We will just teach Muzzin to play right handed from no won. He can do it.
- bixll

They tried when they first got him. I can't remember what happened but him and Rielly both played a few shifts/games together and it fizzled out really quick.

I'm guessing neither is willing to play there ...although maybe that was one of those Babcock idiosyncrasies?

Yeah, but that's exactly why he has so much value.

Is Florida interested in Ekblad for Willy?

Probably not - it doesn't save them much money.

Ekblad for Robertson - and Florida can even eat some salary?

It's a completely different picture.

Leafs' window is what, four more years? If you put down the pitcher of blue kool-aid for a moment, is he really going to be an impact player in the next 3?

I'm just saying it's the first time I've seen anyone suggesting trading Robertson, and it made me stop and think.

And I'll just point out that the guy is far from a sure thing at this point - the jury is still out.
- Atomic Wedgie

I agree that it's an interesting idea but I think on the money side, the fact that he is cap cheap has more value to us than to Florida. I don't think they pay give up an Ekblad because of a cap savings.

Kool Aid aside, he's still the best we have coming up and in a cap constrained world we are going to have to count on using ELC guys to replace $3M type guys. The whole point of Kapanan and Johnnson, etc trades is to reallocate $. I think that is going to require going out and buying cheap and bringing guys up.

How long have we heard that Leafs don't develop their own. I don't want to be one more concussion away from losing another one.

Leafs can follow a similar path as the Stars, as Stars added cheap 3rd and 4th liners. That said, I think it's stupid to copy the blueprint of a team that's getting to the finals for the 1st time. There's different types of teams succeeding yearly.

I'd be really reluctant to move out young, cheap skill especially when we don't expect cap growth in a while
- Canada Cup

Agreed, thats what you need to keep improving. You dont move Robertson right now IMO.

More than hockey it seems for those guys.

I agree as a subset of All Lives Matter.
- MisterBrown

Vote Trump

No Lives Matter

Leafs can follow a similar path as the Stars, as Stars added cheap 3rd and 4th liners. That said, I think it's stupid to copy the blueprint of a team that's getting to the finals for the 1st time. There's different types of teams succeeding yearly.
- RogerRoeper

Stick to the plan. Draft, develop, replace more expensive vets with cheap cost controlled entry level guys/ rfa players

Stick to the plan. Draft, develop, replace more expensive vets with cheap cost controlled entry level guys/ rfa players
- MisterBrown

There are also lots of good, cheap players available on one year deals

They tried when they first got him. I can't remember what happened but him and Rielly both played a few shifts/games together and it fizzled out really quick.

I'm guessing neither is willing to play there ...although maybe that was one of those Babcock idiosyncrasies?
- The Law

Lots of moves to be made between now and when they can play again.

I still think there will be a " You can that guy, but you have to take this guy also" Guy #2 off to Robidas Island...

So at what price does Pietrangelo stop making sense, huh Mr. Psycho Killer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wke3tdWrd3k
- Canada Cup

Anything over 7m for the leafs.
So really, he only ever made sense for what the leafs need and never made sense cap wise.

DeMelo is definitely 1.5M better than Dermott.

Having said that, i don't think either player gets paid as much as you mentioned (I'm thinking maybe 1.25-1.5M for Dermott, and 2.7M for DD).
- mjones242

Edmundson is apparently about to sign a 3-5 year extension in the 3.5-4 million per range.

I would think that would put Demelo in the 3 year at 3-3.5 million per range.

They tried when they first got him. I can't remember what happened but him and Rielly both played a few shifts/games together and it fizzled out really quick.

I'm guessing neither is willing to play there ...although maybe that was one of those Babcock idiosyncrasies?
- The Law

Babs did try that, but neither Rielly or Muzzin looked comfortable on the right side.. So, he went back to the Rielly/Hainsey pairing

There are also lots of good, cheap players available on one year deals
- Canada Cup

Bix could be had for league mini... 6'1" 195 lbs. Shoot right. Provincial champs Jr. 1985 BC..

Stick to the plan. Draft, develop, replace more expensive vets with cheap cost controlled entry level guys/ rfa players
- MisterBrown

I agree. If you keep doing that, and move out a 3rd liner like they just did for those assets you can have very good depth.

Signing the Mikeyev's and Lehtonen's, and drafting Robertson in the 2nd round is huge.

To my eye, he is smallish, not great on the D side, fair on the Offensive side. Not what the Leafs need. JMO

Leafs need some old fashion Dmen. Stay at home, block some shots, make a good first pass out of their zone. Nothing special or fancy. Be great if the guy could fight.
- bixll

You just described Manson to a T...

Edmundson is apparently about to sign a 3-5 year extension in the 3.5-4 million per range.

I would think that would put Demelo in the 3 year at 3-3.5 million per range.
- joel878

That would be good for him.. I would go 4 years at $3.3M per for DeMelo.. Offer him long-term security.

Edmundson is apparently about to sign a 3-5 year extension in the 3.5-4 million per range.

I would think that would put Demelo in the 3 year at 3-3.5 million per range.
- joel878

Bergevin is insane. He just spent 8 million on a 3rd pair D and backup. They have a big advantage with cap space and they are using it very poorly.

You just described Manson to a T...
- dozerD10

Yeah, but all reports suggest that Manson doesn't want to be moved

Anything over 7m for the leafs.
So really, he only ever made sense for what the leafs need and never made sense cap wise.
- Fakepartofme

If the cap was growing you could pull the money together ti make it happen but I worry that over time his skills diminish before the cap grows and he's eating too big a chunk of the cap as he contributes less.

Obviously, its hard to say (although some here will say with certainty) how his game will play out over time, but long term cap issues are more concerning than immediate issues to me.

Babs did try that, but neither Rielly or Muzzin looked comfortable on the right side.. So, he went back to the Rielly/Hainsey pairing
- PatC80

He barely tried. Even when Babs tried different things, he'd give up on them so fast. I think he did it just to say he tried.

Anything over 7m for the leafs.
So really, he only ever made sense for what the leafs need and never made sense cap wise.
- Fakepartofme

For what it's worth, I had read in the athletic a week or two ago that the Blues latest offer was 8 x 8.25

That would put the leafs comparable offer in the 7 x 9.5 range.

Considering the state of the two teams and the increased scrutiny playing in Toronto... He'd really have to want to play for the Leafs bad to sign at a reasonable number.

That would be good for him.. I would go 4 years at $3.3M per for DeMelo.. Offer him long-term security.
- PatC80

I would to, 100%. He'd be a rare dose of stability on our blueline and at a fairly reasonable cost.

Bix could be had for league mini... 6'1" 195 lbs. Shoot right. Provincial champs Jr. 1985 BC..
- bixll

I will DM you a Player Representation Contract. Since I like you I'm willing to work for 1% of anything you make. Yep, 1%.

Just send $500 back with the signed contract and I'll start making calls

For what it's worth, I had read in the athletic a week or two ago that the Blues latest offer was 8 x 8.25

That would put the leafs comparable offer in the 7 x 9.5 range.

Considering the state of the two teams and the increased scrutiny playing in Toronto... He'd really have to want to play for the Leafs bad to sign at a reasonable number.
- joel878

Maybe he wants to spend like Santa but save like Scrooge

DeMelo is definitely 1.5M better than Dermott.

Having said that, i don't think either player gets paid as much as you mentioned (I'm thinking maybe 1.25-1.5M for Dermott, and 2.7M for DD).
- mjones242

I dont know why people are giving up on Dermott so early. Lets not pull a typical Leafs move and trade a guy who blossoms into a good player somewhere else.

DeMelo shouldnt cost 3.5M per year. You'd think hell get less this year then that.

For what it's worth, I had read in the athletic a week or two ago that the Blues latest offer was 8 x 8.25

That would put the leafs comparable offer in the 7 x 9.5 range.

Considering the state of the two teams and the increased scrutiny playing in Toronto... He'd really have to want to play for the Leafs bad to sign at a reasonable number.
- joel878

Ya, I've been saying all along that Pietra isnt going to happen in Toronto. But we'll see.
Lebrun did say this morning that many GM's have confirmed that TO is looking for a top end D, hope dubie doesnt get desperate and make a foolish move by overpaying via trade or UFA.