Armchair GM Thread 2022-2023

[Frank E]

If they can bring back Giordano I'd move on from Brodie and Muzzin.  Both are declining IMO.  It's a gamble but I think Sandin and Liljegren are top 4 guys.

If we're bringing Giordano back then at that point, in a bit of a twist, we'll just have too much money invested into our defence and someone will have to go to put some money into a middle-6 forward and/or goaltending. Muzzin is the more logical choice for me since I think he'll have a tougher decline than Brodie (who I don't really think has shown much of that IMO) and at the same time he'll probably have more value to another team because of his style of play.

Yeah, I move Muzzin before Brodie.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, I move Muzzin before Brodie.

Yup. In fact, I don't move Brodie until we know we have a clear replacement for the right side of the D. I'd like to see him back with Rielly full time. I'd set the D like this going into next season (barring any major moves, of course):

Rielly-Brodie
Gio-Liljegren
Sandin-Holl

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yup. In fact, I don't move Brodie until we know we have a clear replacement for the right side of the D.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Brodie stay here even past his current contract in a slightly reduced role/AAV.

 

[L K]

Also on a side note Bunting didn't do any better than the maligned Hyman.  That was disappointing.

3 straight years where a supposed-to-be linemate of M&M went into the playoffs injured, right (Hyman -> Foligno+Hyman - > Bunting).

I'm going to give Bunting some slack for his injury. I know the team was handling injuries in a smarter way with the playoffs coming up but the first few games he didn't look to be as effective getting in on the forecheck. 

Yeah I would easily move Muzzin over Brodie.  I think Muzzin is still more important to the team WHEN 100% HEALTHY but that's just not a reliable state for him.  If his playoff performance lets a team acquire him for something I think that's a good sell opportunity to free up cap space/maybe get a lesser asset.

 

[Zee]

Also on a side note Bunting didn't do any better than the maligned Hyman.  That was disappointing.

3 straight years where a supposed-to-be linemate of M&M went into the playoffs injured, right (Hyman -> Foligno+Hyman - > Bunting).

I'm going to give Bunting some slack for his injury. I know the team was handling injuries in a smarter way with the playoffs coming up but the first few games he didn't look to be as effective getting in on the forecheck. 

Yeah I would easily move Muzzin over Brodie.  I think Muzzin is still more important to the team WHEN 100% HEALTHY but that's just not a reliable state for him.  If his playoff performance lets a team acquire him for something I think that's a good sell opportunity to free up cap space/maybe get a lesser asset.

Agreed.  I think the time to move on from Muzzin is now.  He had a decent playoff so I don't think it's too difficult to trade him given that other GMs covet experience and toughness.  Leafs could use that cap space.

 

[Bullfrog]

TOSS
- Kerfoot (1 year, 3.5M) is also a valuable member of the team as a utility player, but we could easily use this cap hit for 3 Marlies grads to get similar production.

I'm a bit confused by this one. You are not finding a Marlies grad to score 51 points while also being 3rd on the team in SH TOI for forwards. Robertson's got potential on the scoring side I suppose.

 

[Zee]

TOSS
- Kerfoot (1 year, 3.5M) is also a valuable member of the team as a utility player, but we could easily use this cap hit for 3 Marlies grads to get similar production.

I'm a bit confused by this one. You are not finding a Marlies grad to score 51 points while also being 3rd on the team in SH TOI for forwards. Robertson's got potential on the scoring side I suppose.

In this day and age you never know.  I see also-rans on Florida breaking through with big years and wonder why can't the Leafs have some guy that nobody expects suddenly break out and score 20 goals? (see Marchment and Verhaeghe)

 

[herman]

TOSS
- Kerfoot (1 year, 3.5M) is also a valuable member of the team as a utility player, but we could easily use this cap hit for 3 Marlies grads to get similar production.

I'm a bit confused by this one. You are not finding a Marlies grad to score 51 points while also being 3rd on the team in SH TOI for forwards. Robertson's got potential on the scoring side I suppose.

I haven't done the accounting on this, but I suspect a significant proportion of Kerfoot's 5v5 production was while playing top-6 minutes. Your contention with my initial assertion is valid though. Unless those aforementioned Marlies see top-6 minutes and are more Bunting than Ritchie about it, those 50-pts are going to have to come from aggregate changes to the depth, and leveraging the opened cap space towards top-6 reinforcements.

I'm picking Pontus Holmberg to be the internal replacement for Kerfoot's role.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/iihfhockey/status/1526978102122803200

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/iihfhockey/status/1526978102122803200

Wouldn't that be hilarious if he did come back to the Leafs and did well?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Malgin's a NHLer. COVID forced him to go home and it was just way too appealing to stay there for him. He never would have had the type of season that Marchment just had but I think he could have had at least a Kase-lite type impact on the team if he stuck around. If he did want to return the Leafs should absolutely give him another chance.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

If they can bring back Giordano I'd move on from Brodie and Muzzin.  Both are declining IMO.  It's a gamble but I think Sandin and Liljegren are top 4 guys.

I don't think taking out two of your top 4 defense is a wise move without some sort of plan in place to replace them. Muzzin and to a lesser degree, Brodie, may be declining but they still bring more of a complete game than Sandin and Liljegren at this point. So, if you're willing to take a step back defensively, I'd say, sure, go with the two young guys. If not, I think you have to keep one of, if not both, of Muzzin and Brodie. Muzzin may have had a rough year for stretches, but he was great in the playoffs IMO.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

If they can bring back Giordano I'd move on from Brodie and Muzzin.  Both are declining IMO.  It's a gamble but I think Sandin and Liljegren are top 4 guys.

I don't think taking out two of your top 4 defense is a wise move without some sort of plan in place to replace them. Muzzin and to a lesser degree, Brodie, may be declining but they still bring more of a complete game than Sandin and Liljegren at this point. So, if you're willing to take a step back defensively, I'd say, sure, go with the two young guys. If not, I think you have to keep one of, if not both, of Muzzin and Brodie. Muzzin may have had a rough year for stretches, but he was great in the playoffs IMO.

I agree, but I'd add in the caveat that if you're able to spend that extra money on a really good goalie it might be the smart move. We saw for years what a goalie like Cujo or Eddie can do and maybe that's the difference the Leafs need.

I don't know who that goalie is. Maybe Winnipeg rebuilds and Hellebuyck becomes available or maybe you gamble of Gibson regaining form. I also don't know where the cap space or trade assets are found, but that is the single biggest difference this team can make.

 

[ZBBM]

If they can bring back Giordano I'd move on from Brodie and Muzzin.  Both are declining IMO.  It's a gamble but I think Sandin and Liljegren are top 4 guys.

I don't think taking out two of your top 4 defense is a wise move without some sort of plan in place to replace them. Muzzin and to a lesser degree, Brodie, may be declining but they still bring more of a complete game than Sandin and Liljegren at this point. So, if you're willing to take a step back defensively, I'd say, sure, go with the two young guys. If not, I think you have to keep one of, if not both, of Muzzin and Brodie. Muzzin may have had a rough year for stretches, but he was great in the playoffs IMO.

The team is going to take a step back from this year's 115-point showing no matter what, I think.  It's way past time to get these two guys into the lineup every day.  Younger, quicker, better offensively ... I think it' a plus all told.

And Willie's point is an excellent one.

 

[L K]

If they can bring back Giordano I'd move on from Brodie and Muzzin.  Both are declining IMO.  It's a gamble but I think Sandin and Liljegren are top 4 guys.

I don't think taking out two of your top 4 defense is a wise move without some sort of plan in place to replace them. Muzzin and to a lesser degree, Brodie, may be declining but they still bring more of a complete game than Sandin and Liljegren at this point. So, if you're willing to take a step back defensively, I'd say, sure, go with the two young guys. If not, I think you have to keep one of, if not both, of Muzzin and Brodie. Muzzin may have had a rough year for stretches, but he was great in the playoffs IMO.

The team is going to take a step back from this year's 115-point showing no matter what, I think.  It's way past time to get these two guys into the lineup every day.  Younger, quicker, better offensively ... I think it' a plus all told.

And Willie's point is an excellent one.

Other than a perfectly fair criticism that our goaltending wasn't good enough for large stretches of the year there really aren't a lot of guys you can point at and say we need a big upgrade here.  Every single player who have leaving the organization this year is a downgrade.

Trade Nylander - we lose a guy who put up a PPG season and is a lock to score 30+ over a full season.  We aren't getting that same player back

Lose Mikheyev/Engvall - lose good depth scoring, lose a lot of speed and lose a great penalty killer

Lose Lyubushkin - lose one of the few guys who clears the crease

Lose Holl - lose a guy who is a good penalty killer and at times can be good in other positions.

Lose Campbell - well he's easily our best goaltender and we don't have anyone else in the organization who I trust to perform.  The free agent goalie market sucks this year so replacing him is likely through trade or flipping a coin on a European option with no NHL track record.

Lose Mrazek - meh! But because of his season last year you are probably giving up an asset to unload him and that makes the organizational depth worse and he's probably primed for a rebound season because he is still a good goaltender....he just had a bad year and injuries really prevented him from getting into any sort of a groove.  I think he's a poor fit for this organization though. 

Muzzin/Brodie - frees up space for Liljegren/Sandin but it absolutely makes our blue line worse in the short term but also frees up cap space.

Every move we make is likely to make the team worse.

On that note, who is the 2022 Michael Bunting who we can get for a steal?

 

[Joe S.]

I don?t understand where this sentiment of moving on from Brodie is coming from. He?s quiet and dependable. The fact that he isn?t noticed most nights is a testament to how effective he is.

 

[Bill_Berg]

I don?t understand where this sentiment of moving on from Brodie is coming from. He?s quiet and dependable. The fact that he isn?t noticed most nights is a testament to how effective he is.

I agree. Muzzin's money may be better spent elsewhere, but Brodie should stay.

 

[herman]

On that note, who is the 2022 Michael Bunting who we can get for a steal?

Malgin?

 

[Highlander]

Hope that Spezza is retained as a player development coach.  They need his message.

 

[L K]

I don?t understand where this sentiment of moving on from Brodie is coming from. He?s quiet and dependable. The fact that he isn?t noticed most nights is a testament to how effective he is.

I mentioned Brodie in my post just out of cap hit.  I agree.  I don't think Brodie is a guy I'm concerned about.  His play is fine.  I'd probably rather see him go back with Rielly next year.