mmobley
Joined: Dec. 2017
Posts: 152
Likes: 6
The numbers definitely work, so good job managing that side of the puzzle.
However, I don't see a few of these signings happening in order to balance out the team. There isn't a lot of change to the back end and that serves as a bit of a mistake to me. I think TOR would be more inclined to move Gardiner for another asset, especially with the emergence of Dermontt last season. Gardiner is a top 4 D on most teams in the NHL, maybe even a top 2 on some. I could see the leafs dealing Gardiner for another W that might be able to fit into the top 6. Although TOR has a surplus and a lot of depth on the W, they could use one more piece to add to that their top 6. Maybe a player like Skinner, Eberle, Silfverberg or possibly Wayne Simmons (all are UFA's at the end of the year, like Gardiner.
My thoughts about the back end is that TOR may have to deal one of their W's to add a key piece. Ideally TOR would be able to trade Kapanen, but I think it might come down to trading Nylander for a player or players. A trade that might make sense is TOR making a trade with NJD, Nylander for Severson and Bratt. Severson has term on his contact and Bratt is a young rising W, with promsing playmaking ability. Severson has proven to be a top 4 D, with good DZ stats and can produce offensively. Another trade partner might be CAR- Nylander for Faulk and Rask, might be one possibility. Rask has term and Faulk has another year on is contract before he is a UFA. That trade might not happen though because CAR's new owner is rumor to not wanting to pay his players premier salaries. Thus the Hanifiin and Lindholm being dealt. As much as I would like Nylander to stay in TOR because he is a key piece to their front end, I think TOR may have to move him to make some significant changes on the back. Nylander may take a team friendly discount and be open to following the TBL model and if that's the case, then TOR is going to be pretty scary. And Maybe Dubas can work some magic to move Kapanen for pieces on the back, we'll have to see.
Sorry for the novel haha. What are your thoughts?