SalarySwishSalarySwish
Forums/Armchair-GM

Early TDL move to help C depth

Created by: TML_GM
Team: 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Jan. 27, 2023
Published: Jan. 27, 2023
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
This isn't meant as a typical knee-jerk LEaf fan reaction to an injury post. However, with today's news of Matthews being out for [AT LEAST] 3 weeks, I believe this will most likely highlight the lack of top-6 quality centre depth the Leafs have available, which was a concern of mine prior to this injury. At the moment the options to fill that void are Holmberg, Kerfoot, Kampf, or shift Nylander to C.

This is a bit of a blessing in disguise as it will showcase why adding quality centre depth ahead of the playoffs is key for the Maple Leafs. Without Matthews (or Tavares) they become a much easier team to game plan against. Tavares and Marner will now see top lines/checking lines and top D pairs consistently that are committed to shutting them down for the next 3 weeks. This will leave Nylander to attempt to carry the second line on his own from the wing, which for as good a season as he is having this year is a lot to ask, even if it is just for about a month, less the all star weekend and bye-week.

My recommendation is that the Leafs, instead of riding it out and likely forfeiting home ice in the first round to Tampa, instead pull off a move that otherwise would have happened at the TDL now.

There are a few candidates that can play Centre (and shift to the wing when Matthews returns to bolster the top-6), however their costs will vary greatly:

VAN - Bo Horvat: The sexy choice. A pending UFA who is shooting the lights out on a horrible team this year. With retention, his contract can be absorbed without issue. Almost no chance to resign him after however. The price would be very high from VAN as they need assets for their rebuild/retool.

DET - Larkin: A small step down from Horvat in terms of production this season, but an excellent centre with speed. Similar contract and chance to resign as Horvat, but Yzerman will ask for the moon for him.

CHI - Domi: The likely bargain of this group both in cap hit and asset cost to acquire. Domi has shifted from LW ot C several times over his career and has been doing very well as a top-line centre with a struggling Chicago team this season. He could fit under the Leafs cap with or without retention. He isn't a line-driver like Horvat or Larkin, but if paired with a skilled player like Nylander or Marner he could likely produce at a top-6 level as he has with Kane this season.

STL - O'Reilly: The high risk/potential high reward option of this group. He carries the highest cap hit, has had injury issues, and has seen a big drop-off in production this season. However, he is a recent con smythe trophy winner, an excellent two-way centre, and very good on face-offs. He has recently expressed that his desire is to stay in STL, so a deadline move may impact his season as well.

MTL - Monahan: Likely the cheapest option of all, he had a good start to this season after a couple of stinkers in Calgary. However, his injury issues make him a risky pickup, especially if his primary role is to cover potential injury.

Did I miss anyone? Let me know. (I have focused on rentals here, but perhaps there is someone with term that works?)

In my opinion, I think a play for Domi now to see how he works in the top-6 with Matthews out would be a good plan. If he works out well, great. If not, then perhaps another move is required at the deadline. With retention he is only 1.5M on the cap, which would allow another move. People are going to think I am a Max Domi fan given my last post also had him coming to Toronto, but I'm not. I just think he is the best option available that works in terms of ability, cost, and term.
Trades
TOR
  1. Domi, Max ($1,500,000 retained)
CHI
  1. Der-Arguchintsev, Semyon
  2. 2024 2nd round pick (TOR)
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2023
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the OTT
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
2024
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the OTT
2025
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
Logo of the TOR
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
22$82,500,000$81,136,246$212,500$0$1,363,754
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$950,000$950,000
LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$10,903,000$10,903,000
RW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,100,000$2,100,000
RW, C, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 4
Logo of the Chicago Blackhawks
$1,500,000$1,500,000
C, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$6,962,366$6,962,366
RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$3,500,000$3,500,000
LW, C, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,500,000$1,500,000
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,250,000$2,250,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$840,630$840,630
LW, RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$827,500$827,500
C, LW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$762,500$762,500
RW, LW
UFA - 2
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$7,500,000$7,500,000
LD
NMC
UFA - 8
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD/RD
NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$4,687,500$4,687,500
G
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,400,000$1,400,000
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,400,000$1,400,000
RD
RFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$1,800,000$1,800,000
G
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$800,000$800,000
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$2,000,000$2,000,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,640,250$11,640,250
C
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$850,000$850,000
RD
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,625,000$5,625,000
LD
NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$796,667$796,667
LW, RW
RFA - 2
Taxi Squad
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$750,000$750,000 ($0$0$0$0)
RW
RFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$900,000$900,000 ($0$0$0$0)
RW, LW
M-NTC
UFA - 1

Embed Code

  • To display this team on another website or blog, add this iFrame to the appropriate page
  • Customize the height attribute in the iFrame code below to fit your website appropriately. Minimum recommended: 400px.

Text-Embed

Click to Highlight
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:26 p.m.
#1
Dubas intern
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jul. 2020
Posts: 856
Likes: 115
I think this is fair (possibly adding a 5th as well back to the Leafs), and try to extend Domi
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:32 p.m.
#2
Avatar of the user
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 19,544
Likes: 7,343
Domi is a garbage center, he's always been terrible at it
RipNasty and Rage44 liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:43 p.m.
#3
Avatar of the user
Joined: Oct. 2021
Posts: 3,507
Likes: 783
If we waste assets on Domi, I hope Dubas gets canned
Rage44 liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:48 p.m.
#4
Ovchinnikov 137
Avatar of the user
Joined: Apr. 2019
Posts: 10,412
Likes: 11,982
Quoting: JaredOfLondon
Domi is a garbage center, he's always been terrible at it


He is surprisingly having a nice year in the face-off circle (334W-269L 55%)

Not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate to have him as a 3C
LuckOne liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:55 p.m.
#5
Rip
Avatar of the user
Joined: Dec. 2022
Posts: 10,867
Likes: 2,959
Quoting: MatthewsFan
He is surprisingly having a nice year in the face-off circle (334W-269L 55%)

Not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate to have him as a 3C


He's by far the worst defensive player in this list. He would be by far the worst defensive player on the Leafs. For any marginal increase in offence he provides, it's nullified by his crap defensive play. He's the worst possible target and everyone would be looking back on his time with anger. Remember when Gally made that awful awful play in OT that game Montreal a 2 on 0 they scored on to take game 6? The game where TO outshot them 16-0 up to that point, one absolutely terrible play and we lose. That's what Domi will do.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:56 p.m.
#6
torontos finest
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jul. 2019
Posts: 9,546
Likes: 11,169
>chicago player

no
Jan. 27, 2023 at 12:56 p.m.
#7
Avatar of the user
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 19,544
Likes: 7,343
Quoting: MatthewsFan
He is surprisingly having a nice year in the face-off circle (334W-269L 55%)

Not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate to have him as a 3C


Faceoffs are such a tiny part of being a center though. And he's just so bad at the rest
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
#8
Ovchinnikov 137
Avatar of the user
Joined: Apr. 2019
Posts: 10,412
Likes: 11,982
Quoting: JaredOfLondon
Faceoffs are such a tiny part of being a center though. And he's just so bad at the rest


No question but right now we need someone in the bottom 6 to drive play and put the puck into the net, something he can do. We have plenty of responsible defensive players in the bottom 6 to help him
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:04 p.m.
#9
Ovchinnikov 137
Avatar of the user
Joined: Apr. 2019
Posts: 10,412
Likes: 11,982
Quoting: RipNasty
He's by far the worst defensive player in this list. He would be by far the worst defensive player on the Leafs. For any marginal increase in offence he provides, it's nullified by his crap defensive play. He's the worst possible target and everyone would be looking back on his time with anger. Remember when Gally made that awful awful play in OT that game Montreal a 2 on 0 they scored on to take game 6? The game where TO outshot them 16-0 up to that point, one absolutely terrible play and we lose. That's what Domi will do.


We do not need defensive players, we have too many of them already. They need an offensive player who can score
LuckOne liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:05 p.m.
#10
Avatar of the user
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 19,544
Likes: 7,343
Quoting: MatthewsFan
No question but right now we need someone in the bottom 6 to drive play and put the puck into the net, something he can do. We have plenty of responsible defensive players in the bottom 6 to help him


but that's just it. He doesnt drive play and he cant put the puck in the net without top line and 1st power play time. He's an empty calorie scorer who needs to be gifted prime 1st liner offensive time to generate high 3rd liner offence, on the leafs 3rd line he'd be utterly useless. Holmberg and Kampf are significantly better options on both sides of the puck.
RipNasty liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:17 p.m.
#11
Ovchinnikov 137
Avatar of the user
Joined: Apr. 2019
Posts: 10,412
Likes: 11,982
Quoting: JaredOfLondon
but that's just it. He doesnt drive play and he cant put the puck in the net without top line and 1st power play time. He's an empty calorie scorer who needs to be gifted prime 1st liner offensive time to generate high 3rd liner offence, on the leafs 3rd line he'd be utterly useless. Holmberg and Kampf are significantly better options on both sides of the puck.


Right, he is on the 1st line going up against other teams top lines and still contributes (17 points at 5v5) (12 at 5v4)

Yes he has Kane but also been playing with Athenasiou, Johnson, and Kurashev. I think you are underestimating him a little bit. Again, not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate adding him.

Agree to disagree all good
LuckOne liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:32 p.m.
#12
Avatar of the user
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 19,544
Likes: 7,343
Quoting: MatthewsFan
Right, he is on the 1st line going up against other teams top lines and still contributes (17 points at 5v5) (12 at 5v4)

Yes he has Kane but also been playing with Athenasiou, Johnson, and Kurashev. I think you are underestimating him a little bit. Again, not my first or second choice but I wouldn’t hate adding him.

Agree to disagree all good


You're missing the point, If that is all he can do when he is gifted pat kane and minutes that are beyond him all while shooting way way way higher than his career average, what is he gonna do on the 3rd line? He's gonna get out scored by David Kampf, that's what. His even strength point/60 is identical to Pierre Engvall, and his goals per 60 at 5v5 is 0.6 to Engvall's 0.9.
He simply is not good and cannot generate anything for himself
palhal liked this.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:39 p.m.
#13
LongtimeLeafsufferer
Avatar of the user
Joined: Jul. 2015
Posts: 59,065
Likes: 22,462
Certainly wouldn't trade SDA. He's the only pro prospect the Leafs have.
Kerfoot played very well at centre during the playoffs when Tavares was injured...Gotta think he is the guy for now.
Jan. 27, 2023 at 1:41 p.m.
#14
Ovchinnikov 137
Avatar of the user
Joined: Apr. 2019
Posts: 10,412
Likes: 11,982
Quoting: JaredOfLondon
You're missing the point, If that is all he can do when he is gifted pat kane and minutes that are beyond him all while shooting way way way higher than his career average, what is he gonna do on the 3rd line? He's gonna get out scored by David Kampf, that's what. His even strength point/60 is identical to Pierre Engvall, and his goals per 60 at 5v5 is 0.6 to Engvall's 0.9.
He simply is not good and cannot generate anything for himself


He generates high-danger passes and primary assists at a surprisingly elite rate (9 of his 20 assists are primary). Yes, he wouldn’t be the only addition I would want. But with Holmberg struggling at face-offs, ideally you have him start on the wing and then move over to C to take on those duties.

If there is intention on moving on from Kerfoot, a third line of:
Holmberg Domi player X (Engvall/Garland)
Jan. 27, 2023 at 3:11 p.m.
#15
Rip
Avatar of the user
Joined: Dec. 2022
Posts: 10,867
Likes: 2,959
Quoting: MatthewsFan
We do not need defensive players, we have too many of them already. They need an offensive player who can score


We absolutely need defensive players. If you can't play the system you aren't going to be good. Domi would be responsible for more goals against than he scores. There are players available who add offence and still are at least decent defensively. Domi is a train wreck in his zone and doesn't back check. He's a 1 dimensional player who offers nothing we don't have.
 
Reply
To create a post please Login or Register
Question:
Options:
Add Option
Submit Poll