Armchair GM 2018-2019

[cabber24]

I don't believe in the current group on the blueline.

Cool. Tell me why you believe that that is, if you have the time and want to elaborate.

The answer is simple this group's play the last two years. Current Group + Carrick + Marincin - Polak - Hainsey = still suck. How do you like those advanced analytics?

I feel we lean to heavily on offensive type Dman and need to improve our  defensive type Dman. I will admit improved play by Zaitsev will go along way.

 

[herman]

I don't believe in the current group on the blueline.

Cool. Tell me why you believe that that is, if you have the time and want to elaborate.

The answer is simple this group's play the last two years. Current Group + Carrick + Marincin - Polak - Hainsey = still suck. How do you like those advanced analytics?

I feel we lean to heavily on offensive type Dman and need to improve our  defensive type Dman. I will admit improved play by Zaitsev will go along way.

What sucks about them? Their results? How they look?

I'm afraid all I was able to glean from your elaboration was why you were interested in some of the defensemen you had listed earlier.

It would help me understand better if you described the player you want to see on the team.

I'll start. These are the elements I want in our defenders.
1) skating: if you can't skate, bye! forwards, backwards, lateral moves, pivots. Is the skating efficient, or are you working against your own body and having to work extra hard, thus affecting stamina?
2) puck handling: can you buy yourself and supporting forwards a bit of extra time? if not, do you have another option that can cover for that? (see 1)
3) decision making: do you see your options well? do you use the right angles and speeds to cut off plays before they begin, or extend possession?
4) good at getting the puck back: I don't particularly care how, but do you win possession for your team on a regular basis?

 

[Bullfrog]

I think people are going to have to come around to the fact that if they want the Leafs to make a major addition on the blueline they're not going to be able to be the choosiest beggars in the world. It's either going to involve paying through the nose or taking on someone with warts.

Not blueline, but speaking of warts, I bet Spezza could be had for peanuts to fill a hole at centre.

He's got 1 year to go, and he's due $7.5m real money.

I can get behind this idea. I wonder if we could somehow get a decent pick to come back with him? That fact that's he's only got one more year is perfect. I wonder what other players are in that situation that teams would like to get rid of?

Otherwise, I like getting Rick Nash and think Nash-Kadri-Kapanen could be a great shut-down line with real offensive potential.

 

[Frank E]

I wonder what LA does...I'm not sure that there'd be a better time to try and get out of Brown's contact.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I wonder what LA does...I'm not sure that there'd be a better time to try and get out of Brown's contact.

5.8 mill for 4 more years. Durable guy and had 61 points last year but the 3 previous weren't good as he averaged 30 points. Tough competitor but I think we're set on the wings tho.

 

[Andy007]

I think people are going to have to come around to the fact that if they want the Leafs to make a major addition on the blueline they're not going to be able to be the choosiest beggars in the world. It's either going to involve paying through the nose or taking on someone with warts.

Not blueline, but speaking of warts, I bet Spezza could be had for peanuts to fill a hole at centre.

He's got 1 year to go, and he's due $7.5m real money.

I can get behind this idea. I wonder if we could somehow get a decent pick to come back with him? That fact that's he's only got one more year is perfect. I wonder what other players are in that situation that teams would like to get rid of?

Otherwise, I like getting Rick Nash and think Nash-Kadri-Kapanen could be a great shut-down line with real offensive potential.

I really like the idea of that line. It would also free up Marner to play with Matthews and Nylander to centre the 3rd line, if need be. Guess it depends on the $ Nash wants. I like him but I feel he might have to be a fair bit overpaid to bring him here.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think people are going to have to come around to the fact that if they want the Leafs to make a major addition on the blueline they're not going to be able to be the choosiest beggars in the world. It's either going to involve paying through the nose or taking on someone with warts.

Not blueline, but speaking of warts, I bet Spezza could be had for peanuts to fill a hole at centre.

He's got 1 year to go, and he's due $7.5m real money.

I can get behind this idea. I wonder if we could somehow get a decent pick to come back with him? That fact that's he's only got one more year is perfect. I wonder what other players are in that situation that teams would like to get rid of?

Otherwise, I like getting Rick Nash and think Nash-Kadri-Kapanen could be a great shut-down line with real offensive potential.

I'd take Spezza for 1 year over Nash for anything over 1 year. I'm not a fan of Nash. He had the chance to come here before and he didn't want to. I believe it was when he was traded out of Columbus.

 

[gunnar36]

I would be kicking the tires on Coburn from Lightning.
They are loaded on the back end with guys signed thru next year and you might be able to pry him away.

Otherwise a guy like Jake Dotchin may be available for little return as he currently can't get into lineup. He would add toughness in place of Polak.

Andrej Sustr is a capable dman and a Ufa. He's also 6'7", and able to defend well with his size and reach....might be another good 3rd pair option and PK guy with Hainsy. 

 

[Zee]

I would be kicking the tires on Coburn from Lightning.
They are loaded on the back end with guys signed thru next year and you might be able to pry him away.

Otherwise a guy like Jake Dotchin may be available for little return as he currently can't get into lineup. He would add toughness in place of Polak.

Andrej Sustr is a capable dman and a Ufa. He's also 6'7", and able to defend well with his size and reach....might be another good 3rd pair option and PK guy with Hainsy.

Isn't Dotchin that dirty ass player who likes to injure Leafs? Knee on knees and stuff?

 

[Bender]

I would be kicking the tires on Coburn from Lightning.
They are loaded on the back end with guys signed thru next year and you might be able to pry him away.

Otherwise a guy like Jake Dotchin may be available for little return as he currently can't get into lineup. He would add toughness in place of Polak.

Andrej Sustr is a capable dman and a Ufa. He's also 6'7", and able to defend well with his size and reach....might be another good 3rd pair option and PK guy with Hainsy.

Wasn't Coburn crap even in his Philly years?

 

[gunnar36]

I would be kicking the tires on Coburn from Lightning.
They are loaded on the back end with guys signed thru next year and you might be able to pry him away.

Otherwise a guy like Jake Dotchin may be available for little return as he currently can't get into lineup. He would add toughness in place of Polak.

Andrej Sustr is a capable dman and a Ufa. He's also 6'7", and able to defend well with his size and reach....might be another good 3rd pair option and PK guy with Hainsy.

Wasn't Coburn crap even in his Philly years?

Obviously, not in the eyes of Tampa who gave up a fair bit to aquire him.

 

[mr grieves]

OK, I'll give this lineup thing a spin, using my earlier suggestion of dealing Kadri coupled with trading Gardiner, not because "he sucks!" but because with have two other similar LHs in Rielly and Dermott.

Hyman - Matthews - Kapanen
Marleau - Tavares (or Bozak/Spezza etc.) - Marner
Johnsson - Nylander - Brown
from Kadri or Gardiner trade - Aaltonen/Moore - Leivo or new

Rielly / RHD from Kadri trade
Dermott / RHD from Gardiner trade
Hainsey / Zaitsev
spares

I'm fairly certain that there are only 3 pieces in the Leafs organization that'd land a top-pairing RHD. And Kadri ain't one of em.

Get Tavares though and I'd be happy to send Nylander to southern California or Carolina or Nashville.

Rielly - Pesce/Faulk/Manson/Montour/Doughty/Ellis
Gardiner - Dermott
Hainsey - Zaitsev Liljegren

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

If you want a current top pair dman it?ll likely cost one of the triplets or multiple picks and prospects.

The best bet is probably fishing around the fringes of NHL teams who have someone with real potential stashed in the minors/Europe due to a lack of opportunity on their big club.

There is also the option to take a RFA that a parent club can?t pay a raise.

At that point a talented winger prospect and a good pick might shake something of real value loose.

Looking at other teams bottom pairing players as a solution is probably not the answer.

Nashville?s #5 and #6 are horrific.

 

[ZBBM]

OK, I'll give this lineup thing a spin, using my earlier suggestion of dealing Kadri coupled with trading Gardiner, not because "he sucks!" but because with have two other similar LHs in Rielly and Dermott.

Hyman - Matthews - Kapanen
Marleau - Tavares (or Bozak/Spezza etc.) - Marner
Johnsson - Nylander - Brown
from Kadri or Gardiner trade - Aaltonen/Moore - Leivo or new

Rielly / RHD from Kadri trade
Dermott / RHD from Gardiner trade
Hainsey / Zaitsev
spares

I'm fairly certain that there are only 3 pieces in the Leafs organization that'd land a top-pairing RHD. And Kadri ain't one of em.

Get Tavares though and I'd be happy to send Nylander to southern California or Carolina or Nashville.

Rielly - Pesce/Faulk/Manson/Montour/Doughty/Ellis
Gardiner - Dermott
Hainsey - Zaitsev Liljegren

Kadri + another non-34/29/16 asset could very well bring a RHD that would be on our top pair.  I never said it would be Kadri alone.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/NHLbyMatty/status/990452724754927616

How is everyone in Edmonton so dumb?

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I would marry this article if I could.

https://theathletic.com/333126/2018/04/29/maple-leafs-path-to-improvement-includes-obvious-lessons-from-bruins-series-plus-a-dose-of-perspective/

To help put things in perspective, here?s the list of NHL defencemen who led their team in Controlled Zone Exit%, put up over 50 points and had a positive impact on shots and scoring chances relative to their teammates while playing above-average competition:

Drew Doughty
Erik Karlsson
Roman Josi
Shayne Gostisbehere
Jake Gardiner

That?s it.

...

At the end of the day, Toronto was a top-10 team that ran into a top-five team in the first round and still pushed them to seven games despite missing Nazem Kadri for three games. They have an excellent young core, tons of cap flexibility this off-season and a wealth of young talent ready to step into bigger roles next year.

The future is looking bright for the Leafs, as long as they rationally address their needs this summer.

 

[ZBBM]

I would marry this article if I could.

https://theathletic.com/333126/2018/04/29/maple-leafs-path-to-improvement-includes-obvious-lessons-from-bruins-series-plus-a-dose-of-perspective/

To help put things in perspective, here?s the list of NHL defencemen who led their team in Controlled Zone Exit%, put up over 50 points and had a positive impact on shots and scoring chances relative to their teammates while playing above-average competition:

Drew Doughty
Erik Karlsson
Roman Josi
Shayne Gostisbehere
Jake Gardiner

That?s it.

...

At the end of the day, Toronto was a top-10 team that ran into a top-five team in the first round and still pushed them to seven games despite missing Nazem Kadri for three games. They have an excellent young core, tons of cap flexibility this off-season and a wealth of young talent ready to step into bigger roles next year.

The future is looking bright for the Leafs, as long as they rationally address their needs this summer.

I think there's a good living to be made writing articles reassuring Leafs fans that all will be well.  Eventually. 

 

[mr grieves]

I'm fairly certain that there are only 3 pieces in the Leafs organization that'd land a top-pairing RHD. And Kadri ain't one of em.

[snip]

Rielly - Pesce/Faulk/Manson/Montour/Doughty/Ellis

[snip]

Kadri + another non-34/29/16 asset could very well bring a RHD that would be on our top pair.  I never said it would be Kadri alone.

I guess it depends on what we mean by "top pairing RHD."

The names I'm thinking of move the needle -- they're substantial upgrades. For them, you'd need to trade a dollar for a dollar.

That's different than "a RHD that would be on our top pair" which describes, well, Zaitsev. I'm sure you're aiming higher than that though. Folks keep mentioning Tanev as a meaningful upgrade -- a player who not only "would" be on the top pair but also maybe even should be -- and perhaps Kadri, a talented young winger, and picks gets something like that...

 

[ZBBM]

I'm fairly certain that there are only 3 pieces in the Leafs organization that'd land a top-pairing RHD. And Kadri ain't one of em.

[snip]

Rielly - Pesce/Faulk/Manson/Montour/Doughty/Ellis

[snip]

Kadri + another non-34/29/16 asset could very well bring a RHD that would be on our top pair.  I never said it would be Kadri alone.

I guess it depends on what we mean by "top pairing RHD."

The names I'm thinking of move the needle -- they're substantial upgrades. For them, you'd need to trade a dollar for a dollar.

That's different than "a RHD that would be on our top pair" which describes, well, Zaitsev. I'm sure you're aiming higher than that though. Folks keep mentioning Tanev as a meaningful upgrade -- a player who not only "would" be on the top pair but also maybe even should be -- and perhaps Kadri, a talented young winger, and picks gets something like that...

Yes, that's exactly my meaning. Kadri + Brown ++, perhaps.

 

[Zee]

What we're trading Kadri? We better sign Tavares first