I think the real question is, 2.5 million for Barberio?

Yes: Sandin and Lillypad are arguably ready now save for the odd wart. The expectation should be that by next season they're full-fledged NHLers.

What - in your eyes - has Mikheyev done to suggest he'll even have an NHL contract next season, never mind one at $2.5M per? He's producing which is nice, but his shot is phenomenally weak. I feel like there's better places to spend that kind of money. Is there a cheaper two-year deal that Dermott would be interested? Do the Leafs really need a $2M backup? Should Dubas invest anything more than $2M on his fourth line next season? Who and/or what is a Mark Barberio and why is he a top-pairing defender all of a sudden?

With non elite prospects, the answer is usually no, but almost always, “who knows.”

sandin?

mikheyev has been a workhorse- very good, one of the most surprisingly competent players the leafs have had in a few years

Sandin and Liljegren are both top prospects. Considering the success McAvoy has had so far, you'd think you'd have a higher opinion of two defenceman taken in the mid to late first round.

Both Sandin and Liljegren are top prospects, this guy is a troll. He'll overvalue every defenceman in the league by 3000% and then say Rielly is worth a 2nd because he isn't a troll.

With the forward depth the Leafs have, I really don't think we need to sign him.

I agree, he looks really solid. Good 2-way winger with solid speed.

I wouldn't let him walk

His RFA status lets them flip him at the draft for a pick. Teams are typically pretty ready to part with 3rd and 4th Round Picks if they mean they're getting an NHL-ready player out of it. The Leafs don't need to lose him for nothing.

Ehh. Hyman is better and Moore is cheaper. He is kind of in that weird no mans land from a cap perspective. I'd certainly like to keep him, but he is very much a secondary priority.


On the prospects side of things, Sandin is 100% ready and Liljegren looks about ready too. The key to lilypad is his confidence at this level. If he can play with that confidence he shows in the A, he will do just fine. I trust Keefe to help him get that so I think a 3rd pair of Sandin-Liljegren should be pencilled in for next year.

Also Kinkaid sucks. Don't sign him at all, let alone to that.

personally rather trade one of Johnsson/kapanen and get a defenceman of actual value rather than trade him for a third because Mikheyev will likely be a bit cheaper and can play up and down the lineup just as either of the other two can

Or, alternatively, trade Soupy for a draft pick, use one of Mango/Kappy to acquire said defender, and sign a better player in free agency?

Solid prospect, but definitely in the category of statistically, he is more likely to not be a good NHL player, than he is to be a good NHL player. That’s just the reality with guys taken in the bottom half of the first round and below.

there are so many other variables- his play in the minors while logging 25+mins nightly, the promising signs he showed this year during his stint up- its not a guarantee of course, but he's an elite prospect that has a strong chance of being effective in this league.

2.5 mil can't get you much better than a guy who's on pace for 46 points in his first year, is a top 3 hardest working player out there for the leafs, and who can play in pretty well all situations

Agreed. He's better than Johnsson already IMO. I'm really interested to see what he can do in the playoffs. If he can bring his game to the next level he could be a gem

Do we forget how Zaitsev produced in his first year in the NHL and what become of him or do we still have new-toy-syndrome and think Mikheyev is an NHL roster player (who by the way, can't shoot the puck)

Go to rehab. Drugs are bad

Free agency is expensive. Getting a good deal on a UFA is definitely not as easy as it used to be.

Overall, I'd trade Kapanen before trading Johnsson just because the Leafs are weaker on the LW than on RW.

slow down a bit there I wouldn't say he's better than johnsson

which is why you sign Mikheyev to no longer than a 1-3 year term as opposed to the 7 that zaitsev got.

First off, I never ventured an opinion on the player. I just let you know that players taken in that slot don’t have a high % of making it. Now I will venture an opinion on the player. He is not an elite prospect. Logging significant minutes the AHL with moderate success doesn’t just make one an elite prospect.

Or, trade him to another team and let them make a mistake, then sign any other player.