Armchair GM 2018-2019

[Bullfrog]

He's completely fine as a third line winger, but do you really need a $6M third line winger? I'm with Carlton, I think he's coming back to finish his contract.

But if he does retire, the Leafs can probably find a suitor for his contract. Maybe even Ottawa takes it on? It's not like they'll be anywhere near the cap. I can't imagine it'd cost that much for them to take it.

I don't agree that's he's fine as a 3rd line winger.  He had 0 goals this series, that's 4th line material.  Even if his salary was only $2M I wouldn't think he was a 3rd line acceptable winger at this stage of his career.

I highly doubt he would accept a trade to Ottawa.  Maybe if the Sharks want him back for some reason to retire a Shark.

Meh, he had a bad playoffs, but I don't think he's the boat anchor some are making him out to be. Either way, he's nowhere near worth his contract.

The trade to Ottawa isn't Marleau, it's Marleau's cap hit. The trade was suggested IF he retires this off season. His cap hit would still be on Toronto's books. They'd have to flip a draft pick or prospect to Ottawa (or another team with lots of cap space) to have them take on his contract. Ottawa wouldn't have to pay Marleau a dime [he'd be retired]

Anyway, to be clear: I don't think Marleau intends on retiring and we'll be stuck with his cap hit. I wish he would though; that $6M will be needed to pay our mid-tier guys and to have a chance at picking up another quality defenseman to replace Gardiner.

[Bender]

He's completely fine as a third line winger, but do you really need a $6M third line winger? I'm with Carlton, I think he's coming back to finish his contract.

But if he does retire, the Leafs can probably find a suitor for his contract. Maybe even Ottawa takes it on? It's not like they'll be anywhere near the cap. I can't imagine it'd cost that much for them to take it.

I don't agree that's he's fine as a 3rd line winger.  He had 0 goals this series, that's 4th line material.  Even if his salary was only $2M I wouldn't think he was a 3rd line acceptable winger at this stage of his career.

I highly doubt he would accept a trade to Ottawa.  Maybe if the Sharks want him back for some reason to retire a Shark.

Meh, he had a bad playoffs, but I don't think he's the boat anchor some are making him out to be. Either way, he's nowhere near worth his contract.

The trade to Ottawa isn't Marleau, it's Marleau's cap hit. The trade was suggested IF he retires this off season. His cap hit would still be on Toronto's books. They'd have to flip a draft pick or prospect to Ottawa (or another team with lots of cap space) to have them take on his contract. Ottawa wouldn't have to pay Marleau a dime [he'd be retired]

Anyway, to be clear: I don't think Marleau intends on retiring and we'll be stuck with his cap hit. I wish he would though; that $6M will be needed to pay our mid-tier guys and to have a chance at picking up another quality defenseman to replace Gardiner.

Marleau at that contract is absolutely a boat anchor. I think he's been one of the Leafs worst players all season and he'll only be worse next year. We can no longer afford bad value contracts like his or Zaitsev's

[CarltonTheBear]

Meh, he had a bad playoffs, but I don't think he's the boat anchor some are making him out to be. Either way, he's nowhere near worth his contract.

Marleau at that contract is absolutely a boat anchor. I think he's been one of the Leafs worst players all season and he'll only be worse next year. We can no longer afford bad value contracts like his or Zaitsev's

Yeah it wasn't just a bad playoffs too, he had 3 goals and 8 points in his last 25 regular season games and just generally didn't look nearly as effective as he was the season prior.

For next season only in terms of performance vs. cap hit, I'd say Marleau at $6mil is much worse than Zaitsev at $4.5mil. And I've made it pretty clear what I think about Zaitsev.

[cabber24]

I doubt he is currently tradeable so we might as well look at the bright side.

Zaitsev had a good playoff and some good chemistry with Muzzin. I am okay continuing this experiment. We need right-handed defensemen and if he can continue his playoff play into next season we have a decent pairing to play against the opponents best.

[Bullfrog]

Meh, he had a bad playoffs, but I don't think he's the boat anchor some are making him out to be. Either way, he's nowhere near worth his contract.

Marleau at that contract is absolutely a boat anchor. I think he's been one of the Leafs worst players all season and he'll only be worse next year. We can no longer afford bad value contracts like his or Zaitsev's

Yeah it wasn't just a bad playoffs too, he had 3 goals and 8 points in his last 25 regular season games and just generally didn't look nearly as effective as he was the season prior.

For next season only in terms of performance vs. cap hit, I'd say Marleau at $6mil is much worse than Zaitsev at $4.5mil. And I've made it pretty clear what I think about Zaitsev.

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

[Guilt Trip]

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

So is 21 goals and 41 points good enough for a 1st line player then? I don't. As for the Marleau thing, if he's back, Babs needs to stress to him he will be on the 4th line. That's where he belongs at this stage of his career.

[Chris]

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

So is 21 goals and 41 points good enough for a 1st line player then? I don't. As for the Marleau thing, if he's back, Babs needs to stress to him he will be on the 4th line. That's where he belongs at this stage of his career.

Problem is, he doesn't seem to be a good fit for the 4th line. He doesn't hit, he doesn't play with the kind of energy that Moore/Ennis bring, he doesn't create offense. If Gauthier is 4th line center again (and really, unless Dubas takes him away you know Babcock will put him there...you can't teach size) and you add Marleau...that's a recipe for a useless 4th line.

Probably his best place if he is still here will be 3rd line, if the center and RW (Kadri/Kapanen?) are good enough he won't be too much of a hindrance there. Best choice though is retirement.

[Guilt Trip]

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

So is 21 goals and 41 points good enough for a 1st line player then? I don't. As for the Marleau thing, if he's back, Babs needs to stress to him he will be on the 4th line. That's where he belongs at this stage of his career.

Problem is, he doesn't seem to be a good fit for the 4th line. He doesn't hit, he doesn't play with the kind of energy that Moore/Ennis bring, he doesn't create offense. If Gauthier is 4th line center again (and really, unless Dubas takes him away you know Babcock will put him there...you can't teach size) and you add Marleau...that's a recipe for a useless 4th line.

Probably his best place if he is still here will be 3rd line, if the center and RW (Kadri/Kapanen?) are good enough he won't be too much of a hindrance there. Best choice though is retirement.

We can't have him retire because he'll count against the cap. I think the Leafs approach him to move on. As for him playing with Kadri and Kappy. Not even sure kadri will be back. Management might be done with him.

[Chris]

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

So is 21 goals and 41 points good enough for a 1st line player then? I don't. As for the Marleau thing, if he's back, Babs needs to stress to him he will be on the 4th line. That's where he belongs at this stage of his career.

Problem is, he doesn't seem to be a good fit for the 4th line. He doesn't hit, he doesn't play with the kind of energy that Moore/Ennis bring, he doesn't create offense. If Gauthier is 4th line center again (and really, unless Dubas takes him away you know Babcock will put him there...you can't teach size) and you add Marleau...that's a recipe for a useless 4th line.

Probably his best place if he is still here will be 3rd line, if the center and RW (Kadri/Kapanen?) are good enough he won't be too much of a hindrance there. Best choice though is retirement.

We can't have him retire because he'll count against the cap. I think the Leafs approach him to move on. As for him playing with Kadri and Kappy. Not even sure kadri will be back. Management might be done with him.

Marleau can retire and they can trade his cap hit, I believe.

You might be right about Kadri and I really couldn't complain if they let him go. Really put the team in a hole the last 2 springs.

[Guilt Trip]

I can agree with that. Ignoring his contract, 16 goals and 37 points are pretty decent for a third line winger. I'll concede though, that he spent a decent amount of time as Matthew's winger.

So is 21 goals and 41 points good enough for a 1st line player then? I don't. As for the Marleau thing, if he's back, Babs needs to stress to him he will be on the 4th line. That's where he belongs at this stage of his career.

Problem is, he doesn't seem to be a good fit for the 4th line. He doesn't hit, he doesn't play with the kind of energy that Moore/Ennis bring, he doesn't create offense. If Gauthier is 4th line center again (and really, unless Dubas takes him away you know Babcock will put him there...you can't teach size) and you add Marleau...that's a recipe for a useless 4th line.

Probably his best place if he is still here will be 3rd line, if the center and RW (Kadri/Kapanen?) are good enough he won't be too much of a hindrance there. Best choice though is retirement.

We can't have him retire because he'll count against the cap. I think the Leafs approach him to move on. As for him playing with Kadri and Kappy. Not even sure kadri will be back. Management might be done with him.

Marleau can retire and they can trade his cap hit, I believe.

You might be right about Kadri and I really couldn't complain if they let him go. Really put the team in a hole the last 2 springs.

You're right. Detroit basically did it with Datsyuk.

[bustaheims]

You're right. Detroit basically did it with Datsyuk.

Datsyuk didn't officially retire. He just left for Russia with the Wings' blessing. He was still technically an active player, he was just a non-roster player.

[bustaheims]

Marleau can retire and they can trade his cap hit, I believe.

Trade would have to come first. You can only trade a player on an active contract. Once Marleau retires, his contract would no longer be active.

[Bender]

Marleau can retire and they can trade his cap hit, I believe.

Trade would have to come first. You can only trade a player on an active contract. Once Marleau retires, his contract would no longer be active.

Hopefully Pridham/Dubas will come up with a creative solution here. The days of overvalued contracts (Nylander notwithstanding....) is over. We're going to have to sniff out some high value contracts. I really hope Sandin can make the jump next year.

[Guilt Trip]

Marleau can retire and they can trade his cap hit, I believe.

Trade would have to come first. You can only trade a player on an active contract. Once Marleau retires, his contract would no longer be active.

Hopefully Pridham/Dubas will come up with a creative solution here. The days of overvalued contracts (Nylander notwithstanding....) is over. We're going to have to sniff out some high value contracts. I really hope Sandin can make the jump next year.

Thx Busta for the clarification. I hope Liljegren is ready first. Our right side is in more desperate need at the moment. Without Gards we still have Muzz, Rielly, Rosen and Dermott.

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1121430147834548225

Well that's that. I think if there was any chance he'd retire he would have said something like "I'll take a month to think about my future".

Also it's kind of crazy that a team like the Leafs didn't force Marleau to upgrade his antique equipment earlier.