21 Jul 2026 16:43:19
I know we all head into the new season being optimistic and hoping that last year was an anomaly. So if it wasn't and we find this is not going to work at all. What is the route we take if we are to blow it up and go to full rebuild mode? Personally I am after the last 2 years of drafting starting to see some good pieces in the system but without 2 years of our 1st round picks gone. It would really stymie the timeframe of a rebuild unless some of the blowup of the team involves somehow trading with the Dreaded Bruins and the Flyers to get those picks back.
Don't get me wrong I think McKenna will be a good one, but it sure would have been nice if Landon Dupont had been available in this years draft.
That is the kind of player we are lacking that would completely transform this team. Ahead and behind the blueline. Obviously whoever gets the 1st overall pick (Early odds are on the Canucks) would be open to a trade for the right player that would not be afraid of joining another rebuild team for that pick. If Buiim has a really good year in Vancouver they would be willing to pass on Dupont for the right player and a pick.
Lets hope we do turn a corner this year and it doesn't transpire. But hey.... we are a trade rumour/debate site. If you had to and it was Vancouver or Calgary who would you move to get Dupont from either team?
1.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 16:31:49
Love the idea, just don’t see anyone trading the (potential) 1st overall pick.
Leafs can definitely speed up the rebuild by shipping Knies, Matthews and Nylander tho.
Again, I’d circle back to Montreal 1st and demand there top 3 prospects and 2x 1st rounders and they would definitely be listening. Imagine Anderson and Knies coming at you every other shift in the playoffs ?.
2.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:17:09
So... rebuild by shipping out Knies and going after Anderson? Funny looking rebuild.
Suffering, rebuild is inevitable. They are not going far this year. Matthews is leaving, Nylander is heart/gutless. Reilly will have to go next year after Leaf fans have him traded the last 3 seasons. Seems really silly, IMO, that they went for it this year and went after 37 yo Bob amongst others.
3.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:30:29
@Clarky17
Ur miss understanding my post (my bad).
I would ship Knies to Montreal for there top 3x prospect and 2x 1st rounders.
That would but 2x power forwards (Anderson and Knies) on Montreal.
4.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:32:24
@Clarky If this doesn't work out and Bob isn't what Chayka thought he was, there is zero risk. By the time a full rebuild is done the only one still on the books would be Raddysh and that's only if he wasn't sent somewhere as well.
Went for it is what I would say if they moved picks for players. Chayka signed a bunch of short term deals because management knows a rebuild may be in the future.
@Suffering I don't think anything the Leafs currently have equals Dupont. If Calgary landed 1OA they don't really need young D, but unless McKenna has a good year and he's part of the package why would they do it?
Vancouver is years away currently, even emptying out the Marlies+Knies I don't see getting it done.
Good thought, but no matter how hard I try I cannot figure it out.
5.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:37:10
You don’t rebuild trading a 23 year old power forward like Knies. You’ll be looking dor someone just like him almost immediately.
6.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:45:22
@Clarky17
I also agree w you about the rebuild. All the Leafs are do’n right now is filling the lineup w bandaid solutions.
The Leafs have done nothing for tomorrow….. Nothing!!!!
We have minimal prospects and minimal draft capital.
And!!!! And!!!!! All this to keep Matthews happy who can still walk in 2x years, then what ?♂️
I want and need the Leafs to think more than the next 2x years.
All is see is the Leafs putting off the inevitable and wasting 2x more years.
“yes”, I believe the Leafs will complete this year but they’re far from competing for the Cup.
7.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 17:48:01
Don’t hate me Clarky but to land something like DuPont you would have to do Knies and another piece. Yes Knies is a power forward but we have no-one like a Makar or Schaefer of Werenski or Hutson or Sanderson to only touch on a few.
This team truly needs that elite quarterback. Would we miss Knies? Of course, but we can’t keep hoping that elite d-man falls from heaven.
8.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 18:18:15
@Suffering
With the minimal prospects and draft capital the Leafs have I don’t see a trade possible to land the 1st overall pick even if they include Knies.
9.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 18:41:04
@Kingmatty It would come down to how the season pans out and if someone came knocking with a massive package of prospects and picks for Matthews and Nylander at the deadline, to what package could be put together for a DuPont or a Trade ti Minnesota with Matthew’s and Faber being the key pieces.
Then instead of DuPont we look at Assembling a package to get the big Centre Alexis Joseph. I might be proven wrong and believe me I would not be upset if this lineup can do it. On paper, though, I just don’t see a contender.
10.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 18:48:03
Ya! We’ll know more at the halfway point. I’m not expecting the Leafs to come out hot especially w a new coach and all the new faces.
11.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 20:28:02
I just don't see anyone giving up the first overall pick and passing on DuPont. Whether Buium has a good year or not, he’s a LD and DuPont is RD. Why wouldn’t u want them both. Then u trade Hronek instead if u win the draft.
12.) 21 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 21:00:29
Having both would be good but having one and turning the other into someone like a Knies plus to play with Malholtra is the other thing. I think Vancouver when it comes down do it has a decent Defensive Core it is the Forwards they need to build upon, Too be honest if DuPont has a 30 to 35 point year in the NCAA as a 17 year old defenceman.
It will take a lot more than Knies to get him.
13.) 22 Jul 2026
21 Jul 2026 22:45:45
Plus! When it comes to a rebuild, you gotta start w D-man, they take longer to develop. As a GM of a bottom feeder team, I’m sticking D-man like crazy.
14.) 22 Jul 2026
22 Jul 2026 12:03:00
I said before, you can’t go for that type of D this year. They got Raddysh to be our PP specialist, also a good puck mover. They went and got Andrae for a mobile puck moving D. Everyone knows I didn’t like that trade for Woll but hopefully he proves me wrong. But that is who they got to fill those voids. Unless they find a deal for Reilly. This is your D core; I think they are hanging on to Reilly to see what he can do behind a guy like Raddysh.
Might as well keep him this year, hopefully increases his value and move off Reilly, Matthews, Nylander, OEL, Tanev, Bob or Stolarz next off season. They have cap space issues because of that terrible Roslovic signing. Don’t make that signing. Move off Lorentz, Domi to LTIR, and you had money to get another legit player whether it be a top 6 F or a young impactful D.
15.) 22 Jul 2026
22 Jul 2026 18:17:54
I am on the fence with Raddysh. He does have a cannon of a shot. But do we have the set up guys like Tampa had setting him up on the point? And do we have anyone as good as Moser to partner with him 5 on 5? I don’t think we should expect almost a point a game, but if he doesn’t hit 50 points and defensive zone coverage is an issue, the crowd could get ugly.