Official Armchair GM Thread 2014-2015 Leafs

[Kin]

It's hard to imagine any trade for Phaneuf right now. He got run out of town in Calgary, he's practically being burned in effigy in Toronto. How does any GM justify to his team's fans acquiring a player with that kind of baggage.

1. I think you're exaggerating the extent to which Phaneuf is taking heat right now. I think Kessel is taking way more of the brunt of the blame for the collapse of the team. Phaneuf being hurt for a large part of the team going off the rails probably helped in that respect. Most people are probably ready to move on but the idea that  there's a lot of anger towards Phaneuf? I don't see it.

2. Even if you were right about Phaneuf I think you're wildly overrating the reach and influence of Toronto fan/media opinion when it comes to the opinion of fans around the league. I really don't think the GM in Columbus and Dallas would look at a trade for Phaneuf and think "How am I going to explain this to my fanbase when they're so keyed into what Toronto people think about Phaneuf's game?". Most people outside of Toronto think Toronto fans/media are unrealistically and hyper-critical. Most teams will look at Phaneuf solely from a perspective of "can he help the team" and for the right deal, he probably can.

 

[Brian Glennie]

It's hard to imagine any trade for Phaneuf right now. He got run out of town in Calgary, he's practically being burned in effigy in Toronto. How does any GM justify to his team's fans acquiring a player with that kind of baggage.

1. I think you're exaggerating the extent to which Phaneuf is taking heat right now. I think Kessel is taking way more of the brunt of the blame for the collapse of the team. Phaneuf being hurt for a large part of the team going off the rails probably helped in that respect. Most people are probably ready to move on but the idea that  there's a lot of anger towards Phaneuf? I don't see it.

2. Even if you were right about Phaneuf I think you're wildly overrating the reach and influence of Toronto fan/media opinion when it comes to the opinion of fans around the league. I really don't think the GM in Columbus and Dallas would look at a trade for Phaneuf and think "How am I going to explain this to my fanbase when they're so keyed into what Toronto people think about Phaneuf's game?". Most people outside of Toronto think Toronto fans/media are unrealistically and hyper-critical. Most teams will look at Phaneuf solely from a perspective of "can he help the team" and for the right deal, he probably can.

I don't think there is a "right deal" without an egregious amount of sweetening from the Leafs. Dion's very expensive, very long term contract has to be problematic because, at least to my eyes, he sure looks like he's lost a step and he's 29. Dion's a project now and I have a hard time believing he's not on the downside of his career.

Anyway, all I was trying to say is I think he'll be back next year and I'm trying to make peace with that because I don't especially enjoy watching him play.

 

[Tigger]

It's hard to imagine any trade for Phaneuf right now. He got run out of town in Calgary, he's practically being burned in effigy in Toronto. How does any GM justify to his team's fans acquiring a player with that kind of baggage.

I expect Dion will be back with the Leafs next year and I'm unhappy about that but he's got a proven track record for leading our team to a top 5 draft pick so I guess that'll be okay.

IIRC, Phaneuf was the only high priced player who didn't have a NMC at the time in Calgary, I don't think he just got 'run out', the numbers had something to do with it. Phaneuf is a quality defenceman, shouldn't be a hard sell for a GM should he be traded.

 

[Kin]

I don't think there is a "right deal" without an egregious amount of sweetening from the Leafs. Dion's very expensive, very long term contract has to be problematic because, at least to my eyes, he sure looks like he's lost a step and he's 29. Dion's a project now and I have a hard time believing he's not on the downside of his career.

Phaneuf's contract isn't great, no. But it's not the insurmountable problem you're making it out to be. At worst, Phaneuf has been playing like a 4.5 or 5.5 million dollar defenseman, thrust into a role he's not well suited for. It's not like Clarkson where he was playing like a ECHL forward and getting 5+ million. There's a discrepancy in value there but that sort of discrepancy gets dealt with all the time.

You probably have to eat a not great contract or something but it's not unmovable by any stretch. By most accounts Phaneuf could have been gone at the deadline if it weren't for the Leafs asking for too much. If they moderate what they'll take for him, they'll move him.

 

[rdowdall]

You probably have to eat a not great contract or something but it's not unmovable by any stretch. By most accounts Phaneuf could have been gone at the deadline if it weren't for the Leafs asking for too much. If they moderate what they'll take for him, they'll move him.

That's probably where the disconnect is.  The feeling that Phanuef can't get moved is probably tied to a high expectation on the return. 

 

[Bill_Berg]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

 

[L K]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

Any package would start with the 2016 1st round draft pick.  For a team that should be in healthy contention for Auston Matthews I wouldn't even consider touching that draft pick.

 

[Kin]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

They said it was to stockpile more draftpicks though. Which is what the Leafs are also trying to do.

 

[Frank E]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

Any package would start with the 2016 1st round draft pick.  For a team that should be in healthy contention for Auston Matthews I wouldn't even consider touching that draft pick.

Healthy contention indeed please.

 

[Bill_Berg]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

They said it was to stockpile more draftpicks though. Which is what the Leafs are also trying to do.

Maybe the 24th is a starting point, although I would agree with L K that next year's first is tough to give up, and the 24th and next year's 2nd probably won't cut it.

 

[Bender]

Arizona is open to moving the 3rd overall pick. Not sure if we have what they want, but having 3 and 4 would be pretty exciting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/arizona-coyotes-open-to-trading-no-3-pick/

They said it was to stockpile more draftpicks though. Which is what the Leafs are also trying to do.

Maybe the 24th is a starting point, although I would agree with L K that next year's first is tough to give up, and the 24th and next year's 2nd probably won't cut it.

It definitely won`t cut it.

 

[Highlander]

For the 3rd probably Kessel, Gardner and the 24th pick..to steep

 

[TML fan]

That's not too steep. It's a steal for the Leafs. Upgrade on the 24th pick, get Hanifin and Marner/Strome, dump a crapload of salary. If that were realistic the Leafs would be stupid NOT to do it.

 

[jdh1]

For the 3rd probably Kessel, Gardner and the 24th pick..to steep

I think that might be over paying...but Arizona probably wouldn't do it if they were offered that...they don't know where they want to be ..in Glendale or some other city.They may not want 8 mil.on their books.

 

[Frank E]

That's not too steep. It's a steal for the Leafs. Upgrade on the 24th pick, get Hanifin and Marner/Strome, dump a crapload of salary. If that were realistic the Leafs would be stupid NOT to do it.

First of all, Kessel doesn't fit into Yotes' rebuild, just like he doesn't fit into the Leafs'.

Secondly, the Leafs really don't have to concern themselves with dumping salary at this point.

 

[TML fan]

That's not too steep. It's a steal for the Leafs. Upgrade on the 24th pick, get Hanifin and Marner/Strome, dump a crapload of salary. If that were realistic the Leafs would be stupid NOT to do it.

First of all, Kessel doesn't fit into Yotes' rebuild, just like he doesn't fit into the Leafs'.

Secondly, the Leafs really don't have to concern themselves with dumping salary at this point.

O...k?

 

[Frank E]

That's not too steep. It's a steal for the Leafs. Upgrade on the 24th pick, get Hanifin and Marner/Strome, dump a crapload of salary. If that were realistic the Leafs would be stupid NOT to do it.

First of all, Kessel doesn't fit into Yotes' rebuild, just like he doesn't fit into the Leafs'.

Secondly, the Leafs really don't have to concern themselves with dumping salary at this point.

O...k?

I have spoken.

 

[Kin]

First of all, Kessel doesn't fit into Yotes' rebuild, just like he doesn't fit into the Leafs'.

Secondly, the Leafs really don't have to concern themselves with dumping salary at this point.

The Leafs don't have to sweat the cap, no, but I do wonder if cap space might be an under used asset the Leafs could have. As you say, right now they have about 18 million dollars and the only big contracts they have to negotiate are Kadri/Bernier. So let's say those two get 8 between them. So that's 10 million they'll have to sign 5 forwards or thereabouts and 2 defensemen.

But I wonder if they had a little more space if they couldn't do some interesting things this off-season. If there's a good free agent, for instance, but one who isn't thrilled with the offers they're getting maybe the Leafs could step in with a significantly above-market one year deal with the understanding that they'd be dealt at the deadline. That could yield some significant assets. Obviously it would be a tough sell in most places but it'd be interesting to get creative with it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

In regards to cap space, I wonder if the Leafs will try really hard to make sure that they have plenty of space for July 2016. You know, just in case there's some franchise centreman available or something.

 

[Highlander]

Stamp----kos out those rumours.. If you build it he will come!!