Guilt Trip
Well-known member
I'd bring him back for a look. Guy has talent and it'll cost you nothing to see if he can make it.
Armchair GM Thread 2025/26
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Rough list. Here's how I would rank them for the Leafs:
1) Tuch 2) Raddysh -> They'll both get wild contracts, arguably more than they deserve, but we have room and a pretty big need for both players so I'd be ok taking a run at either
3) Carlson 4) Andersson -> Either would be a back-up option to Raddysh, Carlson obviously being more of a short-term fix
5) Zuccarello -> I really doubt he ends up leaving Minnesota, but if he does going from setting up Kaprizov to setting up Matthews for a little bit would be pretty appealing to him I think
6-10) McMann, Malkin, Schwartz, Marchment, Arvidsson -> All left wingers, which I don't really think is a pressing need at the moment considering our depth chart. Possibly a role for one of them if we moved bodies out
13) Ferraro -> Solid player, but we have enough players like him already and the focus just needs to be on bringing in more puck movers on the back-end. Toronto born guy though and pretty young for a UFA. If the price is right maybe they can get him as a replacement for a traded OEL
12, 13) Coyle, Trouba -> Mild interest in both veterans as they're coming off pretty strong seasons but I just don't really see it happening. Coyle is going to get multiple bank trucks dropping money off for him considering the C market
14, 15) Mantha, Kane -> Guys I liked in the past but I think the ship has sailed there
16) Stanley -> Nah
17-19) Bobrovsky, Skinner, Andersen -> Obviously just no need
20) Ovi -> As fun as it would be even in the extremely rare event that he would entertain playing for another NHL team the fit just isn't there
dappleganger
Well-known member
Mike Reilly, Mark Jankowski, and Jeff Malott are 3 lower-priced upcoming UFA's I think the Leafs should target.
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Guilt Trip
Well-known member
Why? I don't see what any of them bring to this team. Jankowski has a whopping 4pts in 30 playoff games and the other 2 bring literally no offence. Would rather run with some younger guys
Arn
Well-known member
We wouldn't be trading Knies for Tuch, we'd be signing Tuch and trading Knies for a Knies-like defenceman or centre, which are still the two biggest holes on this team both now and long-term.
Joe S.
Moderator
Yes I get that. But essentially the post was suggesting you're replacing Knies with Tuch.
I'm just very apprehensive to trade Knies. The leafs haven't had any kind of power forward since what? Roberts? Nolan? He's one of the few guys that can actually perform in the playoffs.
For me the trade chip is Nylander. No movement clause notwithstanding.
We would still have that premier power forward in Alex Tuch though. And Tuch being a right winger would then be able to complete a long-term top line along with Matthews and McKenna. I mean yeah having two power forwards on the team would be amazing too but you gotta give something up if we want to improve at C and/or D. I get Nylander would obviously be another option, but I'm more inclined to keep him personally.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
I'm keeping Knies over Nylander. Knies will be 24 to start the year, Nylander is 30. $4M less, hits, fights, plays better D. 88 is 1 dimensional and having said that, I think he gets the better return.
Having a power forward on both top lines would be a good thing.
I definitely don't either, so this is all very hypothetical.
If we trade Matthews and/or Nylander (and then anyone else over 30, I presume), how long do folks expect to wait until the leafs are back in the playoffs? Then how long until the leafs can make it back to the top 4 in the conference (a “contender”?).
My sense is that the average full burn it to the ground rebuild takes many more years than fans have patience for (not even accounting for the fact the leafs don’t have their own picks). We might want to burn it all down right now out of frustration but 5 years from now when we still haven’t made it back to the playoffs, we will be sad.
My sense is that the average full burn it to the ground rebuild takes many more years than fans have patience for (not even accounting for the fact the leafs don’t have their own picks). We might want to burn it all down right now out of frustration but 5 years from now when we still haven’t made it back to the playoffs, we will be sad.
dappleganger
Well-known member
Mike Reilly is a good defenseman, can fill in at both LD/RD, can move the puck, and wins his minutes on the ice. Ideally he'd come in as a 7th defensman and should cost around $1m.
Jankowski has size, can provide a lot of what the Leafs were getting from Laughton or Kampf at 4C but for less money, probably around $1m and he wins his minutes.
Jeff Malott is big, 6'5", probably one of the toughest guys in the league, can provide the toughness of a Ryan Reaves or Pezzetta but is a better player overall. He wins his minutes and would come in probably around $1m.
All in all those players could replace the Benoits/Stetchers/Jarnkroks/Kampfs of the lineup and be slightly better overall, provide a little more value.
Edit: Jankowski won't be available. He re-signed with Carolina: https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/canes-sign-jankowski-to-two-year-37m-extension/
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I would be fine with it as long as they're drafting and developing well.
If we had three first-rounders (including our own) over the next 3 seasons and some prospects and young players from a Matthews/Nylander trades. I think we would be 5-7 years away from a return to contention.