NHL Rumor Mill – May 6, 2024
A look at what the offseason could hold for the Golden Knights plus the latest on the Leafs and Jets in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
WHAT NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS?
ESPN.COM: Ryan S. Clark believes Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon faces several roster decisions this offseason. One of them is what to do about pending unrestricted free agents Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson.
Winner of the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, Marchessault is among the few remaining original members of the Golden Knights. He’ll be in line for a significant raise after all he’s done for them. So is Stephenson, who’s proven himself as a solid two-way forward who can anchor the second line and play in any scenario.
The Golden Knights’ limited cap space complicates things. They have less than $900k of projected cap space with 20 active roster players under contract.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Ed Graney wondered if Marchessault still has a future with the Golden Knights. He noted the 33-year-old winger is among the few “Golden Misfits” remaining but pointed out the club has parted ways with beloved players in the past (like Marc-Andre Fleury) and could so again.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault earned $5 million annually on his current contract while the 30-year-old Stephenson made $2.75 million.
The Golden Knights will get $5 million in cap relief if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve next season. That might be enough to pay Stephenson a decent raise but not for Marchessault. They’ll have to shed salary to retain both. Heck, they might have to shed salary for Stephenson if they decide to part ways with Marchessault.
THE LATEST ON THE LEAFS
TORONTO STAR/TORONTO SUN/THE HOCKEY NEWS: Kevin McGran, Terry Koshan and Michael Traikos looked at the challenging offseason questions facing the Maple Leafs during the offseason.
Koshan thinks Brendan Shanahan could be down to his last gasp as team president. He wonders if Shanahan will change his tune after years of putting his faith in core players Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly. Shanahan has one year remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment could give Shanahan one more season to fix the problem. After a decade on the job, however, it’s time to thank him for his service and look at replacing him with someone who’ll bring a fresh perspective.
McGran and Traikos believe firing head coach Sheldon Keefe would be the easiest decision. The Leafs need a new voice behind the bench capable of getting them them to play a better-structured and disciplined system.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keefe signed a two-year contract extension last year. General manager Brad Treliving could give him another shot behind the bench but that seems unlikely now. It’s time for a coaching change after only one playoff series win in five seasons.
They also believe it’s time to trade Marner as it’s no longer working for him and the Leafs. The 27-year-old winger holds all the cards given his no-movement clause.
McGran believes Marner might be better off playing for a southern US team like Tampa Bay or Utah where the spotlight won’t be as intense. Traikos mentioned Utah, Columbus, Seattle or even Ottawa.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner might be open to a trade if management tells him he won’t get a contract extension. However, there’s no certainty under that scenario that he’ll agree to it. He could insist on finishing his contract with the Leafs hoping that a new team president or head coach can fight for him to be re-signed. If not, he can walk away next summer where he’ll find plenty of lucrative options elsewhere.
McGran also suggested the Leafs consider naming a new team captain, pursue a reliable starting goalie such as Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom (whom Treliving knows well), and beef up the blueline. Meanwhile, Traikos proposed finding a suitable defense partner for Rielly, re-signing gritty forward Tyler Bertuzzi, and bringing back Ilya Samsonov as a backup goalie on a reasonable contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have a projected cap space of $18.5 million with 16 active roster players under contract. That’ll hamper efforts to address most of their roster needs unless they can move Marner’s $10.9 million from their books.
UPDATE ON THE JETS
THE ATHLETIC: Murat Ates recently looked at the players who could stay or go for the Winnipeg Jets during the offseason.
Their untouchables include core players Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi. Pending UFA Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller are expected to depart via free agency but Dylan DeMelo, Brenden Dillon and Sean Monahan could be re-signed.
Ates believes Nikolaj Ehlers will be shopped and likely moved before the NHL Draft on June 28-29. The 28-year-old winger is a year away from UFA eligibility and there’s some concern that they can afford to re-sign him. The Jets have floated his name in trade talks before and he could fetch someone to bolster their defense and/or bring in a first-round draft pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ehlers carries an average annual value of $6 million and a 10-team no-trade clause. He’s been a productive second-line winger but does have an injury history that could dampen his trade value, though he did play the full 82-game schedule this season for the first time since 2017-18.
Shanascam is going to look like a fool if he :
A) Says his vision was flawed and poor in its execution and needs to change course.
B) Says theyre close and are going to run it back.
10 years, zero results.
Time to shut the door on the Shanahasnoplan and move on.
Shanahan probably should have been canned after signing Treliving. Who looks at what Treliving did in Calgary and thinks “that’s what we need – someone who will obliterate the salary cap like a Taco Bell bathroom”?
********
Darren Dreger just posted
Travis Green Will be the New Coach of Senators ⁉️
Mmmmm – not quite – here’s what is posted williew
“All eyes on Travis Green here,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Monday on The Jeff Marek Show. “I want to be careful about this. Nothing is done until it’s done, but I’m hearing all eyes on Travis Green. We’ll see what the next few days brings.”
Let’s at least wait for the confirmation from Staios
But add Winnipeg to the list of teams looking for a new coach – Bowness just announced his retirement
Sure did a bang-up job in Vancouver. Must be a real dearth of coaching talent out there.
Yeah, he did great in the minors…
… I wouldn’t.
What would you talk about then, Ron? You need Shanahan and the Leafs to keep you going.
Otherwise you might need to consider the Flyers again.
Vegas & there Cap, $92.329.M
The NHL salary cap is expected to rise to approximately $87.675 million for the 2024-25 season
They have under $1.M in Cap Cash,
minus Robin Lehner $5.M if he can’t play or Not…❓
leaves them at $88M.
They need to replace roster spots for the UFA players, after they bring the curent roster down to 13, they still need to replace 3 UFA spots🤔
3 main UFA losses are
$5.00.M Jonathan Marchessault (40 goal this year)
$2.75.M Chandler Stephenson. will get a pay raise
$5.25.M Alec Martinez…?
They will need to trade out 1 player making minimum $3M-$4M to fill in the 3 spots depending on who they go after……❓
I will give Keefe credit he had Toronto play a structured team defense the last three games of the series that I never believed they could play.
I think this would be hard to play consistantly with the team they have, simply because when you have a lot of stars they all want their numbers. This was probably aided by everyone buying in because of the absence of Matthews they recognized that was the recipe they had to follow.
I´m not a leaf fan so I don´t know all of what has happened. But I think the man can coach I am not sure if he is the right coach for a star top heavy team. Those coaches are few and far between.
Cheese:
I agree that the Leafs played very well defensively, but just because of the health challenges to their big 3. Had they been healthy we surely would have seen them playing a more offence minded game.
With the same results …
Someone elsewhere said, the problem isn’t that the Bs are better than the Leafs. The problem is that the B’s are better than the Leafs, and the Bs aren’t that good.
Yeah, strong regular season and all that, Bs fans, but can’t the same be said for the Leafs?
The Stanley Cup is hardest Trophy in sports to win 🏆 seems to me like there is one common denominator you need solid goaltending.
A lot of teams over the last 10 years haven’t found their stud goalie Philly Toronto NJ Carolina Edmonton Detroit Ottawa Columbus Arizona Chicago LA maybe it’s harder to do than people think.
No maybe about it, Obe. There are 32 teams in the league and, if you look at seasonal stats and fan/pundit perception, the cream of the crop are – in no particular order; Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jeremy Swayman, Thatcher Demko, Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Sergei Bobrovsky, Juuse Saros.
A notch – or two – below them are Alexandar Georgiev, Frederik Andersen, Linus Ullmark, Jacob Markstrom
That’s 12 in total – after that it’s average to mediocre, with a few promising-looking rookies still needing time to prove that they are for real and ready to take their place among the best, or perhaps simply needing a better defensive structure in front of them to show their true worth.
Agree guys, it’s the most important position come playoff time.
Also agree with the list George, but even guys on there have struggled in recent years in the playoffs and/or regular season.
Bob is standing on his head this year, and was great last year. But that is after FLA started the playoffs with the journeyman Lyon. That don’t say much about Bob’s play during the season.
Vassy has struggle in 2 straight playoffs after being a flippin’ playoff wall for 3 years. Like all time good.
Saros gets outplayed by Silovs in final 3 games of that series. He won it for Van. Who?? How does a GM plan that?
Hellebuyck got lit up by Avs. Markstrom got lit up by Oil last time he was in the playoffs.
You guys are 100% right that tending is the #1 issue come playoff time, I just don’t know how the F*** you can predict it as a GM.
LA had it pretty good with Quick.
They won the cup 10-years ago… his struggles didn’t happen until the last year or so.
Their goalie struggles are only a few years old.
Was nice to see him play well in NY… even if I don’t like the Rangers.
OBE: Philly found their stud goalie only to lose him to circumstances beyond their control. Flyers assuredly would have made the playoffs with Carter Hart.
If Marner wants a raise you have no choice. Goalie and a defence-man in return. Flames will not be doing Treliving any favours . None. He left a mess. Leafs can forget about Markstrom
Seattle and Utah have enough to land Marner. If they want him.
Utah have $43.M in Cap space, and lots of young players and some picks
Hawks have $34.M lots of picks and players..
he could play 1st line with Bedard.❓
Ducks also have $33.M and lots of picks and they have Zegras to trade out….❓
Seattle only have $23M
To suggest that, without finding some way to shed one of those Core 4, signing 7 players to bring them up to a 23-man roster will be hampered is putting it mildly.
Their playoff roster consisted of these 4 pending RFAs – Dewar (expiring $800,000 ELC), Robertson (expiring $796,667 ELC), Gregor (expiring $775,0000 ELC), and Liljegren (expiring $1,400,000 ELC). Assuming all 4 are re-upped, that expiring total of $3,771,667 will be more in the range of $5.5 mil, leaving $13,030,333 with which to sign 3.
Their playoff roster also consisted of these 7 pending UFAs and their expiring deals: Bertuzze,ei $5,500,000; Domi $3,000,000; Brodie $5,000,000; Edmundson $875,000; Giordano $800,000; Lybushkin $687,500; and Samsonov $3,559,000.
Several are probably already considered “off the books” such as Brodie, Giordano and perhaps Samsonov, to go along with expiring LTIRs Muzzin, Murray and Klingberg. But that still leaves the likes of Bertuzzi, Domi, Edmundson and Lybushkin, whose new deals will eat up the bulk of that $13 mil.
And if some of those RFAs and UFAs are not offered new deals, they still need to find adequate replacements from either the UFA heap or through trades – and then pay them accordingly. They are not likely going to find better replacements cheaper (bringing in a Markstrom, for example, to replace Samsonov, will cost substantially more than his expiring deal).
I suppose we’ll hear more – soon – as to who, among their Top 5 cap hits, would be willing to waive their NMC to go elsewhere and as all very likely have a list of non-destinations, that will further hamper Treleving’s efforts.
Here’s where we discover if Treleving has become a better GM since being fired by the Flames for, ostensibly, not doing what was expected of him to make the Cow Town team better.
Much is made of Keefe righting the ship in the last 3 days but did he really?
He’s had years to set a direction and showed his inability to do it.
In fact the last few games he didn’t seem like himself, commentators mentioning how quiet he was behind the bench, not reacting to calls.
Seems to me he lost total control of the team and somebody else, maybe even the players went in a different direction.
The team as built is fine, coaching makes a difference, installs the systems, the culture and Keefe has this team underperforming.
Sullivan and Cooper would have won a few Stanley Cups in Toronto had they been coaching.
Keefe will be fine………….in Pittsburgh.
Oh, boy, HF30.
The Leafs, who as you, me and everyone who follows hockey, have won 1 playoff series since the Core 4 have been together.
Every year good Leaf players had to go because of the cap space, and this and every other site is drowning in electronic ink about how this has to change.
And you think the team is fine but it’s the coach’s fault they haven’t won? I hope you have some good books to keep you company on your island.
Leafs have to move (show the door) either Marner or Tavares.
Buyouts are useless in that there is basically almost zero cap savings due to heavy signing bonus
Both have NMCs
First, you have to convince them to waive that NMC to move away from their hometown ; their team; their family; their friends
They will only (if they do at all) waive to go to a city of their choice; that City has to want them; and have space.
For the above reasons; almost zero chance that Tavares goes; and Marner would need retention and/or bonus asset given up in trade and/or bad contract coming back
I have a solution IF (big IF) Treliving can convince Marner to go to Kings:
To Kings : Marner (no retention)
To Leafs: PLD and Kempe; Leafs then buyout PLD
Benefit to Kings; PLD off books; $14 M in Cap Leaves; $10.9 M in; $2.1 M gained in space. The cost to get PLD off books is two extra years of a top 6 winger at a very reasonable hit
Benefit to Leafs
Kempe in for Marner in 24/25; top 6 winger at very reasonable hit for 25/26 and 26/27; plus Cap savings
With PLD buyout; effectively:
24/25 Kempe replaces Marner; net overall Cap savings of $3.8 M
25/26: Kempe effectively at net of $7M Cap hit ($3.9 M less than Marner at now)
26/27:Kempe effectively at net of $ 8M Cap hit ($2.9 M less than Marner at now)
27/28 through 30/31 dead cap of $3.8, $3.8, $3.8, $2.8; with Cap substantially higher by then; effectively they could either extend Kempe or replace; at $9M per starting in 27/28 and be way ahead of current (Marner at $11 M for 24/25) situation
Option 2: Marner will only go to say Avs; Avs willing to take Marner at 50%
Same as above for Leafs (Kempe in for Marner; PLD in, buy him out) but Kings play broker/middle team; and retain 50% on Marner (only 1 year) ; get a 1st and Middlestadt from Avs
Avs get Marner (@$5.45 M) over Middlestadt (Bridge at $3.8 M??) at the expense of a 1st
Kings effectively flip Kempe for Middlestadt; wipe PLD off books; in 24/25 $14 M Cap leaves ; $5.45 M retained; say up to $4 M for Middlestadt; so gaining at least $4.5 M in space AND getting a 1st
Being a Flames fan we are pretty focused on a rebuild & at first, never even thought twice on a Marner trade. But then, I guess it depends what the market tells Treliving of what he can expect. Wondering, Markstrom & the Vanc 2024 1st for Marner. No retentions no strings. Leafs get a legit #1 goalie for next 2 years that would be a perfect safety net for Woll & they gain over 5.0 mill in cap space to go after a top 4 D. Flames get Marner to see 1/ if he likes it here & how he fits with an old friend Kadri 2/ Flames could flip him at the TDL for some pretty good futures. Flames have a boatload of cap space & are intent on retooling instead of rebuilding. I’d rather see Markstrom go with that pick to Ottawa for Korpisalo & that #7 pick but hey who knows. Bigger yet, players have NMC’s & would have to even agree to these destinations.
Just food for thought.
8787 or should I say Pengy and you are Pengy. Another of your totally stupid Toronto trades that make absolutely no sense for Toronto. Your trade ideas like this one is why you`re not a leafs fan. All your trade ideas end up where Toronto gets 10 cents on the dollar value. Do us a favour stick to the pengyguins
Yogi & Pengy,
I think they trade Marrnier for what they Need right…..❓
Trade MM for a Right Shot Offencive d/man and a pick….
Then Pick up a LD/man in the UFA on July 1st
to go in the 2nd pairing…
for the 3rd pairing use Beniot & Joel Edmundson
Get rid of Kempe for Marner. Not in a million years.
Wouldn’t trade Kempe for Nylander and Marner.
Early in his days in LA, I wasn’t big on Kempe, but the guy has become gritty/tough in addition to being skillful. He’s not afraid of corners or taking a hit to make a play… something lacking in both Marner and Nylander.
I wouldn’t trade Grundstrom for Marner. Grundstrom is a wrecking ball who wreaks havoc on virtually every shift. He thrives on going to the hard places. I’d take a half dozen of him on any team. Pure grit, with pretty good hockey sense, emotional control, and decent hands and hockey brain.
He’s my favorite Swede in the league. (Thanks Leafs).
Zimmer
Fully agree… Kempe for Marner…. Nope
The deal does rid them of the Albatros PLD contract (that has been talked about as s buyout possibility)
To move that contract you have to accept pain as well (hence Kempe exiting replaced by Marner)
Absolutely no way without the PLD contract going B-Bye
My bet is the Kings keep PLD.
Was a poor season, not the start you want or expect, but he’s proven he can perform in crunch time.
6’4″ and 215… not easy to find that size at center.
Perhaps a different system. If they keep the 1-3-1 it won’t be his first dance with it
I think the guy has pride.
Was thinking… for what the Kings gave up to get PLD… they perhaps should have gone after Stutzle. Would have really helped Ottawa.
zimmer, not sure why LA would keep the 1-3-1, it hasn’t worked for them. Sssh, but the Leafs play it too.
My guess is they move away from it.
LA could sure use a tender. What’s with that Turcotte kid? Hasn’t done much and hasn’t played much. Injured I assume? Seems like a worthy target for my B’s, but I don’t think Ullmark wants to go west.
How?
As much as I would love to see Marner in a Jackets sweater, it’s not happening. While the Jackets seemingly have quite a bit of cap space, their RFAs will eat up most of it. That could mean the Jackets would either be forced to trade one of their huge contracts (Gaudreau, Werenski or Laine and all three have NTCs) or a collection of their young up and comers, neither of which is a likely possibility, in my opinion.
As much as I would love to see Marner “prove it” to Toronto by being an Ottawa Senator, there’s simply no deal signed or un-signed that gets done between these two teams.
Like…Chychrun, Korpisalo and the Bruins first round pick for an un-signed Marner. Then you gotta sign him somehow. And even if you pull it off you’re in the same boat as the leafs paying all that salary to 3 or four players.
I’d like DeMelo to come back to Ottawa. We shouldsa resigned him Melnyk was too cheap. He’s been solid for Winnipeg.
Re:
“The Golden Knights will get $5 million in cap relief if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve next season. That might be enough to pay Stephenson a decent raise but not for Marchessault. ”
Here I disagree
Marchessault is heart and soul of club; took a discount for term and NMC
Didn’t want to keep moving/upheaving his young family. He’s repeatedly touted his love for LV. Fans love him.
He scored 42 friggin gials this year!!!
He needs ti be re-upped
Raise? NOTE: He only got $3.5 M in EACH of 23/24 and 24/25
No state tax!
He is 34, so not a 35+ contract; and likely only to play 4 (outside 5 ) more years
Give him 8 years @ $800 K in Sal; first 4 years in huge Signing bonuses:
Say
24/25 and 25/26 $7 M SB
26/27 and 27/28 $4.5 M SB
28/29 $2 M SB
Give him 4 years full NMC
4th year can only be traded to 15 teams; no trade protection final 3 years
Marchessault more than doubles his pay over the next two years;
If he plays 4 years his gross AAV is over $6.5 M (again note last 2 years all he got was $3.5 M gross in each year)
If he plays 5 years; AAV of $5.9 M
Marchassault gets to stay; doesn’t upheave family; gets big raise;
AND for Knights; Cap hit is only $3.9 M (much less than Lehner’s $5 M)
Marchassault is going to get paid in free agency. 40+ goal scorer, Conn Smythe winner, dude has less then 630 regular season games on his body.
Stephenson is going to get 5+ million in free agency as well.
The No Tax comment can be applied to Seattle, Nashville, Tampa, Dallas, and Florida.
You start factoring in Theodore will be a UFA next summer and wants at least the same contract Petro received, 7×8.8, that is going to factor into the off season as well.
Marchessault didn’t take a discount for term and an NMC on his current contract. He got a whopping big raise from the $750K per season he was earning on a two-year contract he signed with the Florida Panthers before going to Vegas. And he has a 10-team NTC, not a no-movement clause.
Your suggestion that he sign an eight-year deal worth $800K in salary and first four years in huge signings bonuses doesn’t work because it would violate the CBA, which forbids the type of heavily front-loaded deal you’re suggesting.
Lyle, great point about the clear CBA violation. CBA terms have been noted multiple times in the past, don’t know why some members spend time dreaming up impossible scenarios.
Yes he did get a whopping raise
But at the time he signed the extension; he was 27 was on fire and media had him pegged in the market of around $7M
He was interviewed several times and he kept saying that he didn’t look forward to moving the family again
So the “discount” was not relative to what he was getting paid; more with what he was pegged at getting in the open market
Re new CBA ? I didn’t realize a contract couldn’t be written like that if the player was 34 or younger; thought it was only for 35+ contracts.
Is the front load violation only for 8 year contracts or all? For instance, can s 3 year bridge deal for a 21-24 year old have heavy SB in first year or 2?
No, you claimed he accepted a discount to stay in Vegas. He didn’t. He got a substantial raise on a long-term deal. The media doesn’t set the market value, we merely speculate. It’s the general managers who set it (with team ownership approval) by signing players to their contracts. What he got was a big pay raise based on his performance. He was coming off a breakout performance with the Panthers the year prior as a late-blooming scorer.
As for frontloading contracts, you’ll find the answers here: https://puckpedia.com/salary-cap/contract-variability
Pengy on April 15, 2022 at 1:33 pm
Re Monaghan decision for Cap space
Buyout…. Saves $4M cap next year, but hit with $2M Cap following year
Retain 50%…. No cap hit 23/24…. Save .$3.1 M in Cap in 22/23
for the sake of $900K in extra Cap space (buyout vs 50% retain and trade); and then Saving extra $2M in Cap 23/24…. and at least getting something (anything) in trade…. Trade with 50% retained, to me better option
I’m not sure of the rules…. But I think he can’t be bought out if on LTIR… anybody here know??
3rd team involved for 50% of 50%…. $1.6 M Cap; $1.5 M cash…. Final team gets Monagan for only Cap hit of only $1.6 M
Monaghan ;if healthy; should certainly benefit from a change of scenery
This year…. Note seriously crappy year…. On 82 G pace of 10-18-28; with fully expecting a turnaround year with new venue; and with 6 consecutive seasons with 82 G pace if > 25 goals in his past; and fair sized C that can play W…. At a 1 year Cap hit of only $1.6 M….I’d think there would be suitors
Mid team retaining $1.5 M cash; $1.6 m Cap)… gets a 2nd (or equivalent prospect)
Flames (for the sake of the extra $900 K in space [buyout-note zero return AND )2M Cap hit in 23/24)… get a 4th OR 5th (or equivalent prospect)
Receiving team gets a 3C (with pedigree with f 6 straight 82G pace of >25 Gs) who ABSOLUTELY needs to prove himself…. For…
2nd (or equiv prospect) and;
4th or 5th (equiv prospect)
I think it works
Who would be the suitors?
Which teams would be the middle team
Alright, enough of this charade Pengy. The jig is up.
Yeah, agree … if it wasn’t so ridiculous it’d be alarming. Phraseology exactly the same – paragraph layout in what amount to be tomes – convoluted, multi-player/assets trades of the like we haven’t seen in decades … come ON.
I’m just enjoying this way too much.
Are verbal/textual doppelgangers a thing?
What is Boston going to get for Ullmark! Other players that might be included? Tired of all the Toronto drama!How about Ullmark,Lohrei and a first round pick for Marner?
Sold!
Heavens no. Lohri will be worth more than Marner for longer.
Yeah, I’ve been impressed by the steady play by that big kid. All this playoff experience will only enhance his chances of staying in the NHL next season.
Boston Really Dont need an other RW….
They Need a Really Good Centre to play with Pasta
thats there bigest Hole (Centre)
They will Trade for a good centre using Ullmark+
They have 3 RW already and need to make room for
21 yr old RW Fabian Lysell next season❓
Bostons RW,
1/Pasta,
2/DeBrusk
3/Charlie Coyle
PS
I dont think the leafs should let 27yr old Ilya Samsonov go for nothing..
Young Goaltender Woll has been Hurt a LOT over the past 2 years, They do need to Trade out Mitch Marnier, and Re-tool there d 2nd pairing…..❓
Joseph Woll
Total Games played, over the past 3 years AHL & NHL
19 Games,❗️ 2021-22 season
28 Games, ❗️2022-23 season
26 Games, ❗️2023-24 season
So Leaf Fan you Still need a Goaltender that can play at least 45-50 Game’s untill this kid can play more than 30 games in a FULL Season…..😳
so you better sign Samsonov….
Pasta is a RW, Coyle a center and Debrusk a UFA! Other options Geekie, Brazeau!
I love Stephenson as a player. Sign that guy up cause somebody will and won’t regret it.
Stephenson would make a great Bruin too Jeff. One would think Vegas finds a way, but here’s hoping.
No the B’s don’t need Marner. They need a C and some D depth. Definitely not including Lohrie. Marner will pick where he goes, so the return will likely be pennies on the dollar, which IMO it is stupid to trade him IF that is the case. Maybe I’ll be surprised and Treliving finds a way.
B’s won’t be moving young assets, they need more not less. Ullmark for a 1st is possible IMO. The rest likely UFA route.
We’ll find out some time down the road, Ray, that Marner was still feeling the effects of the high ankle sprain.
George has had that one nailed for a while imo.
I don’t know how Treliving trades Marner and comes close to replacing his value to the team.
Salary cap space would really help but then how does he spend it in a way that will improve the Leafs? Houdini?
That’s the hard part that some folks don’t address BCLeaf Fan. Tavares has one more year, then there is $11.5M in cap space, plus whatever it goes up after next year.
No Marner and no Tavares, looks like a pretty big hole to fill after next season if neither is kept.
I have no idea what Marner wants to do after next season, maybe he wants to test the market. Wouldn’t be the first guy. Plus he can not waive his NMC. Wouldn’t be the first guy to say that either.
I get some Leaf fans are pissed, and want to see change. Completely logical after 7 or 8 years of playoff futility.
But, just maybe the best path forward is negotiate with Marner, see where he is at, and if into staying at a similar #, wait until Tavares expires, and not have to subtract.
IMO the big mistakes the Leafs made were the signing of Tavares and putting too much $$ up front vs back end, and losing the Kadri trade. Keep Kadri, add quality defender on the back end. They didn’t need Tavares, they had Kadri.
They got burned worse than most due to the flat cap, but still the money needs to be spent on both ends of the ice.
That mistake will expire in 1 year, shouldn’t compound it IMO.
Depends what Marner wants, and what he can fetch in return. I’m skeptical they get what they would want to have it make sense.
Dangerous few months for the Leafs. This could spiral IMO. Which as a Bruins fan, is fine with me!
Ray, in the playoffs, Toronto is less than the sum of its parts. Properly constructed teams are greater than the sum of their parts.
Trading Marner will free up valuable cap space. Leafs will also hope that some of the positive surprises from this year continue to improve, namely Benoit & McMann. Bobby McMatthews should be a 20 goal scorer next season. Knies has all the characteristics of a classic power forward. Just needs time to develop. Further down the road, Easton Cowan could be a more physical roster replacement for Marner’s skillset.
Lots of iffs. However, the current roster construction has been a failure.
(Long Past) Time for Change.
Cap space is great Hammer, but cap space doesn’t defend, make saves or drive offense.
Not every UFA is itching to go under the heat lamp in Toronto. There are some guys out there that will would help the Leafs, along with plenty of other teams. There will be competition.
“Bird in hand” thing I guess.
“Careful what you wish for” may apply as well.
Or go with “easier said than done”.
Or maybe, “things can always get worse”.
We’ll see in he next few months. Huge decisions coming, this could get better or worse IMO. Making pragmatic decisions during emotional times and under fan and media pressure isn’t ideal. Good luck Brad.
Ray, Ullmark for a 1st? Leafs might take that trade. Solidifies the net and gives the Leafs one more year to determine if Woll can be a number 1 goalie in the NHL.
Would Boston do that for a low 1st round pick?
I dunno guys, tenders always seem to get less than we think they are worth.
Kuemper got a 1st and a bit at the TDL when teams over pay. Schneider got the 9th overall at the draft which ended up being Horvat.
Ullmark won a Vezina, Kuemper didn’t, plus a full year left for Ullmark. Schneider was less proven, but also young, promising and cost controlled.
I would prefer NJ for Mercer or Holtz type deal, but not sure NJ does that. Their 1st RD pick will be better and in the top half of the draft.
NJ needs a tender, B’s need to move Ullmark as Swayman will get paid. Seems like a match?
Wonder if Marner for saros makes sense. Nashville needs offense and the leafs need goaltending.
Leafs could use extra cap room to shore up the D.
You think Marner is the type of player Trotz is looking for?
I don’t. Could be wrong, but I think he wants someone who will sacrifice themselves for the team.
Is that Marner?
Where Toffoli ends up will be interesting.
I wonder if the Kings would resign him.
32.
Of the culture.
Last contract $4.75 million… about what Arvidsson was making.
I’d love to see Marner go to Philly… just to watch Torts turn the kid into a useful hockey player.
I wonder what he’ll sign for. I wouldn’t pay him more than 5.
He’s not as good as Toffoli or Arvidsson when it counts… and they’re below 5.
What’s he done when it counts? Nada.
Where’s the potential upside? Haven’t seen it when it really counts.
zimmer, just looking at his stats – seasonal and playoffs – it shows he scores goals during the season at a rate of 0.34 per game and assists at 0.70 per game (he IS a nice playmaker).
In the playoffs his goal-scoring drops to 0.19 per game while his assists fall off to 0.68 – but that’s likely more due to the fact that checking gets a lot more intense in playoff hockey.
His 82-game seasonal average after 576 gp are 28 goals and 63 assists 91 pts. He’s exceed that 3 ties so far in his career
in 2018-19 in 82gp he has 26g 68a 94 pts
in 2021-22 in 72gp he had 35g 62a 97 pts
in 2022-23 in 80gp he had 30g 69a 99 pts
Marner is an elite point machine. Always has been. To me a right winger needs to be a shooter. He should be getting where he is at- $10.9 . He will demand a raise from that if staying in Toronto . Maybe not elsewhere – Utah Stingers .
That Hanifin trade and sign looks good for Vegas . Theodore should not be more .
Stephenson is a great fit in Boston . I would wont him over Marchessault who I predict will sign with Vegas .
Also Martinez is likely retired they will find a way . Trade Hertl . Still living in a hotel anyway
Paraphrasing:
Before game 7, Keefe: “”remember breathe and have fun!”
Before game 7, Montgomery: “you need to grab it!”
Less than 2 minutes in overtime, Pastrnak flies though neutral zone past a listless Marner who had his skinny back to him looking the other way, flies by an impotent defender Rielly who was looking at pasta’s 88, and shovels in a men’s league goal in to an unprepared out of position goalie Samsonov.
He essentially grabbed it while Marner, Rielly and Samsonov were breathing and having fun.
I, for one, do not subscribe to the “conspiracy theory” that Leafs will only get pennies on the dollar should they decide to trade Marner.
Marner has a full NTC in his contract.
If Marner is traded that would mean he is going to a team of his choosing where he wants to be.
That team would, in all likelihood l be given permission to negotiate an extension with Marner.
If Marner goes to a team of his own choosing, where he will be happy and gets an extension to his liking, Leafs will get a good return.
If not, they keep Marner, (for at least another year), retool the defense and bottom six and take another run at Florida and Boston.
The problem is Keefe. He’s had 116 or so different players under his tenure snd he cannot get them to play consistent defensive physical hockey. He focuses on limiting penalties but if players finish clean checks and hits that won’t mean they’ll take more penalties. Rather that figure skating coaching leads to stupid penalties like tripping hooking etc as they use their sticks rather than their bodies.
Great game 5,6, and 7 but that’s just because they had no choice. The figure skaters on this team, under the watch of this coach that tells his team to have fun and breathe before they go to war in game 7, wouldn’t be able to string together half a dozen straight periods let alone games under that system in the regular season.
Shanahan needs to be shown the door. Keefe needs to be thrown out the window. Tavares needs to be stripped of his captaincy. Marner snd Rielly need to be stripped of their letters.
They need to re-sign Lyabushkin, Edmundson, Dewar, Doni. They need to add more tough players. They need to get rid of Rielly and his predictable game and muffin shot, end the Liljegren experiment, tell Marner to finish his checks or warm up the bench.