Realistic Off-Season Blueprint

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Well this is certainly interesting......

1. I had to look up Tsyplakov lol. But gotta say..... he is awefully intriguing. I should subscribe to the Athletic lol. Shrewd.

2. Roberston for Glass: I have felt for a year now that Robertson simply doesn't have a long term future as a Leaf. Moving him for Glass is gutsy. But I actually like the fit. Ya just might squeeze a little something more out of that one, hard to say.

3. Vladar. You have totally hit to goalie market on the head. And short of DeSmith or bringing back Sammy, well..... those are the options. Only concern here is if Hildeby will be ready in two years. I think he will need 3.

4. Poulin. You are not wrong in the marriage with the Pens coming to a close. However, is he no longer waiver exempt, so he either makes the team or there is a real a risk of loosing him on waivers. Would hate to waste Jarnkrok on that.

5. Not a fan of the Tanev signing. We know what he can do when healthy, but that is the point. I think a better target is Carrier - may not be as tough, but plays a very well rounded game. I think he and Reilly would be fun to watch together.

6. Zadarov. Hard to say no to that if that is the contract. Perfect McCabe replacement in a year.

Overall this is brilliantly thought out. May not totally agree with it 100%, but the rationale behind each move is clear. And more importantly, none of the deals are pie in the sky..... all very possible.

👏👏👏bravo👏👏👏

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Mar. 25 at 9:32 p.m.

Hockeyperson

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willy on the third line is concerning though 11.5m on a third line player that would be a first line player on any other team. I assume that because the lines are more balanced then they will be playing almost equal minutes split between the top 9. Can someone please explain the obsession with Zadorov 4m for a no offensive upside defensive defenseman that plays physical he is essentially just Benoit and you are paying Benoit 1.275m. Why not spend the money elsewhere like goaltending or better depth forwards and find someone else like Benoit you can pay much less and still get the same benefits?

Mar. 25 at 9:38 p.m.

Thread Starter

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Quoting: Hockeyperson

To the point about Willy playing on the third line - that like would be sheltered and mainly given offensive zones starts. The only decent defensive guy on that line is Knies and it’ll be his second year so you don’t wanna put that much pressure on him. It also helps ease Glass into the lineup and hopefully find his game. Nylander would still get a bunch of PP time so his minutes wouldn’t really be affected. This just allows the other lines more starts oppose to the Glass line.

& Zadorov is a UFA. UFA’s sign bigger contracts than RFA’s due to leverage in negotiations. Zadorov is a presence on the ice that a lot of players fear - Benoit is not that. Benoit also needs to work on his skating and decision making more before he can handle bigger minutes. Zadorov’s not perfect but he has more of a pedigree than Benoit and when a guy is a UFA a team will always have to outbid other teams and Treliving absolutely loves Zadorov so the number isn’t that bad

Mar. 25 at 9:39 p.m.

Ennis

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I'd do the Robo Glass swap from the preds perspective.

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Mar. 25 at 9:54 p.m.

Hakuna Matata

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Zadorov is not a top 4 Dman I dont know why we keep signing a guy we dont need lul

Cody Glass is a waste of cap space rn 2.5m for a guy with less goals and assists than Robertson and cost 2.5m = NTU

Mar. 25 at 9:58 p.m.

Thread Starter

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Quoting: swinny

Appreciate the constructive feedback - it’s a nice chance on this site.

1. Tsyplakov has been linked to the Leafs for a bit and he plays a similar style game to Bertuzzi. I think Bert has priced himself out of Toronto so bringing in someone with a similar play style seems like a natural fit at a much reduced cap hit for the year until JT’s $11M is off the book then an extension can be revisited.

2. Robo was down the moment Dubas wasn’t brought back. That was his guy. The team has done what they can to increase the value on him (even tried moving him at the deadline but no takers), but this summer has to be the time to move him for any kinda of value. He’s been passed by Knies and McMann and the bottom 6 doesn’t suit his style so if they wait too long they’ll be lucky to get a draft pick for him. I like Glass as a bounce back candidate and he’s a decent middle 6 centre option when the market sucks for centres right now (somehow Monahan was trade for a 1st.. yikes.)

3. I think Sammy is done in TO. His mental game isn’t tough enough for the market and he’s not consistent enough to be a tandem teacher for Woll. Can’t blame him for how tough the market is in Toronto, but it’s best for him to go somewhere else for his career. DeSmith isn’t a bad option either, I just thought with Treliving’s history with Vladar that it made more sense. Possibly Nedeljkovic could be an option too but the UFA market for goalies might get outta hand.

4. The waiver issue with Poulin definitely concerned me - I thought about mentioning it in the description but forgot. Best case scenario he competes for a spot with Brown and maybe Poulin is sent down. I think he’d still clear waivers but if they’re worried he wouldn’t then it’d be easier to send down Reavo and not worry about losing him. Not a huge deal just tried to rework the bottom 6 with harder to play against players and unfortunately Jarnkrok is a likely candidate to be moved this time.

5. Everyone knows Tanev’s health issues, but that doesn’t stop Treliving. As much as I’d love a better durable guy, this isn’t so much just what I want but more what I think management wants and it’s been made clear how Treliving feels about Tanev. In a perfect world I’d take Matt Roy over Tanev and Carrier but I think he’ll price himself out somewhere else.

6. Ditto. A lot of people don’t love Zadorov but he brings a presence of fear on the ice and it would help ease the loss of McCabe. Everyone is focused on the right side being an area of need but no one seems to realize that only Rielly is the only left handed guy signed beyond next season. The whole defence corps needs to be reworked.

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Mar. 25 at 10:00 p.m.

Thread Starter

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Quoting: aadoyle

Zadorov is not a top 4 Dman I dont know why we keep signing a guy we dont need lul

Cody Glass is a waste of cap space rn 2.5m for a guy with less goals and assists than Robertson and cost 2.5m = NTU

We can agree to disagree. Cause I see everything that you said as completely wrong.

Mar. 25 at 10:11 p.m.

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Quoting: Hockeyperson

Josh Manson makes $4 million. No offensive up side but physical. And he picked up that contract after a couole bad years in Anahiem. So $4 for Zadarov, who plays the same game, just isn't outside the realm of possibility. Plays 17 minutes a game in Vancouver, which is sounding like top 4 minutes to me, unless you are running 4 guys 23 minutes a night.

Perspective.

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Mar. 25 at 10:16 p.m.

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: swinny

Well the one difference is Manson is playing top 4 in Colorado while Zadorov has been third pair the majority of his career and is currently in Van. There's also the factor of LD vs. RD but no need for huge details

But in the end TOR giving Zadorov 4m to come here makes 0 sense. We dont need a third pair guy here as before anything compare the amount of time McCabe is playing to Zadorov and its pretty evident

Mar. 25 at 10:18 p.m.

#10

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Quoting: aadoyle

So propose a better option.

I don't like the Tanev puck up, I suggested Carrier.

You don't like Zadarov, and suggest????

Mar. 25 at 10:20 p.m.

#11

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: Ryminister_92

We can agree to disagree. Cause I see everything that you said as completely wrong.

So if Zadorov is a top 4 Dman why isnt Van using him there?

If he's a top 4 guy surely he would be playing more than 17mins a night right?

Zadorov on a SC contending team is a 3rd pair Dman

Just ask CGY, Avs, and now Van.

Mar. 25 at 10:20 p.m.

#12

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: swinny

So propose a better option.

I don't like the Tanev puck up, I suggested Carrier.

You don't like Zadarov, and suggest????

Carrier is way to undersized

TOR really has 0 need for a LD

They have Rielly, McCabe, and Benoit

McCabe is already playing over 20mins a game. Let him go back to his strong side

For the right side Target Demelo or Roy or heck both u can do it

Mar. 25 at 10:22 p.m.

#13

Thread Starter

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Quoting: aadoyle

Toronto has 1 left handed defenceman signed after next season and that’s Rielly. There’s 1000% a need for a left handed top 4 guy. A $4M defenceman next season is the same as a $3.35M this season because of the cap increase and the year after that it only gets better - if you’re telling me that basically $3.35M for a top 4 defenceman is too much then I’m not sure what you’re talking expecting.

Zadorov is a top 4 guy. Doesn’t matter that you think he’s not. He plays 17 mins a night right now and it doesn’t matter if he’d labelled as a third pair guy in Vancouver because he plays all the tough minutes against the other teams too players and that’s what makes him a top 4 guy.

So hate all you want on him, but until you provide some actual facts and not just your opinion, your comments are kinda pointless (no offence).

Mar. 25 at 10:25 p.m.

#14

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Quoting: aadoyle

You do realize that McCabe and Zadorov are very similar players right? Yet you’re calling McCabe a top 4 guy and not Zadorov?
McCabe only gets more minutes because Toronto’s defence is thinner. He wouldn’t get that on Vancouver and Zadorov would get 20 mins a night if he and McCabe swapped places.

Just seems like you’re bias on the situation more than actually offering anything constructive.

Mar. 25 at 10:25 p.m.

#15

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: Ryminister_92

You extend McCabe there yah go easy as he is a top 4 Dman

Zadorov is again not a top 4 guy. If he was why is Van not playing him in the top 4. 17 mins is not top 4 mins. Look at how much McCabe plays the answer more than 17mins lul

Mar. 25 at 10:26 p.m.

#16

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: Ryminister_92

They are no where near similar as one's trusted in a top 4 role the other is not. Zadorov is a 3rd pair Dman

McCabe plays over 20mins a game, Zadorov is playing 17mins or less a game

Only thing in common is they physical thats it

McCabe on every team he has been on has been in the top 4. Zadorov in his last 2 teams 3rd pair

Again if Zadorov was a top 4 Dman why is he below Soucy?. Answer Van knows his place

Mar. 25 at 10:27 p.m.

#17

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Quoting: aadoyle

May wanna do a little ground work on Carrier. Guy has more grind to his game than you think. Build more like a truck than a tree.

But your options are certainly viable. Just think Roy is unobtainable based on what I think he gets.

Mar. 25 at 10:27 p.m.

#18

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: swinny

Look at the Dcore VGK used to win the cup then come back

Carrier is undersized for playoffs. Dont matter if he plays a certain way undersized Dman, unless your name is Makar dont work

Mar. 25 at 10:29 p.m.

#19

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Quoting: aadoyle

And if we had Carson Soucy on a 3rd pair, McCabe wouldn't be playing 20 minutes. Benoit (I love him) is a step back.

Vancouver's blueline is more balanced. Can roll the pairings. Keefe would never do such a thing, even if he had the talent. Point is he doesn't

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Mar. 25 at 10:31 p.m.

#20

Hakuna Matata

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Edited Mar. 25 at 10:38 p.m.

Quoting: swinny

McCabe has been playing around 20mins through his career. Even if we had Soucy, McCabe would play 20mins

Look at last year when we had Gio or Gustafsson on the third pair McCabe avg 19:28mins a game

Rn TOR had Edmundson playing almost 18mins a night on the third pair but still has McCabe at the over 20min mark. Basically Edmundson is playing more than Zadorov in the third pair spot.

Its more to do so how much the guy is trusted. Soucy was third pair the majority of his career but when he went to Van he took the 2nd pair spot. If Zadorov was a top 4 D he would have outplayed Soucy for it and took it but so far Soucy has that spot

Again would be a big waste of cap and time. If we want a LD so bad just bring back Edmundson for 1.5m

Mar. 25 at 10:35 p.m.

#21

Hockeyfan1234

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The pens tell the leafs to go take a flying leap. Poulin is likely making the team next year. Their goal is to get younger, not trade solid prospects for bottom 6 players.

Mar. 25 at 10:37 p.m.

#22

Thread Starter

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Quoting: aadoyle

Go watch some games. Zadorov and McCabe are very very similar guys but Zadorov is more physical and more feared.

Quoting: aadoyle

& how do you know McCabe wants to extend in Toronto? Maybe he wants to play closer to home? Or likely not in Canada because of the high tax situation. There’s no guarantee that he’s there beyond his contract so you get assurances before you have a gaping hole that you can’t fix.

Man at this point you seem like a troll.

Mar. 25 at 10:39 p.m.

#23

Thread Starter

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Quoting: aadoyle

McCabe has been playing around 20mins through his career. Even if we had Soucy, McCabe would play 20mins

Look at last year when we had Gio or Gustafsson on the third pair McCabe avg 19:28mins a game

Rn TOR had Edmundson playing almost 18mins a night on the third pair but still has McCabe at the over 20min mark. Basically Edmundson and Zadorov are playing the same amount of mins rn.

Its more to do so how much the guy is trusted. Soucy was third pair the majority of his career but when he went to Van he took the 2nd pair spot. If Zadorov was a top 4 D he would have outplayed Soucy for it and took it but so far Soucy has that spot

Gustaffson barely played as a Leaf and Giordano is one of the oldest players in the league.. McCabe has to play more. Both Giordano and Gustaffson were #8 defenders. You’re not helping your point at all.

Mar. 25 at 10:41 p.m.

#24

Hakuna Matata

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Quoting: Ryminister_92

Did you not read what I said? Zadorov only gets 17 mins because Vancouver has a much better defence. As a matter of fact, Zadorov isn’t much outside of top 4 mins in Vancouver. He’s literally 10 seconds behind the top 4 and that’s made up by situations (sometimes guys get stuck out there longer than others). They also have Hughes playing a full minute more than Toronto has Rielly play which takes away from other guys. Like do you know how hockey works?

Go watch some games. Zadorov and McCabe are very very similar guys but Zadorov is more physical and more feared.

& how do you know McCabe wants to extend in Toronto? Maybe he wants to play closer to home? Or likely not in Canada because of the high tax situation. There’s no guarantee that he’s there beyond his contract so you get assurances before you have a gaping hole that you can’t fix.

Man at this point you seem like a troll.

So if they are similar why is one playing 20mins a night and the other just slightly over 17mins

Again one is a top 4 D the other is a third pair guy we have 0 need for

McCabe had every other Canadian team on his M-NTC he was fine coming to TOR. Why would he not extend here. If they offer him a nice contract dont see why he wouldnt stay lul

As said before and will leave it with this spending 4m on a 3rd pair Dman makes 0 sense.

And Van's defense really aint much better. Other than the top pair its pretty much the same

Soucy-Myers
Zadorov-Juelsson
Cole

vs.

Brodie-McCabe
Edmundson-Liligren
Benoit

Not much difference big third pair Dman playing 17mins a night.

Mar. 25 at 10:43 p.m.

#25