Armchair President/GM 2023-2024
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
herman
Well-known member
https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1752714697189523538
In the offseason and earlier this year, I thought there'd be a good chance we lose him, but his off-puck adjustments and increasing composure on the ice (along with Treliving's desire for 3 attacking lines) gives Robertson more of a platform to build on here. He'll never be a shutdown player, but in sheltered scoring, and the occasional cup of coffee in the top-6, there's reason to believe. Imagine Trevor Moore with a cannon...
Now as for who I'd be okay moving for NHL help?
* Nick Abruzzese doesn't have much room here to flourish at the NHL level
* William Villeneuve fills a much needed role if he makes it, but that's the same on nearly every team, so I can see a move there simply because of positional value
* Ryan Reaves, Noah Gregor, Max Lajoie duh
* Max Domi if a legit 3C is coming in from this or other transactions
* 1 of Timothy Liljegren or Connor Timmins if a legit top 4 RD with term is coming in from this or other transactions
In the offseason and earlier this year, I thought there'd be a good chance we lose him, but his off-puck adjustments and increasing composure on the ice (along with Treliving's desire for 3 attacking lines) gives Robertson more of a platform to build on here. He'll never be a shutdown player, but in sheltered scoring, and the occasional cup of coffee in the top-6, there's reason to believe. Imagine Trevor Moore with a cannon...
Now as for who I'd be okay moving for NHL help?
* Nick Abruzzese doesn't have much room here to flourish at the NHL level
* William Villeneuve fills a much needed role if he makes it, but that's the same on nearly every team, so I can see a move there simply because of positional value
* Ryan Reaves, Noah Gregor, Max Lajoie duh
* Max Domi if a legit 3C is coming in from this or other transactions
* 1 of Timothy Liljegren or Connor Timmins if a legit top 4 RD with term is coming in from this or other transactions
herman said:
I'd throw in Holmberg's name here too. I just really don't see much of a future for him here beyond behind a 13th forward type but he's still young-ish enough that another team might still see a little more promise than that. So if he could be swapped for even just a rental who could stablize the bottom-6 forwards right now I'd do it.
I also wouldn't be shocked if Topi Niemela was eventually used as a trade chip, largely because he doesn't scream "Treliving D". But that would only apply for a defenceman that could help round out the top-4 with some term, he's obviously not going anywhere for a rental. All our other prospects are either untouchable (Cowan, Minten, Hildeby) or not exactly needle movers in trades. And considering the team will likely be hesitant to move another 1st with 2025's already gone Niemela is really the only chip left IF Treliving goes shopping for a top-4 defensive defender who can be here for multiple years.
dappleganger
Active member
Any interest in Jordan Eberle for the 3rd line? Free agent after this year. back-to-back 20 goals seasons. Performed well in last year's playoffs. Doing ok this year. Seattle is currently outside of a playoff position.
Stand pat, this team has not earned rentals this season.
To be honest, I would be happy if the Leafs sold at the deadline and started recalibrating now. Not a rebuild but concede being a "contender" this year. Trade assets would include Bertuzzi, Domi, Brodie, Jones, and Gio. Am I nuts?
To be honest, I would be happy if the Leafs sold at the deadline and started recalibrating now. Not a rebuild but concede being a "contender" this year. Trade assets would include Bertuzzi, Domi, Brodie, Jones, and Gio. Am I nuts?
dappleganger
Active member
cabber24 said:
Yes.
I think if you have Matthews, Marner, Nylander in their primes, you have to go for it.
Do you have to add? Not necessarily. Do you sell off? Not if you're in a playoff position. Any team that makes the playoffs can win the Cup.
Now, do you sell Brodie and Gio? Definitely maybe. (More Brodie than Gio) But my idea of trading Brodie would be to bring in someone else to help the Leafs win with his cap space.
louisstamos
Active member
At the same time, Florida did not make a single move last year at the deadline (mostly due to cap issues and lack of trade assets), and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.
But I guess by that same token, Vegas bought Barbashev, Blueger and Quick at the deadline and won the whole thing, so there's that too.
...I forgot where I was going with this.
But I guess by that same token, Vegas bought Barbashev, Blueger and Quick at the deadline and won the whole thing, so there's that too.
...I forgot where I was going with this.
louisstamos
Active member
herman said:
Sounds about right.
bustaheims
Well-known member
louisstamos said:
Teams that make the big moves in-season - and especially at/around the deadline - rarely win it all. Depth moves only.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
Leafs aren't selling with these guys in their primes and we shouldn't want them to. Always going for it doesn't mean spending the farm on it either..Small tweaking deals only or guys with term. That's it...
I do not think they have enough assets to do much for this team. They're not a top contender.
I'd like to see how they do leading up the the deadline before committing.
If I had to call it now, I'd sell. If they do well between now and the deadline, I might use a couple of low picks to get them a little help.
MLSE are not likely to go along with an assets sale.
"Anything can happen in the playoffs."
If Woll returns to form and Samsonov continues to play well, I'd be temped to sign Jones. If they did, I would see what I could get for Samsonov. I like Samsonov personally but after what happened, resigning him seems awkward. I doubt you'd get a lot but I think you'd get more than a 6/7th. The big perk is the cap space for next year and you don't lose him for nothing and you'd have signed Jones for backup.
Core 5 have NMCs - unlikely to move. Knies is almost untouchable. I'd be reluctant to move Liljegren - depends what he brings back. Ditto Jarnkrok & McCabe (good value for next year's cap). Unless they get a physical dman for next season by the deadline, Benoit would have to stay (I'd probably want to keep him anyway).
I think Reaves & Kampf are contractually untradeable. You wouldn't get anything anyway.
Brodie, Bertuzzi (NMC), Domi, Gregor, McMann, Timmons, Lagesson (if he won't resign), Lajoie (if Lagesson resigns)
I think you might have to keep some of the younger D because there are not that many dmen available.
From Herman's AHLers I might keep Villeneuve for one more year. He's waivers exempt.
From that Samsonov, Brodie, Bertuzzi (NMC which he might not waive with the new baby) & Domi are the key ones. The big thing I'd want is a top 4 dman on the right side with some term. Maybe you get one from the assets returned from trading these guys and the bits from some of the others.
Rielly top 4 from trade (physical defender)
McCabe top 4 UFA (offensive puck mover with some size)
Benoit Liljegren
Let's say they couldn't trade much or didn't. I still think they could improve the D.
The bottom 6 are not setting the world on fire. What if they went with 11 forwards and 7 D.
Giordano or Timmins could take Rielly's spot on the PP. Rielly could help with more ES time or PK time. Giordano and Brodie - the older dmen - would be fresher with less ice time. It would not set the world on fire but they could improve the D that way. Kampf and winger could get the odd shift with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Jarnkrok, Knies, etc.
That's my two cents
I'd like to see how they do leading up the the deadline before committing.
If I had to call it now, I'd sell. If they do well between now and the deadline, I might use a couple of low picks to get them a little help.
MLSE are not likely to go along with an assets sale.
"Anything can happen in the playoffs."
If Woll returns to form and Samsonov continues to play well, I'd be temped to sign Jones. If they did, I would see what I could get for Samsonov. I like Samsonov personally but after what happened, resigning him seems awkward. I doubt you'd get a lot but I think you'd get more than a 6/7th. The big perk is the cap space for next year and you don't lose him for nothing and you'd have signed Jones for backup.
Core 5 have NMCs - unlikely to move. Knies is almost untouchable. I'd be reluctant to move Liljegren - depends what he brings back. Ditto Jarnkrok & McCabe (good value for next year's cap). Unless they get a physical dman for next season by the deadline, Benoit would have to stay (I'd probably want to keep him anyway).
I think Reaves & Kampf are contractually untradeable. You wouldn't get anything anyway.
Brodie, Bertuzzi (NMC), Domi, Gregor, McMann, Timmons, Lagesson (if he won't resign), Lajoie (if Lagesson resigns)
I think you might have to keep some of the younger D because there are not that many dmen available.
From Herman's AHLers I might keep Villeneuve for one more year. He's waivers exempt.
From that Samsonov, Brodie, Bertuzzi (NMC which he might not waive with the new baby) & Domi are the key ones. The big thing I'd want is a top 4 dman on the right side with some term. Maybe you get one from the assets returned from trading these guys and the bits from some of the others.
Rielly top 4 from trade (physical defender)
McCabe top 4 UFA (offensive puck mover with some size)
Benoit Liljegren
Let's say they couldn't trade much or didn't. I still think they could improve the D.
The bottom 6 are not setting the world on fire. What if they went with 11 forwards and 7 D.
Giordano or Timmins could take Rielly's spot on the PP. Rielly could help with more ES time or PK time. Giordano and Brodie - the older dmen - would be fresher with less ice time. It would not set the world on fire but they could improve the D that way. Kampf and winger could get the odd shift with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Jarnkrok, Knies, etc.
That's my two cents
Highlander
Active member
Ya Gio is sliding into home plate and maybe is not going to beat the throw.Bullfrog said:Giordano's got to retire at some point, no?
Highlander said:Ya Gio is sliding into home plate and maybe is not going to beat the throw.Bullfrog said:Giordano's got to retire at some point, no?
He's a UFA so ..
I'm not as down on him as some.
He's still a smart player and he's still in pretty good shape.
To use a 40 year old as a crease clearer on the PK was not the greatest use of his talents at this point in his career.
He's a .5 ppg dman for his career. He's run many power plays.
I bet if you flipped his PK time for PP time with Morgan Rielly, the PP wouldn't slip much and 225lb Rielly would help the PK.
cw said:Highlander said:Ya Gio is sliding into home plate and maybe is not going to beat the throw.Bullfrog said:Giordano's got to retire at some point, no?
He's a UFA so ..
I'm not as down on him as some.
He's still a smart player and he's still in pretty good shape.
To use a 40 year old as a crease clearer on the PK was not the greatest use of his talents at this point in his career.
He's a .5 ppg dman for his career. He's run many power plays.
I bet if you flipped his PK time for PP time with Morgan Rielly, the PP wouldn't slip much and 225lb Rielly would help the PK.
I remember him saying last season that if the leafs win the cup he?ll retire otherwise he?ll go 1 more season.
I really don?t see him going beyond this season.
Andy007
Active member
Thinking about trade possibilities (and what appears to be a lucrative seller's trade market) only makes me wonder/lament about how this team would look with a different coach and new philosophies. I mean, I am intrigued even simply by balancing the existing group of forwards (to maybe something like this):
McMann Matthews Nylander
Bertuzzi Domi Marner
Knies Tavares Robertson
Holmberg Kampf Jankrok
All four lines could have a regular shift (that 4th line was essentially our 3rd line for the start of last year) and you could really maximize each player's minutes, instead of the top-heavy, exhausting the stars-type scenario we keep seeing this season. Tavares can take the odd shift with the top line to get his minutes up (and keep McMann's down) and would benefit from seeing less-competitive minutes/opponents as the 3rd line centre. Marner offsets Domi's negative defensive value, just as Matthews offsets Nylander's. Robertson's left handed snipe could be nasty on the off-wing and Knies gets to see less dangerous opponents as well.
As for the defence, while it is quite average, again I'd love to see a balanced approach that somewhat stabilizes each pairing:
Rielly Benoit
McCabe Liljegren
Brodie Timmins
Albeit some of the sample size is limited, Rielly does seem to excel with more defensive, physical d-men (Hainsey, Lybushkin, Schenn) and Brodie could then move to his natural side, providing some stability for Timmins. You could even go with a 11-7 formation and sub Giordano in for McMann (moving Holmberg to that vacant spot) and have the ability to keep everyone fresh, spot Brodie in here and there for Benoit, especially if he struggles on the right side. There is a bit of flexibility.
And as for the trade market, Matt Dumba probably wouldn't cost much and might fit in nicely to the right of Rielly. Benoit-Brodie 3rd pairing with Gio and Timmins as extras isn't anything to sneeze at.
Anyway that's just my little armchair GM spiel, thanks for listening
McMann Matthews Nylander
Bertuzzi Domi Marner
Knies Tavares Robertson
Holmberg Kampf Jankrok
All four lines could have a regular shift (that 4th line was essentially our 3rd line for the start of last year) and you could really maximize each player's minutes, instead of the top-heavy, exhausting the stars-type scenario we keep seeing this season. Tavares can take the odd shift with the top line to get his minutes up (and keep McMann's down) and would benefit from seeing less-competitive minutes/opponents as the 3rd line centre. Marner offsets Domi's negative defensive value, just as Matthews offsets Nylander's. Robertson's left handed snipe could be nasty on the off-wing and Knies gets to see less dangerous opponents as well.
As for the defence, while it is quite average, again I'd love to see a balanced approach that somewhat stabilizes each pairing:
Rielly Benoit
McCabe Liljegren
Brodie Timmins
Albeit some of the sample size is limited, Rielly does seem to excel with more defensive, physical d-men (Hainsey, Lybushkin, Schenn) and Brodie could then move to his natural side, providing some stability for Timmins. You could even go with a 11-7 formation and sub Giordano in for McMann (moving Holmberg to that vacant spot) and have the ability to keep everyone fresh, spot Brodie in here and there for Benoit, especially if he struggles on the right side. There is a bit of flexibility.
And as for the trade market, Matt Dumba probably wouldn't cost much and might fit in nicely to the right of Rielly. Benoit-Brodie 3rd pairing with Gio and Timmins as extras isn't anything to sneeze at.
Anyway that's just my little armchair GM spiel, thanks for listening