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2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

As things stand PP options include:

Tavares
Nylander
Matthews
Marner
Rielly
    Bertuzzi
Domi
Knies
Jarnkrok/McMann
Klingberg

Obviously can mix and match things there as well, maybe most obviously trying Klingberg on the top unit instead of Rielly.

PK options right now only have 4 confirmed players:

Kampf-Marner, Jarnkrok-Lafferty

Whoever ends up winning the spot for the 12th forward will probably get some PK minutes too, so that's Holmberg or McMann or maybe a little less likely Gambrell. Room for one more spot-duty penalty killer. None of Reaves, Bertuzzi, or Domi have history there and likely wouldn't be good fits. Knies seems unlikely right off the bat although IIRC he did play in all situations in the NCAA. Keefe tends to always sorta flirt with the idea of playing Nylander on the PK so he might get more consistent 6th man minutes.
 
https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1675902794195255296

So C depth to start the season looking like: Matthews-Tavares-Kampf-Lafferty/Holmberg/Gambrell
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/jonassiegel/status/1675902794195255296

So C depth to start the season looking like: Matthews-Tavares-Kampf-Lafferty/Holmberg/Gambrell

Jarnkrok can play C as well.
 
To work their way out of the cap crunch, I think the Leafs have to move Brodie, buyout or trade Murray, and then sign some cheap d-man like Cal Foote.
 
Significantly Insignificant said:
To work their way out of the cap crunch, I think the Leafs have to move Brodie, buyout or trade Murray, and then sign some cheap d-man like Cal Foote.

Definitely moves on defence are forthcoming.  I don't think the Leafs can go into season with the D looking like this. 
 
https://twitter.com/sdpnsports/status/1675959298508062720
That?s not that big a gap to overcome.

https://twitter.com/evolvingwild/status/1675976123014864897
 
herman said:
https://twitter.com/sdpnsports/status/1675959298508062720
That?s not that big a gap to overcome.

https://twitter.com/evolvingwild/status/1675976123014864897

It's not crazy big, but if Nylander doesn't come off $10 he has to be traded. I don't think that's a contract that ages well. He's a great point producer but his overall game is not worth more than Matthew Tkachuk.
 
I have no issue with Nylander asking for north of 10 million. I also know that the Leafs can't afford to pay him that so moving him should be the next option to be looked at(if the media is correct and they're struggling to come to a number they can agree on).
 
If Nylander's side is playing hardball and sticking to $10mil you have to at the very least start exploring the trade market on him to see what's out there, even if it's just to maybe put pressure on them to drop their number a bit.
 
I don't love Nylander at 10 million but I don't really doubt that if he got to the open market he'd get an offer in that neighbourhood so...all I can do is hope they work something out at a lower rate.
 
It's kind of hard to blame Nylander at this point.  I don't like the idea of paying him 10M but he has been making 6.9M and has been lumped in the "Core 4" discussion while the three other players are making 11M.  Right now Nylander is the 5th highest paid player on the team.  Matthews and Marner should both make more money than Nylander but if the team wants Nylander at sub 9 while we potentially see Matthews at 14 I don't blame him for not wanting to deal with that.

It's hard to see Nylander not get 10-11M on the UFA market next year with the cap going up.
 
I don't think anyone actually sticks to their initial ask (this one is technically not outrageous). Leafs have the 8th year advantage to bring the AAV down vs the open market's 7-year. Sign and trades could work.

Trade avenues would be in the Western teams on the cusp with healthy prospect cupboards and NHL top-6 wingers/top-4 def: SEA, LAK, COL, maybe CGY (but they should blow it up). CBJ might want to parlay Laine with someone who their head coach knows well.

NHL player + prospect about to breakout

I'd still much rather keep Nylander for this year's 6.9M + 8 years of 9.2-9.6M but I'm very biased.
 

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