Armchair GM 2021-2022: Catharsis

[bustaheims]

If we're going to give up that kind of value, I'd rather target someone like Chychrun who will at least be here for a couple years.

[herman]

I think we (and the other team) are at a good spot now to manifest this:
Toronto lands John Klingberg in blockbuster trade a month ahead of the deadline
Nick Robertson joins his brother as Dallas retools for their future

With his team within striking distance of the President's Trophy, Kyle Dubas doubled down on his belief in his core late last night with a blockbuster deal to acquire top defenseman and pending UFA John Klingberg from the Dallas Stars for up and coming sniper Nick Robertson, Justin Holl, Brennan Menell, and a 2023 top-10 protected 1st Rd pick. Toronto also acquires Dallas' 3rd rd pick in 2022, and Toronto-native Wyatt Johnson in the transaction. No salary is retained on this deal as Dubas had previously cleared the space, sending Nick Ritchie back to Anaheim for a 5th rd pick.

Haha Wyatt Johnson is a guy that's 26 years old playing in University. Wyatt Johnston plays for Windsor.

Wanna be my editor? Bullfrog is slacking

[CarltonTheBear]

Dallas including one of their top prospects in Wyatt Johnston kinda throws off the value here. I really don't see why they'd do that.

[herman]

Dallas including one of their top prospects in Wyatt Johnston kinda throws off the value here. I really don't see why they'd do that.

Honestly, I just wanted another Wyatt in the system and did not know he was a top prospect lol literally just looked at his lastest junior numbers and they seemed goodish

[herman]

If we're going to give up that kind of value, I'd rather target someone like Chychrun who will at least be here for a couple years.

I think the price will be a bit crazy, but I would like Chychrun to replace Muzzin at some point.

[CarltonTheBear]

Dallas including one of their top prospects in Wyatt Johnston kinda throws off the value here. I really don't see why they'd do that.

Honestly, I just wanted another Wyatt in the system and did not know he was a top prospect lol literally just looked at his lastest junior numbers and they seemed goodish

Fair enough, he definitely sounded like more of a throw-in from your description hah. Won't pretend to know everything about him but quick glance shows he was a 1st rounder in last years draft who's currently 6th in OHL scoring so yeah probably not going anywhere right now.

[CarltonTheBear]

Also just generally I don't see Dallas trading Klingberg (they have oodles of cap space so they'll re-sign him eventually) and I don't see Toronto being that interested in him. If closer to the deadline Holl is still playing like he is now then I could see them being in the market for a guy to play alongside Muzzin in tough minutes and on the PK and those aren't Klingberg's strengths.

The UFA market for defencemen like that isn't really great. Ben Chiarot is overrated and will cost an arm and a leg. Josh Manson would be interesting but Anaheim is comfortably in a playoff spot at this point (could always change though). Justin Braun would be kinda interesting. Cheap ($1.8mil AAV) veteran right-handed defenceman with seemingly good defensive metrics. Probably more ideally a high-end 3rd pairing guy but if Muzzin still has the ability to elevate those types of players (which remains to be seen right now) it could work.

The other option would be targeting guys with 1 year left on their deals still, in which case I'm right back on the "acquire Damon Severson" train (would be tricky with the cap though).

[Guilt Trip]

Dallas including one of their top prospects in Wyatt Johnston kinda throws off the value here. I really don't see why they'd do that.

True enough but I don't see the Leafs throwing in one of their top prospects, plus a 1st without getting something decent in return, especially for a rental. I also don't see Dallas letting Kilngberg go. They will have space to sign him because they can let some old guys walk like Radulov and Pavelski. That's save them 13.25 mill. If we're giving up a 1st again it has to be for some kind of term.

[bustaheims]

No high priced rentals, period. If they're a pending UFA, the Leafs shouldn't be giving up more than a 4th round pick. I'm happy for the team to only add depth pieces and injury insurance types at the deadline.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/puckreportnhl/status/1479586879716696065
https://twitter.com/jeffmarek/status/1477631377189347334
https://jhanhky.substack.com/p/living-dangerously-with-john-klingberg

Klingberg, Future Cup Champ?

Despite Klingberg's two-year slump, I still think he has the game to be a difference-maker on a strong team. At a $4.25M cap hit on an expiring contract, Klingberg may well be the missing piece to put a contender over the top.

Is your team deep on talented Fs and left-handed Ds, but thin at RD?

Are you looking for a top-end PP1 point man?

Is your system predicated on stretching the ice east-west (on offense) and killing plays early in the NZ (on defense)?

Do you habitually swarm 2v1 to stop the cycle and recover the puck in DZ coverage?

If you've answered yes to all of these questions, then:

1. You have a pretty good team
2. Klingberg is the man for you

https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1131626934247534592

[nutman]

So.... how can we squeeze him into the mix

[louisstamos]

I'm hoping he flies a bit under the radar, as a lot of the early focus seems to be on Manson, Subban, Ristolainen and Chiarot for some reason, but my guess is Klingberg would still go for a first round pick.

Still, I think he would be a very good addition, and his underlying numbers are very good.  Less of what the Leafs need, but still an interesting acquisition would be Colin Miller from Buffalo for some depth.

[Bender]

I'm hoping he flies a bit under the radar, as a lot of the early focus seems to be on Manson, Subban, Ristolainen and Chiarot for some reason, but my guess is Klingberg would still go for a first round pick.

Still, I think he would be a very good addition, and his underlying numbers are very good.  Less of what the Leafs need, but still an interesting acquisition would be Colin Miller from Buffalo for some depth.

Colin Miller has been atrocious though...

[herman]

https://twitter.com/mdefranks/status/1479938731683557380

[Kaberle15]

With days left before the deadline, the Leafs could use the loophole on the CBA and go for it.

Get Jakob Chychrun, he is sideline for 2 to 4 weeks, make it 4 weeks and activate him at the playoffs.
Get a goalie (Fleury or Forsberg are my prefired choice) and end this Mrasek experience
Get Garland

Don't know how they would do that, but just do it Dubas, go All in, with the goalies slumps that we are in, Leafs are not even make it to game 7...