Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

[L K]

Was listening to Brady and Walker this morning and there was a passing reference to Dan Boyle apparently having an interest to play in Toronto, recent trade to NYI notwithstanding.  Now I don't put any stock into this, but I was wondering: would this make sense on a short term deal?  If Phaneuf should be traded, this could provide some short-term relief.

Boyle will be 38 next season and his production has already started slipping. He's probably shouldn't be a 1st pairing guy anymore, and he's definitely not a #1 guy. I'm not sure he would provide short-term relief for the Leafs moving Phaneuf, because I'm not confident he can continue to play that much.

My guess is he takes a 1 year deal from a contender and expects 2-3 years from a lesser quality team.

 

[Kin]

He did just lead a pretty successful Sharks team in ice time so he can still pretty clearly contribute at a high level. The problem is he did it without killing penalties which probably means he wasn't getting the toughest defensive assignments either. The Leafs are pretty well situated with offensive defensmen so it probably doesn't really make up for Phaneuf's place in the line-up.

The cap figure, really, would be everything. He'd be an upgrade on Franson, I think we can agree, but if he wants 6+ million a year then there's really no point.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Probably from Dreger, he reported yesterday that the Leafs were high on Dan Boyle's list.

Is his list entitled 'Teams desperately looking for leadership and intangibles who might overpay for me'?

Boyle's a fine player, but I'm just not sure he's the right fit for this team. Gardiner and Rielly need bigger roles on the powerplay, not smaller ones and the addition of Boyle would probably keep them on the 2nd unit. Also, like Nik said he doesn't really kill penalties and that's a role we're going to need to fill. Signing someone like Stralman or Fayne would make a lot more sense.

Now, if we somehow moved Phaneuf and had the cap space to sign Boyle ($5mil would be the highest I think I would go) then maybe it could work. We'd still need enough room to bring in say a Stralman, but that would give us:

Gardiner-Boyle
Gunnarsson-Stralman
Rielly-Gleason/Holzer/MacWilliam/Ranger

Basically if we could get good value for Phaneuf then Boyle would be a smart replacement. We'd still need one of Boyle/Gardiner/Rielly to step into a PK role though.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Also he doesn't really kill penalties and that's a role we're going to need to fill.

Well it should be noted this past season seems to be the only one in his career (at least in recent memory) that he didn't average at least 1:00 of PK time per game.  I'm sure he could still do it, I don't know the reasoning for him not this past season.

 

[Boston Leaf]

We are not a Dan Boyle away from a Cup run. Why oh why? Let him go somewhere else and lets give a kid a shot

 

[Corn Flake]

We are not a Dan Boyle away from a Cup run. Why oh why? Let him go somewhere else and lets give a kid a shot

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

I think this defense BADLY needs a calm, experienced PROVEN veteran who can step in and help teach and be an example.  We really have not had that player in a long time.

What the kids learn from him now can become very valuable when the team is in cup run state.

 

[Redleaf]

We are not a Dan Boyle away from a Cup run. Why oh why? Let him go somewhere else and lets give a kid a shot

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

I think this defense BADLY needs a calm, experienced PROVEN veteran who can step in and help teach and be an example.  We really have not had that player in a long time.

What the kids learn from him now can become very valuable when the team is in cup run state.

Nail. Head. Hit.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

We are not a Dan Boyle away from a Cup run. Why oh why? Let him go somewhere else and lets give a kid a shot

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

Gleason, Tim.

 

[bustaheims]

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

Considering what we've seen from this management and coaching group recently, odds are he's take the spot away from a kid.

 

[Corn Flake]

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

Considering what we've seen from this management and coaching group recently, odds are he's take the spot away from a kid.

Morgan Rielly would disagree with you on that.

 

[Kin]

But would he take a job from a kid or would he take a job from a vet who isn't delivering?

Well, I think that's what is being discussed. While from a cap perspective he might take the place of a Phaneuf or, ideally, Gleason I think his skill set indicates he's more likely to be used in the sort of minutes that, ideally, Rielly or Gardiner will be playing.

If the idea behind signing him is that he replaces, say, Franson and he's a 5/6 guy on the second unit PP I don't think anyone would object, the problem is whether or not he wants that sort of role or whether that sort of role is worth his likely asking price.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Well it should be noted this past season seems to be the only one in his career (at least in recent memory) that he didn't average at least 1:00 of PK time per game.  I'm sure he could still do it, I don't know the reasoning for him not this past season.

I think he could be used effectively on the 2nd PK unit, but a part of my offseason plan would be to find somebody who can take Dion's minutes from the top unit. And that guy isn't Boyle. With that said, if we could fit both under the cap I think Boyle and Stralman could give us a pretty solid top-6:

Gardiner-Phaneuf
Gunnarsson-Stralman
Rielly-Boyle

Gunnarsson and Stralman would handle the tough minutes, which then allows the other two pairings to run wild possession-wise against the lesser competition. The special team units would look like this:

PP:
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Boyle-Rielly

PK:
Gunnarsson-Stralman
Phaneuf-Boyle

The question then swings back around to what we've basically been talking about, value. Is Boyle at $5mil worth it? To be honest with you, I think I may have talked myself into it through this post assuming we get a Stralman or Fayne first.

 

[louisstamos]

I'm still convinced Boyle wants to be a Ranger above all, but wanted to give it the olde college try:

Gleason bought out
Reimer + Franson to Winnipeg for Clitsome and picks.
UFAs signed: R.Vrbata, B.Boyle, D.Boyle, D.Moore, T.Greiss

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / Radim Vrbata ($4.500m)
Josh Leivo ($0.793m) / Peter Holland ($1.300m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.900m) / Brian Boyle ($2.500m) / Dominic Moore ($1.500m)
Colton Orr ($0.925m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dan Boyle ($6.500m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.500m) / Grant Clitsome ($2.067m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Petter Granberg ($0.800m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Thomas Greiss ($1.200m)
BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $69,111,667; BONUSES: $1,082,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $1,988,333

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Well it should be noted this past season seems to be the only one in his career (at least in recent memory) that he didn't average at least 1:00 of PK time per game.  I'm sure he could still do it, I don't know the reasoning for him not this past season.

I think he could be used effectively on the 2nd PK unit, but a part of my offseason plan would be to find somebody who can take Dion's minutes from the top unit. And that guy isn't Boyle. With that said, if we could fit both under the cap I think Boyle and Stralman could give us a pretty solid top-6:

Gardiner-Phaneuf
Gunnarsson-Stralman
Rielly-Boyle

Gunnarsson and Stralman would handle the tough minutes, which then allows the other two pairings to run wild possession-wise against the lesser competition. The special team units would look like this:

PP:
Gardiner-Phaneuf
Boyle-Rielly

PK:
Gunnarsson-Stralman
Phaneuf-Boyle

The question then swings back around to what we've basically been talking about, value. Is Boyle at $5mil worth it? To be honest with you, I think I may have talked myself into it through this post assuming we get a Stralman or Fayne first.

I'm lazy - does that work cap wise?  It looks good to me, especially those PP D combos.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Wanted to see if Stralman/Boyle would be possible under the cap. I re-signed Gardiner to a $3mil bridge deal (which will expire when Boyle's contract is up), bought out Gleason, plugged in random cheap back-up goalie, and signed D'Amigo/Ashton/Holland to their QOs.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Peter Holland ($0.851m) / Carter Ashton ($0.851m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner ($3.000m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Anton Stralman ($4.500m)
Dan Boyle ($5.000m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Korbinian Holzer ($0.788m) /

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Justin Peters ($1.000m)

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,466,500; BONUSES: $850,000
CAP SPACE (18-man roster): $9,633,500

$9mil to fill in the bottom-6, which should be more than enough assuming we don't go after any big names.

 

[Crucialness Key]

Wanted to see if Stralman/Boyle would be possible under the cap. I re-signed Gardiner to a $3mil bridge deal (which will expire when Boyle's contract is up), bought out Gleason, plugged in random cheap back-up goalie, and signed D'Amigo/Ashton/Holland to their QOs.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($8.000m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($2.900m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Peter Holland ($0.851m) / Carter Ashton ($0.851m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner ($3.000m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Anton Stralman ($4.500m)
Dan Boyle ($5.000m) / Morgan Rielly ($0.894m)
Korbinian Holzer ($0.788m) /

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Justin Peters ($1.000m)

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)
Tim Gleason ($0.833m)
------

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,466,500; BONUSES: $850,000
CAP SPACE (18-man roster): $9,633,500

$9mil to fill in the bottom-6, which should be more than enough assuming we don't go after any big names.

And after subtracting $2.4 for Komarov, that still leaves us $6.6 for the other two players! :-D

 

[Tigger]

FORWARDS
JVR ($4.250m) / Bozak ($4.200m) / Kessel ($8.000m)
Lupul ($5.250m) / Kadri ($2.900m) / Kulemin ($3.800m)
Leivo ($0.793m) / Holland ($1.251m) / Clarkson ($5.250m)
M Martin ($1.000m) / B Boyle ($2.700m) / L Komarov ($2.500m)
Jerry D'Amigo ($0.851m) /

DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Dion Phaneuf ($7.000m)
Jake Gardiner ($2.827m) / Johnny Boychuk ($3.367m)
Morgan Rielly ($0.894m) / Mike Weaver ($2.000m)
Paul Ranger ($1.200m) / Petter Granberg ($0.800m)

GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
Justin Peters ($1.038m)

BUYOUTS
Mike Komisarek ($0.000m)
Mikhail Grabovski ($0.000m)

RETAINED SALARIES (1.41% of upper limit)
Tim Gleason ($1.000m?25.00%)

SALARY CAP: $70,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,918,708; BONUSES: $1,082,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,081,292

PP 1

JVR, Bozak, Kessel
Gardiner, Phaneuf

PP 2

Lupul, Kadri, Kulemin/someone
Rielly, Ranger

PK 1

Bozak, Kulemin
Gunnar, Boychuk

PK 2

Boyle Komarov
Ranger Weaver

Trade for Martin and Boychuk, sign Boyle, Komarov, Weaver, Peters, retain some space with Gleason. If Phaneuf were to be traded, bring in Dan Boyle and move Boychuk up in es toi. Trade off some other players...

 

[CarltonTheBear]

We spend a lot of time talking about what we want to see happen, how about the opposite? What's the worst-case scenario for this summer? Draft Ritchie over a skilled player and sign a trio of mediocre players with intangibles (Brodeur/Orpik/Bolland or Thornton)?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

We spend a lot of time talking about what we want to see happen, how about the opposite? What's the worst-case scenario for this summer? Draft Ritchie over a skilled player and sign a trio of mediocre players with intangibles (Brodeur/Orpik/Bolland or Thornton)?

I wouldn't say drafting Ritchie is not drafting a skilled player.

Just one scout's opinion from McKeen's here:

@RossyYoungblood

I'm also a huge Nick Ritchie guy. I respect Bennett & Dal Colle but if anyone's going to become a superstar from the OHL crop, it's NR

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't say drafting Ritchie is not drafting a skilled player.

Yeah, he's not a Gauthier/Biggs type I know that. I should have said a more skilled player. I can stomach him if Nylander and Ehlers are both off the board, but if we pass on either of them I'll be very disappointed.