I’m gonna have to decline from the Leafs side.

There are cheaper (contract wise) options available.

Plus, DeMelo will likely be almost given away this offseason, dur to cap.
If we want him so bad, might as well wait.

I’m gonna have to decline from the Leafs side.

There are cheaper (contract wise) options available.

Plus, DeMelo will likely be almost given away this offseason, dur to cap.
If we want him so bad, might as well wait.

I like the player but does not fit in long term with the Leafs. Next year is going to be really really tight.

If they are able to add a 3mil player I really hope it will be a top 6 fwd. There will be cheaper options (contract wise) that can provide the same value as DeMelo.

I'd like to add a top-6 fwd as well (preferably a C/W), but I disagree that Demelo can't fit long-term with the Leafs. It'd be tough, yes, but next year is going to be tight regardless. Even if you have to pay extra to get a team to eat some of that money, I'd be more than willing to do that (so long as the price isn't outrageous) because - and maybe I'm being a bit bullish on Demelo, but I really like that player - it stabilizes the D-core for the next few years (so long as Muzzin can start pulling his weight again) and bridges a pretty good gap for the young guys to develop and take the next step.

If I'm looking at adding a top-4 RD at the deadline, Demelo is near the top of my list.

You’d effectively be saying goodbye to Campbell. Which for me, is an absolute priority to resign next year. There is too many moving pieces to add DeMelo’s contract. Who are you trading to fit him in this year?

Again, not hating the player, it’s nice to see a different addition. But because of there cap constraints, IMO they will look to add a D on an expiring deal.

Wish list would be a top six LW (Miller, Smith, Domi, Johansson, Namestnikov), Dmen (Pysyk, Manson, Miller, McNabb, Hagg, Lauzon) and maybe another C (Appleton, Paul)

Seems like a waste of 3m in additional this year and next. Holl and Sandin are still on the team.

You’d effectively be saying goodbye to Campbell. Which for me, is an absolute priority to resign next year. There is too many moving pieces to add DeMelo’s contract. Who are you trading to fit him in this year?

Again, not hating the player, it’s nice to see a different addition. But because of there cap constraints, IMO they will look to add a D on an expiring deal.

Wish list would be a top six LW (Miller, Smith, Domi, Johansson, Namestnikov), Dmen (Pysyk, Manson, Miller, McNabb, Hagg, Lauzon) and maybe another C (Appleton, Paul)

I decided to mess around with it a bit and I've found the cost wouldn't be Campbell, it would be Kerfoot. That's where the 3 mil cap comes from with Robertson hopefully stepping in as an ELC top 6 winger.

I decided to mess around with it a bit and I've found the cost wouldn't be Campbell, it would be Kerfoot. That's where the 3 mil cap comes from with Robertson hopefully stepping in as an ELC top 6 winger.

I just don't see that, to be be honest. That probably just stems from our own differing opinions on contract projections, but by my own estimation (and supposedly that of Byrr) the Leafs would be able to keep Campbell. It would mean losing Kerfoot if the Leafs took on the whole 3mil, but as I've said, I'd be paying a bit of a premium to knock that tag down a bit because it means securing an effective right side on our defence for the foreseeable future, and would allow them to keep Kerfoot or do with him as they please, not as they must.

Side note: This is under the assumptions that - the cap still rises it's projected $1m this offseason (which I'm sure would have to be written in stone by the deadline) - and that none of the big 4 are moving.

I like some of the guys you have listed there; Pysyk I think would be a great cheap depth add, Domi I like, but that's probably a pretty expensive rental which I don't like, Miller's obviously the big ticket item there... nice to think about for sure, but idk how likely it is; if he's available I'm sure a lot of teams would be in on him, andif the Canucks keep chugging along and get back into the mix they probably don't even move him.

Either way, I'm looking forward to see what happens.

Absolutely Kerfoot needs to go, he has to just to fit in DeMelo this year either being part of the trade or somewhere else for picks/prospects to free up the cap. Which then doesn’t leave you the space to add a top 6 fwd which for me is the first priority after the past two playoffs (CLB, MTL) scoring has been the issue, not keeping the puck out of the net. Now I’m not saying they shouldn’t add a RD to play with Muzzin but not at 3.5mil, too rich for this team.

As for next year Campbell getting 4,850,000 seems like a fair number for everyone. All of Ritchie, Holl, Dermott, plus Kerfoot the year before would have to go while keeping Kase, Sandin, and Liljegren. Too mushy moving parts

Kerfoot doesn't have to go. As I've said numerous times if I'm getting Demelo, I'm after retention on that deal - likely from a 3rd party. I'm not adding a "$3.5mil" RD (it's $3m at full cap btw which, again, it wouldn't be full cap). Holl's gone for sure, but the money works.

Moves have to be made, yes, but that's allowed.

Do you think by next year Demelo will be better then Liljegren? Liljegren has passed Holl and Dermott on the depth chart, he also looks good with Muzzin. So what the leafs need is a big nasty 3rd pairing guy who sticks up for his team mates and plays the PK.