Armchair GM 2016-2017

[CarltonTheBear]

Rumours are swirling that Nino Niederreiter might be available for trade because of salary cap concerns in Minny. He's a RFA on July 1st. I think that's exactly the type of trade the Leafs should be looking to make by dangling a guy like Kapanen. Like Columbus picking up Brandon Saad. The two players are almost eerily comparable too. If we could somehow figure out a way to get Dumba in there too even better.

This was a pretty good look at Nino though for those who haven't followed him: https://flamesnation.ca/2017/05/17/the-flames-should-be-calling-about-nino-niederreiter/

 

[bustaheims]

Size, speed, skill, and a pain in the butt to play against? Yeah, definitely a guy the Leafs should be looking at. Ideally, without having to dangle Kapanen, obviously.

Also, man, have Minnesota ever put themselves into a rough spot for the expansion draft. Those mega-term deals and NMCs are killing them.

 

[Kin]

I'm happy to be the one to say it at the risk of repeating myself but unless you have concrete plans to move JVR and such for help on the blueline I'd really question moving any of the team's better assets for wingers.

 

[herman]

Nino was one of my targets a couple years ago as a potential Kessel-trade piece, and he has since blossomed into a key cog. We're pretty flush with wingers now (parking the shooting righties on the left), so I think the window has closed. I can see Arizona making a pretty good pitch for his services, as they have a lot to work with in the prospect pool.

If we're getting a winger, I'd prefer a Grabner-esque deal. A useful overpaid LW vet for a handful of C-prospects.

 

[rdowdall]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

 

[Kin]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

Problem there is Dallas' biggest needs by far are in net and on the blueline.

 

[Frank E]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

Problem there is Dallas' biggest needs by far are in net and on the blueline.

They're in pretty good shape cap-wise, as long as they get rid of a goalie:  https://capfriendly.com/teams/stars

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I'd give them our first, take one of their problem goalies and give them JVR if you can get #3 and a prospect.

 

[herman]

Sounds like Trouba would be an obvious fit for Dallas to target, and Winnipeg could probably pick up a goalie too.

Edit: eh, maybe they'd prefer a lefty.

 

[Kin]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

Problem there is Dallas' biggest needs by far are in net and on the blueline.

Although apparently I missed that they've signed Ben Bishop so just the blueline then.

 

[wnc096]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

Dallas needs D...the leafs have no D.  Doesn't seem like a fit. 
Besides, the leafs don't need to move all the way up to 3 to get a decent defenseman

 

[herman]

But if we get the third, we can still parlay it into further options: pull off a three-way deal, or generate multiple picks in the top 40, and shave off contracts as sweeteners with each transaction.

Per Dubas' thinly veiled answer to Scott Wheeler's question at the Marlies locker clean out, Leafs management is expecting to wheel and deal and bodies will be flying.

 

[herman]

Dallas has said that they will move the 3rd overall pick for help now.  Leafs should be interested in that.

Problem there is Dallas' biggest needs by far are in net and on the blueline.

Although apparently I missed that they've signed Ben Bishop so just the blueline then.

Nill indicated that Bishop was not even his first choice, let alone giving a 30+ goalie 6 years at that AAV. His window was forced open and now he has to dump more assets into making it count.

 

[Kin]

Nill indicated that Bishop was not even his first choice, let alone giving a 30+ goalie 6 years at that AAV. His window was forced open and now he has to dump more assets into making it count.

Maybe. The cynic in me though thinks that with a pretty clear cut top 2 there may be more of a drop off at #3 than we think.

It's definitely an interesting avenue to explore but I think sort of thing might be predicated on there being someone who is going to really value a #3 pick that may not contribute next year along the lines of Dubois last year.

 

[rdowdall]

Nill indicated that Bishop was not even his first choice, let alone giving a 30+ goalie 6 years at that AAV. His window was forced open and now he has to dump more assets into making it count.

Maybe. The cynic in me though thinks that with a pretty clear cut top 2 there may be more of a drop off at #3 than we think.

It's definitely an interesting avenue to explore but I think sort of thing might be predicated on there being someone who is going to really value a #3 pick that may not contribute next year along the lines of Dubois last year.

Imagine the Leafs got Liljegren and Brannstrom.

 

[Kin]

Imagine the Leafs got Liljegren and Brannstrom.

To some extent that's my point. That'd obviously be good for the prospect base but Liljegren has fallen quite a bit in some eyes. On Marek's draft rankings he's at #7 and McKenzie has him at #12. Heiskanen is now the top ranked defenseman it seems.

So you can build the prospect pool but the idea that you're going to be able to draft defensemen who'll make an immediate impact seems unlikely.

 

[herman]

Some of Liljegren's drop is due to his bout with mono and injury. Less information about his development path as a result.

 

[herman]

Maybe. The cynic in me though thinks that with a pretty clear cut top 2 there may be more of a drop off at #3 than we think.

It's definitely an interesting avenue to explore but I think sort of thing might be predicated on there being someone who is going to really value a #3 pick that may not contribute next year along the lines of Dubois last year.

I definitely agree this was a huge factor in the pick's availability. Dallas also has the Ducks' 1st. Outside the first 2, all the others are at least D+2 to make their jumps if at all. A team like Minnesota might make a play for it though, with their cap and expansion issues and being bereft of picks until round 3.

 

[rdowdall]

Imagine the Leafs got Liljegren and Brannstrom.

To some extent that's my point. That'd obviously be good for the prospect base but Liljegren has fallen quite a bit in some eyes. On Marek's draft rankings he's at #7 and McKenzie has him at #12. Heiskanen is now the top ranked defenseman it seems.

So you can build the prospect pool but the idea that you're going to be able to draft defensemen who'll make an immediate impact seems unlikely.

Well drafting a defenseman who was going to make an immediate impact was probably unlikely anyway given the quality of the draft.  At that point it's probably better to draft a lot of prospects so that hopefully in a couple of years you have someone who looks like a #1 d-man. 

The Leafs are in a weird spot.  They are probably a little better off than when the Islanders got Tavares, but at the same time they are a bit incomplete. 

Letang was drafted the same year as Crosby.  It took him longer to get to the NHL, and even then he was good, but not the impact defensemen he is today.  Although the Pens also had Gonchar.

 

[AvroArrow]

I'm warming up to the idea of picking up Vatanen from Anaheim - assuming, as always, that the price make sense.

Of course, there are other guys I'd prefer, but I think Vatanen is much more realistic to actually acquire.

We'd have no true #1 but we would have 4 top 4 guys to go along with Borgman, Rosen, and Dermott.