They need to see how Liljregren progresses and see if he can consistently handle tougher mins.

They also have a question mark in Timmins who could provide good good value.

Benoit and Gio.

At this point there is no reason to make a trade unless its a no brainer with the cap.
- Santo_44

They have to make one. They have Robertson on just the IR which buys them 3 games, and I’m thinking they’ll drop Gambrell, Benoit or Timmins, and Jones.

That would give them $775,000 (Robertson, Gambrell, Benoit each), and $875,000 for Jones to the Marlies.

Even with them off the cap they’re still $518,950 over it. With only 12F, 7D, and 2G. There will have to be a tweak.

“I think the Maple Leafs just decided to keep him for this year. I think they looked at trading him. I don’t think they liked what’s out there.”

They seem to have concluded against trading him for insufficient value in the name of asset management or a proper distribution of talent.
- Canada Cup

Yup. That’s GM’ing 101. If there isn’t a trade that makes your roster better - don’t make the deal just to make a deal.
Tree would need to pack up immediacy of for instance he traded Willy for Pageau and Whalstrom. If that was the best offer to him out there great move to hold and let him walk.

GM’s make moves that make their roster stronger in areas they lack - that great management in hockey, agreed.

…nothing is ever ‘concluded’ though in hockey. Things change daily.

They have to make one. They have Robertson on just the IR which buys them 3 games, and I’m thinking they’ll drop Gambrell, Benoit or Timmins, and Jones.

That would give them $775,000 (Robertson, Gambrell, Benoit each), and $875,000 for Jones to the Marlies.

Even with them off the cap they’re still $518,950 over it. With only 12F, 7D, and 2G. There will have to be a tweak.
- Dozzer

They can start the year 11 forwards and 7 D with keeping Timmins.

The team that won the Stanley cup did it last year.

Also Robertson on the IR doesn't elevate cap space. Takes up cap hit like any other.

They can also send Gio through waivers knowing no one will take him like Spezza and send him up and down freely if they need a forward.

Treliving disagrees which is why the Leafs have been active in trade negotiations.

A trade for a stud defender (I'm looking at you, Mr. Pesce) would actively improve this lineup by providing for a proper distribution of talent.

It's possible that there simply is no hockey trade at this point to be made but it's clear that the Leafs: a) recognize the imbalance and/or b) aren't particularly looking forward to losing Willie in the off-season for nothing.
- mjones242

There's no harm in kicking tires and seeing if there's anything out there centred around a Nylander deal. If he wants over $9.5m, it could be crippling with regards to the cap, so looking for a longer term solution wouldn't hurt.

Ignoring that Pesce has openly said he doesn't want to play in Toronto, I'm still not sold that Pesce on his own is as good as his partners have made him. The evolution of Skjei has helped Pesce and because they are, as a team, so strong on the forecheck, it alleviates pressure on the D.

That said the longer term options do exist, but they would hinge on Nylander's willingness to negotiate with a destination team. For instance Lindholm or Hellebuyck are still decent options that would both provide equivalent value and could likely be extended for less than Nylander is asking for.

I'm not for trading Nylander just to move him, but as I've said before I don't see why they wouldn't explore it if they can find equivalent immediate value for him.

They have to make one. They have Robertson on just the IR which buys them 3 games, and I’m thinking they’ll drop Gambrell, Benoit or Timmins, and Jones.

That would give them $775,000 (Robertson, Gambrell, Benoit each), and $875,000 for Jones to the Marlies.

Even with them off the cap they’re still $518,950 over it. With only 12F, 7D, and 2G. There will have to be a tweak.
- Dozzer

They move Holmberg down just because he’s waiver exempt. Benoit might clear since he sat in free agency for quite a while. The problem is that they may need him to give old man Gio enough days off. If he does ok and they’re moving him up and down, they might end up losing him at some point. They don’t have a lot of flexibility on the D corps

They can start the year 11 forwards and 7 D with keeping Timmins.

The team that won the Stanley cup did it last year.

Also Robertson on the IR doesn't elevate cap space. Takes up cap hit like any other.
- Santo_44

Oh I know they can, not sure if they should, but it’s certainly not my call.

So you’re thinking Robertson on IR and Holmberg, Gambrell, Benoit, and Jones sent down?

That would but the leafs a little more than $200K under the cap.

They move Holmberg down just because he’s waiver exempt. Benoit might clear since he sat in free agency for quite a while. The problem is that they may need him to give old man Gio enough days off. If he does ok and they’re moving him up and down, they might end up losing him at some point. They don’t have a lot of flexibility on the D corps
- Canada Cup

They don’t need him, they’ll still have 7 D even if Benoit is sent down.

The leafs still are $3,718,950 over the cap after both Muzzin and Murray have been removed on LTIR.

Oh I know they can, not sure if they should, but it’s certainly not my call.

So you’re thinking Robertson on IR and Holmberg, Gambrell, Benoit, and Jones sent down?

That would but the leafs a little more than $200K under the cap.
- Dozzer

I think Nickie is ready to play so I’m not sure LTIR is an option. He’s waiver exempt so Marlies is the option if he’s not on the big club.

Also, Keefe extended for two years.

Oh I know they can, not sure if they should, but it’s certainly not my call.

So you’re thinking Robertson on IR and Holmberg, Gambrell, Benoit, and Jones sent down?

That would but the leafs a little more than $200K under the cap.
- Dozzer

Well its game 1, there will 100% be an injury at some point early on and the flexibility will be back.

Robertson,Benoit, Holmberg, Gabriel, Jones down. 300K in cap space.

11 f, 7 d

If Benoit or Robertson prove they absolutely need to be in the lineup the Gio is sent down but still kept with the team. It wouldn't be long before there is an injury and he is back in the lineup so its not a big deal.

They don’t need him, they’ll still have 7 D even if Benoit is sent down.

The leafs still are $3,718,950 over the cap after both Muzzin and Murray have been removed on LTIR.
- Dozzer

I’m not sure it’s just a question of having 7 D. How they line up is also a factor. Benoit seems the most likely to play on the left side 3rd pairing for Gio. You can potentially see

Brodie-Rielly
Klinberg-McCabe
Gio/Benoit- Liljegren/Timmins

Well its game 1, there will 100% be an injury at some point early on and the flexibility will be back.

Robertson,Benoit, Holmberg, Gabriel, Jones down. 300K in cap space.

11 f, 7 d

If Benoit or Robertson prove they absolutely need to be in the lineup the Gio is sent down but still kept with the team. It wouldn't be long before there is an injury and he is back in the lineup so its not a big deal.
- Santo_44

I’ll be curious to see if they lose anyone pulling this off, especially Robertson.

They have to make one. They have Robertson on just the IR which buys them 3 games, and I’m thinking they’ll drop Gambrell, Benoit or Timmins, and Jones.

That would give them $775,000 (Robertson, Gambrell, Benoit each), and $875,000 for Jones to the Marlies.

Even with them off the cap they’re still $518,950 over it. With only 12F, 7D, and 2G. There will have to be a tweak.
- Dozzer

If they send Robertson to the minors and waive and demote Timmins, Gambrell and Jones they carry a roster of exactly 20 and are compliant:

Matthews 11.64m
Tavares 11m
Marner 10.9m
Nylander 6.96m
Bertuzzi 5.5m
Domi 3m
Kämpf 2.4m
Järnkrok 2.1m
Reaves 1.35m
Lafferty 1.15m
Knies 0.93m
Holmberg 0.8m

Rielly 7.5m
Brodie 5m
Klingberg 4.15m
McCabe 2m
Liljegren 1.4m
Giordano 0.8m

Samsonov 3.55m
Woll 0.77m

That's $57.7m in forwards, $20.9m in defense, and $4.3m in net - which ends up being $602.7k under the cap.

I am not in favour of waiving Timmins, nor do I like carrying a 20 man roster - but it's currently doable without _HAVING_ to trade anyone. They just should.

We re-signed Keefe?!? What the actual F?

I'd have been less pissed if Matthews and Willie walked...

I’ll be curious to see if they lose anyone pulling this off, especially Robertson.
- Dozzer

Robertson is waiver exempt

If they send Robertson to the minors and waive and demote Timmins, Gambrell and Jones they carry a roster of exactly 20 and are compliant:

Matthews 11.64m
Tavares 11m
Marner 10.9m
Nylander 6.96m
Bertuzzi 5.5m
Domi 3m
Kämpf 2.4m
Järnkrok 2.1m
Reaves 1.35m
Lafferty 1.15m
Knies 0.93m
Holmberg 0.8m

Rielly 7.5m
Brodie 5m
Klingberg 4.15m
McCabe 2m
Liljegren 1.4m
Giordano 0.8m

Samsonov 3.55m
Woll 0.77m

That's $57.7m in forwards, $20.9m in defense, and $4.3m in net - which ends up being $602.7k under the cap.

I am not in favour of waiving Timmins, nor do I like carrying a 20 man roster - but it's currently doable without _HAVING_ to trade anyone. They just should.
- Monkeypunk

waiving Timmins is the last thing they do out of their options I think.

Keefe ran 11-7 lots last year and he will do it again if it means keeping Timmins until there is an injury.

They can waive Gio and swap him in and out with any waiver exempt player as they wish.

I’m not sure it’s just a question of having 7 D. How they line up is also a factor. Benoit seems the most likely to play on the left side 3rd pairing for Gio. You can potentially see

Brodie-Rielly
Klinberg-McCabe
Gio/Benoit- Liljegren/Timmins
- Canada Cup

You’ve got it backwards.

Rielly (leftie) Brodie (leftie who can play the right side)
McCabe (leftie) Klingberg (rightie)
Gio/Benoit (lefties) Liljegren/Timmins (righties)

I’d literally be shocked if Keefe ran both the top and bottom pairing with nothing but lefties.

We re-signed Keefe?!? What the actual F?

I'd have been less pissed if Matthews and Willie walked...
- Whipper

You realize they can still fire him at any time.

You realize they can still fire him at any time.
- Zezel

Yeah, but a lot easier to fire a guy in the last year of his contract vs a guy you just extended. Obviously money is not an issue for MLSE, but Keefe is not that guy. How am I the only guy that sees that?!?

You realize they can still fire him at any time.
- Zezel

Now what are the odds of that happening at any time this yr Koolaid...

Robertson is waiver exempt
- Santo_44

You’re right!! Why bother doing the IR with him then? Send him to the marlies and get him practicing and playing no?

I was in Wesley Chapel last week. That place has really grown in recent years.

Latest track bumped the storm west a little. St. Pete might get some flooding from the surge. Wesley Chapel should be ok, it's pretty far inland. Is your sister in St Pete leaving or staying put?

It's quiet right now.
- GalacticStone

i can relate 🥰

i was in naples all of last week when the storm hit home here in the glorious dprc🤦🏿‍♂️😬

so i was relatively close to being in a hurricane on either end 😬

pretty much the same as your sitch👊🏿

You’re right!! Why bother doing the IR with him then? Send him to the marlies and get him practicing and playing no?
- Dozzer

Well it might just be cap friendly leaving him there from last season.

I am sure once camp starts he will come off it.

You’ve got it backwards.

Rielly (leftie) Brodie (leftie who can play the right side)
McCabe (leftie) Klingberg (rightie)
Gio/Benoit (lefties) Liljegren/Timmins (righties)

I’d literally be shocked if Keefe ran both the top and bottom pairing with nothing but lefties.
- Dozzer

Klankburg as a 4... even on a team as potent as the Leafs is a serious problem, especially as good as the Atlantic is going to be this yr.

Klankburg as a 4... even on a team as potent as the Leafs is a serious problem, especially as good as the Atlantic is going to be this yr.

- dozerD10

Hard to evaluate players on a team that is so bad.

Well it might just be cap friendly leaving him there from last season.

I am sure once camp starts he will come off it.
- Santo_44

Maybe, wonder how long he’ll last this year