28 Aug 2018 06:11:29
Keeping on my theme of the week: Trading the “untraceable”.

Leafs trade Kadri, Gardiner
Anaheim trades Lindholm, Ritchie, Steel
*Gardiner sign extension first

Leafs trade Reilly
Dallas trades Faksa, Gurianov

Leafs trade Brown, Hyman, Steel
Arizona trades Crouse, Strome

Leafs lineups next year

Ritchie/ Matthews/ Nylander
Marleau/ Tavares/ Marner
Johnsson/ Faksa/ Kapanen
Crouse/ Strome/ Gurianov
*Jooris, Ennis, Leivo

Lindholm/ Liljegren
Dermott/ Zaitsev
Hainsey/ Carrick
(Sandin/ Rasanen)

In this scenario, I took an arguably slight downgrade at both 1LHD and 3C. As a result, I bolstered the entire depth of my forwards.

1.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 06:38:01
Every single one of those forwards, with the exception of Johnsson, was chosen early first round and is playing good hockey. The RW is almost as strong as LW now, so achieved balance there. And the 3rd and 4th lines are on a more equal level, as opposed to relying on strong 3rd line and very weak 4th line.

One can argue the defense is weaker. I’ve done nothing to address RHD. But in general, this is the exact same defense we can expect next year with Lindholm in place of Reilly. Saying Reilly is better than Lindholm is like saying the ace of spades is better than the ace of hearts.

2.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 11:00:15
These deals are fun. Aniheim will need a centre since everyone of their centre she are injury prone. However, if no one is injured at 1 time there is a cap issue here. Adding Kadri makes Aniheim an even dirtier more stressful team to handle.

Dallas deal I'd make if Aniheim deal is in place. Dallas would do this for Reilly but not Gardiner. Dealing Reilly will make Leaf fans riot the streets but after week 1 all order will be restored and the memory of Kadri and Reilly will be over as Lindholm and Faska will replace them fine.

Is Strome really worth as low as everyone puts him. After all he could very well hit his stride and become a rookie force out there this year. Crouse on the other hand looks like that 1st round flop every draft has. Adding Steel may balance this deal. Who knows. Either was it's a deal for 4th line depth so who cares.

The future looks brighter with all these deals. Experience is lost which could make Taveras unhappy. The dressing room is very immature now. Marleau is essentially babysitting 11 guys under 23.ouch.

3.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 17:05:19
I think Anaheim would take Gardiner to make the deal work. Wasn’t sure about the Dallas deal because they don’t get a center in return, but they have lots of good prospects or find another. I threw Steel in to the Arizona trade so they have another prospect to replace Strome. Otherwise we keep Steel and use him ourself or find a different 4C.

4.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 17:36:11
The reason for bringing in all this young talent with upside is so they can fill in spots higher up on the roster in case of injury, or if it becomes apparent they are too good for their role. We can then start to trades some of them of ffor replacements and futures. This way we keep the pipeline loaded with prospects. Let’s say Strome does have a break out couple years for us. In two years, we trade him for Kyrou, for example, and another high quality pick/ prospect.

5.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 17:50:23
Wow. what made you think we need to "upgrade" our already stacked forward core, especially at the expense of our already average blue line. No more JFJ type managing please.

6.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 18:44:48
Ritchie is not a top 6 forward if even top 9, no clue why you have him on the top line.

7.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 18:48:30
As the current team stands: The first two lines are stacked. The third line is ok, but our fourth line is garbage. We upgrade our depth, giving us the deepest front end in the league. We didn’t exactly decimate our defense in the process either.

Those kids I brought in can be very valuable and cheap long term replacements for future, or can be traded to bring in even more talent and prospects.

Keep the back end low cost and fluid so we can afford to keep the core four together and surround them with high end talent UFAs at deadline for playoffs.

8.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 19:03:57
Although interesting and fun, especially for a Leafs fan, there is no way Steel gets dealt. future 1C.

9.) 28 Aug 2018
28 Aug 2018 19:53:36
I fail to see how Ritchie, Crouse, Gurianov, and Faksa improve us at any of the positions you placed them in. We don't know what we have in Par Lindholm yet but he is as much of a question mark as any of the players except Faksa.

Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Ennis-Kadri-Kapanen
Johnsson-Lindholm-Brown
Leivo and Jooris

This line up is objectively better than what you posted, not to mention the Defensemen. I like Hampus Lindholm but not at the expense of two top 4 dmen and our current forward depth. Only spot I would argue needs an upgrade in the above lines would be Ennis, but I would suggest targeting a player that is in need of a change of scenery like Sam Bennett. The price shouldn't be too high as he hasn't performed, but he could get his game back playing with Kadri and Kapanen. Finally, I don't think Liljegren is too pairing this year, he may make the team as a 3rd pairing guy out of camp or get called up in January/ February like Dermott last year.

Gardiner-Rielly
Dermott-Zaitsev
Hainsey-Liljegren
Carrick and Ozhiganov

If Dermott shows he is ready for increased playing time and Liljegren makes team out of camp.

10.) 29 Aug 2018
29 Aug 2018 01:14:12
@Leafs2018

Ritchie is a bit of a gamble taking Hyman’s spot, but should perform admirably with Matthews and Nylander a line mates., Crouse, Gurianov, Strome are a better 4th line than what we have.

Faksa is possible future Selke winner. He’s a good all round player and very adequate replacement for Kadri.

Remember, I didn’t improve every position. I deliberately took a seemingly slight downgrade in a couple spots to strengthen the team as a whole.

11.) 29 Aug 2018
29 Aug 2018 15:53:58
@LG

Gurianov and Crouse are just ‘former first rounders’. They are both terrible. Gurianov is struggling in the AHL and Crouse is just big but is complete a**. Rather have Kadri, and Brown/ Ennis on the fourth line.

12.) 29 Aug 2018
29 Aug 2018 22:32:52
@topshelfslappers

Come on. Crouse has got to be better than Leivo. Gurianov is a bit of a question mark as to whether he would be better than Brown though, I’ll give you that.

13.) 30 Aug 2018
30 Aug 2018 11:06:19
@LG

Nah, I've watched Crouse. he's just a bigger dude. he's not fast or anything. He wouldn't work on this team at all imo. he's more of an enforcer/ grinder than a skill player. And i’d rather a skill player like Ennis on the fourth than hom.

14.) 31 Aug 2018
31 Aug 2018 04:54:19
Enforcers are a dying breed. I guess the stars are expected to protect themselves now. The greatest player of all time always had an enforcer. Matthews should have one too.

15.) 31 Aug 2018
31 Aug 2018 23:24:01
I seriously doubt that Anaheim would want Gardiner back in any trade. Kadri for Lindholm and Ritchie would be a decent return for the Leafs. It improves the D and adds much needed size and grit to the team. Nylander can play 3rd line Center and Kapenen can play on any one of the top 3 lines. I say go for it if I were Toronto.