Trading Pouliot would really hurt if he blossoms into Letang with better PP skills, but you're right JVR is the perfect fit for our most gaping hole. Other than Kunitz, I really like that line-up.
- Tojo.

We have 4 Young Dmen who look really promising, 1 who looked good while up here but isn't young (Chorney), and the "potential" of Harrington.

Shouldn't we assume at least 1 will end up better than or as good as Letang with them all being so highly valued?

The only issue with my idea is that it leaves very little wiggle room to resign Perron. Not the biggest issue with JVR under contract, but if we're shipping out a first then we need to retain these younger top 6 wingers since our pipe system will be baron. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that if we were to make a trade for JVR that packaged a first, Pouliot, and Bennett/Murray, moving Kunitz at some point is practically a necessity.
- Victoro311

Yeah we will have to resign him after next year. I resign him no question. Maatta will need a new deal in the future as well, but by then Sutter/Spaling will be off the books and more than likely Scuds. I think the year after Maatta needs a deal 9 and 14 come off the books.

Interesting on the list. Like the format. I'd make 1B 1A! I'm just assuming 2/3 of our team will be injured from mid Nov through end of March.
- 87_71_11_29

Points with lettering after the numbers are of equal value in my mind.

When I do the list my top 12 forward thing here on HB, I'm no longer including BB in that list. I truly see no point in doing so until 2 things happen:

1. He plays at least 20 games in a row w/o breaking
2. He produces at least .75 pts per game over said 20 games. He's gotta be at minimum a 60 pt guy otherwise he's useless.
- 87_71_11_29

He played 20+ to end the season and that type of Point Per game is expected out of experienced top 6, not a borderline top 6 who has had health issue.

Beau at 25-25 in a top six role is massive considering his cap hit is going to be around 1 mill for the next few seasons.

We have 4 Young Dmen who look really promising, 1 who looked good while up here but isn't young (Chorney), and the "potential" of Harrington.

Shouldn't we assume at least 1 will end up better than or as good as Letang with them all being so highly valued?
- Guile

I don't think any of the others have quite that upside. Harrington and Dumoulin are good prospects, but not grade A ones like Pouliot and Maatta.

Let's not trade away anything for help next year.

This team needs one year of not trying to win a cup in order to really be able and win a cup.

We may need Murray/Jarry ELC when Crosby/Malkin are 32 years old. Trade Fleury then or let him walk and use his money to add a tier one wing. That would do more to prolong Crosby/Malkin into old age than trying to be cup competitive this year.

Last year was the year to mini rebuild. Keep the Winnik picks. Still do the Peron trade since late first for his talent seemed good. Move Martin for a pick/prospect. If we did that last year then we would be back in contention this year.

I don't think any of the others have quite that upside. Harrington and Dumoulin are good prospects, but not grade A ones like Pouliot and Maatta.
- Tojo.

Pouliot and Maatta are #2-#3 defenders behind Letang, both project as a top pairing player.
Harrington projects as a stead #5 with limited upside.

Dumo has a very high ceiling though. His size is good, but his skating and vision are top 4. The future is there, along with Cole that is a decent core.

None of our defense prospects are considered Letang potential. To be honest most of our prospects are second tier defenseman prospects and do not project as number one defenseman on a contender.

A guy like Seth Jones is a tier one prospect (I know he's been in the NHL but he's young)

Maata probably projects to a #2 maybe low end #1. I'm not sure how Pouliot projects - certainly tier 1 offense but his defense isn't expected to be great. Harrington projects to Paul Martin - a minute eater top 4 dman so thats like a 2/3 defender. Dumoulin is considered bottom pairing stud potential.

If we can sign Frolik at a reasonable cap hit I think its the best move we can make. 5 years at 27.5 would seem to be his value. I'd rather overpay on him than give up ELC dmen. Overpaying a million is better financially than sacrificing ELC contracts.

If we can sign Frolik at a reasonable cap hit I think its the best move we can make. 5 years at 27.5 would seem to be his value. I'd rather overpay on him than give up ELC dmen. Overpaying a million is better financially than sacrificing ELC contracts.
- sditulli

This would be catastrophic and exactly the kind of move they cant make this offseason. My fear is GMJR will indeed do something like this in an attempt to win this year.

Why would you sign Frolik? What does he get you? Is he the difference between a Cup team and a non Cup team? No. Is he a true top 6? No.

We already have overpaid vets in Scuds, Kunitz, and Duper. Last thing we need is another contract anchor weighing this team down.

This would be catastrophic and exactly the kind of move they cant make this offseason. My fear is GMJR will indeed do something like this in an attempt to win this year.

Why would you sign Frolik? What does he get you? Is he the difference between a Cup team and a non Cup team? No. Is he a true top 6? No.

We already have overpaid vets in Scuds, Kunitz, and Duper. Last thing we need is another contract anchor weighing this team down.
- 87_71_11_29

If a million other good roster moves happened and we have leftover money hanging out our asses, I still would hesitate to sign Frolik to that deal....

i honestly have no idea. To me, if i'm the LEafs GM i'm looking for quality over quantity (so a high pick or real good prospect instead of lower pickS or prospects).

Tough deal for Pit. i do like that goalie for Wilkes barre, matt murray. Him and kapanen would probably get it done for me

I think the sooner we move JVR the more he is worth. he isn't a rental, you get him for 3 years and he's in his prime. plus a very cap friendly deal.

EDIT: i'd take maata, but didn't think you were offering him. His injury plagued season is no concern for a rebuilding leafs team
- clark_griswold

holy hell yes.

i dont think that gets it done. but id do it. the only young guy i wouldnt move for jvr would be maatta. all the rest could be configured into some sort of package.

You are right its an overpayment

5 years 20 and I'd take him in a heartbeat.

He's not old. And we don't have to ship out Pouliot/Maata like we would for JVR.

So lower the cap hit, but I'd take a 27 year old forward thats probably a 25/25 guy with Malkin.

If we can sign him reasonable then you can always ship him out later for prospects if he doesn't fit well but performs.

holy hell yes.

i dont think that gets it done. but id do it. the only young guy i wouldnt move for jvr would be maatta. all the rest could be configured into some sort of package.
- stayinthefnnet

it's a pick involved too. but i really like murray, and kapanen i have never seen play to be honest.

it's a pick involved too. but i really like murray, and kapanen i have never seen play to be honest.
- clark_griswold

hm. you and i may be both dead and buried by the time the pens have picks to throw in man.

but yeah. im game. and im not one to necessarily flush the youth down the toilet. murray could be a stud. and im excited about kapanen.

but jvr is special, especially at that cap hit. i live in philly so i watched a lot of him with the flyers.

and he is still young. he would be picturesque for malkin.

hm. you and i may be both dead and buried by the time the pens have picks to throw in man.

but yeah. im game. and im not one to necessarily flush the youth down the toilet. murray could be a stud. and im excited about kapanen.

but jvr is special, especially at that cap hit. i live in philly so i watched a lot of him with the flyers.

and he is still young. he would be picturesque for malkin.
- stayinthefnnet

jvr is my 2nd favorite leaf. actually, him and rielly are the only leafs i don't hate. JVR plays his best hockey in the playoffs too.

but it bugs me to no end when leafs fans say keep him. He will be wasted on a team in the cellar of the standings when we can acquire very important building blocks for the future. I don't think some leafs fans understand the rebuild.

Let me preface this by saying I'm a big fan of Justin Williams. He would add value.

That said, this ISN'T what we need at this moment. We need to get younger and faster. Williams is 33, not 26. A signing of him would set us back a few years in what we should be doing. He is only a short term solution, certainly not a long term one - something we need.

To PIT: Pacioretty, Desharnais, Tinordi
To MTL: Malkin

No way I trade Kap or Murray for JVR. JVR Isn't special. He's not a cup contender franchise player.

Murray has the ability to replace Fleury at ELC right when Fleury is getting old. And Kap can be a 25-30 goal guy in a couple years. Clear out the 10 million in cap we would be spending on Fleury/JVR versus Murry/Jarry/Kap and then we can sign whatever free agent we want in 2-3 eyars.

To PIT: Pacioretty, Galchenyuk, Gallagher
To MTL: Malkin, Sutter
- Mike Komisarek

Fixed it

No way I trade Kap or Murray for JVR. JVR Isn't special. He's not a cup contender franchise player.

Murray has the ability to replace Fleury at ELC right when Fleury is getting old. And Kap can be a 25-30 goal guy in a couple years. Clear out the 10 million in cap we would be spending on Fleury/JVR versus Murry/Jarry/Kap and then we can sign whatever free agent we want in 2-3 eyars.
- sditulli

kap CAN be a 25 goal scorer in a few years. can be.

jvr is now. and thats without malkin. jvr isnt like going out and getting drew stafford or even an old justin williams though.

and jvr is cheap enough to where he isnt cap prohibitive. and young enough to where he can be along for the next window of malkin/crosby.

This would be catastrophic and exactly the kind of move they cant make this offseason. My fear is GMJR will indeed do something like this in an attempt to win this year.

Why would you sign Frolik? What does he get you? Is he the difference between a Cup team and a non Cup team? No. Is he a true top 6? No.

We already have overpaid vets in Scuds, Kunitz, and Duper. Last thing we need is another contract anchor weighing this team down.
- 87_71_11_29

People view Frolik as a young (27) and talented dude, which he is. What people fail to understand he is a dude that has never had a 25-goal, or a 50-point season. That is a lot of jack to be thrown out there for that type of player.

To PIT: Pacioretty, Desharnais, Tinordi
To MTL: Malkin
- Mike Komisarek

We do not need Tinordi for starters.

We do not need Tinordi for starters.
- Oneonta Penguin

Does it mean you need Desharnais???

bennett doesnt really hold much value. I dont think the leafs would be looking to take back a goalie prospect either unless reimer/bernier are moved. they already have two young goalies in the ahl and a guy who was the top goalie in the echl

the thing you have to keep in mind is that it would take an overpayment, not a reasonable offer, to pry JVR out of toronto
- GardinerExpress

Beau Bennett has zero value on the market. He is broken for the day by the time he picks up his spoon to eat his cereal.