Leafs wouldn't retain any salary for Bozak if they taking back Pouliets awful contract. Also no way the leafs trade him, if they do that's their top faceoff man gone. Boyle is also grossly overpaid so no way that would ever happen. Otherwise decent job

That Ekholm trade is very realisticly possible, it could also happen with one of Anaheim's defencemen too

I don't get this love for Boyle. There has to better 4th lines available. And do you really want to go into next season, hoping Nylander becomes an effective centre. IMO the Leafs need Bozak next year to ensure Nylander is an centre and if Nylander is OK, Bozak is the fourth liner and maybe tradable during the season.
Pouilet has the reputation has one of the more uninspired players in the league. No thanks from the Leafs. Nashville trade could be good fit for both teams.

Brendan Smith turned down a 3 year deal at around $3.75 million per to stay in Detroit? No way does he sign for 2 years at $3,25 million per. Try more like $4.25 million per for 3 years at least.

Sorry, but way too much for a 2nd pairing d-man.

Looking at the specific moves I could see the Leafs making (especially with Ryan Ellis at 2.5m for the next 2 years) would make it VERY easy to overpay for Boyle. You can't deny that the fourth line has been MUCH better since he's joined the team. They have so many ELCs for the next 2 years that they can afford to overpay for some players on short term deals.



You probably mean Ryan Ellis, not Mattias Ekholm. Although I wouldn't mind either! They're both great defensemen. I just think that Nashville are so stacked on the back end, and could also use more scoring punch in the forward position, that they can survive by trading one of their top four, especially if they get back a defenseman that's competent enough.



I can't think of any that'll be available via UFA who are better. With so many ELCs for the next 2 years, we can overpay for this guy on the short term. I think it's realistic from both sides, which is why I included it here. With so many cheap contracts I've included here like Ryan Ellis at 2.5m to be a top pair defenseman, it makes it obvious how we could afford to overpay for a fourth line center.

The Leafs are CLOSE to contending. They will most likely be even better next year, especially if they make similar changes as to the ones I've suggested here. The Leafs have to throw Nylander in EARLY and keep him there so that he can get his feet under him and show he's capable. He's done so at every other level so I have no doubt he'll figure it out at the NHL level next year.

But it's best to give him the opportunity early in the season in a sheltered role. You DON'T want Nylander learning the center position when the Leafs are bonafied Cup contenders.

Pouliot's chain has been yanked all year long by the Oilers' coach Todd McLellan. Before this year he's been a consistent 15 goal player. I think it's a risk, sure, but they can afford to bury Pouliot and replace him with Leipsic in a worst-case scenario if he's bad, but if he bounces back playing with Nylander and Kapanen, then you have a competent third line 15 goal veteran player for 2 years to help guide his young linemates. That's the motivation behind the move. And that I am also very high on Matthew Benning. I think he could potentially be a top-4 defenseman.

Edmonton could throw in Benning if it means getting rid of Pouliot. And we've all seen how broken players in Edmonton tend to bounce back elsewhere (Petry, Schultz, and to a lesser extent Marincin).



OK - I didn't know this. Considering the moves I could see the team making, paying Smith 1m and an extra year is doable. We'd still have the cap space.

Thanks for posting this info, though.



Haha which one? 4.5m for a 2nd pairing-defenseman is pretty standard.

And considering the cap space, the Leafs could also overpay for bottom pairing depth on a shorter term length deal.

Thanks for commenting.

Considering Nashville almost has to trade a D, I'd say thats a bit of an overpayment, but not much.

That Edmonton deal is so unnecessary. Pouliot is useless and a waste of cap space, I wouldn't take him for free. Benning is having a nice season, but not sure hes worth more than Carrick. so is Bozak (and retained salary) worth a 2nd? Maybe, but I wouldn't do that trade

i know this is an old team but i was talking about Ellis ... but watching him in the playoffs i think he's likely more than a 2nd pairing d-man