Armchair GM 2016-2017

[hockeyfan1]

Just wondering if,  and a big if, should Philadelphia continue on a playoff run ,and to bolster their offence...

JVR to the Flyers
P.Myers and a 1st Round pick in the 2017 Entry Draft, (plus a player to be named later as part of the package) to the Leafs.

The Flyers would get that extra offensive boost, while the Leafs would be getting not only a young prospect in Myers but that 1st Round pick.

[Heroic Shrimp]

Myers (D)

An almost Dr. Seuss title:  Who's Myers on the Flyers?

Philippe Myers.  A Flyer prospect from 2015.. Not on the roster right now.  He plays defence for the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and was a Silver medallist for Team Canada at the 2017 WJHC.

That's who.

P.S.  What's laughable is your username.  An almost Dr.Seuss-ish title, indeed.   

Myers on the Flyers
Is a defenseman most keen!
He was signed by the Flyers
In twenty-fifteen.
If you're asked by Trebek,
Myers plays in Quebec.
And just had to settle
For the second-best medal.

[Highlander]

Bravo HS

[Nik]

Hey, so here's a wacky idea. I know some people are lukewarm on the idea of trading JVR because of where the team is in the standings right now but, that said, the reality exists that JVR is going to get very expensive in a couple of years and the Leafs have a real opportunity to set a market right now.

So what if you could kind of do both? Trade JVR but also land a good, young scoring LW who would be around for a bunch of years at a reasonable cost. Something, effectively, like this:

To Team X: JVR
To Colorado: The package of picks/prospects JVR could fetch
To Toronto: Gabriel Landeskog

Kind of fits for everyone, right? Landeskog is under contract at a pretty reasonable 5.5 for five more years and though in the midst of a down year this year has been a consistent 25 goal/60 point player.

Of course, this is assuming Colorado wouldn't just want JVR himself. Unlikely, sure, but they don't really seem to know what they're doing over there.

[herman]

Solid idea to parlay pieces to suit Colorado where we otherwise would not. If not Landeskog, I wouldn't mind doing something similar for Duchene

To Team-X: JvR for prospects/picks
To Team-Y: Bozak for prospects/picks

To Colorado: prospects/picks package for Matt Duchene (6M until 2019)

Hyman - Matthews - Brown
Leipsic - Kadri - Marner
Nylander - Duchene - Kapanen

Basically gives Nylander another year or two of runway to Centering, then swap them positionally when ready, and move Duchene for prospects and picks at the 2019 deadline.

[char]

I don't know. In light of the underwhelming return the Oilers got for Hall, I'd wager that JVR might net us a defenseman like, say, Luke Schenn.

[Zee]

I don't know. In light of the underwhelming return the Oilers got for Hall, I'd wager that JVR might net us a defenseman like, say, Luke Schenn.

Don't even suggest that man, you just ruined my morning.

[KadriFan]

Wonder what it would take to get micheal stone.   Not having a great year but lots of potential.

[herman]

http://theleafsnation.com/2017/2/1/why-a-flat-salary-cap-would-be-extremely-beneficial-to-the-toronto-maple-leafs

via Friedman's 30 Thoughts, it looks likely the Cap will stay flat next season.

This bodes well for the Leafs because money is awesome.


I'd add Hyman and Brown to the list, but neither are looking like huge expensive spends (thanks be to their Stone Hands %), and are easily replaceable on the free agent market (Winniks) when the time comes (Brown might elevate but stay cheap due to love).

Assuming no trades this and next year, the following year we drop 17.98M in Lupul, Bozak, JvR, Komarov, and Gleason's buyout, in time for Nylander (and Carrick hopefully) to get paid. We also only have one year of overlap with Martin and Horton being paid alongside Matthews/Marner on contract #2.

As long as we're not stupid about throwing UFA money at middling older players, it's a pretty solid 3 year window as our flotsam expires to start making a heavy push while a good number of other teams are hamstrung. I don't think it'll be Shattenkirk, but someone in the 1RD slot pushing Zaitsev and Carrick down will go a long way towards making other expenses worthwhile.

I would not mind primarily standing pat and picking up assets with dumps and only making a push when the 1D lands.

[Britishbulldog]

Getting hammered out here on the East Coast with quite a storm.

Looking at how the Leafs have played after the Allstar Break and here are some of my opinions:

Who are the 'veteran' leadership on the Leafs?  I suspect Bozak, JVR, Uncle Leo, Martin, Hunwick and Polak.

Out of them who can the Leafs afford to lose by the TDL?  Bozak, JVR, Polak??

JVR / Bozak / Marner 

JVR still plays a soft game, doesn't have a defensive game to speak of BUT has soft hands and size.  Playing with Getzlaf and Perry would be a fantastic 1st line in the playoffs.   So to Anaheim for Lindholm before the TDL or the offseason?

Bozak is great in the faceoff circle...and Columbus needs that as well for the playoffs... so would they trade struggling Jenner straight up for Bozak before the TDL? 

That would rush Nylander into the role of playing center but I don't think the trade would be available in the offseason which is when I would prefer to see it.

Marner has fantastic chemistry with JVR and Bozak and I would hate to break it up but for these TDL trades that I feel are hockey trades and for the future... do you do it?

Hyman / Matthews / Brown

As someone pointed out Matthews is anchored with Hyman and Brown who have a COMBINED 1 REGULATION GOAL in the last 12 games.  I have seen some passionate Leaf fans argue that they are both going to get close to $3 MIL a year in their bridge deals from Lou.  Get real!!

Komarov / Kadri / Nylander

If Bozak gets moved before the summer I can see Nylander leaving this line and taking the center spot with Marner.

Komarov is a player I like a lot.  He is barely a 3rd line winger skill-wise though and is over paid for the 4th line.  Rychel has decent skill and seems to be pulling his game together finally on the Marlies.  I am hoping that Rychel will be hitting on all cylinders by next season or at the latest next season's TDL and will be able to take the 3rd line LW position.

Martin / Smith / Soshnikov

Martin is Martin and will be with the team for another 3 years.

Smith is 6 games away from matching Draft Expansion criteria.  That is Thursday Feb 23 against the NYR...not that I am counting.  I feel that Gauthier was better suited for the role but is also getting top minutes on the Marlies.  I hope Feb 24th the Leafs recall center man Froese who has 23 goals in 46 games to replace Smith for at least 12 games to make him Draft Expansion qualifying as well.

Soshnikov is a player a really like.  Skill, speed and tenacity.  He is draft exempt.  I think he is excellent trade bait.

Reilly / Zaitsev  - better than I thought they would be.  Not sure how much higher their ceiling is but they are still getting better.

Gardiner /  Carrick
Gardiner was finally becoming a favorite player of mine with his consistent play but since the All Star break has been making bad/weird decisions again every game which negates his positive impact.

Carrick is solid but more suited for sheltered 3rd pairing minutes.

Offseason trade of Gardiner and Carrick for Trouba makes sense for both teams.  I don't put much stock in the reports that Trouba only wants to play for a US team.  That is like Stamkos wanting to play in Toronto.  These guys are professionals and will play where they are paid and fit in. 

Hunwick / Polak

Polak is a warrior and I expect will be going to a playoff team before the TDL.

Hunwick I suspect will stay but could also being going to a playoff team before the TDL.

Marincin and Marchenko are big, soft dmen.  Don't really care if they stay or if they go.

So in summary I am hoping:

TDL deals:
Polak for 3rd pick or included in trade with Anaheim
Hunwick for 4th pick

Offseason (possibly before the Expansion Draft)
Bozak for Jenner

Gardiner and Carrick for Trouba

Blockbuster:
JVR, Marincin, Polak, Soshnikov, Lindberg and Corrado for Lindholm, Manson, Ritchie, Stoner

Edit: Started this post Sunday night

[herman]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-whats-delaying-nhls-olympic-decision/

1. Initially, the plan was to give Las Vegas 48 hours with the protected list before the expansion draft. That is being increased to 72. At the GM meetings, the Golden Knights’ George McPhee let everyone know that once the lists are handed to him, it’s an auction for any unprotected player another team might want. This has outstanding potential.

Great opportunity for something interesting to happen.

[CarltonTheBear]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-whats-delaying-nhls-olympic-decision/

1. Initially, the plan was to give Las Vegas 48 hours with the protected list before the expansion draft. That is being increased to 72. At the GM meetings, the Golden Knights’ George McPhee let everyone know that once the lists are handed to him, it’s an auction for any unprotected player another team might want. This has outstanding potential.

Great opportunity for something interesting to happen.

I find it weird that they give them such a small window. Why not make it a full week or something? What's the harm?

[Zee]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-whats-delaying-nhls-olympic-decision/

1. Initially, the plan was to give Las Vegas 48 hours with the protected list before the expansion draft. That is being increased to 72. At the GM meetings, the Golden Knights’ George McPhee let everyone know that once the lists are handed to him, it’s an auction for any unprotected player another team might want. This has outstanding potential.

Great opportunity for something interesting to happen.

Sorry George, Forsberg won't be left unprotected for you.

[bustaheims]

I find it weird that they give them such a small window. Why not make it a full week or something? What's the harm?

My guess is the league is concerned the lists will be leaked, and they're trying to protect the players who may or may not be on those lists from . . . something, I guess. Honestly, though, 80%+ of those lists are pretty much givens already, so it's not like they'll need a ton of time to figure out what they want to do. For the most part, they probably already know.

[Zee]

I find it weird that they give them such a small window. Why not make it a full week or something? What's the harm?

My guess is the league is concerned the lists will be leaked, and they're trying to protect the players who may or may not be on those lists from . . . something, I guess.

Also there's so many "good guesses" and projections of which players may be left unprotected by teams already.  I'm sure Vegas has a team of people analyzing potential lists already and what players they would target, not like they'll be surprised 72 hours before they have to choose.  There may be certain surprises on the list for them, but by and large I think they already know who they're looking at.