I could see it being Couture, no idea how the Leafs could make it work though

Im convinced it’s Konecny

Doubtful it's Cam Fowler, He doesn't want to play in Canada. Oliver Ekman-Larsson nope will only waive for Boston and Vancouver, Jack Eichel nope makes zero sense, Cam Atkinson possible but i doubt it. Benn or seguin doubtful, Doughty nope, Hishier nope just made Captain in New Jersey, Kreider or Trouba noway, Outside of possibly Evander Kane i don't see any of those players heading to Toronto.

Agreed, my picks are Konecny, Garland, Bjorkstrand, Terry

It can't be Garland cause he said they were signed long-term.

I don't think its a defenseman we have Rielly/Muzzin/Brodie/Holl/Dermott. I don't see a 5/6 D being that big name to get us all excited about.

It has to be a top 6 LW or a very strong 3C, I think that's about all I'd get excited for.

The two trades that make the most sense to me are:
1. Eichel - We know he wants to go and the Leafs have some strong prospects in Amirov, Lilegren and they have their first next year. I think for it to work you need to move Kerfoot and Rielly and get a 1st+Prospect and add them to what we are already willing to move.
2. San Jose players - They have many longterm deals with older players, maybe they move Couts or Kane and retain $1-2M like we did with Kessel to give them the chance to make Phaneuf type trades where they can start rebuilding by offloading big contracts on older players to contending teams and taking back loads of short term cap dumps. To do that they need to find a way out of one big one first like we did with Kessel.

Can Fowler - possible but unlikely. Leafs are loaded on the left side so unless they move Rielly it doesn't make sense. Even then Rielly is better and a better fit for the Leafs so that doesn't make sense.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson - highly doubtful. Same reasons as above and last off-season he had no interest in any team other than Vancouver or Boston. So I doubt it.

Jack Eichel - No. it would take moving likely Marner and more or Nylander + Sandin to get him, which doesn't make sense to gut the depth for one player.

Can Atkinson - doubt it either. Would be a decent add but like you said, has to be under 32 now and Atkinson is 32. Just doesn't fit the core age group.

Tyler Seguin/Jamie Benn- not a chance. Salary cap doesn't fit and the cost to get either one would gut the depth.

Drew Doughty - not a chance. LA is looking to add a top pairing defenceman to play with him, not trade him.

Nico Hischier - no chance. Devils just named him captain so he's part of their leadership core.

Chris Kreider/Jacob Trouba - doubtful but maybe on Krieder. He'd be a good fit, but he's very important to the Rangers leadership group. Rangers might have to start freeing up some cap for the younger guys so he could be available though, be interesting to see. Trouba is a firm no. Has never wanted to play for a Canadian team cause of family issues.

Jakob Voracek/Kevin Hayes - nope. Both highly overpaid for what they do. I don't think Dubas wants to add any bad contracts to this team.

Logan Couture/Erik Karlsson/Evander Kane - only possibility here would be Couture but even he's 32 already. If San Jose was willing to retain a big chunk of his cap hit, it'd be a maybe but I don't see it being likely. Karlsson is a firm no with too high of a cap hit and consistent injury problems. Kane is a firm no with too many off ice issues.


The guys I see it most coming down to are:
Travis Konency - Leafs have been connected to him for a long time. Be a great fit for the team, not sure if the price would be worth it though.

Josh Manson - would come with an extension obviously, and would be a great fit for the team.

Oliver Bjorkstrand - great 200ft player but just signed an extension so not sure if he's available or not.

Conor Garland - real strong possibility but he's gonna be sought after by numerous teams and the price will be high. If they can sign him long term, it'd be worth it but who knows.

Max Domi - again would come with an extension but I've always seen Domi as destined for Toronto and his play style and attitude perfectly fit this current group. Could see Dubas jumping ahead of UFA next off-season and getting him now

Seth Jones - extension would come again. Would pair great alongside Muzzin and make Holl expendable. With Dubas' history with Columbus from this year on big names, I could see it being a possibility explored.

Dominik Kubalik- long shot here if Chicago wants to move him, but if they do he's another perfect fit.

These would just be my best guess at trade targets. I could see Dubas using the free agency to his advantage and going after guys like Blake Coleman and Jamie Oleksiak. Wouldn't be shocked if Oleksiak signs a bit cheaper to come play closer to home and solidify the defence even more.

There are a lot of terrible contracts in there that the leafs would never even consider even at 50% retained for free. Doughty, trouba, Karlsson etc.

What is the back story here?

Steve Dangle Podcast. Chris Johnston teased Leafs going after a player of significance.

Ya ya i just put the players that fit the criteria.

I just mean that past prime players on terrible deals dont really fit the criteria

The problem with this list is really that there are so many good UFAs this year. So I'm not sure why you give up assets (especially when we have so few picks/prospects left). I know we are going off what CJ said but I just don't see how any of this makes sense apart from Eichel or another superstar player if he wants to double down on that high-end talent strategy.

Iafallo is the one player that I think it could be cause Dubas is apparently addicted to him and he is a massive analytical darling. Most models have him as a really sick top player and he is at $4M long-term. Even then it seems like a bit of a risk when Coleman/Goodrow/Danault/Cogliano and other analytics darlings are UFAs.

Also, all these players are in the $3.5M+ range so if you trade for them you are pretty much taking up whatever money Hyman could get.

Kubalik, Bjorkstrand, Konecny would be high my on list out of this.

I could see a scenario where Kerfoot is dealt for player X before expansion draft. Could also mean Rielly trade and walk away from Hyman. Will certainly be an interesting summer

This is what I had posted a few days ago kinda with all my thoughts (although I think it's a long shot that Rielly gets moved but I think it's worth exploring):

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2441081


I think they'd prefer a left handed shot in the top 6 and of the 3 you mentioned only Kubalik fits that. I think Chicago's ask is going to be high (and rightfully so), so I think they scour the market for options that cost less assets but still add from the free agent market (I think Coleman is someone they're seriously considering and keeping an eye on as he fits that Nick Foligno type that they liked at the deadline).

Technically, they do since they fit the criteria CJ mentioned. That's why I put them. Either way I don't really care, I just went through rather quickly and picked a couple names based on the exact criteria CJ gave.