Who is the best dman McLeod could obtain

Team: 2023-24 New Jersey Devils

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 8, 2024

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

First, Devils aren't shopping McLeod. Some rando Islanders blogger wrote a story and had to retract it...but it seems to be out there now. But if we did, it would probably be for top-4 dman with term. So I am doing this for ACGM fun only.

Michael McLeod
Age: 25y, 11m
Ht: 6'2"
Wt: 190 lbs
Draft: 12th overall in 2016

When McLeod first arrived, he struggled in open ice. He is one of the fastest straight-line skaters on the the team and he was originally expected to drive a line. He remade himself into bottom-six defensive center, excelling a face-offs, forechecking, board battles. But over last two seasons, he has developed more all-around game and confidence and has become one of our most valuable pieces.


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1. He is the best face-off man in NHL.

2023-24 face-off leaders

1. McLeod..........66.2
2. Trocheck .......61.9
3. Crosby............61.0
4. Tavares...........60.8
5. Kopitar...........57.8


2. He may be the best face-off man of all time

Best single-season face-off winning %

1. McLeod (2024)............66.2
2. Perreault (2004).........65.2
3. Nieuwendyk (1999)....63.3
4. Toews (2023) .............63.1
5. Perreault (2002).........62.9


3. He is among league leaders in GAR

2023-24 GAR/60 leaders among centers

1. MacKinnon.....1.197
2. McDavid.........1.184
3. McLeod..........1.181
4. Barkov...........1.149
5. Pettersson....1.142


4. He is among league leaders in xGF%

1. Staal................63.4%
2. McDavid.........62.0%
3. Barkov............61.8%
4. Danault..........58.2%
5. Crosby ...........57.8%
6. Draisaitl .........57.8%
7. McLeod...........57.6%
8. Kalrsson..........57.5%
9. Couturier.........57.1%
10. MacKinnon....56.7%


5. He does not gain value by playing with Jack/Nico

His most common linemates

1. Curtis Lazar.......37.8%
2. Nate Bastian.....30.0%
....
12. Jack Hughes.....1.6%
13. Nico Hischier...1.2%
14. Max Willman....1.1%


6. He is very cheap at $1.4m AAV

Top-scoring centers under $2m

1. Monahan....10 -- 13 -- 23
2. Hartman......11 --- 8 -- 19
3. Novak............6 -- 13 -- 19
4. McLeod........10 --- 8 -- 18
5. Veleno............8 --- 8 -- 16


7. He has a new nickname,

"Motor Mike"


8. He is an RFA and probably gets $4m+ with some term in off-season

Possible comps: Bennett, Compher, JEE, Hartman


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What we would want in return: Top-4 dman...with size and mobility, good in d-zone, especially with puck (High d-zone exit success rate). Age in mid-twenties. with at least 3 years control remaining. Preferably a lefty.

2023-24 blueline

Hughes -- Marino
DMAN -- Nemec
Bahl -- Miller

2024-25 blueline (with everyone back)

Siegenthaler -- Hamilton
Hughes -- Marino
DMAN -- Nemec

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