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2025 Offseason Thread: Spring Cleaning

I don't like the sound of that Pelley statement. Every year they make 1 change and say it's enough. One year was hiring Treliving. The following year giving the captaincy to Matthews. Now this year is changing Shanahan the sole move? "Bring back the core!"
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/1925686394074067042

In the immediate term, that will mean Treliving reporting directly to Pelley entering a summer where top forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares are both eligible for unrestricted free agency and the Leafs roster needs revamping in order to reach Stanley Cup quality.

That setup is consistent with what Pelley has put in place elsewhere since joining MLSE from the DP World Tour in April 2024.

Last summer, MLSE parted ways with Bill Manning, who had been serving as president of both the MLS’s Toronto FC and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, leaving GMs Jason Hernandez and Michael (Pinball) Clemons, respectively, reporting directly to Pelley.
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CarltonTheBear said:
Woah, woah, woah I was referring to Marchand. I want nothing to do with Bennett.
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I would like Treliving, who knows him quite well, to identify the next Sam Bennett or Baby Pacioretty and just go get him. Just a quiet, effective play driver, who will also take the opening to truck someone off the puck.
 
Just thinking about July 1. If Marner is gone , what are the free agents Treliving should pursue?

Moving forward, if guys like Matthews and Nylander can still get this team into the playoffs….which players can get us through the playoffs and into the final? I’m leaning towards Bennett and Ekblad from Florida.
 
For a reasonable price, I would sign Marchand. At least he will stop knocking us out of the Playoffs.

Go after Hyman, Ryan O'Rielly and Kadri... hahahahaha
 
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If we want to spend big money: Ehlers
If we want to pick up some veterans: Duchene, Marchand, Kane, Giroux, Toews
If we want middle-6 scoring options: Granlund, Dadanov, Kuzmenko, Mantha
If we want middle-6 two-way options: Suter, Dvorak, Mangiapane
If we want bottom-6 physical options: Frederic, Brazeau, Tanev, Jeannot
 
Redleaf said:
Moving forward, if guys like Matthews and Nylander can still get this team into the playoffs….which players can get us through the playoffs and into the final? I’m leaning towards Bennett and Ekblad from Florida.
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I'm pretty curious to see what happens with Ekblad. For a top pairing, 6'4", 220 lbs right handed defenceman he doesn't seem to often get a lot of credit. Like The Daily Faceoff has him 10th on their top free agents list behind Ivan Provorov and is only projecting him to sign a 7-year, $6.9mil deal. That feels nuts. And the Athletic has him 14th behind Provorov and Neal Pionk.
 
Redleaf said:
Just thinking about July 1. If Marner is gone , what are the free agents Treliving should pursue?

Moving forward, if guys like Matthews and Nylander can still get this team into the playoffs….which players can get us through the playoffs and into the final? I’m leaning towards Bennett and Ekblad from Florida.
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I don't think the Leafs are too far off. Losing Marner in terms of playoff success is survivable in my opinion (y'all know why).

I think Treliving added a lot of big, rangy defense to give the goaltending support and sightlines, which led to probably one of their better postseason showings in a long time. Now to augment that, I'd like to see more emphasis on the fasst half of playing like fasstholes. Skaters up front who can actually establish a routine forecheck to give our skilled players time and space to operate. Skaters out of the backend who can pick up the broken cycles and wheel up North to start the breakouts and join the rush counter attacks.

90+% of the time spent on the ice for each player is without the puck. You don't need too much $kill with the puck if you play hard within a solid team structure. You don't need much $hooting talent if your team structure and effort levels helps you generate 2-on-1 plays regularly. Get players that make it hard to contain all four lines.
 
Big money? Boeser or Bennett.

Here are the other players I'd take out of that list: Duchene, Marchand, Kane, Giroux, Toews, Granlund, Tanev.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
If we want to spend big money: Ehlers
If we want to pick up some veterans: Duchene, Marchand, Kane, Giroux, Toews
If we want middle-6 scoring options: Granlund, Dadanov, Kuzmenko, Mantha
If we want middle-6 two-way options: Suter, Dvorak, Mangiapane
If we want bottom-6 physical options: Frederic, Brazeau, Tanev, Jeannot
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I am interested in throwing Jack Roslovic's hat into the ring as a budget scoring option. He can fly, he can start and finish rush plays, and he's a righty that plays a bit of centre. He's an offensively-inclined Calle Jarnkrok.

I have a feeling Carolina will have trouble retaining players.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
If we want to spend big money: Ehlers
If we want to pick up some veterans: Duchene, Marchand, Kane, Giroux, Toews
If we want middle-6 scoring options: Granlund, Dadanov, Kuzmenko, Mantha
If we want middle-6 two-way options: Suter, Dvorak, Mangiapane
If we want bottom-6 physical options: Frederic, Brazeau, Tanev, Jeannot
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Sign CtB as an assistance GM, that is a pretty good list of players. I would pass on Toews, and add Bennett to it.
 
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