Armchair GM 2018-2019

[Kin]

Yeah, again, I really don't see how any of that stuff isn't A) something they can be doing without anyone in the big chair or B) something that can be managed if they only name their GM in late May or early June.

Seriously, why does there need to be someone with the GM title for there to be an internal discussion on JVR or Bozak? Or in what way is the Nylander stuff complicated? They're going to re-sign him, they probably have a number relatively sketched out...why would the negotiations be something Shanahan couldn't delegate?

 

[Frank E]

Yeah, again, I really don't see how any of that stuff isn't A) something they can be doing without anyone in the big chair or B) something that can be managed if they only name their GM in late May or early June.

Seriously, why does there need to be someone with the GM title for there to be an internal discussion on JVR or Bozak? Or in what way is the Nylander stuff complicated? They're going to re-sign him, they probably have a number relatively sketched out...why would the negotiations be something Shanahan couldn't delegate?

Who has the internal discussion?  The 2 guys wanting the job?  Who's responsible for the result, or really, who would want to be if it goes wrong? What if the discussion leads to wanting to retain JVR, then who deals with the term and number?  Does the next guy even agree with that?

This is kind of a silly conversation, but really, in the position the Leafs are in, you don't go long without somebody calling the shots, and being responsible for the result.

If there really wasn't much to be done in the off-season, then really, what has Lou done since September that's of consequence? 

 

[Kin]

Who has the internal discussion?

I assume the usual group that would discuss these things only minus Lamoriello. So Shanahan, Dubas, Hunter, maybe Pridham, Babcock, etc...

Who's responsible for the result, or really, who would want to be if it goes wrong?

If what goes wrong? A discussion? Again, you're confusing the need for a discussion with the need for a decision.

What if the discussion leads to wanting to retain JVR, then who deals with the term and number?  Does the next guy even agree with that?

Well, to answer the first question...Shanahan could assign that to anyone if a decision desperately needed to be made...but it doesn't. They can, however, still have an internal discussion so opinions are made and an attempt at a consensus formed. They did stuff like this pre-Lamoriello, they can do it now that he's gone.

This is kind of a silly conversation, but really, in the position the Leafs are in, you don't go long without somebody calling the shots, and being responsible for the result.

Right? The Leafs need someone in charge who can make decisions if they absolutely need to be made. I thought they had someone like that. Brendan...something Irish? I typed that into google and all I got was this guy:

So maybe it's him? True, his wikipedia entry doesn't say much about hockey but he was great in Garda.

If there really wasn't much to be done in the off-season, then really, what has Lou done since September that's of consequence?

"The offseason" ≠ May.

 

[Bender]

Who has the internal discussion?

I assume the usual group that would discuss these things only minus Lamoriello. So Shanahan, Dubas, Hunter, maybe Pridham, Babcock, etc...

Who's responsible for the result, or really, who would want to be if it goes wrong?

If what goes wrong? A discussion? Again, you're confusing the need for a discussion with the need for a decision.

What if the discussion leads to wanting to retain JVR, then who deals with the term and number?  Does the next guy even agree with that?

Well, to answer the first question...Shanahan could assign that to anyone if a decision desperately needed to be made...but it doesn't. They can, however, still have an internal discussion so opinions are made and an attempt at a consensus formed. They did stuff like this pre-Lamoriello, they can do it now that he's gone.

This is kind of a silly conversation, but really, in the position the Leafs are in, you don't go long without somebody calling the shots, and being responsible for the result.

Right? The Leafs need someone in charge who can make decisions if they absolutely need to be made. I thought they had someone like that. Brendan...something Irish? I typed that into google and all I got was this guy:

So maybe it's him? True, his wikipedia entry doesn't say much about hockey but he was great in Garda.

If there really wasn't much to be done in the off-season, then really, what has Lou done since September that's of consequence?

"The offseason" ≠ May.

And in In Bruges!

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Who has the internal discussion?

I assume the usual group that would discuss these things only minus Lamoriello. So Shanahan, Dubas, Hunter, maybe Pridham, Babcock, etc...

Who's responsible for the result, or really, who would want to be if it goes wrong?

If what goes wrong? A discussion? Again, you're confusing the need for a discussion with the need for a decision.

What if the discussion leads to wanting to retain JVR, then who deals with the term and number?  Does the next guy even agree with that?

Well, to answer the first question...Shanahan could assign that to anyone if a decision desperately needed to be made...but it doesn't. They can, however, still have an internal discussion so opinions are made and an attempt at a consensus formed. They did stuff like this pre-Lamoriello, they can do it now that he's gone.

This is kind of a silly conversation, but really, in the position the Leafs are in, you don't go long without somebody calling the shots, and being responsible for the result.

Right? The Leafs need someone in charge who can make decisions if they absolutely need to be made. I thought they had someone like that. Brendan...something Irish? I typed that into google and all I got was this guy:

So maybe it's him? True, his wikipedia entry doesn't say much about hockey but he was great in Garda.

If there really wasn't much to be done in the off-season, then really, what has Lou done since September that's of consequence?

"The offseason" ≠ May.

And in In Bruges!

Damn, I was just about to post that!

 

[cabber24]

Thorton quotes: ?I bleed teal and I want to come back and I know I'm going to be healthy when I come back. I'm sure we can figure something out, but I want to come back.?

I was hopefully the Leafs could lure him for a year but I am sure the Sharks and Jumbo Joe will figure it out.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/thornton-willing-to-take-pay-cut-but-sharks-might-need-deep-discount-to-make-it-work

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Thorton quotes: ?I bleed teal and I want to come back and I know I'm going to be healthy when I come back. I'm sure we can figure something out, but I want to come back.?

I was hopefully the Leafs could lure him for a year but I am sure the Sharks and Jumbo Joe will figure it out.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/thornton-willing-to-take-pay-cut-but-sharks-might-need-deep-discount-to-make-it-work

I was always a big Thornton-guy, but his injury history the past 2 seasons make it a hard pass for me now. Knee issues for a guy his age are a big red-flag. Just look at Robidas.

 

[bustaheims]

I was always a big Thornton-guy, but his injury history the past 2 seasons make it a hard pass for me now. Knee issues for a guy his age are a big red-flag. Just look at Robidas.

Yeah. Especially since it's both knees, not just the one.

 

[Zee]

What the hell is Shanahan waiting for? Are we getting a GM announced this week?

Probably not, no. Honestly, don't expect anything until much closer to the draft.

Wrong again busta!

 

[Frank E]

Yeah, I stand by my initial assessment...there's a lot of work to do well before the draft and the beginning of free agency...especially if Dubas wants to make some immediate changes in personnel.  And they may be without Hunter soon, so that'll be another hole they need to fill, and bring that guy up to speed. 

 

[Kin]

I have to imagine that the majority of their amateur scouting work will be done by now so whoever replaces Hunter will likely not have much to do pre-draft outside of being another voice in the room.

 

[pmrules]

I have to imagine that the majority of their amateur scouting work will be done by now so whoever replaces Hunter will likely not have much to do pre-draft outside of being another voice in the room.

Agreed that the amateur scouting is done, however, I think a Kyle & Mark/XXX draft strategy will look slightly different than a Lou & Mark draft strategy (See: 2015 vs. the 2016/2017 drafts).

 

[Kin]

Agreed that the amateur scouting is done, however, I think a Kyle & Mark/XXX draft strategy will look slightly different than a Lou & Mark draft strategy (See: 2015 vs. the 2016/2017 drafts).

I have to be honest, I'm looking at the 2015 and 2016 drafts and they strike me as being stunningly similar so I'm not entirely sure what you're going for there.

That said, I do agree that Dubas at the helm might very well result in a different outlook and strategy than Lamoriello. I think the issue, although it's sort of moot now that Dubas has been announced, is how much of that can really be planned in advanced and what time is required to get that down.

My guess is that most teams will look at their picks, come up with a list of players they think will be available at each of those picks, do extra research/analysis on that short list of players and come up with a general sense of what they might do at each pick.

Of course, every team will also know that they need to have a certain degree of flexibility too. They don't know what players might unexpectedly drop to them or be off the board when they pick. They don't know what teams will call with a last minute offer to move up or down the draft or to shop a player in exchange for picks. So whatever their "strategy" might be, they can't be married to it. Especially not when you're drafting 25th as opposed to, say, 1st.

So, yeah, I think teams will have general outlines of a strategy and good teams will dot their i's and cross the t's on their prospects but at issue is whether or not that needs to be GM specific(and, if it does, how long does it really take to come up with that).

Because we knew that the Leafs were likely going to promote one of their AGMs to the big chair I think any pre-draft prep work could probably have gone on without a GM. You're still coming up with that shortlist with input from both Hunter and Dubas and decisions still don't need to be made on anything until the end of June. 

 

[Frank E]

Anyone heard what the mandate is supposed to be in Minnesota with the new GM?

That Parise deal is looking pretty awesome right now.  Really though, who would have thought that there would be an issue with a 13 year commitment. 

 

[Kin]

That Parise deal is looking pretty awesome right now.  Really though, who would have thought that there would be an issue with a 13 year commitment.

That's why I'm really cautious about guys like Weber. I know that the whole "Why would he play those last few years if he's only making 1 million" thing has some real logic to it but my answer to that is always that a lot of these guys really like playing hockey and hang on with their fingernails.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Saw an interesting trade idea floating on twitter today:

Adam Mascherin (Panthers prospect who decided not to sign with the club) for Frederik Gauthier (RFA who the Leafs might decide not to bring back)

 

[herman]

Saw an interesting trade idea floating on twitter today:

Adam Mascherin (Panthers prospect who decided not to sign with the club) for Frederik Gauthier (RFA who the Leafs might decide not to bring back)

Any Mascherin* to the Leafs for that tier of prospect talk is A+ in my books.

Also, what's up with Florida's prospect retention issues?

* Adam Mascherin has the same agency as Zach Hyman, who also gave Florida the same news a couple of years ago. He was also the linemate of Jeremy Bracco's on the Kitchener Rangers when they paired up to dummy the OHL.

 

[herman]

Bob McKenzie thinks anyone who is not Sebastian Aho can be available from Dundon?s Hurricanes.

We could conceivably buy Slavin-Pesce if we are feeling crazy, or pick up Faulk.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Bob McKenzie thinks anyone who is not Sebastian Aho can be available from Dundon?s Hurricanes.

We could conceivably buy Slavin-Pesce if we are feeling crazy, or pick up Faulk.

I'd be pretty surprised if they move Slavin or Pesce... but Faulk I could see even if it's just to shake up the locker room. And while he's not exactly the type of defenceman I think we need he'd be by far our best option on the right side so I'd check in there for sure.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Skinner's name has also been mentioned a lot. He'd be a guy I might target if we want to balance out our lefty/righty's on the wing. He's a local guy with tons of speed and can score. Brown for Skinner. Maybe Zaitsev+ for Faulk. Throw in Martin too after his bonus as well since Carolina's openly talked about wanting to get tougher. Assuming we don't land Tavares that could give us:

Skinner-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
Johnsson-Nylander-Hyman

Could swap Hyman and Kapanen if you/Babs want to.