Jets fan trying to understand how the leafs can make a hockey team out of this situation. I'm working under the assumption that none of the NMC's waive.
I'll start by saying, I know very little about the leafs actual structure. I've heard that Tavares can't really play 2c anymore, so I pencilled him in for 2LW. I went ahead and put everyone else in spots that sound about right from my memory of tuning out the Leafs talk every Jet pregame show (Rielly 1LD, McCabe & Timmins 3rd pair, Jarnkrok 3c, Kampf 4c, etc).
This team needs:
-a 2c
-two bottom6 wingers
-a partner for Rielly
-a 2LD and 2RD
-a backup goalie / tandem partner for Woll
-a 13th FWD, and
-a 7th D
There's only $20.7 Million in cap space to do all that, so there will be some sacrifices. I'll do my best.
Here's what I ended up with:
FORWARDS
-The 1LW spot is a huge headache. There's simply no cap room, y'all spent $46.7mil on 4 guys. Knies starts there, Robertson can get a crack at it if Knies isn't holding the fort.
-Chandler Stephenson might be available as a UFA with Vegas trying to sign some of their new guys. It's between him, Lindholm, and Monahan. Although $5Mil AAV is a stretch, he's probably going to be cheaper than Lindholm or Monahan. I told you there would be sacrifices. Not sure how much leafs fans see of this guy, but he's the kind of 200ft centre the leafs desperately need in the top6 (at least one of them has to be defensively responsible).
-Gregor and Robertson start as scratches. Robertson really only comes in for the top6, Gregor for the bottom6.
DEFENCE
-The goal is to take a bit of the load off of Rielly and allow him to play his game without being gassed all the time.
-Matt Roy is now Morgan Rielly's babysitter. His job is to pick up after Rielly, clean up messes, and be the adult on the ice while Rielly gets to have fun generating offence.
-Dillon is a big, physical, defensive guy. Good in the locker room and on the bench too, Jets can't afford to keep him. He's difficult to play against, he fights, and he doesn't get injured. You're giving him term to keep the AAV down, Leafs will have the cap space to pay their 3LD $3M in 26-27. He can carry pretty much anyone on the 2nd pair, works well with an offensively focused partner. Faces opponents top guys, takes that pressure off of Rielly.
-Liljegren gets first crack at 2RD, I said there would be sacrifices. He's competing against Timmins and McCabe to keep it.
-Timmins is both competing against Liljegren for the 2RD job and against Benoit to stay in the lineup.
-One of Liljegren or Timmins has to be good next year for y'all to have hope.
GOAL
-The $3m cap hit is desperately needed elsewhere, a decent goalie can always be acquired at the TDL if necessary. Woll is given the starting job, it's up to Jones to take it from him. Hildeby is always ready to come in should things turn sour.
Final Thoughts.
I tried to keep it to realistic pickups, guys that actually have a decent chance of being available. The AAV's for the free agents are low, and all of them probably sign for more, but the leafs are just so squeezed on the cap that it makes bringing anyone in really difficult. That million or so in cap space should grow enough to fit a 1LW acquisition at the TDL. This all becomes way easier when Tavares' $11M cap hit is gone.
Gee, I don't see why you think the Leafs cap situation is so bad. Lots of teams are at the cap, and that includes non playoff teams.
Those UFA signings are practical for the Leafs.
9m for Roy and 3m for Dillon might be nice but ain't happening. Benoit should get a little more, and Robertson too.which leaves 8m for two NHL UFAs. Who? Maybe Tanev and Lubushin.
Jarnkrok is not centre. Tavares is still a 2C so he stays at centre, which makes Stephenson really unnecessary. Maybe Domi or somewhat similar gets 3.25m.
Kinda funny you would criticize the Leafs cap. Look at the Jets The cap goes up 4.3m....and the Jets have spent that on Helly and Schef all ready. Toffoli and Monahan are on cheap retained contracts, if those players return, that a big cap upwards .
How is Robertson not a regular fixture on this roster? He should demand a trade
Robertson should be a regular. He's been shuttled back and forth due to cap reasons. But since January he's been NHL good.
Besides you shouldn't trade players who "demands" it. Then you have eight NHL regulars unhappy with their playing time or usage and half the AHL team who think they should be in the NHL demanding trades.
Robertson should be a regular. He's been shuttled back and forth due to cap reasons. But since January he's been NHL good.
Besides you shouldn't trade players who "demands" it. Then you have eight NHL regulars unhappy with their playing time or usage and half the AHL team who think they should be in the NHL demanding trades.
Well I guess if a team wants to hinder and ruin a career it’s their right to. Bad business and future draft picks may hold out on signing a contract to become UFA. But it’s certainly their choice. You can play the nhl ready player or have your hand forced.
Gee, I don't see why you think the Leafs cap situation is so bad. Lots of teams are at the cap, and that includes non playoff teams.
Those UFA signings are practical for the Leafs.
9m for Roy and 3m for Dillon might be nice but ain't happening. Benoit should get a little more, and Robertson too.which leaves 8m for two NHL UFAs. Who? Maybe Tanev and Lubushin.
Jarnkrok is not centre. Tavares is still a 2C so he stays at centre, which makes Stephenson really unnecessary. Maybe Domi or somewhat similar gets 3.25m.
Kinda funny you would criticize the Leafs cap. Look at the Jets The cap goes up 4.3m....and the Jets have spent that on Helly and Schef all ready. Toffoli and Monahan are on cheap retained contracts, if those players return, that a big cap upwards .
There has been a lot of chatter around Tavares being too slow to play 2C. I don't know how much of it is a legit issue versus TOR fans/media overreacting, but I can see the logic there.
Seems like a better middle-6 anyway. Scratch Holmberg unless Dewar struggles at 4LW for some internal competition.
Tanev would be an excellent add for TOR and cost a pinch less than Roy here (plus rumours are Roy won't sign in Canada), but there will be a bidding war for him.
It's kinda of silly to criticize Tavares, unless there is a better replacement at 2C (by the way, I'm not big on these 1C , 2C etc ratings). I really don't understand the criticism. Yeah, he's not playing to his contract but can't do anything about that.
Holmburg should be in the top 12,
I think Roy is an impractical signing for the Leafs. Wings and Sabres kinda need a RHD and they have cap. Tanev, Walker even DeMelo might be more appropriate targets. We'll say how Lubushin is, he could be an inexpensive short solution Reilly, McCabe, RFA Benoit, RFA Liljegren, Timmins, That's five, and about 8m in cap to sign two UFA Dmen. No Marlies should be NHL good enough to play full time with the Leafs next season.
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