Niemela is literally one of our top prospects, it's going to take a lot more than Barron and a 3rd. If Barron isn't even in the Habs defense group, especially with young group, where would he fit on the Leafs? We have Liljegren slotting in for Holl when he's healthy

Leafs management and coaching would probably disagree about Barron being better than Holl, and they wouldn't give up Niemela because the expectation for him is to become a 2-4.

No, just no. We aren’t paying one of our best prospects for 33 year old rental. Only guy I would give up Hendrix in that is a rental is Kane

Trade #1: Do you really think that WSH will does that??
Trade #2: Niemela fit in the european style, I don't think he could fit in NHL. Barron still a good prospect TOP4 ceiling, Holl is a cap dumb
Trade #3: MTL really need another overvalue winger? Drouin, Gallagher, Dadonov, Hoffman...

Bear for a mid rounder sound like a perfect plan to me

Barron is a lot closer than Niemela. So basically I think the players are equal in ceiling but the Leafs are buying 1 year of development.

Barron will play 50/50 AHL/NHL now, but he's able to play offense in the NHL right now, defense is suspect a bit, but the Leafs don't really care about defense.

Barron was a 1st and Niemela was a 3rd. I think nothing is "certain" about what he will be in the NHL

This is a horrendous trade for Washington, Dadonov does nothing for Washington, the only realistic player he could replace would be MoJo on the third line and he has actually gotten off to a decent start to the season, and they certainly would not clog the forwards further while trading away Lapierre in the process. Lapierre is much more important to the Caps than a 3rd liner that isn't an improvement anywhere and is more expensive to boot and tacking on a late 2nd rounder certainly isn't going to get the job done.

Niemela is better than that. He was great at the WJC on a north american ice.

I'm open!

I don't know why MTL would do any of these trades.

Wait till the trade dead line for Dadonov, don't get rid of draft capital in any trade for him

Keep Barron, we don't have any other RHD prospects and if Toronto wants to dumop Holl take a pick to take him on

Getting rid of draft capital and trading away prospects isn't how this team is going to build

-Caps are already one of the oldest teams in the league. I don't think it helps them to sacrifice one of the few prospects they have that can step into the lineup in the next year or so for a 33 year old rental.

-I can't see the Leafs doing this. Niemela and Barron both project out as top-4ish guys, but Niemala has a higher offensive ceiling while Barron looks like he'll be more of a DFD(like Holl). I *guess* I could see it happening if it turns out that Dubas liked Barron more than Niemela, but at this point I just don't see any imperative for Toronto to pull the trigger. If they're moving Holl when Liljegren comes back, it's probably just for a draft pick.

-Doesn't make sense for the Oilers to pay a 2nd to move Foegele now that the season has started. They're cap complaint with him on the roster, but they're using a ton of LTIR - so moving him doesn't really do anything besides opening up a hole that they'd have to fill with a lesser player. No chance Edmonton does this.

Seems like alot of re-arranging of deck chairs on the Titanic after hitting the iceberg.

The value/need isn;t really there for those other teams, for example: WASH doesn;t have the cap space for Dandanov even aat 50% retained/are you that disapointed in Barron that you'd move him for yet another paperweight in MTL that has limited value AND a prospect not as highly touted (outside of TOR) as the one you're dealing, etc....

Just seems like the wrong time (just because MTL has cap space?) and you're moving out as much youth as you're bring in, and you're still going to ice Drouin, Hoffman, and a host of other "dead men walking"?

"This guy with 7 games ever played is better than an established top 4 defender"
Habs fans are hilarious

Appreciate the response. As much as I poke fun at the Leafs, I am a fan of all Canadian Hockey Teams and fully admit that the Leafs, Oilers, and Flames are the only teams with a chance to bring the cup home to Canada. When I propose Tor/MTL trades I always do it with what I think is a fair deal in mind.

Niemela impressed me at the WJC and I think he has the kind of game that can translate well in the NHL. Barron is closer to the NHL than Niemela though by 1 or 2 years depending on if you think, as many Habs fans do, that he is ready this year.

Holl is not gonna help Toronto this year, everyone knows it and has been screaming for him to be traded.

Toronto has no cap room, so they cannot trade a D and not being one back because you need 8 defensemen minimum during an NHL season. They would need to replace Holl with a rookie or try their hand at an ageing vet on a sweetheart deal. I think an entry level player with upside like Barron can be a great fit.

You might say the Habs did not think he was ready, but please remember 2 things:

The Habs are already playing 3 rookie defenders 20-22 years of age and only because of completely unexpected injuries to Eddy and Math. Realistically they would have played 1-2 as they are not in a rush with these players.

The Leafs are looking to win now and they would probably not have chosen to wait if they had Barron in their system.

Dadonov... Is not gonna work out in MTL. Might as well move him if/when we can. Getting Lapierre would be a win for MTL.

Dadonov at 2.5M can help in an offensive system. This is their last kick at the can if they want to win and I think Dadonov can help. Lapierre has had consistent concussion issues and his stock is not as high as people think. He could probably help Laval this year though. It's not just Dadonov, it's Dadonov and a late 2nd.

The only reason for the Leafs to do it is that Barron is a lot closer (1-2 years) to playing an NHL-game. If you need cap space and are not convinced Holl is a part of the solution (which everyone agrees he's not) playing a rookie like Barron on an entry level deal gets you some cap flexibility and a player who can play in the NHL or move down to the Marlies if needed.

Fair point on EDM.

Caps aren't doing that

The Leafs definitely do care about defence & Holl as much as he gets crapped on is a good D-man for 2 mil, he is sublime on the PK & Blocks Crucial Shots & is great at preventing zone entries ( was near the top of the league in entry oreventions last season) just look at last nights game vs Washington where he stepped in-front of Ovi every-time he winded up. Holl is a cap dump in a sense but in reality he is a good D-man that make less than 2.1 mil he wouldn’t have a pick added with him. That being said I like Barron a-lot just not as much as Topi, Niemela’s 2-way game is just so good, his skating,passing & other aspects of his game are
just sublime. Barron wouldn’t replace Holl & he definitely wouldn’t replace Lilly cause Muzz-Barron just wouldn’t work imo giving a rookie Top 4 minutes on a possession heavy team would be a real challenge for him. Only way i see this happening is a Overpay & if the Habs Overpaid the Leafs for Holl. Hockey Twitter would literally Implode

Topi looks slick, def a steal where he was drafted. If the Leafs don't think Barron can help this year, then there is no point in doing this deal, I agree.

Montreal doesn’t want Holl from Toronto did you see his first game, Barron needs a trip in Laval then he will be back up. Stop trying giving us Toronto crap S.V.P

Would you agree MTL wants Topi Niemela?

What winger in the caps current lineup is Dadonov playing over? Definitely not Ovi, Mantha, Brown, Oshie, Hathaway, or Johansson. Protas is a young player who has looked good on the second line, so probably not him. So he only beats out Sheary? Caps' offensive problems are because of a lack of truly elite production from Ovi and Kuzy so far. They have an overabundance of middle 6 wingers, and certainly won't be giving up the best prospect (who's concussion issues were actually back issues that have been completely fixed) in the pipeline for one.