06 May 2026 06:54:31
So is it possible that now we have the first overall pick and a possible long term franchise player that the new leafs management looks at this and decides to maybe blow this up and go full rebuild? What might that look like? We know we need some younger, mobile d-men...which I think everyone thought we would draft this year if we retained the #5 pick. Maybe a verhoeuf or a Reid...but now we have first overall.
This means most likely McKenna or Stenberg. That being said, if they take one of those two wingers, we still need Dmen and to get younger. So if they talk to Matthews and he says he's not in for the rebuild then you need to trade him and follow suit with Willy. So if they go full sell mode (and I think this is probably the best route of we want to get back to a competitive team in a couple years with a longer window to compete) may e they do the following:
1st overall pick: Stenberg. (As much as I'd prefer to draft the Canadian boy, I just have a gut feeling Stenberg is going to be a better overall well rounded player and maybe handle the pressure better in Toronto)
Trade:
To Utah - Matthews
To Toronto- Cooley, Caleb Denoyers, Tig Iginla
Not sure if Utah would do this, but we would get a serviceable good young center back in Cooley who is signed long term. Denoyers is going to be a stud two way center and Iginla is going to be a power forward and a character guy. Utah gets their #1 star center which was apparent they needed in the series versus Vegas this year.
Trade:
To Chicago: Willy Nylander
To Toronto: 4th overall pick and Artyom Levshnov
With this Chicago gets their top flight winger to play with Bedard that they really need. Toronto gets Levshnov who is going to be an absolute stud RH defenseman who was a second overall pick a couple years ago. Then with the 4th overall pick we take Verhoeuf. Then we have two young, mobile high end defenseman to build around.
The one risk with this sort of plan is that we would probably be a poor team for the next couple seasons until these guys develop which would potentially result in high draft picks for Boston and Philly the next two years...but I think this would give a great foundation of good young stars that can come.up together. Then you also have knies, Roberston and Cowan who are all young under 25 to grow with these guys. Johnny T can mentor them for a few years and we should be very competitive in a few years. BUT Auston and Willy need to waive and we just don't know if that will happen...but if the leafs say rebuild I really can't see either of them wanting to stick around.
Believable0Unbelievable0
06 May 2026 11:15:31
Awesome one. Chicago might not want to part with Levshnov but like the way you think. I share your thoughts on McKenna te: Toronto pressure. It’s always fun putting together rebuild packages and even Auction packages for the first pick overall. It’s a great draft class. I almost wish it was next year because no-one will give up the chance to take Landon DuPont no matter what.
06 May 2026 03:00:59
Well as we discuss possible swapping of our number 1 overall to possibly another team for their pick and other pieces. Here is a out of right field one.
Seattle has been talking about needing to make a splash for a while. They are picking 7th. I am sure they would love to get the 1st overall pick. However given where they are it won't be cheap. We would trade them our 1st overall along with Carlo and in return we get....Berkly Catton.... Jani Nyman... Ryker Evans.... and their 7th Pick and we take Daxon Rudolph with that pick. They get to make a splash for their fans with the 1st overall pick and they get Carlo (Which would be ironic being traded along with the 1st round pick we gave up orginally to get him lol) but in return we get 3 Roster players all under 24 years of age that are fast with great ceilings, and we also get a Young Defenseman that has looked incredible over the last 3 months and thriving in the playoffs out west.
06 May 2026 00:59:44
So the thought is do they pick Mckenna or trade down? Vancouver is primed to be taken advantage of…
Tor: 1st overall, Reilly
Van: 3rd overall and 24th overall and Debrusk
Leafs can easily rebuild their farm system in one draft and still add some decent players Vancouver needs the corner stone player to seek to their fan base it’s really a win for both teams.
Believable2Unbelievable0
06 May 2026 00:22:21
I donno. I think we're crazy not to take McKenna.
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06 May 2026 00:34:02
I agree with Goat2.0. See not just how desperate Vancouver is but all other top 5 teams. All top picks are good so maybe run an auction. If it was Vancouver specifically I would say “we will give you the 1st overall and rfa rights to Robertson.
We get your 3rd pick and Marco Rossi. Then if San Jose takes Stenberg we pick a dman; if San Jose takes a dman we take Stenberg. Then we walk away with a great pick and our #2 centre.
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06 May 2026 00:45:41
I hope he’s not soft.
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06 May 2026 00:51:34
Hey suffering, great job with Reilly and Robertson to Vancouver. Did you read that somewhere?
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06 May 2026 01:10:11
Wear your glasses. Where did I mention Reilly?
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06 May 2026 01:16:22
I actually posted yesterday the same proposal for Rossi if we hit the 1st overall in a swap of picks but had suggested Reilly in that one but decided Robertson is more feasible. Fear not, I would never steal any of your brilliant ideas.
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06 May 2026 03:32:03
Nope!
Definitely not DeBrusk.
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06 May 2026 09:02:25
@garyfaulk I totally get that but I think if you’re the Leafs you gotta see what teams may be willing to give you for example this trade would land them two first this year plus a middle six forward with term at a good number all while getting out of the Reilly contract.
@suffering I don’t believe you get young roster players in a deal with Vancouver just because they are rebuilding.
@wb49 why not DeBrusk? 20-25 goal guy we know he’s good in the playoffs he torched us every year in Boston and at under 6 million and your dumping Reilly idk see a negative.
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06 May 2026 10:51:45
So the consensus is we’re gonna draft McKenna??? I see some props about trading down for a later pick and other pieces and tbh that’s the play here. We need a franchise altering Dman.
Who you guys got as the number 1 D? I still think Verheoff cause of his ceiling but I’d still like to hear what u guys think and why it should or shouldn’t be him.
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06 May 2026 11:28:55 @goat2.0 You are not wrong re: roster players but you ask anyway to guage how badly they want McKenna and while Robertson has not panned out here he us still young enough and fast enough maybe he might blossom with McKenna.
@Henry77 I still like Verhoeff because he is still learning (only his 5th year as a skater and not a goalie) but I really like how Daxon Rudolph has come on.
05 May 2026 16:18:44
So after much debate I was asked to sum up what and how I’d build this roster so here it goes be kind lol.
Tor: Pettersson
Van: Reilly Robertson 2nd and a prospect
I’d be willing to go as high as a 1st and Danford to get this done a 2center without giving up core players two seemingly bad contracts exchanged I feel Vancouver does this for their fan base hometown kid and Reilly is still a serviceable player.
Sign Raddysh his shot actually hits the net and on a pp with JT and Knies I think Steve Sullivan’s job got pretty easy.
Sign Logan Stanley for obvious reasons.
I had Robertson’s ask around Domi’s contract so money in and money out is close.
This leaves us with room to make other moves we have a goalie some picks and some money to work with and again I think this is a playoff team and a strong one without too much sacrifice.
I you guys will poo poo all over this so if you reply tell me how you’d fix the defence and obtain a 2C without overpaying or losing elite players we have.
Believable2Unbelievable0
05 May 2026 16:25:31
That still is not what I had alluded too. Many times other posters and myself included have posted what the actual lineup would be. Your 4 lines and your 6 defensemen and your 2 goalies and how you got to that point.
Sorry I am not trying to pick on you, it is just what will that lineup you want look like on opening day. Pretty simple.
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05 May 2026 21:36:24
@LeafsGM, if you want us to stop 💩 all over it. Then stop going after soft ass players that are overpaid. Toronto fans want a tough team. You’re putting Nylander, Petterson, Laine all together. It’s gonna look like battle of the blades out there (figure skating). I’m looking for players with heart, character, drive and determination. Change the identity. We are soft as butter now, why we adding the same type of players? Not picking on you GM but we have been trying the “skilled” team for a decade and skill alone doesn’t win you a cup in this league.
Look at these playoffs when it gets hard and physical out there, for most teams it’s not their best players getting all the points. MTL has the Dach line, because Caulfield ain’t putting up no 50 goal pace anymore, it’s getting too physical for the little guy. Canes - Stank, Hall line on 🔥. And so on… May sound silly to some but for me rn, Personality should be almost as important if not more when picking players to go after.
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05 May 2026 21:46:40
Couldn't agree more Clarky. With Carolina even Stankoven one of the smallest guys in the game. He plays fearless. His first goal the other night was incredible. Gets hammered to the ice behind the net, hops up, goes to the front of the net and those lightning hands tipped in the shot. That's the effort we want.
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05 May 2026 22:05:21
I’m a Leaf and other than the Broad Street Bullies I’ve never seen a team win on toughness. Not to disagree with you and I do agree, but we also need that balance. We never had a top heavy core four and no one else. We ditched Marner with the intent of creating that balance. Imagine 3-4 years ago actually having a defence. It can’t all be tough and no skill. I’d agree that my top six isn’t going to make you shake in your boots and maybe that’s where I’ve gone wrong here.
However, getting rid of Reilly and filling a very expensive position 2 center for limited sacrifice is a good thing. A Swedish connection having the resources to add that toughness is there. And hey man there was no Laine in my posts, that’s a low blow brother lol.
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05 May 2026 22:09:04
Pillow fight in the dressing room
Any post with softie from Vancouver in it is an automatic 👎👎👎
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05 May 2026 22:15:05
Why are we hung up on Peterson? Why would we want to get softer? We need heart and guys that don’t mind mixing it up.
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05 May 2026 22:20:54
You have to win roughly two thirds of your games to get in. You need a lot of different elements and your comparing us to the Canadians; it’s their first playoff go with this team, pretty small sample. Same with the Stankoven comparison; it’s one goal and I’m not taking anything away from them or your opinion.
I think some of what you got and some of what I got would be great. So on that note, batter up, give me your lineups and how your assembling it. Let’s see what you got.
Same goes for you Suffering, I’ve replied to you too twice, but I think my lineup is too awesome for them to post it because it’s not up yet hahahaha
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05 May 2026 22:23:21
Mainly to get Reilly out of here and fill an expensive position again. Guys, anytime you want to actually post your own ideas instead of chiming in on someone else’s, I’m all ears.
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05 May 2026 22:24:12
I can’t believe I’m having to justify bringing in a really good player.
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05 May 2026 20:49:47
I get it man was also going to suggest bring Laughton back and if we assume this SDA kid comes here it would look like this.
Now there’s a lot of winger we could sign I’d also bring Tory back as he played well and the guys loved him. Also don’t hold the wingers to where I placed them maybe a LW end up a RW same with the D pairings but that’s the names I’d have on my roster
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05 May 2026 22:52:43
We are really deep crap if you think SDA will help this team. He was mediocre on his teams in the KHL for crying out loud. Toughness, by the way, is not measured by the type of hockey the Broad Street Bullies played. The Stanley Cup was won the last two years by Florida and that was a very tough team.
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05 May 2026 22:59:25
Nah just put him in there because there’s no way I fill out the bottom six right now lol but always nice of you to point out the obvious one thing lol.
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05 May 2026 23:03:29
Trust me I hear you I’ve been saying and wishing we’d find a Darcy Tucker 2.0
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05 May 2026 23:04:46
This is the Attitude that drives me crazy with some players who think they are entitled. This is a direct quote from SDA's agent on wanting a one way contract. "I believe Semyon is ready for the NHL. Of course, he has to be ready for the possibility of playing in the American Hockey League (again), but there is no point in going there just for that," Babaev said.
Unreal. Well here is a idea.... Don't come here for that. Stay there!!!!!
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05 May 2026 23:08:02
I’ve never heard of him really to be honest.
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05 May 2026 23:11:51
I’d say the same thing to Matthews. If he’s pulling that crap here, you’re under contract for two years. Here’s the ice, here’s the press box. Pick one.
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06 May 2026 04:04:25
The Insiders say that Laughton has told the Kings he would like to resign and stay in California.
05 May 2026 07:17:37
Workable trade idea or never.
Toronto Maple Leafs receive,
Dylan Strome
Tom Wilson
Ryan Leonard
1st-round dradt pick (top10 protected)
Washington Capitals receive
William Nylander.
Believable1Unbelievable0
05 May 2026 08:44:34
Never lol Nylander is a great player but that package is for a McDavid type player.
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05 May 2026 09:18:33
Exactly GOAT. Not workable. If it was offered to the Leafs we would be flying private jets to pick up each player and their families in seconds. Washington would be petitioning the NHL that their G.M had been admitted to an insane asylum and the deal needs to be voided due to mental incompetence issues.
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06 May 2026 04:06:50
Seriously?
Nylander is 30 years old!
Capitals would be giving away the farm for a casual, indifferent, 30-year-old who plays a one-way game.
Not even close in my opinion.
Toronto gets Jakob Chychrun. Other team gets Morgan Rielly + a 2nd-round pick.
Feels like this could work if they’re in win-now mode and value Rielly’s experience and offense from the back end. Plus, Chayka would already be familiar with Chyshrun from his Arizona days. So why not?
Believable0Unbelievable0
05 May 2026 09:23:29
Yes they want Reilly's declining offense so they can get rid of Chychrun's measly 60 points from the backend. Makes perfect sense.
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06 May 2026 04:08:21
I don’t think Washington would be interested in Rielly who often looked lost on the ice this past season.