Top 6 Winger

[Zee]

You gotta figure some sort of Leafs trade is coming, they don't play from Sunday to Friday so perfect time to bring someone in.  Even if coming from an American team the quarantine rules of 2 weeks will mean player X would be available March 26 if trade happens today or tomorrow.  That would be 5 games not counting tonight.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

You gotta figure some sort of Leafs trade is coming, they don't play from Sunday to Friday so perfect time to bring someone in.  Even if coming from an American team the quarantine rules of 2 weeks will mean player X would be available March 26 if trade happens today or tomorrow.  That would be 5 games not counting tonight.

Yeah there's no way they make a significant trade with an American team at the actual deadline, and the only Canadian team that will be selling will be Ottawa and they don't really have anything we want. So Toronto's de facto trade deadline is probably coming up pretty soon.

 

[groundskeeper willie]

Or make some sort of deal with Seattle - which I think is a strong possibility, regardless of what happens at the deadline.

True. I feel like most of those deals ended up backfiring on teams so I'm a little wary about trying to game the system like they did but I guess that doesn't mean you shouldn't at least see what the options are.

Yup. Doesn't hurt to have a conversation to see if there's something that makes sense for both teams. A couple of the smaller deals Vegas made didn't backfire on the other team, so, there's potential for something there, maybe.

I wonder if they try something big and proactive like say they'll trade Rielly to Seattle for picks if they select the player the Leafs tell them to. The Leafs would have to know if they can't afford Rielly's next contract and if they can acquire a cheaper replacement first, but from Seattle's perspective they'd get an instant star and ticket draw, plus a solid option for the first captain in franchise history.

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah there's no way they make a significant trade with an American team at the actual deadline, and the only Canadian team that will be selling will be Ottawa and they don't really have anything we want. So Toronto's de facto trade deadline is probably coming up pretty soon.

Depending on how the next month plays out, Vancouver and Calgary could both be sellers at the deadline, as well. They have a couple more intriguing potential rental pieces, but no one hugely significant - depth pieces, mostly, but there should be some movement.

But, yeah, any major moves the team is going to make needs to happen sooner than later, and after Sunday's game is as good a time as any.

 

[L K]

Is there a Dylan Demelo-y kind of guy that might be an upgrade to the bottom pairing/a guy who could possibly squeak up into the top 4 in case of a postseason Muzzin injury?

I'd love to get a 2nd/3rd line forward but I wonder if a 3rd defensive addition for a stay at home kind of player might be something the team should be looking at.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is there a Dylan Demelo-y kind of guy that might be an upgrade to the bottom pairing/a guy who could possibly squeak up into the top 4 in case of a postseason Muzzin injury?

I'd love to get a 2nd/3rd line forward but I wonder if a 3rd defensive addition for a stay at home kind of player might be something the team should be looking at.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

But in all seriousness, I could only see them adding another defenceman if they decide to cut bait on Dermott now and deal him in a trade that brings in a top-6 forward as opposed to potentially losing him in the expansion draft. But I think that's probably unlikely.

 

[Highlander]

But in all seriousness, I could only see them adding another defenceman if they decide to cut bait on Dermott now and deal him in a trade that brings in a top-6 forward as opposed to potentially losing him in the expansion draft. But I think that's probably unlikely.

The way Holl is playing right now, I would prefer to keep Dermott.  What is up with Holl?

 

[cabber24]

Is there a Dylan Demelo-y kind of guy that might be an upgrade to the bottom pairing/a guy who could possibly squeak up into the top 4 in case of a postseason Muzzin injury?

I'd love to get a 2nd/3rd line forward but I wonder if a 3rd defensive addition for a stay at home kind of player might be something the team should be looking at.

I suggested before Jordie Benn. If Vancouver is out of it they may take a low draft pick on the expiring contract of Benn. Stay at home, no quartine, expiring deal, and manageable cap hit.

 

[bustaheims]

But in all seriousness, I could only see them adding another defenceman if they decide to cut bait on Dermott now and deal him in a trade that brings in a top-6 forward as opposed to potentially losing him in the expansion draft. But I think that's probably unlikely.

I agree that they're probably not in the market for another full-time defenceman, but I strongly suspect they'll look at adding a veteran guy for the taxi squad.

 

[cabber24]

But in all seriousness, I could only see them adding another defenceman if they decide to cut bait on Dermott now and deal him in a trade that brings in a top-6 forward as opposed to potentially losing him in the expansion draft. But I think that's probably unlikely.

I agree that they're probably not in the market for another full-time defenceman, but I strongly suspect they'll look at adding a veteran guy for the taxi squad.

Our D depth is all "soft skill". I think if Muzzin or Bogo goes down we lose that great mix of styles of play we currently have.

 

[louisstamos]

But in all seriousness, I could only see them adding another defenceman if they decide to cut bait on Dermott now and deal him in a trade that brings in a top-6 forward as opposed to potentially losing him in the expansion draft. But I think that's probably unlikely.

I agree that they're probably not in the market for another full-time defenceman, but I strongly suspect they'll look at adding a veteran guy for the taxi squad.

Yup.  Not someone to supplant anyone in the Top 6 right now, but a RHD with experience, just in case one of Brodie/Holl/Bogo gets hurt (as Liljegren is still a bit green).  Someone like Demers/Hamonic/Schenn/Montour.  Ideally, someone who has already cleared waivers before acquiring them, so they can go straight to the taxi squad.  (Also ideally, someone who makes less than $1mil so they don't count towards the cap at all, but of the 4 above, the only one is Schenn, who I don't think Tampa is going to trade.  Hamonic makes $1.25mil, so he'd be slightly over.  Maybe the trading team can retain some salary since they're a UFA?)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Yup.  Not someone to supplant anyone in the Top 6 right now, but a RHD with experience, just in case one of Brodie/Holl/Bogo gets hurt (as Liljegren is still a bit green).  Someone like Demers/Hamonic/Schenn/Montour.  Ideally, someone who has already cleared waivers before acquiring them, so they can go straight to the taxi squad.  (Also ideally, someone who makes less than $1mil so they don't count towards the cap at all, but of the 4 above, the only one is Schenn, who I don't think Tampa is going to trade.  Hamonic makes $1.25mil, so he'd be slightly over.  Maybe the trading team can retain some salary since they're a UFA?)

I get the idea but I think it's pretty unlikely they'll give up assets for a guy like the ones you mentioned just for him to act as a 7/8 defenceman unless the price is something like a late round pick, and those guys could probably get more than that from other teams.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

We should see if Jason Allison is available.

 

[bustaheims]

I get the idea but I think it's pretty unlikely they'll give up assets for a guy like the ones you mentioned just for him to act as a 7/8 defenceman unless the price is something like a late round pick, and those guys could probably get more than that from other teams.

Agreed. I suspect we're looking more at guys like Michael Stone, Jon Merrill, Ben Hutton, Michael Del Zotto, etc. - guys who will be cheap to acquire but have experience. None of these guys are players you want in your lineup on a regular basis, but are reasonable short-term injury fill-ins.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I get the idea but I think it's pretty unlikely they'll give up assets for a guy like the ones you mentioned just for him to act as a 7/8 defenceman unless the price is something like a late round pick, and those guys could probably get more than that from other teams.

Agreed. I suspect we're looking more at guys like Michael Stone, Jon Merrill, Ben Hutton, Michael Del Zotto, etc. - guys who will be cheap to acquire but have experience. None of these guys are players you want in your lineup on a regular basis, but are reasonable short-term injury fill-ins.

Maybe Coburn if they really want to bring in a vet for the taxi squad? I'd only want to play him if there was a string of injuries on defence, but that'd be an easy move since he's in Canada, the cost would be next to nothing unless another team wanted to drive up a bidding war (in which case let them have him), and he might still have waiver exemption.

 

[Big Daddy]

Not sure why Lehtonen is not getting any mention.  If they trade Dermott rather than losing him than Lehtonen plays. So all we need is a taxi squad Dman.

 

[L K]

Not sure why Lehtonen is not getting any mention.  If they trade Dermott rather than losing him than Lehtonen plays. So all we need is a taxi squad Dman.

His defensive play.  He's a guy could slot in to fill in for say Dermott or heck even Rielly (not by pure minutes but for the PP role) but he isn't going to be the solution if we lose Brodie or Muzzin.

 

[bustaheims]

His defensive play.  He's a guy could slot in to fill in for say Dermott or heck even Rielly (not by pure minutes but for the PP role) but he isn't going to be the solution if we lose Brodie or Muzzin.

Yeah. He needs to be heavily sheltered. Can't play PK effectively, shouldn't be out against the other team's top forwards, etc. At this point, he's basically a PP specialist, which is unfortunate, since many had high hopes for him.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Hopefully folks understand my point in the Lehtonen thread now. Success in the KHL translating over is a huge gamble.