Armchair GM 2018-2019

[CarltonTheBear]

Bored without games, so just for kicks here's an armchair plan for next season:

1) Trade Zaitsev for Weber. Weber's the superior player but his contract is still pretty bad even if you're looking at it optimistically. If the Habs decide to make big changes and retool/rebuild then this gives them a younger righty who is signed long-term and can fit their future window much better. If you're opinion of Zaitsev falls closer to mine then there's no way Montreal makes this deal. But if you're opinion of him falls closer to Babcock's then I think it's pretty fair. Maybe tinker a little but it's a good start.

2) Sign Thornton to a 1-year deal worth $8mil. It's the same contract he signed last summer with San Jose. The Sharks will bow out in the 1st round and decide that money is better spent elsewhere. Thornton will join his buddy Marleau. The deals an overpayment but it's better than spreading it out over 2 years. Tavares would of course be preferable here but I'm going to assume he's dumb and will re-sign with the Islanders.

3) Make a big push for Tanev. The Leafs will still need a partner for Gardiner. Offer them Brown, Carrick, and 1st rounder to get the deal done. Overpayment? Maybe. Carrick's basically a throw-in and the plan is for that 1st rounder to be 29th-31st overall in 2019 though.

4) Sign Nylander to a long-term contract extension with a $7mil AAV. Might be a little lower, might be a little higher.

5) Trade Martin... somewhere. For something. I don't care where or for what.

All of this gives us a line-up of:

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
Johnsson-Thornton-Kapanen
x-x-Leivo
x-x

Rielly-Weber
Gardiner-Tanev
Dermott-Hainsey
Borgman

Andersen
McBackup/Sparks

That 4th line/extra forwards are a mystery, and after a few years of having so many different possibilities there it's a little sad I'm coming up with blanks there. Aaltonen could be one of them I guess. For cap purposes below, I'm going to assume each of those 4 x's will have a combined cap hit of $4mil.

That above roster, PLUS Horton's contract would put us at about $75mil for the cap. We could have up to $4.5mil in bonus penalties too that carry over from this season. The last estimate was that the salary cap for 18/19 would be around $78-82mil. So we'd be right at the edge of the cap, which is fine because that allows us to get maximum benefit from LTIR'ing Horton.

For the 2019-2020 season, Hainsey and Thornton will be off the books and the plan is to clearly ditch Marleau's contract somewhere. So that'd be $17.25mil in cap space added there. That's right about enough to get Matthews and Marner re-signed. Possibly $4mil more if Dermott's play allows us to walk away from Gardiner.

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/282610/2018/03/21/gms-offseason-priorities-rangers-open-to-moving-a-first-round-pick/

The Power of Dubas compels you:

BONUS ITEM: According to an NHL source, the Florida Panthers have been told that prospect Adam Mascherin won't be signing with them before the draft. If that remains the case, he would re-enter the draft where he would be an interesting prospect coming off a big season in Kitchener. He has 40 goals this season in 67 games. Mascherin was the Panthers second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2016, and GM Dale Tallon is now shopping him to try and get a return before the draft.

If you're not familiar with Mascherin, watch Jeremy Bracco highlight videos from his Kitchener Rangers days.

[Crucialness Key]

https://theathletic.com/282610/2018/03/21/gms-offseason-priorities-rangers-open-to-moving-a-first-round-pick/

The Power of Dubas compels you:

BONUS ITEM: According to an NHL source, the Florida Panthers have been told that prospect Adam Mascherin won't be signing with them before the draft. If that remains the case, he would re-enter the draft where he would be an interesting prospect coming off a big season in Kitchener. He has 40 goals this season in 67 games. Mascherin was the Panthers second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2016, and GM Dale Tallon is now shopping him to try and get a return before the draft.

If you're not familiar with Mascherin, watch Jeremy Bracco highlight videos from his Kitchener Rangers days.

Isn't this kind of how we got Zack Hyman?

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/282610/2018/03/21/gms-offseason-priorities-rangers-open-to-moving-a-first-round-pick/

The Power of Dubas compels you:

BONUS ITEM: According to an NHL source, the Florida Panthers have been told that prospect Adam Mascherin won't be signing with them before the draft. If that remains the case, he would re-enter the draft where he would be an interesting prospect coming off a big season in Kitchener. He has 40 goals this season in 67 games. Mascherin was the Panthers second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2016, and GM Dale Tallon is now shopping him to try and get a return before the draft.

If you're not familiar with Mascherin, watch Jeremy Bracco highlight videos from his Kitchener Rangers days.

Isn't this kind of how we got Zack Hyman?

Yes.

[Frank E]

https://theathletic.com/282610/2018/03/21/gms-offseason-priorities-rangers-open-to-moving-a-first-round-pick/

The Power of Dubas compels you:

BONUS ITEM: According to an NHL source, the Florida Panthers have been told that prospect Adam Mascherin won't be signing with them before the draft. If that remains the case, he would re-enter the draft where he would be an interesting prospect coming off a big season in Kitchener. He has 40 goals this season in 67 games. Mascherin was the Panthers second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2016, and GM Dale Tallon is now shopping him to try and get a return before the draft.

If you're not familiar with Mascherin, watch Jeremy Bracco highlight videos from his Kitchener Rangers days.

I can't open Athletic links, so can you clarify what the Dubas link is to this player?

[herman]

I can't open Athletic links, so can you clarify what the Dubas link is to this player?

There is no direct Dubas connection to Mascherin.

There is only the similarity of circumstance (as Crucialness Key queried) to the trade that brought Zach Hyman into the Leaf fold prior to the 2015 draft, orchestrated by Dubas.

And while I’m explaining all this, Mascherin was Bracco’s linemate and close friend in junior, and the usual recipient and beneficiary of his very slick passing plays.

[Coco-puffs]

I can't open Athletic links, so can you clarify what the Dubas link is to this player?

There is no direct Dubas connection to Mascherin.

There is only the similarity of circumstance (as Crucialness Key queried) to the trade that brought Zach Hyman into the Leaf fold prior to the 2015 draft, orchestrated by Dubas.

And while I’m explaining all this, Mascherin was Bracco’s linemate and close friend in junior, and the usual recipient and beneficiary of his very slick passing plays.

So what you are advocating for is a Mascherin-Matthews-Bracco line right?

[CarltonTheBear]

I can't open Athletic links, so can you clarify what the Dubas link is to this player?

There is no direct Dubas connection to Mascherin.

There is only the similarity of circumstance (as Crucialness Key queried) to the trade that brought Zach Hyman into the Leaf fold prior to the 2015 draft, orchestrated by Dubas.

And while I’m explaining all this, Mascherin was Bracco’s linemate and close friend in junior, and the usual recipient and beneficiary of his very slick passing plays.

So what you are advocating for is a Mascherin-Matthews-Bracco line right?

Mascherin-Brooks-Bracco under 5'9 4th line baby!

[herman]

So what you are advocating for is a Mascherin-Matthews-Bracco line right?

Mascherin-Brooks-Bracco under 5'9 4th line baby!

Now I don't want anything else.

[mr grieves]

2) Sign Thornton to a 1-year deal worth $8mil. It's the same contract he signed last summer with San Jose. The Sharks will bow out in the 1st round and decide that money is better spent elsewhere. Thornton will join his buddy Marleau. The deals an overpayment but it's better than spreading it out over 2 years. Tavares would of course be preferable here but I'm going to assume he's dumb and will re-sign with the Islanders.

I've been wondering about overpayment one-year deals for a difference maker next season... they've got lots of money available, and then things get tight.

Thorton seems a prime candidate, given how interested they were (reportedly) last season, but maybe they make a Radulov-esque offer to Kovalchuk? Nash? Or someone else?

Now that they didn't cash him in at the deadline, would be nice if they could find a way to keep JvR for another season.

[CarltonTheBear]

I've been wondering about overpayment one-year deals for a difference maker next season... they've got lots of money available, and then things get tight.

Thorton seems a prime candidate, given how interested they were (reportedly) last season, but maybe they make a Radulov-esque offer to Kovalchuk? Nash? Or someone else?

Now that they didn't cash him in at the deadline, would be nice if they could find a way to keep JvR for another season.

I doubt Kovalchuk or Nash take 1-year deals. But if the Leafs don't go for a big centre like Tavares or Thornton then I'd definitely look at Kovalchuk on a 2-3 year deal.

[Highlander]

https://theathletic.com/282610/2018/03/21/gms-offseason-priorities-rangers-open-to-moving-a-first-round-pick/

The Power of Dubas compels you:

BONUS ITEM: According to an NHL source, the Florida Panthers have been told that prospect Adam Mascherin won't be signing with them before the draft. If that remains the case, he would re-enter the draft where he would be an interesting prospect coming off a big season in Kitchener. He has 40 goals this season in 67 games. Mascherin was the Panthers second-round pick (No. 38 overall) in 2016, and GM Dale Tallon is now shopping him to try and get a return before the draft.

If you're not familiar with Mascherin, watch Jeremy Bracco highlight videos from his Kitchener Rangers days.

Isn't this kind of how we got Zack Hyman?

Yes.

They had to give up a Keg to get him.

[herman]

One of the reasons for Mascherin's not signing with the Panthers is their lack of communication with him.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/chicago-blackhawks-stan-bowman-stanley-cup-runs/

12. The Panthers are trying to trade 2016 second-rounder Adam Mascherin of OHL Kitchener. A 40-goal scorer for the Rangers, he informed Florida he would not sign there before he can re-enter the draft in June. It’s unfortunate, as it appears there was some broken telephone that made things worse than they needed to be. This will not be easy for the Panthers, since interested teams won’t want to give up something if they think they can just draft him in three months. Their best hope is that someone who lacks draft choices where Mascherin might be taken decides it really wants him.

From back in September:

Mascherin says he hasn’t heard from the Panthers since May. Doesn’t know what’s happened with hurricane, what’s happening with camp.

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) September 13, 2017

Looking forward to Mascherin - Brooks - Bracco ripping through the AHL and onto the Leafs' 4th* line in two years.

* It won't be a real 4th line, but it's hard to slot Brooks over any of Matthews, Kadri, Tavares.

[Nik Bethune]

* It won't be a real 4th line, but it's hard to slot Brooks over any of Matthews, Kadri, Tavares.

Is that because Brooks isn't any good?

[herman]

* It won't be a real 4th line, but it's hard to slot Brooks over any of Matthews, Kadri, Tavares.

Is that because Brooks isn't any good?

He's quite good. He's not quite great.