Armchair GM 2016-2017

[Kin]

I don't know if it really moves them forward though, unless an accompanying offer sheet for Lindholm goes up too. Losing Gardiner would make us pretty weak on the left-side. It'd be Rielly-Hunwick-Marincin as things stand right now. I don't want to be down on Dermott and Nielsen but we can't go pencilling them into top-4 spots.

Even then though it forces the question of how much do we want to sacrifice on the altar of Babcock's preference for LD/RD parity. If I remember Herman's posts on the subject there's some evidence that Rielly/Gardiner is an effective pairing despite them both being left-handed shots so assuming someone the quality of Lindholm does fall out of the sky and gives us Rielly, Gardiner and Lindholm on the Left side you really have to wonder how much it's worth to have a Rielly/Trouba top pairing vs. Rielly/Gardiner.

I mean assuming you're already losing a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for our hypothetical Lindholm do we want to pile on a few key prospects/picks on top of it for that gain? I know the team has a deep prospect base and it looks like their main pieces are set at forward but you'd like to keep a few bullets in the clip.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Even then though it forces the question of how much do we want to sacrifice on the altar of Babcock's preference for LD/RD parity. If I remember Herman's posts on the subject there's some evidence that Rielly/Gardiner is an effective pairing despite them both being left-handed shots so assuming someone the quality of Lindholm does fall out of the sky and gives us Rielly, Gardiner and Lindholm on the Left side you really have to wonder how much it's worth to have a Rielly/Trouba top pairing vs. Rielly/Gardiner.

I mean assuming you're already losing a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for our hypothetical Lindholm do we want to pile on a few key prospects/picks on top of it for that gain? I know the team has a deep prospect base and it looks like their main pieces are set at forward but you'd like to keep a few bullets in the clip.

That's true. Personally speaking if a Trouba trade opportunity did come up I wouldn't add much to Gardiner. The Jets are the ones with their back up against the wall here and we've seen time and time again that teams in that position don't usually come out looking like they won the trade. Gardiner will also come with probably about a $2mil-ish cap difference for the next 3 years vs. what Trouba likely signs for. Those two things are enough to make up for any perceived difference in trade value between the two.

 

[herman]

There's some quality food for thought, here, gentlemen.
If Dermott/Nielsen push for a top 4 role, and forces Gardiner with Rielly, that wouldn't be the worst.

Gardiner - Rielly
Dermott/Nielsen - Zaitsev
Nielsen/Dermott - Carrick
Marincin, Corrado, Valiev

Gardiner not breaking 40-pts would be beneficial for the next contract from a Leafs' standpoint.

 

[Frank E]

Even then though it forces the question of how much do we want to sacrifice on the altar of Babcock's preference for LD/RD parity. If I remember Herman's posts on the subject there's some evidence that Rielly/Gardiner is an effective pairing despite them both being left-handed shots so assuming someone the quality of Lindholm does fall out of the sky and gives us Rielly, Gardiner and Lindholm on the Left side you really have to wonder how much it's worth to have a Rielly/Trouba top pairing vs. Rielly/Gardiner.

I mean assuming you're already losing a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for our hypothetical Lindholm do we want to pile on a few key prospects/picks on top of it for that gain? I know the team has a deep prospect base and it looks like their main pieces are set at forward but you'd like to keep a few bullets in the clip.

That's true. Personally speaking if a Trouba trade opportunity did come up I wouldn't add much to Gardiner. The Jets are the ones with their back up against the wall here and we've seen time and time again that teams in that position don't usually come out looking like they won the trade. Gardiner will also come with probably about a $2mil-ish cap difference for the next 3 years vs. what Trouba likely signs for. Those two things are enough to make up for any perceived difference in trade value between the two.

Are you suggesting Trouba gets $6m?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Are you suggesting Trouba gets $6m?

I thought that at one point, although it's tough to tell since it doesn't seem like there's been any negotiations for awhile. But I guess after the Rielly and Risto contracts he probably comes in somewhere in that range.

 

[Frank E]

Are you suggesting Trouba gets $6m?

I thought that at one point, although it's tough to tell since it doesn't seem like there's been any negotiations for awhile. But I guess after the Rielly and Risto contracts he probably comes in somewhere in that range.

Yeah, well, that was a stupid idiot thought for idiots.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Are you suggesting Trouba gets $6m?

I thought that at one point, although it's tough to tell since it doesn't seem like there's been any negotiations for awhile. But I guess after the Rielly and Risto contracts he probably comes in somewhere in that range.

Yeah, well, that was a stupid idiot thought for idiots.

My high sensitivity level and uber political correctness is extremely offended by this.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Just how good is Trouba? The impression I've always held was that he currently isn't as good as Reilly and his ceiling isn't as high as Reilly either.

Is that accurate, and if so is he really worth paying more money and additional assets then just Gardiner?

 

[Kin]

Just how good is Trouba? The impression I've always held was that he currently isn't as good as Reilly and his ceiling isn't as high as Reilly either.

Is that accurate, and if so is he really worth paying more money and additional assets then just Gardiner?

How good defensemen are isn't an exact science just yet but I've read some things that indicate he's a bit better than his numbers indicate with some real room for growth. Obviously his not being used on his preferred side complicates matters some but I think opinion is high that he can be a top pairing guy even if not a legit #1.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Just how good is Trouba? The impression I've always held was that he currently isn't as good as Reilly and his ceiling isn't as high as Reilly either.

Is that accurate, and if so is he really worth paying more money and additional assets then just Gardiner?

How good defensemen are isn't an exact science just yet but I've read some things that indicate he's a bit better than his numbers indicate with some real room for growth. Obviously his not being used on his preferred side complicates matters some but I think opinion is high that he can be a top pairing guy even if not a legit #1.

So a little more comparable to Reilly than I thought, thanks.

I'm not the guy who's most up to date on advanced stats so it's hard for me to tell. I've heard some question his decision making abilities, but the same has been said about Gardiner for years too.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

A good article about the youth movement in hockey. I think almost 10% of the league are rookies this year.

It also talks about the somewhat unique group dynamic in the Leafs locker room this season.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/marner-matthews-rookies-1.3810436

 

[Tigger]

Would a salary retained JVR for Fowler and Cogliano make sense?

 

[Big Daddy]

Love that the team is playing so well but why not shake
things up just a bit to get things going for everyone


Komarov-Kadri-Brown
JVR-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Bozak-Soshnikov
Martin-Smith-Hyman

Rielly-Zaitsev
Gardiner-Polak
Hunwick-Marincin

Andersen

 

[Highlander]

Don't know if it just me, but Brown is playing well but not great?He would clear waivers. I would love to see Kapanen get a few games

 

[TBLeafer]

Don't know if it just me, but Brown is playing well but not great?He would clear waivers. I would love to see Kapanen get a few games

Actually, isn't brown still waiver exempt? 

Remember, those aren't light minutes he's getting.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Don't know if it just me, but Brown is playing well but not great?He would clear waivers. I would love to see Kapanen get a few games

I bet the Leafs are pretty happy with the way he's playing for the Marlies, but I think he stays there. I see him as a guy who maybe comes up to stay after the trade deadline passes this year, assuming some movement of players. Depending on how things go, maybe Kapanen gets a look on Nylander's wing.  8)

 

[Coco-puffs]

Don't know if it just me, but Brown is playing well but not great?He would clear waivers. I would love to see Kapanen get a few games

1.  He's waiver exempt.
2.  If he wasn't waiver exempt, he'd be snapped up on waivers in an instant. 

I would like to see Kapanen get a few games as well, but Brown has EARNED his spot in the lineup based on the past two seasons in the AHL where he was one of the best young players in the league over that span, plus his performance so far in the NHL has been good despite a lack of production this season.  He's playing heavy minutes (quality wise- not quantity wise) along side Kadri and hasn't looked one bit out of place. 

Kapanen has less than a year of top level performance.  Before the World Juniors last year he didn't look very good in the AHL.  After returning he had a strong finish to his campaign and an even better start to this years campaign in the AHL.  He's on his way to earning a spot in an NHL lineup, but he certainly hasn't earned one over Brown.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

One thing to keep in mind with Kapanen is that he's still pretty young. I mean, we just drafted 2 players in June who are actually OLDER than he is, plus a 3rd who is only 7 days younger. This will be his 4th season playing professional hockey, but he's never been the go-to player on any of his teams. Getting a chance to do that in the AHL for a year would likely be beneficial for his career.

 

[Tigger]

Don't know if it just me, but Brown is playing well but not great?He would clear waivers. I would love to see Kapanen get a few games

I bet the Leafs are pretty happy with the way he's playing for the Marlies, but I think he stays there. I see him as a guy who maybe comes up to stay after the trade deadline passes this year, assuming some movement of players. Depending on how things go, maybe Kapanen gets a look on Nylander's wing.  8)

This.

 

[Highlander]

I have to retract my opinion of Downtown, he sure put on a show last night. He is a keeper. Sorry Kapi but you are staying with the Marlies for now