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Early thoughts about what the Leafs should do moving forward after Leafs lose to the Bruins in game 7 again.
Management
Shanahan: Fired.
Treliving: Demoted to Assistant GM. If he doesn't like it, bye, fired.
Keefe: Fired.
President: George McPhee
GM: Dale Tallon
Head coach: Joel Quenneville
Special Skills Assistant Coach: Adam Oates
Goals of the Offseason
Must trade Tavares. Clearing that cap space is essential to add players for next year.
Dump Robertson, Reaves, Kampf, Liljegren and Jarnkrok. Recover as many draft picks as possible and clear as much cap space as possible.
Reaves is useless. End of experiment. End of story. Discard immediately.
Kampf is too expensive and just too weak to be a bottom-six shutdown player. Need to get some rougher, tougher players who can actually still play hockey (unlike Reaves).
Same with Jarnkrok. Not a bad player but not what this team needs. And unfortunately, doesn't fit well with what the Leafs need from their depth forwards.
Robertson has been given as many chances as possible and just is too small to be useful to the Leafs in the bottom-six role and doesn't score enough to be in the spot that Knies currently plays in.
Liljegren can go too if it brings back a proven RHD who is more experienced.
Trades
Trade McCabe to Chicago for a 2nd round pick.
Trade Reaves to San Jose for a 7th round pick.
Trade Timmins to San Jose for a 5th round pick.
After July 1st signing bonus.
Leafs retain 25% on Tavares = 2.75 AAV dead cap hit.
To CHI or ANA: 50% of 8.25 (4.125 AAV), Kampf and a 2nd round pick.
*Or any other team willing to eat 4 AAV for cap floor reasons.
To Islanders: Tavares at 4.125 AAV (338K real dollars)
To Leafs: Cizikas (2.5 AAV)
If he feels like going back to where it all started the Islanders pay him next to nothing in real dollars and he provides 25 goals, 60 points. Pretty good deal for all 3 parties.
If he feels like being closer to Oakville, Buffalo is closer, still gets to play in the top-6 and the Leafs get a big body LW (Greenway @ 3 AAV). Any other depth player with a low cap hit or recovery of 2nd/3rd round picks would be acceptable.
A lot of other teams could fill in at this final landing spot if Tavares only costs 4.125 AAV against the cap. Probably a lot of contenders all over the league would be calling, making him offers to join them. If the Leafs can get back a depth player for less than 3 AAV, the deal works. Could also recover 2nd/3rd round picks from the right buyer if he wants to join a contender in the West for 1 season (Dallas, Vegas, Colorado, Edmonton).
Acquire Cizikas @ 1 year, 2.5 AAV left.
Solid shutdown C, FO winner, hits, skates, kills penalties and plays hard.
Trade rights to Robertson + Liljegren to San Jose for Rutta + 2nd @ 2.75 AAV.
Might be time to move on from Robertson, give him a chance to get lots of ice time in his home state. Too small for what the Leafs need in their bottom-six, not offensively strong enough to be in the top-six.
Time to move on from Liljegren too. Rather have a guy who is a RHD with Cup winning experience on a cheap deal.
Trade Jarnkrok + 2nd for Logan Thompson. 766K 1 year left on his deal.
He's the only "big name" goalie the Leafs can afford. He's got 1 year to "prove it" and if he and Woll split the season, you get a better indication of what direction you go in. Either Thompson is lightning in a bottle or Woll finally stays healthy. But all the other options out there are too expensive and too limited. When Tavares is off the books, you spend more money on goaltending.
Plan B: If you can't acquire a cheap 1A, maybe bring in Talbot for 1 year.
UFA Signings
Re-sign Domi @ 5 years, 4 AAV
Solid all around player, agitator, can score a bit, definitely has a fighting spirit. Home town guy staying for the medium term. 4 AAV is a lot for a guy with 9 goals but again, the UFA market is usually expensive and hopefully he takes a touch less to stay home.
Sign Chandler @ 5 years, 5 AAV
This would be a great pick-up for the Leafs both short and long term. Has won 2 Cups on 2 different teams. He plays two-way hockey, can score a bit, kills penalties, wins face-offs. Doesn't score a lot but does the dirty work to make space for guys like Nylander.
Sign Joshua @ 3 years, 2.25 AAV
Big body LW who might be able to score 20 goals if pushed up the line-up occasionally. If not, solid two-way player with good size who can play on the 3rd line.
Sign Clutterbuck @ 2 years, 1 AAV
Pure determination, crash and banger. Little old but won't play too much. Brings physicality, penalty killing to the team which it really needs. Another home town guy with a lot of experience and some gas left in the tank on a short term deal. Joshua + Cizikas + Clutterbuck = Pain for the other team.
Sign Lafferty @ 2 years, 1.25 AAV
Bringing this guy back would be great. Should have never got rid of him. His speed and his game works well with the Leafs and he could easily kill penalties as the 4C. Reliable bottom-six player.
Sign Carrick @ 1 year, 950K AAV
Another former Leafs player coming back home. He's a rat so you have to be careful with how much he plays but the type of bottom-six scratch and claw player you need for the playoffs. Rotational player who can fill in for Perry / Clutterbuck because they're older. Can also win FOs and play C which is useful when injuries happen.
Sign Perry @ 1 year, 1 AAV
How many years are we gonna watch Perry thrive on a contender? Gotta bring this guy home eventually because he's a win at all costs warrior. Need more veterans like this guy on the team. Tough, plays rough and scores from the bottom six when you need it most.
Sign Pesce @ 5 years, 5.25 AAV
Solid top-4 RHD with size. Nothing flashy. Never going to win the Norris. But a guy who can share top-4 minutes and kill penalties. Easily a 20 minute per game player. Probably an overpayment for a guy who scores 20 points a year. I'd take him for less but the UFA market always pushes teams to overpay, especially in plays like Toronto where the taxes are ridiculous.
Sign DeMelo @ 4 years, 5.25 AAV
Solid defensive defender, developed from the London Knights so you know he's got solid hockey IQ. Another "home town" guy who might take slightly less to come home. He's over 30 so 4 years makes sense. Again, UFA overpayment.
Sign Oliver Ekman-Larsson @ 3 years, 4 AAV
This might take a phone call from Nylander but OEL has scored the 5th most PPG among blueliners since he entered the NHL. He's over 30, not defensively strong but the Leafs need an injection of PP power. He's more proven than Montour and probably a lot cheaper too.
Sign Brendan Smith @ 1 year, 1 AAV
Mimico Mafia boy. Big body, hits, fights, can play LW in a pinch (if McMann is hurt). Solid depth to split time with Benoit because chances are, neither can handle a full 82 game season playing hard PK minutes. Keeps them both fresh for the playoffs.
Knies | Matthews | Marner
Domi | Stephenson | Nylander
Dakota | Cizikas | Clutterbuck
McMann | Lafferty | Perry
Carrick
Rielly | Pesce
OEL | DeMelo
Benoit | Rutta
Smith
Thompson | Woll
(Talbot) |
