New Jersey Devils fans have an interesting one about how they turned him into Scott Neidermayer...
- Atomic Wedgie

I don't know about you... but for me that is not particularly "interesting".

Terrifying - yes
Offensive - yes
Disappointing - definitely

but not interesting

Not defending Muzzin in any way, but I've never understood why people want autographs.

You do you - if you like 'em, fine, but I just don't get jazzed by having some guy or gal scroll a signature across my shirt.

I'd much rather have a picture.
- Atomic Wedgie

Its a personal connection i guess.

Nobody is taking Ceci.

Nobody.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think at the deadline he'd be an easy add to match salaries if needed. He is a UFA at the end of the year, so I dont think a team would have an issue with taking him TBH.

They may not value him, but to say no team would take him is off IMO.

I think at the deadline he'd be an easy add to match salaries if needed. He is a UFA at the end of the year, so I dont think a team would have an issue with taking him TBH.

They may not value him, but to say no team would take him is off IMO.
- Archaic

Yep.

It’s an easy decision to make for a non playoff team with some extra cap space to make a deal work.

And? If the deal is made early enough they can retain half his salary and flip him after, likely get a draft pick for him.

I think at the deadline he'd be an easy add to match salaries if needed. He is a UFA at the end of the year, so I dont think a team would have an issue with taking him TBH.

They may not value him, but to say no team would take him is off IMO.
- Archaic

Anyone can be unloaded for a price.

I just don't see the Leafs willing to pay that price.

He's certainly not part of any deal where we are getting quality back.

So he needs to be a separate deal - you are unloading him and a 2nd or prospect for a 7th.

That gets you some cap space. But then you still need to make a deal for a defenceman who is better than Ceci. What's that going to cost? Bracco plus something with value plus a second or first round draft pick.

That's a lot of beans to put into the pot, and you still have to win on the road in Boston and Tampa.

And we haven't even talked about a backup goalie yet.

https://theathletic.com/1512878/2020/01/08/how-morgan-rielly-persevered-through-injury-and-can-now-turn-around-his-trying-season-with-the-maple-leafs/

Just liek I have been saying and many on here disputed it, Rielly is playing hurt.
- RogerRoeper

Anyone can be unloaded for a price.

I just don't see the Leafs willing to pay that price.

He's certainly not part of any deal where we are getting quality back.

So he needs to be a separate deal - you are unloading him and a 2nd or prospect for a 7th.

That gets you some cap space. But then you still need to make a deal for a defenceman who is better than Ceci. What's that going to cost? Bracco plus something with value plus a second or first round draft pick.

That's a lot of beans to put into the pot, and you still have to win on the road in Boston and Tampa.

And we haven't even talked about a backup goalie yet.
- Atomic Wedgie

It’s salary in and salary out. It happens all the time and going off memory from when the leafs were sellers they did it all the time.

Olli Jokienen comes to mind of a scrub they took for a deal to work with NSH...then flipped him for a late pick.

Ceci is just a piece to make the deal work and said team can retain his salary and get an asset for him.

Yep.

It’s an easy decision to make for a non playoff team with some extra cap space to make a deal work.

And? If the deal is made early enough they can retain half his salary and flip him after, likely get a draft pick for him.
- Santo_44

But why? I'm not sure I see it. I don't see who would want a 5/6 defenseman making $3.5m too much. Or $1.75m too much if we retain salary on him - which then limits our ability to replace him with another asset.

What are we going to acquire that lets us replace Ceci? Sandin or Liljegren and burn a year of the ELC?

If we make that move to acquire a new defenseman and are in a position of weakness financially, what do we need to give up to entice someone to take Ceci?

We're basically double-paying. Paying to acquire a new asset and paying to get rid of Ceci so that we can have the new asset.

Truth be told, Ceci is not a liability as a 5/6 guy, only his cap hit is. We've already paid a 1st rounder to deal with cap issues this year. I don't think we'd want to give up more assets or picks just to wiggle around the cap.

Would you want to sign with Columbus without Panarin, Bobrovski and no picks for four years?
- BetterCallSaul

well point is, it was actually a thing and not just made up nonsense

He said the cap for next year would go up to at least 84.5 and likely more. That was what I took issue with.
- RickJames77

I'd sincerely doubt it goes beyond $84. I do think Dubas' cap management plan is trying to play with loaded dice. I very much like what he and Pridham have done, but it seemed apparent to me that this year they didn't anticipate the cap being withheld at $81.5, and probably had to adjust their long-term thinking as well based on those changed projections (obviously I have NO idea, it just seems that way).

But why? I'm not sure I see it. I don't see who would want a 5/6 defenseman making $3.5m too much. Or $1.75m too much if we retain salary on him - which then limits our ability to replace him with another asset.

What are we going to acquire that lets us replace Ceci? Sandin or Liljegren and burn a year of the ELC?

If we make that move to acquire a new defenseman and are in a position of weakness financially, what do we need to give up to entice someone to take Ceci?

We're basically double-paying. Paying to acquire a new asset and paying to get rid of Ceci so that we can have the new asset.

Truth be told, Ceci is not a liability as a 5/6 guy, only his cap hit is. We've already paid a 1st rounder to deal with cap issues this year. I don't think we'd want to give up more assets or picks just to wiggle around the cap.
- Monkeypunk

Half of his contract is 2.25 million.

It’s the TDL. In a deal Ceci is just making the deal work. Team X is going to like the other players coming back. Ceci is just the money in and money out player that doesn’t affect the other team whatsoever.

Rebuilding teams take back contracts to make deals work all the time. Either to just put a body in or to flip.


And on Liljegren...I’m not convinced he isn’t part of a trade.

But why? I'm not sure I see it. I don't see who would want a 5/6 defenseman making $3.5m too much. Or $1.75m too much if we retain salary on him - which then limits our ability to replace him with another asset.

What are we going to acquire that lets us replace Ceci? Sandin or Liljegren and burn a year of the ELC?

If we make that move to acquire a new defenseman and are in a position of weakness financially, what do we need to give up to entice someone to take Ceci?

We're basically double-paying. Paying to acquire a new asset and paying to get rid of Ceci so that we can have the new asset.

Truth be told, Ceci is not a liability as a 5/6 guy, only his cap hit is. We've already paid a 1st rounder to deal with cap issues this year. I don't think we'd want to give up more assets or picks just to wiggle around the cap.
- Monkeypunk

I posted about that yesterday. they might be willing to burn an elc year, but still push out the UFA status.

its not always a bad idea to burn a elc year on a partial season, it might give the player less stats when the next contract comes.

Anyone can be unloaded for a price.

I just don't see the Leafs willing to pay that price.

He's certainly not part of any deal where we are getting quality back.

So he needs to be a separate deal - you are unloading him and a 2nd or prospect for a 7th.

That gets you some cap space. But then you still need to make a deal for a defenceman who is better than Ceci. What's that going to cost? Bracco plus something with value plus a second or first round draft pick.

That's a lot of beans to put into the pot, and you still have to win on the road in Boston and Tampa.

And we haven't even talked about a backup goalie yet.
- Atomic Wedgie

I think its more likely hed be included as part of the deal to even out the salary. I dont think it would be a scenario that the Leafs just dumped him for picks

But why? I'm not sure I see it. I don't see who would want a 5/6 defenseman making $3.5m too much. Or $1.75m too much if we retain salary on him - which then limits our ability to replace him with another asset.

What are we going to acquire that lets us replace Ceci? Sandin or Liljegren and burn a year of the ELC?

If we make that move to acquire a new defenseman and are in a position of weakness financially, what do we need to give up to entice someone to take Ceci?

We're basically double-paying. Paying to acquire a new asset and paying to get rid of Ceci so that we can have the new asset.

Truth be told, Ceci is not a liability as a 5/6 guy, only his cap hit is. We've already paid a 1st rounder to deal with cap issues this year. I don't think we'd want to give up more assets or picks just to wiggle around the cap.
- Monkeypunk

The only way it makes sense, is if we move Ceci + something else to get a slight upgrade at RHD.

Maybe Ceci and say Bracco for Severson? Even then, is Severson worth losing Bracco..

The only way it makes sense, is if we move Ceci + something else to get a slight upgrade at RHD.

Maybe Ceci and say Bracco for Severson? Even then, is Severson worth losing Bracco..
- PatC80

The leafs should avoid trading for overpaid players with term

Vatanen
Martinez
Brodie/Hamonic

Lesser extent Dillon

Those are rentals I’d be interested in.

But I’d go big on Ekholm

The Habs lost to the red wings

New Jersey Devils fans have an interesting one about how they turned him into Scott Neidermayer...
- Atomic Wedgie

They can sing kumbaya around the campfire talking about Neidermayer then realize if they win the draft lottery this year it will be 3 out of the last four first overall picks. Maybe they can go off the board and pick the next Yakupov.

The only way it makes sense, is if we move Ceci + something else to get a slight upgrade at RHD.

Maybe Ceci and say Bracco for Severson? Even then, is Severson worth losing Bracco..
- PatC80

I think based on how the callups have went and the results this season, Bracco is expendable.

That seems light for Severson, but not sure

I posted about that yesterday. they might be willing to burn an elc year, but still push out the UFA status.

its not always a bad idea to burn a elc year on a partial season, it might give the player less stats when the next contract comes.
- senstroll

That's a good point. It is slightly risky to bring up guys who are untested at this level, but in an insulated 5/6 role it might not be so bad. I think one of the things keeping them reserved was how Sandin was getting run in his earlier audition. It sounds like I'm advocating for Ceci here, and I'm not, but I will say two things: (1) He is not bad as a 5/6 guy and (2) he's fairly sturdy, having played in 70+ in all years since his rookie year.

Its a personal connection i guess.
- Fakepartofme

Here you go Fake,

https://www.tsn.ca/toront...comes-at-a-cost-1.1389199

Just an indicator, but Leafs will never admit he's playing hurt until they announce the surgery after the season IMO

Is Bracco/Timo for Georgiev/andersonn too little going the Rangers way?

Anyone can be unloaded for a price.

I just don't see the Leafs willing to pay that price.

He's certainly not part of any deal where we are getting quality back.

So he needs to be a separate deal - you are unloading him and a 2nd or prospect for a 7th.

That gets you some cap space. But then you still need to make a deal for a defenceman who is better than Ceci. What's that going to cost? Bracco plus something with value plus a second or first round draft pick.

That's a lot of beans to put into the pot, and you still have to win on the road in Boston and Tampa.

And we haven't even talked about a backup goalie yet.
- Atomic Wedgie

Just curious : what's the price to unload Price?
what's the price to unload Eriksson?
what's the price to unload Eric Karlsson?

How can Vancouver unload the Luongo obligation?

Asking for a friend.

Rasmus Sandin at 1:00 on Leafs lunch for those who care

And guess what happens to those 6 nationwide commercials he has if he leaves and plays for the Jackets?

Could not help but notice the media ignored that issue 100%

The media wanted to pretend guys were desperate to get out of Toronto, even hometown guys a few months after Tavares signed.
- RogerRoeper

Were they pretending or did they all get a Babcock Bonus?

Is Bracco/Timo for Georgiev/andersonn too little going the Rangers way?
- Santo_44

the one roster problem with anderson - the rags managed his deal poorly and he'll need protection in the expansion draft.

but so will bracco, so at least that part seems fair?