Armchair GM Thread 2024-25

[cw]

Jarnkrok needs to go. 2.1M is too much for a guy that does nothing in the playoffs.

I?m genuinely asking this but what 2.1 million player is a ?playoff performer??

Exactly. The problem isn?t that Jarnkrok doesn?t produce in the playoffs. The problem is that the Leafs? depth up front has been so poor that they?ve needed him to do so. Moving his salary doesn?t do much to help the team fix that, but it will hurt them defensively and takeaway another penalty killer - an area they need more help in, not less.

Not to mention he just came back from injuries.

I think he's the perfect player that amount. I'd definitely be keeping him.

He has been like a 'Swiss Army knife'. He's produced on the PP or PK. He's done respectably in the top 6. He's got a decent conscience and ability defensively. He wins nearly 50% of his draws. He scores 10-20 goals/yr and is near .5ppg. Most players like that are making more $

 

[Guilt Trip]

Jarnkrok needs to go. 2.1M is too much for a guy that does nothing in the playoffs.

I?m genuinely asking this but what 2.1 million player is a ?playoff performer??

Exactly. The problem isn?t that Jarnkrok doesn?t produce in the playoffs. The problem is that the Leafs? depth up front has been so poor that they?ve needed him to do so. Moving his salary doesn?t do much to help the team fix that, but it will hurt them defensively and takeaway another penalty killer - an area they need more help in, not less.

Not to mention he just came back from injuries.

I think he's the perfect player that amount. I'd definitely be keeping him.

He has been like a 'Swiss Army knife'. He's produced on the PP or PK. He's done respectably in the top 6. He's got a decent conscience and ability defensively. He wins nearly 50% of his draws. He scores 10-20 goals/yr and is near .5ppg. Most players like that are making more $

And does nothing in the playoffs. Kampf scores at a greater rate. I don't care about regular season. 2.1M is too much for a checker when cap space is at a premium.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I could see the Leafs moving on from one of Jarnkrok or Kampf this offseason, largely to a) open up some cap space and b) open up a roster spot for a different vibe. So if I had to choose one to move it'd pretty easily be the guy who can't play anywhere in the line-up but 4C, has a bigger and longer contract, and has not one but two cheaper potential replacements on the roster for him already including one we gave up a 4th round draft pick to acquire.

Jarnkrok's playoff showings haven't been anything to write home about, no doubt about that, but you're probably not finding a swiss army knife-type player who can literally play anywhere in the line-up in any situation with at least some degree of effectiveness for something notably cheaper than $2.1mil. If Treliving does find a player like that this offseason then sure I'd consider trying to recoup a draft pick or something for Jarnkrok.

 

[herman]

Fasstholes for semi cheap depth instead of blowing the forward budget on Bertuzzi/Domi

Alexey Toropchenko is an RFA next season, currently in St Louis. Big fast shooty LW; does St Louis want some combo of Liljegren/Robertson/Marlie to align with their build? 1.25M this season

I can't believe I'm going to suggest this: Kasperi Kapanen is a UFA and has been making about 3M lately and is just 27.

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

I wondered about something like Jean-Gabriel Pageau @ 50% retained or close to it. Apparently the Islanders are open to moving him for cap relief.

 

[Frank E]

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

I wondered about something like Jean-Gabriel Pageau @ 50% retained or close to it. Apparently the Islanders are open to moving him for cap relief.

Can you cobble something together until something shakes loose during the regular season?

I don't think they'll be able to solve all of this this summer, right?

 

[Deebo]

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

How about Sean Monahan?

26G 33A 59P

That might require overspending.

 

[Frank E]

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

How about Sean Monahan?

26G 33A 59P

That might require overspending.

I'm sure he's looking for term, but I'm wondering if the market on Monahan is still short term obviously because of the injury history?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Not sure how to get a real 3C without overspending (at 2C to push Tavares to 3C) or trade. Domi is not my first choice.

How about Sean Monahan?

26G 33A 59P

That might require overspending.

I'm sure he's looking for term, but I'm wondering if the market on Monahan is still short term obviously because of the injury history?

They certainly could fit a guy like Monahan or Henrique or Stephenson but it'd come with a $5mil (or more) AAV and that limits how much they can improve
the D. It'll just come down to what the priorities are.

 

[Deebo]

I think centre is pretty big need too.

 

[Bender]

I think centre is pretty big need too.

Realistically their needs are everywhere.

 

[cw]

I think centre is pretty big need too.

Realistically their needs are everywhere.

Behind right wing and maybe left D, I'd say it is their next strongest position.
A center would not be as high on my list as a right hand dman or goalie.

Tavares, losing some points to the checking center experiment, was still top 40 or so in scoring & ppg among NHL centers. If he isn't the best at faceoffs, he close to that. I think the knock on his skating is worse than reality. He's an expensive but capable 2nd line center. Kampf is overpaid but capable on the 4th line.

Holmberg, Jarnkrok & Dewar have NHL time at center.
The most interesting candidate among the Leafs might be McMann. Not bad in the faceoff circle. One of the fastest skaters on the team. Seems capable of winning NHL faceoffs. He has the size to do so. He has one of the better defensive consciences among the forwards. He played center in the minor leagues. He loves scoring from the slot and the blue paint.
The questions for me:
Does he have the NHL game figured out well enough mentally yet? He improved over the season but still seemed to be trying to figure some things out on the wing. Some of that may be due to him spending a bunch of time at center in the minors.
He's pretty good along the boards as a power forward. Do we want to give that up - or how do we replace it?

They have Domi they're entertaining to re-sign as maybe a center.
Minten will be auditioning in September.
I doubt they'll try Nylander because of his weaker defensive mindset

I think they should grab a couple of good right handed dmen off the UFA market, find someone to play with Woll in goal and then look at what $ they have left for center and left wing.

 

[cw]

How the Maple Leafs Could Use Performance Bonuses if They Wanted to Bring Back Matt Murray and John Klingberg at a Minimal Risk With Big Reward

I can't say I'd have much interest in Klingberg's second time after hip surgery.
I also doubt the way he plays is what they need.

Given there are no great UFA goalies to be easily had
and a number of goalies have had bounce back results after their first hip surgery,
I might consider this.
It really depends on what the doctors have to say and how his rehab seemed to be progressing.
I don't think one can put much stock in a couple of AHL starts after what he'd been through.
This might be a consideration for next season

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd take them both at league minimum with some bonuses as long as they aren't super easy to achieve (like Connor Brown's 10GP one with EDM).

Klingberg could still potentially be a fine bottom pair offensive guy, especially if the team leans more towards defensive fee agents targets for the top-4. If they sign say a Montour then there's no role for him here though. But if it's like Tanev and Zadorov then the team could still use another offensive puck mover. If he sucks then he's easy enough to waive. 

Murray I talked about before but he'd be one of the better if not best 3G options to split time with Hildeby on the Marlies next season. Jones is rumoured to be very interested in a return as well for that same role but Murray has a little more upside there so all things being equal I'd lean more towards him, but either would be fine really.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I'd take them both at league minimum with some bonuses as long as they aren't super easy to achieve (like Connor Brown's 10GP one with EDM).

Klingberg could still potentially be a fine bottom pair offensive guy, especially if the team leans more towards defensive fee agents targets for the top-4. If they sign say a Montour then there's no role for him here though. But if it's like Tanev and Zadorov then the team could still use another offensive puck mover. If he sucks then he's easy enough to waive. 

Murray I talked about before but he'd be one of the better if not best 3G options to split time with Hildeby on the Marlies next season. Jones is rumoured to be very interested in a return as well for that same role but Murray has a little more upside there so all things being equal I'd lean more towards him, but either would be fine really.

I think they'll want Hildeby and Akhtyamov to split the Marlies net, no?

 

[cw]

I'd take them both at league minimum with some bonuses as long as they aren't super easy to achieve (like Connor Brown's 10GP one with EDM).

Klingberg could still potentially be a fine bottom pair offensive guy, especially if the team leans more towards defensive fee agents targets for the top-4. If they sign say a Montour then there's no role for him here though. But if it's like Tanev and Zadorov then the team could still use another offensive puck mover. If he sucks then he's easy enough to waive. 

Murray I talked about before but he'd be one of the better if not best 3G options to split time with Hildeby on the Marlies next season. Jones is rumoured to be very interested in a return as well for that same role but Murray has a little more upside there so all things being equal I'd lean more towards him, but either would be fine really.

With that kind of a deal, there would be a fair chance Murray wouldn't clear waivers. Little risk for anyone to grab him. I'm not sure Jones would clear waivers next season either after what he did this past year. They couldn't send him back down this year or he probably would have been taken. They could try to get Jones through the healthy NHLers to start the season like they did last year but after that ...

I don't know Brossoit or Stolarz very well. Along with not knowing how well Murray has/will recover also makes it nearly impossible to be very confident in making a choice.

With Woll's injury history, they definitely need someone decent playing with Hildeby

Klingberg, I'm not as sure. It depends on Liljegren and how much $ he wants and whatever else is on the UFA market.

If they do pan out, it could hurt next year's cap.

But I agree that it should be a lot tougher for them to cash in than what Brown got. That deal was almost pointless. Hopefully, the bonus structure could be tiered somehow

 

[cw]

I'd take them both at league minimum with some bonuses as long as they aren't super easy to achieve (like Connor Brown's 10GP one with EDM).

Klingberg could still potentially be a fine bottom pair offensive guy, especially if the team leans more towards defensive fee agents targets for the top-4. If they sign say a Montour then there's no role for him here though. But if it's like Tanev and Zadorov then the team could still use another offensive puck mover. If he sucks then he's easy enough to waive. 

Murray I talked about before but he'd be one of the better if not best 3G options to split time with Hildeby on the Marlies next season. Jones is rumoured to be very interested in a return as well for that same role but Murray has a little more upside there so all things being equal I'd lean more towards him, but either would be fine really.

I think they'll want Hildeby and Akhtyamov to split the Marlies net, no?

They might have to go with 3 in the AHL unless they feel Hildeby is ready to backup in the NHL (which I doubt). Woll being injury prone probably dictates that no matter who the other NHL goalie is.

I was thinking 'they could always send one of them to the ECHL for games ..' but they don't have an ECHL team. Maybe they will before the end of the summer. They have a lot on their plate in the next 35 days ...

 

[herman]

https://x.com/taylordbaird/status/1798028614732296322
hmm... Dallas is down a top-6ish RW leadership guy
They currently have 15M to work with and 4D, 4F to fill...

 

[herman]

https://x.com/tlndc/status/1799837531024109588
Dangle the bait; and the other team probably has to put a good foot forward re: extension $. Some kookoo bananas cap floor team should definitely throw out 15M AAV.

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/tlndc/status/1799837531024109588
Dangle the bait; and the other team probably has to put a good foot forward re: extension $. Some kookoo bananas cap floor team should definitely throw out 15M AAV.

Hypothetically they should be open to trading anybody.