Youre gonna get easily outbid unless you include Knies. IK Leafs fans have this idea that he is the messiah but he needs to be included

if it was knies i cant see them getting a first, 2nd knies plus.

this is a massive over evaluation of knies is an excellent prospect but he is still number 59 on the athletics u23 list and 26 on top 100 prospects list from hockey writers. No reason not to include the first if you also include knies to get timo

The problem with including Knies isn't that he's going to turn out to be better or even as good as Meier's, it's that they will need him for next year still. If they resign Meier, they will need to trade one of the top 4 forwards. So, it's either they get him with a lowball offer or a decent offer, or they get outbid which is the likely outcome. Leafs shouldn't be the frontrunners for Meier.

Abruzzese needs to be replaced though even if it's Robertson, but it would likely have to be someone else of interest for the Sharks.

i would love Meier but i can see the leafs moving for 1 D to replace holl and 1 mid 6 forward for scoring depth.

Holl's replacement is probably going to be Timmins for next year. This year Holl is probably not going anywhere.

To me, it seems the Leafs want a physical/defensive Dman to potentially replace Sandin in their depth charts come playoff time. The big thing for them is getting someone affordable with the term though if they are going to give up a 1st+. So, if they use a significant asset on adding a D, then they probably get an okay middle 6 forward for scoring depth. Or they somehow land Meier or some other legit top 6 winger with term and get a cheap add on defense.

They could get a mix of the two though if they can get Kane+McCabe or something like that.

i hope not Kane with all of the Hip issues i have been hearing about. Mccabe would be ok if there was retention. if they are replacing Sandin for the playoffs good luck resigning him he was sour last time when he wasnt an everyday player. i know it is not the same but they do have Benn who is pretty physical but not the difference maker.

Yeah, Kane's hip issue rumors are definitely something to be concerned about but if the cost of getting both makes sense then that might be an option. Replacing Sandin might be an issue for sure, but unless he's willing to play his off-wing it's what I'm expecting, unless they put Sandin with Brodie. There's still time though, but I feel like Sandin + Holl/Liljegren are usually the pairings that are making mistakes against the tougher opponents, so unless Sandin can find another level this month, that's what I expect.