05 Jul 2021 15:15:59
The Rangers have a new Pres and GM in Drury and a new coach in Gallant. They failed to make the playoffs and had their share of on and off-ice issues last season. You would have to think they will want to make a splash and put their own stamp on the team. They have Fox as the reigning Norris winner. They have some high end pieces and cap space to make a splash. They may look at bringing in a big name. ( I have predicted may times Eichel ends up there).
They would make a great trading partner as we would have pieces they would be interested in. Personally, I want K Miller. NYR is loaded with D prospects.
If I am the Leafs, I am looking at moving a big piece like Nylander to try and get Miller. Willy had a great playoff, let's sell high. Should get Miller+ for Nylander.
Then you have to look at moving Rielly if we cannot afford to re-sign him and especially if Miller is now in the mix. Rielly should be able to get forward help without adding more than what Morgan makes to the cap.
Then make a move for M McLeod as I have suggested, which should not cost too much and we have retooled the roster and created cap space to add other pieces.
Offence would be centered around Matthews, Tavares and Marner and a D core of Brodie, Muzzin, Miller and Holl.
It may not be popular with some to move out guys like Nylander and Rielly and I understand the argument that they still need time to learn how to win like Tampa or the Caps had to. Main problem is, we don't have that timeframe because of the short term contracts handed out by Dubas. Add to that we don't have a lot of high end talent developing either or many draft picks.
The time to retool and create cap space is now (imo). Retool by getting younger high potential guys for our already established higher end players. Use the cap space for some shorter term(2-3 year) UFA type deals to surround the rest with proven players that their deals end when Matthews contract is due in 3 years. Muzzin and Brodie will be up at that point to and if we have developed the new guys like Miller properly, they will move into their old spots and not cost us more than the guys leaving.
Dubas tried something new and it hasn't worked. Time to change directions before it is too late to.
05 Jul 2021 22:29:20
Dubas will go down with this ship as built.
Big 4 will stay
Rielly Brodie muzzin Holl. will stay
Some off season tinkering with the rest of the roster obviously
But the core will remain.
06 Jul 2021 00:06:46
For once I agree with MPH. Dubas will stay the course. He probably signs all league minimum and then adds a big name FA. That's his style.
Off season move, everyone walks, Dubas signs a cheap backup, uses all league minimum players to fill in the gaps (probably including Dermott and Sandin), adds in another 6+ forward.
Leafs either miss the playoffs or make a wild card. Dubas is fired, Rielly walks for nothing.
No other way I see this happening right now. Shanahan is probably fired as well and maybe even Keefe.
06 Jul 2021 02:53:17
I never said Dubas will do this. lol
I have already stated I doubt he moves any of the big four. I said if I were the Leafs.
06 Jul 2021 05:54:14
@RLF my bad in that case lol. I skimmed through the article while my 2 year old was yelling in the backyard. Thought that's what you meant.
06 Jul 2021 13:33:30
Lol. No worries. Was just what I think we should do, even though I know it isn't happening.
06 Jul 2021 22:34:46
@RLF after reading I agree with most of those moves. I would definitely move on from Rielly right now. If the PP isn't clicking you need someone new in there. If Rielly isn't on the PP then half his game is gone.
I still wouldn't move Nylander though. He played well in the playoffs so I would give him another chance. I don't think him at 6.9 gives you enough room to make a significant impact.
Any re-tool really needs to involve Marner. Couple prospects for Marner and maybe you go after a few lesser free agents. Guys like Toffoli are on great contracts right now because of the flat cap.
07 Jul 2021 12:47:32
@LL. In a perfect world I would agree on Marner. Who is taking Marner and his 10.9 contract and giving us a Miller+ kind of return where we take on no cap space? That is why I said Nylander. Although, I still think in the long run that Marner will figure it out and I am not sure what we saw in Willy at the playoffs continues, or if he can do it again in an elevated role against tougher match-ups. If Marner is moved, Nylander's role is elevated.
07 Jul 2021 22:26:06
@RLF all very good questions that I don't have the answer too.
Like I said before though, I don't think it's a competition problem with Willy it's his style of play. Tavares went down leaving Nylander as the sole puck carry and play driving guy. That's what he does best. That's always been what he does best.
The kind of line that Willy will always produce more on is a Hyman-Nylander-Mikheyev type of line. He likes to be king rubbish. Maybe it's an ego thing or maybe it's a play style issue. Who knows.