Quoting: palhal
My thoughts for 2018/19. Big developmental season for the Leafs....Grundstrom, Johnson, Kapanen on the wings. Aaltonen and Nylander at centre. Dermot and hopefully Borgman Ozhinikov on D. Sparks in net.
Leafs in reality has 10m for UFA signing, though I don't know if there is anyone I would like to sign.....at least short term, the UFA market is so thin.
Next year there are more UFAs available especially on defence, though are they going be available July 1 2019. Ellis just might available in Nashville has cap issues. Of course the Leafs might have cap issues too.
Number one pick. Likely won't be NHLer for three or four years....just when Kadri's contract is ending. Since the Leafs have few if any centre prospects, I'm all for picking centres this draft.
Thanks for asking, always like discussing hockey or anything with folks.
Interesting. And I can definately see more than a few marlies making the jump, and think its a good bet that Willy gets a shot a 3C (if they don't pull a JT or Stats), and if it doesn't work then maybe it gets addressed at the trade deadline. Something that I wonder about is the idea that the leafs are trying to establish a winning culture throughout the organization. By that I mean, I think its important to the brass that not only do the leafs need to be competitive, but the marlies do too. Winning in the AHL establishes the habits to win in the NHL... for that reason, I could see Borgman staying another year to continue to develop chemistry and familiarity with Lily and then they make the jump together in 19/20.. maybe?? I don't know much about this Ozzie guy - think he might be an insurance piece, but maybe he surprises and pulls a Zaitsev (at least the Z from his rookie year, or the Z at the begining of last year before he got hurt/sick).
One thing I really like about the cap is that it forces smart teams to think about succession in terms of development and replacement of players i.e. your idea of drafting a C to replace Kadri in a few years time. To me, it doesn't matter if we're taking about a NHL hockey club, an ecosystem, or the health care system
the only way to foster sustainability is to develop a system of natural succession that keeps things going overtime... and that's why this fake gm game is fun.. it lets people play around with that..
Anywho.. today is shaping up to be an interesting day. My prediction is that they move their 1st.. maybe for a roster need or maybe for a couple seconds. I'm usually wrong about stuff, so I'm not betting a nickle on that, but look forward to checking in with you later to see how this all shakes out