27 Feb 2018 16:35:53
Well, that was a very uneventful trade deadline for the buds. And as much as I was hoping that they would acquire a top 2/4 defenseman, I am glad that they did not pony up 1st/2nd round draft picks to do it. With that in mind, the team should now look ahead towards this year's draft/free agency.

2018 Draft:

NYI or DET:
Matt Martin (LW, RW) 50% Retain
4th Round Draft Pick, 2018

TOR:
6th Round Draft Pick, 2018

Martin just doesn't seem to fit with the Leafs organizational plan anymore - not with younger, faster and more ambitious prospects looking to break into the lineup. Thus, it would be better to try and make a trade during the draft to get him (good pro) a home where he can get back to playing on a regular basis.

VGK:
Jake Gardiner (LD)
Josh Leivo (RW)
7th Round Draft Pick (ANA), 2018

TOR:
Oscar Lindberg (LW, C)
1st Round Draft Pick, 2019

I'm not saying that the above team has to be Vegas. But trading the likes of Gardiner for a high draft pick before the season starts would be in the teams best interest for a few obvious reasons.

1.) Cap Space... Duh! With the likes of JVR, Bozak, Komorov & even Lupul's contract(s) ready to come off the books the Leafs have an excellent opportunity to take a serious run at UFA players come July 1st (i.e. John Tavares). Personally, if NYI doesn't make it into this year's playoffs I would be shocked if JT would want to stay anymore on the island.

2.) The Leafs need to look beyond the start of the 2018-19 season for better defensive upgrades (i.e. UFA's Doughty, Ekman-Larsson, Karlsson). Having an extra 1st round draft pick would go along ways to securing a top two defenceman for next years playoffs. But until when or if this scenario ever happens, it would behoove the Leafs brass to actually let some of their younger defensive prospects fight for a roster spot and see what they've got.

2018-19 Season:

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Kapanen-Tavares-Marner
Marleau-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson-Lindberg-Aaltonen

Rielly-Zaitsev
Hainsey-Ozhiganov
Dermott-Holl
Borgman

1.) 27 Feb 2018
27 Feb 2018 18:19:36
So you want to trade a roster player, retain half his salary for the next two years and a 4th round pick for a 6th round pick? If you want him off the roster that badly better to waive him to the Marlies and keep the 4th. Cap savings are about the same if no one claims him.

2.) 27 Feb 2018
27 Feb 2018 18:57:33
Spider, Your idea for Martin is also a viable option too. Having personally met the man, he really is a good pro! And would just hate to demoralize the guy by sending him to the minors ala Fehr.

3.) 27 Feb 2018
27 Feb 2018 19:52:15
I understand your logic and feelings and I certainly don't want to tread on anyone's feelings ( yours or his), but business is business. He has been a good soldier for the leafs and a good pro. Leafs could waive him after they pay out his bonus this year (1.5M) which is only money to the cash deep Leafs and I am sure someone would pick him up off the wire for his base salary (.750M next year), a steal for someone. A win, win, win for everybody.

4.) 27 Feb 2018
27 Feb 2018 21:55:06
Let's look at roster next season

Hyman Matthews nylander
Marleau kadri Marner
Johnson Statsny kapanan
Grundstrom UFA Leivo

Reilly Carlson
Gardner zaitsev
Dermott carrick/ lLiljegren


Nylander gets caught in front of leafs net with opposing sniper behind him. He isn't ready to be a centre yet

Guys love playing in NYC that's leafs competition for Carlson.

If leafs strike out with Carlson I have no clue where they go next. They are not ready to drop a ton of assets on a defencemen.

5.) 27 Feb 2018
27 Feb 2018 22:41:11
Carlson would for sure be an upgrade for the Leafs d-core. But given the choice on who to spend money on, I would pursue Tavares every time. And I'm sure Babcock and Shanahan would too

I believe Liljegren will still need another year plus in the minors to perfect his game even more given that he is only 18 years old. To be honest I really liked Holl's game when called up. And not because he got 2 goals, but because he played smart in his own zone; was physical and really good at skating. Plus he and Dermott looked like a perfect combination.

6.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 03:35:56
Tavares is staying New York Islanders or rangers and Carlson signs New York Rangers

American kid sooner play new fork than Toronto

Hell I would sooner play in New York over Toronto

Exciting City.

7.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 07:40:25
I can't see anyone diving into new york with the downturn they'll see for a couple years they will want to go there in 3 or 4 years.

8.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 15:11:54
Can I get an explanation for the Martin and 4th for a 6th trade?

I know usually I just come on here to black Mackin for his absolute stupidity (see above post where he calls it New Fork. sounds like an exciting city dumb dumb )

. I genuinely don’t understand the Martin proposed trade . Please explain

Thank you.

9.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 19:24:53
Spider and ShanaPlan's back-and-forth explains it fairly well, the idea seems to be moving Martin out of respect for him instead of waiving him. His contract has term and decent money for a middling throwback 4th-liner, which makes him a fairly unattractive option for anyone. Retaining half the salary and offering a draft pick upgrade (6th to 4th) is just legal bribery.

Might as well offer him plus a bit of retained for "future considerations. "

10.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 22:21:07
Marsbars

Thanks for the explanation

That would be some pretty weak managerial decision making . couldn't imagine Lou being that soft .

Can you believe that horse looking Canadian girl who took her silver medal off? Should not be allowed back in the country.