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Armchair GM Thread 2020-2021

Frank E said:
So I went on over to capfriendly to figure out how this all shakes out...

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner
Kerfoot - Thornton - Simmonds
Vesey - Engvall - Spezza

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Lehtonen - Bogosian
Dermott

Andersen
Campbell

This leaves the Leafs with a grand total of just under $292K in cap space, and these guys are out:

Malgin
Boyd
Robertson
Korshkov
Barabanov
Liljegren
Sandin
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that Robertson can't be sent down. He will have to go back to junior if he isn't on the active roster because his salary can't count against the cap. My guess is he'll get the first 9 games to show he can play here. I think Barabanov will also be penciled in to start with the big club before Engvall. Vesey is the wildcard here. 
 
Frank E said:
Anyone be interested in a straight up Nylander for Laine swap?
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No because Nylander is signed for 4 more years and Laine is up after next season. He would score a boat load playing in our top 6 and will cost much more then Nylander, who actually scored more goals then he did last year. Now if he had 4 years left on his contract, it would be more thought provoking.
 
Frank E said:
Anyone be interested in a straight up Nylander for Laine swap?
Click to expand...

Nope. Laine is too much of a one dimensional player. When he?s on, that one dimension can be super effective, but he doesn?t really provide anything else to the team. Nylander may not be quite as dangerous a goal scorer (though, the difference isn?t that dramatic), but he?s also an effective playmaker and puck carrier.
 
Maybe this sounds crazy but I'm still not 100% that Nylander won't end up as the best of the big 3.
 
I'm 100% he won't match Matthews, but I've always been on the fence on not only who WILL be better, but also who IS better between him and Marner.
 
Nik said:
Maybe this sounds crazy but I'm still not 100% that Nylander won't end up as the best of the big 3.
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His compete level will have to take a big step forward for that to happen. I think he can become #2 but doubtful he supplants Matthews. He's a great player right not but needs to step up his game.
 
I don't put much stock in the concept of "compete level" regardless but it's not like Matthews is always flying around there like a madman, banging into people and the like.

I really think it's a possibility that Nylander develops the best all-around game.
 
The treatment Nylander is getting is very similar to Sundin?s first few years with the leafs. The criticisms were ridiculous.

Argue with me if you want but Wendel Clark was one of the biggest floaters I?ve ever seen play for the leafs, but you never heard anyone say that. It was especially evident if you saw live games.
 
Nik said:
I don't put much stock in the concept of "compete level" regardless but it's not like Matthews is always flying around there like a madman, banging into people and the like.

I really think it's a possibility that Nylander develops the best all-around game.
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You might not but there are plenty on analysts and ex NHL players that say it isn't good enough at times. I think Nylander is a great player but his compete level sometimes isn't good. I'd like him to drive the net more when carrying the puck instead of doing the button hook just over the blueline when the defender gets close. I think that alone would add a whole dimension to his game and make him even more dangerous.
 
Guilt Trip said:
Nik said:
You might not but there are plenty on analysts and ex NHL players that say it isn't good enough at times. I think Nylander is a great player but his compete level sometimes isn't good.
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Like I said, I don't put stock into the concept above what specific people say about Nylander but if you really want to talk about said specific complaint then this is where I'd fall back on lots of analysts and ex players saying the same thing about lots of guys over the years. Sundin, Jagr, Hull, Ovechkin until he won the cup, Lemieux at times.

This is one of those situations where I firmly fall back on the idea that there's a reason those guys are in a TV studio and not employed by NHL teams.
Click to expand...
 
Nik said:
I really think it's a possibility that Nylander develops the best all-around game.
Click to expand...

The goals (finally) got a lot of attention this year. His puck carrying game has only gotten better to the point where defenses just sag back when he gets the puck out of tremendous respect. Kind of unheralded, because his linemates are not magicians, is how well he sets them up after carrying the puck into the zone.

This isn't me (I wish I had the technology and skill), but a like-minded fellow to follow:
https://twitter.com/mostlyleafies/status/1320152414721363968
https://twitter.com/mostlyleafies/status/1320109508794982402
https://twitter.com/mostlyleafies/status/1288968127888404481

He does everything useful at a well above average level: skating, passing, shooting, blending it all together to help his team get good chances.

Leafs PP with Marner to Matthews was getting anemic and predictable. Tavares struggled to start the season and re-kindle that spark with Marner. Instant turnaround when Keefe added Nylander to the mix in both those cases.

https://twitter.com/shutdownline/status/1320098185096974337
nylanwi96

:-*
 
Bender said:
He reminds me of Kaberle in some ways. He's so good at just carrying the pick and gaining the zone.
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I knew it was never going to happen but I would have loved to see Kaberle play wing for a few games.
 
I've been thinking about this for awhile: Morgan Rielly is the Leafs' DeMar DeRozan. Is there a Kawhi Leonard in the NHL? Does Dubas have the gumption to make that trade when the circumstances align?
 
I don't see the Leafs trading any D men away. Injuries can and probably will happen so it's better to be looking at them then looking for them.
 
Guilt Trip said:
I don't see the Leafs trading any D men away. Injuries can and probably will happen so it's better to be looking at them then looking for them.
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I think it all depends. They have 3 players that look like they can step into Dermott's spot. How many back ups of the back ups do they think they need?
 
herman said:
I've been thinking about this for awhile: Morgan Rielly is the Leafs' DeMar DeRozan. Is there a Kawhi Leonard in the NHL? Does Dubas have the gumption to make that trade when the circumstances align?
Click to expand...

Meaning, a 1 year, all in player? If it works you're a genius. If it fails.........how far back have you set your team?
 
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