Quoting: Trickster
Galchenyuk is not worth 4+ million though.
UFA market is dry, he will be lucky to even a 2 year deal right now.
I dont think Galchenyuk can play effectively in a way it helps us, and he would be bottom 6 FW on this team at best.
I am not convinced that extending Rielly is the right move, this is why I'm not ready to move on from Dermott.
I am hoping Sandin can emerge and replace Rielly.
And Lehtonen is probably only here for the year only as if he proves can play he will be gone as UFA and if doesnt prove it, back to KHL he goes.
Look at what Anderson just got in MTL. That's why it's risky to say this player is worth this and that player is worth that etc. because different GMs value different players differently depending on need and desperation. If you're going to overpay a guy based on desperation, which yes I am suggesting, keep in mind that this isn't a death sentence. A lot of GMs end up have had to resort to this tactic to get them over the hump when they hit a rough patch. Kessel won 2 cups in PIT and many said he wasn't worth his contract, he's overpaid etc. In retrospect Kessel was worth every penny of every deal he signed because had he not signed them he wouldn't have become a cup winner.
Worst case Ontario Chucky's underperforms and ends up as one of the guys you choose to expose to Seattle along with Kerfoot, Campbell & a mystery D, who mind you very well might have to be Dermott if you keep him.
Chucky's 26 years old has 500+ games played & has consistently put up ~50P a season on garbage offensive teams (MTL '13-'14 = 21st GF/G, MTL '14-'15 = 18th GF/G, MTL '15-'16 16th GF/G, MTL '16-'17 = 15th GF/G, MTL '17-'18 = 29th GF/G, ARI '18-'19 = 27th GF/G, PIT '19-'20 = 13th & MIN '19-'20 = 15th GF/G).
I'm not insinuating I know what Dubas is thinking I'm just saying that he seems to value speed, high end puck skills and shooting more than anything else. You can add NHL experience to that list now it seems as he tries to insulate his guys with cheap talent. You can teach players all you want but chances are they won't just become more offensively gifted with practice. Some guys will but it's easier to teach defensive positioning offensive awareness etc. Chucky has real talent. He needs a real opportunity to succeed on the right team with the right line mates before you can just write him off. He's been mismanaged his whole career and still played a ton and put up respectable point totals. I think Toronto is a prime destination for him and to keep him happy and not feel the pressure of having to play outside of his ability and assure he feels welcomed you overpay him a touch just for peace of mind for both parties. You want him to believe he can do it not beat him into the ground like PIT and play him on the 4th line that's just asinine and counter-productive.
Anyways who would you like to see beside Matthews & Marner? Hyman? Don't you think we should cash in on a pending FA who we acquired for Greg freaking McKegg and come out with a second basically for nothing? You might be able to persuade a team to add a low level prospect but I think a 1st+ for Hyman is optimistic. Maybe at the deadline because he's got such a sweetheart contract but then if you're selling at the deadline and you're the Leafs then there's a problem. Better to act now and add skill and cash in on your investment.
PS. My trades air on the conservative side just for the sake of what I consider to a more realistic scenario. I'm not saying you can't get a 3rd and a prospect for Dermott. That's certainly not out of the question.
Also If you want tot talk about the current market being depressed as far as earning then that would also mean that teams will be more resistant to trading their early draft picks this year and next (at the very least) knowing that they can potentially plug these guys into their lineup's for close to minimum for a at least 3 years. Only two teams were involved in one trade involving 1st round picks at the draft and it was only for more picks lol. I personally believe that 1st round draft picks will be extremely overvalued in the coming few years as teams try to recoup lost revenue.