so a few months ago I read an article on 31 Thoughts that Muzzin was willing to waive his NTC to either Anaheim or LA because it was an area he was familiar playing in and both teams need the veteran leadership in their defensive cores though the Ducks getting Klingberg definitely complicates trade matters the trade can work either with LA or Anaheim I just used the Ducks as an example and one of the 3rd rounders the Leafs have this year in order to have the team retain the full contract which would allow Dubas to then sign Sandin to a Prove it deal at 1.5Mil * 1 year then the Leafs could then operate with about 5.5ish mil in cap for other signings/trades.
Simmonds, Clifford, and Gaudette are sent down to the AHL during training camp accumulating 2,412,500mil in cap space which would allow the Leafs about 919,384k in cap pre-Muzzin trade ( Post Muzzin trade the Leafs would have about $6,544,384mil in cap )
Next, The Leafs call up Vegas to remind them of the favor the Leafs did for them by getting them Robin Lehner and has a thank you Nolan Patrick is then given to Toronto for Future Considerations and Dubas and the Leafs medical staff are then given another reclamation project in Nolan Patrick who is still young but has been horribly plagued with injuries and maybe the Leafs can figure something out with him that Philadelphia and Vegas don't have the time and or patience but Dubas might? Patrick would start off on the LTIR giving the Leafs another 1.2Million in Cap Space to operate with throughout the season if Nolan gets back to some form of playing state then it's a boost in depth to the roster, if he doesn't then the Leafs don't lose anything they just benefit from the extra cap space and Patrick's contract is then done at the end of the season anyway. Patrick on LTIR grants the Leafs another 1.2mil in cap ( 7,744,384 in Cap Space )
Next, I believe the Leafs need to bolster the Right side of their defense with a better-upgraded version of what Ilya Lybushkin was and I honestly believe that guy is Carson Soucy who stands at 6'5" 211lbs. Cap is decent at 2.75Mil for 1 more season can play Left and Right side even though he is a lefty he is like Brodie where he is a consistent, defensive presence in any d core he has the higher aptitude to lay out a big hit or to clear the front of the net with his size which is a much-needed skill that Dubas has been looking for and it adds a little more bite to the backline also the D Pairs I would do if that was the case is
- Rielly / Soucy ( Like Rielly/Boosh from last year only better! )
- Sandin/Brodie ( If Sandin is as good as people or he thinks he is give him a great, consistent veteran partner in Brodie and if there are defensive breakdowns between the two throughout the season then Sandin still needs more developmental time and then would warrant a lower price tag on his new contract for the time being )
- Giordano/Liljgrenn (The same ordeal as last year when they were put together only Liljgrenn's stats become even more impressive the more that he plays with Gio. This pair becomes an absolute defensive anchor this year )
and believe it or not but Holl still remains on this team at the start of the season. Can't go wrong with a 6/7 D man at 2Mil who has some familiarity with a lot of players on this team also I expect Gio and maybe Sandin to be given off days ( That's right Liljgrenn FULL 82 SZN baby ) Holl then comes in and the pairs are then adjusted accordingly.
Trade for Soucy at the bottom seems like maybe an overpayment on the Leafs end but I do believe it makes the team better in the long run especially if Soucy is even given an extension plus I do believe Seattle is in need of offense and Kerfoot would be an excellent addition within their top six at his cap hit and he can play for his next contract and play closer to home ( Kerfoot is a Vancouver native ) ( Already got Jarnkrok as well so I most definitely believe that Kerfoot is on the block )
As for other signings to then level out the roster
Aston Reese I believe is a no-brainer for Dubas just for his defensive prowess as a bottom 6 winger ( A Line of Engvall, Kampf, and Aston Reese would be absolutely disgusting to face for any team and might be legitimately one of the best shutdown lines in the league if made possible )
Gagner I think is inevitable. Good friends with JT, part owner of the Marlboros, and for his production last year, he could even be a decent scoring option in the bottom 6 and will provide a good vet presence.
Call me a fan of nostalgia but I believe after the departure of Spezza the Leafs do need to fill in that gap in some form by adding a 4C who is better than what the stats claim him to be but honestly the idea of Tyler Bozak returning to Toronto I feel like it makes too much sense? Toronto took a flyer on Bozak as an undrafted player out of college and the Leafs currently have some college kids in their system ( Abruzzese, Steeves, Knies ) Bozak can appeal to these players in a vet role but he also despite injuries can still play and be effective. Like Spezza, Bozak bodes an insane Faceoff% ( 53.6% for his career ), he is a right-handed player like Spezza but he also has the playoff experience that the Leafs need as well having won a Stanley Cup with St Louis in 2019. Bozak I feel would take a 1 or 2-year deal to not only have another shot at a cup ring but he can also train up a possible successor to him like Abruzzese or Steeves where if Bozak calls it a career then one of those players can take his spot in the lineup immediately.
Kallgren is kept as a 3rd goalie and he continues his development into a possible NHL-caliber backup and is with the team in case of injuries and might even make the occasional start. Robertson finally makes it out of camp and is hopefully given a fair shot with proper NHL reps or with the possible emergence of Matthew Knies later on in the year, Robertson then plays enough to boost his value for a future deadline trade if it's needed and then Knies slots into the lineup later on in the year.
With expired contracts at the end of the season barring future extensions, the Leafs would have 12.5Mil in free cap in this current scenario which would help in a possible big trade scenario if the Leafs fail to make any progress again.
So close to the start of pre-season hopefully everyone is excited to see the NHL back in action soon!
I like the idea of having Ashton Reese but don't think we need him since we have Kubel/Clifford/Simmonds. The only way we get Gagner is if Dubas wants to lose Anderson which I don't think he does consider how well he played in the AHL. I think Soucy would be a great addition.
Even if Anaheim were willing to take on Muzzin, which the likelihood now is close to zero with the move for Kulikov, it would be necessary for the Leafs to send something like 2 2nds or a first to dump Muzzin. Since the fact of the matter is cap space is extremely valuable, and if Muzzin is only willing to waive for either Anaheim or LA, they can dictate what price they want, and Toronto will have to either accept the price, or ride Muzzin out.
Can't understand why Seattle would make that deal. Soucy is worth more than Kerfoot in a TDL. Anderson has absolutely no trade value
I kinda think it's a silly scenario where LA or Anaheim would value "veteran leadership" in Muzzin. Just another phrase meaning overpaid older player. What really holds Muzzin's trade options back is he has two years left at 5.6m. Reason Klingberg signed with the Ducks was 7m was his best offer. Ducks see the value in JK as TDLtrade with his expiring contract
No, having cap Patrick on LTIR doesn't give the Leafs an additional 1.2m in cap space. If that was true the cap strapped Knights would keep him..
Leafs are much better having Robertson and Steeves at LW...combined better that AR,, and get an NHL centre,
Except kings don’t have space or a need for him and ducks don’t have a need. Muzzin with two years left complicates matters and I doubt the leafs want to shop him with a first.
Also, Sandin doesn’t want to sign that so what has changed?
Except kings don’t have space or a need for him and ducks don’t have a need. Muzzin with two years left complicates matters and I doubt the leafs want to shop him with a first.
Also, Sandin doesn’t want to sign that so what has changed?
I'm told his bigger sticking point is TOI and role that he wants a bigger piece of.
I will say that yes, the Kraken were in need of more offense, but the additions of Burakovsky and Bjorkstrand filled the vacant top six positions on the team. They don't have room to add someone like Kerfoot, who probably wouldn't fit in the top six anyway. Meanwhile, Seattle seems to really like Soucy (they turned down trade offers for him last year) and might be interested in signing him to an extension themselves.
Even if the Kraken had interest in Kerfoot, there just isn't enough value there to justify trading Soucy.
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