Before I showcase and explain this armchair team, I want to make 1 thing clear. Until the Leafs make some noise in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I will always be on the "Trade Marner" bandwagon. I just don't think it's right to keep the guy who handcuffed his own team by asking for the highest and most unreasonable salary possible, plus he didn't play particularly well this season which set them back even further. I also think Marner could use a change of scenery, cuz even during the nights where he is giving a good effort, he just doesn't look like he has any confidence.
However, Elliot Friedman did say that Kyle Dubas wants to give the big 4 one more season to figure it out. Whether that's true or not, I decided to create an armchair team looking at how the team can possibly be improved under this scenario.
First, I traded for a defenceman. There are a few different options but I decided to go after Erik Cernak. Just a big body player who is great at preventing scoring chances as well as moving the puck out of his own end. His quality of competition is pretty high, so I feel putting him with Muzzin on a shutdown pair should work. I could only afford to keep 1 of Dermott and Holl. I chose Dermott because he's younger and has more potential. I also felt he played better in the playoffs as Holl had trouble handling the speed of the Blue Jackets in transition, but either would work.
While I'm not a big believer in size and physicality, I do think this team could use more guys like Hyman who just forecheck the opposition relentlessly, retrieve pucks and generate an offensive zone cycle. Even the 2016 Penguins, who were the definition of a finesse puck possession team, had a few guys who could play that type of style such as Chris Kunitz, Carl Hagelin and Conor Sheary. In order to make room for these players, I traded Kasperi Kapanen, who didn't have a great playoffs but I feel on a team that needs right wingers, he could establish himself as a full time top 6 player. He seems to be too straight line to play the possession game Keefe wants to play. I had to trade Johnsson as well to fit under the cap.
I probably overpaid in the trades but these are the players I'd target in this armchair thread. Overall, I think this team has all the pieces to make a deep run in the playoffs as their defence is improved plus they have the right complimentary forwards, so if they disappoint again, major changes need to be made to the core.
Well if TOR does not plan on moving Marner/Nylander, they aren’t going to be able make significant changes to the blueline. Their options will likely be DeMelo, Weegar, Cernak & Severson. All of them are pretty good for a top 4, but not elite. They are certainly better than Holl & fill the team’s needs better than Barrie.
IMO they need a Gudas like player, Matthews lead their team in hits this playoffs with 10. Yikes
I think dermott can be a top 4 guy for sure. and that would help a lot. however i do have a thought. from what i saw, i believe robertson could replace johnsson or kapanen on that third line. kapanen is probably easier to trade and would attract more attention. and i like holl, when he’s with muzzin, but he just isn’t apart of this team in my idea. kapanen and holl could be traded separately or packaged somewhere for maybe a late first or a second and third. essentially just for draft picks to clear some cap space. then, as much as i like nylander i believe this trade would make the team better and i have heard form both leafs and ducks fans that they like it, nylander to anaheim for Manson and Rakell. Rakell replaces Nylander on the second line with Tavares and Mikheyev. and the defence looks something like this-
Rielly - Manson
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Lehtonen
Demelo or Gudas or another shutdown guy could be signed as well.
What'd you guys think of this team I put together? Should they be able to make some noise in the playoffs?
I think it’s unfair that everyone wants to trade Liljegren before he even gets a decent shot with the big club. I am a big believer in rotating the third pair of Liljegren, Sandin and Lehtonen, kind of like a season long tryout for the playoff roster.
I love both Holl and Dermott, but I think Holl was gone in the expansion draft anyways.
I also think that you could trade Engvall and keep Gauthier, I love his game, and especially since you picked up his little brother too, that would just make me want to keep him more.
Happy that you didn't trade Marner for Horqvist+Johnson this time.
Imo TOR gets hammered in TB and PIT deals...granted Cernak's more valuable than Liljegren, but not by a first. Verhaeghe doesn't make much difference there. And Kappy is worth more than this.
SJ trade is pretty close. Same goes for NYR trade.
I think it’s unfair that everyone wants to trade Liljegren before he even gets a decent shot with the big club. I am a big believer in rotating the third pair of Liljegren, Sandin and Lehtonen, kind of like a season long tryout for the playoff roster.
I love both Holl and Dermott, but I think Holl was gone in the expansion draft anyways.
I also think that you could trade Engvall and keep Gauthier, I love his game, and especially since you picked up his little brother too, that would just make me want to keep him more.
I think dermott can be a top 4 guy for sure. and that would help a lot. however i do have a thought. from what i saw, i believe robertson could replace johnsson or kapanen on that third line. kapanen is probably easier to trade and would attract more attention. and i like holl, when he’s with muzzin, but he just isn’t apart of this team in my idea. kapanen and holl could be traded separately or packaged somewhere for maybe a late first or a second and third. essentially just for draft picks to clear some cap space. then, as much as i like nylander i believe this trade would make the team better and i have heard form both leafs and ducks fans that they like it, nylander to anaheim for Manson and Rakell. Rakell replaces Nylander on the second line with Tavares and Mikheyev. and the defence looks something like this-
Rielly - Manson
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Lehtonen
Demelo or Gudas or another shutdown guy could be signed as well.
Thanks for the feedback. I agree, I think Dermott can be a top 4 defenceman, so they can afford to trade Holl. I think the Nylander trade is fair value wise, although if you’re trading him you’d probably want a better D than Manson, possibly Pesce instead. Though you get a top 6 Forward in the deal as well so it’s not so bad.
I think it’s unfair that everyone wants to trade Liljegren before he even gets a decent shot with the big club. I am a big believer in rotating the third pair of Liljegren, Sandin and Lehtonen, kind of like a season long tryout for the playoff roster.
I love both Holl and Dermott, but I think Holl was gone in the expansion draft anyways.
I also think that you could trade Engvall and keep Gauthier, I love his game, and especially since you picked up his little brother too, that would just make me want to keep him more.
Yeah I understand Liljegren is a great prospect, but they also need a guy who is ready for a top 4 role right now, so if they aren’t going to trade one of their top 4 forwards, then he might become a piece.
I didn’t know Frederick & Julien are brothers. I guess they could have chemistry. Fred is a good defensive Forward but he doesn’t really skate well or generate much offence.
Happy that you didn't trade Marner for Horqvist+Johnson this time.
Imo TOR gets hammered in TB and PIT deals...granted Cernak's more valuable than Liljegren, but not by a first. Verhaeghe doesn't make much difference there. And Kappy is worth more than this.
SJ trade is pretty close. Same goes for NYR trade.
Thanks for the feedback. I agree, I think Dermott can be a top 4 defenceman, so they can afford to trade Holl. I think the Nylander trade is fair value wise, although if you’re trading him you’d probably want a better D than Manson, possibly Pesce instead. Though you get a top 6 Forward in the deal as well so it’s not so bad.
I think Manson would be a great guy to pair with Rielly and like I said Rakell can replace Nylander and who knows, playing with a better line he could have a breakout season. Also adding these guys open up other trade options for cap space meaning we could sign a better d man. Possibly even trading Manson for a pick and using that cap space too. at least then we would still get Rakell back to replace Nylander.
I think Manson would be a great guy to pair with Rielly and like I said Rakell can replace Nylander and who knows, playing with a better line he could have a breakout season. Also adding these guys open up other trade options for cap space meaning we could sign a better d man. Possibly even trading Manson for a pick and using that cap space too. at least then we would still get Rakell back to replace Nylander.
Yeah I guess that could work. Manson seems like the type of D Toronto could use.
I mean, the Leafs need to make a move in their big four. Dubas needs to F off and Andersen might ask for a trade or else he's not extending that's for sure...
And thanks for the 2nd rounder. I didn't know you liked Gauthier that much😂😂😂
kams a aimé ceci.
Robertson,
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