NHL Trade Deadline Discussion Thread

[30ranfordfan]

I'm not a Leafs fan... but leaving in South Western Ontario I can't help but be a Leafs observer.

In my opinion: They've got the deepest talent pool at forward of any team in the league, but they're never going to have a deep of a talent pool as they right now.

Nobody is untradable..... but I can't see the Leafs dealing any of those pending UFAs (Komarov, Bozak, or JVR) and being a better team after the trade because of it. For the reason, if I was running the team, I wouldn't move any of them. They walk for nothing at the end of the season? So be it.

I'd be looking to add defense. I think Ryan McDonagh would be the perfect guy to add.

You're right about Gleason & Cowan. That frees up a little better than 2 million in Cap for next year.... but Lupul doesnt' affect their cap at all. He's on long term injury... they still have to pay him (or insurance does) but he's not affecting their roster.

This might sound crazy, but as a Leafs fan, I want Toronto to move at least Komarov and Bozak at the deadline. Toronto has plenty of depth on the wings and Marleau/Nylander can alternate at center for the rest of the season. Getting rid of those two players would bring in some assets - even if it is only draft picks - and free up space to resign James Van Riemsdyk.

This, and the fact that the buyouts of Tim Gleason and Jared Cowen, plus the salary of Joffrey Lupul, come off the books this year, help towards signing William Nylander, and also Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews next season.

[Leafsman]

I'm not a Leafs fan... but leaving in South Western Ontario I can't help but be a Leafs observer.

In my opinion: They've got the deepest talent pool at forward of any team in the league, but they're never going to have a deep of a talent pool as they right now.

Nobody is untradable..... but I can't see the Leafs dealing any of those pending UFAs (Komarov, Bozak, or JVR) and being a better team after the trade because of it. For the reason, if I was running the team, I wouldn't move any of them. They walk for nothing at the end of the season? So be it.

I'd be looking to add defense. I think Ryan McDonagh would be the perfect guy to add.

You're right about Gleason & Cowan. That frees up a little better than 2 million in Cap for next year.... but Lupul doesnt' affect their cap at all. He's on long term injury... they still have to pay him (or insurance does) but he's not affecting their roster.

I must confess that I do not know the ins and outs of how injury reserve works.

However, I believe trading Komarov at the deadline will be a help. I strongly dislike letting a player go to free agency and getting nothing in return. That's stupid. Komarov and Bozak will likely leave regardless, so get what you can for them now, even if it is a draft pick for each. Toronto won't win the cup this year, so it isn't a giant setback if two (or all three) of the players leave and bring assets back. If you REALLY like them, re-sign them in the summer.

As for McDonagh, I like him. Toronto is apparently a team he is willing to go to, so with the depth Toronto has on the wings, why not take a shot at him? If a first-round pick must be included in any trade offer to get him, I think Toronto should consider it. Kapanen? Okay, because of the depth they have. Toronto has drafted well since Tim Hunter became the director of scouting and I believe they will continue to do so even if they give up their first rounder this year.

For the record, though, I do not believe Toronto is going to be willing to move their first rounder, but this is why the trade deadline and the draft are my favourite times of the year.

[30ranfordfan]

If players go on long term injury (like Lupul) then teams no longer take that cap hit. I think if the player is over 35 when they sign the contract, the team is still stuck with the hit though. Better one to look at than Lupul is Nathan Horton. Leafs traded David Clarkson to get him, knowing he was never going to play a game for them. They made this trade because the salaries were comparable, but they'd get cap relief. Horton would cost them real money ($5.3 million, per season, until the end of 19-20) but he doesn't tie up any dollars they could be spending elsewhere.

I get what you're saying about losing a player for nothing. I guess then my response to that is: What are you going to get for them?

If someone comes along and is offering a 1st round pick for Tyler Bozak, yes. I would take that deal in a heartbeat. I don't think that offer is coming though. I would imagine he's worth a 3rd round pick.... and Komarov even less.

Assuming everyone stays healthy... right now the Leafs are playing 2 of Matt Martin, Kasperi Kapanen, and Dominic Moore each game. If you deal Bozak & Komarov for a couple of mid-round draft picks.... all three of those guys are in the lineup at all times, along with Josh Leivo. IMO, that's a significant downgrade in the bottom 6, and doesn't make any sense if you're gearing up for a playoff run.

If anything, the Leafs will be looking to deal a 3rd or 5th or something (not 1st or 2nd) to pickup someone that can take Dominic Moore's job (Mark Letestu?).

I don't know about the Leafs first rounder. You may very well be right. If the team's brass feels that they're ahead of schedule with the rebuild (i.e. they got better, quicker, than they thought they would) they may not be willing to start using (high) picks & prospects as capital, and continue to build instead.

So me arm-chair GMing the Leafs right now.... McDonagh (the more I think about it, and the more I look at contracts, salaries, etc) is the guy I want. There is probably no way you make that deal without giving up one of Dermott or Liligren, a 1st Round pick, and another player. How good that "other player" is, it depends on which of the two blue liners you'd be willing to swap.

Josh Leivo + Liligren + 1st
Kapanen + Dermott + 1st

Something like that is probably what it would cost. High price? Yes. Worth it? You'd get McDonagh for this season and next... and longer *IF* you can resign him. IMO, it would be worth it - but Leaf fans might disagree.

I'm saying McDonagh is the perfect guy to go after, because the Leafs window of owning high end talent, that plays for first cheap, ends when his contract does. At that point you can let him walk away, if you've tied up too much money in the forwards.

For 2017-18: The Leafs have a group of forwards more talented than they are ever going to see again with this core. They are not going to be able to resign any of their pending UFAs (they can commit those kinds of dollars long term), while they also have a goalie who is in the conversation for both the Vezina & Heart. Freddy is playing out of his mind right now.

For those reasons, I'd go for it. Add a top pairing blue liner, add another depth forward.... prospects & draft picks be damned.

If the playoffs started today, and the Leafs beat Boston and/or Tampa - it would not surprise me at all. It wouldn't surprise me if they lost those series' either.... but they've got a team good enough to compete for the The Cup. Adding a couple of pieces might put them over the top.

I must confess that I do not know the ins and outs of how injury reserve works.

However, I believe trading Komarov at the deadline will be a help. I strongly dislike letting a player go to free agency and getting nothing in return. That's stupid. Komarov and Bozak will likely leave regardless, so get what you can for them now, even if it is a draft pick for each. Toronto won't win the cup this year, so it isn't a giant setback if two (or all three) of the players leave and bring assets back. If you REALLY like them, re-sign them in the summer.

As for McDonagh, I like him. Toronto is apparently a team he is willing to go to, so with the depth Toronto has on the wings, why not take a shot at him? If a first-round pick must be included in any trade offer to get him, I think Toronto should consider it. Kapanen? Okay, because of the depth they have. Toronto has drafted well since Tim Hunter became the director of scouting and I believe they will continue to do so even if they give up their first rounder this year.

For the record, though, I do not believe Toronto is going to be willing to move their first rounder, but this is why the trade deadline and the draft are my favourite times of the year.

[Leafsman]

If players go on long term injury (like Lupul) then teams no longer take that cap hit. I think if the player is over 35 when they sign the contract, the team is still stuck with the hit though. Better one to look at than Lupul is Nathan Horton. Leafs traded David Clarkson to get him, knowing he was never going to play a game for them. They made this trade because the salaries were comparable, but they'd get cap relief. Horton would cost them real money ($5.3 million, per season, until the end of 19-20) but he doesn't tie up any dollars they could be spending elsewhere.

I get what you're saying about losing a player for nothing. I guess then my response to that is: What are you going to get for them?

If someone comes along and is offering a 1st round pick for Tyler Bozak, yes. I would take that deal in a heartbeat. I don't think that offer is coming though. I would imagine he's worth a 3rd round pick.... and Komarov even less.

Assuming everyone stays healthy... right now the Leafs are playing 2 of Matt Martin, Kasperi Kapanen, and Dominic Moore each game. If you deal Bozak & Komarov for a couple of mid-round draft picks.... all three of those guys are in the lineup at all times, along with Josh Leivo. IMO, that's a significant downgrade in the bottom 6, and doesn't make any sense if you're gearing up for a playoff run.

If anything, the Leafs will be looking to deal a 3rd or 5th or something (not 1st or 2nd) to pickup someone that can take Dominic Moore's job (Mark Letestu?).

I don't know about the Leafs first rounder. You may very well be right. If the team's brass feels that they're ahead of schedule with the rebuild (i.e. they got better, quicker, than they thought they would) they may not be willing to start using (high) picks & prospects as capital, and continue to build instead.

So me arm-chair GMing the Leafs right now.... McDonagh (the more I think about it, and the more I look at contracts, salaries, etc) is the guy I want. There is probably no way you make that deal without giving up one of Dermott or Liligren, a 1st Round pick, and another player. How good that "other player" is, it depends on which of the two blue liners you'd be willing to swap.

Josh Leivo + Liligren + 1st
Kapanen + Dermott + 1st

Something like that is probably what it would cost. High price? Yes. Worth it? You'd get McDonagh for this season and next... and longer *IF* you can resign him. IMO, it would be worth it - but Leaf fans might disagree.

I'm saying McDonagh is the perfect guy to go after, because the Leafs window of owning high end talent, that plays for first cheap, ends when his contract does. At that point you can let him walk away, if you've tied up too much money in the forwards.

For 2017-18: The Leafs have a group of forwards more talented than they are ever going to see again with this core. They are not going to be able to resign any of their pending UFAs (they can commit those kinds of dollars long term), while they also have a goalie who is in the conversation for both the Vezina & Heart. Freddy is playing out of his mind right now.

For those reasons, I'd go for it. Add a top pairing blue liner, add another depth forward.... prospects & draft picks be damned.

If the playoffs started today, and the Leafs beat Boston and/or Tampa - it would not surprise me at all. It wouldn't surprise me if they lost those series' either.... but they've got a team good enough to compete for the The Cup. Adding a couple of pieces might put them over the top.

Toronto is not yet a cup contender, so trying to acquire the likes of McDonagh makes little sense if it comes at the expense of Dermott or Liljegren. Those two, in my opinion, are the future of the Maple Leafs defense. You don't trade your best defensive prospects like that, no matter how much of an upgrade the incoming player brings (unless you're Marc Bergevin...who the heck knows what goes through that man's mind?).

If they could do the trade using Kapanen or Leivo and a first rounder, by all means. Just don't part with Dermott or Liljegren to improve the team. Toronto would be better with Gardiner, Rielly, Zaitsev, Liljegren, Dermott, and McDonagh on the same defense. Knowing Lou Lamoriello as we do, something tells me he's up to something that nobody sees coming.

[RGM81]

Reportedly Derick Brassard may be on his way to the Penguins...

[scottkoz20]

so what is up with Eric Karlsson? Are the Sens REALLY going to move him by Monday?

[30ranfordfan]

I'm just speculating on what the price might me... as I would expect the Rangers are looking for young players + a pick. Dermott has been really good when called up this year, and the hockey world seems to think the Leafs got a steal in the draft with Liljegren.

Not a contender yet? I would say "why not??" I wouldn't anoint them the favorite in the east (IMO, that's Tampa right now) but who is a serious contender? I really believe the league is wide open. There's two teams that I think are really, really, really good (Tampa, Nashville) and then a whole bunch of other decent teams. If Columbus wins the east, or New Jersey, or Toronto, or Boston, or Pittsbrugh (again) none of that would shock me.

For the Leafs, they've got this season & next before roster management becomes a lot tougher. Earlier posts about the pending UFAs (Bozak, Komarov, JVR) I suggest they'll be gone after this year. It's not that they're bad players, but Toronto isn't going to be able to keep them.

William Nylander is going to make more money next year than JVR makes this year. They might be able to get him on a "bridge deal" that pays in the range of 5-6 million... or they could lock him long term, but it'll probably cost them between 7 & 8. Marner will be in the same boat one year later, and Matthews is going to want McDavid money (12.5).

I can't imagine those three guys wont be costing the Leafs AT LEAST 24 million (combined) in the 2019-20 season... so I'll look at other salary commitments. Assume the cap continues to rise, the ceiling might be around 78. They'll have another 15.5 tied up in Kadri, Marleau, Martin, Hyman, and Brown. 9.5 between Reily & Zaitev, and 5 more to Freddy Anderson. That would leave them (roughly) 24 million to sign 4 forwards, 4 defense, and a backup goalie. Wait, more like 23 million, since they're still paying some of Phil Kessel's salary.

Not all of those contracts are long term commitments after that (19-20 is the last year of Marleau) but this is sort of my point. Right now the Leafs have an embarrassment of riches up front. They've done an awesome job assembling the deepest group of forwards in the leagues. Next year that depth will be less. The year after it will be less again (unless they can find young / cheap players to come in and fill the holes that escalating salaries to star players create).

This might not be the year to go for it, but their window of "easy" roster management closes after next year. That doesn't mean their contender window closes... but it'll be harder to keep good players around in depth roles.

That's why I'd go for it now if I'm the Leafs. Nothing is certain, but I really think they've got a strong enough group that a bonafide #1 dman takes them from being "sorta contenders" to "legit contenders".

As for not trading your best defensive prospects.... I dunno. How often have teams traded their best defensive prospect, and that player went on to be an elite player? If you've got a defensman that grows up to be a steady 2nd pairing guy for you, for a decade, that's a really good thing. If Dermott or Liljegren turn into that - the Leafs have a couple of very good players on their hands. If you trade one and they go on to be as good as Ryan McDonagh is now - yes, that's trade you do want to make. I guess that's where the scouts come in. How good do you really thing that player is?

(Oh, one obvious is example of a top d prospect being deal is..... Ryan McDonagh. I asume Habs fans wish they could have a do over on that one)

If the Leafs are convinced that one (or both) of those guys are only time away from being top pairing NHL defenceman - then they're not for trade. Most the talk I've heard is that everyone believes Liljegren could be that guy, and there is no way the Leafs would part with him. Dermott I only used in my example - because nobody is giving up top pairing dmen for nothing.

Toronto is not yet a cup contender, so trying to acquire the likes of McDonagh makes little sense if it comes at the expense of Dermott or Liljegren. Those two, in my opinion, are the future of the Maple Leafs defense. You don't trade your best defensive prospects like that, no matter how much of an upgrade the incoming player brings (unless you're Marc Bergevin...who the heck knows what goes through that man's mind?).

If they could do the trade using Kapanen or Leivo and a first rounder, by all means. Just don't part with Dermott or Liljegren to improve the team. Toronto would be better with Gardiner, Rielly, Zaitsev, Liljegren, Dermott, and McDonagh on the same defense. Knowing Lou Lamoriello as we do, something tells me he's up to something that nobody sees coming.

[30ranfordfan]

It seems like that, and he's heading to Tampa?

They're probably better off waiting until the draft... they'll get a better return. I am going to assume the Sens will want a package that's something like: Sergechev, Point, 1st Round Pick, +++ for Karlsson. If Tampa is willing to pay it..... maybe?

There's also talk that Ottawa will only move Karlsson if they can package him with Bobby Ryan, so the +++ might by Ryan for Tyler Johnson?

Trade speculation is fun :)

so what is up with Eric Karlsson? Are the Sens REALLY going to move him by Monday?

[steelboy16]

Are the Lightning really going to give up all of these prospects for 1 year and a couple months? If they get him re-sign him or sign him in free agency (when contract expires), Kucherov will be gone. Similar situation is when Columbus traded for Jeff Carter during the draft in 2011 and Philadelphia acquired Nick Cousins and Sean Couturier. If Tampa doesn't win in the potential 2 year window, then they are cleaning house. Losing their future is huge risk.

[RGM81]

Oilers have dealt Brandon Davidson to the Islanders for a 3rd round pick.


Sent from my iPhone using SportsCardForum