Ryan Getzlaf: Let’s start off with the big move. Getzlaf first takes a discount to try and win again, which is why he only takes $3M. Next, he brings that veteran presence that the leafs need behind their top guys. Finally, he brings talent. Though he won’t be as good as he used to be, this is a guy that can still put up 30-40 points at least.
Joel Armia: Many of you have realized that I don’t have Zach Hyman returning. Though Hyman said that he is willing to take a discount to stay in Toronto, I don’t see him snooping into the $2M range. So, who can replace him and put up solid points for cheaper? Armia. He is a very physical, hard nosed player that can produce some points. No matter what line he is on, I see him having a massive season in Toronto.
Tyler Ennis: Why not being this Leads legend back? He keeps putting up solid seasons and still asking for low money. I think he would do the same thing to come back to this elite-level Leafs team. He would provide some phenomenal depth to this deadly team.
Di Giuseppe, Gagner and Fedun: Solid depth options that are going to start the year as healthy scratches (barring any injuries). I see them providing some elite depth, and holding this team together if injuries plague this team.
Jonathan Bernier: Another player you see that hasn’t returned is Freddy Andersen. I believe that Jack Campbell will prove himself as a starter this next year. However, if he doesn’t hold up, I see Jonathan Bernier as the best option to bring in to mentor him. First things first, Bernier has been to Toronto before. He knows the pressure that comes in being a goalie for the Maple Leafs. Another thing is the cost. Bernier takes a cheap deal to come back, as he also wants to seek a championship. Finally, I believe he can still play at a high level. The past handful of years, he has been one of the best backups in the entire NHL. His tenure in Colorado is one where you couldn’t have asked more out of him. And with Detroit, when you consider how bad those teams have been, he has done unbelievable. The fact Bernier managed a save percentage over .900 last season in DET was unbelievable. He won all but 2 of Detroit’s games last year. I could keep going on and on about Bernier, but though Ik a bunch of people are going to criticize his tenure in Toronto before. But this team is WAY better.
The other signings are for the Marlies and depth. No need to talk about them all.
Trades:
Expansion Draft: Might as well get this out of the way first. We convince Seattle to take Holl in the draft to help our salary issues, and give them a pick in return
Dumba Trade: This one is pretty simple. Dumba is the RHD this team has needed for forever. So, we send Kerfoot, as he isn’t a need anymore and he has a higher cap hit, we give a top prospect in SDA, who isn’t needed with JT and Matthews staying for a while, and a 1st and a 2nd. I doubt teams with the current league cap situation will be able to make better offers that they’ll like. Overall, this trade looks like heaven for both teams.
Engvall Trade: Engvall’s salary has to go. I’d love to keep him, but it’s just not possible. So, we have to make our yearly trade with Ottawa. We send him for a 6th. Yes, Engvall is worth more than that, but with the salary situation, I think Toronto is willing to move him for lower value. As for Ottawa, this should look like a steal to them with what Engvall can bring them.
Rakell Trade: First things first, Dermott is no longer needed in Toronto. Second, Rakell isn’t needed in Anaheim with their rebuilding look. So, the pending UFA gets sent over here for a future high end defender, a few higher draft picks, and a solid prospect in Abramov. Because we are giving up a solid amount of assets for Rakell, who’s value will only go down as the year goes on because of his UFA status, Anaheim agrees to retain half of his salary.
This is the longest project I’ve done on here, as I’ve never typed something this long explaining my thought process. I hope you all enjoy this team and explanation.
Wild need quality, not quantity, if we move Dumba. Ideally a top 6 center.
SDA could be one. And you could just wait for your centers to develop. Or draft one. Or use the picks to get one. Toronto clearly isn’t giving one up. I think if you’re Minnesota, you should be really happy about this deal
You never know. I just think that he would be the most likely guy to come over for cheap and play at a high level. Who else do you have in mind that would come over for league minimum?
Wild need quality, not quantity, if we move Dumba. Ideally a top 6 center.
But Minnesota isn't a competitive team. Why would they take a top 6 centre and then by the time Boldy and Rossi are ready, the centre is expiring or gone. You can draft a centre like Kent Johnson and have a top 6 of Kaprizov-Rossi-Fiala Boldy-Johnson-Beckman Top 4 can be Brodin-Spurgeon Soucy-Addison Kahkonen in net. Plus you already have Pittsburgh's 1st. You could get a Chaz Lucius with that as I assume it will be a mid-1st. He's your 7th forward and that looks like a championship team to me
SDA could be one. And you could just wait for your centers to develop. Or draft one. Or use the picks to get one. Toronto clearly isn’t giving one up. I think if you’re Minnesota, you should be really happy about this deal
I think SDA is better fit as a winger in the NHL. It's a decent package, just doesn't fit our needs.
But Minnesota isn't a competitive team. Why would they take a top 6 centre and then by the time Boldy and Rossi are ready, the centre is expiring or gone. You can draft a centre like Kent Johnson and have a top 6 of Kaprizov-Rossi-Fiala Boldy-Johnson-Beckman Top 4 can be Brodin-Spurgeon Soucy-Addison Kahkonen in net. Plus you already have Pittsburgh's 1st. You could get a Chaz Lucius with that as I assume it will be a mid-1st. He's your 7th forward and that looks like a championship team to me
Should have clarified, a young top 6 center. Thinking of guys like Necas, Thomas, Chytil, Vilardi, Glass, etc or even a PLD. Not saying we can get those guys for Dumba alone but if we move him that's the type of player we should target and Toronto doesn't have somebody like that they would be willing to trade, especially not for Dumba.
Should have clarified, a young top 6 center. Thinking of guys like Necas, Thomas, Chytil, Vilardi, Glass, etc or even a PLD. Not saying we can get those guys for Dumba alone but if we move him that's the type of player we should target and Toronto doesn't have somebody like that they would be willing to trade, especially not for Dumba.
Oh ok that makes sense. I wonder if Carolina or St Louis would touch that. If Minnesota’s GM can come through with his draft picks this year and have a good return on Dumba, this could be a very good team in a few years
Oh ok that makes sense. I wonder if Carolina or St Louis would touch that. If Minnesota’s GM can come through with his draft picks this year and have a good return on Dumba, this could be a very good team in a few years
If Hamilton walks in free agency I could see Carolina wanting Dumba. They were reportedly interested in him before they acquired Skjei at the deadline. Not sure about St Louis now that they have Krug and Faulk locked up for a long time.
SDA could be one. And you could just wait for your centers to develop. Or draft one. Or use the picks to get one. Toronto clearly isn’t giving one up. I think if you’re Minnesota, you should be really happy about this deal
This is hilarious. No from Minnesota. Why do leafs fans do this? Minnesota isn't trading dumba for trash. Kerfoot isn't good. Samyon der is a nobody. Stop
Should have clarified, a young top 6 center. Thinking of guys like Necas, Thomas, Chytil, Vilardi, Glass, etc or even a PLD. Not saying we can get those guys for Dumba alone but if we move him that's the type of player we should target and Toronto doesn't have somebody like that they would be willing to trade, especially not for Dumba.
Quoting: TanSor
If Hamilton walks in free agency I could see Carolina wanting Dumba. They were reportedly interested in him before they acquired Skjei at the deadline. Not sure about St Louis now that they have Krug and Faulk locked up for a long time.
Not to nitpick your posts, but Necas isn't a center in the NHL. His defensive game is non-existent and he can't win faceoffs.
Not to nitpick your posts, but Necas isn't a center in the NHL. His defensive game is non-existent and he can't win faceoffs.
McDavid is not good defensively and bad on the dot yet he's the best center in the world... I think Necas can still develop as one but time is ticking. Sort of like Nylander a couple years ago.
McDavid is not good defensively and bad on the dot yet he's the best center in the world... I think Necas can still develop as one but time is ticking. Sort of like Nylander a couple years ago.
Yeah, but McDavid is a career 44% faceoff guy, not 30%. And McDavid has certainly made up for his deficiencies by being a career 110 point per 82 game player since he was 18, and Necas at age 21 is like a 43 point per 82 game player. I'm not saying Necas won't improve, and maybe it would be different if he played on a team devoid of center talent like the Wild (though I doubt it, because we demand our centers have a good two way game before we even give them offensive opportunity), but he's not currently being developed as a center, and the likelihood of him becoming one is very low.
Yeah, but McDavid is a career 44% faceoff guy, not 30%. And McDavid has certainly made up for his deficiencies by being a career 110 point per 82 game player since he was 18, and Necas at age 21 is like a 43 point per 82 game player. I'm not saying Necas won't improve, and maybe it would be different if he played on a team devoid of center talent like the Wild (though I doubt it, because we demand our centers have a good two way game before we even give them offensive opportunity), but he's not currently being developed as a center, and the likelihood of him becoming one is very low.
Necas has taken 96 faceoffs in his career, you can't imply he's destined to be a 30% face off guy the rest of his career with such a small sample size. He's only 21, if he were given full time duties at center he'd absolutely improve. Look at Eriksson Ek, he was used on the wing a fair amount of times his first year or two and now we'd be fools to put him on the wing. Necas was drafted as a center, with time and development I think he can still be one but if he stays at wing over the next few years I think it'll be too late. In any case I was just giving examples of the type of player we'd want for Dumba.
You never know. I just think that he would be the most likely guy to come over for cheap and play at a high level. Who else do you have in mind that would come over for league minimum?