Trade deadline moves

[disco]

https://twitter.com/LeftCoastLeafs/status/1097910797345349632
Bergeron and Marchand a year older. Leafs young core will just get better with age. Eventually the beast will be slayed, but it may take some time. Pundits saying "they haven't won a playoff series yet" need a little perspective. A 112-pt Bruins team last year and President's trophy winner Caps the year before have been the draws. Being a high-point runner-up in the Atlantic means basically a Conference Final caliber first-round match-up. If the Leafs can finally get out of the first round they definitely have a shot at the Cup.

 

[herman]

The tricksie part for me is that Gardiner is due for a long term payday if the existing UFA pattern is to be followed. Now I'm on the more positive end of Gardiner assessment spectrum in these here parts but I'm on the negative end of the UFA-value assessment spectrum; coupled with his age there's a very fine line in which re-signing him makes sense and an even finer line in which trading him is more valuable.

So if he's open to a 5.1M AAV x 4 yrs (what kind of idiot of his caliber would sign that?), then yoink, cue up the 'Gardiner loves the Leafs and winning and will do whatever it takes to help this team get a Cup' articles.

If "Hello, Mr. Dubas, I have a Jacob Trouba here for your Gardiner, and he comes with a 4M AAV x 7yr extension" then trade away.

If he wants 6 x 6 which he fully deserves and then some, good luck in Minnesota, Jake, you'll get a tribute video.

One of these scenarios is far likelier than the other.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Bergeron and Marchand a year older. As this young core just gets better with age, eventually the beast will be slayed. But it may take some time. "Haven't won a playoff series yet" needs some perspective. A 112 pt Bruins team last year and President's trophy winner Caps the year before. Being a high-point runner-up in the Atlantic means basically a Conference Final calibre first-round matchup. If the Leafs can win the first round they can win the Cup.

We took Boston to 7 games last season and would have probably won the series if Gardiner/Andersen didn't have the worst games of their careers. And we did that with Tomas freakin' Plekanec being matched up against the Bergeron line at times. The idea that we're hopelessly outmatched against them is absurd.

With that said if they acquire Panarin or Stone I'd be worried.

 

[cabber24]

https://twitter.com/LeftCoastLeafs/status/1097910797345349632
Bergeron and Marchand a year older. As this young core just gets better with age, eventually the beast will be slayed. But it may take some time. "Haven't won a playoff series yet" needs some perspective. A 112 pt Bruins team last year and President's trophy winner Caps the year before. Being a high-point runner-up in the Atlantic means basically a Conference Final calibre first-round matchup. If the Leafs can win the first round they can win the Cup.

Kappi has been one of our best players the last TWO playoffs. OT winner against WAS and a beauty shorty against BOS.

 

[herman]

Bergeron and Marchand a year older. As this young core just gets better with age, eventually the beast will be slayed. But it may take some time. "Haven't won a playoff series yet" needs some perspective. A 112 pt Bruins team last year and President's trophy winner Caps the year before. Being a high-point runner-up in the Atlantic means basically a Conference Final calibre first-round matchup. If the Leafs can win the first round they can win the Cup.

We took Boston to 7 games last season and would have probably won the series if Gardiner/Andersen didn't have the worst games of their careers. And we did that with Tomas freakin' Plekanec being matched up against the Bergeron line at times. The idea that we're hopelessly outmatched against them is absurd.

With that said if they acquire Panarin or Stone I'd be worried.

So you're saying we should just get Panarin and Stone first.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1098268240197967873

To the best of my knowledge, DPS isn't really very good. But this'll be an interesting test to see how desperate the Leafs are for size/toughness.

 

[bustaheims]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1098268240197967873

To the best of my knowledge, DPS isn't really very good. But this'll be an interesting test to see how desperate the Leafs are for size/toughness.

I might be willing to consider putting him in ahead of Lindholm.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I might be willing to consider putting him in ahead of Lindholm.

Yeah, I'd probably put him ahead of Lindholm or Goat.

 

[Guilt Trip]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1098268240197967873

To the best of my knowledge, DPS isn't really very good. But this'll be an interesting test to see how desperate the Leafs are for size/toughness.

I might be willing to consider putting him in ahead of Lindholm.

I'd put Linholm back to centre where he belongs and sit the Goat.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd put Linholm back to centre where he belongs and sit the Goat.

I'd do the opposite. Sit Lindholm and keep Gauthier in the middle on the 4th line. Neither of them have been great, but Gauthier has looked better, in my opinion.

 

[L K]

I'd sooner they recall Moore and get Moore-gauthier/Lindholm-Ennis

Toughness is great, but I'd rather have guys that have energy.  DSP has been flat all year and supposedly came into camp out of shape and has slowed as the season has gone on.  Inject some energy into the lineup by bringing Moore up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'd do the opposite. Sit Lindholm and keep Gauthier in the middle on the 4th line. Neither of them have been great, but Gauthier has looked better, in my opinion.

I'd keep Lindholm mostly because I think he's a better skater. He also PKs, and while I don't think he's a particularly great PKer, that's probably enough for Babcock to stick with him.

 

[L K]

Last year the Leafs held on to JVR, Bozak, and Komarov to try and win a playoff series.  To me, advancing in the playoffs is more important this year than last year.  It's entirely possible the Leafs blueline will never be as good as this year moving forward due to cap limitations.  Trading Gardiner now for some assets and replacing him with Rosen does not make the team better. 

It's not a horrible move if you look at how dominant Tampa is this year and say 'screw it', but then the Leafs should also use the deadline to move out as many peripheral players and give up on the year and that isn't really going to happen.

 

[cabber24]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1098268240197967873

To the best of my knowledge, DPS isn't really very good. But this'll be an interesting test to see how desperate the Leafs are for size/toughness.

He was a playoff hero last year. Did you see our fourth line last night? I would put a waiver claim on him. $1M expiring contract, zero assets given up.

 

[bustaheims]

It's not a horrible move if you look at how dominant Tampa is this year and say 'screw it', but then the Leafs should also use the deadline to move out as many peripheral players and give up on the year and that isn't really going to happen.

Though, that is itself a horrible move. Being the best regular season is hardly a guarantee of anything. In the last 32 seasons, the top team from the regular season has won the Cup 8 times. They've also been eliminated in the first round 6 times, and in the second round 9 times. And, while Tampa may be having a better season than most President's Trophy winning teams in recent history, they're still beatable - and, if nothing else, their two head-to-head match ups this season have shown the Leafs certainly have the potential to beat the Bolts.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It's not a horrible move if you look at how dominant Tampa is this year and say 'screw it', but then the Leafs should also use the deadline to move out as many peripheral players and give up on the year and that isn't really going to happen.

Though, that is itself a horrible move. Being the best regular season is hardly a guarantee of anything. In the last 32 seasons, the top team from the regular season has won the Cup 8 times. They've also been eliminated in the first round 6 times, and in the second round 9 times. And, while Tampa may be having a better season than most President's Trophy winning teams in recent history, they're still beatable - and, if nothing else, their two head-to-head match ups this season have shown the Leafs certainly have the potential to beat the Bolts.

Imagine if the Leafs throw in the towel and Price ends up shutting the Lightning out in the 1st round and the Habs go on to win the Cup. It'll all be LK's fault.

 

[L K]

It's not a horrible move if you look at how dominant Tampa is this year and say 'screw it', but then the Leafs should also use the deadline to move out as many peripheral players and give up on the year and that isn't really going to happen.

Though, that is itself a horrible move. Being the best regular season is hardly a guarantee of anything. In the last 32 seasons, the top team from the regular season has won the Cup 8 times. They've also been eliminated in the first round 6 times, and in the second round 9 times. And, while Tampa may be having a better season than most President's Trophy winning teams in recent history, they're still beatable - and, if nothing else, their two head-to-head match ups this season have shown the Leafs certainly have the potential to beat the Bolts.

Imagine if the Leafs throw in the towel and Price ends up shutting the Lightning out in the 1st round and the Habs go on to win the Cup. It'll all be LK's fault.

I'll still be a better GM than they have in Ottawa and Edmonton.

 

[Zee]

I'd sooner they recall Moore and get Moore-gauthier/Lindholm-Ennis

Toughness is great, but I'd rather have guys that have energy.  DSP has been flat all year and supposedly came into camp out of shape and has slowed as the season has gone on.  Inject some energy into the lineup by bringing Moore up.

He's from Scarborough though, Mike Myers would approve of the pickup and maybe it re-energizes the home town kid.  Worst comes to worst they can throw him back on waivers if he stinks.

 

[Kin]

Though, that is itself a horrible move. Being the best regular season is hardly a guarantee of anything. In the last 32 seasons, the top team from the regular season has won the Cup 8 times. They've also been eliminated in the first round 6 times, and in the second round 9 times. And, while Tampa may be having a better season than most President's Trophy winning teams in recent history, they're still beatable - and, if nothing else, their two head-to-head match ups this season have shown the Leafs certainly have the potential to beat the Bolts.

Yeah, anyone who's given up on this year because of the Lightning or how the Bruins might look post-deadline is probably holding out hope for some sort of old NHL-ish scenario where the Leafs will have an easy time through the division and that sort of thing just won't exist any more.

But also I really don't get the sort of weird "The Leafs will never be as good as they are this year" from some people. Next year might be tricky but after next year the Leafs are probably going to be a lot better than they are this year with quite a bit of cap space.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd keep Lindholm mostly because I think he's a better skater. He also PKs, and while I don't think he's a particularly great PKer, that's probably enough for Babcock to stick with him.

Yeah, that's fair. I don't think either move the needle enough to warrant much handwringing about.