Top 6 Winger

[Kin]

So as mentioned in yesterday's gameday thread the buzz seems to be that the big addition that the Leafs are looking to make is to add someone to play in the top 6. Personally, I think that makes a fair amount of sense as Kerfoot is probably the guy in the lineup right now who looks the least suited to what's being asked of him and the Tavares-Nylander pairing could do with a bit of juicing(and with the MEH line looking as good as it does, breaking that up to help the 2nd line seems like a waste)

So with that in mind who are candidates people like? How much cap room do they have to work with? I mentioned Rickard Rakell the other night but could Taylor Hall be viable considering his re-signing in Buffalo seems...unlikely at this point? Is that even the position the Leafs should be addressing?

 

[ZBBM]

Just playing devil's advocate.... Do they really need an upgrade there?  I mean in one sense the answer is obviously yes, who wouldn't, but in terms of what the cost would be, wouldn't the benefit be marginal?

Your last question is what I'm wondering too.

 

[BrownRolo]

I thought Kerfoot had looked pretty good. The problem with that second line is Tavares hasn't been burying his Grade A chances.

I really feel there are no major holes in this lineup and Simmonds and Robertson are still waiting to heal.

Why make a change just for the sake of making a change?

 

[Deebo]

Just playing devil's advocate.... Do they really need an upgrade there?  I mean in one sense the answer is obviously yes, who wouldn't, but in terms of what the cost would be, wouldn't the benefit be marginal?

Your last question is what I'm wondering too.

I think it's really the only place where they could make a more than marginal upgrade. As good as things are going, Kerfoot and Thornton are 2 of the top 6 wingers.

 

[Deebo]

I thought Kerfoot had looked pretty good. The problem with that second line is Tavares hasn't been burying his Grade A chances.

I really feel there are no major holes in this lineup and Simmonds and Robertson are still waiting to heal.

Why make a change just for the sake of making a change?

We can do better than pretty good.

 

[Bender]

I thought Kerfoot had looked pretty good. The problem with that second line is Tavares hasn't been burying his Grade A chances.

I really feel there are no major holes in this lineup and Simmonds and Robertson are still waiting to heal.

Why make a change just for the sake of making a change?

Nothing wrong with more depth. I want a true shutdown 3C type.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

One of the media folk mentioned today or yesterday something that I brought up the other week, which is that Dubas views this as a year where they should really be going for it. I could see him making a big swing. I think even something like Hall would be within the realm of possibility.

 

[bustaheims]

Hall would be huge add, but the salary cap makes that complicated, and asking Buffalo to retain salary means giving extra assets to a division rival. If the team is looking for a pure rental, Granlund might be the better value play.

Rackell would be a great add, and easier to manage cap-wise - and has another year on his deal.

The whole quarantine thing makes big additions complicated this season. How much are you willing to give up to have to wait two weeks before the player can even participate in a morning skate? How high are prices going to be this year, with the shortened season making it seem like more teams are still in the hunt at the deadline? I get the argument that this year is one where the team should be going for it, but I?m not convinced it?s practical/viable in the current environment. I think some depth moves and injury insurance pick ups are the way to go this year.

 

[Kin]

Just playing devil's advocate.... Do they really need an upgrade there?  I mean in one sense the answer is obviously yes, who wouldn't, but in terms of what the cost would be, wouldn't the benefit be marginal?

Need is obviously a pretty high bar to clear but, personally, I think the answer is no. I don't think there's a team in the league that the Leafs absolutely need to improve in order to stand a chance at beating them over 7 games. That said, I think adding would definitely increase their chances against a couple of the better teams.

Your last question is what I'm wondering too.

In a fantasy world you might look at #1 goalie or adding a Norris type defenseman but realistically you're not going to have the assets or cap space to make that work even if one were available. Realistically I think the two areas to target are a top 6 winger or a #3 centre that would bump Engvall down.

 

[ZBBM]

Just playing devil's advocate.... Do they really need an upgrade there?  I mean in one sense the answer is obviously yes, who wouldn't, but in terms of what the cost would be, wouldn't the benefit be marginal?

Need is obviously a pretty high bar to clear but, personally, I think the answer is no. I don't think there's a team in the league that the Leafs absolutely need to improve in order to stand a chance at beating them over 7 games. That said, I think adding would definitely increase their chances against a couple of the better teams.

Your last question is what I'm wondering too.

In a fantasy world you might look at #1 goalie or adding a Norris type defenseman but realistically you're not going to have the assets or cap space to make that work even if one were available. Realistically I think the two areas to target are a top 6 winger or a #3 centre that would bump Engvall down.

I agree with your top comment.  What do we need to beat the Bostons & Tampas of the world?  Better defense.  I have been pretty hard on Dubas for his previous attempts to upgrade the backend but it's clear that Muzzin was a good move, and now Brodie and even Bogosian appear to be panning out better than anyone might have expected (except Dubas I guess).  So that's been taken care of.

Better goaltending?  Arguably yes, but as you say that path is narrow to nonexistent.

If Dubas is really thinking this is the year to go for it, well I agree with that.  Matthews is coming into his own as a player in a legit conversation for the Hart and Marner is blossoming.  Tavares, OTOH, shows signs he may have peaked already and may be on the way down from being a dominant player.  They have to push while they have all these guys under contract.  But having said all that, I don't see where the team absolutely has to upgrade.

 

[Sandinius]

I don't see a great need for adding anyone right now.
When Simmonds comes back that will be a nice enough boost to the forward side.
I would stay patient and see if any long term key injuries come up.
I understand waiting is risky since the options will be fewer and the prices might be higher the longer you wait.
I just don't want to blow all our powder on aquiring a high end forward and then lose Muzzin or Brodie to LTIR and not have the possibility to add a quality defense man.

 

[L K]

They don't "need" a top 6 winger but:

Simmonds - Missed 13 games and counting.
Thornton - Missed 12 games and counting.

I wouldn't be banking on either of them being available through an entire cup run.  I realize Simmonds issue is an isolated fracture but its not like we are talking about a guy with a good track record of health the last few years.

The three thing I would be looking at for this team if they are going "all in" would be:

Another top 6 capable winger.  A capable 3rd line center.  A depth defensive defenseman in case of injuries to Holl/Muzzin/Bogosian.

We aren't going to get all three of those things (or at least shouldn't be spending that much prospect capital)

 

[Kin]

But having said all that, I don't see where the team absolutely has to upgrade.

Again, I feel like that's a bit of a straw man as A) I don't think anyone is framing this as the Leafs DO absolutely have to upgrade and B) I'm not even sure we could easily define what a team that did absolutely need an upgrade would look like.

To me, the formula is always simply it's three questions:

1. Do you stand a reasonable shot at winning something this year?

2. Can you make a trade that improves on an area where you're weak?

3. Can said trade be made at a price that isn't prohibitive?

Obviously some of those notions will vary from team to team(prohibitive, reasonable) but no deadline deals will take a team from a fringe playoff team to a legit contender. That said, nobody was sitting around last year saying the Lightning absolutely had to make deadline deals either but they went out and added three guys who played useful roles for them in the playoffs.

 

[BrownRolo]

But having said all that, I don't see where the team absolutely has to upgrade.

Again, I feel like that's a bit of a straw man as A) I don't think anyone is framing this as the Leafs DO absolutely have to upgrade and B) I'm not even sure we could easily define what a team that did absolutely need an upgrade would look like.

To me, the formula is always simply it's three questions:

1. Do you stand a reasonable shot at winning something this year?

2. Can you make a trade that improves on an area where you're weak?

3. Can said trade be made at a price that isn't prohibitive?

Obviously some of those notions will vary from team to team(prohibitive, reasonable) but no deadline deals will take a team from a fringe playoff team to a legit contender. That said, nobody was sitting around last year saying the Lightning absolutely had to make deadline deals either but they went out and added three guys who played useful roles for them in the playoffs.

I know the Lightning added Bogo, who were the other two they added?  I forget

I wonder if the cost to get players will be.more or less than last year.

 

[herman]

Tampa added Goodrow, Coleman to make up a very effective checking line that could score too

 

[nutman]

My two cents says all we need is a Hall type forward to kick start the second line. Then I would be happy going in knowing our two top lines when on could not be matched by anyone.  As for our defence, I believe it's there, and we have solid spare parts for it.  The goaltending is good as I think the soup is much better then Anderson, and he is solid, so adding A Hall type should put us on the road to  Stanleyville .

 

[Deebo]

Goodrow and Coleman cost them two 2020 1sts and Nolan Foote (2019 1st).

Are we in a position to do something like that?

 

[Highlander]

Hall is a good option, won't have to sell the farm to get him most likely. This is the year we have to go for it.

 

[bustaheims]

Goodrow and Coleman cost them two 2020 1sts and Nolan Foote (2019 1st).

Are we in a position to do something like that?

And, they were already the favourite to win the Cup. Not sure we can say the same of the Leafs.

 

[Zee]

Goodrow and Coleman cost them two 2020 1sts and Nolan Foote (2019 1st).

Are we in a position to do something like that?

And, they were already the favourite to win the Cup. Not sure we can say the same of the Leafs.

I'd say Leafs are favorite to get to the semis as they only have to beat Canadian teams they're already dominating. After that it's 2 teams to beat, apparently they re-rank after the divisional rounds so 1-4 , 2-3 of the best records. If Leafs can somehow take the presidents trophy the #4 team in the semis probably won't be Tampa or Boston. It's appealing