Mike Augello: Leafs Chatter In Vegas As Draft Night Approaches

Mike Augello: Leafs Chatter In Vegas As Draft Night Approaches
- mikeinbuffalo

oh.

U unblock me yet Mike b'y.

Even if they ran it back and let JT walk, can a team with $35m invested in 3 forwards in a $92m cap world work? I do think to round it out properly you can afford 2 big name forwards, 1 big name D, and then you round it out from there. It's not a guaranteed structure, obviously, but it's sensible.
- Monkeypunk

Yes.

Total @ 92 million for 2025/2026, 20 players, 4.6 AAV per player average.

4 AAV / 13.25 AAV / 11.93 AAV
2 AAV / 5.5 AAV / 11.5 AAV
1 AAV / 3 AAV / 1 AAV
750K AAV / 1.5 AAV / 750K AAV

Total: 56.18 AAV for forwards.
Target total: 12 x 4.6 = 55.2

7 AAV / 6.25 AAV
5.25 AAV / 6 AAV
1 AAV / 1 AAV

Total: 26.5 AAV for defense.
Target total: 6 x 4.6 = 27.6.

Star goalie @ 7.5 AAV
Back-up @ 1.7 AAV

OR Tandem @ 4.6 AAV each OR Good starter @ 6 AAV + 3.2 AAV back-up.

Total: 9.2 AAV for goalies
Target total: 2 x 4.6 = 9.2

Total: 91.88 AAV
Target total: 92 AAV

Im liking Matt Roy, who was not really on my radar much before

Im liking Matt Roy, who was not really on my radar much before
- senstroll

Agreed. He'd be an excellent pick up for the Leafs.

Agreed. He'd be an excellent pick up for the Leafs.
- mjones242

Im liking Matt Roy, who was not really on my radar much before
- senstroll

Can someone explain, why?

He's not from Toronto, so there won't be any real inner desire to come to Toronto and no chance of a discount either.

What makes Matt Roy want to play in Toronto and what role does he fill? He's a bit small to be a tough defensive defenceman. And he doesn't score enough to be an improvement on the PP.

I just don't see him being a good fit for what the Leafs need.

Leafs need two major things on the blueline. They need a big shot on the PP (OEL) and they need big, tough, strong RHD who can shutdown and PK (Pesce, Tanev, Hakanpaa).

Hockey DB has Roy listed as 6'2", 210 lbs. Not exactly small.

I don't know much about him as a player but he's a right-handed shot, not too old (29), and seems to have good career numbers both offensively and +/-. Yes I know +/- is a bit of a skewed stat but perhaps at the right dollar amount he's a serviceable top 4 dman?

Hockey DB has Roy listed as 6'2", 210 lbs. Not exactly small.

I don't know much about him as a player but he's a right-handed shot, not too old (29), and seems to have good career numbers both offensively and +/-. Yes I know +/- is a bit of a skewed stat but perhaps at the right dollar amount he's a serviceable top 4 dman?
- Kinger34

For the money, Pesce is the better option on the top pairing in the 5-6 AAV range.

For the money, Tanev (DeMelo would have been my #1 choice here) is better as the 2nd pair and might come cheaper. (3-4 AAV)

For lower on the depth chart, there are bigger guys (Hakanpaa) who would cost less. (1-2 AAV)

He's not an option for the PP so he wouldn't be brought in to score points.

Overall I don't see why he would come or how he would fit in Toronto. If he costs the same as Tanev, I'd agree, but I don't think he would take less.

seems to be pretty good across the board. def a 3/4 option the leafs should look at

Since 2021, he‘s 22nd among all NHL defensemen in goals above replacement (GAR) with 29.8 ahead of names like Hanifin and Hedman (Evolving Hockey)

oh.

U unblock me yet Mike b'y.
- Fruitcakenipple

Lard thunderin jaysus

Kadri being shopped.

Naz for JT

Can someone explain, why?

He's not from Toronto, so there won't be any real inner desire to come to Toronto and no chance of a discount either.

What makes Matt Roy want to play in Toronto and what role does he fill? He's a bit small to be a tough defensive defenceman. And he doesn't score enough to be an improvement on the PP.

I just don't see him being a good fit for what the Leafs need.

Leafs need two major things on the blueline. They need a big shot on the PP (OEL) and they need big, tough, strong RHD who can shutdown and PK (Pesce, Tanev, Hakanpaa).
- Rare_Jewel

Since when does being from the GTA area necessarily mean a player will want to play for the Leafs? And who has taken a "home town" discount to sign with the team anyway?

Roy is a capable defender who typically plays a more defensive role (still managing to net 25 pts despite not being a PP guy). He may not be huge (6'1, 205) but he isn't afraid to hit and play a physical game. He shoots right and can play tough minutes including the PK.

I'm not saying Roy is the answer - the Leafs need a true #1 stud defender (sorry Rielly!), but having Roy play on a shutdown pair who can log PK mins would be great if you can sign him to a decent, and not atrociously inflated contract.

Btw, you'd be lucky to have Tanev play more than 40 games at this point. He's a solid defender but he's not overly big (6'2, 193), and he doesn't play a "big/tough" style. He's great positionally and blocks a LOT of shots. Signing him would be a mistake as he will most definitely decline and be on Robidas Island in a couple of years.

Pesce is my hope, but Roy would be a nice consolation.

seems to be pretty good across the board. def a 3/4 option the leafs should look at

Since 2021, he‘s 22nd among all NHL defensemen in goals above replacement (GAR) with 29.8 ahead of names like Hanifin and Hedman (Evolving Hockey)


- senstroll

But as per above he's an inch shorter than Pesce and the same height as Tanev, so basically useless. Also he's not from Toronto so why would he ever come here.

Kadri being shopped.

Naz for JT
- Horsey Sauce

JT is off the books after this season. I love Kadri, but not at 7 for that long.

But as per above he's an inch shorter than Pesce and the same height as Tanev, so basically useless. Also he's not from Toronto so why would he ever come here.
- joel878

You managed to answer the question in fewer words and much more effectively than I did. Bravo!

But as per above he's an inch shorter than Pesce and the same height as Tanev, so basically useless. Also he's not from Toronto so why would he ever come here.
- joel878

yeah weird comment

I like Tanev, but it all comes down to cost and term. age is not on his side.
I like Roy as another option

JT is off the books after this season. I love Kadri, but not at 7 for that long.
- senstroll

Imagine Domi Kadri Bertuzzi

yeah weird comment

I like Tanev, but it all comes down to cost and term. age is not on his side.
I like Roy as another option
- senstroll

Tanev is from Toronto so he would sign for league minimum.

Imagine Domi Kadri Bertuzzi
- Horsey Sauce

dont talk me into it

but this ...

Weirdneal
@Weirdneal

Kadri for Kampf + Reeves + Timmons. Because (frank) it why not

id go further...take those 3 plus retain 2 mil.

dont talk me into it

but this ...

- senstroll

C’mon it’ll be fun!

Im liking Matt Roy, who was not really on my radar much before
- senstroll

I think he would be a good pick up, depending on price

Kadri being shopped.

Naz for JT
- Horsey Sauce

Gawd no.
Hes got like 5-6 years left on that contract
Leafs need to move away from things that didnt work

Bertuzzi ($4.5), Matthews, Domi ($4)
Peron($5), Tavares, Nylander
Knies, Mantha ($4), Jarnkrok
McMann, Kampf, the Pontus

Rielly, Roy ($6)
Beniot, McCabe
Webber, Zadorov ($6) (x2 at 6'7" )

Woll/Thompson ($700k)

Cap works, trust.

Marner, Lilybust $ = Bert, Domi, Thompson and small piece of Peron.

$18M available = Zad, Roy, Mantha and another $2m piece of Peron

Dumping Timmins and Reaves gets you the rest of the way on Peron.

Or find an extra $1-2M and swap Peron for Stamkos.

Win Cup.

(Next year when the Cap goes up and JT is off the books and no raise needed for Marner, Leafs can revamp G and upgrade every spot they want and repeat Win Cup!)

Gawd no.
Hes got like 5-6 years left on that contract
Leafs need to move away from things that didnt work
- Fakepartofme

bring some Cup winning experience. ID do it if Calgary retained some of it.

Zadorov hitting the market. Him and Pesce wouldnt be bad at all