Official Armchair GM Thread 2015-2016

[TBLeafer]

Based on Horton being mandatory and players signed beyond next season on the Leafs, even if we sign Stamkos, and the more than 2 seasons pro hockey criteria, that list would look like:

Horton
Stamkos
JVR
Kadri
Komarov
Nylander
Brown
Bozak
Lupul
Soshnikov
Hyman
Kapanen
Leipsic
Johnson

Pending UFA's Laich, Greening Michalek

From that existing forward group we would have to expose everyone from Bozak down.

Rielly
Gardiner
Zaitsev
Carrick
Marincin
Corrado
Loov
Valiev

Pending UFA's Robidas, Hunwick, Capmbell

That would expose everyone on D from Marincin on down.

Bernier
Sparks
Bibeau

No comment.

We are in good shape presently for this expansion draft even if we add a starting goalie through UFA or trade next season that we'll want to also protect.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Based on Horton being mandatory and players signed beyond next season on the Leafs, even if we sign Stamkos, and the more than 2 seasons pro hockey criteria, that list would look like:

Horton
Stamkos
JVR
Kadri
Komarov
Nylander
Brown
Bozak
Lupul
Soshnikov
Hyman
Kapanen
Leipsic

Pending UFA's Laich, Greening Michalek

From that existing forward group we would have to expose everyone from Bozak down.

Rielly
Gardiner
Zaitsev
Marincin
Corrado
Loov
Valiev

Pending UFA's Robidas, Hunwick, Capmbell

That would expose everyone on D from Marincin on down.

Bernier
Sparks
Bibeau

No comment.

We are in good shape presently for this expansion draft even if we add a starting goalie through UFA or trade next season that we'll want to also protect.

MORE than 2 seasons.  Hyman and Sosh will only have 2 seasons at the end of the next one, not MORE.  That is where the NHL needs to clarify.  Kapanen will have two seasons plus 4 games played at the end of '14-15... will that make him not-exempt?

In terms of D, Zaitsev will only have ONE year and Connor Carrick will have more than 2 years.  Valiev will have two seasons plus 2 games.

Some teams may come to regret having players finish their CHL/European leagues and play just a few games in 2014-2015 as that may put them over the 2 year limit

 

[TBLeafer]

Based on Horton being mandatory and players signed beyond next season on the Leafs, even if we sign Stamkos, and the more than 2 seasons pro hockey criteria, that list would look like:

Horton
Stamkos
JVR
Kadri
Komarov
Nylander
Brown
Bozak
Lupul
Soshnikov
Hyman
Kapanen
Leipsic
Johnson

Pending UFA's Laich, Greening Michalek

From that existing forward group we would have to expose everyone from Bozak down.

Rielly
Gardiner
Zaitsev
Carrick
Marincin
Corrado
Loov
Valiev

Pending UFA's Robidas, Hunwick, Capmbell

That would expose everyone on D from Marincin on down.

Bernier
Sparks
Bibeau

No comment.

We are in good shape presently for this expansion draft even if we add a starting goalie through UFA or trade next season that we'll want to also protect.

MORE than 2 seasons.  Hyman and Sosh will only have 2 seasons at the end of the next one, not MORE.  That is where the NHL needs to clarify.  Kapanen will have two seasons plus 4 games played at the end of '14-15... will that make him not-exempt?

In terms of D, Zaitsev will only have ONE year and Connor Carrick will have more than 2 years.  Valiev will have two seasons plus 2 games.

Some teams may come to regret having players finish their CHL/European leagues and play just a few games in 2014-2015 as that may put them over the 2 year limit

I wonder about Johnsson.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

?Vancouver is similar. Vancouver likes fifth overall. They know they?re getting a very, very good player, but Jim Benning did not like being part of the non-playoff picture in the National Hockey League. He?s going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn?t happen again.

http://www.todaysslapshot.com/from-the-ice/dreger-aggressive-offers-made-blue-jackets-top-pick/

Dubas needs to be picking up the phone, dialing Benning's phone number, and then handing the phone to Lou every single day until they make a deal here.

 

[rdowdall]

?Vancouver is similar. Vancouver likes fifth overall. They know they?re getting a very, very good player, but Jim Benning did not like being part of the non-playoff picture in the National Hockey League. He?s going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn?t happen again.

http://www.todaysslapshot.com/from-the-ice/dreger-aggressive-offers-made-blue-jackets-top-pick/

Dubas needs to be picking up the phone, dialing Benning's phone number, and then handing the phone to Lou every single day until they make a deal here.

Jim, what you need is a proven second line centre, whose last name starts with B, because B is the 2nd letter in the alphabet, and you can't ignore the symmetry there.  Why yes, yes I do have a proven second line centre that has a last name that starts with B.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jim, what you need is a proven second line centre, whose last name starts with B, because B is the 2nd letter in the alphabet, and you can't ignore the symmetry there.  Why yes, yes I do have a proven second line centre that has a last name that starts with B.

The sad thing is Vancouver actually thinks that their centre depth is good (hah, I know, right?), so that won't help here. JVR OTOH...

 

[herman]

Jim, what you need is a proven second line centre, whose last name starts with B, because B is the 2nd letter in the alphabet, and you can't ignore the symmetry there.  Why yes, yes I do have a proven second line centre that has a last name that starts with B.

The sad thing is Vancouver actually thinks that their centre depth is good (hah, I know, right?), so that won't help here. JVR OTOH...

This is a tingly idea... WANT.

 

[rdowdall]

Jim, what you need is a proven second line centre, whose last name starts with B, because B is the 2nd letter in the alphabet, and you can't ignore the symmetry there.  Why yes, yes I do have a proven second line centre that has a last name that starts with B.

The sad thing is Vancouver actually thinks that their centre depth is good (hah, I know, right?), so that won't help here. JVR OTOH...

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

 

[rdowdall]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that what's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting their stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but I would think that might be a priority. 

 

[TBLeafer]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that hat's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting there stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but maybe I would think that might be a priority.

You might even defer to Dubas in picking drafting a goalie.  He picked a pretty good one in Murray for the SOO.

Pittsburgh really seems to be high on him right now...

He's 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dappleganger]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that hat's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting there stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but maybe I would think that might be a priority.

You might even defer to Dubas in picking drafting a goalie.  He picked a pretty good one in Murray for the SOO.

Pittsburgh really seems to be high on him right now...

He's 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll take that Marc-Andre fellow if Pittsburgh wants to part with him.

 

[bustaheims]

You might even defer to Dubas in picking drafting a goalie.  He picked a pretty good one in Murray for the SOO.

Pittsburgh really seems to be high on him right now...

He's 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not with a top 10 pick, you won't. There aren't any goalies thought of that highly in this draft. I won't be surprised if none are taken in the 1st round.

 

[bustaheims]

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting their stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but I would think that might be a priority.

I expect the Leafs to take a goalie with their 2nd round pick (or with Pittsburgh's 1st - though, as they're back to back picks, they're largely interchangeable). I also wouldn't be surprised if they try to pick up a quality goalie prospect who's a little closer to breaking into the league. Goalies are strange animals, and it's never a bad idea to have a few prospects in the stable. I'm a proponent of drafting a goalie at least every other year, just because, well, until you hit on an elite goalie, you just never know.

 

[herman]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that what's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting their stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but I would think that might be a priority.

I have similar thoughts. In lieu of draftable options, I think the Leafs will definitely make some hard pushes to pick up more alternative prospects like Kaskisuo to drive up internal competition to see what shakes out. The expansion draft might help us luck out on a bonafide goalie, but until then, it is the emptiest of our pipelines.

 

[Kin]

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that what's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

For what it's worth I wasn't so much thinking about the brother angle and I generally agree that if the Leafs had another top 10 pick defense would be the way to go but to play Devil's Advocate for a second I don't know that it's ever the right decision to be that focused on position with a top 10 pick. Especially not when, as mentioned elsewhere, the Leafs aren't really set anywhere right now.

Yeah, if there were a defenseman that teams were really excited about in the top 5 that would make sense but it seems like the only people putting a defenseman that high are ones who are saying something like "Well, Edmonton can't draft another forward so Juolevi might be a good fit". Otherwise, people seem pretty lukewarm right now on the defensive prospects.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, all kidding aside, I think JVR is the piece you try and move to get another pick in the top 10 if that option is there.

Question is, is it for Chychrun/Juolevi/Sergachev or is it for Nylander?

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that what's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

Although, I was thinking about goaltending last night, and in order for timelines to line up, because it takes the longest for a goalie to develop, wouldn't the Leafs want to try and have something in the stable now-ish, so that they are hitting their stride right around the time all the other pieces come together.  I realise you can't draft a goalie just for the sake of drafting a goalie, but I would think that might be a priority.

I've been in the Sergachev camp for a while but then I don't watch a million junior games a year like Hunter, so I obviously defer to, say, his choice of those three. Problem is I don't think any of them are going to go that high, so maybe you make the trade and then try to trade down, pick up another pick and get one of those 3, unless you really really like one of them I guess.

 

[rdowdall]

I would think you have to ignore the brother angle and try and get the best d-man available at that point.  It's an area of weakness.  From my limited viewing, I liked what I saw from Juolevi, and the obvious Joe Louis jokes would be a bonus, but Chychrun has been highly rated for so long, he may be the way to go.  I think that what's happened to Chychrun is a lot like what happened to Cam Fowler in his draft year.

For what it's worth I wasn't so much thinking about the brother angle and I generally agree that if the Leafs had another top 10 pick defense would be the way to go but to play Devil's Advocate for a second I don't know that it's ever the right decision to be that focused on position with a top 10 pick. Especially not when, as mentioned elsewhere, the Leafs aren't really set anywhere right now.

Yeah, if there were a defenseman that teams were really excited about in the top 5 that would make sense but it seems like the only people putting a defenseman that high are ones who are saying something like "Well, Edmonton can't draft another forward so Juolevi might be a good fit". Otherwise, people seem pretty lukewarm right now on the defensive prospects.

Ah, sorry, I thought you were going the brother angle.  You make a good point.  If they get another top 10 pick, then they probably should take the BPA, whether that's a d-man or not.

I'll have to do more research on the defensive prospects available in this draft.  Right now I only have cursory knowledge for any of them.

 

[bustaheims]

I'll have to do more research on the defensive prospects available in this draft.  Right now I only have cursory knowledge for any of them.

From what I've read, the top D prospects aren't seen as a significant upgrade from the next tier. I get the feeling none of them are seen as potential #1 guys, but, there's a bunch of potential #2 guys - with some obviously being seen as either more likely to reach their potential or having a higher ceiling than others. If the Leafs add, say, the 9th or 10th pick, it might be worthwhile to trade down into the late teens, add some other quality assets, and draft someone like MacAvoy or Bean.

 

[Tigger]

Yeah, I guess the alternative to getting the 5th and looking for a dman is just take either Tkachuk or Dubois instead.