest are bottom pair or depth guys. That has to change in order for them to make any moves. The main defenceman I would target would be Montour, Roy or Pesce. All are right handed, strong on the defensive side of the puck and use their body well. Montour has the clear advantage over all of them due to his offensive skill even if he hasn't shown it this year. One of these three would be a massive piece, and I wouldn't play them with Reilly, allow one of these three to lead their own line.
Second group of defenceman I would target would be Tanev, Schultz, Demelo or Ghost. One of these four also add a huge advantage to our back end for different reasons. My goal / ideal pick is Demelo who is a stay at home defenceman with an unreal plus 28 this year.
Lastly adding one more right handed defence to play. Ideally someone like resigning Brodie or Miller would work. I would lean towards Brodie but even with this awful season I feel like he will command upwards of 2 million that we cannot afford.
THe offence and the goaltending make little changes. The major change on offence is moving out older guys for young guys who are hungry for jobs such as Cowan, Mitten, Knies and Holmberg. Guys who haven't been paid a damn yet want to prove they can make it in the big times. While on paper, the offence looks worse, I believe it might be better with the youth movement. Secondly is barely touching the goalies. The new structure of defence should only improve our goalie situation. Woll is being prompted up as the number one while Stolarz takes over the number two job. Jones and Hillybeast remain waiting in AHL if needed.
I feel like this roster puts defence first, which is has never done. Hopefully that's enough to make this team a legit threat before playoffs.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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