I would love to see Garland or Kuemper in a Leafs uniform.

Coyotes need to acquire cap space, while also position themselves for a re-build.

Expect them to take high cap hit, low salary paid players in an effort to reach the cap floor, while also pawning off their valuable roster pieces.

Should be an interesting off-season for them.
- buddzy

Dermott would interest them as well.

Kuemper and Dvorak/Garland package

They can either retain Kuemper's contract(2m) or retain the same amount of money but over 4 years 0% interest on a garland or Dvorak contract

The bank of Leafs doesn't care.

Big picture is we have big contracts, big holes, no cap space, few prospects and few picks...and no success.

We're (frank)ed.
- fifty__missions

You okay, grumpy cat?

If the Leafs don't have Tavares get injured in the first round last year, they are likely into the final 4. I think they would have lost to Vegas, but who knows? It likely would have highlighted the key deficiency here which is defense and softness. Of course getting through a couple of rounds hardens and hungers a team. Maybe we would have seen more from them - I don't know and neither do you.

We have big contracts on players who are good. That is a fact. Marner is overpaid but I don't know by how much given that he was 4th in league scoring last year and is continually among league leaders. Matthews is making a good amount and is the best goal scorer in the league. Tavares may be overpaid, but that's the price for taking your shot at an elite centre in the league. Nylander is maybe . . . what . . $400k over where people want him?

In retrospect, I wish they hadn't signed Tavares and had used the money on D. Not much we can do about that now.

So did the Penguins do well to trade Mccann for Hallander & 7th and then lose Tanev to the Kraken?

Or would they have been better off to just lose Mccann?

Dermott would interest them as well.

Kuemper and Dvorak/Garland package

They can either retain Kuemper's contract(2m) or retain the same amount of money but over 4 years 0% interest on a garland or Dvorak contract

The bank of Leafs doesn't care.
- Santo_44

Ironically enough, I can see the Coyotes WANTING to retain salary.

I think Dubas is definitely having a hard look at the Arizona players. Gonna be tough with limited picks and prospects though. Dermott and Kerfoot are good candidates to be shipped out.

Ironically enough, I can see the Coyotes WANTING to retain salary.

I think Dubas is definitely having a hard look at the Arizona players. Gonna be tough with limited picks and prospects though. Dermott and Kerfoot are good candidates to be shipped out.
- buddzy

Well its hard to imagine it being easy trading players with higher salaries than their cap hits in this market. Arizona has some work to do.

I mean I clearly stated what my intention there was... But if you just wish to be a total female genitalia about it that is your right and I would not be the one to take it from you. 🤦🏻‍♂️
- joel878

Settle down, Joel. Here's what you said two pages ago:

Savings on Simmonds + Kerfoot to McCann + Holl gets you within 200k of Weegar.

Also, Engvall at 3C and Kerfoot out pays for it entirely.


Now Kerfoot to McCann occurred less than a week ago.

Weegar was available a year ago.

You can't take something that just happened a week ago and apply that reality as though it had happened a year ago.

I am not going further into detail about this if you wish to devolve everything into name-calling that's your business.

So did the Penguins do well to trade Mccann for Hallander & 7th and then lose Tanev to the Kraken?

Or would they have been better off to just lose Mccann?
- Leafs43

I think the Leafs were one of the only teams willing to take on a contract pre-expansion and give the Penguins some assets. They did well enough.

I have a feeling we're going to see some interesting Seattle trades revealed tonight, because that Tanev contract is really bad. Seattle isn't trying to build around Brandon Tanev.

Ironically enough, I can see the Coyotes WANTING to retain salary.

I think Dubas is definitely having a hard look at the Arizona players. Gonna be tough with limited picks and prospects though. Dermott and Kerfoot are good candidates to be shipped out.
- buddzy

Might get a bag of pucks for Dermsie, and bag of sticks for Kerf.

Might get a bag of pucks for Dermsie, and bag of sticks for Kerf.
- fifty__missions

Okay Grumpy

Talk to me about asset management re. Kadri trade, and a first for Nik Foligno.
- fifty__missions

Not protecting Holl will fix that

The improvement from Justin Holl doesn't start with Justin Holl. He's too insignificant in terms of salary and role, but our cap being so close to the ceiling means that he is an important piece.

To me, if I make a bunch of moves - like trade Kerfoot, sign Riley (or some other smart and reliable 3C), get Hyman cheap or a replacement cheap, and get our 1B goalie for $2.5m - $3m - then an improvement I'd truly investigate is Hamilton. If you can wrangle him in the $7.5 - $8 range, then you trade Rielly. Holl is still critical in that type of plan because of his cheap hit. You're improving the defense by improving the defense.

If not Hamilton because that is a stretch, I wonder if Suter is a realistic target - he should be cheap since he's already making a lot of money from the Wild. The point is that in my mind Holl isn't the guy we need to move to improve our defensive style. It's Rielly.
- Monkeypunk

1b goalie? Surely to God you mean 1a goalie! That and forward scoring depth are our biggest needs

Settle down, Joel. Here's what you said two pages ago:

Savings on Simmonds + Kerfoot to McCann + Holl gets you within 200k of Weegar.

Also, Engvall at 3C and Kerfoot out pays for it entirely.


Now Kerfoot to McCann occurred less than a week ago.

Weegar was available a year ago.

You can't take something that just happened a week ago and apply that reality as though it had happened a year ago.

I am not going further into detail about this if you wish to devolve everything into name-calling that's your business.
- Monkeypunk

Yes, and when you said as much my response was..

"Yes and that wasn't my intention. I was more so saying if it could have been done then I'm sure there are avenues to find an upgrade now."

Bottom of the page two pages ago.

So if you're going to disregard as much and be a Richard about it anyways, don't be so offended when someone says something about it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Might get a bag of pucks for Dermsie, and bag of sticks for Kerf.
- fifty__missions

Aren't you just a ray of sunshine today

I want to see Joel and FiftyMissions in a deathmatch.

But it has to be first in the morning when they are at their grumpiest.

Aren't you just a ray of sunshine today
- buddzy

Calling it as I see it.

Dubas and Shanny's pride is preventing them from changing course.

4 players/40 M/flat cap means the roster is (frank)ed. Team can't be properly built this way.

Calling it as I see it.

Dubas and Shanny's pride is preventing them from changing course.

4 players/40 M/flat cap means the roster is (frank)ed. Team can't be properly built this way.
- fifty__missions

You present a valid argument, I guess we'll see what happens!

Let's hope the Leafs figure it out. We have some pretty good players on our team though.

You present a valid argument, I guess we'll see what happens!

Let's hope the Leafs figure it out. We have some pretty good players on our team though.
- buddzy

I agree re the talented players on the Leafs.

But that does not mean they are a good team, especially a good playoff team. Actually, we are a very good reg season team. Dipsy doodle time.

Completely different animal, playoff hockey.

I want to see Joel and FiftyMissions in a deathmatch.

But it has to be first in the morning when they are at their grumpiest.
- Santo_44

You gonna be able to watch it from your safe space or no

Calling it as I see it.

Dubas and Shanny's pride is preventing them from changing course.

4 players/40 M/flat cap means the roster is (frank)ed. Team can't be properly built this way.
- fifty__missions

Agree...….they could hardly say the MLSE, after another failed playoff attemp.....uh yeah our plan doesn't work we will have to change it! They have one more year and then they are gone! No way MLSE puts up with this with zero results, forever. That said, of course we will have a worse team.....Hyman is either leaving or we are overpaying him, and someone else is leaving.

When I saw Gallaghers face after the Leafs series, bruises and cuts, then you look at Marner and fresh as a babies bottom.....that said it all. One guy fought a battle and the other mailed it in. That describes the Leafs heart right now.

Calling it as I see it.

Dubas and Shanny's pride is preventing them from changing course.

4 players/40 M/flat cap means the roster is (frank)ed. Team can't be properly built this way.
- fifty__missions

The only way this team wins anything is if it’s key components are working at their best. IMO, that means changing up how they play and adding some speed and size. Putting a $3.5M 2nd pairing guy in to replace Holl isn’t going to move the needle. Using that money, with scraps they can find elsewhere to find a new, better Hyman, a much, much better Gally and whatever else they can afford for the 3rd line is far more important.

Maybe this is the year Holl falls apart. He hasn’t yet and there are far more important issues.

Of course these are just my opinions and much louder people in here probably know much more.

[Sounds like quote=PatC80]Pens knew they were going to lose McCann so that got two assets for him.
Leafs knew they were going to lose McCann, but they got nothing for him.

We didn't only lose Hallander and a 7th to Seattle, we lost McCann..

Which in my opinion is a fail by Dubas

Sounds like you're trying really hard not to think clearly. While you're at it, don't forget to add who the Pens are losing to the Kraken as well.

You gonna be able to watch it from your safe space or no
- joel878

🤛

The only way this team wins anything is if it’s key components are working at their best. IMO, that means changing up how they play and adding some speed and size. Putting a $3.5M 2nd pairing guy in to replace Holl isn’t going to move the needle. Using that money, with scraps they can find elsewhere to find a new, better Hyman, a much, much better Gally and whatever else they can afford for the 3rd line is far more important.

Maybe this is the year Holl falls apart. He hasn’t yet and there are far more important issues.

Of course these are just my opinions and much louder people in here probably know much more.
- Canada Cup

My point is that you literally can't find upgrades with so little cap flexibility, not to mention few draft picks and prospects. They are left trying to fill in holes with.....plugs. These are not "upgrades".

Arizona is 6M under the cap floor.

If they trade Kuemper they will be 9.5M under the cap floor.

plus Dvorak and they will be 14M under the cap floor.

What players are available right now that are worth less than their cap hits? Please tell me how Kerfoot is not a Coyote at the end of the week.

700K for a 3.5M cap hit? Arizona needs that contract.
- Santo_44

I hope you're right..

Agree...….they could hardly say the MLSE, after another failed playoff attemp.....uh yeah our plan doesn't work we will have to change it! They have one more year and then they are gone! No way MLSE puts up with this with zero results, forever. That said, of course we will have a worse team.....Hyman is either leaving or we are overpaying him, and someone else is leaving.

When I saw Gallaghers face after the Leafs series, bruises and cuts, then you look at Marner and fresh as a babies bottom.....that said it all. One guy fought a battle and the other mailed it in. That describes the Leafs heart right now.
- Bullot

I agree, it was tough to see how little the Leafs battled. They need to change their work ethic and intensity. Hopefully they do. I believe in these boys.