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Armchair GM Thread 2025/26

2026-27 salary cap is currently projected at 104M, which is another 8.5M on top of this season's. So let's say we want to offer 16M to entice a hometown veteran to play for the Cup alongside Matthews and Nylander, it's not too hard to clear out 7ishM (Domi + OEL or Woll, who knows what the sheet looks like next season).
 
2026-27 salary cap is currently projected at 104M, which is another 8.5M on top of this season's. So let's say we want to offer 16M to entice a hometown veteran to play for the Cup alongside Matthews and Nylander, it's not too hard to clear out 7ishM (Domi + OEL or Woll, who knows what the sheet looks like next season).

This "cap goes up" concept is foreign and new to me.
 
2026-27 salary cap is currently projected at 104M, which is another 8.5M on top of this season's. So let's say we want to offer 16M to entice a hometown veteran to play for the Cup alongside Matthews and Nylander, it's not too hard to clear out 7ishM (Domi + OEL or Woll, who knows what the sheet looks like next season).
Yeah I agree we shouldn't necessarily be afraid to spend a little now because of wanting to save space for next season. Even if we signed Ehlers long-term at $9mil there would still be easy enough ways to make McDavid fit with the rising cap.

Heck maybe we send the Oilers Nic Roy for McDavid's rights a day before free agency to show that there's no hard feelings there.
 
Mantha signed with Pittsburgh so he's no longer an option for depth scoring.

I don't think Treliving has done a great job here so far. Let's see what he can do on the trade market.
 
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Same. The UFA contract that has been signed that feels like the Leafs missed out is Brazeau. Not a single other contract seems like good value. I think Tre has done a fine job avoiding the mistakes that were made yesterday in an extremely thin UFA market.
Brazeau - 2 years at 1.5M cap hit was good
Drouin - 2 years at 4M cap hit wasn't terrible
JVR - 1 year for 1M cap hit
Bjugstad - 2 years for 1.75M cap hit

Those are probably the only deals that I would have been content with that were signed yesterday.
 
Dreger is reporting that Ehlers wants a quiet landing spot and Winnipeg was even considered a bit too much.
I don't really get the feeling he's coming here regardless but I saw that Dreger comment and thought it came off a little... weird and just anti-Ehlers for no particularly reason. I mean if anything a big reason why Ehlers is leaving is because he wants to play a bigger role on a team than what Winnipeg kept using him as. And if Dreger was referring to stuff like media attention... I mean come on it's Winnipeg.
 
Brazeau - 2 years at 1.5M cap hit was good
Drouin - 2 years at 4M cap hit wasn't terrible
JVR - 1 year for 1M cap hit
Bjugstad - 2 years for 1.75M cap hit

Those are probably the only deals that I would have been content with that were signed yesterday.
And maybe Drouin would be worth a look but even Bjugstad, JVR... Do we really need them?
 
I don't really get the feeling he's coming here regardless but I saw that Dreger comment and thought it came off a little... weird and just anti-Ehlers for no particularly reason. I mean if anything a big reason why Ehlers is leaving is because he wants to play a bigger role on a team than what Winnipeg kept using him as. And if Dreger was referring to stuff like media attention... I mean come on it's Winnipeg.

I think Winnipeg was a bit of a drama llama during Ehler's two contracts (Evander Kane, Patrik Laine all having run-ins with Scheifele and Wheeler; Byfuglien jumping ship as well).

Ehler's is probably eyeballing Minnesota (this would be hilarious) or Utah or Seattle. Everyone's always happy with them even though they suck.
 
Brazeau - 2 years at 1.5M cap hit was good
Drouin - 2 years at 4M cap hit wasn't terrible
JVR - 1 year for 1M cap hit
Bjugstad - 2 years for 1.75M cap hit

Those are probably the only deals that I would have been content with that were signed yesterday.
Adding Roy made Bjugstad pretty irrelevant to me. JvR is on his last legs. I wouldn't have hated if the Leafs signed that one, but I don't think they missed out. Drouin is borderline to me - the value isn't awful, I'm jsut not sure about the fit. Don't think the team needs another small, not particularly physical winger after adding Maccelli.
 
Ehler's is probably eyeballing Minnesota (this would be hilarious) or Utah or Seattle. Everyone's always happy with them even though they suck.
They'd have to clear a little bit of room but I'm guessing it's Washington. Possibility to play with Ovechkin for a season, and the Caps will need another high end forward once Ovi retires. With all their long-term deals signed I doubt they'd be interested in a rebuild or even retool then.
 
Mantha signed with Pittsburgh so he's no longer an option for depth scoring.

I don't think Treliving has done a great job here so far. Let's see what he can do on the trade market.
Mantha's deal is $2mil plus an additional $250k bonus at every 10 games he plays for a max cap hit of $4.5mil. But even if he plays just 60 games that's still a $4mil cap hit. I liked the guy too but that's a lot more than I figured he'd get.
 
Mantha's deal is $2mil plus an additional $250k bonus at every 10 games he plays for a max cap hit of $4.5mil. But even if he plays just 60 games that's still a $4mil cap hit. I liked the guy too but that's a lot more than I figured he'd get.

Yeah, I would have balked at that price too, but give me the 6'5", 234lbs winger with great advanced stats at a bonus laden $4m than 5'11" Matias Maccelli at $3.425m.

Leafs need at least one more scoring winger/center. If Macceli is in the top 6 (also, don't know where he fits in the bottom 6) god help us.
 
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Ehlers: Would consider but believe he has better fits elsewhere
P. Suter: Maybe an interesting option if his asking price comes down
Orlov, Roslovic, Olofsson, Grzelcyk: Not really a fit
Burns: If we need to trade Carlo for a legitimately good and fairly priced top-6 forward, could be a solid cheap replacement
Samsonov: lol
Pacioretty: Still hoping he comes back to share a line-up spot with Pezzetta
J. Skinner: I mean, maybe? Again likely not the greatest fit here

From his HM that one that maybe stands out the most is Mason Appleton. At the right price he could be a solid RW on a legit checking line with Laughton and Roy.
 
Yeah, I would have balked at that price too, but give me the 6'5", 234lbs winger with great advanced stats at a bonus laden $4m than 5'11" Matias Maccelli at $3.25m.

Leafs need at least one more scoring winger/center. If Macceli is in the top 6 (also, don't know where he fits in the bottom 6) god help us.
Mantha may have size, but he doesn't use it to impose his will, forecheck effectively, etc. He may as well be a small winger like Maccelli, without the playmaking and, in recent years, he's had trouble staying healthy/in the lineup.
 
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