31 Mar 2026 07:52:17
So I am new to this, so please bare with me.
I think the direction the leafs are going to go depends alot on if they keep their top 5 protected pick this year. If they do, I think they may try to retool on the fly with a much different look to the team and a different leadership group on the ice. Tre is already gone and by the looks of it, Berube probably won't last past this season.
The team has some good pieces but the leadership group isn't the type of guys to drag their team into the trenches. This has been apparent for the last ten years. Great, skilled players, but just lack the grit needed when it counts. I think the ownership group has recognized this and it may result in some big names leaving town this summer in an attempt to regroup and salvage next year. So my suggestions start with them retaining their pick. These suggestions are for a retool over a full rebuild.

Top 5 pick: get your stud defenseman that we lack. Maybe they can pair nicely with danford in the years to come and maybe, just maybe we can get our version of Keith/Seabrook or Makar/Toews.

To Utah:
Matthews
Reilly
To Toronto:
Logan Cooley (center replacement)
Mikhail sergachev
Tij Iginla
2026 1st

Obviously these two need to waive their NMC but you never know. We are losing the best player in this trade but Cooley is only 21 years old with a high ceiling and signed for 7 more years. Sergachev can be an anchor on the Blueline and has 6 more years on his deal and is only 27 yrs old. Iginla looks like he will be a player based on what I saw at the WJC this year.

Trade 2:
To St.Louis
2026 first (from Utah)
2027 first (from Colorado)
Robertson?

To Toronto:
Robert Thomas

I know this seems like alot but the blues were looking for something similar to this at the deadline. 2 firsts and a younger player. Thomas is signed for 6 more years, is still young, Canadian and is a hell of a two way center! I'd be trying to get him on our team in the worst way. This guy was an absolute beast for the blues when they went on their run last year to make the playoffs.

Next on July 1 I would be looking to get Scott Laughton back on this roster. He's a solid pro, plays with grit but he needs ice time and needs to play as the full time third line center. Great on faceoffs, kills penalties and again is a Canadian Toronto boy. Give him a letter on his chest too! Then I might explore what we would need to grab Raddysh...it might be an overpayment but with some big contracts off the books and a rising cap I'd take a chance because he has a bomb from the point. Would be a big improvement from Reilly's pillow wrist shot on the PP.

Groulx has made a good enough impression to play 4th line center.

The last big move would be to trade Willy but not sure who would be looking for that type of player. Love the guy, but also tired of watching him shy away from any hit, scared of corners, won't get in a scrum, won't lay a bit, won't block a shot and can't play defense. Extremely talented but hard to have him as a leader on your team when he doesn't lead by example.

Anyways, tell.me.your thoughts.

1.) 31 Mar 2026
31 Mar 2026 11:30:44
All solid moves. If Matthews wants out, I'd be trading him to the Ducks for McTavish, Sennecke and prospects.

2.) 31 Mar 2026
31 Mar 2026 19:59:33
I like your choice of targets from Utah but I'm not sure if Utah would be interested in that deal. You mentioned that we are losing the best player in the deal. Truthfully... I would say for where the Utah franchise has gone in the past two years since they acquired him. I think Sergachev is actually the best player as far as value to his club in that proposed deal. I don't think they would ever part with him. He is in that elite class of great offensively and great defensively defensemen in the league.

He eats huge minutes every game and last year was the only D-man in the league to average 3 minutes a game on the power play and the penalty kill and is only 6 seconds off that on the penalty kill this year. For his value and Cooley's potential. I think those two would be the maximum for Matthews in this deal. Utah would then never give up Iginla and a first for Reilly. Sergachev is undervalued in this trade.

3.) 01 Apr 2026
01 Apr 2026 21:37:33
You may be right. And I agree, I would love to get Sergachev back as he's in the right she bracket and he plays both ways. However, if I remember correctly, the Utah ownership group wants to make a huge splash and what a better way to sell tickets, merchandise and hockey in general in Utah than with the addition of Matthews.

They are overpaying for the brand name. Also doesn't hurt that Matthews is such close friends with Clayton Keller and the two of them on a line would be dynamite.

4.) 01 Apr 2026
01 Apr 2026 22:11:50
Uah has no issue selling tickets etc. Their problem is their Arena Sucks for non viewable seats, and it is a few years away from being fan friendly enough to actually hold a real NHL size crowd. The other isse is the there is a lot of empty seats. The fans don't don't like showing up to midweek games or Sunday games. This franchise is cursed re: arenas.

Matthews can't change that and they are still on the right course with their deptrh of rising up the way they have mapped out. Why the NHL picked moving a team from a non conforming NHL rink to a location with a non conforming rink is beyond me. There were other better locations with Arena's ready to go.

5.) 02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 2026 12:52:41
Sergachev is the best player in the deal? Are you serious? Matthews is still the best player, period. If I’m getting that from Utah, I’m not going to go give up those 2 1st picks that we desperately need for Thomas. I’ll keep them.

6.) 02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 2026 13:58:08
Don't twist my words! I said "I think Sergachev is actually the best player as far as value to his club in that proposed deal". Best value to his club as far as value. You are going to be very hard pressed to find a defenseman of his caliber for $8.5 that is tied up for another 5 years. Utah would suffer immensely giving him up. He has improved that club. Matthews with a hit of $13.25 with only 2 years that will want a raise. Not close at all in value to his team.

It's crazy but the team when he is not in the lineup doesn't suffer and actually has a higher rate of winning percentage without him. Cooley and Reilly are basically a saw off on the salary. But Toronto would get a steal getting Iginal and a 1st. Reilly is not a bonus in this deal but a liability. Maybe just maybe..... OEL with Matthews gets you Sergachev and Cooley and the 1st. OEL is still a big step down from Sergachev though.

7.) 02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 2026 15:18:29
Please stop. This is your typical 15 paragraph back tracking you always do when someone calls you out for making a ridiculous claim. TLD is all I have to say.

8.) 02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 2026 21:52:11
Learn to Read the first time and don't take out of context and I don't have to explain in detail.

9.) 02 Apr 2026
02 Apr 2026 21:58:39
By the way, I didn't backtrack. I explained. By the way... Still waiting on why you thought in my other post that Cal Ritchie, Kashawn Aitcheson, Berkly Catton and Tyson Jugnauth were all bottom feeder prospects? I am not asking for 15 paragraphs. Just maybe one well worded one that shows you know something about prospects.

10.) 03 Apr 2026
03 Apr 2026 02:25:21
I find most Leaf fans seriously overvalue Matthews in their trade proposals.
He has had two disastrous years following his 69 goal run.
Any team trading a bundle of young players, prospects and 1st round picks for him are taking a huge risk that, at 29 years old September 17th, he will suddenly turn things around and become the player he used to be.


Personally, I find that highly unlikely.

11.) 03 Apr 2026
03 Apr 2026 14:40:44
He’s had 2 injury riddled years under Berube. Under the right coach, he gets back to elite scoring and playing. Secondly, have you been seeing what the 3 players that Trev ? traded away are doing under coaches who actually put them in a role to succeed and allows them to play to their strengths, not asking them to be players they are not.

This is a perfect example that the coach is the problem and should be the next to go. Matthews is elite.