Quite the scoop! Leafs need a center, who would have thought...
2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
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Quite the scoop! Leafs need a center, who would have thought...
herman
Well-known member
I don’t know about how plausible, but for a combo of any of our top prospects would work for me (some degree of Akhtyamov/Hildeby + Minten/Cowan + Robertson/Niemela/Villenueve) if Matthews is shut down for the regular season and we’ll figure out the cap after Tavares/Marner are off the books:
Dylan Larkin (8.7Mx7)
Tage Thompson (7.1Mx4)
Slightly less sexy:
Nick Schmaltz (5.85Mx2)
Vincent Trocheck (5.63Mx5)
Much less sexy:
Scott Laughton
Mark Jankowski (the guy Treliving was going to trade to Dubas with Brodie for Kadri)
Jason Dickinson
Rentals
Trent Frederic (just a very expensive rental from division rival makes this unlikely)
Frank Vatrano
Ozzie
Member
....... in walks Nylander to try center for a dozen more shifts.
I wonder again about JG Pageau. In the offseason I was hoping the Islanders would buy him out or move him with retention for cap relief. They obviously didn't and he's having a pretty good season. On pace for 40+ points. 60% face-off percentage. Primary PK guy, secondary PP guy. Islanders obviously aren't going anywhere so they might look into moving him again. He does have 1 more season after this one at $5mil AAV so certainly some retention would be necessary there. A move like this isn't exactly sexy but I don't see anything like that happening. He'd also make Kampf expendable if the Leafs were able to shop him for anything or to just clear cap space.
Him and Gourde are probably my top fairly realistic options. Trocheck would be an incredible add if the Rangers wanna go nuts and make some moves. I've liked him since his Florida days.
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I think reality has set in. He has all the physical tools. Skates well. Wins his fair share of faces off, etc.
But between the ears, he marches to the beat of a different drum.
They've tried it and it is quickly apparent he is not into it.
I do not mean that in a bad attitude way.
He seems kind of like an artist who thinks differently - sees the ice differently. His inner core is thriving to score.
I don't think he knows where he'll be in a few seconds. He reacts to what the other team gives him.
He's going to score 40+ goals (or more). He is very difficult to defend against.
Why mess that up in structured systems with defensive responsibilities as a center?
I suspect that is where they got to.
As much as we're desperate for an improvement at center, I do not think it is a terribly flawed conclusion
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Find a center
herman
Well-known member
In addition to cw's points of Nylander's unpredictable attack paths, I think it also comes down to the drop offs when shuffling roster spots.
Nylander at centre vs... Domi at centre. Not significantly different.
Replacing Nylander on the wing with... Domi or Robertson: huge disparity.
In the flow of the game, Nylander and Marner cover some centre duties either way, which comes with the territory of having shootier top 2 centres, and in Marner's case, someone with the wheels and aptitude defensively.
Frank E
Active member
I was convinced that it wasn't going to work last year because he was in a contract year, and that move to the middle was going to affect his ability to score which would affect his next contract. Same with Marner to centre this season...the player would simply not want to do it for this reason...maybe probably.
This past fall, I was convinced that they'd give it a good go with Nylander, given his new fat deal had kicked in and would therefore give him lots of runway to work it out.
I was wrong.
He was on my radar
Always liked him
He would be a 33 yr old rental (which they don't seem as interested in)
He's a $6 mil cap hit (so they would have to pay a premium for retention)
bustaheims
Well-known member
Probably going to be the most sought after rental at the deadline. Would rather go after someone with term with the assets that will be involved there.
Which will make him very pricey in terms of talent cost (that dampens my enthusiasm significantly)
16 team no trade list helps to reduce the bidding but not wildly.
Going after someone with term to cover Matthews window probably delivers more talent value for the talent assets given up
I fear Minten is on the block
Hakanpaa who had more surgery in early December has been put on LTIR
A few days ago, Berube said he was "a ways away" from returning.
Earliest he can come back (if ever) is Jan 5th
A few days ago, Berube said he was "a ways away" from returning.
Earliest he can come back (if ever) is Jan 5th