I'm not opposed to a deal looking like this (with additions of course), but if the ask is a 1st plus Knies plus another top end prospect it just doesn't seem worth it. As much as Murphy would be a great add, especially at retention, TOR will need that cheap ELC depth for the next couple of years.

When did Kaner say this?

“You can win and still be in a rebuild. I think there are teams that have accelerated that, too, right? You look at LA, they had some young guys that probably came in and maybe exceeded some of maybe their front-office expectations and all of a sudden they’re in a spot where they can sign guys like [Phillip] Danault and trade for [Viktor] Arvidsson and they’re a better team.”

source: ‘Hawks’ Kane: ‘You can win and still be in a rebuild’ – Charlie Roumeliotis – Chicago Sports – 04/26/2022

I think Soderblom might be ready to be the backup next year. If we can bring in a starter that can play 50 ish games and give soderblom around 30 that's ideal i think. I would go after Husso. Give him a 3-4 year deal around 4-4.5 million. Commesso is still 3 years away from being NHL ready anyways, so Husso could serve as the perfect bridge to that and he's also a goalie you can win with if this team does outperform expectations

I'm with ya. I just don't think it's realistic to have the expectation that an "ELC contract player" come in and be a true difference maker. It's always a pleasant surprise if they do, but even #1 or #2 OAs don't always do that.

Oh ok. Yeah I read that. He didn't really say it directly. But it definitely sounds like he is interested in sticking around.

I'm with you. Soderblom can slide up/down. I'd certainly give him more games than Mrazek.

I edited it because the description did make it sound like I had "breaking news" which I don't.

Oh, I definitely don't expect the ELC's to come in and be immediate difference makers. To me, it just makes more sense to keep the young guys around, and to slot them in the best place for them to succeed and develop. I would personally prefer TOR to do that then to try and find random cheap depth in the offseason who may be around for only a year, potentially two.

You are getting massively fleeced in the Toronto deal

Did you read it?

I just dont see a base here and I think moving Murphy right now is a bad decision.

I'm not sure what you mean by a base. Also, I'm fine with keeping Murph. We just need to be realistic that a trade requires giving up something that other teams value. Murph is a good defensive Dman and if we're rebuilding (which KD says we are) then we have cap space to give up too. Other teams that are competed are fighting not just on the ice, but their front office is fighting the cap ceiling. It's one of the reasons Hagel got so much in return.

Timothy Liljegren's rapid development likely means we won't need someone like Connor Murphy. TJ Brodie will be on the right side, and then either one of Justin Holl or Ilya Lyubushkin will round it out.

I would likely advise fans of other teams to stop suggesting taking on Mrazek, as it's far more likely the Leafs simply buy out Mrazek and have a ~1M cap hit, than give up a 1st, and/or a 2nd, and/or a top prospect, to avoid paying that 1M, like people like to think will happen.

That being said, Chicago is a team that could consider taking a shot at Mrazek.

I don't think they're going to help out TOR. I think your first suggestion is likely the end result. They'll buy him out. He's been consistently inconsistent in net for 5 years straight. I don't see anyone taking a flyer on him unless real assets come with.

haha. No worries, mate! Just thought maybe I missed something.

Rebuild can be interpreted a few ways though.

NYR rebuilt, they sold off Hayes, Zucc, Skjei, McDonagh, Namestnikov, Nash, and Grabner. They didn't announce their rebuild until the Zucc trade I believe though. They did a rebuild on the fly without actually scorching earth and instead chose a young core and build around it quickly.

Ottawa also rebuilt. They sold everything even the kitchen sink. Completely burned it to the ground and started building up again.

I expect Chicago to take the first route and imo they already kinda have been since last year. Only thing they really messed up imo was not selling DeHaan at the deadline

Oh I agree with you and I think besides the Murphy trade...thats what I outlined above. Taking on other veterans like LAK did with Arvidsson when those other teams have cap constraints. I'm fine with keeping Murphy.

As for DeHaan. IDK. If KD wanted a 1st and let that be known, but all of a sudden the best you could get was a 4th? That would look bad going forward. You just told all the other GMs that you're willing to cave vs willing to meet somewhere in the middle.

I think you're undervaluing some returns here. Vegas was ready to throw a 2nd to Anaheim -and- take back John Moore's $1.625M cap hit in a Dadonov trade - Katchouk can either be a cheap 4th liner or a more-easily-buried contract for them, so I think a 2nd rounder would definitely be on the table for this one.

Skip ahead to the Pittsburgh deal - Kubalik is probably a 20-25 goal scorer on the Pens if they use him right, and Borgstrom will 100% turn into the next Mark Donk. You're also helping them move on from Zucker's hit, which helps them possibly re-sign Bryan Rust, so I'd push for a little more out of them. They don't have the greatest prospect pipeline but you can maybe try and get Pierre Oliver Joseph instead of Blomqvist?

The Mrazek for Murphy(50% retained) deal probably can't happen - Toronto would just need to add too much. Not only are they getting out from one of their more toxic contracts, but Chicago is offering to eat $2.2M in dead cap for 4 years on this one, too - that's a huge gift to the Maple Leafs. It probably -would- have to be a 1st and a prospect to get anywhere near evening out. I think you could kill the retention on Murphy and just have Toronto throw in a 2nd and then it can work - Leafs' cap only goes up $600K and they get a player that's actually useful to them, while Chicago gets (arguably) an NHL-caliber goalie to keep the seat warm while their prospects develop.

I appreciate the thoughts/comments!

The summer is when other teams have more flexibility and time to make moves. The Vegas trade was when they were in a bind and McCrimmon felt like he needed to make a move. I'm not sure they'd offer that same trade today as what ANA was willing to do. Plus, the Hawks can turn around and flip Dad at the TDL with 50% retained.

The PIT trade is a hard one. Kubalik's qualifying offer is $4M. I'm not so sure the Hawks give him the deal and if they don't...he's a UFA. Borgstrom really hasn't found consistent ice time with the Hawks. He's been pushed out by other prospects like Phillip Kurashev and Taylor Raddysh. I like Joel Blomqvist and the Hawks can allow him a lot of time to develop in Europe. It's not like he's in juniors/NCAA where after 4 years if the team doesn't bring you up, you can UFA. I'd just tell him to take his time and we'll sign him in a few years when he's more mature. Plus, a 2nd rounder is decent.

I hear ya on the TOR deal. I wouldn't mind just keeping Murphy. Just tossing out an idea.

Now I'm genuinely curious about Murphy without the retention.

@exo2769 What kind of offer are you looking for that includes Mrazek and Murphy without any retention?

I purposely left if off because what I would be looking for is a lot. In the end I do think Mrazek will be bought out. The Hawks are truly paying Mrazek $6M for the next two years and there's still 2 more years of $2.2M retained.

I'm not sure TOR could do it without retention of some sort. They'd keep Timmy at RD and look to sign vets on the cheap. Maybe Gio comes back if in the end they don't win the cup.

I think a lot of what you're doing here makes sense to gain assets in return for taking on players teams don't want.

That said a few things...
A) I can't see the Hawks bringing in Holtby or him agreeing to a 1 year deal. I think the Hawks are going to sign Lankinen and role with him and Soderblom in net, possibly 1 vet be it Mrazek or otherwise but not 2.
B) Reichel will come up provided he adds 15lbs in the offseason
C) I sure hope they don't sign Caleb Jones especially to play on the right. Mitchell has been playing really well in the AHL. He and Regula are battling for the 3rd line if Murphy is here or if Murphy is gone they bring them both up. Philips and Galvas are two other guys to keep our eyes on, albeit LHD guys. It would be nice to move McCabe but don't see it happening; he's brutal.
D) I hope they sign Strome and if so, it's a 2 to 4 year deal which will cost $4M to $5M. Strome probably won't sign a 1 year QO, he has a case to get more term and money.
E) Murphy won't need to be retained, at least not that much no matter what. Hawks aren't going to eat $2.2M of his cap hit for 4 years.

Yeah, you're right about the vets. I'm good with Lanks over Holtby. I think what you and @Wadejos123 are saying about Soderblom is correct. He'll get time in net for sure. He can slide. Reichel I'm more than willing to have at the NHL level. He doesn't really have much to prove in the AHL, but you're also exactly right that he needs to add some size. I don't want to rush him to the NHL and him get hurt. I'd rather him continue to dominate if he doesn't add some size. I'm 100% ok with extending Strome to a multi-year deal. They're finally playing him like all of us fans knew Bowman should have been doing for years now. As for Murphy...it all depends on what that return looks like. If MIN can have a playoff team while eating $14M in cap space....we should be able to do the same while only eating $2.2M. It all depends on what we're getting back.

Given his injury, how in the world does Murphy hold nearly 1st round pick plus value? One good hit on Murphy and he’s shelved for weeks at a time. Just doesn’t seem like a prudent investment for a team to make.