Gotta think DeMelo gets more than 2m. Lehtonen is a Leaf or else the Leafs will never sign another European UFA, But agree with you, not much cap room to make a big name addition.

How much more do you think DeMelo is worth? The guy is good defensively but has only put up mediocre point totals and has middling possession numbers. I'm not really sure what I'd pay him, but anything more than 2.5AAV seems like a bit much right?

Does that mean either Dermott gets traded, or Sandin ends up in the minors for another year?

IMO. Leafs can't be trading any Dman since they don't have the NHL depth. Reilly, Muzzin, Dermot, Lehtonen , Holl are Leafs this season. Hoping for a a veteran Dman to make six. That leaves Sandin, Liljegren, Marincin for the another spot. With injuries all nine I have mentioned probably see NHL time.

Would a guy like Shattenkirk be a better and potentially cheaper veteran signing than DeMelo then? Also, are you expecting that one of the defensemen that you have listed will play their off side then?

The majority of players shoot left....60%. Other teams have left handed players playing on the right defence. Seems to a obsession that the Leafs and only the Leafs need at least three RHD.
Shattenkirk is rich and can pick his spot to play...and it wouldn't be the Leafs. When you say"cheaper veteran", it often means not as good.
With the Leafs cycling style, left handed players can play the right side. Dermot should be able to, and he has in the past. Lehtonen has done it. Marincin too.
DeMelo being a Toronto boy, might be the Leafs best hope. But he hasn't made much money (by NHL standards) during his career, so $$$ and term might be a top priority to him.
Overpaying Nylander, Matthews and Marner 5m collectivity for the term they signed for, is really biting the Leafs in the ass.

I feel 2.5 million is about accurate for DeMelo... more will mean someone overpaid.

I agree that Lehtonen is likely on the Leafs and likely candidate to play on his offside of any the LD.

If Lehtonen is on the roster to start, Dermott or Holl will be traded as neither are really 1st pair guys.


We need to add at least 1 good defensive D man, LD or RD is not nearly as important.


In this ACGM, Mikheyev seems overpaid, I have him st 1.25 to 1.55 million on 2 year bridge deal.

Your definitely reaching with Malgin on 3rd line.

Dont like the Schenn add either.

Sandin needs to bulk up a bit, too easily pushed around at the NHL level, I say keep him and Liljergen in the minors.

Shattenkirk is not what we need.
I'd take a chance with Fantenberg for 3rd pair.

I think that Mikheyev will have a decent arbitration case that could push him close to 2 million, so I'm just being cautious with his contract. Good PPG and possession numbers, however he only played part of his first full season in the NHL.

If Mikheyev signs for closer to what you are thinking he will then the Leafs could bring in a better option. I agree that he is not ideal on the 3rd line, but someone like him may have to be..

While he is arbitration eligible, hes played under 40 games in the NHL.
Think about that for a second.

Engvall played more and got 1.25 million, that is the internal argument.

An external argument would likely lead to 1 year deal again at a fairly low AAV.

Trickster, you touched on a pet peeve of mine. "Saying "If Lehtonen is on the roster to start, Dermott or Holl will be traded as neither are really 1st pair guys." Fact is is you need 3 competent NHLers playing the right side. Just because the unknown Lehtonen is on the team, doesn't push Holl or Dermot off the team. And this first pairing ranking is nonsense. Holl played 20 minutes a game, Dermot 17, so it's not those two good have been sheltered from playing in all different minutes. I question if Reilly is a first pairing by so many . He gets lots of PP minutes and points but is just not much above average at even strength, and doesn't play the PK much. Hardly the stalwart Dman that is teamed first pairing. I just can't figure what are the the rankings for pairings on the Leafs. Now I have an opinion on who are the Leafs best Dmen in order (Holl # 3) last season

Agree with your statements.

I feel we will see 1 to 2 trades from now till the new season.
I am strong believer that the time to move on from Andersen is now, the goalie market is oversaturated right now and waiting too long to find a replacement will put us in a pickle.

Its delicate situation that require some good timing among other things.

People are easily forgetting that Andersen is up in another year, can we extend him? Doubtful but not impossible. Can we find a replacement next offseason? Possibly, but do they options at that time look better then now? Not to me they dont.

I dont like the ranking think either man but it is what it is.
Its pretty clear that the Leafs are defensively lacking, so how we begin to look at improving g that?
Have to breakdown and make assessments about what we have, what we need, and lastly what we can get.

That in turn puts Riely at 1st pair on your this team, whether I like it or not, and Muzzin at 2nd pair.


Your not wrong on minutes played and where they are played for Rielly, I actually dont feel he is #1 D man at all.

We have 2 #2 guys in Rielly and Muzzin, sadly are both LD.