It's very likely that the first rounder the Leafs gave up will be just a mid-level prospect anyway, at best.

Yes a worst-case scenario could happen where they miss the playoffs and win the lottery, but does anyone realistically want to take that bet? If you do let me know because I would love to bet money on that.
- Zezel

Pretty sure the condition is that it is not a top ten pick. If the pick is top ten it moves to 2021

Thank you Santo for correcting 100 years of coaching history for me.

There is 1 rookie forward in the top 50 in time on ice shorthanded this past season. Now, to his credit, Cirelli is 3rd overall, and plays for Tampa Bay. But again, these guys are outliers.

Oh and the previous season when Cirelli played in 18 games, he was 120 something on the list.
- aminnes

Lol

Matthews: 11.634
Tavares: 11
Marner: 10.5
Nylander: 6.963
Kadri: 4.5
Johnsson: 3.6
Kapanen: 3.4
Hyman: 2.25
Brown: 2.1
Mikheyev: .925
Moore: .775
Petan: .775
Marchment: .768
Gauthier: .675

14 forwards: 59.865

Rielly: 5
Muzzin: 4
Dermott: .864
Rosen: .750
Holl: .675

5 Defensemen: 11.289

Andersen: 5

1 goalie: 5

Kessel 1.2

Total cap hit: 77.354

Cap space: 4.146


Trade Brown, replace him with an Ennis type UFA (.675)
Trade Nylander for a top-4 D (Hamilton - 5.75). Replace Nylander with Bracco (.843).
Trade for a relatively cheap #4 D (Colin Miller - 3.88).
Sign a cheap (~1m) backup.

New cap 80.719

New cap space: .781

It’ll be tight, but it’s doable. Team is still great offensively, but more balanced.
- Steven_Seagull

She'll be tight. Couple of tweaks to your numbers. MacKenzie says 3.2 for Kap and 3.4 for Johnsson. And Leafs can/will carry 13 fads so drop Marchments $$.

15 million to spend on Marner and two defenders. Or, if Zaitsev stays then it's 10.5 to spend on Marner and one defender.

I still think MM is closer to 9.5

I am disappointed in this deal. Yes, we got to keep Kapanen and Johnsson in the mix, but if we traded Marleau, Connor Brown, and a mid level prospect or pick, I think that alone gets the deal done.

And Top 10 protected? I would have been a little happier if it was the Top 15. If we do fall out of a playoff race and finish between 10 and 15, that's a good kick in the nuts having Carolina make that pick.

Marleau going had to happen. I was hoping for a little creativity instead of trading our First rounder. Now we are without two first rounders for two years in a row. It becomes more imperative to lock Muzzin up ASAP as soon as July hits.

What now? Hoping he packages Zaitsev with Brown for a mid level pick to free up the cap space to sign a vet D and backup goalie.
- PhilMcCracken

You think that there was something else available but they took this deal?

How would they get creative? They had limited amount of teams to work with who were willing to take him and buy him out.

I am disappointed in this deal. Yes, we got to keep Kapanen and Johnsson in the mix, but if we traded Marleau, Connor Brown, and a mid level prospect or pick, I think that alone gets the deal done.

And Top 10 protected? I would have been a little happier if it was the Top 15. If we do fall out of a playoff race and finish between 10 and 15, that's a good kick in the nuts having Carolina make that pick.

Marleau going had to happen. I was hoping for a little creativity instead of trading our First rounder. Now we are without two first rounders for two years in a row. It becomes more imperative to lock Muzzin up ASAP as soon as July hits.

What now? Hoping he packages Zaitsev with Brown for a mid level pick to free up the cap space to sign a vet D and backup goalie.
- PhilMcCracken

Marleau had a no trade and teams weren't lining up to bail us out. Apparently Marleau would only go to a team near SJ or to a team willing to buy him out so he can sign with a team near SJ. That list of teams is presumably small.

It's very likely that the first rounder the Leafs gave up will be just a mid-level prospect anyway, at best.

Yes a worst-case scenario could happen where they miss the playoffs and win the lottery, but does anyone realistically want to take that bet? If you do let me know because I would love to bet money on that.
- Zezel

And that would have to happen two years in a row for it to matter b/c of the 'top 10 protection'.

It's very likely that the first rounder the Leafs gave up will be just a mid-level prospect anyway, at best.

Yes a worst-case scenario could happen where they miss the playoffs and win the lottery, but does anyone realistically want to take that bet? If you do let me know because I would love to bet money on that.
- Zezel

If we miss the playoff and win lottery who cares? We get 1st overall.

Pretty sure the condition is that it is not a top ten pick. If the pick is top ten it moves to 2021
- Leafs43

Yeah but they can still move up in the lottery if the pick is 11-16. But realistically the pick will be 20-31 and be some plug. In all likelihood people are grieving the loss of the next Biggs, Colbourne, Percy, etc.

Yeah but they can still move up in the lottery if the pick is 11-16. But realistically the pick will be 20-31 and be some plug. In all likelihood people are grieving the loss of the next Biggs, Colbourne, Percy, etc.
- Zezel

No it's top 10 protected. If they move up from 11-16 into any of the top 3 spots it slides to 2021.

Yeah but they can still move up in the lottery if the pick is 11-16. But realistically the pick will be 20-31 and be some plug. In all likelihood people are grieving the loss of the next Biggs, Colbourne, Percy, etc.
- Zezel

If we move up with the lottery and get a top 3 pick we keep the pick. If the leafs pick is in the top ten next year, we keep it.

You think that there was something else available but they took this deal?

How would they get creative? They had limited amount of teams to work with who were willing to take him and buy him out.
- burn

No Burn, Leaf mngmnt always has an array of choices and always picks the worst option.

By next summer someone will be reminding us that Dubas could have traded him with a poopty Ahl'er and a 4th rounder to Arizona but Dubas preferred to blow a first.

If we miss the playoff and win lottery who cares? We get 1st overall.
- burn

Yeah as Law pointed out, it would have to happen two years in a row for the Leafs to lose a high pick in the deal. Very, very long odds.

If we miss the playoff and win lottery who cares? We get 1st overall.
- burn

I'm done with high picks. Too much drama ... Fletcher was right.

WE never got any farther with Marleau added. That was a horrible signing. And please spare me the "Leadership" crap.


Gotta love Mitch saying how much he'll miss Patty. LOL You are holding the Leafs hostage.

No Burn, Leaf mngmnt always has an array of choices and always picks the worst option.

By next summer someone will be reminding us that Dubas could have traded him with a poopty Ahl'er and a 4th rounder to Arizona but Dubas preferred to blow a first.
- The Law

No doubt. Some on here reminding us that dubas could have signed marner last summer for less than 9mil, to hell with the facts

Yeah as Law pointed out, it would have to happen two years in a row for the Leafs to lose a high pick in the deal. Very, very long odds.
- Zezel

What are chAnces leafs miss (and win lotto ) 2 years in a row. No chance

What are chAnces leafs miss (and win lotto ) 2 years in a row. No chance
- burn

Yep. I understand that Leaf fans have PTSD about trading picks from the past, but this is not a risky move.

People think Leafs are a lottery team? HAHA. Let's be serious guys.Compare our talent with the bottom 5 teams last year and get back to me.

People think Leafs are a lottery team? HAHA. Let's be serious guys.Compare our talent with the bottom 5 teams last year and get back to me.
- RogerRoeper

I don't think anyone actually thinks leafs are a lottery team. But anything can happen. TB missed the playoffs I think three years ago? They had a great team that year. Which is why protecting the pick was a good move. Especially with the trash defense we are currently projected to have.

No doubt. Some on here reminding us that dubas could have signed marner last summer for less than 9mil, to hell with the facts
- burn

lol ...I was going to say the same thing. 8 x 8 last year!

Truth is that all of these guys wanted short deals. I'm sure the PA and agents are all over this group of RFA's. New TV $$ coming and new CBA.

The real fight is teams trying to get a 6th, 7th or 8th year. Interested to see if any of the big RFA's take more years.

No doubt. Some on here reminding us that dubas could have signed marner last summer for less than 9mil, to hell with the facts
- burn

Amazing how trusting all of you are of Nick Kypreos. LOL

Yep. I understand that Leaf fans have PTSD about trading picks from the past, but this is not a risky move.
- Zezel

I think the real 'price' of that lost pick will be at the trade deadline this year. We won't have that pick to dangle for a rental. Leafs are going to need to be healthy this year and need some young blue liners to step up.

I think the real 'price' of that lost pick will be at the trade deadline this year. We won't have that pick to dangle for a rental. Leafs are going to need to be healthy this year and need some young blue liners to step up.
- The Law

I agree. The 1st is nice at the deadline. But they can still move prospects instead.

I think the real 'price' of that lost pick will be at the trade deadline this year. We won't have that pick to dangle for a rental. Leafs are going to need to be healthy this year and need some young blue liners to step up.
- The Law

This is a great point. That part of it does sting because they should be in the deadline rental market and this empties their wallet a bit.