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21 May 2026 19:14:31
I bet Chayka will get:
Mintyukov or Zellweger.
And
Barrett Hayton.
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21 May 2026 20:35:54
Here’s to hoping!🥂
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21 May 2026 21:46:04
Bet you he doesn’t!!
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21 May 2026 21:50:44
And your context on how you know this?
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21 May 2026 21:55:49
To whom were you speaking?
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21 May 2026 22:14:32
To Tags
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21 May 2026 22:28:29
Too many posts of guys just throwing names out. Let's get back to reality and actually post something a little more complete please!!
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21 May 2026 22:45:14
To steal a Don Cherry line that can apply to some of the we/he would or we/hcould or I bet he will lines..... It was a question a reporter asked regarding if Rick Middleton could have played in a important playoff game and iif he could have played they could have been playing the Rangers.
His Response was "Yeah if my Aunt had Nuts she'd be my Uncle"! No better line to respond to Hypethical statements without actual contect.
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21 May 2026 22:49:40
Tits on a bull for me.
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21 May 2026 23:40:01
@Sufferings8nce 1967
Just a hunch.
@LeafsGM78
I will bet you Chayka makes one of these two deals I've listed before start of season.
$100 donated to Sick Kids?
Bet?
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22 May 2026 01:07:24
If I do bets it is with people I know in person. As admirable as your charity of choice is, as I do contribute to it regularly, I am sorry I don't want to be part of taking this site in a direction I am sure the administrators don't want to see it go, as far as monetary bets being part of it.
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22 May 2026 01:10:29
I would be careful if you accept the bet, LeafsG78. People get tossed off sites for stuff like that.
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22 May 2026 01:17:43
It's for a charitable donation, but I will withdraw the offer not to offend anyone.
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22 May 2026 16:19:13
Bets aside. How do you think he gets them tags? Trades? Offer sheets? I can see Zellweger or Hayton being easier than Minty. Zellweger only got into 3 playoff games at 14 mins a night. Minty played all 12 and relied on for over 19 mins a night.
Hayton being an RFA, all depends on how Utah values him and what his salary ask is. I think someone had thrown out a Hayton for Robertson, which I would do if it was in the table.
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22 May 2026 16:57:25
@RLF
Offer sheet is possible and would only cost a 2027 2nd (which Leafs have), but I'm not sure they would do it.
I think this package should be enough for Zellweger (Anaheim will need a defensive RHD if Trouba, Gudas don't re-sign)
Carlo $3.49M/1yr
2026 3rd
I think for Hayton
Robertson and 2027 4th
Or even something with
Stolarz or Woll (Vejmelka was over played last year)
Noah Chadwick heads to Winnipeg in exchange for Elias Salomonsson. Not a blocksbuster by any means, but the Swedish blueliner still has intriguing NHL potential. Sundin wanted to shake things up a bit, and Chayka finally caves as Salomonsson joins the Leafs family. Because Elias has higher ceiling.
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21 May 2026 19:34:07
What do you see that shows he has a higher ceiling?
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21 May 2026 20:48:21
Interesting comparison, methinks.
I think this opinion is based on Salomonsson is an elite skater with 2-way abilities and is already in the NHL.
He also plays with a little more physicality.
I am, however, hopeful that Chadwick can exceed expectations for a 5/6 Dman.
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21 May 2026 21:52:29
He was already in the NHL because of a ton of injuries.
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21 May 2026 22:02:27
Say that name three times fast.
21 May 2026 18:23:15
What if Jacob Trouba signed a 3-year deal with Toronto Maple Leafs worth $4.2 million per season? And since injuries basically ruined the season, Michal Kesselring could get a 2-year contract worth $1.8 million per season.
Then Toronto could trade away 2–3 defensemen.
Trouba would play on the first defensive pairing, and Kesselring on the second pairing, so the “extra” defensemen could be traded for, say, a third-line center and a winger for like the second line winger.
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21 May 2026 20:17:16
Again we don't need a 3C, also if you want to bolster your D-corp, sure sign Trouba with the intention of him being a second pairing and actually getting a 1st pairing to go with him.
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21 May 2026 22:40:19
I don't think Trouba is interested in playing in Canada. This is my speculation since I don't know what teams he's had on his no trade lists. Ultimately it comes down to his wife's work preference, which is why he left Winnipeg in the first place. I would mostly see him landing in the metro area, maybe Washington.
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21 May 2026 23:20:17
So my question is why in one of the weakest UFA markets in years would Trouba sign for $4.2 million after earning $8 and having his best year in 5 years? And as Hrenkin mentioned.... with Trouba's wife being a doctor the U.S. teams are for sure their preferred destinations.
21 May 2026 03:40:35
Toronto Sends
• F Matthew Knies ($7.75M - Locked for 5 more years)
• G Joseph Woll ($3.67M)
Philadelphia Sends
• RW Porter Martone ($975K - Rookie ELC)
• Toronto's 2027 1st-Round Pick (Returned)
• D Rasmus Ristolainen ($5.1M - Contract expiring in 2027)
• G Samuel Ersson ($1.45M)
Let's have some fun.
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21 May 2026 11:14:16
Interesting one. I don’t think Philly would bite because Martone I think is actually going to be better than Knies and has much better hands, shooting and passing. The First as well even if in the 20 overall range combined with Martone is way to much of an overpay for Knies. Ristolainen and Ersson would be a total crap shoot. Both are injury prone and Ersson would only be coming here as another backup goalie. Philly doesn’t need Woll and he would just be a backup there to Vladar.
The key is Martone. He came on board took 2 games to adapt to his line mates then line mates and then literally dragged the team into the playoffs. He is the real deal.
21 May 2026 00:12:12
I thought I'd share my 2 cents worth of the developments with the Leafs. Obviously most of the recommendations weren't listening to what the top 2 dogs on the team were looking to improve for next year. I think they wanted skill and more toughness. The ideas that I have read on these write ups are way far away from the reality of these expectations. Firstly the Leafs are trying to get back into a win now mode. For the draft I would go with Stenberg he seems to have more of what the team is looking for to make the next move (his exposure to the game has experts trending into that direction and remember the team should go for the best player available to meet the current needs). Going for a D man would make NO sense logical sense since a newly drafted D-man would not be in a win now ready (Schaefer got taken last year).
Matthews didn't get the help he needed this year. He needs a veteran on the wing who offers both toughness, scoring and some skill. I think a guy like Anthony Mantha might fit the bill. Now if the Leafs could acquire Pettersson then hey we have Swedish second line and a solid first line. Now for the 3rd line Traveres, Cowan and another version of Mantha could make up the 3rd line. The fourth line can be made up with what's available. The D is a bit tricky, the team needs to acquire capable players that are not injury prone that hurt the team a lot last year and this only require 2 acquisitions. I think Leafs management should seriously consider bringing Laughton back. He demonstrated that he had strong positive influence with the younger players and that is a definite +++ for the team and he wants to be a Leafs.
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21 May 2026 00:12:16
I follow you but then you drop off with the defence and don’t recommend any names or how they will be acquired…..
So basically it’s not really 2 cents because it makes no sense….
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21 May 2026 12:02:13
I agree Golftown. We all know the needs. Give us an idea how you would trade for them? We can’t depend on UFAs this year because the class is slim and the bidders will be many and many as well that are closer than we are to offer being on a Contender for the cup.
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21 May 2026 15:14:24
Suffering,
I agree with your statement on this year’s UFA complement but I believe it will still be very important to any success in next year.
Unless the Leafs, under Chayka, go for a rebuild and trade Matthews, Nylander and Knies they really have nothing to trade that will get us back as contenders.
And I don’t think that is Chayka’s plan or what he was hired to do.
Picking 1st obviously helps for next, McKenna can step in immediately and perform better offensively than most in the bottom6, though they won’t relegate him there.
So I think the Leafs try to sign select UFAs and perhaps get a current NHL player like Simon Nemec for Maccelli and Robertson and maybe Owen Tippett for Joseph Woll.
I understand getting Tuch is very expensive and caution needs to be taken with Darren Raddysh but those two make us instant contenders; at the right price.
Other UFAs I’d be interested in include Logan Stanley, AJ Greer, Jack Roslovic and Anthony Mantha.
Secondary UFA choices and a bit of bargain basement shopping include Riley Tufte, Raphael Lavoie, Ilya Mikheyev and Brett Kulak.
I understand we cannot sign all of them but I do see it as part of the solution, emphasizing the word part!
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21 May 2026 15:37:14
I agree with you, RandySears, there is a lot of logic in you analysis.
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21 May 2026 23:30:18
Maccelli and Robertson for Nemec??
Don’t drink and post
20 May 2026 21:15:41
Some idea
''''
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bryan Rust (take first line rw spot.)
Owen Pickering (future top4)
Benjamin Kindell (still mystery card, potential top6-9?)
2027 1st-round pick (Top-5 protected).
Pittsburgh Penguins
William Nylander
Who win who lose long run.
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20 May 2026 22:28:33
Pittsburgh is closer to bottoming out for a few seasons. Trading for Nylander would cause more damage to the long term outlook than getting 1 or 2 more playoff runs with Crosby.
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20 May 2026 23:21:08
We could do a lot better than this.
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21 May 2026 11:25:53
Make it a 1st for this year and swap Pickering out and put Brunicke in and we might talk. I like Rust but wonder at his age when the slow down starts. You would have to hope he has another 4 years left so that 1st rounder takes his spot for it to work out. Plus, would Matthew’s be able to adapt to being a playmaker for Rust? If the deal was done I think you put Kindel on Matthew’s right wing as he has a similar playmaking style to Marner and put Rust with Tavares.
But we are still looking for another centreman. Yes, I know Kindel plays Centre and Right Wing but he would better served with Matthew’s if Matthew’s stays.
20 May 2026 20:20:18
Or would Morgan Barron be a better option as a 3C than Sturm? They’re slightly differents players, but if Barron could be acquired for a 3rd-round pick, that would work for me. Barron would bring more offense, while Sturm would bring faceoff ability and penalty kill / defensive reliability.
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20 May 2026 20:25:52
JT is your 3C for the foreseeable future. 2C is an absolute must and where the focus needs to be.
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20 May 2026 20:42:12
Even if JT was for some odd reason still the #2, you would want your #3 to be a higher producer than Barron. Ideally you want a minimum 35 points and possibly a little more from your #3.
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20 May 2026 22:29:31
Why not sign Laughton as 3c, his offensive talent was wasted on the 4th line?
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20 May 2026 23:28:19
I love Laughton. I’m an Oakville boy. I watched him grow up, but realistically JT is your best option at 3C. Upgrade the 2C and I agree Scott is better than a fourth liner; he’d be better off with another team.
20 May 2026 20:08:42
Minnesota Wild get
+Max Domi
+Simon Benoit
+Borya Valis
+Luke Haymes
+Cade Webber
+2026 2nd-round pick
Toronto Maple Leafs
+Danila Yurov (future top6)
+Yakov Trenin (hitting machine)
Toronto would add two Russian forwards with existing chemistry, but the third-line center spot would still be open.
Sturm?
Would Nico Sturm be the center who adds excellent faceoff wins and defensive responsiblility?
If yes, I’d look at a straight Nick Robertson (RFA) for Sturm swap.
If Robertson is too high price then Leafs send 3 or 4 round pick to Sturm and keep Robertson.
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21 May 2026 00:44:13
How many more times do u need to be told the Leafs are looking for a 2C?
20 May 2026 20:02:13
Tor: Carlo Quilllan
Njd: Hamilton
Tor: Reilly 2nd 2027
Ana: Zellwegar Vatrano
It’s something different, in the first trade it’s the Leafs moving out a player who just didn’t fit well last year for a local guy who the Devils are trying to move. Maybe the Leafs could get something else for taking the whole contract, but Hamilton is big for nothing physically. He can still skate well, moves the puck up the ice, and is a threat from the point.
Second trade Leafs dump Reilly with a 2nd for a young mobile dman and take back a cap dump. Reilly adds the veteran presence. All Anaheim vet D are expiring contracts. Reilly doesn’t have to be 'the guy' here. As for Vatrano, the coach doesn’t like him but he was a 20+ goal guy up until this year. Maybe they can get a depth scorer or flip him.
Believable0Unbelievable0
21 May 2026 00:45:20
I don't see the Ducks trading Zellweger for Reilly and a 2nd, never mind throwing Vatrano in there as well.