Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

[AvroArrow]

Beyond the first 3 or 4 picks, what makes people think this draft is so deep?

In addition to what Potvin posted, I've read some stating that this will be the deepest draft since 2003.  If this draft is even close to that, then we need as many picks as we possibly can get in the first round.  That's why I'd trade everything except Nylander and Reilly (including Bernier and JvR).

 

[Redleaf]

Thanks for sharing Potvin. There's certainly a lot of hype going into this draft.

I'm still not convinced the Leafs can find an impactful player outside of the top five. Not because there isn't one, but because it the Leafs. ???

So like Tuukka Rask and Alex Steen?

It's funny, because in those cases they hit on some good picks, but the ineptitude rules over once again as they didn't recognize what they had in those pics until they were long gone.

 

[Courtnall]

Should the leafs peruse evader Kane? I don't want him to play for the leafs next year but I thought from a strategic point it would or could give us flexibility this deadline. Trade for him, he's on LTIR so you save money this year and have some flexibility to make some moves you couldn't because of cap. Then trade him beginning of next year. Assuming it's a low risk surgery.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Should the leafs peruse evader Kane?

That's quite the typo/auto-correct.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Should the leafs peruse evader Kane? I don't want him to play for the leafs next year but I thought from a strategic point it would or could give us flexibility this deadline. Trade for him, he's on LTIR so you save money this year and have some flexibility to make some moves you couldn't because of cap. Then trade him beginning of next year. Assuming it's a low risk surgery.

I think it's a good idea depending on price (I wouldn't trade any picks or major prospects).

He could be a future piece for this team, or a trade piece. He'd need to play some games here, probably at least half a season, to become valuable again, but that's not a problem for a re-building team.

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

Tank out for another few seasons (who knows maybe have some unexpected success) until Richards/Clarkson are mercifully off the team.

Future team consisting of Rielly, Nylander, Strome, Reinhart, this year's 1st and LA's 1st (most likely top 15), Kane, JVR, Klingberg, Kadri too if we decide to keep him around and see if/when he develops.

That's 3 potential top 3 D-men and 6 potential top 6 forwards all under 30 (most under 25) acquired just this season. Continue signing Raymond/Santorelli type players to move out each deadline for picks.

Count on a couple high picks the next 2 seasons, some cap space freeing up for UFA's and the team could be turned around in pretty short order.

 

[wnc096]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

 

[Chris]

Kessel's contract ain't bad, if you think you're getting the Kessel from the first half of the season. If I were a potential trading partner, though, Kessel's recent "play" (I use that term loosely) would make me very concerned.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

Richards' contract is much more of an albatross, but thankfully for LA.  Phaneuf would be a great addition to LA.  He would be out of the spotlight, out of the captaincy, and could be slotted safely as a 2/3 defenceman.  He's also physical and would have teammates that would actually stand up for him.  And when Richards retires LA gets hit with most of the penalties.  But given Phaneuf likely has 4-5 more productive years in front of him, LA would need to add something other than spare parts.

 

[caver]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

Richards for Phaneuf straight up ??...I don't think so..look at it this way..any team could have claimed Richards off waivers and didn't...do you think Phaneuf would clear waivers ? Not a chance...

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

I'm not sure they're all that much in the Leafs favour.

Lupul and Santorelli are an upgrade on an absent Kane. Relieves them of the drama as well. Kane and Lupul are the same cap hit, so they're adding little salary with Santorelli and helping their depth for a playoff run. Depends on how they view Kane I guess. Don't think they're going to get the kind of return they'd hope for but we'll see.

Klingberg is a 5th rounder with 29 goals (including his hot start in the NHL) in 194 games dating back to 2010 in all levels of competition so his start this year is pretty unsustainable. Franson would probably do pretty well playing with Seguin and Benn too. Maybe Dallas are very high on him and aren't willing to move him, but I'd look into the asking price all the same.

LA are paying Richards $5.75M to not play him. Is a 1st and an extra $1.25M worth a #2/#3 D-man? I should think so.

Kessel deal could happen as the NYI could challenge for the Cup this year, and get a big name to go along with Tavares to get the fans excited moving to Brooklyn next year.

 

[Redleaf]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

Richards for Phaneuf straight up ??...I don't think so..look at it this way..any team could have claimed Richards off waivers and didn't...do you think Phaneuf would clear waivers ? Not a chance...

Yeah. I was going to jump on that one too, but you guys beat me to it. I think you would have to add a piece with phaneuf to make the deal work with LA's 1st.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Lupul and Santorelli for Kane.

Phaneuf for Richards and LA's 1st.

Franson and Winnik for Klingberg

Kessel out depending on the return (I'd love Strome and Reinhart)

those deals seem pretty one sided in the leafs favor...

Lupul has been on the market all year apparently, and they can't find a taker.  so the chances of him being traded for Kane are slim I'd think....even with Santorelli.

Klingberg is already better than Franson

you might get Richards for Phaneuf straight up...LA might throw a bit piece in there, but with that albatross of a contract, the team's options with Phaneuf are pretty limited

Kessel deal is plausible...depending if the NYI wanna go all in.  Still Kessel is still owed alot of $$$, so who knows how that factors in

Richards for Phaneuf straight up ??...I don't think so..look at it this way..any team could have claimed Richards off waivers and didn't...do you think Phaneuf would clear waivers ? Not a chance...

Yeah. I was going to jump on that one too, but you guys beat me to it. I think you would have to add a piece with phaneuf to make the deal work with LA's 1st.

You don't think Phaneuf is worth a 1st?

That's really what the deal is. Richards is the opposite of an asset in this deal.

LA get rid of dead cap space (Richards) and replace it with a #2/3 D-man for the price of a 1st.

Tough crowd.

 

[Joe S.]

I would do Richards for clarkson straight up. I'd even throw in frattin for the sake of comedy.

But I can't imagine LA would be that stupid.

 

[caver]

Bibeau and Granberg called up....something happening here ??

 

[bustaheims]

Bibeau and Granberg called up....something happening here ??

Injuries. Nothing to see here.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah. I was going to jump on that one too, but you guys beat me to it. I think you would have to add a piece with phaneuf to make the deal work with LA's 1st.

I'd say it's quite the opposite. LA would have to add something more than their 1st round pick for the Leafs to be willing to take on the cap albatross that is Richards AND give up Phaneuf in the process. They'll get better offers from other teams in the summer, for sure.

 

[wnc096]

Yeah. I was going to jump on that one too, but you guys beat me to it. I think you would have to add a piece with phaneuf to make the deal work with LA's 1st.

I'd say it's quite the opposite. LA would have to add something more than their 1st round pick for the Leafs to be willing to take on the cap albatross that is Richards AND give up Phaneuf in the process. They'll get better offers from other teams in the summer, for sure.

It probably more my disdain for Phaneuf....but I just think back to when Brian Campbell was traded to Florida.  Similar cap hit to Phaneuf,  probably equal as a player (both overpaid) and Chicago got Rostislav Olesz.  Im hoping a deal for Phaneuf will be along those lines where the win in the trade from a Leafs Perspective is the cap space and flexibility. 

Its hard to believe Phaneuf makes as much as Drew Doughty...Nonis should be fired simply for that.  I remember watching the 24/7 when they signed him before the winter classic.  I could not believe it

 

[bustaheims]

It probably more my disdain for Phaneuf....but I just think back to when Brian Campbell was traded to Florida.  Similar cap hit to Phaneuf,  probably equal as a player (both overpaid) and Chicago got Rostislav Olesz.  Im hoping a deal for Phaneuf will be along those lines where the win in the trade from a Leafs Perspective is the cap space and flexibility. 

Very different scenario, though. Campbell was traded by a contending team needing to free up cap space and really looking to just dump the contract in order to be able to retain more important players. The Leafs aren't in the same position, at all. While the Leafs are reported to be looking to move Phaneuf as part of a major roster shake up, they're still in a position where they can focus on value, as there's no cap crunch for them.

 

[wnc096]

It probably more my disdain for Phaneuf....but I just think back to when Brian Campbell was traded to Florida.  Similar cap hit to Phaneuf,  probably equal as a player (both overpaid) and Chicago got Rostislav Olesz.  Im hoping a deal for Phaneuf will be along those lines where the win in the trade from a Leafs Perspective is the cap space and flexibility. 

Very different scenario, though. Campbell was traded by a contending team needing to free up cap space and really looking to just dump the contract in order to be able to retain more important players. The Leafs aren't in the same position, at all.

True, but now the leafs are going to lose Cody Franson, who i think is equally as good as phaneuf if not better, because of cap mismanagement.  Even if they wanted to sign him, they simply can't!

It still baffles me that a team can be this bad, and yet have a payroll as high or higher than most contenders

 

[Chris]

True, but now the leafs are going to lose Cody Franson, who i think is equally as good as phaneuf if not better, because of cap mismanagement.  Even if they wanted to sign him, they simply can't!

It still baffles me that a team can be this bad, and yet have a payroll as high or higher than most contenders

That's not an accident, it took a lot of hard work by management over the past several years.