My ideal offseason in 3 moves

Forums/Armchair-GM

Page 1 of 1

Created by: blowing_the_zone

Team: 2019-20 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 5, 2019

Published: Apr. 24, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Description

Pretty simple in my future leafland thinking.

1. After completing a full performance review its decided that it's time to move on from Babcock. For what its worth, I think the game is passing him by and the team is tuning him out. Keefe is brought in as his replacement.

2. Time has caught up with Marleau, and its not a reflection on him at all. He chooses the graceful exit after collecting his bonuses vs continued decline, and 4th line minutes in the final season of his storied career.

3. Brown is traded for a pick. Nothing personal, cap causality and asset management.

This leaves the offence more or less as is, with the exception of moving Kadri to 2LW and Nylander to 3C, a move that I think benefits both players. Bracco gets his shot next to AM. If he flunks out, Willy goes back to AM's wing and Moore jumps to their left. Kadri moves back to 3 C. Bracco heads to the 4th with Ennis.

My future leafland requires patience with the development of the d so that they can grow as a group and be prepared for a push in 20/21. It also likely means a step back next year before the cap opens up again.. but when it does, it opens the door for a RHD UFA stud. This approach also leaves the door open for a top RHD at the trade deadline next season if this group stays in the playoff mix, and I think they do.

The D line up as such

1st pairing - shut down pair, play against top opposition. Muzz and Z did well in this role in the playoffs - there's no need to assume that they can't do it throughout the regular season, too.

2nd paring - Mo and Dert. More o-zone time and play against secondary competition. I think its worthwhile to see if Dert can become Mo's right side partner before dismantling the offence for that help.

3rd pairing - Sandin and Lily make the jump early and get serious sheltering. If Babs is out and Keefe is in I think this could be a viable option given his history with them.

Rosen as the 7th D, with Marlie call ups as depth options.

When I lower my expectations on next season I find myself quite optimistic about what this group can do 2 years from now, and moving forward from there.. the sky isn't falling at all.

Free Agent Signings

RFA	YEARS	CAP HIT
Marner, Mitchell	3	$9,300,000
Johnsson, Andreas	3	$3,250,000
Kapanen, Kasperi	3	$3,250,000

UFA		YEARS	CAP HIT
Ennis, Tyler		2	$1,250,000

Trades

TOR

2019 3rd round pick (NYI)

Additional Details:

Retires. Contract traded

Buyouts

Mikhail Grabovski: $0

Retained Salary Transactions

Phil Kessel: $1,200,000 (15%)

Draft	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7
2019
2020
2021

ROSTER

LONG-TERM OUTLOOK

EMBED

TEXT-EMBED

ROSTER SIZE	SALARY CAP	CAP HIT	OVERAGES	BONUSES	CAP SPACE
22	$83,000,000	$80,284,699	$0	$482,500	$2,715,301

Left Wing	Centre	Right Wing
Hyman, Zach $2,250,000$2,250,000 RW, LW M-NTC UFA - 2	Tavares, John $11,000,000$11,000,000 C, LW NMC UFA - 6	Marner, Mitchell $9,300,000$9,300,000 RW UFA - 6
Kadri, Nazem $4,500,000$4,500,000 C M-NTC UFA - 3	Matthews, Auston $11,634,000$11,634,000 C UFA - 5	Bracco, Jeremy $842,500$842,500 ($82,500$82K) RW UFA - 1
Johnsson, Andreas $3,250,000$3,250,000 LW, RW UFA - 4	Nylander, William $6,962,366$6,962,366 RW UFA - 5	Kapanen, Kasperi $3,250,000$3,250,000 RW UFA - 3
	Gauthier, Frédérik $675,000$675,000 C UFA - 1	Moore, Trevor $775,000$775,000 LW, RW UFA - 2
Ennis, Tyler $1,250,000$1,250,000 LW, RW UFA - 1

Left Defense	Right Defense	Goaltender
Muzzin, Jake $4,000,000$4,000,000 LD UFA - 1	Zaitsev, Nikita $4,500,000$4,500,000 RD M-NTC UFA - 5	Andersen, Frederik $5,000,000$5,000,000 G M-NTC UFA - 2
Rielly, Morgan $5,000,000$5,000,000 LD UFA - 3	Dermott, Travis $863,333$863,333 LD/RD UFA - 1	Sparks, Garret $750,000$750,000 G UFA - 1
Sandin, Rasmus $894,167$894,167 LD UFA - 3	Liljegren, Timothy $863,333$863,333 ($400,000$400K) RD RFA - 3

Scratches	Injured Reserve (IR)	Long Term IR (LTIR)
Petan, Nicolas $775,000$775,000 C, LW, RW UFA - 2		Horton, Nathan $5,300,000$5,300,000 RW M-NTC, NMC UFA - 1
Rosén, Calle $750,000$750,000 LD UFA - 2		Gáborík, Marián $4,875,000$4,875,000 RW UFA - 2

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:46 p.m.

palhal

LongtimeLeafsufferer

Joined: Jul. 2015

Posts: 60,072

Likes: 23,002

Like your thoughts. Still not sure if Sandin and Liljgren are ready. But a retired Marleau certainly helps the cap (maybe the Leaf add a pick), and a "retired" Babcock helps on the ice as you suggest.

blowing_the_zone liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:46 p.m.

Laudan

Joined: Jul. 2018

Posts: 3,490

Likes: 1,559

Not sure about Keefe. Remember Dallas Eakins, anyone ? Unfortunatelly we missed on Coach Q.....

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:49 p.m.

Bcarlo25

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 21,377

Likes: 7,064

Pretty big if with the Marleau stuff. The rest is pretty reasonable

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:57 p.m.

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: palhal

Yeah, I don't know if they're ready either, but if Babcock does leave and Keefe gets the job then I could see how his history with the marlies would help them out alot.. all they'd really need to do is hold the fort in a sheltered role until it could be determined in the Leafs are in or out of a playoff picture and what D might be available at the trade deadline to bolster the back end.

It all really comes down to what Marleau decides to do. But even if he decides to stay, then an honest conversation with the man about the real possibility of being a 4th liner or a healthy scratch if his play doesn't improve from this year, could be enough to make him think twice... and a management offer might not hurt either..

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:58 p.m.

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: Laudan

Not sure about Keefe. Remember Dallas Eakins, anyone ? Unfortunatelly we missed on Coach Q.....

I know. But I gotta think that Keefe has a place with the leafs at some point. And I could also see other NHL teams offering him a job, and Dubas not wanting to let him go..

PrimeDatsyuk liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 5:59 p.m.

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: Bcarlo25

Pretty big if with the Marleau stuff. The rest is pretty reasonable

Very big if on Marleau. But his 3 yr contract is set up like a 2 yr deal probably for this very reason - that time catches up with everyone.

palhal and PrimeDatsyuk liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:03 p.m.

Bcarlo25

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 21,377

Likes: 7,064

Quoting: blowing_the_zone

Very big if on Marleau. But his 3 yr contract is set up like a 2 yr deal probably for this very reason - that time catches up with everyone.

His three year deal is set up like this because everyone wants to get paid sooner rather than later. He left San Jose because he wanted the third year. Cmon. Let’s be logical here.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:09 p.m.

palhal

LongtimeLeafsufferer

Joined: Jul. 2015

Posts: 60,072

Likes: 23,002

Quoting: blowing_the_zone

Very big if on Marleau. But his 3 yr contract is set up like a 2 yr deal probably for this very reason - that time catches up with everyone.

I compare Marleau to what happened to Jagr. Remember Jagr had a couple of good years in the NHL when he returned from Europe. Then he signed with Calgary and just hit the wall.
Same with Marleau. He was fine last year and then this year....he's average at best for long stretches, with the occassional good game. Next year (if he plays) he could might be bad every game.(if he even saw the ice). IMO his pride says, it's time to leave.

blowing_the_zone and PrimeDatsyuk liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:12 p.m.

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: Bcarlo25

His three year deal is set up like this because everyone wants to get paid sooner rather than later. He left San Jose because he wanted the third year. Cmon. Let’s be logical here.

it doesn't need to be binary - it can be both things at the same time.

I'd say he left San Jose because he wanted 18M (vs probably 12M if he stayed) the possibility of 3 years and the possibility of a cup run. That cup run for this year is out the window. And unless his play drastically improves for next year, a cup run is pretty unlikely given the leaf's cap situation..

If marleau is logical he'd probably think that over while trying to decide if an extra 1.25M is worth a year of 4th line minutes, possible healthy scratches, and the sh+tstorm of the how volitile leaf nation and the media in Toronto can be when looking for a scapegoat, if he can't get back to his standard. After a career where he's banked close to 100M, I think he might consider the benefits of another season for 1.25M given the context

palhal liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:16 p.m.

#10

Bcarlo25

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 21,377

Likes: 7,064

Quoting: blowing_the_zone

Every word of this is highly illogical

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:16 p.m.

#11

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: palhal

Yeah, this is my thinking, too. If he was playing in another market it might be different. But I gotta think that he'll be wondering if its worth the headache if he doesn't get back to his standard. Its all in his hands, but the toronto market can do awful things to someone...

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:17 p.m.

#12

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: Bcarlo25

Every word of this is highly illogical

Please enlighten me, Bcarlo..

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:36 p.m.

#13

yo89999

Joined: Apr. 2019

Posts: 26

Likes: 1

It's not bad but Kadri has to go

Apr. 24, 2019 at 6:48 p.m.

#14

Bcarlo25

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 21,377

Likes: 7,064

Quoting: blowing_the_zone

Please enlighten me, Bcarlo..

It was widely reported he wanted the third year.
People don’t often turn down millions to do something they love.
All reports are that he loves being a leaf

Apr. 24, 2019 at 7:05 p.m.

#15

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: yo89999

It's not bad but Kadri has to go

Thanks. As disappointing as I found Kadri's boneheaded play, I think it'd be a mistake to trade him. We do lack what he brings, but, yeah, he needs to be way more disciplined. All that said, I still applaud Kadri for going after DeBrusk after that hit on Marleau. He just should have dropped the gloves instead of using his stick.

I could see Kadri being traded for cap reasons and/or trying to improve the right side of the d. I just don't think he should be traded for the suspension, that's all.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 7:13 p.m.

#16

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: Bcarlo25

It was widely reported he wanted the third year.
People don’t often turn down millions to do something they love.
All reports are that he loves being a leaf

Well, I agree with you on each of those sentences..

*Re the 3rd year - he got that third year from the leafs when it seems that no one else would offer it. Doesn't mean he needs to play that 3rd year if he doesn't want to.. I don't understand your point?
*Re giving up millions of dollars - he'd be giving up 1.25M, I believe - but I've read up to 1.5M. He gets paid the rest of his 3yr deal regardless of whether he plays or not. He's not giving up much, comparatively
*Re loving being a leaf - totally agree. he could retire and still be a leaf in some capacity .. that doesn't also necessarily need to be an either or

.. and I still don't understand how that shows how anything I posted is illogical, let alone every word of what I posted..

Anyways, I'm not sure why things need to be so black or white - lots of shades of grey in life..

Apr. 24, 2019 at 7:42 p.m.

#17

palhal

LongtimeLeafsufferer

Joined: Jul. 2015

Posts: 60,072

Likes: 23,002

Quoting: blowing_the_zone

Please enlighten me, Bcarlo..

Well you know some anti Leaf sentiment. All Leafs are bad, all Leaf fans are unknowable homers. Datysyk can NHL retire and leaves 7m....that's OK. Markov leaves 6m on the table but plays for less in Russia. It looks like Luongo is going to go and LTIR for a season and then retire for two years leaving I believe 3.2m in not salary. But a suggestion that only Marleau leaves 1.25m for not playing in his final year is deemed illogical shakes head

blowing_the_zone liked this.

Apr. 24, 2019 at 8:12 p.m.

#18

blowing_the_zone

Thread Starter

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 2,132

Likes: 1,540

Quoting: palhal

lol. true.

the thing i find most fascinating is how these narratives get started, recycled, snowball, take on a life of their own, and then we're all shocked when something completely unexpected happens.

i fully expect the narratives in leaf land this season will be about Babcock being held accountable and speculation on Marleaus future - and I bet that takes a bit of a toll. On a plus note, Gardiner wont likely need to feel that heat any more..

Page 1 of 1

DISPLAY SETTING

BETTING ODDS

LOCALE

ARCHIVE

CBA

CALCULATORS

FANTASY HOCKEY TOOLS

TOOLS

PLAYERS

WESTERN CONFERENCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

INTERACTIVE FEATURES

Forums/Armchair-GM