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jchafe77

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Oct. 17, 2020
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 9, 2022 at 10:47 a.m.
Thread: 2 KHL players the Leafs should target
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Hammerwise</b></div><div>I also dont think that TMLF is the destination.

Its not just that they dont have the cap and other teams could offer more, even for a tryout. It comes down to fit/playing time, Toronto as long as they are winning aren;t going to start plugging in overage foreigners into their top 6 in 2021-22...AND

Toronto doesn;t really have the reputation for these guys, they've seen that Lehtonen and Semyonov and a bunch of others barely got a look in, didn;t get the chances, playing time and were moved (these older guys arent coming to North America to get traded around). They see Lehtonen or Semyonov not get the NHL playing time, they think of Barbanov, who only got good after he got playing time in SJ, Mikheyev (who's had a solid 13-14 games this year) asked for a trade and will not be re-signed, or the fact that TMLF have not played a rookie at forward for 2 seasons for more than a couple games, these examples are known/seen to players and agents.

So while they would have a better chance of getting a foreign free agent in the off season, I think Toronto's prior experiences and their cap issues and their team structure work against them acquiring these bigger, more talented overage guys.

This isn;t anything new, pick a year since 2005 and you'll find a russian or a european brought over as an free agent, and 99% of the time, they/team parted unsatisfied with barely half a season of games played.... A few names that I remember besides Semyonov and Lehtonen are Soshnikov, Marchenko, Ozhiganov, Holzer, Rynnas...For every Barbanov or (goalie, dont remeber name) Gustavsson (?) who play well enough to make it multiple seasons in the NHL, but not in Toronto, theres 4-5 guys who tanked.

I just dont get why the pot of gold somehow lies somewhere else, if anything I'd put my faith in Robertson, AMirov and Abramov to fill those two spots.</div></div>

I hear ya. A team like Arizona could benefit from these two. Got all the cap in the world to take flyers on players over in Europe. Much like what they did with Dimitri Jaskin, 0ne year, 3 million aav
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 7, 2022 at 12:49 p.m.
Thread: Adding KHL free agent Andrei Kuzmenko
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Hammerwise</b></div><div>Is it because Semyonov and Lehtonen worked out so well?</div></div>

Semyonov was a 30 pt player in the KHL, we all knew he wasn't gonna make the team. Lehtonen was a weird signing because they already have Rielly and Muz on the left side, and now Sandin, so Lehtonen doesn't work out there. In heinsight, Lehtonen would have been better off on a team who is weak on the LD side, as Columbus already had Werenski and Gavrikov on LD. He best produces when he's playing top minutes.

Kuzmenko however, is averaging over a point per game in the KHL. Hes only 26, which makes NHL GM's beg for his services. He was supposed to play in the olympics but an injury forced him out of the competition. If im correct, I think 20-25 teams are looking to sign him, and Toronto and Ottawa are one of many
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 3, 2022 at 10:06 a.m.
Thread: Revisiting the Manson trade plus Lekhonen and more
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Cauchi19</b></div><div>Don't see the Leafs parting with Hirvonen in order to acquire a 4th liner, especially when you have that player in the pressbox.

I like the Lehtkonen trade, but I'd put him on the 4th line with Spezza and Simmonds.

Mikheyev has played really well since returning from injury this year and that chemistry that 3rd line has shouldn't be disturbed right now.</div></div>

Scoring depth was my idea behind this. Hinostroza is a very good 5v5 point producer at the lower levels, and he'd be there assuming that somebody goes down with injury. Anything can happen in the playoffs, as we seen it with John Tavares and Nick Foligno and we were crying for depth. I wouldn't want Hino in the press box, but Lehkonen is comparable to Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, two guys that are absolute dogs on the puck when playoff time arrives. Hino would probably replace Mikheyev if he cannot get going in the playoffs, like he did last year, but that may change as he's doing very well with Kampf and Kase
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 3, 2022 at 10:01 a.m.
Thread: Revisiting the Manson trade plus Lekhonen and more
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Lenny7</b></div><div>Ding, ding, ding! You hit the nail on the head.

As a Ducks fan, I agree that it'll likely take an overpay to get him. I don't think you should move Holl, and I don't really see 1 year of him being of much value to Anaheim right now anyway, given that they're *hopefully* planning the long game when it comes to continuing to build this roster.

Dermott isn't exactly a fit, but I could see him being included to then flip in the offseason. Again, I acknowledge that Holl&gt;Dermott.

Think I saw something along the lines of 2022 1st+Dermott+Hollowell (I'd prefer Willy Villy though!) yesterday, that seems reasonable enough to me. That being said, I could see two other scenarios playing out:
-Ducks extend Manson (He provides a great buffer for Drysdale).
-Someone else comes along (Lookin' at you, Tampa!) and offers up a better package.

Again, as a Ducks fan, I recognize that Manson is overvalued (or undervalued) on this site...there's rarely anything in the middle. A Manson deal *NEEDS* to make sense for Anaheim though.

Muzzin/Manson combo would be pretty interesting!</div></div>

Wiily Villy being William Villenueve??
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 3, 2022 at 9:47 a.m.
Thread: Leafs in on Manson
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Lenny7</b></div><div>Yes b'y! He was an assistant coach with the Oshawa Gen's until Covid, so they moved home to PEI. This came up super late, and he was supposed to join the UPEI coaching staff, but the Leafs organization is pretty great with internal promotions and what-not, so there was no way he could say no. By all accounts, the organization is top notch.</div></div>

We got a great team here in St. John's, but of course nobody really follows the ECHL much, but the coaching staff down there are developing some of our low end prospects into better players. Noel Hofenmeyer is playing here right now, and from what I understand he stood out in training cap for the leafs. Keith Petruzzelli is here too, a goalie who also impressed as well. Two of them have been unreal here. We had Joseph Duszak here last year as well, and he was lights out, and from what I understand is doing the same with the marlies
Forum: Armchair-GMFeb. 2, 2022 at 9:09 a.m.
Thread: Leafs in on Manson
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Lenny7</b></div><div>Nathan McIver. Brother in law. He's a beauty.</div></div>

YES I remember him. Him and Eric Wellwood are doing a deadly job here with the Growlers. IMO, they shaped Kristians Rubins out to be a really good reliable shutdown defender when he was here last year. Did a fantastic job with him. Cant say any other players down here will make their way to the NHL, but there are some potentials in my honest opinion. We got about 3-4 newfies on the team, and they treats it like this is the show, playing for their home province. You might recognize some of their names: James Melindy, Marcus Power and Zach O'Brien. We even had Adam Pardy here one year before he called it a career.
Liljegren and SDA also got into a game or two here as well
Forum: Armchair-GMJan. 25, 2022 at 11:19 a.m.