2019 Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Discussion

[Bullfrog]

https://www.tsn.ca/kessel-tops-first-tsn-trade-bait-board-of-the-spring-1.1307202

6 of the 15 players on TSN's trade board heading into the offseason are right-handed defencemen. Zaitsev is one of them, so 5 of them are potential targets. There probably isn't much interest here in Shattenkirk, particularly at his cap hit. Cap hit + cost to acquire probably rule out Subban and Trouba (although if Dubas wants to make a huge splash who knows).

That still leaves Travis Hamonic and Colin Miller though. Both players have been linked to the Leafs in the past. There were legitimate reports of a trade offer for Hamonic when he was an Islanders, while Miller is linked because of his connection with the Soo and the fact that he's an analytics darling right-handed defenceman so everyone just assumes Dubas would covet him. Both would look pretty good in a Leafs uniform.

Would the Leafs entertain Nylander, Brown for Subban(30 years old) swap? Pretty much equal money coming and going. He has 3 years left at 9 mill cap hit. In 20-21, 21-22 he has a 6 mill signing bonus in each so his salary is only 2 mill and he has no restrictions for being traded. I don't know if I'd do it but it does make me think.

Maybe next season, but I just don't see that being financially feasible this year. You'd still have to replace Brown with somebody.

 

[Mot the Barber]

With the Bruins sweeping the Canes 4-0 (also the score of the last game) and making the final, were the Leafs a better team than we realized?

Maybe they're a lot closer than we thought.

 

[Kin]

With the Bruins sweeping the Canes 4-0 (also the score of the last game) and making the final, were the Leafs a better team than we realized?

Maybe they're a lot closer than we thought.

I really don't think the current NHL works like that. It's more about matchups and random luck than something that straightforward. It's why the Islanders can go from looking unbeatable against the Penguins to hopeless against a less good Canes team. Or Columbus dispatching the best team in the world before a very ordinary second round.

 

[Highlander]

With the Bruins sweeping the Canes 4-0 (also the score of the last game) and making the final, were the Leafs a better team than we realized?

Maybe they're a lot closer than we thought.

We just need a D, it's coming, Our 4th line looks like it will get a huge upgrade, perhaps the 3rd as well.

 

[Mot the Barber]

With the Bruins sweeping the Canes 4-0 (also the score of the last game) and making the final, were the Leafs a better team than we realized?

Maybe they're a lot closer than we thought.

I really don't think the current NHL works like that. It's more about matchups and random luck than something that straightforward. It's why the Islanders can go from looking unbeatable against the Penguins to hopeless against a less good Canes team. Or Columbus dispatching the best team in the world before a very ordinary second round.

Still makes you think, if they were properly ranked, they would have faced the New York Islanders instead of Boston.  Not saying they would have won, but at least it would tell us if the Leafs were true losers (if they lost to NYI) instead of just unlucky to always face Boston.

Right now all we know is that the Leafs can't get past the Bruins and not much else. 

 

[Highlander]

Boston has looked like a powerhouse the last two series, we think only the Sharks can stop them.

 

[cabber24]

With the Bruins sweeping the Canes 4-0 (also the score of the last game) and making the final, were the Leafs a better team than we realized?

Maybe they're a lot closer than we thought.

I am still bitter... very bitter.

Sweep curse on Bos though, Islanders sweeps Pittsburg, Carolina sweeps Islanders, Boston sweeps Carolina... so naturally, Boston will be swept.

 

[Kin]

Right now all we know is that the Leafs can't get past the Bruins and not much else.

I'm really not that fatalistic. A team that can go up 3-2 on another team can clearly beat them, that they didn't just proves that these results are largely up in the air.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://www.tsn.ca/kessel-tops-first-tsn-trade-bait-board-of-the-spring-1.1307202

6 of the 15 players on TSN's trade board heading into the offseason are right-handed defencemen. Zaitsev is one of them, so 5 of them are potential targets. There probably isn't much interest here in Shattenkirk, particularly at his cap hit. Cap hit + cost to acquire probably rule out Subban and Trouba (although if Dubas wants to make a huge splash who knows).

That still leaves Travis Hamonic and Colin Miller though. Both players have been linked to the Leafs in the past. There were legitimate reports of a trade offer for Hamonic when he was an Islanders, while Miller is linked because of his connection with the Soo and the fact that he's an analytics darling right-handed defenceman so everyone just assumes Dubas would covet him. Both would look pretty good in a Leafs uniform.

Would the Leafs entertain Nylander, Brown for Subban(30 years old) swap? Pretty much equal money coming and going. He has 3 years left at 9 mill cap hit. In 20-21, 21-22 he has a 6 mill signing bonus in each so his salary is only 2 mill and he has no restrictions for being traded. I don't know if I'd do it but it does make me think.

Maybe next season, but I just don't see that being financially feasible this year. You'd still have to replace Brown with somebody.

Please explain why they can't financially. Brown is getting replaced by a Moore type player/contract so I don't see it being an issue if the money is equal going out, coming back. What am I missing?

 

[princedpw]

https://www.tsn.ca/kessel-tops-first-tsn-trade-bait-board-of-the-spring-1.1307202

6 of the 15 players on TSN's trade board heading into the offseason are right-handed defencemen. Zaitsev is one of them, so 5 of them are potential targets. There probably isn't much interest here in Shattenkirk, particularly at his cap hit. Cap hit + cost to acquire probably rule out Subban and Trouba (although if Dubas wants to make a huge splash who knows).

That still leaves Travis Hamonic and Colin Miller though. Both players have been linked to the Leafs in the past. There were legitimate reports of a trade offer for Hamonic when he was an Islanders, while Miller is linked because of his connection with the Soo and the fact that he's an analytics darling right-handed defenceman so everyone just assumes Dubas would covet him. Both would look pretty good in a Leafs uniform.

Would the Leafs entertain Nylander, Brown for Subban(30 years old) swap? Pretty much equal money coming and going. He has 3 years left at 9 mill cap hit. In 20-21, 21-22 he has a 6 mill signing bonus in each so his salary is only 2 mill and he has no restrictions for being traded. I don't know if I'd do it but it does make me think.

Maybe next season, but I just don't see that being financially feasible this year. You'd still have to replace Brown with somebody.

Please explain why they can't financially. Brown is getting replaced by a Moore type player/contract so I don't see it being an issue if the money is equal going out, coming back. What am I missing?

It may not be impossible if we can also dump Zaitsev to someone.  Many salary cap projections already have us replacing Brown with a minimum salary player and even then that requires what some might consider optimistic salary projections for our RFA wingers.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Please explain why they can't financially. Brown is getting replaced by a Moore type player/contract so I don't see it being an issue if the money is equal going out, coming back. What am I missing?

The Leafs need to trade Brown just to get cap compliant with the guys on their roster now. Let's assume Marner signs for $9.5mil and Kapanen and Johnsson each sign for $2.5mil, if the Leafs trade Brown they'll pretty much only barely be under the salary cap with a 21 man roster. So in your hypothetical trade the Leafs would still need to find $2-2.5mil in cap space somewhere (so that would mean one of Kapanen or Johnsson would probably have to go).

 

[CarltonTheBear]

For what it's worth, this is probably the current projected roster for next season (not predicting any trades other than Brown, and Marner/Kappy/Johnsson signed for what I said above):

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Moore-Gauthier-Mikheyev
Petan

Rielly-Dermott
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Rosen-Holl

Andersen
Sparks

That roster there gives us $15,000 in cap space. Petan could be swapped for a 7D instead. If it's Borgman that gives us an extra $75k in cap space.

Dermott and Hyman will need to join Horton on LTIR to start the season, so it'll be awhile before we even start to accumulate cap space.

Dubas has to have something up his sleeve because I can't see them starting with that little cap space.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Without copying all your post. Seeing Brown needs to go away for nothing then lets assume hes traded for a pick. Would the Leafs do Hyman and Nylander for Subban then? That would take care of Subban's salary.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I should add that I dont see Goat on the Leafs next year nor Holl on D. I fully expect to see Lilypad on the Leafs.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I should add that I dont see Goat on the Leafs next year nor Holl on D. I fully expect to see Lilypad on the Leafs.

Yeah swap out whatever minor guys you want it was morose just to show how tight things are.

Although as things stand every penny will count and the Goat's cap hit is very, very appealing. I don't like it either but it will be a factor if they don't clear space.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I should add that I dont see Goat on the Leafs next year nor Holl on D. I fully expect to see Lilypad on the Leafs.

Yeah swap out whatever minor guys you want it was morose just to show how tight things are.

Although as things stand every penny will count and the Goat's cap hit is very, very appealing. I don't like it either but it will be a factor if they don't clear space.

True enough. It's going to be very interesting to see what Dubas does.

 

[Bullfrog]

I should add that I dont see Goat on the Leafs next year nor Holl on D. I fully expect to see Lilypad on the Leafs.

Please don't use Lilypad. It's terrible.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I should add that I dont see Goat on the Leafs next year nor Holl on D. I fully expect to see Lilypad on the Leafs.

Please don't use Lilypad. It's terrible.

Lilliputian?

 

[princedpw]

For what it's worth, this is probably the current projected roster for next season (not predicting any trades other than Brown, and Marner/Kappy/Johnsson signed for what I said above):

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen
Moore-Gauthier-Mikheyev
Petan

Rielly-Dermott
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Rosen-Holl

Andersen
Sparks

That roster there gives us $15,000 in cap space. Petan could be swapped for a 7D instead. If it's Borgman that gives us an extra $75k in cap space.

Dermott and Hyman will need to join Horton on LTIR to start the season, so it'll be awhile before we even start to accumulate cap space.

Dubas has to have something up his sleeve because I can't see them starting with that little cap space.

I'm pretty sure (though I haven't actually checked) that no team has ever started a season this close to the cap.  The reason is short-term injuries.  If a guy is injured for 5 games then you don't get cap relief.  That guy is out and you have to fill his slot on the team, but you can't add another player with just 15K in space...  And of course, the problem is compounded if you have 2 or 3 injuries.  Moreover, this always happens at some point so you simply can't be that tight to the cap.  At least that's my understanding.  That's why teams always leave at least 1 million in room at the beginning of the season.

Some of the commenters complained that Mirtle's rosters from the Athletic, which use your salary figures (9.5 for Marner; 2.5 for Kappy and Johnsson) are too tight.  I think someone in addition to Brown (and Gardiner) are moved.

And from this perspective, I think the Goat is a *great* regular season player for the leafs.

 

[jdh1]

  I,m wondering if the Leafs have to part with some major pieces.I can,t see this working out to a serious cup contender as it appears right now.

For example if Marner gets a big offer from another club.Maybe they have to get their 4 first rounders and move on.Use that room to get some defence and a cheaper wingers.  Without him they would still have their 3 main centers to build the team around.