Lets Have Another Discussion About The Leafs

Team: 2021-22 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 31, 2021

Published: Aug. 31, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

These are the lines I think will give us the most chance at success. We all know what the big four can do. They can play with anyone and make it work. Bunting and Ritchie are likely in for career years in this role while our third line can chip in with some nice secondary scoring. I honestly don't think the Leafs would sign Kase unless he was healthy and James Mirtle from the Athletic reported on August 11th that Kase had already been skating for five weeks and was medically fully cleared by the doctors. I think he is ready to go opening night. If not, I think someone like Ho-Sang was invited to camp as a backup plan. Kerfoot will thrive playing on the wing in my book, with the security blanket of Kämpf being the center. I don't hate the 4th line either with Brooks as an option on B2B's to give Spezza a rest. Please read this awesome article by former Leafs hockey operations assistant and Marlies assistant coach Jack Han and his thoughts about Kämpf:

https://jhanhky.substack.com/p/is-kampf-the-next-danault

I still think the Leafs need to ''fix'' that 3rd defense pairing. I don't feel comfortable at all with Sandin and Dermott as a pair although I really like both players individually. In my mind, I think Dermott has to go so that we can upgrade that position. Despite what a lot of people think about Colin Miller, I think he would be an excellent fit on that 3rd pair and his value is at an all time low. Mix in the SOO connection as well, I feel there is high likelihood of this being something the Leafs can pull off. Here is what Dom Luszczyszyn had to say about him in the summer of 2019, when buffalo acquired him:

https://twitter.com/domluszczyszyn/status/1144723737117384704

Here is another great article talking about him after the trade to Buffalo:

https://theathletic.com/1053981/2019/06/29/it-just-takes-guys-that-are-willing-to-buy-in-colin-miller-hopes-to-spark-turnaround-return-to-postseason-for-sabres/

I don't think what has happened in Buffalo is a good reflection of who he is a player. His defensive numbers have still been solid these two years, but his offensive numbers have decreased significantly. Miller has an absolute bomb from the blue line and is an excellent skater and puck mover that plays a much more physical game than Dermott. In my mind he would be a better fit with Sandin than Dermott is. I don't know what the value for him is so rather than throwing something random in here, I am going to leave it empty so we can discuss what reasonable ask would be.

In my mind, I think Buffalo potentially could be interested in Dermott. Miller is a pending UFA that likely won't resign in Buffalo. Dermott turns 25 in December and is under cost control for the next two seasons at a very reasonable cap hit. I would imagine he is the type of project a rebuilder would like to see what they could mold him into. At this point, he is a solid 3rd pairing defenseman, but doesn't really fit in with the current Leafs defense. Nothing wrong with him at all, he just doesn't fit in with the likes of Holl ahead of him and Sandin rightfully being prioritized over him. He won't ever QB a PP in the NHL but I think he can be developed into a nice #4 defenseman with PK duties. As for his fit in Buffalo, Dahlin and Jokiharju are a lock for their top 4 this season. Butcher is likely flipped as a deadline asset and guys like Hägg, Pysyk and Bryson cannot handle top 4 minutes. Dermott could be a nice fit this season to just see what happens. If he plays really well, he can be kept in the plans or traded with an increase in value. If he doesn't really develop much, he will still be a solid 3rd pairing option, just like he is now.

I don't know if Dermott completes the deal alone, or if something else has to be added. The leafs would need to shed one more salary to make it work, most likely Engvall. He is a very underrated bottom six option that has scored at a 14 goals a season pace (82 games) so far in his career. He has been doing that while only starting 40% of his shifts in the offensive zone. He is also scoring at a 25 point pace per season which is great for someone having played no power play and only 11:56 per night. Buffalo could try to see what they could get out of him rather than putting to much effort into guys like Cagguila, Hayden and Eakin. He kills penalties and can play both center and wing. His only deficiency is that he is pretty bad at face-offs (career 41.8%) But he improved by 4% from his rookie season, so in two seasons time he could be close to 50% on draws. His ceiling is a third liner, but he is 6'5 that skates like the wind and has improved every single season since he came over from Sweden. He only just turned 25 so there is still room for some growth.

Buffalo might not be interested in Engvall so an additional pick or some lower end prospect could potentially close the deal in my book. From what I have seen from other ACGM teams, his value at 50% retained looks like a third rounder. So Dermott and Engvall should be fair based on that. If the Leafs get really creative, they could potentially ask a third party team to retain half of the remaining salary after Buffalo's retention and potentially have Miller at a cap hit of $968,750. Tampa did such a trade with Columbus and Detroit for Savard. Detroit got a 4th for retaining $1,062,500 which is pretty much the same dollar number a third party would retain in a Colin Miller trade. You could potentially set up a three way trade where Toronto gets Miller at $968,750, Buffalo retains $1,937,500 and gets Dermott and the third party retains $968,750 and gets Engvall or a 4th round pick for that. I definitely think such a deal is a possibility. That would also free up enough cap space to enable us having a 22 man roster rather than 21.

Please let me know what you guys think, I really look forward to your responses.