Trade deadline moves

[sickbeast]

I know it's early but I'm wondering what the Leafs are going to do this season.  I have a feeling they might go all in, depending on their injury situation and also how well they are playing down the stretch.  Any ideas?  There has been speculation of trading Nylander or someone of his ilk for some improved defense.  I keep hearing Wayne Simmonds' name mentioned in the media.  He's a winger though.  It doesn't make sense to me.  I've also heard Kapanen's name mentioned in trade rumors.  I would personally much rather have Johnsson and Kapanen both instead of Nylander.  If Kapanen goes in particular I'm not going to be happy about it.  He has been the biggest success story on the Leafs this season IMO.

Thoughts?  Rumors?  Some of you guys read that paywall Athletic site, right?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If Pietrangelo is really available there's pretty much no way the Leafs don't go hard after him. They were reportedly after McDonagh and as a righty Pietrangelo fits a much bigger need.

Aside from that though I doubt they make a big splash. Maybe an upgrade over Oz for 6D.

 

[Zee]

Simmonds isn't the same player he was 3-4 years ago so I don't think he'd particularly help unless he somehow turns the clock back come playoff time. 

Nylander won't be traded as per Dubas's "you won't be traded while I'm GM" comment.  That leaves Johnsson and/or Kapanen + maybe a Liljegren and a pick as potential trade pieces as I see it (if you want to get something decent back)

I'd like for another team to take a Connor Brown+ but that won't return you much of anything.  As per rumours, nothing is really reliable so why even bother?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Simmonds isn't the same player he was 3-4 years ago so I don't think he'd particularly help unless he somehow turns the clock back come playoff time. 

Nylander won't be traded as per Dubas's "you won't be traded while I'm GM" comment.  That leaves Johnsson and/or Kapanen + maybe a Liljegren and a pick as potential trade pieces as I see it (if you want to get something decent back)

I'd like for another team to take a Connor Brown+ but that won't return you much of anything.  As per rumours, nothing is really reliable so why even bother?

I don't remember ever reading/watching Dubas say that he wouldn't trade Nylander while he was GM. I basically thought it was just "You won't be signed and traded"

 

[herman]

I don't remember ever reading/watching Dubas say that he wouldn't trade Nylander while he was GM. I basically thought it was just "You won't be signed and traded"

Full remarks:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2018/12/04/kyle-dubas-on-william-nylander/

One of the things John mentioned when he signed was a promise that you would make sure that you keep this core together which would include Nylander and Matthews and Marner. William just spoke with the media and he stated that you promised him that as long as you are in charge of the Leafs, you will not be trading him. Can you confirm that? If so, why would you grant him that promise?

Dubas: What I had told him through the whole process ? especially as things started to ramp up and the deadline came closer and different teams were inquiring and more teams were involved and rumours started to pick up ? what he wanted to know is that he wasn?t just being signed to be traded right away. What I told him was that is absolutely not the case. I said to William, ?I am on the record as saying in training camp that we want William to be here as long as I am here.?

We have been discussing this topic over the last three or four months in the context that you three or four other significant contracts that have to be done at the end of this year. We have been trying to figure out what might be available depending on Nylander?s contract and we think it is probably in the neighbourhood of $18-19 million for the other two. Are you saying that your promise to William was only that you wouldn?t flip this deal right away?

Dubas: That was certainly one of the parts of the discussion. For me, I had been on the record earlier in training camp that as long as I was here, I wanted William to be part of the group. I don?t think we want to get into the business at all of having these young core pieces of ours going forward and moving them from our team. We want to be having as many of these young guys as we can that are talented young players be here as long as possible. There is no intention to move any of them ? period.

 

[Highlander]

I know Jake is regarded a wonderful teammate, a great man in the room, highly skilled D-Man and I think he is a major talent, years ago in Tampa I watched him score two beauties and set up another goal in a 3-1 win. I said Wow, what do we have here?  Personally I think he would be a great winger but that aint going to happen.
We all know the problem with Jake is his constant bonehead gaffes when he is under pressure, his game last night, his problem handling the killer B's.  He is going to have to go contract wise, as someone is going to pay for the Good Jake TM when his contract is up. I think for the playoffs he is a real liability.

Rosen is getting great revues with the Marlies, maybe more defensively sound than Jake, can handle some offence as we have seen.  I think it's time for Jake to move on, throw in a Bracco, Engvall etc and a draft pick, perhaps we can pick up some good additional help.  Also Sandin appears to have the poise to make an early jump, perhaps not as early as next year but certainly the year after.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I don't remember ever reading/watching Dubas say that he wouldn't trade Nylander while he was GM. I basically thought it was just "You won't be signed and traded"

Full remarks:
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2018/12/04/kyle-dubas-on-william-nylander/

One of the things John mentioned when he signed was a promise that you would make sure that you keep this core together which would include Nylander and Matthews and Marner. William just spoke with the media and he stated that you promised him that as long as you are in charge of the Leafs, you will not be trading him. Can you confirm that? If so, why would you grant him that promise?

Dubas: What I had told him through the whole process ? especially as things started to ramp up and the deadline came closer and different teams were inquiring and more teams were involved and rumours started to pick up ? what he wanted to know is that he wasn?t just being signed to be traded right away. What I told him was that is absolutely not the case. I said to William, ?I am on the record as saying in training camp that we want William to be here as long as I am here.?

We have been discussing this topic over the last three or four months in the context that you three or four other significant contracts that have to be done at the end of this year. We have been trying to figure out what might be available depending on Nylander?s contract and we think it is probably in the neighbourhood of $18-19 million for the other two. Are you saying that your promise to William was only that you wouldn?t flip this deal right away?

Dubas: That was certainly one of the parts of the discussion. For me, I had been on the record earlier in training camp that as long as I was here, I wanted William to be part of the group. I don?t think we want to get into the business at all of having these young core pieces of ours going forward and moving them from our team. We want to be having as many of these young guys as we can that are talented young players be here as long as possible. There is no intention to move any of them ? period.

Thanks, I really "wanted" to stay with my first wife. Unfortunately things changed

 

[Kin]

Nylander's scoring slump probably insulates him right now against any serious trade discussions even if Dubas were inclined towards considering trading him.

But honestly, I just don't see the wisdom in going all in anyway. Realistically nothing the Leafs could do at the deadline would make them the favourites to get out of their division so you'd probably be spending assets to go from, like, 30 to 32 percent of it happening. It's a good team and if they get hot at the right moment they could make noise and if they don't they won't. That might not fill anyone with a ton of hope but it has the added benefit of being true of every other team in the league.

 

[Zee]

Nylander's scoring slump probably insulates him right now against any serious trade discussions even if Dubas were inclined towards considering trading him.

But honestly, I just don't see the wisdom in going all in anyway. Realistically nothing the Leafs could do at the deadline would make them the favourites to get out of their division so you'd probably be spending assets to go from, like, 30 to 32 percent of it happening. It's a good team and if they get hot at the right moment they could make noise and if they don't they won't. That might not fill anyone with a ton of hope but it has the added benefit of being true of every other team in the league.

It's valid points, unless the Leafs can somehow pull off a trade to bring in a bona fide #1 dman there's not much they can do to give them a better chance come playoff time.  It's all about which team is "hot" at the time, especially goalies.  We've seen in the past when a goalie gets on a crazy run and a team makes it way further than they should have -- look at Halak that year the Habs went to the ECF, they had no business getting there. 

I think the Leafs have enough talent - especially offense - to hang with any team in the league, it's a matter of if all players are playing their best hockey, if they get the breaks at the right time and so on.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I know Jake is regarded a wonderful teammate, a great man in the room, highly skilled D-Man and I think he is a major talent, years ago in Tampa I watched him score two beauties and set up another goal in a 3-1 win. I said Wow, what do we have here?  Personally I think he would be a great winger but that aint going to happen.
We all know the problem with Jake is his constant bonehead gaffes when he is under pressure, his game last night, his problem handling the killer B's.  He is going to have to go contract wise, as someone is going to pay for the Good Jake TM when his contract is up. I think for the playoffs he is a real liability.

Rosen is getting great revues with the Marlies, maybe more defensively sound than Jake, can handle some offence as we have seen.  I think it's time for Jake to move on, throw in a Bracco, Engvall etc and a draft pick, perhaps we can pick up some good additional help.  Also Sandin appears to have the poise to make an early jump, perhaps not as early as next year but certainly the year after.

That's a nice post and I agree with it. If Rosen can make the jump now, then Jake has to go. While we're contenders, we certainly aren't favorites so I don't see Dubas blowing his wad this year. I'm still targeting Parayko because Pietrangelo would only be a rental.
As for Nylander. He isn't going anywhere unless someone is going to eat that signing bonus on July 1.
I think the Leafs will tinker with a mid pack D man and maybe a bottom 6 guy with a lil scoring touch. If Kadri, Marleau, Nylander don't get going, this team is in big trouble.

 

[Zee]

I know Jake is regarded a wonderful teammate, a great man in the room, highly skilled D-Man and I think he is a major talent, years ago in Tampa I watched him score two beauties and set up another goal in a 3-1 win. I said Wow, what do we have here?  Personally I think he would be a great winger but that aint going to happen.
We all know the problem with Jake is his constant bonehead gaffes when he is under pressure, his game last night, his problem handling the killer B's.  He is going to have to go contract wise, as someone is going to pay for the Good Jake TM when his contract is up. I think for the playoffs he is a real liability.

Rosen is getting great revues with the Marlies, maybe more defensively sound than Jake, can handle some offence as we have seen.  I think it's time for Jake to move on, throw in a Bracco, Engvall etc and a draft pick, perhaps we can pick up some good additional help.  Also Sandin appears to have the poise to make an early jump, perhaps not as early as next year but certainly the year after.

That's a nice post and I agree with it. If Rosen can make the jump now, then Jake has to go. While we're contenders, we certainly aren't favorites so I don't see Dubas blowing his wad this year. I'm still targeting Parayko because Pietrangelo would only be a rental.
As for Nylander. He isn't going anywhere unless someone is going to eat that signing bonus on July 1.
I think the Leafs will tinker with a mid pack D man and maybe a bottom 6 guy with a lil scoring touch. If Kadri, Marleau, Nylander don't get going, this team is in big trouble.

When Nylander signed we were all like "if really doesn't matter what he does now, it's all about what he's doing come April" so yeah, he needs to start scoring.  If Willy gets it going, that should also get Matthews going and you'll have that 1-2 combo with Matthews and Tavares lines as threats.  You would hope the Kadri line could get going at that point as other teams would focus all their defensive best players against the top 2 lines.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I know Jake is regarded a wonderful teammate, a great man in the room, highly skilled D-Man and I think he is a major talent, years ago in Tampa I watched him score two beauties and set up another goal in a 3-1 win. I said Wow, what do we have here?  Personally I think he would be a great winger but that aint going to happen.
We all know the problem with Jake is his constant bonehead gaffes when he is under pressure, his game last night, his problem handling the killer B's.  He is going to have to go contract wise, as someone is going to pay for the Good Jake TM when his contract is up. I think for the playoffs he is a real liability.

Rosen is getting great revues with the Marlies, maybe more defensively sound than Jake, can handle some offence as we have seen.  I think it's time for Jake to move on, throw in a Bracco, Engvall etc and a draft pick, perhaps we can pick up some good additional help.  Also Sandin appears to have the poise to make an early jump, perhaps not as early as next year but certainly the year after.

That's a nice post and I agree with it. If Rosen can make the jump now, then Jake has to go. While we're contenders, we certainly aren't favorites so I don't see Dubas blowing his wad this year. I'm still targeting Parayko because Pietrangelo would only be a rental.
As for Nylander. He isn't going anywhere unless someone is going to eat that signing bonus on July 1.
I think the Leafs will tinker with a mid pack D man and maybe a bottom 6 guy with a lil scoring touch. If Kadri, Marleau, Nylander don't get going, this team is in big trouble.

When Nylander signed we were all like "if really doesn't matter what he does now, it's all about what he's doing come April" so yeah, he needs to start scoring.  If Willy gets it going, that should also get Matthews going and you'll have that 1-2 combo with Matthews and Tavares lines as threats.  You would hope the Kadri line could get going at that point as other teams would focus all their defensive best players against the top 2 lines.

Totally agree. While Kappy and Johnsson are good players, they aren't Nylander and it is definitely hurting Matthews right now. He's still getting the chances but it isn't as consistent as it has been. I'm not concerned about Nylander. He will get it going and then we will see that 2, 1st lines attack. My concern is the 3rd line. Kadri is really really struggling and for the most part is getting the easiest match up. Said it earlier, he is a key for this team to have success in the playoffs.

 

[ZBBM]

If they aren't going to re-sign Gardiner -- and they should have a pretty good sense of that already -- then he absolutely should be dealt before the deadline, just like JVR and Bozak last year.  You cannot keep letting assets go for nothing.

Even if the return is underwhelming, the only way this team goes deep is if all the high-style forwards fire it up and Andersen plays his best.  Losing Gardiner would hurt their chances marginally at best IMO, maybe not at all depending on the return.  But if they aren't signing him, I'd even move him for picks, for any reasonable return.

I would also consider moving Kadri if the return is a good RHD.

 

[L K]

Nylander's scoring slump probably insulates him right now against any serious trade discussions even if Dubas were inclined towards considering trading him.

But honestly, I just don't see the wisdom in going all in anyway. Realistically nothing the Leafs could do at the deadline would make them the favourites to get out of their division so you'd probably be spending assets to go from, like, 30 to 32 percent of it happening. It's a good team and if they get hot at the right moment they could make noise and if they don't they won't. That might not fill anyone with a ton of hope but it has the added benefit of being true of every other team in the league.

It's valid points, unless the Leafs can somehow pull off a trade to bring in a bona fide #1 dman there's not much they can do to give them a better chance come playoff time.  It's all about which team is "hot" at the time, especially goalies.  We've seen in the past when a goalie gets on a crazy run and a team makes it way further than they should have -- look at Halak that year the Habs went to the ECF, they had no business getting there. 

I think the Leafs have enough talent - especially offense - to hang with any team in the league, it's a matter of if all players are playing their best hockey, if they get the breaks at the right time and so on.

Even if the Leafs acquired a Pietrangelo or Doughty to shore up the defense, a hot goaltender or a scoring slump defeats that easily.  Unless you have a defenseman who is a prime age Chara who has decent enough mobility and all the authority to clutch, grab, slash and hold their opponents without punishment you aren't going to shut anyone down with a single defenseman.

Any moves the Leafs make this year should be aimed at either trading off players on expiring deals in a more lateral move to improve the team, or making a move to acquire someone who will play for the team for the next 2-3 years.

They shouldn't be looking to pick up guys like Simmonds because he doesn't move the dial in a meaningful way. 

 

[L K]

I know Jake is regarded a wonderful teammate, a great man in the room, highly skilled D-Man and I think he is a major talent, years ago in Tampa I watched him score two beauties and set up another goal in a 3-1 win. I said Wow, what do we have here?  Personally I think he would be a great winger but that aint going to happen.
We all know the problem with Jake is his constant bonehead gaffes when he is under pressure, his game last night, his problem handling the killer B's.  He is going to have to go contract wise, as someone is going to pay for the Good Jake TM when his contract is up. I think for the playoffs he is a real liability.

Rosen is getting great revues with the Marlies, maybe more defensively sound than Jake, can handle some offence as we have seen.  I think it's time for Jake to move on, throw in a Bracco, Engvall etc and a draft pick, perhaps we can pick up some good additional help.  Also Sandin appears to have the poise to make an early jump, perhaps not as early as next year but certainly the year after.

That's a nice post and I agree with it. If Rosen can make the jump now, then Jake has to go. While we're contenders, we certainly aren't favorites so I don't see Dubas blowing his wad this year. I'm still targeting Parayko because Pietrangelo would only be a rental.
As for Nylander. He isn't going anywhere unless someone is going to eat that signing bonus on July 1.
I think the Leafs will tinker with a mid pack D man and maybe a bottom 6 guy with a lil scoring touch. If Kadri, Marleau, Nylander don't get going, this team is in big trouble.

When Nylander signed we were all like "if really doesn't matter what he does now, it's all about what he's doing come April" so yeah, he needs to start scoring.  If Willy gets it going, that should also get Matthews going and you'll have that 1-2 combo with Matthews and Tavares lines as threats.  You would hope the Kadri line could get going at that point as other teams would focus all their defensive best players against the top 2 lines.

At the end of the day, Nylander wasn't signed for this year.  He was signed for the entirety of his contract.  If he plays the way he has over the last 5 or 6 games the goals will come.  Maybe he has one of those dumb fluke years where his shooting percentage sits at 3% and his output is awful at the end of the year, but if he plays the way he has the last few games if not this year then over the rest of his deal he will be a monster for this team.  We know the guy can score and we know he can be a hell of a playmaker and drive possession.  He's doing those things over the last few games and the point production will come eventually as long as that keeps up.

 

[dappleganger]

Simmonds isn't the same player he was 3-4 years ago so I don't think he'd particularly help unless he somehow turns the clock back come playoff time. 

Nylander won't be traded as per Dubas's "you won't be traded while I'm GM" comment.  That leaves Johnsson and/or Kapanen + maybe a Liljegren and a pick as potential trade pieces as I see it (if you want to get something decent back)

I'd like for another team to take a Connor Brown+ but that won't return you much of anything.  As per rumours, nothing is really reliable so why even bother?

The Oilers should be interested in a player like Connor Brown.

 

[Highlander]

They should be interested in anyone who can play hockey outside of some guy named Conner...Oh I see Conner passes to Conner for the goal.....reunited and it feels so good!

 

[Frank E]

Come on guys, get creative here with Edmonton.

They seem to be running into an issue here with Sekera and Klefbom coming back.

 

[dappleganger]

Come on guys, get creative here with Edmonton.

They seem to be running into an issue here with Sekera and Klefbom coming back.

Brown + Gardiner for Nurse.  ;D

 

[AvroArrow]

Unrealistic number of trades, but hey, all for fun:

Brown for Puljujarvi
Gardiner for 1st + B prospect
1st + B prospect (from Gardiner trade) + 2nd + Lily for Pietrangelo
Zaitsev + 1st + 3rd for Gudas

Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Puljujarvi - Kadri - Kapanen
Marleau - Lindholm - Moore

Reilly - Pietrangelo
Dermott - Gudas
Hainsey - Oz